"A picture is worth a thousand words" is an English language adage meaning that complex and sometimes multiple ideas can be conveyed by a single still photograph.
When I received the wonderful photo below (taken in August 1941, Santa Monica) of Ray Krolicki (1920-1986) and Jacqwyn Mary Moynahan (1918-1994) from the Muras-Woeber-Moynahan photo collection, my first reaction was "Ray has two legs!"
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| Photo: Courtesy of the Muras-Woeber-Moynahan Collection: Ray and Jacqwyn (Moynahan) Krolicki |
With thanks to Zelda (Moynahan) Woeber (1901-2002), the reverse side of the photograph
contained over one hundred words explaining the circumstances of this
photo. That led me to research some more details not previously known!
This is the engagement photograph taken when Ray and Jacqwyn were visiting California just prior to Ray being drafted for WW II . They had both met at the Chiropractic College of Dr. Palmer according to the notes on the reverse of the photo.
His draft was deferred and they were married in St. Elizabeth's Franciscan Church in Denver, Colorado.
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| Reverse of Photo Above: Ray and Jacqwyn (Moynahan) Krolicki |
Ray was deployed and went overseas with the US Army and lost both of his legs in the "Battle of the Bulge" after encountering a land mine in Germany.
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| Battle of the Bulge |
What I did not realize in any of my previous posts, was that Ray Krolicki became very active in organizations devoted to the welfare of "legless veterans". He became a member of the Bilateral Amputee Club of America (BLACA) and participated in events such as the "Forget-Me Not" Drive in 1945. (Pictured second from left below).
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The Ogden Standard-Examiner Ogden, Utah Fri, Nov 23, 1945 · Page 20 |
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Deseret News
Salt Lake City, Utah 15 Oct 1945, Mon • Page 8 |
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The Ogden Standard-Examiner Ogden, Utah Thu, Nov 15, 1945 · Page 11 |
Pfc. Raymond S. Krolicki is pictured above at the beginning of a tour of army amputation centers where amputees would demonstrate their walking ability.
In 1946, Ray Krolicki became the public relations officer for the club. He was instrumental in the founding of this veterans organization.
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Metropolitan Pasadena Star-News
Pasadena, California 07 Jul 1946, Sun • Page 2 |
Thanks to Zelda (Moynahan) Woeber's handwritten notes, this photo is worth MORE than "a thousand words".
Following Ray's post-war activities to help war veteran amputees, he became an artist for the Denver Post and he and Jacqwyn went on and had a lovely, large family some of whom are pictured below in the 1955 Getty photograph.
You can read more about the Krolicki family here: https://moynahangenealogy.blogspot.com/2019/08/otd-august-30-raymond-stanislaus.html
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| Denver Post Archives; July 20 1955 |
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