May 2016 Newsletter.Indd

volumE 14, issuE 3 mAy 2016 Past Remembered KOREA: Future Uncertain Those who served in the Korean War more than six decades ago remember the south’s brutal winters and the north’s bloodthirsty aggression like it was yesterday. Three combat veterans, each with remarkable stories to tell, shared those memories with a crowd of more than 200 at the National Infantry Museum Foundation’s 3rd annual symposium called “Ko- Inside this issue: rea: The Forgotten War - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.” The symposium is an extension of the Hughston Leadership Lecture Series, which was New museum chief 3 initiated by Dr. Carl Savory in 2005. Savory, a member of the National Infantry Museum Foundation Board of Directors, hosted the event. living his passion The veterans participating in the symposium included COL Ralph Puckett, who was a 25-year-old second lieutenant when, without a single day of troop experience, he was New courtyard for 4 recruited to organize, train, and lead the Eighth Army Ranger Company in Korea. It was the outdoor events fi rst Ranger unit established after World War II. Just a few months later, he was seriously wounded as his men were overrun by Chinese forces. He credits the event for cementing Holocaust victims 5 his belief in tough and repetitive training. When asked at symposium what was the single remembered most important lesson learned in Korea, he said, “Be prepared and ready to fi ght. Today.” Joining Puckett on the veterans panel were Air Force LTG Chick Cleveland and Army Authors planning 5 COL Ben Malcom. Cleveland was credited with shooting down fi ve enemy MiG-15 aircraft in Korea, offi cially earning the designation of `ace.’ Malcom served in top secret missions in book signings (continued on page 2) $500,000 check 6 presented MOH recipient joins 6 OCS Hall of Fame A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEUM In his fi rst public presentation since retiring in April, LTG Bernie Champoux illustrates the FOUNDATION mounting threats presented by the current regime in North Korea. PAGE 2 thE infAntry hEritAGE lEttEr Korea: The Forgotten War (continued from page 1) Korea with CIA operatives even before the Army recognized Special Forces. It wasn’t until the mid-1990s when his unit’s unconventional exploits were declassifi ed that he was able to release his book, White Tigers: My Secret War in North Korea. The symposium also featured historian Leo Barron, author of High Tide in the Korean War: How an Outnumbered American Regiment Defeated the Chinese at the Battle of Chipyong-Ni. Barron set the stage for the symposium by presenting the events and decisions that led up to the war. The closing speaker was LTG Bernie Champoux, who retired from the Army just two months earlier. His last assign- ment was command of the Eighth Army in Korea. Champoux painted a picture of South Korea today and the role American service members continue to play there, and shared some insights into the threats posed by LTC Jeffrey Bryson gets started on Leo Barron’s North Korean leader book, High Tide in the Ko- Kim Jong-un. He rean War. described the North Korean government as “cult-like,” where resi- dents treat their leaders like deities. He said he wouldn’t characterize Kim Jong-un as irrational, but he did acknowledge his unpredictability and brutality, and said South Koreans live with that threat every day. He noted that North Korea’s weapons are staged only 30 miles from the South Korean capital of Seoul, the most densely populated city in the world. After the symposium, Soldiers and civilians Left to right: LTG (Ret) Bernie Champoux, COL (Ret) Dr. Carl alike lined up to buy books, have them auto Savory, COL (Ret) Ralph Puckett, historian Leo Barron, and graphed, and talk one-on-one with the present- COL (Ret) Ben Malcom. ers. Board of Directors National Advisory Board LTG Carmen Cavezza, Chairman GEN Ed Burba, Chairman MG Ken Leuer LTG Tom Metz, Vice Chairman GEN Barry McCaffrey, Vice Chairman GEN Bill Livsey Mr. Rick Alexander GEN John Abizaid Mr. Frank Lumpkin III The Honorable John Allen Mr. Jim Balkcom Secretary of Army John Marsh Dr. Frank Brown LTG Mike Barbero Honorable Bob Poydasheff LTC (Ret) Tom Carlisle LTG Jerry Bates COL Ralph Puckett Mr. Russ Carreker MG J.B. Burns Mr. Tom Rabaut Mr. Cecil Cheves LTG Carmen Cavezza LTG Ben Register Mr. Jake Flournoy Mr. Duke Doubleday GEN Bill Richardson Dr. Jack Goldfrank LTG Charles W. “Bill” Dyke Gov. Tom Ridge Sen. Hunter Hill GEN Larry Ellis GEN Robert W. RisCassi Ms. Jacki Lowe MG Carl Ernst COL Mike Sierra Mr. Rodney Mahone LTG Mike Ferriter LTG Mike Spigelmire Dr. Robin Pennock LTG Tom Fields MG William Steele Mrs. Becky Rumer GEN John Foss Mr. Mat Swift Dr. Carl Savory LTG Ben Freakley Mr. Fred Taylor Mr. Joe Galloway Mr. William Turner LTG Dave Grange Mr. Jim Weaver Ex-Ofﬁ cio Members Mrs. Richard Hallock LTG Sam Wetzel GEN William Hartzog MG Jerry White BG Peter Jones GEN Buck Kernan MG Walt Wojdakowski COL (Ret) Mike Burns MG Will Latham BG Jim Yarbrough COL (Ret) Bob Brown LTG John LeMoyne PAGE 3 New Museums Chief Settling In David Hanselman was the kind of kid whose bedroom was filled with model airplanes. He led the neighborhood kids in mock battles, and collected flight jackets instead of bugs or rocks. He was especially attracted to World War II era aircraft and paraphernalia. And now, as a military historian, he still marvels that he’s landed in a career that brings both of his passions together. Hanselman is the new director of the Maneuver Center of Excellence Museum Divi- sion. He’s responsible for two museum operations -- the National Infantry Museum and the National Armor and Cavalry Museum, still in the planning and fundraising stages. He comes to this position from Fort Eustis, Virginia, where he was the longtime director of the David Hanselman Army Transportation Museum. Hanselman said one of his first impressions of the National Infantry Museum was that it was a “corporate level museum,” unlike most in the Army system. There are more than 28,000 artifacts in the NIM’s collection. He says visitors are often surprised -- and sometimes disappointed -- that only about 10 percent of the total collection is on display. The rest is housed in special artifact storage cases. But on future visits, Hanselman says, they may see something new. “Our job as museum professionals is to protect these artifacts for genera- tions to come. If you leave artifacts on display too long, you risk doing them harm. They need to rest.” Hansel- man says artifacts are usually rotated out every three to five years, and that it’s time to look closely at rotating some of the NIM’s artifacts. The chance to see more Armor artifacts -- beyond what’s on display in the NIM’s Armor gallery -- is a ways down the road. The plan is to build a “training support facility” to house the artifacts that were transferred here when the Armor School moved from Fort Knox to Fort Benning. Army funding for the TSF is expected in 2017; construction will take about five years. But the facility will not be open to the public; it will be used for educating and training Armor students. Any new, large-scale Armor museum that’s built will likely depend on the success of private fund raising efforts. Hanselman spent 28 years in the military, both Army and National Guard. During tours to Iraq and Afghanistan he documented the war for history books, and collected military artifacts for Army museums. National Infantry Museum Arms Curator Jeff Reed His team even mirrored the characters (right) examines a Civil War era drum with a member of the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. in the George Clooney movie “Monu- The drum is one of about 28,500 artifacts in the ments Men,” recovering and returning NIM’s collection -- most of which are not on display. war trophies to their rightful owners. Hanselman says he’s found the perfect job. He’s surrounded by priceless artifacts, he teaches Soldiers and civilians lessons that should never be forgotten, and he is thanked every day by veterans who appreciate being remembered. “As a military historian, this is my passion, and now it’s my profession. I’m getting paid to do what I love most.” Afghanistan, 2007 Memorial Day Salute to Desert Storm Vets Visitors to the National Infantry Museum this Memo- The guest speaker at the paver dedication ceremo- rial Day will be reminded of the Gulf War, which was ny will be Rev. Dr. Richard Wright, a veteran of Desert waged 25 years ago as allied forces fought to liberate Storm. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. Kuwait from Iraqi control. On the museum’s front lawn In addition, there will be a kids’ mini-camp from 9 will be military boots of all ages and condition, each a.m. to 1 p.m., a flag retirement ceremony at 12:30 with a small American flag and a tag, representing p.m., and self-guided tours on World War II Company the 294 troops killed in Operations Desert Shield and Street between 11am and 3 p.m. Desert Storm. PAGE 4 Work Underway on The Courtyard Work has begun on a new feature of the National centerpiece is a large gazebo with a domed roof that Infantry Museum and Soldier Center: an outdoor event mimics the museum’s iconic rotunda entrance.

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