VintageJess
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 249
- Location
- Old Virginia
I'm currently in the 13 week training program to become a docent at the new Museum of the United States Marine Corps. The museum will be opening on November 10th of this year (Happy Birthday Marines!) Although, it won't be fully completed--it will open with full galleries for Making Marines, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and a temporary exhibit on the Global War on Terrorism. Other galleries will follow over time.
Anyway, I can't say enough about what a first-class place this is going to be. We have received excellent training in this program (including from Colonel Joseph Alexander who has been the chief historian on the museum project.) But I thought I would post here a bit about some of the items that will be included in the WWII gallery. There are some pictures posted on the museum website, but hopefully I can snap some more recent ones the next time we are training in the actual galleries.
So here are some of the items to be included in the WWII gallery:
I'll keep you posted with more info as I get it. Probably the most fascinating part of training has been speaking with the other folks there, most of whom are Marine Corps veterans. Always funny to see some bookish historian interrupted in his presentation by a crusty old man raising his hand saying, "That's not the weapon we had at Tarawa--I know because I was there!"
Jessica
P.S. I hope I wrote out all of that info out right--I've been taking lots of notes and studying up, but still have LOTS to learn!
Anyway, I can't say enough about what a first-class place this is going to be. We have received excellent training in this program (including from Colonel Joseph Alexander who has been the chief historian on the museum project.) But I thought I would post here a bit about some of the items that will be included in the WWII gallery. There are some pictures posted on the museum website, but hopefully I can snap some more recent ones the next time we are training in the actual galleries.
So here are some of the items to be included in the WWII gallery:
- Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair
- Dai-Ichi Kaigun Koku Ohka Model 11 Cherry Blossom (captured from Yonton airfiled during the invasion of Okinawa)
- Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat
- Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger
- M3A1 Stuart Light Tank
- M1923-E2 75mm pack howitzer
- Gung Ho Knife
- Raider Stilletto
- M3A1 37mm Anti-Tank Gun
- Ka-Bar Knife
- Mark II Grenade
- Japanese Model 89 Heavy Grenade Discharger
- Ford GPW Jeep
- M4A3 Sherman Tank
- [*LVT1
- ]M1 Rocket Launcher
- Japanese Type 99 Anti-Tank Mine
- Various captured Japanese Swords
- Bugle from Pearl Harbor
- Uniforms
- Patches
- Black Dyed Raider Shirt from the Makin Raid
- Both 1st and 2nd Flags raised and flown over Mt. Suribachi
- Silverware, and other items made by Marines held as POWs
I'll keep you posted with more info as I get it. Probably the most fascinating part of training has been speaking with the other folks there, most of whom are Marine Corps veterans. Always funny to see some bookish historian interrupted in his presentation by a crusty old man raising his hand saying, "That's not the weapon we had at Tarawa--I know because I was there!"
Jessica
P.S. I hope I wrote out all of that info out right--I've been taking lots of notes and studying up, but still have LOTS to learn!