C ONTENTS
7 | FROM THE SECRETARY
| FROM THE DIRECTOR 10-11 | EVERY VETERAN IS A STORY 12-15 | THE MALMEDY MASSACRE 16-17 | FROM THE COLLECTION
18-19 | FROM THE ARCHIVES 20-21 | FROM ORAL HISTORY
George “Goldie” Campbell, of Ellsworth, Wisconsin served as a radio operator with the 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division in the European Theater of World War II. During the early days of the Battle of the Bulge, members of Campbell's regiment found themselves suddenly surrounded by soldiers from the German Army approaching through the woods from all sides. While some members of his company were killed or captured, others like Campbell made it back out from behind German lines to continue fighting. In his collection, Campbell has his own recollections of the Battle of the Bulge, along with official reports and letters from fellow survivors which explain how they survived and what happened to them. In a report, titled “The Thin Line,” written February 18, 1945, author Sergeant Saul Levitt reflects on the very first days of the Battle of the Bulge:
The 112th on the north held the Germans, the 109th on the south held them, and the small, obscure bands of men under young looies (lieutenants) of the 110th, fighting in patches of woods and along curves of tracked country roads, held them. We know now that many obscure men who will never get bronze stars fought many obscure, bloody little battles from the stone bridge across the Our River at Ouren down to Reisdorf, near the Sure River.
Men did things no one ever asked them to do, like the fellow named Jake Smigh, a T/5 who went back to a busted-up convoy, got into a M-8 and drove it through the fire of a German roadblock. And there is another man, whose name nobody knows, who simply stayed at a multiple-barreled 50 caliber machine gun set-up and made himself a one-man roadblock against the German tide that ran over him, leaving him part of the big snow-covered silence east of Wiltz.
The big battalions have rolled the Germans back again. They have found the signs of the other men who fought here – broken guns, scattered supplies, a body under the snow, pictures of girls belonging to Pa. and Ohio boys, Christmas boxes of hard candy. In the snow around Diekirch, a 5th Div. soldier picks up a helmet with the red “blood-bucket” insignia of the 28th Div., and then slogs on toward the firing lines.
Following his service, George Campbell returned to Wisconsin, working as a teacher and administrator in Wisconsin public schools. George “Goldie” Campbell passed away June 10, 1999 and is buried in St. Francis Cemetery, Ellsworth. TR1208.I040
FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
DANIEL CHECKI
VICE PRESIDENT
JOANE MATHEWS
TREASURER
DAVE HEILIGER
SECRETARY
WILLIAM F. HUSTAD
DIRECTORS AT LARGE
ALEJANDRO ARANGO-ESCALANTE
DAN GREENE
NATHANIEL T. MILLSAP, JR.
PAUL MCEVILLY
CONNIE WALKER
FOUNDATION STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
JENNIFER BIENIEK 608.261.0536
JENNIFER.BIENIEK@ WVMFOUNDATION.COM
MEMBERSHIP & EVENTS
DIRECTOR
MOLLY SNOW 608.261.0540
MOLLY.SNOW@ WVMFOUNDATION.COM
COLLECTION DONORS
A most sincere thank you to all who donated to our collection from July13, 2024 through October18, 2024. Thank you for your generosity and support of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.
Margaret Arms
Doris Bacon
Steve Barnes
Jim Bartelme
Ross W. Beales, Jr.
Rachel Blume
Jeffrey & Nancee Boettcher
Douglas Bradley
Nancy Caldwell
Mark Cis
Colleen Comeau
Cudahy Family Library
Tom Deits
Mary Feldt
Thomas Glowacki
Michael Hinnendael
Lisa Jaster
Patricia Kelly
Jeff Kramer
Kathy Leong
Mary McGrath
Steve Meiers
Monroe County Local
History Room
Donna Murphy
Dan Naylor
Jodi Patek
Glenna Peters
Ernie Peterson
Matt Piersma
Thomas and Loretta Roetz
Steve Schoch
Ann Wade
Florian Waitl
Charles Weaver
Carol Wills
Sharon Wolf
MUSEUM MISSION
The mission of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum is to commemorate, acknowledge, and affirm the role of Wisconsin veterans in America’s military past and present.
The Bugle is published three times earch year for our members and friends through the support of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation provides funds for the support of artifact acquisitions, exhibit production, and the development of educational programs.
Rhoda Ziesler, a Manitowoc, Wisconsin resident served in the United State Army Nursing Corps (ANC) in World War II. As one of the first nurses deployed overseas to Hawaii, Ziesler was stationed at the Schofield Barracks Hospital, near Wheeler Field and Pearl Harbor, on the morning of December 7, 1941. She did not return to the barracks for two days as she worked to save and treat the victims of the attack on Wheeler Field. Ziesler served the duration of the war in Hawaii.
Over the course of the war, soldiers from Hawaii were sent to the United States for training in the Armed Forces, with many ending up at Camp McCoy (now Fort McCoy), and wrote home to assure their families that they were safe and well cared for by the people of Wisconsin. In appreciation of the warm reception of their soldiers, the government of Hawaii threw a Wisconsin Reunion party for Wisconsinites serving in or passing through Hawaii. Ziesler attended the party, where she was reacquainted with a friend from Chilton, Wisconsin, Raymond N. Weller. The two reconnected at the party, pictured here in a photograph captioned by Ziesler, “This was at the beginning of our jam session – Boy how we talked!” Following their return home from service, Ziesler and Weller renewed their friendship and later married in 1948.
Raymond N. Weller enlisted in November 1941 and served in the South Pacific with Transportation Unit 9201. He served through the end of the war and was discharged in September 1945. Following their marriage, Ziesler and Weller had four children. Raymond N. Weller passed away January 27, 1963. Ziesler remained a registered nurse for over 20 years until she retired. Rhoda A. Ziesler passed away March 5, 2001. Both are interred in Calvary Cemetery, Manitowoc, Wisconsin. WVM.1914.I529
FROM THE SECRETARY
Greetings! This past year has been an exciting time for the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, as plans move forward to build a new, state-of-the-art facility to secure our veterans’ legacy for future generations.
I’m grateful for the bipartisan support and goodwill shown to the Wisconsin Veterans Museum as the State Building Commission, with support from Governor Tony Evers, unanimously approved expending $9 million to purchase the building and the property it sits on. Those funds were set aside in the 20232025 State Budget and represent the first step in the process of creating a new showcase for the museum’s extensive collection. I look forward to providing you with additional updates as we create a more innovative and welcoming space for telling and honoring our veteran histories.
As a supporter of the Museum, I know you share my frustration that more of collection is not available to the public. As part of our effort to build support for the new Museum, I invited the leadership of Wisconsin’s veteran service organizations, including the American Legion, VFW, and DAV, for a special tour of the State Archive Preservation Facility (SAPF) in Madison. I can’t tell you how impressed they were by the variety of items that await public display in our new museum building. I want to thank Chris Kolakowski and his staff for their commitment to documenting and preserving the history behind each of the items entrusted to our care.
I also want to say thank you to the family of one of Wisconsin’s legendary World War II heroes, James “Maggie” Megellas. Their wonderful and generous gift of artifacts for our permanent collection is a testament to their belief in the future of the Museum. By choosing the Wisconsin Veterans Museum over other nationally recognized institutions, they ensured that Maggie’s story will be preserved in his home state for generations to come. I encourage you to visit and see items from his collection on display now and learn more about the most decorated WWII veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division.
Thank you for your support of our mission of telling more Wisconsin veteran histories!
Yours in Service,
James Bond Secretary-designee Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
Lyle Solchenberger (left), an Adams, Wisconsin resident who served in Company C, 1st Battalion, 399th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division in World War II, is pictured here with friend and comrade “Mick” (right), outside of their foxhole, posing with a captured German Gwehr 45. This photograph was taken during the Battle of the Bugle just after Solchenberger returned from Division Rest. Following his service, Solchenberg returned to Wisconsin, living in Lake Mills and working for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Lyle Solchenberger passed away May 5, 2010 and is buried in Rock Lake Cemetery, Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Mss 2011.030.I001
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dear Friends of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum,
Greetings! I hope you all are enjoying your fall so far. It has been an active season for us, with school tours, a successful edition of Cemetery Tours, Veterans Day, and the build-up to the end of the year.
We’re looking ahead to 2025, which will be an important year from many standpoints – including an important preamble to the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026. The year also marks the 250th birthdays of the oldest three military branches, and the military generally. Our exhibits and programs will mark those anniversaries, as we seek to honor the service of Wisconsin Veterans and build toward 2026.
This issue covers the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, the greatest battle in the history of the United States Army. The Bulge is one of our signature exhibits in the galleries, and we have quite a few stories of Badgers who participated. I have lectured on the battle and its leadership lessons around the state and nation. This issue highlights Wisconsin connections to the battle, including a little-known connection to the infamous Malmedy Massacre. And on the lighter side, we're sharing a few stories of couples who found each other while serving.
The museum continues our extensive program offerings which continue to attract audiences from across the state, nation, and world. These are only possible with the help and support of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation. I encourage everyone to see what is available on our website.
Best wishes to all of you and thank you for your continuing support. See you at the museum soon.
Best, Chris Kolakowski Wisconsin Veterans Museum Director
Chris Kolakowski
Ruby Scheuing, a Waukesha County veteran, joined the U.S. Army in 1966. After training as a surgical nurse, she deployed to Vietnam and joined the 18 th Surgical Hospital located in Pleiku, which supported the 4 th Infantry Division and most combat support units in II Corps. She later she transferred to the 71 st Evacuation Hospital, also located in Pleiku. In early 1968, she married Gary Scheuing, an officer in the 20 th Engineer Combat Battalion whom she had met stateside and kept in touch with as they both served tours in Vietnam. Their marriage ceremony occurred in Pleiku at the Air Force Chapel, during the Tet Offensive. They rode on a bulldozer from the chapel to their reception, according to an engineer tradition. After their tours ended, they served together at Fort Lee, Virginia until Ruby’s discharge in 1968. These photos show their wedding in Pleiku, Vietnam.
EVERY VETERAN
Leslie Brown, an Edgar, Wisconsin native, enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps in 1992 and trained to serve as an aircraft maintenance administrator. On her first day assigned to Marine Aerial Refueling Transport Squadron 352 (VMGR 352) at El Toro, California, she met fellow Marine, Justin Brown. The two fell in love and eloped in Las Vegas in September 1993. A more traditional wedding followed in Wisconsin one year later. Leslie and Justin, an avionics technician, served together in the same squadron for more than three years. Their daughter was born while they were serving in the Marine Corps. This photograph shows them aboard a KC-130 from their squadron.
By: Russ Horton
IS A STORY
Reference Archivist
The Malmedy Ma ssacre: the su
Sergeant Henry "Roy" Zach
This December marks the 80 of the Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, which began on December 16, 1944, and ended January 25, 1945. Germany’s Adolf Hitler launched the offensive to try and stave off defeat on Germany’s western border. He chose to attack through the Ardennes, a forested area in southeast Belgium and northern Luxembourg that resembles, and shares a latitude with, northern Wisconsin. The offensive’s goal was similar to the German attack through the area in 1940: cross the Meuse River, capture Antwerp, and split British and Canadian forces from their U.S. and French comrades.
The Allied triumph in the Ardennes region, however, came with atrocious acts of violence perpetrated by the Nazis against civilians and Allied soldiers. The Nazi’s goal of the Ardennes Offensive was to reach Antwerp within four days, a timeline which Nazi generals felt was unreasonable. To keep the offensive on track, reportedly Hitler gave the order to take no prisoners.
Although Nazi war crimes were well documented in the Dachau trials of 1945-47, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Oral History Collection contains a 1999 account from one of the few survivors of the Malmedy Massacre, Henry “Roy” Zach of Burnett County, Wisconsin.
In December 1944, Sgt. Zach and his platoon in the 32 Division were in a U.S.(the reinforced defensive line on Germany’s western border). Prior to the Ardennes Offensive, Zach landed at Omaha Beach on June 17th, 1944. Alongside the 1st Infantry Division, they’d slowly gained ground through the hedgerows on the way to Paris. Although he was normally reconnaissance and commanded an armored car, Zach and his platoon were assigned “Military Government Police” duties once they were in Germany, which meant they ensured German civilians stayed off the roads, watched for enemy paratrooper drops, and patrolled the area.
On December 16th, the Nazis broke through the lines south of where Zach’s platoon was located. The next morning, Zach, who was third in command at that time, received word from the platoon leader, a lieutenant, that they were going on a secret mission.
Zach recalled, “We had breakfast early and left. There was (sic) four jeeps of us with eleven recon men, in these four jeeps. And we went back through the first dragon’s teeth (Siegfried Line), 20 miles further west, we came to the Eupen point, where the first line of dragon’s teeth were. We stopped there and he handed me a notebook and a pencil, and he said, every time I raise my arm, make a mark. So, we went through Eupen and turned south, which would have been towards where the Germans had penetrated our lines, although us enlisted men didn’t know anything about that.”
Meanwhile, south of Zach was Hitler’s own bodyguard, the 1st SS-Panzer Division, ‘Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler’ leading the northern part of the German attack. The division spearhead under Joachim Peiper was slashing through the Ardennes toward Antwerp. Zach recalls being quite literally in the dark as they traversed the landscape not knowing the Germans had broken through the Allied lines, “It was foggy. This was called the Ardennes section of that part of the country, which was a low-lying, wooded area. We couldn’t see hardly over 200 yards ahead of us, very distinctly.”
The German unit, as Zach recalled, was mostly tanks and personnel carriers and led by a German officer that could speak perfect English, presumably the ruthless Joachim Peiper (Peiper was convicted of giving the order for the massacre at the Dachau war crimes trial in 1945 – 47). “They wanted our vehicles… so, the drivers of these vehicles stayed…and drove.”
Zach’s platoon, now part of the German column, headed East and off the black top roads where the large German tanks chewed up the terrain. The vehicle Zach was in broke down, but the Germans wanted that vehicle and towed it. Zach and two other men got off and started walking but were not able to keep up with the tank column. They were then placed behind the turret of the tank commander.
Zach recalled, “Then we kept going quite a ways, cross-country…but after the three of us got on a tank, I never saw any more of my company.”
“We came pretty close to another road and there were American six-by-six, two-and-a-half ton trucks, they were going pretty fast trying to escape from where they came from, which was just a little ahead of us.”
This group included members of Battery B of the 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion who were en route to join the 7th Armored Division. This battery, of approximately 150 men, was not trained or equipped for frontline batteries; their mission was to spot enemy artillery. This lack of experience no doubt cost prisoners their lives as Zach explains later.
Zach said, “The first thing we knew, we saw a line of tanks ahead of us parked alongside the road. It was so murky, we couldn’t tell if they was ours or the enemy’s. And we got up to them, right even with the first tank, a German tank, and their soldiers ran out and put their rifles to us.”
Soon the Nazis surrounded the platoon. Zach said, “The first lieutenant that was in command of us he said, don’t fire, don’t fire…They searched us.”
“These German tanks were firing on these trucks of ours that were trying to get away. They had captured, another German task force had, where several crossroads came together by a big, I call it a roadhouse, I think it was called Baugnez (a hamlet in the municipality of Malmedy, Belgium). They stopped and let us off and motioned to us to get in the other column.”
it’s difficult to comprehend what Zach endured in that field at the crossroads of Baugnez, his retelling poignantly reminds us of the horrors we ask our young people in the service to endure. It is with great respect for all our veterans that we share this story. We remember the 84 POWs massacred at Malmedy in the hope this history reminds us of the ruthless nature of authoritarianism and the lives affected to halt its spread.
Scan to listen to the full interview.
In the background, the burned-out shell of a building where Zach likely took shelter. In the foreground, "the field of the dead." (National Archives NAID: 196544).
AN ALL-AMERICAN TEAM: THE
STORY OF MILLIE AND CLARENCE
By: Andrea Hoffman Collections Manager
Twenty-one-year-old Clarence Beltmann of Milwaukee enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1942, one of the tens of thousands of young men caught in the swell of patriotism that followed the attack on Pearl Harbor. His fiancée Mildred Friedrich, also of Milwaukee, was similarly driven to serve her country and joined the U.S. Naval Women’s Reserve (WAVES) the following September. Hundreds of letters helped close the distance while Clarence trained in California and Kansas and Mildred attended boot camp in New York and storekeeper training in Indiana. It was in Bloomington that Clarence was allowed a brief visit during Christmas 1943. Both knew it was the last time they would see each other before he deployed.
As part of the 89th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized), 9th Armored Division, Clarence arrived in France in September 1944 en route to the Luxembourg-German border. Meanwhile Mildred, now a Storekeeper 3rd Class (SK3), was assigned to the U.S. Naval Reserve Armory in Chicago. It was there that Clarence’s letters came to an abrupt halt at the end of the year. Mildred received grim news mid-January 1945 that her fiancé was reported missing in action in Luxembourg on December 20. It would be three grueling months before she learned anything further of his fate.
Private-purchase identification bracelets belonging to Clarence Beltmann and Mildred Friedrich (V2008.18.7 and V2008.18.8).
Clarence made this bracelet for Millie from scrap aluminum after arriving in France in September 1944 (V2008.18.4).
Back on December 17, at the start of the Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge), thenTech 5 Beltmann was injured while defending a gap near Beaufort, Luxembourg and was taken prisoner the following morning. Clarence was moved repeatedly over the following months as his German captors stayed ahead of advancing Russian forces. Despite deplorable conditions and severe food shortages, he maintained his morale by keeping a diary throughout his nearly five-month captivity, complete with several poems penciled to his future wife.
On April 7, 1945, hope returned when Mildred finally learned that her fiancé was being held as a POW. Then, a telegram on May 29 announced that Clarence had been liberated at long last. He sent his own message to Mildred when he arrived stateside in June, this time to arrange their long-awaited reunion in Chicago. Together again, the couple decided there was no need to further prolong their engagement and wed on July 22, 1945.
Three months later, Tech 4 Clarence Beltmann and SK2 Mildred Beltmann were honorably discharged. They went on to welcome two sons and later settled in Hubertus, Wisconsin where they both remained active in veterans causes. Clarence founded the North Kettle Moraine Chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War (AXPOW) in 1985. It was renamed in his honor following his death in 1994.
COLLECTION FROM THE
Clockwise from top: This photo of the newly-married Beltmanns ran in the Milwaukee Sentinel on July 23, 1945 (Mss2007.321). This souvenir bracelet was bought in Paris by Clarence in September 1944 (V2008.18.2). The happy couple shown outside of the Church of the Incarnation in Milwaukee on July 22, 1945 (Mss2007.321). Clarence gave Mildred this compact as a wedding gift (V2008.18.1).
Dear Folks, I met …
How Jack Got Together with Jinny
While cataloging a veteran’s collection, we at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum are privileged enough to read every letter, diary entry, and newspaper clipping, and view and arrange every photograph, album and moving picture donated. We get an incredibly personal view of each person’s feelings about service, new friends, family, and sweethearts. While not every wartime romance ends happily or lasts forever, sometimes we get to experience a veteran meeting the person with whom they will spend the rest of their
By: Brittany Strobel Processing Archivist
Jack and Jinny met when Jack was assigned to Buckley Field, near Denver in July 1943. He wrote to his parents on July 30, “I met an Army Nurse on the post here about a week after I arrived, and we have been dating her a lot. She is a really swell gal.”
Following their meeting, Jack continued training for arctic survival and flying various aircraft. Unfortunately, he had to have surgery for hemorrhoids. Fortunately, he was assigned to recover on Jinny’s ward and she was able to visit him on her time off.
“Jack” Talcott Ellis, Jr. was born on July 12, 1919 in Suring, Wisconsin. He grew up on nearby Kelly Lake and was living there when he entered the U.S. Army on April 15, 1941. Ada Virginia “Jinny” Cuthbert was born September 19, 1920 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and graduated as valedictorian of her class at St. Luke’s Hospital, Marquette before joining the Army Nursing Corps and being assigned to Buckley Field, Colorado.
In an August 21, 1943 letter to his parents, Jack wrote, “Virginia and I have informally announced our engagement, as of today. That’s a sort of sudden statement to have made to you, I know, but I just haven’t seemed to get to write as much about her as I would like to. … I don’t know exacially (sic) why I have fallen for her so – I guess it’s a good deal because she has the sweetest disposition and personality of anyone I know.”
In the same letter, Jack assured his parents that he and Jinny intended to wait to marry until the end of the war. Because Jack was in the hospital when his unit was reassigned away from Buckley Field, he was left waiting for orders and reassignment while he also explored the possibility of becoming an instructor. With Jack remaining at Buckley, he and Jinny decided to get married as soon as possible to start their lives as a married couple.
Jack wrote to his parents in September 1943, “Now about Jinny – after we found that I was going to stay, we decided to get married as soon as possible. She is on her 10 day leave now, having left the day before yesterday. She has gone up to the SOO where her Aunt and sister
are, and plans to get into Chicago the same day I do. We planned to get married about the day (or two days) after I arrived. … Jinny very much wanted to get married up at her home, but as I was only getting five days, that was impossible, so we decided to get married in Chicago rather than here, as I know you would like to be at it (and I very much want you to be). …I’m not going to write any more about Jinny, as you will meet her in less than a week anyway. I’ll only say that I’m absolutely sure of what I’m doing.”
On September 9, the family gathered which included Jack’s parents, Jinny’s aunt, and her brother Corporal “Mac” Cuthbert got leave from his assignment at Fort Riley, Kansas, walked her down the aisle. Their parents, Catherine and Samuel, had passed away when Jinny was still a teenager. Happily married, Jinny and Jack spent the remainder of their leaves on a fast-paced honeymoon before returning to Denver, Colorado. Jinny wrote her new parentsin-law: “First we hunted for an apartment, then a car, then a dog, and the last thing was a bed. …but the dog is some dog! We call him Roger and he’s already getting some flying time, at 8 weeks old!” [October 7, 1943]
ARCHIVES FROM THE
Despite their hopes, Jack was transferred several times throughout the rest of his service: April 1944, he joined the 62nd Squadron, 5th Ferrying Group at Love Field, Texas. In May 1944 he went to Gore Field, Montana as an instructor in Arctic Search and Rescue. Through most of his service, Jack was able to bring their dog, Roger (full name Roger Wilco) along to the airfield every day, even taking him on flights and designing a harness and parachute to ensure the safety of their beloved dog. Eventually, due to reassignments and changing duties, Jack was no longer able to bring Roger and sent him to Chicago to live with his parents until the end of the war.
In July 1945, he went to New York and began a multi-leg flight to India, stopping in Newfoundland, the Azores, Morocco, Libya, Egypt, and Persia along the way. By September 1945 he was in China, having flown almost 11,000 miles to get there. He remained in the CBI Theater (China, Burma, India) until December 1945, when he returned to the states on a ship. He was discharged on January 28, 1946. While Jack was assigned to other bases and serving overseas, Jinny went on to train as a flight nurse, earning her wings before the end of her service.
Following his discharge, Jack graduated college from Michigan Tech, and he and Jinny went on to live in Muscoda, Wisconsin Dells, Williams Bay and eventually Chicago. Ada Virginia “Jinny” Cuthbert Ellis passed away March 16, 1984 and John “Jack” T. Ellis passed away September 10, 1985. They both were buried at Hickory Cemetery, Suring, Wisconsin.
Page 18: Jack and Jinny Ellis (WVM2583.1012).
Page 19: Jack Ellis and the family dog, Roger Wilco, who is fitted with a harness and parachute and ready to accompany Jack on a flight (WVM2583.1018).
TOGETHER THROUGH SERVICE: AUTUMN AND IAN CARROLL
In 2015, Autumn Brady Carroll graduated from high school and decided to enlist in the United States Army. With a proud family supporting her, Autumn pursued becoming a combat medic in the military. She flew to Oklahoma City and began a bus ride to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, that would forever change her life in more than one way. Not only was she officially beginning her career in the military but her future husband, Ian Carroll, who had enlisted in the Army National Guard, sat behind her on the bus to Fort Sill. The two spoke on the bus and arrived at basic training.
In her interview for the "I Am Not Invisible" project, Autumn recalled the difficulties of transitioning into military life, but spoke highly of the different friendships she developed, including one with Ian. Autumn described Ian as “very quiet” during basic, but their lives would continue to be connected as they moved onto AIT together at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. While learning the combat medic ropes, Autumn and Ian officially became a couple, something that Autumn described as a common occurrence with members of the military, referring to the phenomenon as “AIT battle boos.” After graduating from AIT, the couple agreed they should get married. Ian bought Autumn an engagement ring and the two got married in April, four days after graduating.
The military sent the couple to Fort Bliss, Texas, and lived together off-post. The Army assigned Autumn to the 1/77th Armor Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. Two months after their marriage, Autumn received orders to deploy to Kuwait.
While at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Autumn kept in close contact with her husband, frequently calling him on the phone and receiving packages from home. In Kuwait, Autumn worked as an aid station medic, doing twelve-hour shifts on and off.
Autumn had acquired a hip injury that required surgery when she returned to the United States after her deployment. After some time, she received a medical discharge from the military in 2018. Ian was also discharged from the National Guard and the couple settled in Wisconsin, where Autumn began attending UW-Milwaukee. She developed a new passion for marketing and became President of the Student Veterans of America at her school. Autumn expressed that she and Ian love being able to tell people that they are still together, years after sitting on that bus to basic training.
ORAL HISTORY ARCHIVES FROM THE
INTERVIEWER: And so you did meet your husband at basic. Did you get to know each other at all in that period of time or was that later?
CARROLL: Yeah. We did. I remember we actually sat next to each other — not next to each other, but like on the bus from Oklahoma City Airport to Fort Sill, he was behind me and we had, like, a big conversation. We didn't realize that each other were talking to each other until like years after we were like, you were on the bus behind me.
CARROLL: And I remember this one time specifically that I was making my MRE coffee and I was shaking up the bag and it exploded all over me and him, so he called me "coffee" for a while. And we tried to make it a point to sit next to each other on like, buses going there and talked about my family and like, cars and stuff. And my grandpa collects cars and he was very interested in that. So, we were kind of close. And then towards the end of basic training, he thought I had a boyfriend, and so he asked me to set him up with one of my friends and I was like, my heart! Then she ghosted him, so I got — I got it. All because he thought I had a boyfriend.
CARROLL: So, my husband and I, like, kind of knew each other in basic training, and he asked me to set him up with one of my friends because he thought I had a boyfriend. And we got to AIT and we, like, progressively got closer for like a week. And then we went on holiday block leave where we got to go home for Christmas. So, like, I was really close, but we stayed up and talked every night until like 4 am. So, then when we finally like, got back, we realized like, no, we need to stay together. And so, we were together ever since then and did everything together.
INTERVIEWER: Were there a lot of other people dating at that time, too?
CARROLL: Yeah. It's kind of like a thing for people to get married, like, to their-- We call them AIT battle boos. And there were like, four other people who are kind of in relationships. All of them went to go get married right after. And I think all of them are divorced except for us, which is kind of sad, but it's the norm. So, we love saying like, I'm still married to my AIT battle boo seven years later.
You can access the full 2023 interview with Autumn Carroll by scanning the QR code on the right.
By: Kristen Bonano Assistant Oral Historian
MISSION : GIFT-GIVING
WITH A PURPOSE
Veterans Receive 15% OFF Everything in Store
Shop with a Purpose This Season
The Wisconsin Veterans Museum Gift Shop stocks items produced by veteran-owned businesses in Wisconsin and throughout the country. You’ll feel great shopping here knowing your purchases advance the get-it-done attitude of these enterprising veterans and the causes they give back to, all while suppporting museum programs.
Unique items you'll find in the gift shop
• Robust coffees roasted by a Marine veteran who gives back a portion of sales to support mental health services for veterans.
• Clothing tailored for women veterans by women veterans who support non-profits addressing the unique needs of women vets.
• Dog toys and pet treats from veteran-owned businesses who donate proceeds to programs that train therapy dogs for veterans.
Exciting News
Museum Receives Award of Excellence for Exhibit "Souvenirs of Service: The Things They Kept"
The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) in Nashville, TN announced in June that the Wisconsin Veterans Museum is the recipient of an Award of Excellence for its exhibit, Souvenirs of Service: the Things They Kept. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 79th year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.
The goal of the Souvenirs of Service exhibit is to show the humanity behind the history through artifacts that are not normally on display at a military history museum. By highlighting the common impulse to collect and document the experiences of servicemembers and civilians alike, the museum staff aimed to bridge the expanding military-civilian divide and encourage a deeper understanding of military service.
"We are honored to be selected by our history museum peers for this Award of Excellence from AASLH. It is the culmination of a few years of hard work by our talented staff who set out to tell the story of our Wisconsin veterans from a unique and relatable perspective," said WVM Assistant Director Jennifer Van Haaften.
This year, AASLH conferred 47 national awards honoring people, projects, exhibits, and publications. The winners represent the best in the field and provide leadership for the future of state and local history.
The exhibit will be on view through 2024.
John Dichtl, AASLH President and CEO presents Jennifer Van Haaften, WVM Assistant Director the Award of Excellence at the AASLH annual conference in Mobile, AL in September.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT FOUNDATION Meet the Kromanakers
Alan and Lisa Kromanaker met while attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison and at weekend drills at the Madison Navy Reserve Center/Naval Operation Support Center (NOSC). They started dating when Lisa was a hospital corpsman third class (E-4) and Alan was a gunners mate first class (E-6). After they were engaged, Lisa finished nursing school and earned her commission as an ensign in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps.
Lisa’s career began when she ran out of money in college and her father sent her a recruiter’s phone number. She served as part of Operation Noble Eagle, supporting OIF/OEF. After she and Alan married and had children, the army was running low on resources in Germany and called in the navy for help. In 2006, she was sent overseas to Landstuhl Medical Center, back filling nurses from army and air force active and reserve components. The army had to learn some navy terminology, but it was also difficult for the navy to come into an army world.
Lisa said in her oral history of her experience, “I was honored to do it and it was a great crew to be with because we were shipmates and comrades to begin with and we just became closer through that whole ordeal.”
Alan was assigned to the Center for Naval Leadership instructing leading petty officers (E-6) and the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy as an instructor of senior ranking (E-7 & E-8) enlisted for four years. At various times they drilled together at the same command during their careers including Memphis, TN, Rock Island, IL, Forest Park IL, and ended up where they started at NOSC in Madison. Even though they drilled at the same geographical location, they were never in each other’s chain of command. Alan retired after 28-plus years of service, achieving the rank of master chief (E-9) and Lisa retired after 23 ½ years of service as a commander (O-5). Together, they gave over 51 years of service.
They both remain active in the veteran community by also maintaining memberships with the United States Navy League Madison Council, where Alan served as past president. Alan is currently Second Vice of American Legion Post 501 and they are both active volunteers with Badger Honor Flight and Operation Stand Down.
Thank you both for your service and for being such integral parts of our mission and community.
The museum’s oral history team has been working diligently to digitize and make accessible a wealth of narratives that capture the rich experiences of our Wisconsin veterans. Thanks to our generous donors, these invaluable stories are reaching a wider audience every day. We are excited to announce that the museum is nearing the conclusion of the VHS digitization project. We believe that every story deserves to be told, and your support has been crucial in helping the museum team make significant strides in this important work. The positive impact of your contributions cannot be overstated. Your assistance has been vital in preserving these oral histories, which serve as essential links to our veterans’ past. Two remarkable examples from the museum’s collection highlight the importance of this mission and the legacies you help preserve.
Andrew Small and Pancho Villa
First, we have the story of Andrew Small (OH103), a veteran who fought Pancho Villa during the Mexican Border War. His experiences provide unique insight into a pivotal moment in American history. You can scan this QR code at left and explore his oral history.
Howard B. Heiliger: a Resilient Spirit
Howard B. Heiliger (OH292), shares his harrowing experiences as a prisoner of war during World War II. His narrative not only details the trials faced by countless soldiers but also honors the resilience of the human spirit. You can scan the QR code at right to learn more.
These are just two examples from hundreds of video interviews that your donations have helped preserve. Each narrative contributes to a deeper understanding of our veterans’ history, allowing future generations to learn from the past.
As we continue our efforts, we invite you to share in our excitement and spread the word about the importance of preserving these oral histories. Together, we can ensure that these voices are not only heard but celebrated for years to come. Thank you for your ongoing support in this essential endeavor.
A student group heard the story of Frances Bull Fairchild's fight for womens suffrage at the tour this year.
CEMETERY TOURS 2024 RECAP and THANK YOU
For the 26th year, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum presented its renowned Talking Spirits Cemetery Tours at historic Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison. Wisconsin veterans fought in the Civil War to preserve the Union and eliminate slavery. This transformational conflict proved to be a pivotal advancement to our country and embodied in our state motto, ‘Forward,’ demonstrating Wisconsin’s perpetual drive to be a national leader. These changes, which continued to expand in the decades following the Civil War, echoed a vision of democracy that we see in our nation today.
The tours were offered during the week of October 7- 13 and saw nearly 750 students from 21 Wisconsin schools in attendance, ranging in grades from 4th to high school seniors. As well, the weekend public tours brought an additional 550 guests to Forest Hill to enjoy the beautiful weekend weather. We’re busy planning next year’s tour, which will feature the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. This project is supported by Dane County Arts, Endres Manufacturing, The Evjue Foundation Inc., charitable arm of the Capital Times, the W. Jerome Frautschi Foundation, and the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation. In-kind support for the event volunteers and actors courtesy of Ian’s Pizza, Bagels Forever, and the Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club.
Mark Your Calendar
9 DEC BOOK TALK
RED ARROW ACROSS THE PACIFIC: THE THIRTY-SECOND INFANTRY DIVISION DURING WORLD WAR II WITH AUTHOR MARK VAN ELLS
NOON–1:00PM
Author Mark D. Van Ells will discuss online his newest work about the Red Arrow Division and the crucial role it played for the Allied Forces in World War II. Discover how this National Guard unit with roots in the American Midwest became one of the most effective — and most battle-tested — combat units in the Pacific, eventually logging more combat hours than any other U.S. Army division during the war.
10 DEC
TRIVIA NIGHT
7:00–8:00PM
Join us for our virtual trivia night and test your historical knowledge. Individuals and teams welcome.
To register visit: WisVetsMuseum.com/events
31 JAN
MOVIE NIGHT
7:00–8:00PM
Hunt for Red October (1990)
Grab some popcorn and a seat in your favorite chair and join us for a virtual discussion of the selected movie with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum staff.
THANK YOU DONORS A most sincere thank you to all who donated from August through October 2024. You are the reason we can provide quality programming and award-winning exhibits.
Hansen, W. Lee
McAllen, Kerry
Beckerleg, Steve
Beauchamp, Edward
The Rath Family Charitable Fund
U.S. Vet General Contracting, LLC
Wilkening, Patricia
American Legion Post 501 (Severson-Cairns Post)
Arango Escalante, Alejandro
Andersen, Danny & Linda
Bernards, Cathy & Donald
Bublitz, James
Cullen, Mark & Carol
DAV CHAPTER 17
Devitt, Linda & Patrick
Eilbes, Paul
Englesby, John
Geigner, Ralph
George, Michael & Kelli
Grabowski, Ervin
Greenwoods State Bank
Haag, Douglas & Margaretann
Hagen, Scott & Natalie
Harned, Lewis
Hustad, William & Jackie
Isensee, Natalie
Kafka, Daniel
Kleinsteiber, Larry
Kromanaker, Lisa & Alan
Krueger, Cal & Susie
Link, Thomas
Millsap, Nathaniel
Moren, Peder & Jeanne
Nemke, James & Karen
Olson, Peter & Cheryl
Owen, Paul Parker, James
Schlotzhauer, Charles & Nancy
Shaw, David
Solberg, Samuel & Karolyn
VFW Post 6498 (Gross-Yaksh Post)
Village Caregiving Waller, Ellis
Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Chapter 7
Aylward, Juliet
Borgkvist, Thomas
Bull, Ronald
Burns, Joseph Casey, Jr., John Clarendon Avenue Elementary
Conkle, Chris
Connell, Marilyn & Russel Peloquin
Cornell Elementary School
Coronna, Mark
Drilling, Leo
Ely, Michael
Fetterly, MAJ (Ret) Roger
Goodman, Walter
Greene, Dan
Haahr, Julianne
Hager-Dummer, Marritta
Harrison, Sharon
Hembel, Alan
Hemmer, Paul
Hesselbein, Robert
Horton, Robert
Hovey, Lynn
Kallas, Phillip & Priscilla King, John Kleidon, Emelia
Knesting, Bernard
Leetz, Daniel
Lundin, Dona
Madsen, Fredric & Linda
Mawhinney, Gary
Meredith, Bruce
Metz, Gundel
Miller, Ricky
Martinelli, Thomas
Montgomery, William
Nelson, Dean
Passante, Vicki & Tony
Paulsen, Robert & Linda
Peterson, Richard & Susan
Pulvermacher, Daniel
Ralston, Richard & Krista
Ridgely, Jr., COL (Ret) William Robbins, William & Chris
Schlappi, Ed & Kathy
Schroeder, Matthew
Schuette, Dan
Schulte, Sue
Scribner, Tonya
Smith, Lanny & Margaret
Sommers, Mike & Mary
Surprise, Tracy
Swenson, Roger
Temme, Jenny
Tillema, Dean
VFW Post 5716 (Hoeppner-Horn) VFW Post 6709 (Bentley-Hull Post)
Weier, John & Anita
White, Larry
Wren, Christopher
