If you think I'm making it up or exaggerating at how much time I spend on preserving Manning's history - here is what I'm working on right now - Ray Irlbeck's military scrapbooks and information.
It never ends!

Screen shot of my Windows Explorer window that shows some of Ray's pix in his folder.


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.

I love pix like this that show times gone by - the kitchen with smooth painted ceilings and walls, the stove, the doors, tile flooring, etc. - so very similar to the kitchen I remember while growing up.
Also another scene that you seldom see anymore - the whole family around the kitchen table - no TV, no cell phone, no computer.
Someday I feel more people in our society will wake up and realize the error of their ways and go back to some of the traditions we once had.


Margaret (Underberg) Irlbeck preparing Thanksgiving dinner - Ray's mother


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 in his C-80 Boxer armoured fighting vehicle - weighs 21 tons

Ray on back of his C-80


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.


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