COLLECTIONS FROM THE

Just over a year ago, the museum enlisted the help of conservator Inez Litas in Illinois to restore these World War II leather jump boots as close as possible to their original condition. At the time of their donation in 1991, they were selected for use on one of the 18 bronze figures formerly adorning the front windows of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. But their historical importance led the museum to recently pursue restoration work once they were no longer on exhibit. Now, nearly 75 years after these boots touched Utah Beach on June 6, 1944, we are grateful to reunite them with the rest of the collection of Milwaukee native Martin F. Gutekunst Gutekunst, a veteran of the United States Navy, also donated his D-Day rain gear and Army-issued M1 helmet amongst other mementos from his time serving with the 2nd Naval Beach Battalion. While his is just one of many stories in our collection from Wisconsin veterans who participated in the Normandy landings, Gutekunst’s collection is remarkable for both its rarity and completeness. Be sure to find out more about Gutekunst in his own words in his 2005 Oral History interview as well as explore the rest of his collection in our online database.

By: Andrea Hoffmann Collections Manager

Cover Story By: Kevin Hampton, Curator of History Russell Horton, Reference Archivist