Epic Journey

<p><b><i>Epic Journey</i> is indeed an epic journey a sad tragic and ultimately inspiring tale of oppression defeat flight and salvation that addresses the very essence of the human condition. But <i>Epic Journey</i> is also an important addition to the small but steadily growing body of memoirs that give voice to the Ukrainian encounter with catastrophe in the twentieth century. As such it sounds a warning about the dangers of authoritarianism fanaticism and intolerance to all people of good will. -Alexander J. Motyl Rutgers University-Newark</b></p><p>Wasyl Andreievych Kushnir was born in Ukraine in 1923 and was witness to the tragedies and horrors of the early years of collectivization under the Soviet regime in his homeland. His father fought in the Ukrainian National Army against the Russian Bolshevik invasion and ultimate occupation of Ukraine and his grandfather was murdered by Chekist Bolsheviks. Early in Wasyl's life his family's home and all personal possessions were confiscated by the communist authorities and both parents were exiled his father to Siberia and mother to a prison in Mariopol. His uncle Danylo was also arrested and exiled to forced labor in Siberia and then to Komi SSR. </p><p> During this period Ukraine experienced genocidal famine and Wasyl himself suffered hunger during the Ukrainian Holodomor in which millions perished. Upon the escape of his parents from prison camps the family reunited only to be torn apart again during World War II when Wasyl was taken by the Nazis as a slave laborer to Germany. At the war's conclusion Wasyl drove trucks for the American Army in Germany and married his wife Maria also a forced labor survivor who bore him two sons. The family ultimately emigrated to Mississippi and then Chicago Illinois where two other children were born. Wasyl pursued the American dream sought an education and was ultimately successful in business retiring in Florida where he spent his last years.</p><p></p>The story of Wasyl's life which extended almost a century is told by his son Andrei in his father’s voice. Andrei combined his father’s memories written longhand in Ukrainian with translated documents and additional narrative. This non-fiction work attests to the struggle for survival under the harsh Soviet regime in Ukraine the courage and persistence of one remarkable man the importance of family and the strength and endurance of the human spirit.<p></p>