History Enthusiasts:

We are celebrating our 250 years all year long! We will continue and are honored to bring you some of the stories and artifacts of these individuals.

This is our 150th Issue of monthly history, honoring those patriots who wore the cloth of the nation. Remember and honor your family members, friends and those with whom you may have served.

We are working on a few very large projects including one of photography. In this issue we are going to bring you a very small sample of this effort, that of US Army uniforms of Vietnam Veterans. We will also throw in a few other artifacts for good measure. We are working on biographies that will be posted to the website in the future.

Your support enables us to bring exhibits like our America 250 display to the public. We are honored by your support.

Want to help Support Our Mission?

Sons of Liberty Museum - Secure Donation

Army Air Corps Museum - Secure Donation

Thank you for all of the great artifact donations!

We want to send out a special thank you to all of our volunteers who have been helping us on many projects. We could not have accomplished so much without your assistance!

Thank you for your support!

Artifacts help tell the stories, money makes the engine run, please

Donate Now!

We tell history! Saving Military History One Soldier at a Time.

Remember those that made the #ultimatesacrifice #kia #mia #pow #sonsofliberty. #patriots #army #navy #marines #aircorps #airforce #coastguard #spaceforce #merchantmarine; all those that have worn the cloth.

Join us on this journey.

In Their Memory,

Robert Coalter, Executive Director

Jason Weigler, Executive Director

Major Robert Weigler, Jr. US Army Ret. - Director

"Saving Military History One Soldier At A Time".^SM 

"Saving History One Soldier At A Time"^SM

2026. The Sons of Liberty Museum and the Army Air Corps Museum would like to announce a new program for companies and groups that would like to celebrate America's 250 years. This new program is the first of a lecture series entitled “From the Battlefield to the Boardroom: How 250 Years of Military Tenets Shape Modern Business Excellence”.

This program brings 10 artifacts and leadership stories to your location. This program is available in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Contact us for information and booking.

The Lecture Series can be a stand alone program or used in conjunction with a visit by the Museum's Mobile Museum.

Mobile Museum Veteran's Day / November Schedule

The calendar booking for the Mobile Museum during November surrounding Veteran's Day is filling up VERY FAST. Reserve your spot today!

****Announcement: We are in the process of setting up a new exhibit in the Mobile Museum. We are honored to announce that this fall's exhibit will be devoted to World War II. There is also a section devoted to the 301st Bombardment Group (12th Air Force, 15th Air Force).

SP4 Charles L. Orr

US Army Adjutant General Corps

25th Infantry Division

CPT Magee Stephens

101st Airborne, 3 Years

SSGT Manuel Austria Coniconde

Phillippine Gorillia - WWII

5th Group, Special Forces, Vietnam

SPC4 Michael R. Wick

Company C, 1st Medical Battalion

1st Cavalry Division

Killed In Action: 9 June 1969

PFC Richard Graham Bowman

G Battery, 55th Artillery Regiment

23rd Americal Division

CPL William Johnson

158th Infantry Regiment

"Bushmasters"

6th Infantry Division

World War II

RM3 Thomas Creekmore

Radioman, 3rd Class

LSM-459 (Landing Ship Medium)

Battle of Okinawa

World War II

MSGT Lloyd Crawford

78th Infantry Division

Eyewitness to History, Participant in History. Nothing beats official and personal stories of those that were there. Read the following reports of two Army Air Forces pilot's official reports.

435TH FIGHTER SQUADRON

479TH FIGHTER GROUP, AAF

APO 558, AAF STATION F-377

12 October 1944

ENCOUNTER REPORT

NAME: Hubert Zemke, Col., AC.

(a) Aerial and Ground Combat.

(b) 7 October 1944.

(c)  435th Fighter Squadron, 479th Fighter Group.

(d) Between 1315-1330 hours.

(e) West of Chemnitz, some 30 miles

(f) Clear below 29,000 feet with a solid overcast to the south of combat area. Overcast top at 1,500 feet, base at 200-300 feet, 5-6/10 very high cirrus over Germany at 29,000 feet plus. Visibility excellent above 10,000, 5 miles below 10,000 feet.

(g) One (1) Me 109 destroyed (Shared with 1st Lt., Norman R. Benoit.)

One (1) Locomotive badly damaged.

Two (2) railroad open dump cars hit.

(h) Claims as given in paragraph (g) above.

(i) Narrative:

Leading one half of the 479th Fighter Group on the mission of 7 October 1944, we had gone back to just south of Nordhausen in quest of the combat wing we were to escort to Brux. At approximately that point, after passing many bomber formations without finding the proper CW, it was decided to fly on to the target area and wait for the bombers there.

As we moved forward again on the bomber column, in a general direction of SW, an unidentified formation of single engine fighters were seen approaching at a fast rate from the north. The aircraft were flying in a much closer formation than is normally seen by U. S. fighters so I gave orders for our boys to step up their power and we would investigate. Since they were still some ten (10) miles away it was impossible to identify them, yet they continued to turn toward a CW of bombers ahead of us some three or four miles in a suspicious manner. They closed into the bomber formation from about seven o’clock well ahead of us and I saw the action of heavy cannon and machine gun fire. Tanks were dropped and we opened full out as the bombers began to explode and drop out of the sky. The E/A, as they passed through the CW, rolled over and down to the left.

By the time we reached the scene of the battle the enemy fighters were well below so I began descending. At about 23,000 feet two (2) Me 109’s were picked up several thousand feet below making a level getaway to the north. A split-S was made on the leader from above and I approached to good firing range without difficulty. This pilot, who I must say was as good as I’ve opposed in some time, didn’t dive as normally German pilots do, but instead broke hard right to pull around on my tail. Since the deflection was too great and my speed was much too high to turn, I pulled up in almost a vertical climb to fall over on one wing. My number two man, 1st Lt., Benoit, carried on when the enemy broke and took a pass at the Me 109. Again the enemy broke and Benoit recovered upward. I made a pass at the E/A again without results. Benoit came down immediately in back of me to try and swing on his tail. This time the Me 109 swung around to get an advantage on Benoit as they went around in a circle. I rolled over to cut him off and the E/A broke off downward. He must have realized he was not getting anywhere fast at the rate he was going so he dove for the very low clouds which lay to the south.

His break placed me directly in back but pretty well out of range, the race began as whether I could overtake him in the steep dive before he reached the clouds. My closing speed was not too great even though I estimate now that I was traveling between 500 and 550 MPH, IAS. Just before entering the cloud I figured he would level out as the tops were not more than 1,500 feet. This would give me a good chance to realy put in a burst but to my supprise his left wing folded back hitting the fuselage and tail, causing the entire aircraft to disentigrate. The pieces went straight down so I took some bursts of fire as they entered the cloud. I saw no parachute and am certain the pilot was killed.

After having another inconclusive combat with another Me 109 on the deck and in the low clouds, my wing man and I moved off to the east in search of our bombers. They were not picked up but a few of my original fighters were found. We moved home toward the northeast with a B-17 who we finally had to give up because of the flak and he continually decended more and more to the deck.

Somewhere in the vicinity of Oscherleben, between a quarry of some sort and a small factory town, a small train was seen. My wing man and I going down in a wide circle from 12,000 feet, the first pass was bad as I didn’t have the airplane trimmed and was going too fast so after firing I pulled up and around to the north again to put a good burst directly into the engine. Recovery was made up the boys waiting and we moved on home.

HUBERT ZEMKE,

Col., Air Corps.

HEADQUARTERS

FOURTH FIGHTER GROUP (USAAF)

Intelligence Combat Report

FIELD ORDER NO 83

Pilot: Lt. Leon M. Blanding

A. 28 July, 1943

B. 335 Squadron

C. P-47C-2RE

D. 1115 hours

E. 10 miles Southeast of Utrecht

F. Visibility very good; slight haze below 26,000 feet

G. One FW 190 Destroyed

H. Statement of Claim:

I was flying as Red 3 alone as my number four had to return from the English coast. I saw two FW 190’s lining up to go down on a crippled Fort from the rear, This Fort was slightly behind and to the right of the main body of Forts. I immediately reported that I was going down, and Red 1 reported that he was going down to cover me. I opened fire on the rear FW 190 with a range of about 700/1000 yards. I know that the range was extreme, but I had to start shooting before they reached the Fort. I immediately observed strikes flashing on the front part of the fuselage and at the wing root on the port side. The enemy a/c practically stopped and I closed fast to 100/150 yards seeing strikes and parts flying off all the time and the a/c breaking up. Both of his wheels came down and his canopy flew off. It was all burned up and there wasn’t anything left but the frame.

I had to pull away because the other a/c had swung out to the left and then came back at me. I broke hard left and he hit me with a couple of a/g bullets. Red 1 could have taken this man but was out of ammunition having just shot down a FW 190 himself. I carried on and fired on four other 190’s all with deflection shots and observed no results from any of them. We gave the Forts all the help we could but apparently it came too late. I saw four parachutes open right beneath and behind the crippled Fort. I lost my No. 1 and 2 men, so dove for home and returned without further incident.

           I claim one FW 190 as destroyed.

Ammunition Used: 1065 Rnds. .50 Cal A.P.I.

LEON M. BLANDING

1st Lt., Air Corps.

We have added over 4000 World War II US Marine Corps Silver Star Citations to the Sons of Liberty Museum website. Read these citations depicting gallantry in combat action by Marines in WWII. Read a few here.

The President of the United States takes pleasure

in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL posthumously to

CORPORAL RAY K. EDWARDS, U.S. MARINE CORPS.

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a member of the First Marine Division, in action while operating a Naval Radio in the Island Base Command Net, Solomon Islands Area, on September 12, 1942. With courageous disregard for his own safety, Corporal Edwards steadfastly remained at his post during an intense enemy Japanese aerial bombardment in order to receive an important message coming in at the time. His fearless devotion to the performance of a vital task at the cost of his life was an inspiration to the remaining men of this command and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."

For the President,

[SIGNATURE BLOCK]

Secretary of the Navy.

R- Chicago, Ill.

B- Chicago, Ill.

-----------------

The President of the United States takes pride

in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL to

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS JACK G. FRENCH,

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE,

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Assistant Gunner in a Machine Gun Squad of Company E, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, on 16 September 1944. Although wounded twice when all the members of his squad became casualties during a strong ambush by hostile forces, Private First Class French succeeded in dragging a wounded comrade to safety and taking charge of a rifle squad detailed to effect the rescue, braved the continued enemy rifle and machine gun barrage to direct the rescue of two seriously wounded Marines, thereby undoubtedly saving the lives of three of his comrades. His outstanding courage, devotion to duty and grave concern for the welfare of others were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

For the President,

[SIGNATURE BLOCK]

Secretary of the Navy.

R---Sullivan, Indiana

B---Sullivan, Indiana

All non-profits need your support to operate and the Sons of Liberty and the Army Air Corps Museums need your help!

The first ask is the easiest; that you share this newsletter with 5 friends and family members.

Our next asks are financial support. We have a number of specific donations or one for our general fund. Each link will take you to the page on the website that describes our need and application of each donation.

Our new capital campaign for a new permanent facility is about to begin! stay tuned for details.

 New Education Center & General Fund

 Preserve A Donation $100

 Sponsor a Newsletter $250

 Support Museum Supplies $500

Purchase of 500 Riker Display Boxes $3500

 Support Web Operation $700

 Veteran Honorarium $750

 Veteran Honorarium $1375

 Veteran Honorarium $2000

 Sponsor a School Field Trip $1500 *plus any mileage if required in service area.

 Mobile Museum Corporate Sponsorship $5000

Thank you for your consideration and support.

Want to create a permanent memorial for your veteran or family member? Instead of a brick that wears away from foot traffic, memorialize that special veteran on the side of the USH-Constitution our mobile museum.

Bronze

This is a 2 1/2" x 22" name placard. This is a 2 row display with the first line containing the name and the second a unit, conflict and branch. The top row is approx. 1" tall and the 2nd line 3/4".

2 1/2" x 22" - $750

Silver

This is a 2" x 36" name placard. This is a 1 row display with the line containing the name, unit, conflict and branch. The lettering is approximately 1 1/2" tall.

 2" x 36" - $1375



Gold

This is a 5" x 36" name placard. This is a 2 row display with the first line containing the name and the second a unit, conflict and branch. The top row is approx. 2" tall and the 2nd line 1 1/2".

5" x 36" - $2000

MM-1776

Mobile Museum 1776, the USH-Constitution.

Veteran Memorials

Our mobile-museum trailer has a place on the side for a visual honorarium and memorial for your veteran. Honor your veteran family member with a permanent marker on our mobile-museum.

Like bricks or pavers, this permanent memorial will be seen by many at schools, veteran and civic events. Get your Veteran Memorial Today!

Read more about Sons of Liberty Memorials

Read More About Army Air Corps Memorials

If you are looking to volunteer with a non-profit we would welcome your assistance. We have a need to transcribe over 150,000 of these index cards. Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Soldiers Medal, Bronze Stars and Purple Heart. Getting this information into our database will allow us to make this data searchable. Contact us to get started!

We are also looking for General Orders of World War II, digital copies are welcome; along with volunteers to transcribe this data.

Transcription of monthly unit histories and other documents are projects to help us recover and preserve history and are fantastic accounts written close to the actual events rather than decades later as memories may fade.

There are still thousands classified as Missing in Action or as Buried Unknowns. In our partnership with the MIA Recovery Network we have established data on our websites regarding MIAs.

The quest to account for those of our nation's Missing in Action is one of the most noble of endeavors. There are also a large number of recovered remains that are buried in ABMC cemeteries where the identity is unknown. These are known as X-Files.

The recovery of MIAs pose a number of challenges. For example, Navy or Merchant Marine ships that were sunk are unrecoverable and thus ship manifests are the primary and often only source of names for those that have perished but are still accounted.

Each conflict has had its own challenges. At the end of World War II the military had established more than 360 temporary cemeteries, but the dead were being found continually in farm fields, forests, small church cemeteries, isolated graves and the shores of combat zones. These dead were collected and the remains consolidated into the fourteen permanent European, Mediterranean, and North African Cemeteries maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission along with two permanent cemeteries in the Philippines and Hawaii.

Monetary donations are needed and very welcomed to support these efforts to create case files.

Please consider a Supporting Donation today. Thank You.

#neverforget #bringthemallhome

Sons of Liberty Museum

The Sons of Liberty has hundreds of uniforms and thousands of other artifacts in our collection from the U.S. Revolutionary War to Present day. Our web presence now numbers in excess of 500,000 pages. We continue to accept new material for education and research programs.

Our collection includes memorabilia from the front line soldier to the rear echelon clerk. Drivers, infantrymen, pilots, tankers, seaman, medical, artillery, armorers, engineers, quartermasters and much more. Those that were drafted or volunteered; those that did a single tour or made it a career. Those that returned with all types of injuries and those that gave their full measure; killed in action (KIA). All MOS are welcome from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marines.

Monetary donations help us preserve and display these pieces of American History. Thank you for your support.

We are Saving Military History One Soldier At A Time. We are honoring the service of the Citizen Soldier.

#sonsofliberty

Volunteers

We need volunteers to transcribe award and roster documents. You will place the material into a spreadsheet where it will be added to our database and website. We welcome new dedicated volunteers to work from home and help us with this project!

Interesting Links & Resources

Researching History: Military Records

Honor Roll: Veteran Rosters and History

Donations

We welcome donations of monies for operational costs. Artifact donations are sought in the form of papers, books, photos, gear, uniforms, jackets, medals, ribbons, weapons, equipment, scrapbooks, biographies, diaries and more. Please Contact Us

Revolutionary War, War if 1812, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Cold War, Gulf War and current conflict donations accepted. From small to large multi-item donations, they all tell a story.

We need you ! We need your help to further our mission of preserving and bringing this history to the public. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit your qualifying donations are tax deductible.

Army Air Corps Museum

The Air Corps Museum online presence encompasses over 500,000 web pages with thousands of photos and other materials. Our artifact collection contains hundreds of uniforms, albums, logs, medals and more from the Army Air Service, Army Air Forces and U.S. Air Force.

World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Cold War, Gulf War and current conflict donations welcome!

Volunteers

We need volunteers to transcribe documents, placing the material into a spreadsheet. We welcome new dedicated volunteers to help us with this project! Work from home.

Interesting Links & Resources

Trace a Family Members Military Service: Research a Veteran's Military History

Honor Roll: Army Air Corps Veteran Roster, Honor Roll

Donations

We welcome donations of papers, books, photos, gear, uniforms, jackets, medals, ribbons, weapons, equipment, scrapbooks, biographies, diaries, letters and more. Please Contact Us

Monetary donations help us preserve and display these pieces of American History. Thank you for your support. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit your qualifying donations are tax deductible.

As a non-profit it's important to let our patrons know where their money is going.

This riker-mount display box is one of the most important pieces that we use. They contain ribbons, medals, patches, pictures and other small memorabilia items. They are great to help reserve items as well.

Each year we purchased 500 of these items. We will fill them all with great artifacts in less than 12 months. $5000.

Constant Contact charges us $1200 annually to create, store and send this newsletter.

Our web servers, domains and hosting cost $8200 / year. Our hosting requirement of storage will only increase over the coming years as we continue to add to our online material.

The annual total for just these three components is $14,400. Naturally, we have other expenditures, but 100% of monetary donations go to operations. All staff and directors are volunteers.

Monetary donations are needed and very welcomed to support these efforts.

Please consider a Military Museum Donation today. Thank You.



We rescue a lot of military artifacts; items destined for the trash heap. From torn papers and faded ribbons to moth damaged uniforms, decades pass and the condition of items deteriorate. These artifacts still have a story to tell.

Many museums only want items in pristine condition, we say differently. Some so called museums only want materials from a well known commander written up in history books or the fighter ace or a man who would fly to the moon or a Medal of Honor recipient.

While we have artifacts such as these we also have the items of the draftee who answered their nation's call and served their tour and then went home. Some were not so fortunate, there is special place in our hearts for the KIAs. In our mission of "Saving Military History One Soldier at a Time" it is about all who have worn the cloth of our nation's military. Artifacts help us bring stories to life no matter their condition.

We accept donations of artifacts in ALL CONDITIONS.

The Cinema, another way to describe it is it's our own Netflix.

130 combat films represented by 209 clips and 1436 minutes of footage will keep you watching for hours.

Army, Army Air Forces, Navy, Marines. WW2 and Vietnam. There's something for everyone.

This is a subscription service of $14.95/month.

Take a few minutes and go see what's "Now Showing" and decide if you want to signup and start watching.

Sons of Liberty Virtual Cinema

Last year we began redesigning our websites, many of these have not had a new design for 10 years. We completed:

Complete Redesigns:

5thaf.org - Fifth Air Force

7thaf.org - Seventh Air Force

9af.org - Ninth Air Force

47th Bombardment Group

Army Air Corps Museum

Sons of Liberty Museum

10af.org - Tenth Air Force

14af.org - Fourteenth Air Force

cbihistory.org - China-Burma-India,Theater. A New Website.

www.15af.org - Fifteenth Air Force

Many Updates/Enhancements:

8af.org - Eighth Air Force

We have quite a few more websites to go; but keep following us and this newsletter for updates.

Interested in reading and watching; check out some of the material below.

WATCH:

On X:

US Army Air Forces and Lafayette Escadrille, North Africa World War II 1942-43. US General Carl Spaatz. (In Color)

Airfield Activity on Iwo Jima (color).

B-25s of 41st Bombardment Group in the Pacific in Color

SBD Dauntless over the Pacific (color)

American Tanks in the ETO (color)

On Facebook:

With the US Army in North Africa 1942.

Normandy: Infantry Hits the Beach

Medics Tend to Wounded GIs in Europe, WWII

332nd Fighter Group Men, Interview in Italy

B-29 Superfortress: Pacific World War II in Color

READ:

1942 Operational Diary of the 10th Air Force (Beginning 1 June).

Charles Lawton, 443rd Troop Carrier, Pilot Encounter Narrative

Historical Background on the History of the 5th Air Force of World War II

5th Air Force Highlights Bismark Sea, Lae and Rabaul.

Army Air Forces on D-Day

Air Operations, 1 March 1941, Territory of Hawaii

Message From Admiral Stark to Admiral Kimmel 4 June 1941

4th Infantry Division on Utah Beach on D-Day

US Army Studies, D-Day the Cross-Channel Attack.

Pearl Harbor Attack, Experiences of the 580th Signal Air Warning Bn.

1st Infantry Division, After Action Reports 6 June 1944

18th IR, 1st Infantry Division, Unit History June 1944

115IR, 29th Infantry Division, June 1944 After Action Report

D-Day Operations 4th Infantry Division

Army Rangers, Combat Interviews 6-8 June 1944

D-Day on Normandy 6 June 1944

101st Airborne Pathfinders on D-Day

Sun Tzu Observes D-Day Invasion of Normandy



---- What is Liberty ? ----

"definition. the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views." 

Merriam-Webster defines it as " the power to do as one pleases, the freedom from physical restraint and freedom from arbitrary or despotic control.

---- So what is a Son of Liberty? ----

In our context and beginning these were the men and women in America who wanted their liberty and freedom from the King of England. They desired a right of self-determination for their lives.  They fought for this liberty and codified it in the Constitution of a new country.  To keep this liberty they created a military to ward off the any would-be belligerent. Since the War of Independence until and including the present day the men and women who have worn the cloth of our nation's military are its Sons of Liberty.  They have fought enemies in other nations, they have fought each other and they have stood as sentinels of the watch.

We celebrate the service of these individuals, we tell the historical story of these selfless patriots.

---- The Sons of Liberty Museum ----

Over 15 years ago we chose a name for this organization and our sister the Army Air Corps Library and Museum. We believe these names accurately describe these men and women who serve. We will not change any name to satisfy a radical viewpoint or computer algorithm. We don't allow for any revisionist history, we tell the factual stories.

We are Saving Military History One Soldier at a Time.^SM

Our Mission

Saving Military History One Soldier at a Time^SM 

Saving Military History One Airman at a Time^SM 

Saving Military History One Marine at a Time^SM 

Saving Military History One Aviator at a Time^SM 

Saving Military History One Seaman at a Time^SM 

Saving Military History One Infantryman at a Time^SM 

Saving Military History One Patriot at a Time^SM 

Saving Military History One Citizen Soldier at a Time^SM 

Need a Good Book, DVD?

Check out these titles.

We would like to send a shout out to our website design partner, InterNet Partners, who has helped us with a variety of database programming and web design over the years.