I always find unique things in people's collections and make sure to scan them.
There are non-military pix in Ray's scrapbooks so I
make sure to scan them too.
This item is something I've never seen or scanned before and glad to add it to my database.
Ray's dad, Alphonse Irlbeck taking a nap on the couch.
Irlbeck family November 23, 1961
Ray with a bazooka - in front of his C-80 tracked Boxer armoured fighting vehicle - Bad Hersfeld.
Fortunately, Ray wrote on the backs of many of his pictures and gave locations and names.
I recently scanned Ray Irlbeck's military scrapbook and now I'm working on Allen Muhlbauer's military stuff. I sat down with Auggie the other day to interview him about his
service and will be transcribing that digital audio soon...then I give him a rough draft to go over for corrections and changes.
This all takes time but to me so very well worth it to preserve the history of Manning's Veterans and citizens in general.
Once I finish scanning Auggie's pix, I'll have
him sit down with me in front of my computer and we'll go over them to get some captions and more information...in the meantime here are some of Ray's and Allen's pix.
I always planned on visiting with Ray about his service but at the time I was working on WWII & Korean Veterans and always assumed there would be plenty of time for me to sit down with him - sadly that never happened.
Ray, Jerry, John, Bernard displayed on top of their mother's piano
Ray at home January 1961
Ray loading manure on the Irlbeck farm.
Besides working on a Veteran's military history I'll scan other pictures
in their albums.
Ray on his bunk
Out on maneuvers near Bad Hersfeld, Germany
Ray's C-80 out in the field
Ray with a 3.5 bazooka
Fortunately, Ray wrote on the backs of most of his pictures which helped me with captions.
Ray in his barracks
Ray was a cook in Germany for a while
Ray making hamburger patties
Ray wrote: "This is the day I wish I never saw another hamburger."
Ray wrote on back "A big wave."
Geiger T-AP 197
I need to visit with Ray's wife to see if she knows if this was the ship he headed over or returned
on from Germany.
In front of the 46 Infantry building during Christmas
Ray Fuger, Joe Ganza, Ray Irlbeck at Fort Dix, New Jersey
Ray was always a fun-filled character and you never knew what he would come up with next.