The Korean War Will Not Be Forgotten In Waterloo, Iowa – The Local Museum Is Playing Its Part

Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum. <a href=https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14784376>Photo Credit</a>
Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum. Photo Credit

Squeezed in between the Second World War and the Vietnam War, the Korean War is often referred to as the Forgotten War.

The Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum in Waterloo, IA., is doing its bit to ensure it is not forgotten in the area.

A Korean War display is due to arrive at the Waterloo museum in July.  The exhibit will concentrate on the involvement of servicemen, especially those hailing from Iowa, in addition to the equipment and weaponry they used.  In addition, it will include the photos and names of Iowa residents who died in the conflict.

The museum honors the sacrifice and service of all Iowa veterans starting with the Civil War to present times.  In recent times, visitors have been able to see their stories through a number of exhibits, including an electronic Wall of Honour and interactive activities.

The upcoming display is a further important step for those who served during the war. It’s also an occasion for all of them to learn more about those who were there.

Veterans on the exhibit’s planning committee will assist in curating video-recorded oral histories of former servicemen and their artifacts, diaries and albums that will be displayed.

It is nice to hear at least from the veterans on the committee, and their experiences throughout the war, said Erin Dawson, Grout exhibits curator, such as what the temperature was, and whether it was cold or hot.  What aroma the rice paddies gave off. Everything.

Having a sense of these experiences is an educational experience everyone can learn from, via the memories of Iowans who were there, The Courier reported.

Chris Shackelford, the historic content and program developer for the Grout Museum District, said there is something different about a photograph taken by a person from Iowa, seeing it literally through their eyes.  It is surprising how many of them had so many photos, it is evident that in the 1950s cameras were easy to get hold of.

Ian Harvey

Ian Harvey is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE