Herbert Hanneman: Prisoner of War in the Pacific
Herbert Hanneman National Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day is observed on the third Friday in September, established in 1979. Herbert H. Hanneman from Madison, Wisconsin, was a prisoner of war during World War II. He served in the United States Army from 1941 to 1945. Since Hanneman had
Honoring Thomas J. Lucas on National Airborne Day
August 16, 2025, is National Airborne Day. In celebration, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum would like to honor the story of Thomas “Tom” J. Lucas, who served as a paratrooper in the United States Army in World War II and the Korean War, including participating in a combat jump on D-Day,
Valdor W. John, Sr on the Battle of Taejon (75th Anniversary)
Seventy-five years ago, the North Korean military invaded South Korea. Here is the story from veteran Valdor W. John, Sr., who fought at the Battle of Taejon and witnessed first-hand the Allied effort to delay the North Korean advance. John became a prisoner of war and then survived the Tiger
Gay Veterans Reflect on Their Service Experiences
Mary “Maria” E. Hanson-Bailey In recognition of Pride Month, we highlight interviews with two gay soldiers who served in the military before gay people could serve openly. Their experiences are a reminder of how policies changed making the military more inclusive. On September 20, 2011, the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
Unique Bonds that Come from Serving Together
The intense experiences of military life often create special bonds among those who serve together. Veterans may refer to their comrades as brothers, sisters, buddies, or family. But in some ways, these descriptors don't quite capture the true nature of these unique relationships. In the following interview excerpts, several veterans
Jessica E. Williams on Leading with Empathy
With a college degree, Jessica E. Williams could have entered the United States Army Reserve as an officer. Instead, she chose to enlist and take a different leadership path. Williams, who grew up on a five-acre farmette in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, had not originally intended to join the military. But after
Willie B. Williams: We Were Like Family
Vietnam Veteran Willie B. Williams When Mik Derks for interviewed Willie B. Williams, a DeForest, Wisconsin resident at the time, the result was an intimate picture of an infantry squad leaders’ life in Vietnam in 1966. Williams remembers the good times of camaraderie with his squad's singing group and, more
Wisconsin Veteran Holiday Vignettes
The holiday season offers a unique opportunity to touch on a poignant topic for veterans, the holidays, and usually, we would provide you with a full context for each veteran who served. However, in this case, we would like to focus on short, stand-alone stories that provide a better sense
Doug Mauritz: A Passion for Community
Marshfield, Wisconsin, resident Douglas M. Mauritz grew up between Washington state and central Wisconsin in the 1980s and 1990s. While his family lived in Parkland, Washington, outside Tacoma, his father taught him and his sister about country living on a farming property that they owned. Nevertheless, the change from city
The Leyte Landing: Wisconsin Veterans on MacArthur’s Return
General MacArthur's return to the Philippines on Leyte, October 20, 1944. Public Domain: Gaetano Faillace. General Douglas MacArthur's Philippine landings brought with them confident images of dominance. MacArthur promised his return after the Japanese defeat of the Allied Forces in the Philippines: "I shall return." MacArthur's return marked a turning