News from California State Military Museum

Front and Center

The Monthly E-Newsletter of the California State Military Museums
Part of the United States Army Museum System

Issue 15, 1 October 2010

Welcome to our latest issue of Front and Center.

First of all, the California State Military Museum would like to thank Col. James Pritzker (IL ARNG, Ret) for his $10,000 gift to the museum. This gift is to be used for capturing and recording the history of state's military forces (i.e., Army and Air National Guard and the State Military Reserve) operations' during the Global War on Terrorism.

October is also the start of our annual membership and fund raising drive. As of this writing, the state legislature has not passed a state budget and so we have not received our annual appropriation. The museum was able to operate during the first quarter of the fiscal year thanks to some resources being reserved for such a eventuality. So, memberships and cash donations are very important to our operations right now. You can join the museum or make a monetary donation by using the links to the right or by going to the museum's membership page. Corporate and family memberships are also available on that page.

Dan Sebby
Museum Director and Curator

Major Artifact Acquisitions to the Museum

No major artifact acquisitions occurred during the last month.

If you are considering making an artifact donation to the museum, please contact the museum director prior bringing items in. As the World War II and Korean War II generations are passing on, the museum is being flooded with common uniform items such as "Ike Jackets", service caps, etc.

The museum does not mean to diminish any veterans service, but the museum has a limited amount of storage and display space. So, please contact us first before making the trip to the museum. The director's telephone number is (916) 854-1904 or email daniel.sebby@us.army.mil

Artifact of the Month: AH-1F "Cobra" Attack Helicopter

Located across from Building 19 at the Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, the "Snake" was restored and is maintained by the Los Alamitos Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) and is one of three in the museum's collection. One is undergoing restoration at AASF Los Alamitos and one is on display at the Hammer Field Armory in Fresno.

Upcoming Events

October 10: Lecture and book signing (See below)
November 11: Veterans Day, FREE ADMISSION!

New Life Members

The Board of Directors of the California State Military Museum Foundation would like to recognize the following individual for their support of the museum by becoming Life Members:

Fred and Zetta Ansbaw of Carmichael
Major William R. Tubbs of Herald
Colonel Archer C. Frey of Carmichael
Major General Ron Markarian of Fresno

Library and Archives Update

It has been decided that a separately managed archives of records, correspondence, and primary source material is to be established. So starting in September, donations will be divided into Artifacts, Archives, Images (i.e, photographs and digital images), and Library

Currently the library is actively looking for new books to fill its shelves. Current hardcover, non-fiction military history and national security volumes are, of course, the most desired titles.

Books can be sent to:

The MG Walter P. Story Memorial Library
1119 2nd Street
Sacramento, CA 95814-3202

Any duplicates received will be given free to other libraries and or museums or sold in our used book store to raise funds for the library.

This is a great time to clean out some of your old military history, intelligence and national security studies books.

The Museum is also accepting gift cards from major book sellers such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Borders so that we can choose those books that fill holes in our catalog.

If you're interested in adding to you personal library, please come down and shop in our new and used military history book shop!

Need a Place for an Event?

Do you need a location to hold an off-site meeting for your staff? Are you looking for a place for your organization to meet regularly that has the equipment already on site? Need to bring your customers in for a presentation of new products or services? Then consider holding your next event at the Museum's Sergeant Major Doris J. Drennan Educational and Conference Facility

This facility provides a unique venue that allows you to conduct your event with little or no "running around" to gather equipment. On-site catering is available from local eateries that range from simple sandwiches to gourmet entrees from one of Sacramento's best restaurants.

This facility is continually being upgraded. These improvements will be announced through this newsletter as they occur.

For more information concerning the facility, including rates, CLICK HERE.

Making History

Learn how your California National Guard is making history around the world every day. CLICK HERE to read the latest issue of the Grizzly magazine.

Lectures and Book Signings

Now that the summer is over, we will restarting our series of lectures and book signings. What is new for this upcoming series is that these events will be conducted in association with the Army Historical Foundation. These are free events, open to the public. However, seating is limited.

Right now we have confirmed the following date for September and October events with other dates pending. We will notify you as dates are added. Prices shown are for online sales through amazon.com. Prices at the event may vary.

Sunday, October 10, 2010, 1:00 pm

Last Missile Site: An Operational and Physical History of Nike Site SF-88, Fort Barry, California

by Stephen Haller by Hole In The Head Press Perfect Paperback

List Price: $19.95

Our Price: $12.87

Buy Now

The Last Missile Site is the only book to bring readers inside the only mechanically operational Nike site in the United States. Historians Stephen Haller and John Martini provide a fascinating detailed description of the physical layout of Nike Site SF-88 as well as insight about life at the battery during the Cold War from officers and enlisted who served at the site. Nike Sites with nuclear warheads surrounded almost every major American city during the Cold War. This is the book for history fans, military historians, park managers, and others who need to understand how these Cold War relics operated. Illustrated by the award-winning Ormsby & Thickstun Design Studio.

About the Authors:

Stephen Haller is the park historian and branch chief for Cultural Resources at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. He was formerly the curator of historic documents at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. He specializes in the study of shipwrecks, military history, and historic landscapes in the Bay Area. He is the author of numerous books and publications. John Martini is a retired NPS park ranger who was curator of Military History at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. He served as a ranger at Fort Point National Historic Site, Alcatraz Island, the Presidio of San Francisco, and Sagamore Hill National Historic Site. He is the author of numerous books and articles on military history.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AHF Logo

Looking for CNG Photos!

CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARDSMEN! Is your spouse telling you it's time to clean out that footlocker in your closet? Don't know what to do with all your photo albums of you time at the garden spots of Camp Roberts and Fort Irwin? Got tons of digital images on your computer from your last deployment to Iraq? Well, then send them to the museum's image library. We are cataloging and preserving the California National Guard's history through images. This also includes the State Guard and Militia of World War II, State Military Reserve, and Naval Militia.

Please provide us with as much information about your images as possible. This could be a photo log or simply writing with a soft pencil on the reverse of the "hard copy" photograph.

Digital copies can be sent on a CD, DVD, memory stick, or memory card.

Whatever the media, please send your images to:

California State Military Museum Image Library
1119 2nd Street
Sacramento, CA 95814-3203

The museum is looking for organizational colors, flags and guidons of the California Army and Air National Guard, California State Guard, National Guard Reserve, and State Military Reserve units. Remember colors, flags, and guidons that were supplied by the Army or Air Force are property of the United States in perpetuity (Title 10, United States Code). These items can be sent to the museum which has been designated by the Adjutant General as the repository for such items.

Attention Hunters, Skiers, and Snowboarders!

Yes, we know it's hot and dry here in Sacramento, but do we have a deal for you.

The museum's gift shop is now stocking military issue Gore-Tex Generation I, cold weather parkas and pants for $113.40 (plus tax) per set. Normally this set goes for over $250 in other retail outlets.

The only choice in color is the ever popular Woodland Camouflage. Sizes range from small to extra-large. Come in and get your set now, before you need it!

MUSEUM MEMBERS! This is a real good deal with you member's discount.

Honor a Veteran or Unit and Buy a Step

The California State Military Museum is offering a unique way to remember the military service of a loved one or that of a particular unit or ship. The museum is "selling" steps on it recently built California Veterans Stairwell.

Stairs are being sold for $250 each and will have a 10" x 6" memorial plaque placed above the "purchased" step. Those purchasing a step, and who are not already a life member, will receive a life membership to the museum.

You can either mail payment and the requested wording of the plaque to the California State Military Museum, 1119 Second Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 or pay online below and we contact you for the wording of the plaque.