From the Executive Director: Vicki Olson

Transcription

1 HAWAII ARMY MUSEUM SOCIETY Spring 2017 Inside This Issue: New Museum Staff Allison Ramsey Nevin Field Ian Fraizer Page 2-3 Volunteer Bruce Hunt 25th Infantry Ceremony Page 4 Terry Kawamura Collection Page 4 Restored Artifacts Spring Cleaning Medal of Honor Display West Point Founders Day/Aloha Shirts Page 6 In Memoriam COL (Ret) Albert F. Turner Page 7 New Board Member JROTC Visits Page 8 HAMS News Officer/Trustee List Schedule of Events Museum Store Info Page 8 Save the Date! Friday, June 16th HAMS Annual Golf Tournament Leilehua Golf Course From the Executive Director: Vicki Olson Aloha! Our membership is scattered across the United States ut hopefully, spring has sprung (or beginning to) in your part of the world. Springtime is launch time for the HAMS Golf Committee led by LTC (Ret) Les Bise. We hope to continue our streak of beating our previous years success! The GEN Herbert E. Wolff Memorial Golf Tournament (our 36 th year of fun) will be held at Leilehua Golf Club on Friday, June 16, For more information, call Information is also availa le on our website: You will notice from the following pages that the museum and HAMS staff have been busy and productive. Previously, I mentioned that there are new personnel working at the US Army Museum of Hawaii. llison, Ian and evin have rought excitement and energy to the museum and are a joy to support! They have each contri uted a short iography for this issue. The new team is developing plans for future exhi its and constantly wor ing to upgrade current displays. HAMS provided funding for the graphic and installation of one of their latest efforts. The photo elow now greets all museum visitors and provides a wonderful ac drop for a photograph commemorating their visit. Sadly, during the early morning of March 19, 2017, HAMS lost a dear friend and supporter. HAMS Trustee, COL (Ret) Albert F. Turner, passed away the morning after his 91 st birthday. We pass on our deepest sympathy to his wife, Vonnie, and to his extended family. Please read more about Bert and his service to his country and his community. Aloha, Vicki Olson

2 HAWAII ARMY MUSEUM SOCIETY Page 2 Aloha to the New Museum Staff Allison Ramsey, Curator Allison Ramsey is a curator at the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii, where her responsibilities include collection management, research, and exhibit planning. Prior to this, she filled the positions of Acting Registrar at the Pacific Aviation Museum, Historical Property Liaison for the Center of Military History, and Special Assistant in the curatorial section at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Allison is an Army Veteran and has been a military spouse for 15 years, having met her husband while learning Korean at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. She holds a Master's Degree in Museum Studies from Johns Hopkins University and graduated cum laude from American Military University with a Bachelor's Degree in History. She received the Army Commander's Award for Civilian Service in Nevin Field, Acting Director Mr. Nevin G. Field, Lieutenant Colonel (US Army Reserves) is a New Zealand born, Singapore raised, British and American educated, former active duty Army Officer and current Department of Army Civilian, still proudly serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves; he entered active duty in 1994 as an enlisted Infantryman stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, and received his commission in 1997 in the Adjutant General Corps from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. In July 2002, Mr. Field entered civil service as a Department of Army Civilian Administrative Officer with the 115th Military Intelligence (MI) Group at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Upon deactivation of the 115th MI Group, Mr. Field was assigned as the Force Management Officer for the 500th MI Brigade. In May 2006, Mr. Field joined the U.S. Army Garrison, Oahu (USAG-Oahu) team as the Director of the Garrison Replacement Program and in October 2007, he was reassigned as the USAG-Oahu Operations Officer. After the disestablishment of USAG-Oahu in May 2011, Mr. Field was reassigned as the Installation Operations Officer with the Installation Coordinator's Office located on Fort Shafter. pon the closure of this office in June 2012, Mr. Field was reassigned to Headquarters, U.S. Army Garrison, Hawaii, where he served as an Operations Officer. In November 2013, Mr. Field's position was realigned under the U.S. Army Garrison, Hawaii, Directorate of Plans, Mobilization, Training, and Security. After an Army Reserve activation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pacific Ocean Division at Fort Shafter from March 2014 to July 2016, Mr. Field was reassigned to the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii as the Acting Director. Mr. Field holds a Bachelor's of Science in Speech Communication from Oregon State University and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Management from Wayland Baptist University. Mr. Field has been recognized with numerous awards during his civilian tenure. Mr. Field is married to the former Suzanne Floyd and they have a son, Declan.

3 HAWAII ARMY MUSEUM SOCIETY Page 3 Ian Frazier, Museum Specialist and Historian Ian Frazier is the museum specialist and historian for the US Army Museum of Hawaii. Ian entered the Air Force in 1989 as an Air Transportation Specialist and quickly retrained as a Historian. He is a published author writing about Air Force combat survival training, helicopter crew survival, combat rescue operations; and Air Force combat operations. Ian has completed several deployments support operations in Iraq and Somalia. Ian joined the museum staff in May An avid historian, he maintains a website dedicated to the preservation of Air Force unit histories when his 8 children give him the chance! Welcome New Museum Volunteer Bruce Hunt The US Army Museum of Hawaii has greatly benefitted from the presence of a dedicated corps of volunteers. Each one has a unique and interesting story which adds to the richness of a visitor s experience. With a warm greeting of Aloha, volunteers provide guests a brief description of the museum and answer questions. Returning visitors and several volunteers have developed friendships. one of the highest rates of target identification and electronic intelligence gathering. He also received two Meritorious Service medals and the French Croix de Guerre. The newest volunteer to man the desk is Bruce Hunt, a 98- year-old Waikiki resident who lives close to Ft. DeRussy. In quotes, are excerpts are from Honolulu Star- Advertiser s March 29, 2017 edition of Young at Heart by Nancy Arcayna. As a fighter pilot, he flew 172 combat missions in North Africa and Italy during World War II. His role was to support front-line troops, attacking tanks and bridges. "Being this close to the enemy meant that we were more susceptible to German air raids," he said. Twenty-four years later he flew 125 combat missions in Vietnam. The highly decorated veteran plays golf once a week, volunteers regularly at the Army Museum, where he engages with 100 to 140 visitors during his weekly shift, and still drives. His license expires on his 100th birthday. His medals include the Legion of Merit, which was awarded for his cost-saving efforts in the Air Force Logistics Command from 1968 to The Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded to Hunt first in May A bronze cluster was added for a flight in 1967 in Vietnam that located enemy forces, thus saving American lives. Hunt received the Bronze Star as commander of the 361st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron for accomplishing BRUCE ASATO/BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM A wall of Bruce Hunt s home displays photos of the types aircraft he flew in World War II and Vietnam as an Air Force pilot, including the T-33 jet, the P-40 and P-51 fighter aircraft of WWII and the C-47. He holds a framed display of his many medals. During a break in service after World War II, Hunt earned a master s degree in accounting from George Washington University and worked as a CPA. He retired from the Air Force in 1975 as a full colonel. Bruce and his wife, Ruth, who passed away last year, were married for 70 years. We are excited to have Bruce join the volunteer team at the US Army Museum of Hawaii!

4 HAWAII ARMY MUSEUM SOCIETY Page 4 25th Infantry Division s Ceremony in Honor of December 7th Attack Defense leaders attended the 25th Infantry Division's Flying V ceremony at Fort DeRussy, Hawaii, December 7, 2016, as part of the 75th Anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Gen. Robert B. Brown, U.S. Army Pacific, Commanding General, was the guest speaker. The ceremony was held on the lawn of the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii. GEN Robert B. Brown, CG, USARPAC addresses the audience New Acquisition: Terry T. Kawamura Collection By: Allison Ramsey, Curator In an ary, the museum staff as honored to have received a collection of te s fr the fa ly f Medal of Honor recipient C r ral Terry T. Kawamura. Originally from Wahiawa, a a ra joined the military in 1968 and served in the 173rd Engineer Company, 173rd Airborne Brigade. During a deployment to Camp Radcliff, Republic of Vietnam in 1969, the 19-year-old smothered a charge thrown into his unit s quarters, thereby preventing serious injury or death to several of his fellow soldiers. 25th Infantry Division wreath GEN Brown presents USARPAC coins to Allison Ramsey and Ian Frazier, who along with Director Nevin Field, helped to coordinate the event. His service shirt, combat boots, medals, and family photographs provide the museum with an excellent opportunity to highlight the lives and sacrifices of those who displayed extraordinary courage and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty.

5 HAWAII ARMY MUSEUM SOCIETY Museum Spring Cleaning The Hawaii Army Museum Society organized a deep cleaning of the woodshop where Toshi Nakano has worked his magic for many years. A new HEPA Air Scrubber was purchased to insure that the air remains d st free. The inset photo below shows how much dust was picked up y the s r er during the cleaning process! Restored Artifacts Now On Display Curator Allison Ramsey welcomes home a Japanese Type 1 (1941) lightweight mobile piece (above) and a U.S. 105mm HOWITZER M3 (below) after their recent restoration. Having guarded the museum for many years, these artifacts had suffered constant assault fr the sea air and sunny skies of Waikiki. he restoration of artifacts on display at the museum s ne f ll s n's any r r t es. National Medal of Honor Day Display Allison Ramsey set up a temporary display in honor of Medal of Honor Day. The medals a arded t Capt. Wai (left) and C er ert l laa (right) were among those on display.

6 HAWAII ARMY MUSEUM SOCIETY Page 6 West Point Aloha Shirts on Display at Founders Day The West Point Society of Hawaii held its annual Founders Day dinner at the Hale Koa on 18 March. The Hawaii Army Museum Society s store has been the sole retailer of the West Point Society of Hawaii s unique Aloha shirt. As you can see from the above photo, the shirts are very popular and we are almost completely sold out. Go to our museum store at our website: to order your very own West Point aloha shirt. Pictured in the photo are: MG (Ret) Eric T. Olson (spouse of HAMS Executive Director, Vicki Olson, COL (Ret) David M. Shanahan (HAMS Trustee and Internal auditor), COL (Ret) Charles N. Cardinal (HAMS Trustee, Member-at-Large, and President of the West Point society of Hawaii), GEN (Ret) David A. Bramlett (President,, and GEN (Ret) Barry R. McCaffrey (the guest speaker and a friend of HAMS) all wore their HAMS purchased Aloha shirts! The West Point Public Affairs Office notes that Founders Day is the annual celebration of the founding of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. During the American Revolution, Fortress West Point was considered by George Washington as the key to the continent. The academy's legacy began on March 16, In legislation signed by President Thomas Jefferson, West Point became America's first school of engineering, predating the engineering programs at Harvard and Yale. It remains the longest continuously occupied military garrison in Department of Defense, the Army's undergraduate college, and a national historic site open to the public., raduates, supporters, and the greater West Point family celebrate across the globe emphasiz the academy's mission to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country, and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the U.S. Army.

7 HAWAII ARMY MUSEUM SOCIETY Page 7 Albert Bert Farrant Turner was born on March 18, 1926 and passed away, one day after his 91 st birthday, on March 19, He was born in Honolulu to Farrant and Helen Turner and attended the Punahou School with the class of Bert s father, LTC Farrant Turner, was selected to command, train, and lead the first Nisei battalion. Bert accompanied his father, mother, and the original Nisei soldiers of Hawaii's newly designated 100th Battalion (Separate) as they traveled to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin and Ft. Polk, LA, in preparation for their distinguished service in Europe. The men and families of the 100th Battalion always occupied a treasured place in Bert's life. During the war, Bert attended Phillips Exeter Academy. After graduation, he received an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1949 as a Field Artillery Officer. Duty, Honor, Country, the motto of West Point, were words that COL Albert Farrant Turner lived by. Bert and Laurita Vonnie Pratt Turner of Wahiawa were married in 1950, shortly before his 15 month deployment to the Korean War. Serving as forward observer with the infantry his unit pushed nearly to the Yalu before the Chinese intervened and forced a massive withdrawal. His 22-year Army career included tours at Schofield Barracks, Oklahoma, Germany, Kansas, Washington, DC (in 1963, Bert was the Planning and Action Officer responsible for organizing and executing the funeral of President Kennedy), Alabama, and Vietnam ( ). In 1969, Bert and his family returned to his native Hawaii when he was assigned to CINCPAC, Camp Smith, HI. In 1971, COL Albert Farrant Turner retired from military service. ~ In Memoriam ~ Remembering HAMS Trustee COL (Ret) Albert F. Turner Bert's army career was followed by two distinguished careers in downtown Honolulu at Chaney-Brooks Inc. and James Greig Associates until his final retirement in Whether as the leader of his sons' Cub Scout Pack, a long-time member of the Honolulu Rotary Club, a lifetime member of Central Union Church (serving as Moderator and Trustee Chair), the Chair of the Armed Forces YMCA, a Trustee for the Hawaii Army Museum Society, the Chair of USO Hawaii, or as a board member for Club 100, Bert s sense of community service was greatly respected and appreciated. Bert is survived by Vonnie, his devoted wife of 66 years. They raised three sons and embraced three daughters-in-law who loved him dearly: Farrant (Joyce) of Madison, AL; Jot (Marietta) of Eden Prairie, MN; and David (Kirsten) of Waialua, HI. Over the years, he welcomed six grandchildren Megan, David, Laura, Christie, Micah, and Nai'a, and endeavored to travel to each grandchild's high school and college graduation from Hawaii to the Midwest and the East Coast. And as a final chapter, Bert welcomed three great-grandchildren Turner, Brooklyn, and Hudson Hyder. Bert enjoyed attending the HAMS Volunteer parties where he always made a point to thank e volunteer. Here he is at the last tee party sp y s great sense of humor! In giving his father s eulogy, Albert Farrant Turner, Jr. spoke of and to his father; You lived up to the ideals and standards of those that traveled before you. You served your country with honor, you fulfilled your duty, you accompanied Vonnie for 67 years, you brought into this world strong citizen children, beloved grand-children and great grandchildren who represent the wondrous possibilities for the future. You touched hundreds with your spirit, and humanity, and you left us all in a better place. Thank you. We love you. COL Albert Farrant Turner, US Army, Retired, is interred at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe.

8 HAWAII ARMY MUSEUM SOCIETY Page 8 Hawaii Army Museum Society s President, GEN (Ret) David A. Bramlett, welcomed Shannon Mackey as the newest member of the HAMS Board of Trustees. The Hawaii Army Museum Society was pleased to host three JROTC tour groups under its CW4 Howard S. Okada JROTC Education Program. A generous gift by Howard s daughter, Ms. Marian Okada, has significantly added to our outreach. JROTC Cadets from Mililani High School, Roosevelt High School, and Wylie East High School (Texas) have already visited the museum this year. Hawaii Army Museum Society (HAMS) News Hawaii Army Museum Society (HAMS) News and Board of Trustees PRESIDENT David A. Bramlett 1 st VP/SEC/TREAS Jimmie R. Lackey VICE PRESIDENTS Leslie Bise Mildred M. Courtney Walter M. Ozawa Gerry Silva INTERNAL AUDITOR David M. Shanahan MEMBER-AT-LARGE Charles N. Cardinal EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Victoria W. Olson NEWSLETTER PRODUCTION Susan Oshiro TRUSTEES Ronald T.Y. Choo Edward Y. Hirata Leonard G. Katsarsky Shannon Mackey Francis I. Mossman Edward V. Richardson Charles B. Salmon, Jr. Thomas M. Ushijima Philip M. Whitney, Jr. Francis J. Wiercinski TRUSTEES EMERITUS Henry S. Kuniyuki Donald L. MacGregor Barbara F. Mills William W. Paty, Jr. HAMS Schedule of Events Future Events Golf Tournament 16 June 2017 Ihe Award Breakfast 3 November 2017 Meetings for 2017 HAMS Board of Trustees 19 July 18 October HAMS Executive Committee 17 May 21 June The U. S. Army Museum of Hawaii and e M Museum e u s e a n Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM CLOSED an s n Christmas & New Year s Day 16 August 20 September 15 November Phone: Manager: Ginny Clark Website: