The Night I met Living History
by Bob Maxwell
Voice of the Vet Show Founder & Co-Host
Whenever I am out and about, I am always wearing my U.S. Air Force Veteran Hat and this night it afforded me the golden opportunity to meet the nicest couple. I was grocery shopping at a local Walmart and they walked by me, I said hello and Bob turned and said “Air Force huh”, I said “yes sir” along with the first question I always ask…”Did you serve too?” hoping that his reply was going to be yes. He did say “Yes, during WWII”. I stopped in my tracks and that wonderful conversation began.
Their names are Bob and Jean Clarke and they are World War 2 British Army Veterans. Bob served on the ground and in numerous fire fights and bombings. He recounted many nights when the Air Raid Sirens would go off and everyone ran for the bomb shelters. So many times the bombing was so bad that Bob and Jean both didn’t know if they were going to make it out alive.
Bob and Jean were fortunate enough to be close by for a good amount of the time they served, but when Bob was off to fight, Jean remained because she was stationed at General Dwight Eisenhower’s Headquarters. As a matter of fact, Jean was a Personal Aide to General Eisenhower. She would help deliver all of his secret mail and personally stamp every document that General Eisenhower sent from his office and even the correspondences he received.
Bob and Jean have so many stories about their time as soldiers of the British Army, but out of respect for their wishes and the fact that I have offered them to be Special Guests on the “Voice of the Vet Show”, I am going to stop here. I know it is a tease story, but I have to say that if Bob and Jean agree to be on the show, it will be well worth the wait. This is a show that would really excite me because they are living history and their stories are reality. It was an honor to meet Bob and Jean and I sincerely hope to see them again.
