A PROPERTY OF THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION

Nimitz News DispatchBrought to you in partnership by the Admiral Nimitz Foundation and National Museum of the Pacific War.

SECOND QUARTER 2021

www.PacificWarMuseum.org

We Inspire Our Youth by Honoring Our Heroes

NOW OPEN:2021 Admiral Nimitz Foundation Annual Symposium Registration Online

A New Role for a Veteran of Non-profit and Public Service

The NMPW welcomes a new Museum Director with a friendly and familar face.

STORY ON PAGE 7

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

GENERAL’S ADDRESS 2

EDUCATION REPORT 4

THE PACIFIC MEDALS OF HONOR 8

KIDS CORNER 10

Loss of a NMPW Friend

James (Jim) D. Hornfischer was a giant in the world of Naval historians, and he was also an incredible friend and contributor to the NMPW.

PAGE 3

The Admiral Nimitz Foundation is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community, and this year we are shining a spotlight on it. The 2021 Symposium, “A Catalyst for Change: Diversity in World War II,” will explore the diverse groups that played a role in the Pacific War and how they overcame adversity abroad and on the home front. We hope that you will join us, virtually once again, on September 17-18, to experience the opportunity of sharing information, insights, and questions. Registration is now open online, and early bird pricing is available! Our invited speakers include Dr. Matthew Delmont, Ms. Alexandra Harris, Dr. Brian Hayashi, and Dr. Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, along with WWII historian Craig Symonds, as the moderator.

Dr. Matthew Delmont is the Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Professor of History at Dartmouth College. An expert on African-American History and the History of Civil Rights, he is the author of four books: Black Quotidian: Everyday History in African American Newspapers (Stanford University Press, 2019); Making Roots: A Nation Captivated (University of California Press, 2016); Why Busing Failed: Race, Media, and the National Resistance to School Desegregation (UC Press, 2016); and The Nicest Kids in Town: American Bandstand, Rock’ n’ Roll, and the Struggle for Civil Rights in 1950s Philadelphia (UC Press, 2012). His next book, Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad, will be published by Viking Books in 2022. Delmont was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Public Scholar Award to support this research. He is a frequent media contributor to major outlets including the New York Times, NPR, TheAtlantic.com, and more. His speaking and consulting clients have included Fortune 500 companies, universities and community organizations.

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FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE ADMIRAL NIMITZ FOUNDATION

Dear Members,

Unfortunately, as you will read in this issue, the world-class naval historian, Jim Hornfischer, passed away in June after a long fight with cancer. He was a good friend

and a strong supporter of the Museum. His ability to tell the stories of ordinary sailors facing extraordinary circumstances and meeting them with astonishing feats will be one of his everlasting legacies. He will be missed.

With summer here and vaccination numbers increasing, our “evolving normal” continues. We are welcoming an increased number of visitors allowed inside our galleries at any one time, and although masks and social distancing are still recommended, we no longer require masks for Museum visitors. We will continue to modify the protocols when warranted based on local conditions and recommendations from medical experts.

This issue introduces our upcoming Symposium in September. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend this virtual event. We are hoping to return to some sort of in-person symposium in 2022.

We are targeting a finish date of July for the renovation of the Nimitz Ballroom in the Historic Nimitz Hotel. When finished, the Ballroom will look like it did the last time Admiral Nimitz visited when he was honored at a dinner on 13 October 1945.

As always, we thank you for your continued support and hope you have a fun and safe summer!

Best, Mike Hagee

OfficersCase D. Fischer, Chairman

Robert B. Phelps, Vice ChairmanGeneral Michael W. Hagee, USMC (Ret)President and Chief Executive Officer

Nancy L. Dreher, Secretary

DirectorsElizabeth G. Boldrick

VADM William D. Crowder, USN (Ret)Andrea FeilerDavid D. FitchJohn E. Harris

Steven L. HighlanderCAPT Samuel (Sam) C. Howard, USN (Ret)

John L. Nau, IIIBruce NicholsMark A. RocheGreg Shrader

CAPT Michael B. Tatsch, USN (Ret)Robert F. Wheless

LtGen Willie Williams, USMC (Ret)

Directors EmeritiAnn Brey

David Q Bates, Jr.Kenneth L. BurengaJohn R. Goodwillie

Barbara Schmidt HeinenBruce H.C. Hill

Steven K. HowellLTG Neal T. (Tom) Jaco, USA (Ret)

John KerrR. Bruce LaBoon

CAPT Thomas H. Murray, Jr., USNR (Ret)Gordon E. Sauer

John Schrock, Sr.Roy E. Stroeher

Craig L. Symonds, Ph.D.Ronald L. Woellhof

Honorary TrusteesGeneral Billy J. Boles, USAF (Ret)

U.S. Senator John CornynU.S. Senator Ted Cruz

The Honorable Gordon EnglandAmbassador Kay Bailey Hutchison

Marty KaderliTexas Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

Woodrow F. (Woody) McCaslandHelen McDonald

Nancy Brown NegleyJohn P. Schneider, M.D.

George E. Seay, III

Admiral Nimitz Foundation2021 Board of Directors

HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO BE PART OF A LASTING LEGACY?Imagine telling your children and grandchildren you are an exclusive member of

the Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Legacy Society!

By choosing the Admiral Nimitz Foundation as a beneficiary of any part of your Estate or Planned Giving, you have a direct and lasting impact on our future. Make

a difference today and contribute to a historical and cultural institution that will transcend your lifetime. By pledging any portion of your estate, whether a cash

donation, life insurance, real estate, or contributions from retirement plan rollovers or trusts, you become a member of this exclusive Society. Please visit our website to learn more or contact Steve Lutz at 830-997-8600 x204 to inquire about options or

inform us of your donation provisions.

EDUCATING. INSPIRING. CONNECTING. www.pacificwarmuseum/join-give/planned-giving

We Inspire Our Youth by Honoring Our Heroes 3

Many members and supporters of the Museum were fortunate enough to have seen and heard Jim’s presentations – in person onsite and via webinars. Some of the highlights of Jim’s professional biography include:

• After earning an undergraduate degree at Colgate University in New York, and a MBA and JD from the University of Texas, Jim and his wife Sharon founded their firm Hornfischer Literary Management.

• Jim’s first book, The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, is considered a Naval history classic, and he received the Samuel Eliot Morison Award by the Naval Order of the United States for it.

• Bantam Books published three more of Jim’s books of Naval history: Ship of Ghosts, Neptune’s Inferno: The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal, and the award winning The Fleet at Flood Tide: America at Total War in the Pacific, 1944-1945. All four of his books are on the Chief of Naval Operations Required Reading List.

• Described by his peers as, “the Dean of WWII Naval History” and “having the mind of a skilled historian with the heart of a lyrical poet,” Jim was known for his expertise as both an historian and master story-teller.

Recently, Jim received The Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, the Navy’s highest civilian honor. Surrounded by family, friends, Navy Admirals and other officers, Jim was presented the award at his home in Austin. It was truly a fitting cap on an incredibly distinguished career.

The Museum and ANF will remember Jim as an extraordinary supporter of our collective mission. Our Center for Pacific War Studies is home to Jim’s archives. It is not a surprise to any who knew him that even through his past two years of illness, he worked to complete three new book projects that will be published posthumously. One of them, The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, will be available in the Museum Stores in October.

The NMPW is honoring Jim Hornfischer’s contributions to WWII history with a temporary exhibit of artifacts related to Jim’s book topics, seen right. You can also view programs Jim has been invloved with on the Museum’s YouTube channel.

NMPW has established a permanent tribute in Jim’s honor. If you would like to donate to this tribute, please go to the Join and Give tab on our website and proceed with a Donation, specifying that your contribution is in memory of Jim. You may also call (830)997-8600 Ext. 220 or email tributes@nimitzfoundation.org.

James (Jim) D. Hornfischer was a giant in the world of Naval historians, and he was also an incredible friend and contributor to the NMPW. Jim passed away on June 1, 2021, and he will be missed by so many across the globe as a lauded writer and editor, a renowned speaker, devoted son, husband, father and friend.

NMPW Mourns the Loss of a Good FriendIn Memory of James D. Hornfischer

EDUCATING AND INSPIRINGCURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONSFrom the Desk of the Education Director Dr. David Shields

As always, our Education Department has been hard at work telling the stories of “America’s Greatest Generation,” and they are not slowing down!

3rd Annual Robotics CompetitionOnce again, the Museum was able to partner up with Gillespie 4H Club to

hold our annual Robotics competition. This year saw several teams of 3rd and 4th graders compete at the Texas A&M Gillespie County AgriLife Extension Building. This facility enabled us to safely hold the competition for all of the young “engineers” and their families while adhering to the Museum’s safety protocols.

As in years past, Museum Outreach Coordinator Bryan Degner took the lead on this program and, along with the support and help of Carly Jenkins from Gillespie 4H, hosted a great event for everyone. We hope next year to host the event back on the museum campus. Outposts

Be sure to check out our Outpost Program conducted three Saturday’s a month in the Memorial Courtyard or Pacific Combat Zone Amphitheater. Museum staff, interns, and volunteers host several programs throughout the day for the public free of charge. This outdoor event focuses on a variety of topics and allows attendees an interactive experience that enhances their Museum visit. In the past, Outposts have focused on WWII weapons, the gear issued and used during the War, the role of women, and battlefield communications. So drop by when you’re on Main Street and see the many activities available at the Museum every weekend! Virtual Game Design Summer Camp

This year the NMPW teamed up with the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ special initiative, “Games for Change.” Our Museum was one of 40 museums and the only one in Texas selected by the competition to pilot this initiative. This innovative approach was intended to enable teens across the U.S. to use free publicly available software to apply their comfort of using games to explore the rich recourses of the nation’s museums.

During June, teen-led block programming was taught to middle school students at Texas Tech University’s Hill Country University Center. At the conclusion of camp, individuals and teams submitted their final games designed to the national committee. Winners will receive $1,000 towards school costs, and additional prizes will be awarded for different places.

4 Nimitz News Dispatch

At the end of June, the museum was pleased to receive a 1942 Willys Army Jeep donated by General Star Carey, U.S. Army Retired, (pictured below) and his wife, Captain Sandra Carey, USNR. Museum Outreach Coordinator Bryan Degner and Senior Museum Mechanic Aaron Verinder traveled to Canyon Lake recently to collect this WWII vehicle. The Jeep is the fifth to be added to the Education Outreach Motorpool Collection.

Although the museum has more vehicles for display purposes in the galleries, the Education Motorpool collection is unique in that it is made ready for tactile use and interpretive purposes outside and off-site.

General Carey‘s generosity is very much appreciated as it will allow us to continue to maintain a significant number of vehicles always ready to roll for public and educational programs. This past 4th of July, Fredericksburg saw our refurbished DUKW return to Main Street for the parade after over a decade of being a static display - also made possible by the generosity of friends of the museum.

Beep, beep! The NMPW Has Acquired A New Jeep

EDUCATING AND INSPIRINGCURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONSFrom the Desk of the Education Director Dr. David Shields

5

For more information and to register visit

www.pacificwarmuseum.org/events

(Continued from Page 1) Alexandra N. Harris is a senior editor and writer at the National Museum of the American Indian, where she has developed and edited scholarly books, exhibitions, strategic plans, and other communications since 2008.

Her editorial projects have earned awards for excellence in research from the Secretary of the Smithsonian. Most recently, she co-authored and edited Why We Serve: Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces (2020). She is a graduate of the Smithsonian’s Emerging Leaders Development Program. Prior to 2008, she was a curator at the Barona Cultural Center and Museum, tribal museum of the Barona Band of Mission Indians in San Diego. She holds an MA in American Indian Studies from the University of California at Los Angeles (2001).

Dr. Brian Masaru Hayashi is a Professor in the History Department at Kent State University. Previously, he was a Professor at Kyoto University, Japan, in the Graduate School of Human & Environmental Studies, and an Assistant Professor at Yale University in American Studies, History, East Asian Studies and a co-founder and director of its Ethnicity, Race, and Migration Program. The research for his Ph.D. at the University of California, Los Angeles, was on Japanese Americans and was the foundation for his book, For the Sake of Our Japanese Brethren (Stanford University Press, 1995), winner of the Kenneth Scott Latourette Award. While teaching in Japan and at Yale, he studied West Coast Japanese Americans’ mass removal and internment. His findings were published in Democratizing the Enemy (Princeton University Press, 2004), winner of the biennial Robert Athearn Award, while co-editing a volume with Professor Yasuko Takezawa, a noted Japanese expert on “race,” in New Waves (Kyoto University, 2004). He also studied the world of intelligence, particularly the Office of Strategic Services (forerunner to the CIA), and how they recruited, deployed, and depended upon Asian Americans, resulting in the publication of Asian American Spies by Oxford University Press.

Dr. Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez has more than 17 years of daily news experience, mostly as a reporter for the Boston Globe, WFAA-TV in Dallas, and the Dallas Morning News. She served as the Morning New U.S.-Mexico border bureau chief, based in El Paso. Her research interests include the intersection of oral history and journalism, U.S. Latinos, and the news media, both as producers of news and consumers.

Rivas-Rodriguez founded the Voces Oral History Project (formerly the U.S. Latino and Latina World War II Oral History Project) in 1999, which has videotaped interviews with over 960 men and women throughout the country. Rivas-Rodriguez has been active since her college years in volunteer efforts to bring greater diversity to the news media. She was on the committee that organized and founded the National Association of Hispanic Journalists in 1982. She received her Ph.D., as a Freedom Forum doctoral fellow from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned her master’s degree at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Craig Symonds is the Ernest J. King Distinguished Professor of Maritime History at the Naval War College and Professor Emeritus at the US Naval Academy, where he taught for 30 years and served as a department chair. He is the author or editor of 29 books, including The Battle of Midway, Operation Neptune, and World War II at Sea: A Global History, all published by Oxford University Press. He is a recipient of the Roosevelt Prize, the Lincoln Prize, the Morison Prize, and the Dudley W. Knox Medal for Lifetime Achievement.

We are honored to host our speakers and look forward to a thought-provoking Symposium. Below is a tentative schedule.

Friday, September 17th 10:30am:Whova Indroduction and Exhibits Hall Opens

11:00am-12:00pm: Round Tables and Exhibits12:00pm: Welcome and Opening Session

1:30pm: Session “Half American: The Epic Story of Black Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad”

with Dr. Matthew Delmont2:45pm: Session “The Race for ‘Race.’: How the OSS beat out the

British SOE in the Covert Operations Game in Asia, 1940-1945” with Dr. Brian Hayashi

4:00pm: Panel Discussion: Diversity in the MilitarySaturday, September 18th

10:00am: Session “Native Intelligence: American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian contributions to the Pacific War”

with Alexandra Harris11:30am: Session with Dr. Maggie Rivas-Rodriquez

12:45pm: Panel Discussion

6

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RETAIL STOREFrom the Desk of Retail Services Director

Krista Gratigni

In my 40 years of retail management, I have had the opportunity to work with outstanding companies in both the profit-driven and nonprofit sectors. I can say without a doubt that the most fulfilling experiences I have had

have been with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the Admiral Nimitz Foundation at the National Museum of the Pacific War. Being a part of this organization, helping to support the mission, and being a steward to the artifacts and archives that tell the stories of history have been far more satisfying than driving a business to increase its stock value. Maybe you have even wondered why Museums have a store?

The museum store, both onsite and online, provides a constant stream of revenue to support the institution’s financial needs and the community. The museum is a trusted resource, and the products sold in the stores reflect the mission, collections, and programs of the museum. Community members are encouraged to visit the store to find unique items of interest that would not usually be readily available.

Museum stores also extend the brand of the museum, helping to communicate the experience to the public. For example, when a visitor wears a shirt or cap, reads a book, or sees an item they purchased during their visit, they are again reminded of a key marketing message. That message may, in turn, inspire them to revisit the museum, share their experience with friends, visit the online museum store, or even become a member.

The museum store is often the last stop in the museum visit. It is an extension of the visitor experience furthering the educational mission by offering an assortment of products that allow the public to take a part of the museum home with them and relive memories of their museum visit. Whether purchasing a book to dig deeper into a facet of history that they may have been unfamiliar with or picking a gift for that special someone back home, the museum store offers something for everyone. We encourage you to visit the store online at store.pacificwarmuseum.org and order your own piece of the museum today!

WELCOME! Now OPEN six days a week

Wednesday-Monday

The pandemic changed us in so many ways. Until March 17, 2020, we opened our doors to all, every day of the week. Overnight, we closed—we didn’t know for how long. We were challenged to find a way to stay on course, holding our mission as the North Star.

We wanted to welcome guests while keeping our staff (paid and volunteer), visitors and community safe. We spoke with peer organizations (several of whom remain closed). We assessed safety and capacities and developed COVID protocols and guidelines. We instituted mask requirements and encouraged social distancing and capacity restrictions. In May 2020, we re-opened welcoming 240 visitors a day.

In the last few months, as our understanding of the disease’s spread has changed, we increased our daily capacities to 840 and, on the first of June, we increased our daily operations to six days a week, Wednesday through Monday.

We also announced that masks are recommended, but optional for visitors. Staff and volunteers will continue to wear masks if they are not vaccinated. We will certainly increase opportunities for visitors to experience the NMPW, and more importantly, we will connect more visitors to our mission while doing all we can to keep everyone safe. Come see us, won’t you?

We Inspire Our Youth by Honoring Our Heroes 7

Success doesn’t just happen. It is based on the dedication, commitment, and hard work of individuals who form high-performing teams that plan well and execute well.

The 12th Annual Nimitz Golf Classic, which included a live auction and dinner on Thursday, June 10th, followed by a golf tournament on Friday, June 11th, reached new levels of success based on a tremendous effort by staff, volunteers, community sponsors, and underwriters. The dinner was held at the Texas Rangers Heritage Pavilion, with dinner catered by August E’s and entertainment provided by the Lone Star Swing Orchestra.

Everyone enjoyed the ability to gather in a public setting to celebrate and support the Admiral Nimitz Foundation and this year’s event co-beneficiary, the Wounded Warriors at NEBO. These two organizations directly benefitted from the generosity of many people, and for that, we are extremely grateful.

Event highlights can be seen by visiting www.nimitzgolfclassic.com. Thanks to everyone involved.

You might recall that in 2019, Karen Basset Stevenson joined the Museum as the Volunteer Manager. Last year, Karen assumed the position of Visitor Services Director. We are pleased to announce that Karen is now our

Museum Director. While it seems that Karen has risen quickly in our organization, she has done so with a lifetime of education and experience in the world of cultural enrichment.

As Volunteer Manager, Karen launched a training program for volunteers, and in the past year, she formalized training for docents. While this was new territory for NMPW, it was the natural outgrowth of Karen’s experience as Volunteer Training Director for the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and Training Director for Alamo Area Master Naturalists in San Antonio. These training programs have contributed to the Museum’s growing acclaim, most recently as a Smithsonian Affiliate.

Having shepherded our frontline staff and volunteers through the height of the pandemic as Visitor Services Director, Karen is no stranger to the challenges of shifting priorities in meeting the needs of both our staff and visitors. She led the way for re-opening the Museum after our two-month closure and ensured Museum best practices for Covid-19 safety. In addition to daily operations, Karen managed the overhaul of the Visitor Services systems software, including the upcoming implementation of a new technology platform. She also established new programs for our visitors, including Hands-on History Carts and Interpretative Tours.

With years of experience in marketing, fundraising, training, historical interpretation, and driving revenue – virtually all in non-profit or public institutions – we knew that Karen was the ideal person to become Museum Director. Karen earned an American History MA/ABT from Portland State University, a BS in Park Administration, Landscape Architecture & Horticulture from Texas Tech University, and has pursued continuing education in areas such as Fundraising.

Please join us in congratulating Karen on her new role. When 2021 began, we were very unsure of the future. Thus far, the year has been highly successful as we have ramped up admissions. Karen’s leadership in Visitor Services has been instrumental in navigating the changing health safety conditions and subsequent government safety guidance. As we look forward to more “normal” operations, we look to Karen to oversee the re-opening of the renovated Historic Nimitz Ballroom and the upcoming renovations to the George H.W. Bush Gallery, including the addition of a Children’s Gallery. All of that…and keeping the frontline happy!

Karen’s family has roots in Texas since the 1880s, and she is happy to have settled here in Fredericksburg with her husband Phillip and their two dogs, Scout and Mathilda (both named after literary heroines).

A New Role for a Veteran of Non-profit and Public Service

Annual Nimitz Golf Classic: Where Leisure and History Collide for a Good Cause

The Pacific Medals of HonorBorn for Battle: First Lieutenant William D. Hawkins, USMCR

By Kent Knudson

While playing in his home, three-year old William Deane Hawkins accidently ran into his neighbor carrying a pan of scalding water while doing her laundry using the Hawkins’ kitchen. His mother patiently massaged Deane’s burn-scarred limbs for three hours a day to vitalize the muscles, eventually allowing him to straighten his leg and arm and regain their use in just over a year. It would be a defining moment for the boy. The scars would fuel a determination and tenacity that would cause war correspondent Robert Sherrod to call Hawkins “the bravest man I have seen in two years of the Pacific War” on Tarawa in 1943.

Deane was the only child of Clara Jean and William F. Hawkins, born on 18 April 1914 in Fort Scott, KS. At age five, the family moved to El Paso, TX. In 1922, Deane’s father died, and Clara worked and raised her son. An excellent student and talented athlete, he graduated from El Paso High School at age 16. A scholarship allowed him to begin engineering studies at the Texas College of Mines. Attempting to enlist in the Navy and the Army Air Corps, he was turned down because of his scars, much to his bitter disappointment.

By 1937, he was in Los Angeles employed with a title-insurance company. Hawkins decided to try to join the Marine Corps after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He enlisted on 5 January 1942, as he said, “scars and all.”

8 Nimitz News Dispatch

The 28-year-old recruit attended boot camp in San Diego and was assigned to the 2d Marine Division upon graduation. He began training at Scout Snipers School at nearby Camp Elliot. By July 1942 he was heading across the Pacific after a stint in the 2d Marines Intelligence Section (R-2). He quickly advancing to the rank of sergeant.

A born leader, he received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in November 1942 and made a name for himself leading patrols on Guadalcanal. Marines called him “The Hawk” and later recalled that they would “go to hell and back” for him.

First Lieutenant Hawkins would be assigned command of the 2d Marines Scout Sniper Platoon in September 1943. The 34-member unit would be the first to disembark prior to the D-Day landings on Betio at Tarawa on 20 November 1943.

Leaving the USS Zeilin at 3:45 a.m., Hawkins and part of his platoon headed for Betio Pier separating Red Beaches 2 and 3. Encountering heavy enemy fire, the Marines worked to clear the pier of Japanese emplacements positioned to fire on the landing forces. He regathered his men and headed to the main landing site that afternoon to join those forces holding the beachhead. He fearlessly led attacks on enemy pillboxes and installations for the rest of that day and night in this crucial phase of the battle at increasingly great risk to himself.

His daring tactics the next day to clear the beach of enemy resistance included personally leading an assault on a position defended by five machine guns, crawling while under attack to fire point blank into the sites and finally destroying them with grenades.

Seriously wounded, his non-stop fighting spirit carried him further to attack and destroy three more pillboxes before being caught in enemy shellfire and mortally wounded on 21 November 1943. Sherrod would write in the Marine Corps Gazette that he was told “that Hawkins came near as winning a battle as any first lieutenant ever did.”

Clara Hawkins received her son’s Medal of Honor from Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House on August 30, 1944. 1LT Hawkins is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii.

18 September 1931 - Japan’s Army in Manchuria seizes the Mukden arsenal and nearby strategic areas.

18 February 1932 - Manchukuo is declared a protectorate of Japan to be used for economic purposes. Japan withdraws from the League of Nations in 1933 and increasingly pursues an aggressive policy with China. Sustained open hostilities begin in July 1937 at the Marco Polo Bridge. Beijing and Shanghai are attacked with victories for Japan.

Around the Pacific 80 Years Ago: Prelude to War

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands...” How many of you have this engrained in your brain from elementary school days? During those days, your mind was probably on what tests you had that day, what your mom may have packed in your lunch (did you get a twinkie

or just an apple)? I was always excited to get a love note from my mom on my napkin – my how our priorities change. I’ll be honest. I didn’t give much thought as I stood beside my desk and faithfully recited those words about our Country’s flag. Being from a military family, I grew up hearing taps on the military bases as the sun went down and seeing flags proudly hung not only on special holidays but daily in peoples’ yards. I grew to learn what this flying tribute means, and to

respect and regard the sanctity of the U.S. flag.

However, it wasn’t until a couple of years ago here at the museum that the depth of the flag’s meaning filled me to my very soul. We had a U.S. citizen’s swearing-in ceremony in our ballroom. The expression and depth of emotion that shone on the faces of those becoming Americans was something

that will be etched in my memory forever. And as they held up their hands with pride, I looked over at my mom (who happened to be volunteering here at the museum on that day), and tears were streaming down her face. My heart swelled as I realized that she had gone through this ceremony in her early 20s after marrying my dad and leaving her whole family in Germany. And it wasn’t soon after they got married that he left for Vietnam as a new Marine officer. How scared she must have been. We had a poignant talk afterward about what it meant for her to become an American, and I gained a new respect for what that fabric of stars and

stripes flying in the breeze meant.

My dad, General Mike Hagee, 33rd Marine Corps Commandant, looks at the flag not only with pride for his service and that of his fellow Marines but for those flags that have draped too many coffins in the past – representing someone who truly gave their all for our Country.

This January, we started a Folds of Honor program which allows you to have a flag flown in our Presidential Plaza in honor of a loved one (veteran or non-veteran). Flying a flag for someone speaks of honor, courage, and true faith in Old Glory.

Email tributes@nimitzfoundation.org or visit www.pacificwarmuseum.org/join-give/tributes

for information on any Tribute at the NMPW.

HONORING THEIR SACRIFICEFrom the Desk of Tributes Director Stephanie Hagee

We Inspire Our Youth by Honoring Our Heroes

12 December 1937 - Japan sinks the USS Panay anchored in the Yangtze River. Japan apologizes and pays compensation to the U.S.

13 December 1937 - The infamous six-week Rape of Nanking begins. An estimated 40,000 to 300,000 Chinese are massacred. Looting and rape are widespread.

By 1939, the Japanese were well on their way to establish its “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.” Western countries freeze Japanese assets and exports. Japan’s economic expansion in Asia bring it into direct conflict with the West’s economic interests.

By 1941, Japan is committed to using force to achieve its goals in Asia and the Pacific.

“The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.”

After World War II, Admiral Chester Nimitz became Chief of Naval Operations. He ordered the creation of a flight demonstration team to raise public interest in naval aviation. On June 15, 1946, it would give its first flight exhibition with LCDR Roy “Butch” Voris leading the team. A month later they would be named the “BLUE ANGELS.”

KID’S CORNER: HAPPY 75TH BIRTHDAY TO THE BLUE ANGELS!

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Since 1946, the Blue Angels have performed for nearly

500 milllion fans!

SAILORWINGS OF GOLD

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SEVEN

A total of 17 officers voluntarily serve with the Blue Angels. This total includes the tactical jet pilots, support officers, and Marine pilots flying support aircraft. 100 Sailors and Marines provide support to their mission. There are 29 appearances this year.

The Blue Angels’ Commanding Officer flies the Number 1 jet. The other aviators fly Numbers 2 through 7.

Hunting for Facts: Want to learn more?1. Have any Blue Angels become astronauts?

2. What is the most demanding maneuver performed?

3. Are there ever sonic booms at the air shows?

To find the answers visit www.blueangels.navy.mil/faq/

FROM HELLCATS TO HORNETS

The Blue Angels are currently transitioning to the

F/A-18 Hornet C/D! Can you unscramble the names of the types of planes they have

flown over the last 75 years?

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______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hellcat; Hornet; Skyhawk; Panther; Phantom; Tiger; Bearcat

Did you know?The jets fly as

close as 18 inches to each other!

How about this?The average

number of jets in the squadron is 11.

JULY

The Art of Fredericksburg: 175 Years

1, 3, 4th Saturdays - Living History Outpost

2nd Saturday - Hidden Stories

21 - Author Talk with Dr. Don Carleton

31 - Special Outpost

AUGUST

The Art of Fredericksburg: 175 Years

1, 3, 4th Saturdays - Living History Outpost

2nd Saturday - Hidden Stories

11 - Webinar with David Krigbaum

SEPTEMBER

The Art of Fredericksburg: 175 Years

1, 3, 4th Saturdays - Living History Outpost

2nd Saturday - Hidden Stories

2 - V-J Day

17, 18 - Annual Symposium (Virtual)

18 - Smithsonian Museum Day

Visit our website for more informationwww.pacificwarmuseum.org

2021 UPCOMING EVENTSJULY - SEPTEMBER

Say Hello to Our Interns!

This summer, the Museum welcomed three interns who assisted in our Curatorial, Archives, and Education Departments planning summer programs, helping with summer camp and digital inventory.

Kameron Knesek just graduated from Texas A&M with a B.A. in History. Acacia Oyler is a rising junior at Trinity University working towards her B.A. in Classics and History. Kinsey Brooks is a rising senior at Texas State University working towards her B.A. in History with a minor in Women’s Studies.

As a final project, they will create and present a special Outpost program on Saturday, July 31st, at the Pacific Combat Zone. These programs will take place at 11:00, 11:30, 1:00, and 1:30 pm.

The red brick building, above and left, was originally erected in 1911 as the Ujina Army Provisions Depot Building. Hiroshima was an army city whose fortune was tied to supporting army logistics and was home to a massive army base built around Hiroshima Castle. The aim point for the atomic bomb, Aioibashi, is just south of the military complex. At its World War II peak, it could move 20,000 troops a day.

Located in Ujina, the primary military and civilian port of Hiroshima, it was one of many such facilities built to support the army around this time. It was a meat cannery and horse fodder producer. It also had facilities for rice polishing, research, and storehouses. The museum building was the cannery, a role it continued in until 1944 when the valuable machinery was moved out of the city into an evacuation factory, a common practice at the time. The cannery property was converted into a farm and manned by students during the last year of the war. The students lived inside the former cannery building.

As they finished morning quarters on August 6, 1945, the students saw an intense orange flash from the northwest followed by a massive bellowing sound and a blast powerful enough to shatter all the cannery windows, crumple the roof inward and bend the steel beams supporting it. One of the bent beams can be seen in the photo at the right and has been left as is as an example of the bomb’s power.

Though glass was everywhere on the building floor and the experience was frightening, no students were killed at the time of the bombing. However, the students would experience death firsthand in the following days as the former cannery was converted into a temporary overflow ward for the excess of injured that couldn’t be supported at nearby hospitals. Many would die there waiting for care.

Post-war, it became a Calbee food factory and was used until the 1980s. Recognized as one of the last Meiji-era (1868-1912) Western-style buildings in Hiroshima, it was made an important tangible cultural asset of Hiroshima City and opened as a museum in 1985.

For more information about David, and his wife Emi’s visit to the Hiroshima City Museum of History and Traditional Crafts, read the original article on his blog at www.wayfarerdaves.com/?p=2679.

REFLECTIONS FROM JAPANHiroshima City Museum of History and Traditional CraftsBy David Krigbaum

We Inspire Our Youth by Honoring Our Heroes

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You may be familiar with island hopping, but have you seen it like this? See page 4 to learn more!