MOST WANTED

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Volunteers! The Idaho Military History Museum has a great need for volunteers to conduct an effective museum and educational program. The museum is looking for the volunteers with the following skills: Museum Docents     We need docents (tour guide/Museum host) for midweek and weekend.   Gift Shop Manager     We have a need for an individual to take over the ordering and stocking of items in the gift shop.    This individual will work closely with and be a part of the gift shop committee.   Carpenters     Display construction and diorama layouts.  We also have a number of display cases that need to be repaired before they can be used to display artifacts. Oral History Development     Lots of stories need to be recorded before it is too late.  There is a lot of interest in this project, we need a project director. Fund Raising   We are a non-profit organization trying to build up an Endowment and maintain day to day operations.   We are also looking for experienced Grant Writers.   Library and Archival Operations     Our library index is on 3x5 cards, we need a computer savvy volunteer to help out.  Some basic knowledge of Excel would be helpful.  We are also looking for a new Assistant Librarian.   Historians and Historical Researchers     We have several items and projects that need a good historical researchers touch.

If you're interested, please send us an e-mail or call the museum at (208) 422-4841.

If you are a military retiree, veteran, military history buff, or student who enjoys history and wants to help serve the community, give us a call, we have just what you are looking for!  

Donations!

Too often, valuable artifacts are lost just because people don't know what they have.   The World War I generation not much more than a page in a history book.  The World War II generation is leaving us at an ever increasing rate. 

Mementoes, personal histories, and artifacts that they brought back from the war and that have been in that old footlocker in the attic often end up in a swap meet, antique shop or worse the local landfill.  Weapons that are historically significant are often turned over to police agencies and melted down.  Unit rosters, letters and photographs end up in the trash during spring cleaning.  Instead of throwing them away, donate them to the museum!   Even if it is an item we already have a great number of, we can use them to create a living history. 

Remember, donations are tax-deductible.  Need some specifics?

We are looking for a 1963 Readers Digest article on the rescue of the Lipizzaner Stallions.  We now have information that two Idahoans were involved in the WWII rescue of the Lipizzaner Stallions.  There is a report that the Readers Digest ran the story of the rescue in a 1963 article. 

We are looking for information on the "North Idaho Exploring Expedition."  We know it took place sometime in 1899 or 1900 and that it had a commander by the name of William S. Brackett.  It also had a scout by the name of William C. Bryan.  They also had an official letterhead but that is all the information we have.  We contacted the state library and archives and they had no record of it.

WWII POW camps located throughout Idaho.  Specifically seeking information and photos. 

WWII Pocatello Army Air Field/Base.  Specifically seeking information and photos. 

  Idaho Military Academy Yearbooks.  1959, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1973 forward.

Rosters for classes that Trained at Farragut's Naval Training Center during WWII. 

    A detailed listing is on the Farragut page:  [Farragut (WWII Naval Training Center)]
 

We are looking for Iraqi Freedom Artifacts.  We would like to expand our exhibit on Operation Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom.  We are looking for items used during those operations to include unit patches. 

We are looking for several books for our Library.  They are:  

    - On Hallowed Ground, The Last Battle for Pork Chop Hill by Bill McWilliams
    - Black Sheep One:  The Life of Gregory "Pappy" Boyington by Bruce Gamble
      - Northwestern Fights and Fighters compiled by Cyrus Townsend Brady. 
    - Nez Perce Summer, 1877 by Jerome A. Greene
    - The Rescue of Bat 21 by Darrel D. Whitcomb
    - What A Way To Spend A War: Navy Nurse POWs in the Philippines by Dorothy Still Danner
    - Following the Nez Perce Trail, Second Edition, by Cheryl Wilfong



We are also looking for books about US Artillery and Artillery ammunition

Thank you to Mr. Mervin McConnel for generously donating "We Were Soldiers Once...And Young" to our reference library. 

A very special thank you goes out to Charles McDowell of FoxFall Publications.  His company not only donated 3 Planchet Press Publications we were looking for but several others as well.  They made valuable additions to our Reference Library.  Thank you Charles and FoxFall Publications, we sincerely appreciate your generous donation!

We are looking for Korean War Artifacts.  Any Korean War era uniforms or mementoes are welcome, needed and appreciated.    
 

  We need folks interested in data entry.  This work can only be done at the Museum.  Thanks to some generous donations from some of our members, we were able to purchase a software program which will better enable us to maintain our ever growing collection.  The software is installed, now we need the data entered into the system from the donation forms.
 

We are looking for a number of Medals for our Medal exhibit.  Many of the ones currently on display are on loan.  They are:  

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (Navy-Marine Corps)
Defense Medal/Ribbon (Republic of Philippines)
Independence Medal (Republic of Philippines)
Inter-American Defense Board Medal

Civil War Campaign
Indian Campaign
Spanish Campaign
Spanish War Service
Army of Cuban Occupation
Army of Puerto Rican Occupation
Philippine Campaign
Philippine Congressional
China Campaign
Army of Cuban Pacification
Mexican Service
Mexican Border Service
WWI Victory Medal
Army of Occupation of Germany (1918)
Distinguished Service Cross
Women's Air Corp Service Medal
Antarctica Service Medal
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal (For Post Korean War Service)
Air and Space Campaign Medal. 

Materials to build large cases, to house the two mannequins we do have.  We are in need of wood, Plexiglas and other materials.

We are looking for Boon Dockers - Brown shoes from the WWII and Korean timeframe.

Attention Ladies! We are looking for Women's Marine Corps Uniforms from WWII and on.  If you still have yours and would like to give it a good home, please let us know.

   FIELD GEAR -

 WWI Field Gear 

 A WWI Rifle Cartridge Belt

WWII Field Gear, especially USMC Canteen Covers

 Persian Gulf War Web Gear

 116th Engineer related items from Vietnam

 133rd Combat Engineer Battalion items from WWII

 183rd/951st Field Artillery items from WWII

 Desert Storm field gear

   USS Boise and USS Idaho Artifacts

Members!

Although we are located on a military installation, we do not receive permanent financial support from the State of Idaho or from the US Army or Air Force.   We depend on the generosity of individuals, groups and corporations to keep our doors open.  Daily attendance and gift shop sales only cover a small amount of what it takes to operate the Museum.

So, we need your help! Become a Society Member! Donations to the museum are tax-deductible and we have several membership plans.  Details and membership benefits are on our "IMHS" page.  Need a membership application?  
Click the button. 

Need More Ideas? 

 The Idaho Military Historical Society welcomes corporate sponsorships and memorial funds.  Please also remember the Museum when considering estate planning.  For more information on these programs, please contact us.