Helen Bulovsky-The Wild Nightmare

by Kevin Hampton, Curator of History   “…the thing that seems to do the boys most good is to see and hear American girls talk.” Helen Bulovsky always wanted to care for others. When war came, she was determined to do her part. Despite a chronic heart condition that all

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The Life and Letters of World War I Aerial Observer Lt. Mortimer M. Lawrence – January 1918

No. 1 Det. Aerial Observers A.E.F.   Dear Folks:- This is not going to be much of a letter for the simple reason that there is nothing to write.  Of course there is lots I’d like to say but it is no use for it will be all cut out.

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Pearl Harbor Remembered through Oral Histories

In this 14 minute clip, Thomas Butler, a quartermaster in the Navy, recounts his experience aboard the USS Tennessee on December 7, 1941. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum Oral History Collection contains more than 15 interviews with veterans who were stationed at Pearl Harbor on that fateful day. It also includes

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The Life and Letters of World War I Aerial Observer Lt. Mortimer M. Lawrence – December 1917

Christmas Day Dec. 25, 1917   Dear Mother:- Received your night letter this morning.  Thank you for all your good wishes.  I hope you received my message O.K. We had our Christmas dinner at three o’clock this afternoon and it sure was a dandy.  I enclose my place card &

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The Life and Letters of World War I Aerial Observer Lt. Mortimer M. Lawrence – November 1917

Tuesday Nov. 27, 1917   Dear Mother:- Yesterday’s letter was intended to take the place of the one I didn’t have a chance to write Sunday. Jack Bainbridge’s brother, wife and family are mighty fine people and were certainly nice to me.  The brother is about forty-one or so and

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William Stark and the Church Pennant

While serving aboard a landing craft (USS LCI (L)-23) in the Solomon Islands during World War II, William Stark of Waukesha was saved by what he must have believed was partly “divine intervention.” In 1943, when his landing craft beached to unload, Motor Machinist’s Mate Second Class William Stark was

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USS Cole Bombing: The Road to 9/11

On the morning of October 12, 2000, the USS Cole was attacked in Yemen’s Aden harbor by two suicide bombers piloting a small boat loaded with an estimated 700 pounds of explosives. The subsequent blast tore a 40-by-60-foot gash in the side of the guided-missile destroyer, claimed the lives of

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The Life and Letters of World War I Aerial Observer Lt. Mortimer M. Lawrence – October 1917

Sunday Oct 28th   Dear Folks:- The box containing the sweater and the candy came this morning.  Thank you for sending the sweater.  Thank Will for the candy, it sure tastes fine and I appreciate his thinking of me. There hasn’t been anything particularly new here this week.  We have

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Wisconsin Veterans and September 11, 2001

  It has been sixteen years since the events of September 11, 2001. That fateful day prompted the nation into action, and within two years the United States was involved in two conflicts in the Middle East, participating in what has been termed “the Global War on Terrorism.” With the

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The Life and Letters of World War I Aerial Observer Lt. Mortimer M. Lawrence – September 1917

Fort Sill, Sept. 23rd Dear Folks:- Well the suit case arrived yesterday noon and everything was O.K.  Thank you for all the trouble you took in packing it, also for the chocolate papers, etc. The cookies also came and were very welcome.  We all enjoyed them.  Thank you and come

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