Josie

About the Book

This book tells the story of a survivor of World War II. With the help of a lifelong friend, a grandmother, and a devoted godmother, Josefine Kloibock was able to overcome years of homelessness in her tiny homeland of Austria, eventually to make a new life in America. One aspect of the war frequently overlooked by historians is the near idyllic period of almost five years during which Austria enjoyed an economic revival while the war raged on all sides. After the annexation in 1938, Austria became a part of Germany, and Adolf Hitler took good care of his homeland. Not until late 1943 did this period of the “good life” come to an end, when Austria came within range of Allied bombers based in Italy and North Africa.

It wasn’t until years later that Josie came to realize the atrocities and crimes against humanity perpetrated by Nazi Germany, some on Austrian soil.

About the Author

This is Richard Cooper’s third book. The first, Hunting? Don’t Forget the Toilet Paper! was a humorous memoir of nearly forty years of upland game hunting with longtime friend Don Lamm, who was coauthor. The second was Hickory Bob: The Bob Harmon Story, a biography of a major league pitching star of the early twentieth century. Cooper is a retired teacher of history and government, teaching thirty years at Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia, Missouri. He is a graduate of Kansas State University. Currently, he is a writer of feature stories and local government news for the Lamar, Mo.)Democrat newspaper. His hometown is Liberal, Missouri. He and his wife, Mae, currently reside in Lamar.