Marcia Anderson, the Trailblazer
Today, in honor of women's history month, we release Marcia Anderson's oral history recording and transcript to the public. Anderson overcame obstacles by requesting positions held historically by men in the Army, demonstrating professional excellence on objective Army standards, knowing her profession better than her peers, and drawing on the
Honoring LGBTQ+ Veterans of Wisconsin
In honor of LGBTQ+ History Month, we are featuring the story of United States Naval Officer Larry A. Reed. Reed served in the United States Navy from 1961 to 1966 during the Vietnam War. Reed was the weapons and air control officer on the destroyer escort USS Wilhoite (DER-397) from
Two Generations of Wisconsin Veterans
At the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, we document, preserve, and make available the stories of Wisconsin veterans and their families. As a museum, we’ve collected several stories from multi-generational Wisconsin families. This month we feature a military family from Couderay, Wisconsin, Mary Slisz-Chucka and her son Todd Haskell. Mary Slisz-Chucka grew
Remembering the USS Cole (DDG 67) 20th Anniversary
USS Cole Remembrance Ceremony Pierside Ceremony and Wreath Dedication Norfolk, VA Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 beginning at 10:15 am EST Guest Speakers Adm. Christopher W. Grady, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Retired Adm. Robert J. Natter, Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet/Fleet Forces Command Cmdr. Edward Pledger, Commanding officer, USS
A Lesson in Resiliency From the Bataan Death March
At the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898, Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States. A Philippine insurrection against the United States began almost immediately and ended in 1902 with the United States controlling the territory until the Japanese invasion in December of 1941. Choosing deployment to the
Part I: Okinawa: Genesis of a Battle
In 1945, 75 years ago, World War II in the Pacific ended with the Battle of Okinawa and the atomic bombing of Japan. These important events, in which Wisconsin service members did their full duty, still impact the world today. From April until August 2020, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum staff
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
Poetry and Proverbs
By Russell Horton, Reference Archivist “If I die a prisoner of war, I would like to have this diary sent to my Father, A. Ingersoll, Waupun, Wis.” -Frank J. Ingersoll, Diary Entry, ca. September 1864 In the first two years of the Civil War, soldiers from either side of the
Vietnam Veterans Day
On March 29, 1973, the last US combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam, and the last prisoners of war held in North Vietnam returned to American soil. Since then, Vietnam Veterans Day has been established to welcome home Vietnam veterans, acknowledge their service and remember the men and women who died during the Vietnam
Holiday Greetings from the Field by Mary Kate Kwasnik
A wise man once crooned that this is the most wonderful time of the year. As the winter holidays roll in, cheer seems to surround us. Coffee shops break out their festive red cups , the radio croons out classic holiday songs and the city is suddenly frosted in tiny,