Hi Robert,

A Happy Veterans' Day to all you veterans out there. In this issue we will recap our activities leading up to and including the 11th.

We took the Mobile Museum to its first school.

Attended USMC birthday festivities.

Setup a large Vietnam exhibit and gave a short program on Veterans' Day joining with the Irving Symphony Orchestra for a Veterans Salute.

Thanksgiving is next week and Giving Tuesday is in 2 weeks.

Please consider us this giving season.

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 #mia #pow #kia #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

The Mobile Museum made its first school stop on November 9. Participating in the Veterans' Day ceremonies at the Covington Independent School District. An outstanding program in the gym with music, singing and a performance by a high school rifle drill team with honoring of special guests (veterans). Following this all of the students toured the Mobile Museum. Pictures, questions, oohs and ahhs followed as each class took their turn viewing the artifacts of Admirals and Generals.

Thank you Covington Owls for a great Veterans' Day Program!

Friday November 10 we attended the USMC birthday festivities at the Metroplex Coordinating Council luncheon in Dallas, Texas. Singing, Whoopin', a Cake Cutting Ceremony and a great lunch. Happy 248th Birthday Marines!

Veterans' Day at the Irving Symphony in Irving, Texas. Mobile Museum MM-1776 with a Generals and Adrmirals exhibit. Inside a few hundred attendees receive a veterans salute of great music by the Irving Symphony Orchestra and a Militaria Exhibit that included 70 uniforms of Vietnam Veterans, plus many other artifacts. A short program detailing the exhibit and mission of the Sons of Liberty Museum was followed by veterans receiving a commemorative pin.

Inside the mobile museum. Veterans' Day, November 11, 2023.

A portion of Vietnam exhibit and program. Pictured are US Air Force and Army.

Killed in Action, Vietnam War.

US Navy

US Army Aviation

US Marine Corps

US Army Special Forces, Tiger Stripe Fatigues

US Army Special Forces

Republic of Vietnam: National Order of Vietnam Grand Cross, Badge w/sash and star.

US Army, Special Forces

US Army

US Army

US Army

SOG knives.

US Air Force

US Air Force flight suits and party suits.

A few of the many veterans in attendance receiving their commemorative veterans pin from MG Albert Zapanta, Army retired.

By CJ Tyler

I have posted this each year on Veterans Day in tribute to my dad and in gratitude for all who served.

My dad and my son, both who served honorably in the US Army; dad in WWII, David in the Gulf War. While you are only with us in our memories, you are remembered every day and we are thankful for your service to our country. 

RIP: Harry W. Tyler, David A. Mangino 🕊💞🇺🇸

In a Veteran’s Day tribute to my father, a WWII veteran who passed away at the age of 95, I am sharing the following excerpt from his personally penned memoir, “Harry Tyler, My First 90 Years” recapping his involvement during WWII as a U.S. Army First Sergeant preparing for the Battle of Leyte in October 1944.

Ships were in every direction you looked and as far as you could see. Our CO called us together and gave the official news: “Leyte will be invaded on October 20th.”

After spending two years at Camp Roberts, the US Army base in California, I was transferred to Ft. Ord for 30 days of training and conditioning. We were issued warm weather clothing, a sure sign we would be headed to the South Pacific. In early August, we were transferred to San Francisco and boarded the Bosch Fontaine, a Dutch cargo ship that had been converted into a troop carrier. The top deck was where you would find the officers quartered. The two lower levels had bunk beds; I was assigned one and slept there the first night. The next morning, we passed under the Golden Gate Bridge and headed out to sea—the start of a 21-day journey. Our destination was New Guinea. We were not provided an escort and never saw another ship during the entire time.

We were divided into small groups and given duties; I was to take position on the upper deck. There were a number of life rafts secured to the side of the ship; if we should have to abandon ship, it was my duty to release them. We had two meals daily—they were not the greatest. The sea was calm so we were able to move about.

When we dropped anchor at Hollandia on the north coast of New Guinea, we were taken ashore and directed to our unit. This is where the Battle of Hollandia was later fought; “Operation Reckless” – an engagement between the Americans and Japanese. I was with Battery B, 63rd FA, BN, 24th Division, a 105mm unit. My first assignment was Chief of Section with a gun crew.

We lived in tents; the area temps were extremely hot. We were eating food that was a far cry from what we were used to, mainly dehydrated things with dried beans; no fresh food. It tasted good in the beginning, but soon I found myself taking much smaller helpings.

At the time, our unit was still not aware of our intended destination, although we knew it had to be something big because every day more troops and supplies were being brought ashore. The bay was full of many different types of ships.

One morning in mid-October we had an inspection of all our clothing and equipment. Most of our clothing was replaced with OD-color clothing that had been treated with an insect repellent. We were issued a new piece of equipment—a 24-inch long very sharp machete. It was to be used to cut grass and brush, but would also serve other purposes.

Each gun section had a steel track caterpillar—a prime mover, a 105mm howitzer, and an ammunition trailer. All of our personal gear was stored on the trailer. All of the other units, mess, supply and command equipment was in trucks. A gun crew consisted of seven men trained for various duties that could be performed in near total darkness. The ammunition was packed in waterproof containers and then crated. It was a big job to get everything ready to fire; all equipment had to be waterproofed because we wouldn’t know the water depth we would be walking in when we went ashore.

The word came out that we would be invading the island of Leyte in the Philippines on October 20, 1944. A few days before that, we worked around the clock moving ammo and supplies into an LST. There was a steady stream of trucks traveling between the ammo dump and the LST. Everything that was loaded had to be secured so it would not shift en route. Our battalion was loaded on an ACK—designed to carry Army material. Our equipment had to be moved to a designated area on the beach and loaded on an LSM—a small craft just large enough to carry one gun crew and all of our equipment. That same craft would be used to go ashore to Leyte. The LSM would come to the side of the ACK and each piece of equipment would be taken aboard with a large crane, then placed in a hold below deck and secured. It was a slow and tedious task. Every unit involved was moving equipment onto some type of vessel.

The Infantry were put aboard LCIs that carried a large number of men; they were very crowded. There were about 1,500 ships of various types and sizes loaded and ready to go. The following morning, we were underway. Ships were in every direction you looked and as far as you could see. Our CO called us together and gave the official news: “Leyte will be invaded on October 20th.”

The next days were spent reviewing maps and battle plans. We were told about the natives we would encounter and were given more information about the area where we would be landing. This would be a “first” for most of our crew.

The morning of October 20, 1944 dawned; breakfast was served at 0400 hours. No one had an appetite. At 0600 hours we heard the order to prepare for departure. The LCMs were brought alongside and the whole procedure was reversed. There were swells on the water making the transfer a challenge for the men manning the cranes. As soon as our equipment was aboard we lowered ourselves down rope ladders while fighting the large ocean swells. Releasing yourself from the ladder had to occur at just the right time.

Our crew safely boarded and our LCM moved to its position, continuing to move in a large circle until we were ordered to head for the beach. We were just a mile offshore; at the same time, the US Navy and Air Force were pounding the landing area and surrounding emplacements, and the Hell Cats were engaging the “Jap-zeros” and “dive bombers.” Anti-aircraft batteries were protecting all of the ships in the area. Shrapnel fell all around us and the noise was so loud you could not hear. Destroyers were moving in close and firing rockets. Counter-fire was being directed at us from gun emplacements near the beach.



My first order to the gun crew: “Keep your body low in the boat!” Our battery was to go ashore in the third wave following two waves of Infantry. Soon we were headed to the beach and the ramp was dropped into no more than a foot of water. Our cat driver had the motor running and was ready to be the first one off the ramp with the gun and trailer. Our gun crew followed close behind. I spotted our CO and who gave instructions as to where our gun should be placed. We set up about 100 feet from the beach in front of a large tank trap. The position was ideal—the trap protected us from any frontal assault.

All of the crews were working fast and in a few minutes we were ready to orient our position and get aligned with the other guns. The Infantry was stalled and needed some Artillery fire to clear the way. We started firing and laid down a devastating field of fire for several minutes. It took a lot of time to get the ammo out of the crates and protective packing and we were running low on ammo. Two trucks loaded with ammo were standing by, so we asked for help to open the crates. A unit was passing behind us on the beach and gave us a hand.

We occupied the same position until late the next day. We got the order to march, and prepared to move out. This would be our agenda for the next ten days. There were calls for Artillery around the clock, so sleep was hard to come by. We could not bathe and ate from our cardboard rations. We were a sorry-looking bunch and the disposition of some of the men was less than ideal. Our first warm food in ten days was a Spam sandwich; it tasted better than steak.

The pace slowed by now, but we were still fighting a formidable foe; the Japanese would not surrender. The 1st Cavalry was on our right flank and the 7th Division on our left. There was no real battle line, as such; it was search-and-destroy small pockets in the mountains. The Artillery was always being asked to clear an area so the Infantry could move in. It rained nearly every night and foxholes were filled with rain water. We chose to build a parapet and stay behind it. In due time, the island was secure and we were relieved from providing support. We withdrew and set up tents and a field kitchen. There was a stream nearby where we were finally able to bathe.

We were involved in three more amphibious assaults. We were now experienced soldiers and performed even better during strikes on Luzon, Mindoro, and Mindanao. It would be a year before all of those battles were completed.

The 63rd FA Battalion returned to Leyte for some much needed rest. We knew that Japan would be our next objective—something none of us was looking forward to. Then, we heard about the “A-bomb” and the devastation that had occurred. The war was over!

MM-1776 Launches

Our grand opening last weekend (Oct 21, 2023) of our new mobile museum, MM-1776.. Thank you to American Legion Post 453 for hosting this event and dinner.

Veteran Memorials

With the launch of our new mobile-museum trailer we have a place for a visual honorarium and memorial for your veteran. Honor your veteran family member with a permanent marker on our new 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; volunteers to transcribe this data.

Transcription of monthly unit histories and other documents are projects to help us recover and preserve history.

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 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: https://www.sonsoflibertymuseum.org/military-history-records.cfm

Honor Roll: https://www.sonsoflibertymuseum.org/honor.cfm

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: https://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/veteran-research.cfm

Honor Roll: https://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/honor_roll.cfm

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 some of 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 $7100 / 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 $13,000. 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 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, 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.

---- 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.

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.