Capturing Stories

Welcome to my site! I’m Patrick Reed, a historian and writer working to record and share the stories of ordinary people who have been witnesses to history. It’s been an honor to sit down with and learn from many people who have participated in and witnessed some of the pivotal events of the 20th Century, and it’s my goal to share that experience with others by preserving their stories and making them accessible. When dealing with history, it’s important to remember how deeply human it is – after all, it’s just the story of those who have come before us. So beyond just recording their stories, I want to facilitate an encounter with these people.

The primary focus of my work has been the Second World War and the surrounding years, and it’s my special wish to honor and remember those men and women who served at that time. It’s impossible to overstate the significance of those years on human history, and it’s a special privilege to learn from these firsthand accounts what it was like for just a few of the people who witnessed it, soldier and civilian alike. My hope for this website is that you can also encounter these people who have shared their stories with me. I hope that you can get to know them, and learn from them, and that you can see how the past has shaped the world we live in.  

History gives us roots. At the best, it’s something to celebrate. At its worst, it’s something to avoid repeating. Either way, it’s our story, and it’s our privilege to encounter it. 

You can learn more about me and my mission (particularly with veterans of WWII and the Korean War) by visiting my About page. Recorded interviews can be viewed or listened to on the Oral Histories page. My published works and other writings can be found on the Writing page. If you’d like to get in touch with me, I’d be happy to hear from you. My information is of course, on the Contact page.

I’m always looking for a story to hear - if you have one or know someone who does, let me know!