By Cindy Peterson
Judge Brian Welke to Present WWII Infantry Biography at Lake Museum
The Lake County Historical Society and Museum will host a special presentation by Fifth Circuit Judge and author Brian Welke on Thursday, May 15 at 6:00 p.m. at the museum, located at 317 West Main Street in Tavares.
Welke, a longtime Eustis resident and history enthusiast, will discuss his newly released book, “Boys, Just Boys: Biography of a WWII Infantry Regiment,” an expansive 600-page recounting of the experiences of the 423rd Regiment of the 106th Infantry Division during and after the Battle of the Bulge.
“This is a book I published earlier this year,” Judge Welke says. “I traveled the country interviewing men from the 106th I.D., mainly members of the 423rd Infantry Regiment, and this is the result.”
Boys, Just Boys chronicles the brutal realities faced by the soldiers—many of them still teenagers—during one of the most pivotal and grueling battles of World War II. Through personal interviews, letters, memoirs, and Army reports, Welke reconstructs the devastating experiences of these men, from their first days in the snow-covered Ardennes forest to their capture and harrowing months as prisoners of war. The book includes dozens of photographs of soldiers, their families, and life during wartime, as well as stories of local ties to Lake County veterans Fred Parks of Eustis and John Webb of Umatilla.
“Truly, the book is for all the men of the 106th and their families,” Judge Welke says. “It is a spellbinding and heartbreaking record of courage, loyalty, and friendship in the face of horror, degradation, and cruelty.”
The title, “Boys, Just Boys,” reflects a common phrase describing the youth of many soldiers assigned to the infantry after being reassigned from engineering programs. At just 17 and 18 years old, these young men faced unimaginable hardships on the front lines.
Among those chronicled is noted American author Kurt Vonnegut, whose own experience as a POW during this time later inspired his novel Slaughterhouse-Five.
The event is free and open to the public. Copies of “Boys, Just Boys” will be available for purchase, and attendees are encouraged to engage with Judge Welke during the discussion.
More about the book can be found here: Boys, Just Boys on Amazon
Originally from the small town of Berryville, Arkansas, Cindy has become a multimedia specialist in journalism, photography, videography, and video editing. She has a B.S. in Communications from the University of Central Arkansas and produces Style Magazine's Sports Hub Podcast and the Healthy Living Podcast. She also produces for Beacon College’s Telly Award-winning PBS show, “A World of Difference.” When she isn’t working, Cindy loves traveling the National Parks with her husband , Ryan, and son, David, photographing wildlife.
