Irma's Story

“The compelling true story of the impassioned love shared between a south Texas woman of Hispanic descent and a German military officer.” —Yvonne Freeman, PhD, professor, Department of Language, Literacy, and Intercultural Studies at the University of Texas at Brownsville

After World War II, Peter, a handsome German pilot, met Irma, a beautiful Texan woman of Hispanic descent. It was love at first sight. Their meeting had been prophesized—for Irma by her grandmother and for Peter by a palm reader—and together the couple would create an extraordinary life. Irma’s Story: American by Birth, Hispanic by Choice chronicles Irma’s life and the experiences of the “Texan Gawendas” during their tenure in the German military in Europe and the United States. Though Irma, accepted as an American while in Europe, faced discrimination in her home country and contended with the challenges of being a military wife, Peter’s love and companionship remained constant.

In his second book, Peter B. Gawenda, author of The Children’s War, offers readers an insider’s view of the joys that the marriage of two people—from two completely different worlds—can bring. Presenting the dynamics of racial issues against the backdrop of military life, the captivating story of Irma Lozano de Gawenda depicts a fearless, fiercely loyal woman willing to do anything for her family.

Written with a passion that has spanned five decades, Irma’s Story celebrates the strength of a once-in-a-lifetime love.

“He thrills [readers] again, turning to his narrative gifts and rich trove of memories to tell another story with universal appeal—the power of enduring love.” —Robert Becker, veteran journalist and former international wire news editor, Houston Chronicle