In February 1945, a Schuylkill County anti-aircraft gunner wrote home from France, describing daily life near the front as the war neared its end. His letter offers a view of war-time service far from home. Read the full story.
On May 8, 1945, drenched but ecstatic, Wilkes-Barre’s streets exploded with horns, confetti, and church bells as Coal Region residents celebrated VE Day victory. From umbrella-clad crowds in Public Square to ticker-tape showers from office windows, the rainy jubilation captured both relief and remembrance. Read the full story.
This May marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day - Victory in Europe - and it’s the perfect moment to revisit our Coal Region World War II history stories, from frontline letters to home-front efforts. Reflect on these powerful accounts, learn from their lessons, and honor those who lived them. Read the full story. Read the full stories.
On V-E Day, May 8, 1945, The Record American of Mahanoy City published a powerful tribute honoring local soldiers who died in World War II. This special edition reflected the deep loss felt in Pennsylvania’s Coal Region, where families sacrificed both on the battlefield and the home front to support the war effort. Read the full story and see their photographs.
On V-E Day 1945, Anthony Kupko of Schuylkill Haven, PA raised a toast in a brewery in war-ravaged Nazi Germany - while memories of liberating Buchenwald’s starving survivors lingered painfully. His account blends victory’s relief with the haunting aftermath of the Second World War, offering a profound glimpse into a Coal Region soldier’s return home. Read the full story.
Justin and Jake share their reactions to Episode 9 of Masters of the Air.
Marvin Hoke flew three dozen missions over Germany in the later stages of World War II.
Irvin Schwartz returns to his pre-war beat as the sports reporter for Pine Grove High School after serving in World War II.
In a lengthy final letter from war, Sergeant Schwartz describes his departure from war-torn Europe bound for his home in America.
A broken down ship becomes all that's standing between Irvin Schwartz and his first visit to the United States since 1943.