Military
The Museum's superb military collections document the history of the men and women of the armed forces of the United States. The collections include ordnance, firearms, and swords; uniforms and insignia; national and military flags and banners; and many other objects.
The strength of the collections lies in their enormous depth. Some 3,000 military small arms and 2,400 civilian firearms document the mechanical and technological history of the infantryman's weapons from the beginning of the gunpowder era to the present. Among the 4,000 swords and knives in the collection are many spectacular presentation pieces. The collections also include Civil War era telegraph equipment, home front artifacts from both world wars, early computers such as ENIAC, Whirlwind, and Sage, and materials carried at antiwar demonstrations.
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Drum Mountain Center, Utah
- Description
- "Drum Mountains -Ctr. Utah"
- In 1943, Akio Ujihara along with another internee found a large meteorite just 16 miles west of Topaz Relocation Center at the Drum Mountains. The pair was searching for rocks to use in jewelry when they discovered the 1,164 pound meteorite. Ujihara, who had received a degree from Polytechnic Engineering College at Oakland prior to internment, asserted that this was a unique find that should be studied by the Smithsonian Institution. The meteorite was shortly thereafter delivered into the museum’s possession, and is today in the Natural History Museum’s Collections.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1945-08-27
- maker
- Ujihara, Akio
- ID Number
- 1986.3047.10
- catalog number
- 1986.3047.10
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3047
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Manzanar War Relocation Ctr., 1942
- Description
- "Manzanar War Relocation Ctr., 1942"
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1943-12-12
- maker
- Ujihara, Akio
- ID Number
- 1986.3047.07
- catalog number
- 1986.3047.07
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3047
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Deep Snow Topaz 1943
- Description
- "Topaz 3-15-44"
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1944-03-15
- maker
- Ujihara, Akio
- ID Number
- 1986.3047.09
- catalog number
- 1986.3047.09
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3047
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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"Enlist in a Proud Profession ... U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps" Poster
- Description
- Physical Description
- Four-color print on paper.
- Specific History
- The Division of Military History and Diplomacy has been collecting recruiting posters for more than fifty years. Recruiting as an activity of the military is important to the understanding of who serves in uniform during both war and peace and the visual materials used to market military service. The collection contains examples of early Civil War broadsides; World War I posters, including the original artwork for Uncle Sam as drawn by Montgomery Flagg; and World War II posters, which show the recruiting of men and women for all services and auxiliary organizations. The collection contains primarily Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II recruiting posters for the army, navy and some marines. More modern-day recruiting materials are also contained in the collection, and cover a broad range of army recruiting slogans.
- General History
- Posters during World War II were designed to instill in people a positive outlook, a sense of patriotism and confidence. They linked the war in trenches with the war at home. From a practical point, they were used to encourage all Americans to help with the war effort. The posters called on every man, woman, and child to endure the personal sacrifice and domestic adjustments to further the national agenda. They encouraged rationing, conservation, and sacrifice. In addition, the posters were used for recruitment, productivity, and motivation as well as for financing the war effort. The stark, colorful graphic designs elicited strong emotions. The posters played to the fears, frustrations, and faith in freedoms that lingered in people's minds during the war.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1942
- associated dates
- 1942
- distributor
- United States. Office of War Information
- printer
- US Government Printing Office
- issuing authority
- U.S. Public Health Service
- ID Number
- 1977.0020.041
- catalog number
- 1977.0020.041
- accession number
- 1977.0020
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Hershey's Tropical Chocolate Bar
- Description
- Physical Description
- Paper candy wrapper over candy bar.
- General History
- In 1943, the procurement division of the army inquired about the possibility of obtaining a heat-resistant chocolate bar with an improved flavor. After a short period of experimentation, Hershey's Tropical Chocolate Bar in both one- and two-ounce sizes was added to the list of war production items. This bar was destined to exceed all other items in the tonnage produced. The Army-Navy "E" Production Award was given to Hershey Chocolate Corporation on August 22, 1942, in recognition of its outstanding war effort. The corporation received a flag to fly above the chocolate plant and a lapel pin for every employee. The award was presented for exceeding all production expectations in the manufacturing of an Emergency Field Ration. The “E” production award was not easily won nor lightly bestowed. The award recognized companies that consistently met high standards of quality and quantity in light of available resources. Major General Edmund Gregory said of Hershey, "The men and women of Hershey Chocolate Corporation have every reason to be proud of their great work in backing up our soldiers on the fighting fronts." In all, the Hershey Chocolate Corporation received five Army-Navy "E" awards.
- date made
- 1943
- maker
- Hershey Chocolate Corporation
- ID Number
- 1977.0865.07
- catalog number
- 1977.0865.07
- accession number
- 1977.0865
- catalog number
- 80015M
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Out Skirt - Manzanar, 1942
- Description
- "Manzanar 1-16-1944"
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1944-01-16
- maker
- Ujihara, Akio
- ID Number
- 1986.3047.08
- catalog number
- 1986.3047.08
- nonaccession number
- 1986.3047
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Audie Murphy's OD Field Jacket
- Description
- Physical Description
- Olive drab (OD) “Eisenhower type” jacket.
- Specific History
- Field jacket used by Second Lieutenant Audie L . Murphy, United States Army.
- General History
- Audie Murphy enlisted in the United States Army at age seventeen to make something of himself. By the end of World War II, Audie Murphy's exploits had earned him every medal his country could give. He was the war's most decorated soldier and a national hero. Four years later, as a struggling actor in Hollywood, he turned his wartime experiences into a best-selling book, To Hell and Back. He later starred in the film version of his book. He died in an 1971 airplane crash in Virginia while on a business trip.
- His list of medals includes:
- Medal of Honor
- Distinguished Service Cross
- Silver Star with First Oak Leaf Cluster
- Legion of Merit
- Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device and First Oak Leaf Cluster
- Purple Heart with Second Oak Leaf Cluster
- U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal
- Good Conduct Medal
- Distinguished Unit Emblem with First Oak Leaf Cluster
- American Campaign Medal
- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns), and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France)
- World War II Victory Medal
- Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp
- Armed Forces Reserve Medal
- Combat Infantry Badge
- Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar
- Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar
- French Fourragère in Colors of the Croix de Guerre
- French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier
- French Croix de Guerre With Silver Star
- French Croix de Guerre with Palm
- Medal of Liberated France
- Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- user
- Murphy, Audie
- ID Number
- 1985.0428.01
- catalog number
- 1985.0428.01
- accession number
- 1985.0428
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Field Telephone
- Description
- Physical Description
- Model EE-8-A field telephone, leather case.
- General History
- American Electric military field phone, model EE-8-A. The phone is encased in leather. The handset is marked American Electric and there is a magneto crank.
- Location
- Currently not on view (batteries)
- manufacturer
- American Electric Co., Inc.
- ID Number
- 1985.0335.22
- catalog number
- 1985.0335.22
- accession number
- 1985.0335
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Supermen of America Sweatshirt
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1944
- associated institution
- Department of Defense
- ID Number
- 1987.0213.129
- accession number
- 1987.0213
- catalog number
- 1987.0213.129
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Song and Service Book for Ship and Field, Army and Navy
- Description
- Physical Description
- Song and Service Book for Ship and Field, Army and Navy, edited by Ivan Loveridge Bennett. Gilt title on maroon boards, 192 pp.
- General History
- The Song and Service Book for Ship and Field, Army and Navy, edited by Ivan Loveridge Bennett, features prayers, hymns, and patriotic songs used in various military ceremonies and religious services.
- date made
- 1942
- printer
- U.S. Government Printing Office
- ID Number
- 1982.0372.01
- accession number
- 1982.0372
- catalog number
- 1982.0372.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
German Nazi Swastika Flag
- Description
- Physical Description
- Red wool bunting cloth with white circle in center. In the center of the white circle is a swastika.
- General History
- In 1920, Adolf Hitler decided that the Nazi Party needed its own insignia and flag. For Hitler, the new flag had to be “a symbol of our own struggle” as well as “highly effective as a poster.” On August 7, 1920, at the Salzburg Congress, this flag became the official emblem of the Nazi Party. In Mein Kampf, Hitler described the Nazis' new flag: “In red we see the social idea of the movement, in white the nationalistic idea, in the swastika the mission of the struggle for the victory of the Aryan man, and, by the same token, the victory of the idea of creative work, which as such always has been and always will be anti-Semitic.”
- ID Number
- 1977.0788.03
- catalog number
- 1977.0788.03
- accession number
- 1977.0788
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Man-in-Service Flag
- Description
- Physical Description
- Flag is olive green, with Man-in-Service Flag embroidered in red and white with one blue star in center; word "Medical" embroidered above embroidered flag. Caduceus embroidered under flag.
- Specific History
- This modification of the Service Flag indicates that the member is in the Medical Corps.
- General History
- When displayed in a home, business, or church, the flag indicates that one member of the family or other group is actively serving in the armed forces. A blue star indicates a member currently serving, while a gold star indicates a member killed while serving.
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- 1914-1918
- ID Number
- 1979.0220.13
- accession number
- 1979.0220
- catalog number
- 1979.0220.013
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Flamethrower
- Description
- Physical Description
- United States Model 2A1 flamethrower.
- General History
- The original Model 1A1 flamethrower was troubled by ignition problems which were corrected in the M2 version. The simple mechanics of the flamethrower are overshadowed by its destructive nature. Two tanks are mounted side by side in a backpack-type configuration. One tank contains fuel, usually a thickened gasoline. The other contains compressed gas. They are mixed as they pass through a valve. The gas provides the force to propel the gasoline. At this point, the mixture is ignited and a sheet of flame produced.
- ID Number
- AF.65355M
- catalog number
- 65355M
- accession number
- 226768
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
chin strap
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated date
- 1933 - 1934
- ID Number
- AF.74541M
- catalog number
- 74541M
- accession number
- 292881
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
jacket
- associated date
- 1941 - 1945
- associated institution
- U.S. Army
- ID Number
- AF.79377M
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
"For Your Country's Sake Today--For Your Own Sake Tomorrow" Poster
- Description
- Physical Description
- Four-color print on paper.
- Specific History
- The Division of Military History and Diplomacy has been collecting recruiting posters for more than fifty years. Recruiting as an activity of the military is important to the understanding of who serves in uniform, during both war and peace, and the visual materials used to market military service. The collection contains examples of early Civil War broadsides, World War I posters, including the original artwork for Uncle Sam as drawn by Montgomery Flagg; and World War II posters, which show the recruiting of men and women for all services and auxiliary organizations. The collection contains primarily Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II recruiting posters for the army, navy and some marines. More modern day recruiting materials are also contained in the collections, and cover a broad range of army recruiting slogans.
- General History
- Posters during World War II were designed to instill in people a positive outlook, a sense of patriotism, and confidence. They linked the war in trenches with the war at home. From a practical point, they were used to encourage all Americans to help with the war effort. The posters called on every man, woman, and child to endure the personal sacrifice and domestic adjustments to further the national agenda. They encouraged rationing, conservation, and sacrifice. In addition, the posters were used for recruitment, productivity, and motivation as well as for financing the war effort. The stark, colorful graphic designs elicited strong emotions. The posters played to the fears, frustrations, and faith in freedoms that lingered in people's minds during the war.
- date made
- 1944
- associated date
- 1941 - 1945
- ID Number
- AF.59413-M
- catalog number
- 59413-M
- accession number
- 167949
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Moschetto Aut-Beretta Model 1938A-Patent Submachinegun
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1938
- maker
- Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta
- ID Number
- AF.68835M
- catalog number
- 68835M
- accession number
- 258560
- serial number
- 8664A
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Normandy Invasion (A)
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1944-06-06
- maker
- Capa, Robert
- ID Number
- PG.007451
- accession number
- 255885
- catalog number
- 7451
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Bundles For America-IF
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1941
- ID Number
- 2005.0079.147
- accession number
- 2005.0079
- catalog number
- 2005.0079.147
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Summer WAC Jacket
- Description
- Physical Description
- Khaki-colored tropical worsted material with a rolled collar with lapels, epaulets on the shoulders, two false horizontal breast pockets with small gold-colored metallic buttons, and two side pockets over the hips. The jacket is closed by four gold-colored metallic buttons. Staff sergeant chevrons are on the upper arm of both sleeves above the elbow, the Eighth Army Air Force patch is on the left shoulder, and four overseas bars indicate two years' service overseas. All buttons have the Great Seal of the United States on the front. The collar disk on the right lapel contains the letters "U.S." denoting United States; the collar disk on the left lapel contains the wings and propeller blade of an enlisted member of the Army Air Forces. Both disks are made from gold-colored metal. Ribbons over the left breast pocket represent the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Women's Army Corps Service Medal, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.
- Specific History
- This jacket was worn by Staff Sergeant Margaret C. Frank, WAC, who was assigned to the Eighth Air Force in England as a telephone operator from 1943 to 1945.
- General History
- During World War II over 150,000 women served in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) or Women's Army Corps (WAC). Special legislation was required before the women could serve in the army. The law authorizing the WAAC was signed by President Franklin Roosevelt in May 1942 and the first WAACs began training in July 1942. Initially WAACs were only assigned to duties in the continental United States. However, when General Dwight Eisenhower requested trained secretarial, clerical, and administrative personnel, a WAAC detachment was sent to his headquarters in North Africa in early 1943. A WAAC battalion was sent to England in spring 1943 to provide similar expertise to army and air forces units gathering for the invasion of Europe.
- The status of the WAAC as an auxiliary, serving with but not in the army, was confusing and made many routine activities difficult. In mid-1943, Congress authorized the Women's Army Corps as a full-fledged army organization. All WAACs were either converted to WAC status or discharged. Women served in many jobs in addition to the secretarial, clerical, and administrative fields. They were assigned as drivers, mechanics, cooks, ordnance specialists, and radio operators; they worked in communications, logistics, public affairs, medical, intelligence, and many other specialties. They served in the United States and in all overseas theaters. Because of their exemplary record, women were made a part of the regular military establishment in 1948.
- associated date
- 1941 - 1945
- user
- Frank, Margaret C.
- ID Number
- AF.79105M
- designer number
- PQD 426
- 55-J-569-243
- accession number
- 317886
- catalog number
- 79105M
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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