04/13/2026
Going through my old photos from my time as a U.S. Air Force historian, I came across one of my favorite memories.
Captain Ralph Goldsticker and Captain Richard Nelms were two World War II veterans who, before May 4th, 2024, had never met. Nelms was a B 17 pilot with over twenty missions, while Goldsticker served as a bombardier with thirty-five missions. Different planes, squadrons, and bases — yet when they met, it was like two brothers reunited after years apart.
Their instant connection reminded me how the Second World War brought young men from across the nation together, forging bonds that have lasted decades. Listening to them share stories of England, missions over Germany, and the small comforts of service life was like stepping back into history itself.
That meeting remains one of my favorite memories as a historian — a moment that captured the enduring brotherhood of those who served.
The National WWII Museum The Museum of Flight Washington State History Museum Aviation History Magazine
