family-history
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This story is both heartbreaking and uplifting — heartbreaking because it tells of a mother who knew she was going to die, and uplifting because her final words revealed remarkable courage and hope in the face of certain death. Olga Bancic was born on May 10, 1912, into a large Jewish family in Bessarabia, then…
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World War II officially ended in 1945, but for many who lived through it, the war never truly ended. The fear it instilled often turned into paranoia and secrecy, rippling across generations and affecting even those born decades later. This is the story of my connection to World War II. Both my parents were born…
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On January 14,1942 U123 surfaced so close to New York Harbor that the rides at Coney Island could be seen silhouetted against the evening sky. Captain Reinhard Hardegen expected the U.S. east coast to be blacked out after more than a month at war and was surprised to see the glow in the sky from…
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World War II officially ended in 1945, but for many who lived through it, the war never truly ended. The fear it instilled often turned into paranoia and secrecy, rippling across generations and affecting even those born decades later. This is the story of my connection to World War II. Both my parents were born…
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The story of Eiji Sawamura is both a tale of extraordinary talent and a poignant reminder of the human cost of war. Known as one of Japan’s greatest baseball players, Sawamura’s life was a trajectory of brilliance interrupted by history. His journey from prodigious athlete to soldier aboard the ill-fated SS Hawaii Maru is emblematic…
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Nearly every day I pass by this building—the Gerald Griffin Memorial Schools on Bridge Street, Court House Lane, Limerick. The school has a rich history, yet one particular chapter is often overlooked. This building, now a former Christian Brothers School, was originally constructed as a courthouse, as the name of the lane to its north,…
History of Sorts 