National World War II Museum

April 2nd, 2012--The museum thrilled my history-loving spirit to no end! I will admit that I squealed with delight at the prospect of all the artifacts, personal accounts, exhibits, signs to be read, and knowledge to be gained during the tour. Yes, I recognize the fact that my love of history is extreme...okay, an obsession, really; as evidenced by my reaction when I saw an Enigma machine later on in the tour. I nearly fainted.



The Germans placed bomb shelters like this one around rail yards, factories, and ship yards in which the workers would take refuge during bombing raids. The shelter in the picture was large enough to fit one or two people.



~Higgins boats were used on D-Day to land troops on the beaches~
The landing craft was much larger in person than I had imagined. If I remember correctly, the sign stated that a Higgins boat could hold 36 men or 12 men and a jeep.

Higgins boat





I read Seizing the Enigma last year and had no idea the museum housed one of the machines. I was rendered speechless. It was fascinating to see one of the machines up close. I love moments when something I've only ever read about in a book comes to life!

The museum did an excellent job educating people about the propaganda during the war. It was interesting to see posters from the Allied and Axis powers. Both sides portrayed their enemies as subhuman--animals in most cases, such as rats and monkeys. An interesting commentary on war, justice, human rights, and christianity, to be certain. Very thought-provoking.

A "cookie tin" radio used by the Resistance. These radios were small enough to be hidden inside a cookie tin or cracker box. It is difficult for me to imagine a life where owning a radio was an offense punishable by death.



D-Day's smallest soldier: artificial paratroopers were dropped in an attempt to confuse and disorient enemy forces.



~Troops preparing for the invasion of Normandy~

A paratrooper's boots from D -Day.
"I entered Normandy as a twenty-one year old platoon leader, and in ten days was a forty-two year old company commander." ~Lt. Jack Isaacs, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

"Here we sat, each man alone in the dark. These men around me were the best friends I will ever know. I wondered how many would die before the sun came up." ~Pvt. Dwayne Burns, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Replica of a glider crash in the hedgerows of Normandy.

~The Sea Armada~
With nearly 5,000 vessels, the invasion fleet deployed on June 6th, 1944, was an inspiring and impressive sight. An American bomber pilot, looking down at the fleet, observed, "We could see the battleships firing at the coast. And literally you could have walked, if you took big steps, from one side of the Channel to the other. There were that many ships out there." But the sight of the approaching armada terrified the Germans stationed on the coast. One German officer marveled, "It's impossible...there can't be that many ships in the world."



Map of Utah Beach-South



Original combat journal of Lt. Sidney J. Montz

 



~Troops wading ashore on D-Day~

"...the craft gave a sudden lurch as it hit an obstacle and in an instant an explosion erupted...Before I knew it I was in the water...Only 6 out of 30 in my craft escaped unharmed. Looking around, all I could see was a scene of havoc and destruction. Abandoned vehicles and tanks, equipment strung all over the beach, medics attending the wounded, chaplains seeking the dead." ~Pvt. Albert Mominee, 16th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 1st Division

~Wounded troops after the initial beach landings~





Injured civilians



War in the Pacific

"The grinding stress of prolonged heavy combat, the loss of sleep...the vigorous physical demands forced on us by the rugged terrain, and the unrelenting, suffocating heat were enough to make us drop in our tracks. How we kept going...I'll never know." ~Pvt. Eugene B. Sledge, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division

Doolittle's Raiders: one of my favorite stories from the war.

~Jacket worn by one of Dolittle's raiders--April 1942~

American and Filipino troops surrender to the Japanese on Corregidor.



The soldier who carried this map was wounded shortly after hitting the beach. He was eventually evacuated and kept the map with his bloodstains on it as a reminder.



~U.S. Army nurse with an infant found on Saipan~

The marine who wore this helmet reported that he was in a foxhole when he looked up and saw a Japanese soldier with sword raised standing over him. The marine fired his rifle just as the sword came down. He awoke later in a field hospital with a concussion and dented helmet. He never found out what happended to the Japanese soldier. 

The five Sullivan brothers all died in November 1942 when the ship they were on, the USS Juneau, was torpedoed by the Japanese.





The destruction of war--if only people would learn and not repeat the past. This picture brought to mind the song 'There Is A Habitation'.

There is a habitation
Built by the living God
For all of ev'ry nation
Who seek that grand abode

O Zion, Zion, I long thy gates to see
O Zion, Zion, when shall I dwell in thee?

A city with foundations
Firm as th'eternal throne
No wars nor desolations
Shall ever move a stone

No night is there, no sorrow
No death, and no decay
No yesterday, no morrow
But one eternal day

Within its pearly portals
Angelic armies sing
With glorified immortals
The praises of its King