Detroit — The Polonica Americana Research Institute is promising a unique perspective on World War II through the eyes of an American-born Polish man who kept a diary in 1939 and 1940.

“The Wartime Diary of Chester Laskos” details Laskos’ experiences that began on Sept. 1, 1939, when bombs fell on his hometown of Gorlice.

It will be presented at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, in the Fr. Andrew Wotta Building #11 of Orchard Lake Schools, 3535 Indian Trail in Orchard Lake.

Laskos, who is now deceased, was born in Massachusetts in 1919, but grew up in Poland. He was 20 years old and preparing to start engineering studies at the Polytechnic University in Poland, when instead he found himself on a trek across a Europe at war.

“The diary tells a remarkable story,” said Cecile Wendt Jensen, director of the Polish Mission of Orchard Lake’s Polonica Americana Research Institute. “We are honored to be able to host the first public presentation of (it).”

The diary has a distinctively Catholic perspective to it, says Richard Laskos, Chester’s son and a longtime communications associate and former host of the “Dialogue” television show for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Richard Laskos, recently retired, said the family knew about it, but he and his siblings weren’t able to read the diary because it was in Polish. They brought it to Orchard Lake to have it translated, and PARI took a great interest in it – as did the family.

“My father rarely spoke about his wartime experiences and we were truly amazed by what we learned,” Richard Laskos said. “The words ‘emotionally riveting,’ ‘faith-filled,’ and ‘intellectually powerful’ come to mind when I try to describe the contents of the diary. It makes for a spellbinding read and we are proud to share it with the public.”

Richard and his siblings Linda and Eugene Laskos will make a presentation at the April 30 event. The presentation will include excerpts of the diary, pictures, a video, and a map tracing Chester Laskos’s route from Poland through today’s Ukraine, Hungary and Italy.

There is no cost to attend. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP by April 27 by calling (248) 683-0323 or via e-mail at [email protected].