Rearguard at Gettysburg
By Kevin Hampton, Curator of History On the afternoon of July 1, 1863, the 7th Wisconsin played a pivotal role as the rear guard of the Union Army during the retreat through the town of Gettysburg. Though the regiment held their position as long as possible along a rail fence
Robert C. McCoy at the Battle of Buna
By Kevin Hampton, Curator of History Robert C. McCoy of Sparta, Wisconsin came from a long lineage of military service. Grandson of Captain Bruce E. McCoy and son of Major General Robert B. McCoy (both namesakes of Wisconsin’s Fort McCoy), Robert C. grew up with a strong sense of duty
A Son’s Service
More than 122,000 Wisconsin men and women served in the military during World War I, in all branches of service and in hundreds of different units. However, the largest concentration of Wisconsinites served in the 32nd Division, which consisted of the Wisconsin and Michigan National Guards. Much like today, individual
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
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
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
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
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
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