Gad Meiry was born in Essen, Germany. He lived there until 1939. He was raised in an assimilated German Jewish family, and only discovered that he was jewish in kindergarten. Although his parents were of Sephardic background, they preferred not to identify with the jewish community until they became aware of the difficulties which were created for Germany by the Versailles treaty of 1918. The Versailles treaty resulted in unrest in German society. At the growth of the Nazi party and during Hitler's slow rise to power, Gad became aware of his Jewish identity. Having lived through Christalnacht, his parents decided to emigrate to Uruguay. However, at the last moment their hopes for the future came to a sudden and tragic end, when their visas were discovered to be a scam.
But Gad's Father decided to save his son. He contacted the Yavne high school in Cologne. It was through the efforts of Gad's father and Dr. Klebansky, that he was able to enroll his son the school, in a special class that was being relocated to England. At the age of thirteen, Gad boarded a train and left his family behind. Gad survived the war in England. However, his family perished.
After Gad completed high school, he and his classmates were given the option to work in the coal mines or to serve in the army. They were declare friendly enemy aliens and many found themselves in the same camps with German presioners of war. After churchill declared the stablishment of the Jewish brigade, Gad joined the brigade which was the fighting in Italy.
His friend had signed up for the Jewish Brigade one month before, however he was tricked and was sent to fight for the English in Burma, where he was killed. Afraid that they too would be sent to Burma, Gad intervened at the highest possible levels and secured that he and his group of volunteers would be sent fo fight the Nazis in Italy.
After the war ended, the Jewish brigade was sent to various places to guard German prisioners. In the meantime, British oppresion of the Jews in Palestine was left. When the Jewish brigade was ordered back to Palestine, Gad went with them and joined the Hagana.
During the War of Liberation in 1948, Gad was stationed in the Negev. Having worked with dairy and beef cows in England and having studied the cattle of the Bedouins in Israel, the idea of cross breeding them brought him to USA.
Now he resides in Florida near the beach on the East Coast.
Gad's history is strong and powerful. The importance of a strong Jewish identity is one of the main messages of his book. He is a constant source of inspiration to me and others.