It's Summer all right; the Spring rains and mild days that kept going for a while have given way to the predictable heat and humidity that is the hallmark of Summertime in Texas.
Reminds me of being in the turret of a tank down at Fort Hood in the middle of July and staying down inside away from the direct rays of sunlight. It's actually cooler inside the hull, away from the outside surfaces on which it is alleged, you could fry an egg. I never tried that, but I remember leaning my bare forearm on the roof of the turret, in the middle of the day, and recoiling in pain. You just had to be aware and be careful. It was HOT! Good old Fort Hood in the Summertime.
Since I last submitted my Situation Report, activities at and surrounding the Museum have proceeded apace. Our Curator, Tyler Alberts, continues to revise and improve our existing displays while adding new ones; somehow eking out more room in our existing space for maximum effect. Every time you visit, there is something new to see, and that’s why we encourage everyone to NOT make the Museum a one-and-done destination; you can never take it all in, as a one-time pass, anyway. Keep coming back and bringing your family and friends.
Memorial Day visitors Chris Ethridge, Katy and Belle Brownlee. Chris is a high school history teacher.
Museum regulars and Memorial Day visitors retired Army Colonels Andy Ward and Vince Dimaggio.
Memorial Day this year came on a Monday, a day the Museum is usually closed. For this special day, however, we opened the doors to all and Tyler conducted a special Memorial Day tour highlighting individuals who had given their life in the line of duty. It was a great presentation that I wish more folks could have attended. We plan to make this special tour a more significant event next year. But as we like to say here at the museum; "at Military Museum of Fort Worth, every day is Memorial Day".
Speaking of; The Fort Worth City Council voted to help fund a new Vietnam War memorial honoring the more than 220 Tarrant County servicemembers who died in the war and others who died later due to war related circumstances.
I know most veterans go through the same thing on Memorial Day; the emails, texts, and phone calls wishing us a "happy Memorial Day” and thanking us for our service. The gratitude is always genuine and heartfelt, if misplaced. I used to take the time to carefully and patiently explain to the sender why I am not eligible to receive Memorial Day wishes, then finally decided against it, not wanting to discourage the well-wisher or deflate their good intentions. I understand what they're trying to say.
Given its history, it's easy to see why there is so much confusion. An Iraq War veteran said the day has lost so much meaning that many Americans "conflate and mix up Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, and July the Fourth. The problem is compounded by social media posts that tribute to everyone who has served, when Memorial Day is about those who died. It's about U.S. service members who lost their lives in the line of duty".
The origins of Memorial Day can be traced to the American Civil War, which killed more than 600,000 service members both North and South between 1861 and 1865. Memorials for fallen soldiers began almost immediately after the first battles of 1861, usually conducted by ladies' groups and organizations who picked certain days to "decorate" the graves of their soldiers. For decades thereafter, these days were simply known as "decoration day". Many locations, North and South claimed credit for the origins of Memorial Day as we know it. But it was Texan and Southerner President Lyndon Johnson who in 1966 designated an official birthplace of the holiday by signing a presidential proclamation naming Waterloo, New York as the holder of the distinction, much to the consternation of numerous other locations, especially throughout the South.
The name "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882 and gradually became more common than "Decoration Day". It was not declared the official name until 1971, when the law that was passed in 1967 became effective, making it a federal holiday.
Recently I had an itch to revisit a few of my favorite books about the early days of WWII in the Pacific, and dug out my copies of Eric Hamel's three volume set on the Guadalcanal campaign: "Carrier Battles", "Starvation Island", and "Decision at Sea". Just for good measure, I also re-read "Neptune's Inferno", an excellent book by James Hornfischer about the early naval battles around Guadalcanal. These are well written, riveting narratives about the early struggles by U. S. forces to stem Japanese aggression and regain the initiative in the Pacific after Pearl Harbor. This offensive operation around Guadalcanal included some of the last direct ship-to-ship encounters between naval surface forces by direct gunfire. The riveting narratives describe the carnage as ships were pummeled by heavy naval artillery and torpedoes. For the sailors, there were no foxholes to jump into to escape the destruction. On most ships at that time "battle stations" included open gun tubs and torpedo mounts which left crewmen exposed and utterly defenseless. For a ship zeroed in by Japanese gunfire and searchlights, the results were horrific. For those belowdecks, the danger was just as dire and deadly. Scalded by steam, decimated by blast and shrapnel, drowned when locked into their flooding compartments behind dogged hatches, or asphyxiated as they ran out of oxygen in watertight compartments as they plunged to the ocean floor. These were the invisible KIAs whose final resting places would never be marked by monuments or neat rows of crosses. The same is true of Naval aviators lost at sea never to be seen again, whereabouts unknown.
On July 28, 2025, the 108th Birthday celebration of the famed 36th Infantry Division (ID) kicked off at division headquarters at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas. Division members and guests participated in ceremonies which included music provided by the division band, and a commemorative luncheon at the Texas Military Forces Museum, where they reflected on generations of service "In Spite of Hell."
The 36th Infantry Division was created in 1917 from Texas and Oklahoma National Guard units who mobilized at Camp Bowie, in Fort Worth, Texas. The division logo represents these components with the arrowhead representing Oklahoma, and the "T" representing Texas. They are commonly referred to by various nicknames; the "Arrowhead", the "T-Patchers", and the "Fighting 36th".
The division was once again mobilized for WWII at Camp Bowie in Brownwood, Texas. It was one of only a few divisions to win 5 campaign stars during that conflict; participating in the Italian campaign which included Anzio and the capture of Rome; spearheading the invasion of southern France. the Siegfried Line, Germany, and Austria.
The 36th ID was deactivated in 1967, its Infantry Regiments forming the infantry brigades for the 49th Armored Division (AD) of the Texas Army National Guard.
The dictionary has several meanings for the term, VIP, including, " a person who is accorded special privileges due to their high social rank, status, influence, or importance......or any other notable person who receives special treatment for any reason". Thus, the common usage VIP, a Very Important Person.
At Military Museum of Fort Worth, we consider ALL visitors to be of very high importance and worthy of note. But our visitors are also very interesting, with their own unique backgrounds, and just as often have their own stories to tell, whether personal, or about a friend or relative. Touring the museum, our visitors often feel a connection with that friend or distant relative and often recall memories of their own service. Like the servicemembers depicted in our museum displays, we always endeavor to accord them the special recognition and treatment they deserve as Very Important/Interesting Persons.
Marilyn and Issac Gusukuma
From time to time, we like to highlight these special visitors, some of whom are invited guests, but most are chosen at random from everyday visitors; either way, they are Military Museum of Fort Worth VIPs; here are a couple of recent examples.
On June 20th, the Museum welcomed Issac and Marilyn Gusukuma for their first visit. Issac is a retired Army Colonel, who at one time commanded a tank battalion in the 49th Armored Division. Issac was born and grew up in Hawaii where he was an avid surfer. While commanding his battalion, his soldiers learned of his surfer past, and ever after he was known as "The Big Kahuna". Within the battalion, his radio call sign was "Kahuna 6".
Rodger with his old Bn Cdr Col Issac Gusukuma
Issac and his wife Marilyn live in the Waco area, and in civilian life, both taught at Baylor and Mary Hardin Universities up until their recent retirements. Rodger, who served as Col. Gusukuma's Command Sergeant Major during his battalion command, invited them for the visit, and was on hand to greet and guide the Gusukuma's during their Museum tour. It was a reunion of sorts for Rodger and the Gusukumas, as they had not seen each other for over 20 years. Issac and Marilyn were both very impressed with the Museum and its content, promising to "spread the word", and putting it on their list for a return visit.
History buffs Ashley, Christian, and Brandon
Later the same day, a trio of young history enthusiasts came in and took a leisurely tour. Ashley, Christian, and Brandon are all students who expressed a love and appreciation for history. They were duly impressed with the historical aspect of the artifacts on displays and the stories they told. Ashley said that she has always loved history, and is at present, taking college courses to become certified as a history teacher. They also plan a future return visit with friends and acquaintances.
These are just a few of the VIPs who visit our Museum. We would like to thank them, and all our visitors, who make our efforts worthwhile.
