On the 79th anniversary of D-Day, we remember the thousands who went ashore and began the liberation of France and Western Europe. Read more on D-Day here:
On May 8, 1945, Germany surrendered to the Allies. As the world celebrated victory over the Nazis and American troops began to come home, the war they fought thousands of miles away came home with them. Click the link to read more about V-E Day.
#OTD
In June 1942, US and Japanese naval forces engaged in a five-day battle in the middle of the ocean that would change the course of the war in the Pacific. To learn more about the Battle of Midway, click here:
Among the more than 27,000 American military personnel held as POWs in the Pacific were 77 US military nurses. The women, members of the Army Nurse and Navy Nurse Corps, would come to be known as the “Angels of Bataan and Corregidor. Read more here:
After joining the US Army, James I. Spurrier Jr. was deployed to the South Pacific. Nicknamed the 'One Man Army' for his individual fighting, Spurrier was awarded the Medal of Honor the Distinguished Service Cross, and two Purple Hearts. Read more here:
The National WWII Museum is deeply saddened by the loss of beloved WWII veteran Mr. Lawrence Brooks, who passed away this morning. At 112 years old, he was the oldest surviving WWII veteran in the country.
Happy 111th Birthday to Mr. Lawrence Brooks of New Orleans, LA! While we weren't able to have our usual birthday party at the Museum this year, we were able to host a socially distanced celebration that he could view safely from his porch.
This Memorial Day, we remember and honor those who gave their lives serving our country in the US Armed Forces. Now through September 4, The National WWII Museum is offering free admission to current military members and their families. Learn more here:
This Memorial Day, we honor those who gave their lives serving our country in the US Armed Forces. In this photo from the Museum's Digital Collections, a US Marine kneels at the grave of a fallen comrade in a Marine Corps cemetery on Okinawa as the American flag is lowered.
The battle of the Ruhr Pocket has never won the attention it deserves, but it was something rare in military history. The US Army established full-spectrum dominance to win decisive victory at minimal cost. Read more here:
On December 7, 1941, the USS Arizona was docked in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when the Japanese attacked. Click the link to read about Operation 85, created to help identify the still-unknown servicemembers from the Arizona who were killed 82 years ago today.
On May 8, 1945, Allied forces accepted the unconditional surrender of Germany. In this photo, men of the 77th Infantry Division on Okinawa listen to radio reports of victory half a world away. Explore more photos from V-E Day and World War II here:
WWII veteran Charles Sapper recently visited his museum from San Francisco! Mr. Sapper served in the US Army Air Corps as a B-17 Pilot for the Eighth Air Force, 390th Bomb Group, 568th Bomb Squadron. Thank you for your service, Mr. Sapper!
On the morning of December 16, the Germans launched a surprise attack through Belgium that would set off the US Army's greatest struggle to deny Adolf Hitler's last chance for victory. Read more about the Battle of the Bulge here:
In the wake of the invasion of Normandy, war correspondent Ernie Pyle wrote a series of columns describing what he saw as American troops landed on Omaha Beach and the carnage that followed. Read the first of Pyle's three D-Day columns here:
On the morning of April 9, 1944, American soldiers in Italy left the safety of their nearby foxholes to attend Easter morning services with Father Gregory R. Kennedy.
Turner Classic Movies recently visited the Museum to film location interviews for a two-month spotlight on
#WWII
movies launching on the network May 2. Stay tuned for much more about this project as
#DDay75
approaches!
@tcm
@BenMank77
#history
#LetsMovie
On April 1, 1945, more than 60,000 soldiers and Marines of the US Tenth Army stormed ashore at Okinawa, in the final island battle before an anticipated invasion of Japan. The battle for Okinawa dragged out over nearly three months. Read more here:
The Victory Belles are the musical ambassadors for The National WWII Museum, performing songs of the 1940s for audiences around the world. Follow the link to learn how you can join this elite ensemble:
#WWII
#history
#music
We were proud to welcome WWII veteran Frank M. Heuer, Sr., who worked for Higgins Industries in New Orleans as an apprentice machinist. Heuer spent more than a year on Tarawa serving with ACORN 16 and ACORN 17 before returning to the US in the spring of 1945.
By November 1943, the Pacific War had been raging for nearly two years. After the Allies' success at Midway and Guadalcanal, US Navy Admiral Chester W. Nimitz targeted the Japanese-held Gilbert Islands—and the tiny coral atoll of Tarawa. Read more here:
Today we recognize and celebrate Navajo Code Talkers Day. These WWII heroes played an essential role in transmitting sensitive information on battlefields across the world, undoubtedly saving the lives of many. Learn more about their service during WWII.
Big thanks to the Commemorative Air Force - Big Easy Wing and Honda Aeroshell Teams for helping us celebrate Lawrence Brooks' 111th birthday with a flyover in honor of Mr. Brooks!
A final salute to WWII veteran Edward D. Shames, the last surviving officer of "Easy Company," who died at age 99 on December 3, 2021. Read more from USA Today:
We were excited to welcome 98-year-old WWII veteran, Dr. Tom Fitzpatrick, to the Museum this past week. Dr. Fitzpatrick told us all about being a radio navigator on a B-17 called "The Great Speckled Bird" as he stood beneath our B-17, "My Gal Sal". Thank you for your service!
A final salute to WWII veteran and Museum volunteer Ben Martinez, who passed away at the age of 101. Since 2014, Mr. Martinez spent over 1,000 hours at the Museum recounting his experiences serving in the Army in Europe. He will be greatly missed by the Museum family.
Mexican American US Army medic Corporal Anthony Acevedo suffered unimaginable horrors as a POW of the Germans. He survived Stalag IXB and then the Berga slave labor camp as well as the trauma and stigma of having been a POW.
Turner Classic Movies recently visited the Museum to film location interviews for a two-month spotlight on
#WWII
movies launching on the network May 2. Stay tuned for much more about this project as
#DDay75
approaches!
@tcm
@BenMank77
#history
#LetsMovie
By the end of World War II, the women of the all-Black 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion processed over 17 million pieces of mail. Led by Major Charity Adams, the “Six Triple Eight” fought racism, sexism—and the Nazis. Read more here:
Happy 104th Birthday to Robert E. Clark of Newton, Iowa! According to the Iowa Department of Veteran Affairs, Bob is the oldest surviving World War II POW in the entire state. We hope he has a great day and many more birthdays to come.
In 1946, Pfc. Sadao Munemori became the first Japanese American awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on the Gothic Line during World War II. Read his story here:
The hard-fought carrier naval battle in May 1942 in the waters of the Coral Sea north of Australia marked the end of the phase of Japanese triumphs in the Pacific War and proved to be of strategic significance. Read more on the Battle of Coral Sea here:
A final salute to Lt. Rose Bayuk a WWII Vet Army Nurse who passed away on 1/7. Bayuk served active duty from 11/42 to 3/46 and oversaw a ward of 60 beds on 11 round-trip crossings of the Atlantic. She will be honored posthumously with the Museum’s Silver Service Medallion.
A final salute to Larry McVay Sr., who passed away at 95. A Navy electrician's mate, McVay participated in WWII combat landings in the Pacific and later served with the Marine Corps during the Korean War. We are honored to forever preserve his oral history in our collection.
The P-47 Thunderbolt was America’s biggest and most expensive single-engine fighter of the war. Visit our website to read more about the some 100 companies who helped Republic Aviation Corporation manufacture each P-47 Thunderbolt.
The National WWII Museum mourns the passing of Benjamin Ferencz, a WWII US Army veteran and the last living prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials. To learn more about the Nuremberg Trials, visit
Image courtesy of
@HolocaustMuseum
We mourn the loss of WWII veteran and New Orleanian Amos E. Pierce Jr. The US Army Corporal served in the Battle of Saipan with the 24th Infantry Regiment, the African American “Buffalo Soldiers.” Watch actor Wendell Pierce reflect on his dad’s service:
Last week, WWII veteran Dominick Ciarrone visited his museum from North Ridgeville, OH. Ciarrone entered active duty with the Navy in July 1945 at age 17. Thank you for your service, Mr. Ciarrone!
Pictured: A Catholic Mass to celebrate Easter in Italy, 1944. Hostilities ceased for one hour on this frontline sector during services, conducted by American troops and directed across the lines by specifically installed amplifiers.
The Allied invasion of France took place along a 50-mile stretch of beach in Normandy. Commanded by Lieutenant General Miles Dempsey, British and Canadian troops landed on June 6, 1944, to face eight German infantry battalions. Read more here:
Our new nighttime sound and light show, Expressions of America, will be hosted by actor and veterans advocate
@GarySinise
. Premiering Veterans Day, Expressions will place you in the center of the war’s most epic moments. Tickets are on sale now!
The most famous American writer during World War II was journalist Ernie Pyle. On April 18, 1945, during the invasion of Okinawa, Pyle was with an army officer when a hidden Japanese machine gunner opened fire. Read about Pyle's life and legacy here:
This month, explore profiles, oral histories, photographs, and artifacts honoring African American contributions to World War II from the Museum's collection.
#blackhistorymonth
On the evening of June 6, 1944, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt made a radio broadcast to address the nation for the first time since Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy. Read Roosevelt's statement to the American people on D-Day here:
Unarmed, Desmond Doss saved 75 men on Okinawa and became became the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism under fire.
The special exhibit "Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in World War II" is on view at The Oregon Historical Society in Portland through January 12, 2020:
#WWII
#history
#portland
#pdx
Travis Cox, age 94, recently visited the Museum from Birmingham, Alabama. As a member of the US Army, Travis served in the Pacific theater of operations at the tail end of the war and after the war. We salute you, Travis, and we are grateful you could join us here at the Museum.
The Museum’s collection contains hundreds of menus from holiday meals shared while in service. The fact that so many of these were saved and mailed or brought home tells us just how important these meals were. Learn more here:
The trailer for
#MastersOfTheAir
is here! And tune in December 9 as we conclude the 16th International Conference on World War II with a special session on the making of this nine-part series event premiering January 26 on Apple TV+. Register now:
From the executive producers of Band of Brothers and The Pacific, the official Masters of the Air trailer is here.
The 9-part series event premieres January 26.
After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, they invaded Luzon, Philippines, in January 1942. American and Filipino troops were able to fight for three months before surrendering to Japanese troops, leading to the Bataan Death March. Read more here:
Before the war, Oradour-sur-Glane was a quiet, rural community in central France. In 1944, the village was left in ruins after German Waffen-SS troops massacred 642 men, women, and children before burning the village to the ground:
#WWII
#history
Happy Father's Day! During World War II, dads across America left their families to join the fight overseas. In rare instances, fathers and sons fought side by side. In this photo from our collection, Private William R. Loop says goodbye to his dad, Corporal Roderick R. Loop.
Born in Berlin, Germany, in December 1922, Isadore S. Jachman was one of only three Jewish American men to receive the Medal of Honor for their actions during World War II. Read Jachman's story here:
Last week, WWII veteran Laron Self visited his museum from New Houlka, MS, with his family. Self served in the Army and was in the European theater. Thank you for your service, Mr. Self!
Kermit Tyler was the executive officer of the 78th Pursuit Squadron, United States Army Air Forces. In this clip Mr. Tyler tells us about his experience at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1944. Listen to more of his oral histories and discover others here:
US Army Captain Leonard T. Schroeder Jr. was the first man into waist-deep water at Utah Beach, his M-1 helmet affixed to his head as he trudged to shore under enemy fire. Schroeder's family donated his helmet to the Museum 75 years later. Read more here:
Teachers, if you missed the May 2 webcast of "The 75th Anniversary of D-Day" Electronic Field Trip, join us at 9:00 a.m. (CDT) on Thursday, June 6:
#WWII
#history
#education
#DDay75
DVR alert! Turner Classic Movies will mark
#DDay75
with an all-day movie marathon. The Museum's Rob Citino joins the
#WWII
watch party at 7 p.m. CDT June 6 for "The Longest Day," "Overlord," and "A Bridge Too Far." Here's the marquee:
The nation says goodbye today to Hershel “Woody” Williams—WWII veteran and last remaining Medal of Honor recipient from the conflict. Services will be livestreamed at 4 pm (ET). Watch live as our country offers a final salute to an American hero.
On June 6, 1944, two brothers from Kansas landed at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. They promised to meet on the beach after the fighting was done—a promise that would remain unfulfilled. Visit our website to read the story of Roland and Walter Ehlers.
Unarmed, Desmond Doss saved 75 men on Okinawa and became became the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism under fire.
Benjamin Salomon, a Jewish American dental officer and front-line surgeon in the US Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor almost 60 years after his death. Read more here:
Teachers, if you missed the May 2 webcast of "The 75th Anniversary of D-Day" Electronic Field Trip, join us at 9:00 a.m. (CDT) on Thursday, June 6:
#WWII
#history
#education
#DDay75
Last week, WWII veteran Daniel M. Luévano visited his museum from Calabasas, CA. Luévano served in the Navy as a Signalman aboard USS PC-592 and took part in convoy escort duty in the South Atlantic in 1942 and 1943. Thank you for your service Mr. Luévano!
German troops invading France in the spring of 1940 committed widespread atrocities, especially against Black African colonial troops. One of the worst massacres took place at the town of Chasselay on June 20. Visit our website to read more:
In July 1944, Higgins Industries staged a reenactment of the D-Day landings on Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans to celebrate the delivery of its 10,000th boat to the US Navy.
A final salute to Bernice “Bee” Falk Haydu, WWII WASP, Congressional Gold Medal Recipient and member of the Aviation Hall Fame, who passed away on January 30 at age 100. In 2018, she was awarded the Museum's Silver Service Medallion at the American Spirit Awards.
Opening November 3, 2023, The National WWII Museum’s capstone exhibit hall, Liberation Pavilion, will explore the end of World War II, the Holocaust, the postwar years, and how the war continues to impact our lives today. Learn more here:
In addition to flyovers, a cake, and a personal performance from the Victory Belles, we were able to deliver the nearly 10,000 birthday cards sent in from around the world. Thank you to everyone who sent a card or birthday wishes for helping us make this day special in a new way!
"Band of Brothers" miniseries alums James Madio, Ross McCall, and Matthew Leitch have joined the September 9 departure of the Easy Company: England to the Eagle's Nest tour as special guests: Book before 4/13 and save $1,000 per couple:
#WWII
#travel
Today is Veterans Day, a day to honor and remember those who have selflessly served our country. To mark this holiday, The National WWII Museum proudly offers free admission to all US Armed Forces veterans. Click the link in our bio to learn more.
The Museum mourns the loss of decorated WWII veteran, former US Senator, and American Spirit Award recipient Bob Dole. We are honored to have his oral history in our collection as a permanent tribute to his inspiring legacy of service.
On April 11, 1945, the 6th Armored Division of Patton’s Third Army reached the Buchenwald concentration camp. For all their experience of combat in five campaigns, what the men of the 6th beheld in Buchenwald horrified them. Click here to keep reading: