by your daughter When night falls the loneliness creeps up on me. Why does the darkness cast such a pall? ...

World War II Connections by Bob Whelan April 30, 1945 - Germany Two significant events were occurring that day… In ...

CLICK THIS STORY TO HEAR IT PLAY! I love this photo because it tells such a family story. I don't ...

by Bob Whelan The picture below taken in late February 2019 shows two smiling faces together with a snowman in ...

You can also click the link - The Rhine Crossing - to hear this account of crossing the Rhine River ...

“Were you teaching a class full of innocent children?” ~ Alan. Jackson The grassy-assy scent of cow shit charged our ...

By Gary Redlinski How many times must a veteran die before he finds peace? I died this year on Veterans ...

By Holland Emerson Trauma An ugly demon It requires space Demands time Drains energy Why not just get rid of ...

by J.A. Goodman Deliver me from Evil She was busy cleaning up after supper. The kids were watching TV in ...

By Joyce Brucato Arnold She looked out into the bright sunlight, it would be a warm one today. Walking slowly ...

Stories are more than entertainment. They are life itself. We each live in them. They are us… Your story is ...

October 17, 2018 “I know I promised you my next letter would not take so long. But, you know – ...

“We know you were right there with us in spirit.” So, wrote Nancy Damon in a short note to me ...

June 29, 2018 “Sorry for the delay. Lots going on.” “Yeah, I been wondering about you. So, let’s have it” ...

May 20, 2018 “Here I am again. Lots of stuff.” “Yeah, took your time again, eh?” “Yes, and no excuses, ...

This is a story of a quilt and its gift of an ability to help emerge from the numbness of ...

Our friend Estelle wanted to share this memorial in writing that is on another blog. It is a beautiful piece ...

“Here I am again. Not quite so long this time.” “So, what’s been going on?” “Some pretty interesting stuff. The ...

A Conversation with Jean - February 28, 2018 “Whoa! Should have really gotten back sooner. Up to my eyeballs in ...

by Steve McAlpin There is a small coastal village in southwest County Cork, Ireland named Ballydehob. And it was in ...

by Steve McAlpin Receipt of the painting took over a year to be acknowledged by the White House Gift Office ...

A Conversation with Jean December 29, 2017 “Hi, me again. Should have gotten back sooner, but you know me. The ...

By Estelle O'Connell Seeking You My eyes scan crowds for a glimpse of you, I sniff the air for familiar ...

By Estelle O'Connell Stand straight and tall, head held high, focus beyond your distress. Ask God to help you find ...

By Estelle O'Connell Je t’aime – a murmur at dawn’s first light Je t’aime – a whisper when we kissed ...

“Hey, wait a minute, where’ve you been?” “No real excuses, but I have been very busy. And, today was such ...

As often happens, what is originally planned, changes. Usually, because of an unplanned intervention. So, guess what? It happened in ...

I chose to title this story Anglesqueville because, while no longer the name for the town of Val de Saane ...

To some extent this story is an extension of the first story in this Trip series. It, like the Siegburg ...

Here’s another story where one door closes, Another opens. Siegburg, was such a place. The name Siegburg translates as “Victory ...

One door closes, Another opens. Mettmann was such a place. The door had closed for the over 300,000 German troops ...

Growing up in the 1930’s, I had a tremendous fascination for futuristic devices and stories. Foremost in my memories are ...

Why Opladen? As explained in the Long Meadow story I used the name as an umbrella term for most of ...

A Company’s role in the Ruhr Pocket, in my view, was a different scene from that in and around Berg ...

We, in A Company said goodbye to our halftracks we left behind in Berg, and pretty much retraced our journey ...

We crossed over the Inn for the last time on June 25, 1945. Vacation time was over. The next day ...

An Armored Division travels on wheels and tracks. Armored Infantry does most of its combat traveling on half tracks and ...

72 years is a long time. Time enough to gather one’s thoughts and take another look at what has been ...

Yes, Berg was the happy beginning of our 2017 return… Happy, because even the memories were happy in this place ...

April 30, 1945 – July 8, 2017 My 13th Armored Division stories start at Braunau, Austria. As outlined in my ...

Horst Przybilski          Ike Refrice World War II – Europe          World War II ...

The following story took place in the Ruhr Valley of Germany in April 1945. This is a pair of WWII ...

I lost a hat It fit upon my head It was my face I found a heart It was under ...

“What! Back so quick! What’s going on? “Yeah, Hard to explain, but I had a dream last night, and it ...

“Long Trip.” “Yeah, I’m still sorting it out. I didn’t know whether I could even handle it, but I went ...

by Bob Whelan July 2017 The sentiment of powder and laceTake me back to a tender placeWhere memories replaceA forgotten ...

“Hey – Happy Birthday. 90 years ago, little Jean arrived at the Butler house in South Buffalo. You already know ...

To all wives, children, descendants, and friends of Veterans. This story is my birthday gift to my WWII buddy Arnold ...

I have titled this story “Dorntgehood” because I employ the concept of hood as a metaphor. That term, as well ...

"Wow, Mother’s Day - time sure flies. I owe big time. Been over 2 months – sorry for the delay ...

Bob Whelan's interview done by the Witness to War Foundation on 9/12/14. For more about this foundation, please visit www.witnesstowar.org ...

When one dances, like in most other pleasurable activities, one wants to do more and better. My dance was no ...

The back and forth of our Paso Doble now took on a growing set of engaging maneuvers. Everyday a new ...

The dancing, as ice dancing, was keeping us all occupied and to no small extent challenged. But larger challenges were ...

Ice Dancing became a major family activity at the Curling Club. It allowed for a full schedule of day and ...

I grew up in Buffalo, NY, a border-town. It shared a cultural and climate proximity and connection with our English ...

“Yesterday – four years since you left. I miss you a lot. Kathryn McAlarney (her husband Mac’s ashes rest next ...

“Hey, sorry for the delay. Lots of stuff, so I’ll get right at it. Christmas went well, except Michelle didn’t ...

The bay below like a long life lay, Shades of blue and gray. The hills above are red and gold, ...

“I told you this one would be a doozey.” “OK, so get on with it.” “Yeah, it’s been a while ...

This a memoir developed from a recent experience in 2014. It has a few premises, which are topics not dealt ...

This is a 68 year memoir. Actually, the 68 years are the interval between two opposing stories. In late 1945, ...

As  President of the 13th Armored Division Association I would like to take the opportunity to offer and suggest the ...

Jack R. Campey, E5. Half Track Driver, Battalion 16, Company C of the 13th Armored was invited by one of ...

Reunion in New Orleans, Louisianna in September 2016 While there are more photos and stories to be posted, a brief ...

This story is an excerpt of one of my many memoir stories I wrote for my children as a record ...

“Guess what? Bill Fleming had his 100th Birthday party last Friday the 5th.” “Tell me about it. “ “Yeah, but ...

Conversations With Jean June 21, 2016 “A lot of time gone by. Sorry about that, but my life has suddenly ...

Another great 13th Armored Division Reunion was held in September 2015 in Washington, DC. The Reunion activities included tours, a ...

A circuit that lights a light if you switch it on. A light that helps you see better. I learned ...

In early 2013 I saw a listing for a reunion of the 13th Armored Division in the VFW magazine.  I ...

February 25, 2015 “What, you again? How come you're back so quick? You usually wait for at least a month ...

Conversations With Jean February 25, 2014 One Year “Bring me up to date” “OK, so before I bring you up ...