A Shared Experience

By: Andrea Hoffman, Collections Manager While there are numerous reasons Wisconsin residents have joined the military over the last 150 years—each generation met with unique historical events and changing social expectations—serving one’s country has also been a shared experience within families. Whether a parent and child, siblings, or spouses, serving

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The Story of One Wisconsin WASP: Happy Landings, the Jeanette Kapus Story

Whether they were WACs, SPARs, WAVES, or WASPs, no witty acronym or cute nickname could belie the fact that women performed dangerous jobs across the country and around the globe during World War II.  By 1945, there were women serving in every branch of the United States military, standing a remarkable

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NEW ART EXHIBIT: IN MY SPARE MOMENTS, THE ART OF HAROLD F. SCHMITZ

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2019   NEW EXHIBIT: IN MY SPARE MOMENTS: THE ART OF HAROLD F. SCHMITZ FEATURES MILWAUKEE NATIVE’S DRAWINGS COMPLETED WHILE SERVING IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC DURING WORLD WAR II. MADISON, Wis. (March 11, 2019) – On Friday, March 15th, Wisconsin Veterans Museum visitors will have the

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MEDIA ALERT: NEW EXHIBIT–”IN MY SPARE MOMENTS: THE ART OF HAROLD F. SCHMITZ”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2019   NEW EXHIBIT: IN MY SPARE MOMENTS: THE ART OF HAROLD F. SCHMITZ FEATURES MILWAUKEE NATIVE’S DRAWINGS COMPLETED WHILE SERVING IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC DURING WORLD WAR II. What: The Wisconsin Veterans Museum new art exhibit, In My Spare Moments: The Art of Harold

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The Life-Saving Gift to Majil Steiner

By Andrea Hoffman, Collections Manager On November 21, 1944, the B-29 “Snafuperbomber” with the 40th Bomb Group was attacked over Japan while approaching its target city of Omura. While badly damaged, the crewmembers managed to keep the B-29 airborne back across the China Sea. But when the aircraft’s usable fuel

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Veteran Sweethearts~Rose Jrolf and Fred Ray

Part of the Rose Ray WVM Collection  This formal portrait is of Rose Jrolf and Fred Ray on their wedding day in 1945. Rose is wearing a large lily and ribbon corsage and Fred is wearing a carnation boutineer. Rose enlisted in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps in 1943 and

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World War II Sweethearts~Thomas F. Diener & Betty Gene Dealy

Part of the Thomas F. Diener WVM Collection  Thomas F. Diener, a Milwaukee native who served in the 2129th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon (Aviation) during World War II, and his girlfriend (and later wife) Betty Gene Dealy during his stateside training and service in England.     Thomas Diener proposing

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If Dreams Come True…~The Wanserski Family

Part of the George Wanserski WVM Collection by Laura Farley This is a love story about Wisconsin natives George Wanserski and Florence Lange that spans nearly five years of separation and struggle to raise their family. Married July 18, 1934, the Wanserskis set up home in the Milwaukee area and

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Winter 2018

Cover Story: In My Spare Moments: The Art of Harold F. Schmitz

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Liaison Officer Karl Hanson

By Gregory Krueger, Curator of Exhibits After completing the Armor Officer’s Basic Course, where he made the Commandant’s List, Hanson was commissioned an Army Armor officer in 2000 as platoon leader with Task Force 1-64 Armor, Camp Dobol, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Returning stateside, he served as a tank platoon leader with Company

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