From Tajikistan To The Moon: A Story Of Tragedy, Survival And Triumph Of The Human Spirit [Hardcover]

Robert Frimtzis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2009

From Tajikistan to the Moon is an inspirational, true story of the spellbinding events of World War II, the author s escape from his war-torn country, his flight to freedom, and his ultimate success in America. Told from a unique Soviet perspective, Robert Frimtzis takes you from surviving bombs of the Nazi blitzkrieg, to imminent starvation and deprivation in a mud hut in Tajikistan, to contributing to America's lunar exploration and spacecraft development. Without warning, his childhood was shattered, his home was destroyed, and he was plunged into the madness and savagery of World War II. His family evaded Nazi capture by running eastward 3,000 miles to Tajikistan. To get to America they crossed borders illegally, trekked across half of Europe, and eventually ended up in a displaced persons camp in Italy. At nineteen, penniless and knowing little English, he arrived in America with the goal to continue his education.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert Frimtzis' earned a Bachelor's Degree from CCNY and a Master's from Columbia University, both in electrical engineering, without having finished high school. Frimtzis worked in various engineering management positions where he contributed to the successes of the Apollo space program, the Surveyor lunar explorations, and the Gamma Ray Observatory spacecraft. He also founded RFA Associates, a software engineering company. Robert is currently retired and lives in Rancho Santa Fe, California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 376 pages
• Publisher: Ecliptic Publishing (June 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615199038
• ISBN-13: 978-0615199030
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,437,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tajikistan to the Moon, May 13, 2009

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Bernice J. Greene - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From Tajikistan To The Moon: A Story Of Tragedy, Survival And Triumph Of The Human Spirit (Hardcover)

I have just read "From Tajikistan to the Moon" and found the book to be an interesting memoir from a young person's perspective in the Holocaust. I could not put it down once I started to read it. The author was able to inject his feelings and experiences as if he was once again that young boy running from the Nazis after 50 years. He was able to exhibit the feelings of a young man in a displaced person's camp. An angry immigrant who felt he was inferior to the rich Americans he met. And finally a mature man who found happiness in life and a wonderful family. This is for anyone interested in a different perspective of growing up under the Soviets, anti-Semitism, and unbridled success. A must read for anyone who has immigrated to the US or has family who has. Bernice Greene Ft Washington MD

4.0 out of 5 stars One man's struggle against all odds, June 22, 2010

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Royce P. Moore - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From Tajikistan To The Moon: A Story Of Tragedy, Survival And Triumph Of The Human Spirit (Hardcover)

An excellent account of one man's struggle to overcome the horrors of the Nazi invasion of his home and then subsequent anti-semitism in post WWII Russia. Robert Frimtzis details his life in the displaced person camps in Italy and his quest to immigrate to America. After years of waiting Mr. Frimtzis is allowed to immigrate to the USA and his story becomes the fabled "American dream." From his early beginnings, struggling with English to finding a college to earning a degree while working days and studying at night, Mr. Frimtzis' story leads to the Apollo project culminating in the successful landing of a man on the moon. Working on defense projects he played an important role in keeping America safe during the "Cold War." Today he offers sound advice on immigration in America and how we need to rethink our direction.

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating life story!, March 8, 2010

By 

John S. Burchfield "Sondra Burchfield" (La Quinta, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From Tajikistan To The Moon: A Story Of Tragedy, Survival And Triumph Of The Human Spirit (Hardcover)

From Tajikistan To The Moon - A Review

In life we sometimes have the opportunity to meet a few special people. When a special person is the author of a book we think tells an important life story, the book becomes special as well. From Tajikistan To The Moon by Robert Frimtzis is one such book.

Robert Frimtzis, the author, tells his life story beginning during World War II when his parents and he (Russian Jews) fled their home in western Russia to trek to eastern Russia in an attempt to avoid the onslaught of the Nazis in 1941. For three years they survived living an almost sub-human existence.

After World War II, with the help of the underground, they made their way on foot and over mountains through Eastern Europe to Italy. From Italy they were able to secure passage on a ship to the United States and within a short period of time became American citizens.

Robert, although struggling with the English language, worked his way through engineering school and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. In the l960s Robert became one of the head engineers in developing the Apollo 11 simulator to train astronauts for our first landing on the moon. During this time he worked with Neil Armstrong.

This life story is an inspiration to all about facing brutal hardships, surviving them, and then "driving" oneself to become a significant contributor to our society and, in particular, to the success of The United States Apollo missions.

Written by: Sondra Burchfield, former Senior Editor of the Textbook Division of Doubleday and Company.