The Airborne Beer Story
The 101st Airborne Museum ‘Le Mess’ in Bastogne presents WW II Veteran Stories. Last December we met Mr. Vincent Speranza. What did you think? Please tell us in the comment section below and remember to sign up for our free newsletter.
October 23, 2023 @ 1:30 pm
Borm in 1942 my grandmother, Grandma Carrie, made me colorful shirts made from flower sacks! Wish I had kept them as a memory to treasure remembering a great grandma.
August 20, 2021 @ 11:09 pm
Loved hearing this story once again. Sad, but also beautiful. So thankful for all our veterans, but I have to say this is a funny story. Sure there are so many great stories we will never hear. Thanks for sending this again. Never will tire of listening to this great gentleman!
July 10, 2018 @ 3:05 am
What a wonderful site.
It is so important and necessary to get the stores from these great people before they are all gone. The generation today would benefit from listening to the stores of our past because these years were a great part of
our history and makes us what we are today. Those of us who were born in the late 30s and early 40s remember the stories that we were told of life during that time, and some of us were lucky enough to remember the aftermath of those years. Nothing was wasted. If you picked any berries (blackberries, blueberries, grapes, apples, etc) they were immediately made into the jelly or canned in jars for future use. Hand me down clothing was a way of life. Flour sack dresses were a way of life for all girls and shirts for the boys. Socks were never thrown away but darned and patched until they were too far gone to repair. Most clothing was “homemade” and to buy clothes from a store was a real treat. Those flour sack materials (there were many patterns and colors) were used for the wonderful old hand made quilts some families are lucky enough to still have in chests.
All kids played outside when they were finished with their chores (and we all had chores). We still remember the games we played, kick the can, pick up baseball games where everyone brought something for the game, hide and seek just before dark was exciting and we all knew when the street lights went on, we were to be home.
We had rules in the house and there were consequences when they were broken. Those thin branches from the bush in the yard were the standard forms of punishment and they did sting. Families sat down at the table together and had our meals together. Conversation was the form of news around the table at night.
Just a few memories from the past
August 20, 2021 @ 11:11 pm
Patricia, you have described MY childhood years during those years. Thanks for the memories. Well done!
September 14, 2017 @ 10:47 am
osiyo loved this story, all respect for you,
August 25, 2017 @ 11:33 pm
Those of us that work with our veterans from any combat situation must start to get these Heroes to sit for us and relay their memories of what they went through so these young welps of today may, just may, get an understanding of what it was like to not get any mail or contact from home for months and no WIFI or phone calls from the loved ones at home that prayed for their safe return. We were told that we may not get any mail during intense actions because then you may be distracted from the mission and maybe lose your life or the life of your brother. Remember these solders. I was approached by a small man outside our aviation museum one day and he asked if he could tell me something. Of course I said “Yes”. He said that we were doing a great service for which he was so grateful. I thanked him and said that was the least we could do. He said he was a Marine from the Pacific theater and he felt good knowing he and his brothers were not forgotten. I wrote it as a statement for our museum. It says” To Be Remembered is The Highest Honor.” Though I am a vet I stand in awe of people like him. God Bless the United States of American. Get their stories for our future Americans and put the stories in libraries for all to read.
August 23, 2017 @ 10:23 am
D. Gandy Was hard to believe at first but as he went on and remembered so many things that turned out to be right, I believe he had done all he said and helped many. Happy for him to see where his history would be! forever.
August 23, 2017 @ 7:48 am
What a heartwarming and yet sad story. So thankful for all our veterans.
August 22, 2017 @ 6:11 pm
I’m 78 years old and like the G.I. in the story, have a hard time controlling me emotions at times. I served with the USAF not the Army Air Force but can fully empathize with him. Great story.