Inside this issue:

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEUMFOUNDATION

volumE 14, issuE 1 jAnuAry 2016

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Paratrooperawarded OSM

Theater reopenswith Freedom Train

Award bringsgenerals together

Holidays on the Homefront

New conductors on The Polar Express

Ranger’s Ranger Earns Place in Museum

Museum Foundation’s First Employee Retires Like other retirees, Ben Williams imagined a life of leisure when he left the banking industry in 1999. But his retirement was short lived. With a reputation for being able to ‘get the job done,’ community leaders recruited him to explore an idea that had been perco-lating: to build a new museum to house the Infantry’s priceless collection of artifacts. Seventeen years and 2.1 million visitors later, Wil-liams’s second career as President and Chief Operating Offi cer of the National Infantry Museum Foundation is ending. His retirement was effective January 31, 2016. Back in 1999, Williams was already very familiar with the Infantry museum on post. It had opened in the mid-1970s in a converted hospital building. But Fort Benning’s leaders agreed the collection needed a new home. At the same time, community leaders were look-

ing to create a new signature attraction for the city. With the di-rection from a local philanthropist to “think big” – and a sizable donation to support it – the idea turned into a full-time commitment. Williams gathered up all the fi les from the trunk of his car and opened an offi ce with retired Major General Jerry White, who left his position at United Way to lead the effort. Williams then convinced a trusted friend and colleague, Greg Camp, to come on-board. Camp was a retired Army colonel and had served as Chief of Staff at Fort Benning, and would be invaluable in (continued on page 4)

NIF Vice Chairman LTG (Ret) Tom Metz presented Williams with the

Order of St. Maurice at a reception following his fi nal board meeting.

Ben Williams

Jack Pezold addresses the honoree, COL (Ret) Ralph Puckett, as wife Jeannie and grandson

Jack Kinnett look on.

Who better to sit at the head table of the Ranger Hall of Honor than the very fi rst Soldier inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame? A new exhibit in the museum’s Rang-er Hall of Honor shines the spotlight on the career accomplishments of COL (Ret) Ralph Puckett. It was unveiled in a special ceremony by friend Jack Pezold, who along with wife JoRhee, contrib-uted the money to fund the display. The keynote speaker was GEN (Ret) Jay Hendrix, who served in Vietnam as a company commander in Puckett’s

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thE infAntry hEritAGE lEttErPAGE 2

Board of Directors

LTG Carmen Cavezza, ChairmanLTG Tom Metz, Vice Chairman

Mr. Rick AlexanderThe Honorable John Allen

Dr. Frank BrownLTC (Ret) Tom Carlisle

Mr. Russ CarrekerMr. Cecil ChevesMr. Jake FlournoyDr. Jack GoldfrankSen. Hunter HillMs. Jacki Lowe

Mr. Rodney MahoneDr. Robin PennockMrs. Becky Rumor

Dr. Carl Savory

Ex-Offi cio Members

BG Peter JonesCOL (Ret) Mike BurnsCOL (Ret) Bob Brown

David Hanselman

National Advisory Board

GEN Ed Burba, ChairmanGEN Barry McCaffrey, Vice Chairman

GEN John AbizaidMr. Jim BalkcomLTG Jerry BatesMG J.B. Burns

LTG Carmen CavezzaMr. Duke Doubleday

LTG Charles W. “Bill” DykeMG Paul EatonGEN Larry EllisMG Carl ErnstLTG Tom FieldsGEN John Foss

Mr. Joe GallowayLTG Dave Grange

Mrs. Richard HallockGEN William Hartzog

GEN Jay HendrixGEN George Joulwan

GEN Buck KernanSMA Richard KiddMG Will Latham

LTG John LeMoyneMG Ken Leuer

GEN Jim LindsayGEN Bill Livsey

Mr. Frank Lumpkin IIISecretary of Army John Marsh

Honorable Bob PoydasheffCOL Ralph Puckett

Mr. Tom RabautLTG Ben Register

GEN Bill RichardsonGov. Tom Ridge

GEN Robert W. RisCassiCOL Mike Sierra

LTG Mike SpigelmireLTG Mike Steele

MG William SteeleMr. Mat Swift

Mr. Fred TaylorMr. William Turner

Mr. Jim WeaverLTG Sam WetzelMG Jerry White

MG Walt WojdakowskiBG Jim Yarbrough

Teenage Paratrooper Earns Order of St. Maurice It was nearing the end of World War II and 17-year-old John E. Hughes was compelled to serve his nation. Hughes dropped out of high school to join the elite paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division on the battlefi elds. Nearly 70 years later, on December 13, 2015, Hughes was awarded the Order of St. Maurice at the 82nd Airborne Association holiday social in Chicago. National

Infantry Association Chairman LTG (Ret) Tom Metz presented the prestigious award to Hughes in front of fellow paratroopers, family members, and friends. After the war, Hughes used his GI Bill to earn a college degree and launch a corporate career that cul-minated as Chairman and CEO of Fannie Mae Candies. Throughout his career and life, he has noted that his time in the United States

Army shaped the businessman he is today. A lifelong supporter of Soldiers and their families, it was Hughes’s suggestion to create a display about the GI Bill at the National In-fantry Museum to educate visitors for generations to come about the historic waves the legislation cre-ated. The display is located in the museum’s World at War gallery.

Left: John Hughes, after being presented the Order of St. Maurice at an 82nd Airborne Association event in Chicago last December. Right: Museum visitors watch a video about the GI Bill and the impact it had on American Soldiers.

The exhibit was inspired by OSM recipient John Hughes.

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Freedom Train Show Fills New Theater with Patiotism “The New American Freedom Train” rolled into the

new Giant Screen Theater at the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center on December 3. The show featured award-winning Nashville recording artist Tim Maggart, a band of talented musicians, and an inspir-ing and patriotic multimedia show. The show was the perfect event for the renovated theater’s grand reopening, showing off both the new

giant screen and the new stage that was installed to al-low for lectures and presen-tations.

The 289-seat theater was fi lled with fans that share Maggart’s appreciation for the military. In the lobby, Maggart’s wife Kathy signed copies of her children’s book, The 1947 Freedom Train, which she co-authored with Kathie Eidson. The book

is based on the real-life 1947 Freedom Train, which traveled aross the country carrying the nation’s founding documents for Americans of all ages to see. The journey inspired patriotism, respect of our nation’s military heroes, and appreciation of our free-doms. The $1.8 million reno-vation of the theater also included the conversion from fi lm projection to a state-of-the-art digital projection system. The new 6P Christie Laser Projection System is currently installed in only two other American theaters. The Giant Screen Theater at the

National Infantry Museum is the fi rst in the south-east to use laser projection. Two new documentaries were launched to celebrate the grand reopening. The theater was the fi rst in the nation to screen Space Next, a stunning fi lm that takes audiences on a journey of mankind’s pursuit of the stars. It looks at the inventions that have gotten us where we are

today, and explores what lies ahead in the future of space development and exploration. Joining Space Next on the schedule is a documentary called Journey to Space, which details the current state of the space program and what groups like NASA and SpaceX are doing to prepare for future private space travel and colonization. Both documentaries are shown in eye-popping 3D. Movie-goers can get full schedules at www.nationalinfantrymuseum.org/theater.

National Infantry Museumand Soldier Center

The New American Freedom Train Show debuted at the Historic Springer Opera House in Columbus, Geor-gia, and has been performed in New York, Connecticut, Tennessee, Arizona, and Alabama. The show has been performed in community theaters, churches, public and private schools, and senior living communities. Last summer, the band was invited to be the fi nale of the Nashville Salutes the Medal of Honor parade and breakfast at the world famous Wild Horse Saloon, where the 27 living Medal of Honor recipients were honored. As the foundation has now been laid, the vision of creator and producer Tim Maggart is to take this show on a nation-al tour. He is currently seeking corporate and private sponsorship to assist in making this vision come true.

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launching the new partnership with Army officials. The next few years were spent raising money, writ-ing agreements, acquiring land, designing the muse-um, and hiring the professionals who turned the team’s dreams into buildable concepts. On June 19, 2009, former Secretary of State Colin Powell joined others in cutting the ribbon on the new National Infantry Mu-seum and Soldier Center just outside the gates of Fort Benning. The Foundation raised more than $100 million to build the new museum. No easy task, Williams noted, in the midst of a recession. “But it’s an indication of how much support we had, how much people wanted to see the dream succeed,” he said. Williams recalled a key moment when the team was given the opportunity to brief late U.S. Sen. Daniel In-ouye in his Washington, D.C. office. Inouye had earned the Medal of Honor for his actions in World War II and

was the Senate’s second-highest ranking member. “When he bought into the vision and said he’d help us, that took this from a nice little museum to something on a national level,” Williams said. The museum has welcomed more than 2,000,000 visitors since its grand opening in 2009. Many visitors are already connected to the military, but oth-ers get their first real understand-ing of the American Soldier’s legacy of valor and sacrifice when they walk the The Last 100 Yards, the museum’s signature exhibit that traces Infantry history from Antietam to Afghanistan. “One of the things I’m most

proud of,” Williams said, “is creating a museum Sol-diers are proud of. They deserve this. We never set out to build a world-class museum, but that’s exactly what it has become.” In recognition of his work, National Infantry Associa-tion Chairman LTG (Ret) Tom Metz presented Williams the Order of St. Maurice – Primicerius on behalf of the Chief of Infantry. The Primicerius is the highest of the award’s five levels, reserved for those that have served in the Infantry. The association’s awards board ap-proved a one-time exception to that requirement in light of the significance of Williams’s contributions. Williams says it’s hard to let go of a project that became such a passion for him, but he says it’s time to

pass the baton, and that he’s looking forward to spend-ing more time with his family. Camp, as the new President and Chief Operating Of-ficer for the National Infantry Museum Foundation, prom-ises to work with Chairman LTG (Ret) Carmen Cavezza to continue the mission Williams and others set out nearly 20 years ago: to honor soldiers past, present, and future.

Family members, including wife Rose Marie and children Kim and Todd, attended a small reception honoring

Williams for his service.

Along with the framed Order of St. Maurice, Williams received a 1905 bayonet from the Army Museum staff. The inscription commemorates the museum’s grand

opening in June 2009.

Williams Retires(continued from page 1)

Greg Camp

Williams enjoys his send-off with NIF staffers Keisha Wilson, Jordan Beck, and Ilene Kent. Earlier in the

week, employees roasted Williams at a potluck party.

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US and Korean Generals Finally Meet Years ago, MG (Ret) John Hemphill received a coveted award in the mail, honoring his service during the Korean War. The ROK Chungmu Military Service Medal is equivalent to the American Army’s Silver Star. Later, Hemphill attended a briefing at Fort Benning with Ko-rea’s most revered officer, General Paik Sun-yup. He thought this would be the perfect opportunity to thank him for the medal. But circumstances robbed him of a one-on-one meeting with Paik. Over the years, the medal faded and Hemphill applied for a replacement, something that must be issued by Korea’s military. The request was approved. Then, last summer, Hemphill attended a Korean War veterans event in South Korea. He knew this might be his last chance to meet the ag-ing Korean war hero. What he did not know was that General Paik had learned of Hemphill’s story and had asked to be the one to present the new medal at Eighth Army Headquarters. In a moving ceremony, Gen-eral Paik draped the medal around Hemphill’s neck, and the two war veterans spent 20 minutes reminiscing about their service. Hemphill was a 24-year-old second lieutenant when he first arrived in Korea. He also served two tours in Vietnam and retired from the Army after 34 years of service. He is the father-in-law of LTG (Ret) Michael Ferriter, former Commanding General at Fort Benning. Today, Hemphill lives in Washington state with his wife, Peggy, and remains a staunch supporter of both Soldiers and the National Infantry Museum.

General Paik Sun-yup presents MG (Ret) John Hemphill with the ROK Chungmu Military Service Medal with Silver Star.

During the ceremony, General Paik wore the United States Silver Star Medal he was

awarded during the Korean War.

battalion. He called Puckett an iconic military leader and Soldier, a courageous and skilled war hero, and said his combat days were legendary. “No one that I can think of serves as a better example for our Infantrymen, and our future Infantrymen to come and see this exhibit, be inspired by this exhibit, and to be influenced and shaped by COL Puckett’s heroism and rare professional quali-ties,” Hendrix said. Puckett served much of his military career in Ranger and Spe-cial Operations units. Among his awards are two Distinguished Service Crosses from two different wars, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Star Medals with “V” device, and five Purple Hearts. He was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame in 1992 for extraordi-nary valor and distinguished service as a Ranger-qualified leader. In his remarks, Puckett thanked the Pezolds, GEN Hendrix and all the Soldiers he served with. “We have a great country, we have a great museum,” he said. “This museum is in honor of all Infantry and all Soldiers -- all Soldiers past, present and future. Without them, you and I would not be free.”

Bank PresidentAwarded OSM

CB&T President Billy Blanchard recently was bestowed the prestigious Order of St. Maurice by representatives of the National Infantry Association and the Chief of Infan-try. The OSM is awarded to those who have served the Infantry community with distinc-tion and have made a significant contribu-

tion in support of the Infantry. Blanchard has served on the National

Infantry Museum Foundation’s Board of Di-rectors and chaired the Foundation’s recent

capital campaign. Presenting the award are NIF Chairman/CEO LTG (Ret) Carmen Cavezza (left) and NIA Chairman/CEO LTG

(Ret) Tom Metz.

Inspired by COL Puckett’s lifetime of service, Jack and JoRhee Pezold (right) contributed the funds that made the display pos-sible. At left are COL Puckett and his wife of 64 years, Jeannie Puckett.

Ranger’s Ranger Honored(continued from page 1)

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Holidays on the Homefront

Visit www.itsyourday.com or www.nationalinfantrymuseum.com for ideas and inspiration!

Hold your next event at the National Infantry Museum

Graduation days are our favorite days! Families come from all across the country to celebrate their loved ones’ accomplishments. But cross-country travel is expensive and not always practical. During lunch in the Fife and Drum restaurant the day before his graduation, one soldier commented that his family wouldn’t be able to attend the ceremony. No problem! His server and three other ladies from the res-taurant sat in for his family at graduation, even waving a handmade sign in support of their new friend and our country’s newest warrior.

Surrogate Supporters

A taste of life during World War II Visitors to the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center got to step back in time on weekends last December, as the Education Department hosted a series of events called “Holidays on the Homefront.” WWII living historians Kelly’s Zeroes returned with their popular presentation

of life in the Army during the 1940s. The interactive event taught visitors how to line up and march in forma-tion, handle a weapon, and -- perhaps most importantly -- follow orders. While the group’s “soldiers” went to work on World War II Company Street, their family members set up a 1940s-era household inside the museum. And the next day, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, members of Kelly’s

Zeroes conducted a Pearl Harbor Day service in the World War II Chapel. Another weekend featured a Holidays on the Homefront Mini Camp for kids, and another featured a vintage Santa enjoying breakfast and crafts with families in the World War II Street Mess Hall.

Above: The next generation of Kelly’s Zeroes living historians

go to work in a 1940s-era kitchen. Left: A vintage Santa Claus (aka Volunteer Coordi-nator Peter Sauer) poses for

pictures in the Mess Hall.

Make sure to plan a tour of World War II Street during your next visit. Tours are offered twice a day; just sign up in the lobby!

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Polar Express Conductor Passes the Lantern ... For Now Every holiday season since the museum opened in 2009, The Polar Express has delighted children and adults alike in our Giant Screen Theater. They could have rented or bought the DVD and watched it at home, or they could have gone to a library or another theater to watch it. But what they get when they come to the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center is an experience unlike any other. Here, they get to meet the train’s famous conductor! Since 2009, the role has been passionately played by Owen Ditchfi eld, a retired educator, Vietnam vet-eran, and long-time museum docent. Each year, as the calendar creeps toward winter, Owen re-grows his mustache and collects unique foreign coins to hand out to the children. Then, for as many screenings as his schedule will allow, he greets “passengers” with his lantern and punches the child’s initials into their golden tickets before “boarding.” And then, of course, there are pictures. We think only Santa has posed for more! Unfortunately, last fall, Owen was diagnosed with cancer, and began a course of chemotherapy. He hat-ed to let down the kids he knew would be coming back to see him, but he also knew his energy level probably would not allow him to fulfi ll his duties. So we went in search of substitutes and found not one but two fi ll-in

associate ar-tistic director of the Spring-er Opera House. Co-incidentally, Ron was also diagnosed with cancer a year earlier, but had made a remarkable recovery. He jumped at the chance to help a friend and once again share the stage with hundreds of exuberant youngsters preparing for a journey into the world of make-believe. Sharing the conducting duties with Ron was Jim Talley, also a Vietnam veteran and weekend volunteer supervisor at the museum. Jim said he was a little re-luctant to play the part, but after his fi rst shift said, “The looks on those kids’ faces, that just melted my heart!” Thanks to both Ron and Jim, the journey to the North Pole left the station on time, and one of area families’ favorite traditions carries on. And we’re happy to report that Owen is doing very well, and plans to be

Pajama-clad kids clamor to meet the con-ductor before boarding The Polar Express.

Conductor RON

Conductor OWEN

Conductor JIM

back on the platform next December!

conductors that were perfect replacements. Many thanks to Ron Anderson, retired

FOLLOW THE INFANTRY HONOR THE SACRIFICE PRESERVE THE LEGACY

NATIONALINFANTRY

MUSEUM FOUNDATION

1775 Legacy WayColumbus, Georgia 31903

706.653.9234nationalinfantrymuseum.org

The National Infantry Foundation was established in 1998 to honor our nation’s Infantrymen, past, present and future, and to preserve their legacy. The Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Army, is committed to sharing their legacy through the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center at Patriot Park.

The museum project is sponsored, in part, by the U.S. Department of Defense. The content of this newsletter does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Government and no official endorsement should be inferred.

NIF STAFF

COL (Ret) Greg CampPresident and COO

Mark BalsingerTheater Director

Jane BayerDirector of Sales and Donor Relations

Sonya BellAdministrative Services Manager

Vickie BentonDirector of Events

Lisa BoydOffice Manager

Mike BullardDirector of Building and Facilities

Cyndy CerbinDirector of Communications

Laura KinnettAccounting Manager

Mike McCabeDirector of Information Technology

CSM (Ret) Steve McClaflinDirector of Operations

Lora Davis WarrenDirector of Education andVolunteer Services

Have you joined the NIA?visit www.infantryassn.com

visit us as www.nationalinfantryfoundation.org