Uncle Matty Comes Home

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Jim’s Taxicab Stories

In 1979 I decided to go back to school and enrolled in Lehman College. I used the GI bill, which more than covered the tuition. I got a part-time job as a taxicab driver in Manhattan to make some money. I did it for about a year.
When you start driving a cab you know nothing about where to go and the best routes. You must learn, and, in the beginning, you must ask the riders. It is a frustrating learning experience. It takes a few weeks, and then you will know most of Manhattan. The Wall Street area and anything below 14th Street are a little more difficult as the streets don’t follow a pattern.
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How To Deal with Bullies

I was about 12 years old and one time my friend Mike Crowley and I were walking just off Grand Concourse in the Bronx. I think it was 185th Street. Mike was a real tough guy but also a real proud Irish guy. We were suddenly surrounded by 8 members of the Savage skulls with knives. We heard the distinctive sound of the switch blade.
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My Hero General Collet

Brigadier General Patrick Collet, Commanding Officer, 11th Parachute Brigade, my hero and friend for life. General Collet located Uncle Matty’s historic rifle and moved heaven and earth to bring it back home to our family.

Born to be Airborne

Uncle Matty at Rockaway Beach, NYC in 1939. Notice the dog with him, my whole family loved dogs. Matty was in rock solid shape from playing all the New York City street games that would define him as “Born to be Airborne”

My Father Mickey Pictures 5a & 5b

My Father Mickey, all around tough guy from the streets of the Irish South Bronx. Love his beer and dogs! At McSherry’s Pub on 138th Street and Alexander Avenue, with my brother Jackie and his beloved Dalmatian Spanky. In WWII Mickey would be shot down, captured, and serve 9 months in the POW Camp Stalag Luft 3. This is the POW Camp from which the movie the Great Escape was made. Famous for saying “Let’s take it outside”

Matty’s Family

Father Richard, Mother Nora, Brother Jimmy, Sisters Ann and Francie. An Irish American Family growing up in the South Bronx, aka the 33rd county of Ireland. Living through the great depression, World War II and everything else the world threw at them.

Two Martin’s of the Greatest Generation

Uncle Matty – Martin Teahan and my father Martin Farrell represent the Greatest Generation. One was a Paratrooper who would die in combat, the other a Bombardier who would spend 9 months in a POW Camp, but survive. I would never understand my father, and later in life get to know the Uncle Matty very well, both would shape my life.

 
 

Uncle Matty’s Irish South Bronx

Uncle Matty smoking a cigarette while flirting with the girls in 1940. Behind his right shoulder is his best friend Peter Donahue. Matty was famous for his singing, dancing, and being the life of the party.