The remains of Sergeant Orlando Vincenti, a coal miner from Carbondale, PA returned home in June 1949 for a solemn military funeral after falling in his B‑17 “Aw‑R‑Go” raid over Muenster, Germany, in 1943. Read the full story.
Dive into a compelling podcast episode where writer Derek Thompson interviews historian Richard J. Evans about his book "Hitler’s People." Hear fresh research on Nazi support, Weimar politics, and antisemitism as Evans debunks myths and reveals how ordinary Germans enabled Hitler’s rise to absolute power. Read my full reflection and listen to the podcast.
In 1929, Schuylkill County author Joseph H. Zerbe lamented how living recollections of the Civil War were slipping away as veterans passed on. He feared younger generations, detached from personal stories and tangible reminders, might lose connection to their county’s important Civil War legacy. Read the full story and essay.
Meet Corporal Albert Scherzinger, a Pottsville native who helped arm B-17 Flying Fortresses with 500-pound bombs in England. 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.
Meet Henry Maurer, who grew up near Gratz< PA and fought in Sherman’s “March to the Sea.” At 99, he welcomed home grandsons from World War II, connecting nearly a century of American service. A moving slice of Coal Region history. Read the full story.
Meet Corp. Joseph E. Law from Wilkes-Barre, photographed in England hoisting bombs onto a B-17 under black-out conditions in 1944. Discover how these grueling tasks supported the 8th Air Force and shaped America’s war effort. Read the full story.