ABOUT THE COLLECTOR

The mission of 'Exhausting and Dirty Work' is to preserve, document, and exhibit items in the collection to help people develop a human connection to the stories they hold.

My grandfather returned home from Korea in 1952 and never talked to anyone about the war until I became interested over fifty years later. He shared many of his memories with me and passed on his uniforms, medals and awards. Listening to his stories helped me understand why he would try to forget the war throughout his life.

Many of these items are all that remain of seemingly common men who have done uncommon things. Though they say they just 'did their job,' I am still fascinated by their stories. While these uniforms are just the clothes they wore and the medals and awards are 'just for being there,' sometimes it is all that is left to remind us of what they really went through.

I truly enjoy researching and preserving the history and personal accounts that are attached to these artifacts. If I had never asked my grandfather his story, I don't believe anyone would have ever known. He is just one of the stories exhibited here - with time and effort, I have uncovered many other stories and am eager to share here.

Thank you and enjoy.

-- Robert C. Mackowiak

RESEARCHING YOUR OWN FAMILY

Many of the messages I receive are from people trying to trace a relative's service, and I am glad to help where I can. Send what you have: a name, a unit, a service number, anything written on the back of a photograph. A name and a unit are usually enough to point you in the right direction, and the regimental journals in my Library & Archives are full of names. The Links page lists the archives and databases I use most.

If you recognize a name on this site, or think a relative served alongside one of these men, please reach out. Messages like that have led to some of the best stories here.

CORRECTIONS

These narratives are built from records, journals, letters and interviews, and the records do not always agree with each other or with memory. If you know something about one of these men or the objects they left behind, or you see an error, please tell me, using the form below and naming the page. This site has been corrected more than once by relatives and veterans, and it is better for it.

A NOTE ON LANGUAGE

The narratives quote letters, diaries, journals and interviews as they were written or spoken at the time. Some of that language, about enemies, allies and civilians alike, is offensive today. I have left it as I found it, because changing what people said would change the record. Where it appears, it is quotation, not my view.