thedrifter
05-05-09, 08:04 AM
Published: May 04, 2009 08:35 am
John Watson: U.S. Veterans Museum —Lest we forget
This past Easter weekend the U. S. Veterans Museum officially opened in Granbury. The museum is located at 601 Thorpe Springs Road.
The museum’s mission statement is: “... to recognize and honor all U.S. military veterans who have served our great nation during times of war or conflict. Those that fought on the battlefields or those who served in support of them should not just be remembered but honored in such a way that future generations never forget the sacrifice that these men and women have made. We are not here just to memorialize these veterans, but we are here to tell their story.
“These veterans deserve to be recognized and honored, as well as thanked by us for the sacrifices they and their families made to insure that we would remain free. Our freedom comes from these men and women who so graciously served, and answered the call of our country. We owe it to them to say ‘Thank you.’
“God Bless Our Troops.”
Volunteers give guided tours. These volunteers are service veterans who can give a very vivid description of life on the battlefield. Cordell Hall was our tour guide.
The museum is divided into several sections. The first section we entered was about Vietnam on through the Iraq War. There were several Vietnam era uniforms and other memorabilia that had been donated by local veterans. All the displays list the name of the veteran who donated the items in each display.
In the Vietnam section are several small photographs of soldiers taken in Vietnam. Next to each photograph is a large pen and ink drawing of the same scene showing very fine detail of each. These drawings were done by Doug Prine of Nemo.
Leaving the Vietnam section we enter the World War II section.
On entering this section the first thing to grab your attention is a huge U.S. flag that covers most of one wall.
In front of this flag is a glass display case containing a large model of the naval destroyer USS Frank E. Evans (DD754), named in honor of Brig. Gen. Frank E. Evans, U.S. Marine Corps.
A placard atop the display case lists the following information.
“Frank E. Evans was born 19 November 1876 in Franklin, Pennsylvania. He was an infantryman in the Spanish-American War and was commissioned in the Marine Corps 15 February 1900. He served in the Philippines with the First Marine Brigade and had various duties in the United States before America’s entry into World War I. He sailed for France with the Sixth Regiment of Marines, earning the Navy Cross and other awards for distinction of his service with the American Expeditionary Force. His post war career included duty in Haiti where, from 1927 to 1930, he commanded Constabulary Detachment and was Chief of the Gender merle d’Haiti. Brigadier General Evans was also District Marine Officer of several Naval Districts. He retired 1 December 1940 and died at his home in Honolulu, 25 November 1941.”
Hanging in one corner, reaching from ceiling to the floor, is a narrow red banner with a white circle in the center containing a black swastika.
A label next to it states, “Nazi banner taken from a government building in Leipzig, Germany, by Sgt. William Barnhart.”
Newspapers line one wall with headlines telling about various battles and exploits of our servicemen in World War II. Most of the papers are a Fort Worth newspaper.
On a table in the center of the room is a World War II helmet that had been shot through.
On one side was a small hole barely large enough to pass a pencil through; on the other side the metal has been flared out making a hole large enough you could pass a golf ball through.
The label beside the helmet states, “28th Infantry Division M-1 helmet shot through during the Battle of the Bulge.”
Several World War II uniforms from various branches of the service are on display here, including one display of several flight jackets.
Along with the flight jackets is a photograph of a group of service men standing beside a P-38 with “Little Buckaroo” painted on the side. — a picture of a donkey kicking a swastika out of shape.
A note with the photo states, “World War II ‘The P-38 Guys.’ These are the men responsible for keeping the dive bombing and straffing P-38 Lightnings flying. The photo was taken somewhere in France winter of 44/45”
In one display case is a German Luger with the following inscription: “World War II German Luger captured by John Hooper in Brest, France. This pistol taken from a German officer who surrendered at a Nazi U-Boat base Sept. 10th 1944. Donated by John Hooper.”
The next section displays the World War I uniforms and memorabilia.
The last section has a World War II 75 mm Pack Howitzer on display.
Next to the Howitzer is an 1861 model Union three-inch rifled cannon dated 1864.
This cannon was used in the Civil War and the Indian wars and was donated by John Hooper.
The museum’s latest acquisition is a Civil War era bayonet.
If you are interested in any branch of the military, any time period, this is the place to visit. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Memorial Day is coming up shortly and this would be a good time to visit the U.S. Veterans Museum and show your respect for those who have served their country and given their all in times of conflict.
John Watson is a Cleburne resident who can be reached at texastraveler@sbcglobal.net.
Ellie
John Watson: U.S. Veterans Museum —Lest we forget
This past Easter weekend the U. S. Veterans Museum officially opened in Granbury. The museum is located at 601 Thorpe Springs Road.
The museum’s mission statement is: “... to recognize and honor all U.S. military veterans who have served our great nation during times of war or conflict. Those that fought on the battlefields or those who served in support of them should not just be remembered but honored in such a way that future generations never forget the sacrifice that these men and women have made. We are not here just to memorialize these veterans, but we are here to tell their story.
“These veterans deserve to be recognized and honored, as well as thanked by us for the sacrifices they and their families made to insure that we would remain free. Our freedom comes from these men and women who so graciously served, and answered the call of our country. We owe it to them to say ‘Thank you.’
“God Bless Our Troops.”
Volunteers give guided tours. These volunteers are service veterans who can give a very vivid description of life on the battlefield. Cordell Hall was our tour guide.
The museum is divided into several sections. The first section we entered was about Vietnam on through the Iraq War. There were several Vietnam era uniforms and other memorabilia that had been donated by local veterans. All the displays list the name of the veteran who donated the items in each display.
In the Vietnam section are several small photographs of soldiers taken in Vietnam. Next to each photograph is a large pen and ink drawing of the same scene showing very fine detail of each. These drawings were done by Doug Prine of Nemo.
Leaving the Vietnam section we enter the World War II section.
On entering this section the first thing to grab your attention is a huge U.S. flag that covers most of one wall.
In front of this flag is a glass display case containing a large model of the naval destroyer USS Frank E. Evans (DD754), named in honor of Brig. Gen. Frank E. Evans, U.S. Marine Corps.
A placard atop the display case lists the following information.
“Frank E. Evans was born 19 November 1876 in Franklin, Pennsylvania. He was an infantryman in the Spanish-American War and was commissioned in the Marine Corps 15 February 1900. He served in the Philippines with the First Marine Brigade and had various duties in the United States before America’s entry into World War I. He sailed for France with the Sixth Regiment of Marines, earning the Navy Cross and other awards for distinction of his service with the American Expeditionary Force. His post war career included duty in Haiti where, from 1927 to 1930, he commanded Constabulary Detachment and was Chief of the Gender merle d’Haiti. Brigadier General Evans was also District Marine Officer of several Naval Districts. He retired 1 December 1940 and died at his home in Honolulu, 25 November 1941.”
Hanging in one corner, reaching from ceiling to the floor, is a narrow red banner with a white circle in the center containing a black swastika.
A label next to it states, “Nazi banner taken from a government building in Leipzig, Germany, by Sgt. William Barnhart.”
Newspapers line one wall with headlines telling about various battles and exploits of our servicemen in World War II. Most of the papers are a Fort Worth newspaper.
On a table in the center of the room is a World War II helmet that had been shot through.
On one side was a small hole barely large enough to pass a pencil through; on the other side the metal has been flared out making a hole large enough you could pass a golf ball through.
The label beside the helmet states, “28th Infantry Division M-1 helmet shot through during the Battle of the Bulge.”
Several World War II uniforms from various branches of the service are on display here, including one display of several flight jackets.
Along with the flight jackets is a photograph of a group of service men standing beside a P-38 with “Little Buckaroo” painted on the side. — a picture of a donkey kicking a swastika out of shape.
A note with the photo states, “World War II ‘The P-38 Guys.’ These are the men responsible for keeping the dive bombing and straffing P-38 Lightnings flying. The photo was taken somewhere in France winter of 44/45”
In one display case is a German Luger with the following inscription: “World War II German Luger captured by John Hooper in Brest, France. This pistol taken from a German officer who surrendered at a Nazi U-Boat base Sept. 10th 1944. Donated by John Hooper.”
The next section displays the World War I uniforms and memorabilia.
The last section has a World War II 75 mm Pack Howitzer on display.
Next to the Howitzer is an 1861 model Union three-inch rifled cannon dated 1864.
This cannon was used in the Civil War and the Indian wars and was donated by John Hooper.
The museum’s latest acquisition is a Civil War era bayonet.
If you are interested in any branch of the military, any time period, this is the place to visit. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Memorial Day is coming up shortly and this would be a good time to visit the U.S. Veterans Museum and show your respect for those who have served their country and given their all in times of conflict.
John Watson is a Cleburne resident who can be reached at texastraveler@sbcglobal.net.
Ellie