Wisconsin Veterans Museum

Wisconsin Veterans Museum The Wisconsin Veterans Museum invites you to learn the stories of our veterans. Feel free to post comments, links, pictures, video, etc.
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Before things like phone calls, texts, emails, and video calls existed, letters provided men and women serving away from...
01/12/2025

Before things like phone calls, texts, emails, and video calls existed, letters provided men and women serving away from home with the only way to reliably stay in touch with loved ones, share their experiences, and find out what was happening back home. WVM preserves thousands of letters written by Wisconsin veterans from the Civil War to the present, and they provide so much insight into a veteran’s personality, thoughts, hopes, and more. In honor of National Letter Writing Week, we share one of the more challenging to read letters in our collection.
David Scampton, an English immigrant living in Waunakee, Wisconsin, volunteered to serve in the Union Army in February 1865. In less than four months, he rose from private to 2nd lieutenant in the 47th Wisconsin Infantry. While serving in Kentucky and Tennessee, he wrote letters home to his wife, Annie, describing his health, food, his promotions, and life in the army. For some of those letters, he used a technique called cross writing that was a popular fad in the late nineteenth century. Scampton wrote on a piece of paper, then turned the page 90 degrees and wrote over those words. This conserved paper and looked very impressive, but made his words incredibly difficult to read. Our archivists feel a great deal of sympathy for poor Annie, who had to decipher these letters.
This week, we encourage you all to write a letter to someone you know. And if you have any letters to or from a Wisconsin veteran, we encourage you to think about donating them to our museum to help keep that veteran’s voice alive.

80 years ago today, troops of the U.S. Sixth Army landed at Lingayen Gulf on the Philippine island of Luzon. Four divisi...
01/09/2025

80 years ago today, troops of the U.S. Sixth Army landed at Lingayen Gulf on the Philippine island of Luzon. Four divisions splashed ashore and soon established a firm lodgment against limited opposition. Pushing inland over the next few days, the Americans soon encountered determined Japanese resistance in the northern hills and along the road to Manila. The largest U.S. Army campaign of the Pacific War was underway.
The campaign’s overall commander was Wisconsin’s General Douglas MacArthur. He described the landings in his memoirs: “The landing boats were away by 9:30. Initial opposition was limited to mortar fire from the hills fronting the I Corps. I had achieved exactly the surprise intended, and a deep beachhead 12 miles in width was firmly established.”
📷 Maps and images from U.S. Army

We continue the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Ardennes Offensive, otherwise known as the Battle of the Bu...
01/08/2025

We continue the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Ardennes Offensive, otherwise known as the Battle of the Bulge, with the story of Ralph A. Woodward, a Columbus, Wisconsin resident who served as a Sherman tank driver with Co. C, 741st Tank Battalion. Woodward had already survived a harrowing experience as part of the first wave onto Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion then intense battle out of northwestern France earlier that year. By December 1944, his unit, again attached to the 2nd Infantry Division, was tasked with holding the area around the Belgian villages of Rocherath and Krinkelt along the northern Bulge line. It was combat there that earned his company, along with companies A and B, a Presidential Unit Citation for “outstanding performance of duty against the enemy from 17–19 December 1944.” Woodward would also be personally awarded with the Bronze Star seen here.
While the citation recognizes 11 months of service spanning June 1944 to May 1945, his service during the Battle of the Bulge is specifically cited, stating “As a member of a tank crew, Sergeant Woodward rendered outstanding service throughout action against the enemy. In major engagements in breaching the Siegfried defenses, and during the Ardennes campaign he manned his gun with devastating effect on the enemy.” Technician Fourth Grade (T/4) Woodward was honorably discharged on October 31, 1945.

Stamp out the cold by sending a warm fuzzy to our veterans at WDVA facilities for Valentines Day. **DIRECTIONS FOR SENDI...
01/06/2025

Stamp out the cold by sending a warm fuzzy to our veterans at WDVA facilities for Valentines Day.
**DIRECTIONS FOR SENDING IN VALENTINES: Please be sure to mail your cards no later than January 31, so we have them in time to be distributed to all our facilities on February 14. We ask that you do not include candy, food, or snacks with these due to allergies or dietary restrictions.
Please send to:
Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
Attn: Veteran Valentines
PO Box 7843
Madison, WI 53707-7843
Full press release can be found here: https://content.govdelivery.com/.../WIDVA/bulletins/3c8230f

Help us show some "love" for our veterans this year! The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) is asking for folks to help us show our veterans how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice by sending Valentine’s Day cards to veterans living in WDVA facilities.

“Last year, the residents at our Veteran Homes in Chippewa Falls, King, and Union Grove were thrilled to receive Valentine’s Day wishes and thoughtful messages,” said Secretary James Bond. “I'm amazed that thousands of folks from across the nation took the time to participate, and I'm excited to continue this new tradition with our Wisconsin veterans again this year."

In our first year, WDVA received 24,000 Valentines and last year that grew to 28,000. Because of the overwhelming response, WDVA will be able to share valentines with even more veterans by delivering them to our three Veterans Housing and Recovery Program locations in Chippewa Falls, Green Bay, and Union Grove.

The valentines are hand delivered by staff, including Secretary Bond, to the veterans, loved ones, and Gold Star families residing in our veterans facilities. To see pictures from last year, visit our album on Flickr.

**DIRECTIONS FOR SENDING IN VALENTINES: Please be sure to mail your cards no later than January 31, so we have them in time to be distributed to all our facilities on February 14. We ask that you do not include candy, food, or snacks with these due to allergies or dietary restrictions.

Please send to:
Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
Attn: Veteran Valentines
PO Box 7843
Madison, WI 53707-7843

Full press release can be found here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIDVA/bulletins/3c8230f

Thank you!

We honor the service and valor of Robert Ragan, a resident of Wisconsin Dells, who was drafted into the US Army in May 1...
01/05/2025

We honor the service and valor of Robert Ragan, a resident of Wisconsin Dells, who was drafted into the US Army in May 1943. He deployed to Europe in April 1944 and played a critical role as a light truck driver with the 47th Field Hospital, responsible for transporting medical supplies and driving ambulances in combat zones.
On this day, 80 years ago, Ragan was actively engaged in his duties during the Battle of the Bulge, a battle that ravaged Belgium and caused the casualties of more than 80,000 American troops. The immense need for medical assistance meant that Ragan and his colleagues were crucial to the effort.
Ragan stayed in Europe with occupation forces until December 1945. Upon ending his service, he returned to the Dells and worked in the automotive industry. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum preserves his story through the journal he penned while in the army, along with a photo album, amongst other things.

Staff Spotlight:  Sarah Kapellusch, RegistrarAs the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Registrar, Sarah oversees all the potentia...
01/04/2025

Staff Spotlight: Sarah Kapellusch, Registrar
As the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Registrar, Sarah oversees all the potential donations that are offered to the museum. This oversight includes recording paperwork, shooting photographs, writing condition reports, and making recommendations to the museum collection committee. Sarah is devoted to preserving the objects that tell our veterans’ stories from managing the object conservation program to handling the collections database.
Although she is not a veteran herself, she enjoys working with veterans and their families to help them tell their stories and share their experiences during service.
Sarah says, “I appreciate not being limited to a single collection or focus area. I also like the challenge that sometimes comes with determining the best way to present an item to the public and cleaning and preparing items for exhibit while maintaining the history of a piece.”
On the downside, Sarah says, “While we appreciate every item and every story that is offered to us, we cannot accept everything. I may contact a donor to turn down a donation offer because something is out of scope, lacks a Wisconsin connection, is already represented in the collection, or because sometimes we recognize that we may not be able to care for something because of its condition or inherent vice. It is not easy to tell someone that we can’t accept their donation to the collection because we truly do value the veteran, their story, and the items that are offered to us, and we are grateful for the opportunity to hear the stories.”

01/03/2025

Searching for a new job opportunity? WDVA is looking for you! This week's featured opening is for a Beautician/Cosmetologist at our Veterans Home in King, WI. To view the full job description, benefits, and how to apply, please visit www.wisc.jobs and type “veteran” in the search bar.

All featured jobs this week:
• State of Wisconsin Student Diversity Internship Program (SWSDIP) – Statewide Recruitment
• Bus Driver LTE – King, WI
• Café Food Service Assistant LTE – King, WI
• Registered Nurse - $2000 Sign-on Bonus (Multiple Positions) – King, WI
• Beautician/Cosmetologist LTE – King, WI
• Cook - $2000 Sign-on Bonus – King, WI
• Facilities Maintenance Professional – Union Grove, WI

Join a team dedicated to serving those who have served us all! This agency is committed to serving Wisconsin's veteran population. We encourage you to explore more available openings by visiting www.wisc.jobs today!

As 1945 dawned, the German Army launched Operation NORDWIND (North Wind), an offensive against the U.S. Seventh Army in ...
01/02/2025

As 1945 dawned, the German Army launched Operation NORDWIND (North Wind), an offensive against the U.S. Seventh Army in Alsace. Despite severe winter weather, German troops made progress in a series of attacks over the first 3 weeks of January. Although the front was pushed back 20 miles in places, a breakthrough failed to materialize. Seventh Army received reinforcements and supplies, which enabled it to launch a counterattack that wiped out all German gains. This victory, combined with the larger success in the Battle of the Bulge, set the stage for the final offensive into Germany itself.

Lancaster’s Jack DeWitt of the 14th Armored Division described in an oral history how he successfully pulled his unit out under German pressure: “the captain's on the line with us and said, ‘Here comes the Germans,’ he said, ‘Well, you better pull out of there,’ or something like that. I said, ‘No, we can take care of these guys I think,’ so. They kept coming but we had about, uh, down to about twenty-two or three men at that time and all of a sudden, a whole hell of a bunch of them were coming down this road, and it was obvious to me that we couldn't successfully tangle with those guys. We tried to keep in touch. I knew where the third platoon was, but we couldn't get communication with them, so I thought, well, we're going to have to leave or get the hell out of here. So, we pulled out of there and headed back across country. And of course, we're trying to beat the Germans back to the place where the rest of our company was. And we managed to do it, but it was-- we really sweated out. I was praying awful hard.” DeWitt earned the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership.

📷 Maps and images U.S. Army

01/01/2025
This Sunday we are pleased to highlight the service of Claire Lederhaus. Born and raised in Milwaukee, she followed her ...
12/29/2024

This Sunday we are pleased to highlight the service of Claire Lederhaus. Born and raised in Milwaukee, she followed her father, Thomas Napierala, and joined the Wisconsin Air National Guard in 1984. Starting as a human resources specialist with the 128th Air Refueling Wing, she had the privilege to serve alongside her father in Milwaukee. Through two decades of service, she rose to the rank of chief master sergeant, overseeing human resources for the entire Wisconsin Air National Guard. The museum preserves her story through an oral history interview, records, images, and artifacts. We invite you to learn more about her journey directly from her via this link: https://bit.ly/49OLUtR. https://bit.ly/49OLUtR

The Winter 2024 issue of The Bugle is available on our website featuring more stories from The Battle of The Bulge. 👉 ht...
12/27/2024

The Winter 2024 issue of The Bugle is available on our website featuring more stories from The Battle of The Bulge. 👉 https://bit.ly/44nAZ7N
Included in the issues is this photo from Lyle Solchenberger (left), of Adams, Wisconsin. He served in Company C, 1st Battalion, 399th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division in World War II, is pictured here with friend and comrade “Mick” (right), outside of their foxhole, posing with a captured German Gwehr 45. This photograph was taken during the Battle of the Bugle just after Solchenberger returned from Division Rest.
Following his service, Solchenberger returned to Wisconsin, living in Lake Mills and working for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Lyle Solchenberger passed away May 5, 2010 and is buried in Rock Lake Cemetery, Lake Mills, Wisconsin.
📷 Mss 2011.030.I001

Get everyone out of the house for a bit ; come and see the award-winning exhibit "Souvenirs of Service: The Things They ...
12/26/2024

Get everyone out of the house for a bit ; come and see the award-winning exhibit "Souvenirs of Service: The Things They Kept" before it closes on Saturday.

Happy Hanukkah! These V-Mail from Milton to his family wish them both a Merry Christmas and a Happy Chanukkah, a fitting...
12/25/2024

Happy Hanukkah! These V-Mail from Milton to his family wish them both a Merry Christmas and a Happy Chanukkah, a fitting sentiment for today as it is Christmas and at sundown the beginning of Hannukah. Milton W. Sklansky, a member of the 16th Evacuation Hospital and performer with the U.S.O. during World War II. Over the course of his service, Sklansky marked Jewish holidays with holiday cards sent home to his family.

Merry Christmas! We hope you enjoy these photographs from John A. Greening, who served in the 374th Bomb Squadron in the...
12/25/2024

Merry Christmas! We hope you enjoy these photographs from John A. Greening, who served in the 374th Bomb Squadron in the Korean War. These photographs, collected into a scrapbook, document Christmas celebrations held by servicemembers in Korea.

A joyful Christmas Eve, friends! We at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum have seen all kinds of improvised holiday decoratio...
12/24/2024

A joyful Christmas Eve, friends! We at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum have seen all kinds of improvised holiday decorations over the years. And yet, this human Christmas tree may be the most unique. CAUTION: do not try this stunt at home unless without proper safety equipment and supervision.
This image is from the Morris Erickson collection of Waupaca who served with the 9th Infantry, 2nd Division in World War I. This image was captioned as a “snap of a stunt we pulled at Madison Barracks,” one in a series of photographs where Erickson and comrades formed various human pyramids in an exhibition of athleticism and balance.

12/22/2024

How do servicemembers feel about being deployed during the holidays? Linda McClenahan, a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War put her feelings to music in her cheeky rendition of “Jingle Bells.” Don't miss other heartwarming, funny, yet profound Christmas memories from Wisconsin veterans in a special montage on our blog. https://bit.ly/3DdQgyp

Happy Winter Solstice, everyone! 😊Today, we celebrate the year's shortest day and the beginning of winter in our norther...
12/21/2024

Happy Winter Solstice, everyone! 😊

Today, we celebrate the year's shortest day and the beginning of winter in our northern hemisphere, especially for us here in Wisconsin. While it does mean bracing for frigid temps, snow showers, perhaps some sleet, and longer nights, it also presents a unique charm.

Sure, it might be a bit risky to catch up with friends and family due to weather conditions, but we hope you all find a way. After all, these long, cozy winter nights are best spent with loved ones, creating warm memories.

This heartwarming image from our archives is drawn from the scrapbook of Roy G. Zehren. It was taken in Korea, showing members of the 2nd Infantry Division sharing records with each other to beat the Korean winter blues. Let's try and emulate their camaraderie despite the constraints. 📷 Roy G. Zehren collection, WVM Mss 589.

Today we’re celebrating the 5th birthday of the U.S. Space Force (USSF). USSF Guardians are charged with innovatively re...
12/20/2024

Today we’re celebrating the 5th birthday of the U.S. Space Force (USSF). USSF Guardians are charged with innovatively responding to the rapidly changing space realm and increasing threats from competitive rivals. December 20, 2019 marked the inception of this purely space-centric branch of service - the first since the founding of the U.S. Air Force from the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1947. Semper Supra - Always Above!
📷 NASA/Shane Kimbrough, October 11, 2021

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30 W Mifflin Street
Madison, WI
53703

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Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

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