QUARTERLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS

27 October 1998, 1900 hours, is this year’s third quarterly Board meeting designed especially for our general membership to keep them informed and involved in activities.  The program will include a brief Board meeting, a special military history program of interest to our general membership, the annual election of members to the Board of Directors, and refreshments.

Members are encouraged to engage the Board in questions, suggestions, and discussion.  The Election will elect 3 Board Members to serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors. Board Members whose terms expire this month are Gayle Alvarez, Bill Miller, and Ken Swanson. Gayle and Ken will be seeking re-election.

Bill Miller recently announced his decision not to run for re-election and the Board’s Nominating Committee has selected Robert Cassell as a candidate for the vacancy.

Gayle Alvarez is currently the IMHS Secretary and has also served as the Treasurer. She has been active in the IMHS since 1993.

Ken Swanson has also been active in the IMHS since 1993 and has served as Vice President this past year. His knowledge and expertise in museum administration and procedures has been invaluable.

Robert Cassell has been a member of the IMHS since 1996. He served in the military with the 321^st Engineers and retired as a Warrant Officer.  In addition to these three candidates, the floor will be open for other nominations at the meeting. The person nominated must be a current member, as must the nominator.

Upon conclusion of the election, the newly formed Board will briefly convene for an organizational meeting to choose its 1999 officers.

RAFFLE DRAWING WINNERS--

First Prize Model 1861 U.S. Percussion Rifle Musket

– Teri Taylor

Second Prize - Model 1851 Colt Navy .36 Cal. Revolver – John Malmstrom<<Photo Not Available>>

Third Prize - Model 1861 U.S. Cavalry Saber –

– Gordon Blosch

Fourth Prize - Miniature copy of Model 1861 U.S. Cavalry Saber

– Amanda Isakson

These reproductions were of the highest quality both for workmanship and model fidelity. Many comments have been received indicating an interest in another raffle in the future. Thank you to everybody who participated, we appreciate your support.

As the summer winds down and the days grow shorter, I like to reflect on what has been done and more importantly, look into the future and see what can be accomplished over the next year.  First of all, I would be remiss if I did not recognize the great year we have had in 1998. The thousands of hours of volunteer assistance, which made it possible for us to accomplish, all we have.

Through the efforts of our volunteers, we have been able to upgrade and expand some of our displays as well as the Reference Library.  We also had some very successful fundraisers with the Aero Fair, the Open House, and the Raffle sales. Thanks to those three events, the Society was able to gross approximately $8000.

Well, so much for the past. What I would now like to share with you are some of the things we see in the future.  The museum was recently given expansion capabilities with the use of the building next to it, Bld 302.  (See article titled THE MUSEUM EXPANDS!)

Through this expansion, we will be able to expand our displays as well as the Reference Library. All of this will go hand in hand with our Educational Outreach Program. This will be an exciting challenge.  Another thing that goes hand in hand with this expansion is our need for more volunteers. Even if you can’t spend the entire day with us, and can only spare a couple of hours, we need your help. No volunteer offer is too small!

Another challenge we have is the need for financing and more particularly, financial stability. Last year, some of you pledged an annual amount to the Endowment. With the calendar year coming to a close, this pledge can become a nice tax deduction for you.

We are also coordinating with other military affiliated organizations to raise the level of knowledge of the Regions Military Heritage. Some of the organizations we are working with are the State Military Division, the State Historical and Preservation Organization, Numerous Veterans Organizations, American Legions, as well as many individual veterans.

The future of the Society looks bright and exciting. To accomplish these goals, we will need your help. So please, come along. The future is for all of use, get involved as a volunteer and bring along a friend.

- Joe Icenhower

WWII: BOISE NAVY PILOT FLIES COVER FOR GEORGE BUSH

When Nat Adams, Boise architect, joined the Navy air arm in 1942, he had no idea that he would be flying cover for the future President of the United States.

But that’s the way it turned out. Adams took his pre-flight at St. Maries College and his primary training at Los Alamitos, both in California. He was then sent to Corpus Christi, Texas, for operational advanced training in Navy fighter aircraft. In combat he flew the famous F6F Hellcat, powered by a 2,000 horsepower Pratt & Whitney engine.

The F6F was capable of 300+ miles per hour and was armed with six 50-caliber machine guns. It could carry a 500-pound bomb as well.

Nat, or "Blackie" as his comrades called him, was soon in the Pacific flying off of three different carriers, the last one being the U.S.S. San Jacinto, an Independence class carrier (CVL) that was home to about thirty-six aircraft.

Also assigned to the San Jacinto was Torpedo Squadron 51, among whose members was the youngest pilot in the Navy, one George H.W. Bush. His aircraft was a three-man torpedo bomber (TBF) which carried a torpedo or bombs, depending on the mission.

Actually, before the end of the war, both Adams and Bush would be fished out of the Pacific by the U.S. Navy. The usual basic mission for Adams and his comrades was to fly cover for the TBFs. This called for engaging enemy fighters as well as strafing runs on both land and water targets.

Adams' crash landing in the water occurred on July 25, 1944, about six weeks before that of Bush. His flight was attacking a Japanese ship which, it turned out, was loaded with mines.

Their strikes caused the entire cargo to explode. This explosion developed into a giant mushroom cloud and sent metal parts flying high in the air just as Adams’ F6F passed over the doomed ship. It damaged a wing and tore away an aileron, a vital control element.

He tried to make it back to the San Jacinto but when that proved impossible, he bellied into the water alongside a destroyer, the U.S.S. Healy.

Although he was without his one-man raft, he swam over to the destroyer and was pulled aboard. Adams was forced to spend ten days aboard the Healy before he could get back to his carrier.

Later, in September, when Bush was shot down, Adams’ group was flying cover for a Bush bombing run on an island radio facility. Adams saw Bush’s plane smoking after being hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire but he could not tell, from his position high above, whose plane it was. Only after he landed did he learn it was Bush’s plane.

Bush was picked up by a U.S. submarine and taken to Pearl Harbor. He declined the opportunity to remain stateside, wanting to return to his squadron still in the thick of the fighting. Needless to say, those on the San Jacinto were grateful to see peace finally come a year later.

P P P P

NEW MEMBERSHIP CATAGORIES

The Board of Directors expanded the original IMHS membership categories at the September Board meeting. The expanded classifications are designed to accommodate individuals and organizations with supporting interest in the IMHS but which category of interest has not heretofore been supported by IMHS by-laws.

Original member classifications were General at $25 per year and Lifetime with a single payment of $375. The following NEW categories have been adopted:

Associate Membership - Membership entered in the name of a spouse of a General Member or Lifetime member in good standing.

Associate Membership annual dues are $10.

Associate member shares newsletter and future events notice with full member partner and is eligible to vote at membership meetings.

v v v

Student Membership - Membership entered in the name of an individual of good character with a sincere interest in the Society who is attending elementary, junior, or senior high school, or an accredited college, university, or technical school. Student Membership annual dues are $10.

Student member receives newsletter & notice of future events but is not eligible to vote at membership meetings.

v v v

Senior Membership - Membership entered in the name of an individual of good character with a sincere interest in the Society who has reached the age of 60. Senior Membership annual dues are $15.

Senior member receives newsletter & notice of future events and is eligible to vote at membership meetings.

Four categories that recognize size and level of interest with commensurate benefits are as follows:

O O O O

Platinum - Membership entered in the name of a corporation or business of good character with a sincere interest in the Society. Annual membership dues are $500.

Platinum member receives 15 copies of newsletter & notice of future events. Also receives 15 Corporate Membership Cards good for 15% discount at Gift Shop and other IMHS sponsored events. Member may cast 4 votes at membership meetings.

O O O

Gold - Membership entered in the name of a corporation or business of good character with a sincere interest in the Society. Annual membership dues are $250.

Gold member receives 10 copies of newsletter & notice of future events. Also receives 10 Corporate Membership Cards good for 10% discount at Gift Shop and other IMHS sponsored events. Member may cast 3 votes at membership meetings.

O O

Silver - Membership entered in the name of a corporation or business of good character with a sincere interest in the Society. Annual membership dues are $100.

Silver member receives 5 copies of newsletter & notice of future events. Also receives 5 Corporate Membership Cards good for 10% discount at Gift Shop and other IMHS sponsored events. Member may cast 2 votes at membership meetings.

O

Bronze - Membership entered in the name of a corporation or business of good character with a sincere interest in the Society. Annual membership dues are $50.

Bronze member receives 2 copies of newsletter & notice of future events. Also receives 2 Corporate Membership Cards good for 10% discount at Gift Shop and other IMHS sponsored events. Member may cast 1 vote at membership meetings.

O Kay Benbough        O Frank Boguslawski

O Genevieve Boguslawski    O General Brewington

O Jon Carter    O Chester Graham

THE MUSEUM EXPANDS!

The Idaho Military History Museum has just received approval to expand into Building #302, next door, with which it shares parking area. The building, a former mess hall, has been modernized with new metal siding, windows, and entry.

Executive Director, Bob Benbough, was enthusiastic about the additional space. "For a museum that is growing as fast as the IMHM, to receive this added space is like the cavalry arriving on the horizon in the nick of time."

Plans are now underway to move the ever-expanding Reference Library to Bld 302. A special thank you goes to our newest member Kay Benbough. She has taken on the enormous challenge of Librarian of the Reference Library.

The new facility blends well with the existing structure and traffic plan along with newly paved parking, concrete curbs, and landscaping now being completed.

Tentative plans call for an open house on Veterans Day, November 11^th. More information will be provided at the October 27^th Membership Meeting.

The Board also thanks General Kane who oversaw the transfer of the building to us. Thank you! - The Board

Photo of Museum and Annex

GIFT SHOP EXPANDS

Stan Herzinger recently attended a workshop in Seattle and has incorporated many new ideas and items into the IMHM Gift Shop.

If you are starting to think about what to give Uncle George for Christmas (no, it isn’t too soon), stop by and take a look. We think you will be impressed! (See article titled NOW AVAILABLE AT THE GIFT SHOP)

THE HISTORY  OF THE IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD

Now available at the Museum’s Gift Shop — get yours today!

Don’t assume that you had to have been the youngest colonel breveted in your time or that you must have received five purple hearts and a chest full of medals for valor to be of interest to the Idaho record.

We want your experiences in the services – mundane, funny, tragic, rewarding, enlightening, or costly. Fifty or a hundred years from now, researchers will want to know what it was like from a soldiers' point of view ‘way back when. A major event, boot camp, the frozen Aleutians, a distant atoll, Comm Z, the Bulge, occupation duty, or K.P., — write it up and send it in.

An isolated event or an entire military career is of interest to museum archivists.

Be sure, however, that you identify personnel involved, date (as close as possible), location and information that lends color or credence to your story. Besides going into the Idaho record, it may be printed here in the newsletter.

At the end of your memoir and on the same sheet of paper, please write or type, "This memoir may be edited for publication in the Idaho Military History Museum newsletter, Pass In Review". Then sign and date the statement.

To you who may have already written your military memoirs, please send a copy to: -

The editors of Pass In Review reserve the right to edit guest articles for length and structure. The greatest care is taken to retain the writer’s meaning and style.

It is our editorial policy to publish both enlisted and commissioned experiences as well as to recognize the various armed services. This, of course, will depend upon what is submitted, so the mix will be up to you.

280^th FA BN HOLDS REUNION IN IDAHO

The 280^th Field Artillery Battalion held its 40^th Reunion at the Grove Hotel in Boise 10-13 September 1998. The 280^th FA Bn was formed and entered World War II from California but had members from throughout the United States including Idaho.

In 1943 the 280^th FA Bn was activated at Camp Cook, CA. After training at Ft. Polk, LA, it departed the United States on 7 September 1944, bound for Normandy France, armed with its 105mm howitzers.

Upon arrival, the unit was attached to the 8^th Infantry Division in the Hartgen Forrest, and from that time until the end of the war in Europe, was continually in combat; a total of 137 consecutive days in the line.

The 280^th did all of its campaigns in the 9^th Army and was usually assigned a direct support mission with one of the spearing divisions.

The 280^th was the first artillery unit to cross the Roer River, and helped punch the key break through to the Rhine. After the Rhine crossing, the unit continued with the 84^th Division to cross the Wesser River and clear the way to the Elbe. Here they were attached to the 82^nd Airborne Division and crossed the Elbe River.

VE Day found the 280^th in Ludwigslust Germany, having traveled 517 miles in 137 days, captured 1,040 prisoners, and fired 27,338 rounds of ammunition.

The 280^th FA Bn is a courageous unit with a proud history. We are indeed privileged to help them share it with the people of Idaho.

UPDATE

At our last meeting, Arthur Hart, Director Emeritus of the Idaho Historical Society, made a presentation on "Idaho’s Ethnic Diversity – The Frontier Army".

Arthur Hart's program was made possible by support from Boise Cascade Corporation and by funding from the Idaho Humanities Council, a state based affiliate of the National Endowment for Humanities.

The IMHS expresses its appreciation for this worthwhile program.

MOST WANTED

YOU! We need volunteers! We need researchers, organizers, catalogers, display organizers…we have more projects than people able to help.

As stated in the President Message, "even if you can only spare a couple of hours, we need your help. No volunteer offer is too small!"

With the acquisition of our new annex, we especially need your help at this time.

Stop by the Museum Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday between 8:00 and 4:30, you’ll be glad you did!

JUST IN CASE

If you misplaced the membership application you picked up at the museum or if you haven’t had a chance to send in your renewal for 1998, here is your chance. Just clip the enclosed application and send it in with your TAX DEDUCTIBLE contribution. The form can also be used to make a donation or an endowment pledge.