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Museum preserves 'priceless' memories

  • Published
  • By Lori E. Flynn
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  The footprint of war is not always left on the battlefield.  As  photographs, equipment and uniforms are brought home, some artifacts of war eventually find their final resting places in museums.

"The U.S. Army Reserve Mobilization Museum depicts Army mobilization, not specifically in reserve forces, but citizen soldiers starting from the Revolutionary War to current operations," said retired Army Sgt. Maj. James L. Zadra, U.S. Army Reserve Mobilization Museum assistant curator.

"Soldiers were mobilized to support their country," said Mindy Rosewitz, U.S. Army Reserve Mobilization Museum curator. "That's why we have the artifacts from the beginning."

Collection management, or the intake of historical artifacts, known as "groupings," is the cornerstone of the museum. 

"The lion's share is collection management," said Zadra.  "There are 2,870 items that are accessioned and quite a few others non-accessioned that I take responsibility for."

How to display the artifacts is a matter of museum techniques and standards, as well as research, enthusiasm, and an understanding of what the visitors of the museum need and want, said Rosewitz.

"We have to preserve, conserve and present exhibits and displays," said Rosewitz. "It really opens up a window to the people of the past of Fort Dix and of their personal past.  It gives them something of the past that they can relate to."

The uniform of Tech. Sgt. Edward Herzog is one such exhibit. Herzog was a flight engineer with the 333rd Squadron, 94th Bombardment Group.  His uniform is from his military service in the Army-Air Corps.

"It's like he had just taken it off in August 1945 and put it on a hanger, put it in the valise [suitcase] and zipped it up," said Zadra. "There it sat for 70 years!"

Herzog's descendants stumbled upon the artifacts when they were cleaning out a relative's attic. They opened a large foot locker that led them to their uncle's suitcase.

The family wanted to preserve the belongings and reached out to the museum to share Herzog's personal experiences during World War II. 

While waiting for the artifacts to be brought to the museum, Zadra focused his efforts on procuring a cot, field desk and chair for the exhibit.

"When everything showed up, I went to town.  It took me about three days to build the corner barracks diorama," said Zadra.

The historical artifacts for Herzog's grouping included original award certificates, documentation for five Air Medals, as well as the application for the Distinguished Flying Cross from his chain of command.  The collection also included photographs and the complete Class A uniform, with a prized crusher pilot's cap and leather flight jacket, explained Zadra.

"The leathers are perfectly displayable, the cuffs are still there, and it is just phenomenal," said Zadra. "So in essence, a time capsule. It was pretty neat!"

With such a wide array of historical artifacts, equipment, vehicles and irreplaceable, one-of-a-kind items in the museum, the value is difficult to determine in dollars.

"It's priceless," said Rosewitz. "Priceless."

The museum follows the storyline throughout history showing museum visitors what the citizen soldiers or mobilized reservists looked like at a time of war or training, said Zadra.

"This was the first time I've been back to Dix in over 50 years," said Walt Whalen, a Jackson, New Jersey resident who recently visited the museum.  "I was here for basic training and advanced training back in 1960 and then came back as a reservist a couple of years later."

"I particularly liked the museum. I was able to relate because the reserve unit I was with was part of the 78th Division," said Whalen. "I saw they were at the beginning of Fort Dix back in the World War I days and performed valiantly.  I was glad to know there was some connection.  The artifacts were very, very interesting."

Herzog couldn't have known when he packed up his suitcase so carefully he would once again join the ranks and continue to share the story of his call to duty.

"He was a flight engineer and the top turret gunner on a B-17 and flew 25 missions," said Zadra.

Toward the end of Herzog's tour, the B-17 was shot down and forced to crash land in the English Channel.  

Herzog was "fished" out of the water and his uniform displays a unique marking on the sleeve of his Class A uniform.

"On his four pocket Class A tunic, there is a small British made patch called a 'goldfish,'" said Zadra.  The patch is blue and has embroidered waves and a small goldfish that signifies he was "ditched" in the water, he explained.

Remarkably, Herzog and the B-17 crew survived, just like the uniform tucked away in a suitcase, in an attic, 70 years ago.

For more information about the U.S. Army Reserve Mobilization Museum, call (609) 562-2334.