At the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the United States national team carried out one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history- defeating […]
Workplace discoveries (#5): the tale of two wartime light devices
Two light sources sit idle side-by-side. In appearance they are dissimilar, in utility they had different functions, and in origin, produced in separate countries. What […]
War memorial in my father’s village of Niedzieliska
Two rows of neatly trimmed hedges run alongside a gray cobblestone path leading towards the entrance. Beyond a pair of wrought iron gates lay scores […]
Competing at Thunder on the Tundra 2022, my first ever shooting event!
On the first and second of this month, October 2022, I participated at Thunder on the Tundra- a charity shooting competition. It was a spontaneous […]
Celebrating Polish Armed Forces Day 2022 in Niles
On 14 August 2022, in celebration of Poland’s Armed Forces Day, the Polish Consulate General in Chicago headed a series of ceremonies all across the […]
Soldiers learn important lesson in backpacking at Harms Woods
Once the soldiers from Camp Skokie Valley arrived at Harms Woods in Glenview, they quickly set to task pitching up tents and preparing for a […]
An unexpected surprise in the mail from a customer
This past Wednesday I came home from running errands to find a package sticking out from my mailbox. I was not expecting anything, but it […]
A serendipitous photo-taking trip to Fort Sheridan on Lake Michigan
After a long week at work, I decided to go up to Fort Sheridan to take some photos on my day off. I set out […]
Workplace discoveries (#4): need a tissue? A strange Army reunion souvenir
The only things left in the estate to identify the former homeowner as a military veteran were several patches, an Army reunion brochure, and something […]
A good boy that served: Pal, the Jefferson Park war dog who returned home
All his family knew was that he spent thirty-one months overseas. When he returned to his Jefferson Park home in early 1946, the army veteran […]
Remembrance at the execution site of a retired soldier, Michał Gaca
The Germans took the retired Polish army officer and led him away from his house. He met his death at the edge of the village. […]
Workplace discoveries (#3): art print signed by veterans of Easy Company, the Band of Brothers
Last week our company staged the estate of a passionate aviation enthusiast. Plenty of memorabilia was found throughout the mansion-like home that even had a […]
Workplace discoveries (#2): a 1918 German Luger and more
Never before had I seen a German Luger in person, let alone the treasures inside the cigar box. All brought back as souvenirs from the […]
Workplace discoveries (#1): a missing airman’s tribute of honor, 1946
Inside the travel bag was a poignant reminder of one soldier’s sacrifice to his country. The folded up program, slightly yellowed from age, and with […]
Published in a German newspaper!
Earlier this month I was surprised by an email from my friend in Germany. He informed me that a piece of my writing was published […]
Books for Russia: Glenview sends aid to Soviet students, 1946
In February 1946, the residents of Glenview joined a nationwide drive to collect books for students in the Soviet Union. The ‘Books for Russia’ campaign […]
Nazi Germany’s final days, and a GI’s unique souvenir
The souvenir was an unusual choice. With the fighting in Germany now over, Sgt. Robert J. Roeber decided to bring home an enemy hospital sign. […]