PNGMM Newsletter 5
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Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum Building T-8-57, Fort Indiantown Gap Annville, Pennsylvania 17003-5003 (717) 861-2402 Http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Military_Affairs/museum/museum2.htm PNG MILITARY MUSEUM NEWSLETTER NO.# 5-2007 (Winter Edition) Board of Directors Individual $10 per year Family (3 or more) $25 per year Major General Jessica Wright, TAGPA Business/Organization $50 per year Major General Frank H. Smoker (USAF, Ret.), President If you have not already joined or donated to the Mr. Charles B. Oellig, Museum Director & Curator PNG Museum, the Museum is a non-profit organization Brigadier General Stephen Sischo, DAG-AIR under 501 (C) (3). You can do so by sending your tax- LTC Joseph Holt, Vice-President deductible dollars by check to: Ms. Rita Meneses, Treasurer Brigadier General Stanley J. Jaworski, Secretary PNG Military Museum SGM Herman W. Clemens, Board Member Bldg.# 8-57 Ms. Sharon E. Flaig, Board Member Fort Indiantown Gap Dr. Samuel J. Newland, Board Member Annville, PA 17003-5002 WO2 David A. Sakmar, Board Member Mr. John E. Schreffler, Board Member You may also contribute in person by visiting the SGT Damian J. M. Smith, Board Member museum during any of the operating hours posted in this Colonel David J. Smoker, Board Member newsletter. The goal for the current fund drive is Major General James M. Skiff, (USAF, Ret.), Board $25,000, which will support the museum. Member, Emeritis Mr. John Cantwell, Esq., Legal Counsel Newsletter Index Newsletter Staff Board of Directors/Staff/Membership .....Page 1 News from the Board of Directors............Page 2 Ms. Rita Meneses, Editor Mrs. Becky Mione, Circulation 2006 Visitor List .........................................Page 3 SGT Damian J. M. Smith, Articles/Photos and Command Historian Volunteer Muster.......................................Page 3 Items Donated to the Museum…………..Page 3 Membership 193RD RGS Donation…………………....Page 3 Membership rolls and “Friends of the Museum” Air Guard New Display………………….Page 4 Directions Hours contributions continued since our last newsletter. In addition to the membership fees, we are very grateful to 2nd BCT Monument..................................Page 4 Hours are 10:00-4:30 (Monday & Friday). From I-81, take exit 85B, Fort Indiantown the many who submitted generous extra donations for Gap exit, and proceed north on Route 934. At the first To schedule an appointment to visit the museum at a use by the museum. These extra donations are greatly ASMIC Meeting a Success!!!.....................Page 4 time not listed, call 717-861-2464, the museum Mon- red light on post, turn right onto Service Road. The appreciated. 28th ID Association .....................................Page 5 museum is located at the corner of Service Road and day & Friday at 717-861-2402 or 717-861-9415. Wiley Road, building number T-8-57. Look for the There are currently 236 memberships for the mu- Wish List.....................................................Page 5 Civil War Cannon , World War II Tank and the seum. The Board extends its sincere thanks to these museum signs on the right hand side. members and donors, and we continue to solicit addi- What of Future Generations.....................Page 5 tional participation. 1 NEWS FROM THE BOARD 28TH Infantry Division Association What of Future Generations? th Major General James M. Skiff, the Deputy Adju- On Pearl Harbor Day, the 28 Infantry Division If there is one thing we have learned over time, it’s tant General-Air has retired from the Pennsylvania Association donated a check of $1,000 to the museum that future generations need help to insure that they National Guard. General Skiff was born in Cambridge, to support the care and upkeep of historical displays of don’t forget the lessons of the past. NY. He graduated from Greenwich Central High the 28th Infantry Division and the Pennsylvania History books can be dry, and the past is too easily School in 1962 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Bio- National Guard. forgotten. The Pennsylvania National Guard Military medical Science from Ohio Wesleyan University, Dela- Museum at Fort Indiantown Gap keeps these lessons ware, Ohio, in 1966. He earned a Masters of Science fresh and brings them to life. degree in Business Management from the American The Museum demonstrates the importance and International College in 1983. value of our Pennsylvania National Guard history in General Skiff was commissioned a second lieuten- ways no text book can ever do. It provides a perma- ant through ROTC in June 1966. He entered the USAF nent and living memorial to the thousands of Pennsyl- Undergraduate Pilot Training in October 1966 at Craig vanians who served and the many who gave their lives AFB, Alabama. Upon his graduation in October 1957, in the defense of freedom, our state and our nation dur- he attended F-100 upgrade training at Luke AFB, ing the periods of history from the Civil War to the Texas. Following the completion of this training, he present. was assigned to the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Please consider joining the museum and making an Wethersfield and RAF Upper Heyford, UK, from July additional donation so we can continue to illustrate and 1968 to January 1971. He attended F-4 upgrade train- (Mr. Gill Steele, 28th ID President & Mr. Charlie B. Oellig, Curator) preserve our National Guard history. He has 8,700 flying hours. General Skiff led the ing in February 1971. While assigned to the 8th Tacti- The 28th Infantry Division Association also has a Air National Guard A-10 Gunsmoke teams in 1981, cal Fighter Wing, Ubon Air Base, Thailand, between new webpage under the direction of Executive Board MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION 1983, 1987 and 1989. He has also led contingency March 1971 and October 1972, General Skiff flew 200 Member and Webmaster Mr. Jeff Via. The link to the relief of active duty in 1993, 1996 and 1999 supporting combat missions in Southeast Asia. Upon his return to website is as follows: NAME______________________________________ Operation Deny Flight, Joint Endeavor and Operation the United States, he was assigned to the 366th Tactical Southern Watch, and flying over 25, A-10 combat mis- Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. http://28thinfantrydivisionassoc.org/index.html SPOUSE’S NAME_____________________________ sions in Bosnia and Iraq. The general currently holds General Skiff became a member of the Connecticut the record for achieving the most flying hours in the A- Air National Guard in November 1972. During his For those people that are interested in joining the ADDRESS___________________________________ 10 aircraft for the entire USAF. He was promoted to career with the 103rd Fighter Group, he was assigned 28th Infantry Division Association, you may contact the grade of brigadier general in July 1999 and to the as the 103rd Tactical Fighter Group chief of command, Mr. Walt Chmiola at the Association’s number at 717- ____________________________________________ grade of major general in July 2001. In this position he chief of standardization/evaluation, 118th Fighter 787-9385 for more details. Squadron operations officer, 118th Fighter Squadron became the commander of the PA Air National Guard CITY_______________________________________ and the 103rd Tactical Fighter Group acting deputy responsible for the operations and management of the commander of operations. He served as the 103rd 4,300 member organization and the aircraft assigned to Wish List STATE______________ZIP CODE______________ Operations Group commander from February 1992 the 111th Fighter Wing, 171st Air Refueling Wing, and until his appointment as 103rd Fighter Wing vice- the 193rd Special Operations Wing. -2 Air conditioners, no less than 10,000 BTUs. PHONE NUMBER ( )____________________ commander from February 1992 until his appointment General Skiff was appointed to the Museum Board -Archival Boxes & Sheet Protectors (Heavy Weight). as 103rd Fighter Wing commander in July 1994. Prior of Directors by the Adjutant General. As a valiant CURREN/FORMER UNIT_____________________ to his assignment as commander of the Pennsylvania supporter of military history, General Skiff proved -Metal bookshelves for storage of our various historic Air National Guard’s 111th Fighter Wing, he served as invaluable to the Board of Directors in leadership and books and military manuals. Send a Tax Deductible Membership Fee (select type): acting commander of the 103rd Fighter Wing from moving the museum forward. Upon his retirement , he [ ]Individual $ 10 -8 Large showcases (6’ or 8’) for Range House and 2 January 1997. Skiff transferred to the Pennsylvania requested that donations be made to the museum in- [ ]Family $ 25 Flat showcases for books and patches. Air National Guard and assumed command of the stead of receiving per- [ ]Organization (include name if applicable) $50 111th Fighter Wing in July 1997. He assumed his cur- sonal gifts. The Board of ____________________________________________ -Several large map drawer cabinets for storage of rent position June 12, 1999. Directors presented him guidons, regimental colors, and military maps. General Skiff has completed Air Command and with a certificate making Extra donations are welcome $_______________ Staff College and the Industrial College of the Air him the first Board of -Various Pennsylvania DUIs (unit crests) and military Force. His military decorations and awards include: Director’s “Emeritus” patches of our different units. There is a great need Total enclosed $_______________ Distinguished Service Medal with one device, the Le- Member. With more to bring our military patch collection up to date espe- gion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the than 40 years of military cially in our aviation history. This includes our Make checks payable and send to: Meritorious Service Medal with two devices, the Air service, the General and Army aviation and the many various Air Guard Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum Force Commendation Medal with one device, the his wife Lori retired back squadrons and detachments. We are looking for both Building # T-8-57 Presidential Unit Citation, the Air Medal with 12 de- to Connecticut and now current and past/obsolete items for our collection.