Special Features and Links

New addition Fall 2022

We have a replica uniform honoring Captain Keith J. Lucas, first member of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (then known as the 160th Aviation Battalion) to be killed in action, 25 October 1983 during the invasion of Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury). The 160th SOAR, known as the Night Stalkers were made famous as the aviation unit depicted in the movie Blackhawk Down.

New additions Summer 2021

We now have on loan a World War II Norden bombsight. Used from World War II through Vietnam the Norden was a critical piece of equipment that helped the USAAF and the USAF drop precision ordnance on enemy targets.

We also have a World War II German MG-34 light machinegun. (It has been rendered unfireable, also on loan)

We also have 1/200th scale models of the USS Arizona (as depicted prior to the December 7th attack), as well as the USS Missouri (depicting the signing of the Japanese surrender documents ending World War II).

bat-21

We have, on loan, the Service and Mess Dress uniforms of US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Iceal E. "Gene" Hambleton. His experience of being shot down in Vietnam was depicted in the movie "BAT-21" starring Gene Hackman. His uniforms are on loan from a family member in Livingston County.

Japanese type 38 arisaka carbine

This carbine was captured in the Pacific Theater during World War II by Anthony Smith. This particular carbine was made between 1935 and 1942 at the Nagoya arsenal just south of Tokyo. It is rare that the Imperial Chrysanthemum, the seal of the Emperor, is largely intact. Imperial Chrysanthemums were usually defaced or removed before battle to prevent the Imperial seal from falling into enemy hands.

Autographed aviation paintings by
Robert Taylor and James Dietz
From Robert Taylor we have,
Flight of Eagles
Sandy One
Steady there, them's Spitfires
Victory Salute
Hurricane Scramble
Yeager Goes Mach Two
Double Trouble
From James Dietz we have,
The Old Hand

The Greatest Honor
the story of John Amm, is available on DVD for sale in our museum for $20.

A Golden Cross to Bear
the story of Gustave Amm, is available on DVD for sale in our museum for $20.

Japanese type 96 Light machinegun

This Japanese Type 96 Light machinegun was captured on Iwo Jima in 1945 by US Marine John Sullivan. During the battle this weapon was one of many pinning down the Marines on the beach. John began firing on the gun crew to prevent it from further killing or wounding Marines. The right bi-pod leg and the carrying handle were damaged by John during the fight. After the battle he disassembled it into 3 pieces and sent it home labeled as "shrapnel". When he returned home he reassembled it and displayed it in his attic bar until 1981 when, alerted by an anonymous tip, the LaSalle County Sheriff and the ATF confiscated it. The ATF agent wanted to destroy it but Sheriff Tom Templeton, (then a deputy), requested that he keep it in the Sheriff's office evidence locker until it can go to a museum. John Sullivan always wanted it to eventually be displayed in a museum. When Sheriff Templeton learned of our museum he contacted us and arranged for it to be put on display here. Along with the weapon, John's daughter Jane Sullivan-DePaoli also brought photos and memorabilia of her father. We have also reconstructed John's uniform he would have worn at the time of the battle of Iwo Jima.

new uniforms

world war i african american soldier

World War I uniform honoring Corporal Joshua E. Ward of Pontiac who served on the Mexican border and with Company C 370th Infantry Regiment in WW I.

Veteran Prison guards killed in riot

We have replica uniforms of 3 guards killed in the riot at the Pontiac Correctional Center on 22 July 1978.
The Mannequins are now on permanent display at the Pontiac Correctional Center's museum.

robert conkle

Robert served in the US Army and was assigned to the 618th Engineer Company, 82nd Airborne Division, serving from 1974-1977.

Stanley "king" cole

Stanley served in the US Air Force in the Korean War and was assigned to the 808th Motor Vehicle Squadron. He served from 1949-1952

William thomas

William served in the US Army in the Korean War and was assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division and served from 1947-1951.

Larry corrigan

Larry, a Pontiac native, served in the US Army in Special Forces in Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 and lives in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Casey kohlmeier

Casey served as a Security Policeman in the US Air Force and was a K-9 officer with the Pontiac Police Department. Casey and his K-9 Draco died in the line of duty on 30 October 2013.

Robert Glendon

Robert served as a Cadet Midshipman in the Merchant Marines from 1944-1945. He served on merchant ships in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Pacific until the end of the war. Robert enlisted in the US Army in 1946 and served with occupation forces in Japan until his Honorable Discharge in 1948.

visiting bear

Jan Kennedy from Pontiac stopped by the museum to show us the bear she had made from her late husband Larry's Army uniforms. She was accompanied by her two grandsons.

youtube video

the murphy brothers

Vincent, Joseph, James Murphy

vincent murphy

Vincent served with the 8th Engineer Squadron of the 1st Cavalry Division in the Pacific has a bronze arrowhead and four service stars for participation in the Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, Leyte and the liberation of the Philippines. He later served occupation duty in Japan after the Japanese surrender.

joseph murphy

Joe served as a Cavalryman with the Illinois National Guard assigned to the 35th Cavalry Recon, (35th Division Rangers), 35th Infantry Division in Europe. His unit went from France to the Netherlands and finally Germany. Joseph was awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded in the leg.

james murphy

James served as an Engineer Company Commander of Company B, 46th Engineer Construction Company in the Pacific and participated in the liberation of the Philippines. James was awarded the Bronze Star Medal during his service.

The brothers Murphy back home after the war.

japanese wakizashi sword

Of the many weapons on display in the museum is a Japanese Wakizashi sword captured in battle during the Pacific war. This was a family sword handed down many generations until captured. Experts that have examined the sword and the inscriptions on the tang, (the steel handle under the grip), and estimate it was forged between 970 and 1570. An exact date and year is difficult to determine because the inscriptions are faint and very hard to see.

JAPANESE "Type 98" officer's katana

One of the newest additions to the museum is a Japanese "Type 98" officer's Katana captured in World War II. The sword is estimated to be 100 - 135 years old. However, as we are unable to remove the handle and read the sword forger's signature and date on the tang, the exact age of the sword can only be estimated.