US Army
O.D. Wool Field Jacket
Corporal Dale W. Stalter
(Decatur)
After training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, CPL Stalter shipped overseas, arriving in Africa in April, 1943. He was assigned to Co L, 39th INF, 9th Infantry Division. He fought in Sicily and landed at Utah beach on June 10, 1944 (D-Day +4). He was seriously wounded on December 12th and was awarded the Purple Heart.
O.D. Field Jacket & Helmet
First Lieutenant Robert Tews
(Michigan City)
1LT Tews entered onto active duty in October of 1941 as an enlisted man, receiving his commission and was assigned to C Company, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. Early in April, 1945, 1LT Tews was wounded and hospitalized. He returned to C Company in May. After the war, while on occupation duty, LIFE magazine featured his unit in one of their articles. 1LT Tews is shown here conducting a class .
Parachutist Uniform
Technician Fifth Grade
Tom Evans
(East Chicago)
Tom Evans was drafted late in 1942 and took his training at Camp Wallers, TX. He was trained as a cook and later volunteered for airborne training.In 1943 he was at Fort Bragg (most likely Camp Mackall) where he continued with his training. He was assigned to Service Company, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.
Identification Bracelet
Private James F. Long
(Nashville)
PVT Long grew up in Nashville, IND and was drafted in April 1943. Long was assigned to Company D, 194th GIR, 17th Airborne Division. He was sent overseas in August of 1944. When the Germans attacked in the Ardennes in December, the 194th was rushed forward, going on the offensive in January. Long was part of this counterattack, surviving it, but suffering frozen feet. He was hospitalized but returned to duty.
Along with the rest of the 194th GIR, Long took part in Operation Varsity. He wrote his parents on March 30th "I'm still in one piece plugging right along through the Reich, if you've been following the news. Had a pretty rough trip so far, but am rather enjoying the idea of knocking this country apart like they have been doing to others."
On April 5th, as part of the 8th Armored Divisions attack into the Ruhr, the 194th GIR(-) was attached to Combat Command A, 8th AD. They were tasked with clearing the areas between the Moline and Ruhr Rivers. Having been pushed out of the town, the Germans regrouped and Battle Group Hass counterattacked with 150-200 troops and heavy artillery. The 194th was able to repulse the attack, but it was here the PVT Long was killed.
O.D. Wool Field Jacket
Private Frank Farlow
(Paoli)
PVT Farlow entered the Army in May, 1944 and was assigned to Company C, 326th Glider Infantry Regiment, 13th Airborne Division. He remained with the 13th Airborne Division while in Europe, returning to the United States in August of 1945. Upon his return, he was assigned to the 325th GIR, 82nd Airborne Division.
Service Dress Uniform
1LT Mary Woodhull
(Fort Wayne)
Mary (Polly) Woodhull earned a nursing degree from Methodist Hospital in Fort Wayne and joined the Army in August of 1942. She enlisted at Ft Knox in Kentucky. After sailing to England on the Queen Mary, she was stationed in Tauton in southern England. Having had experience in psychiatric care in civilian life, she was assigned to the psychiatric unit of the 67th General Hospital. She returned to the US on the Queen Elizabeth in September, 1945.
Insignia of the 503rd PIR
Sergeant Howard R. Craig
(Indianapolis)
SGT Howard R. Craig served in the Pacific theater with Service Company, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Awards and Decorations of
T-5 Charles R. Rogers
(Monon)
Enlisting in May of 1942, Charles H. Rogers had been an athlete at his high school in Monon, Indiana. After his parents had divorced; Charles remained with his father living in Monon, while his mother had moved to Milford, Indiana.
He first underwent training at Camp Blanding, Florida followed by assignments at Fort Benning, Georgia and then Camp Mackall, North Carolina. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 508th PIR.
Rogers volunteered to be a pathfinder and spent much of his time learning about the terrain on which they were to land. The mission of the 508th pathfinders was to mark the Drop Zone “N” north of Picauville. According to an after action report, he 508th pathfinders lost approximately two-thirds of their enlisted and officer personnel.
On 17 September, the 508th parachuted into Holland as part of Operation Market Garden. Quickly securing its first objectives, the 508th was unable to capture the Nijmegen Bridge. The next day, the 508th had to recall its force from Nijmegen, to recapture drop zone T. Fighting against a force of 500 Germans supported by 20mm guns, the 508th was able to retake the DZ. On 24 September, the division consolidated its positions and continued to hold against German counter attacks. Early on the morning of 1 October, the Germans unleashed a heavy artillery barrage. It was during this barrage that T-5 Rogers was killed.
Service Dress Uniform
Captain James E. Lockman
(Seymour)
On June 1, 1944, Captain James E. Lockman was assigned to Headquarters, 3rd Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. On June 7, 1944, D plus 1, the 175th Infantry landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy, France. Fighting through Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, Lockman was wounded at Julich, Germany in January 1945.
