The gallery sparkles with fresh paint on new walls, a velvety black ceiling, and brilliant coat of wax on the tile floor. It echoes when we speak; it’s ready to be filled with moving, emotional stories about the Carver County men and women who have served our country. It’s ready to memorialize those who made the “ultimate sacrifice” for us. This won’t be an exhibit that glorifies war – it will be a way to remember and honor those who served.

This gallery has been in the back of my mind for several years. We have an amazing collection of military artifacts, some with strong local ties and others that represent typical equipment used by all branches of the armed forces. Visitors to the former gallery shared stories; some reacted with great emotion to the old displays. Incorporating these local stories into a new, interpretive exhibit with improved handicap access has long been a dream of mine. Now it’s happening, and the hard work begins!

On June 1, a team of four top students from Bethel, St. Thomas and the University of Missouri will meet for the first time to begin dividing up the research. They will interview local servicemen and women, consult military records and local archives, and pull together a cohesive story that spans the period from the Civil War to the present conflicts in the Middle East. They will tell Carver County’s stories in a global context, explaining the “whys” and “wheres” along with the “whos.” They will be advised by a team of local veterans who will help guide us in deciding which stories to tell and how to tell them.

As the interns conduct research, other volunteers sort and inventory the collection. Vaughn Shepherd and Dave Lovaasen, both knowledgeable veterans themselves, continue to identify objects, gather “like” objects together and assign them to time periods. Damien Parsoud completed an inventory of the existing memorial cases, which will travel throughout our communities in Carver County.

I will continue to work on the construction of new exhibit furniture, artifact mounts and conservation issues. For example, we have a large G.A.R. banner, resembling an American flag approximately six feet square. The white silk stripes and painted lettering are shattering, but the red stripes and blue field are in good condition. The banner will be carefully stitched to a muslin background with the damaged areas sandwiched in transparent silk crepeline. The whole assembly will be mounted on a padded board that is slanted to reduce the effects of gravity and covered with a large piece of Plexiglas to protect the banner from dust. It’s fussy, tedious, time consuming work – just my cup of tea!

Don’t forget that all of this work can be expensive! A conservation-grade mannequin can cost $1,000 or more, and we hope to exhibit at least 12 uniforms at a time. Your donations are very welcome, and donations of all sizes will be acknowledged in the gallery. Memorial gifts are especially meaningful. Thank you for your support!

Submitted by Larry Hutchings,
CCHS Curator of Collections and Exhibitions

MGG Exhibit Facts

The exhibition is organized into several major thematic areas: Growing Up; Heading Off to War; The Home Front; The Battlefront; Moving Out and Making the Boom; The Whole World; and, a concluding section honoring the legacy of this generation. Visitors to the exhibition will encounter iconic artifacts and experiences including:

• A re-created 1930s movie theater with clips from films popular with kids during the era and stories about movie-going.
• Artifacts and stories from the New Deal’s Civilian Conservation Corps.
• A homemade "car" from the 1938 St. Paul Soap Box Derby.
• A classic soda fountain from the 1930s with a vintage pinball machine that visitors can play and jukebox where they will hear stories of carefree teenage lives interrupted by the events of December 7, 1941.
• A "home front" setting where visitors will be able to recycle aluminum and experience what rationing was like.
• An interactive "bullet-packing" station where visitors will be able to pack ammunition shells on a re-created factory assembly line based on the Twin Cities Ordnance Plant.
• An M8 armored vehicle produced during the war by workers at the St. Paul Ford plant.
• The fuselage of an actual war-era C-47 troop transport aircraft where visitors are transported into the harrowing experience of a D-Day flight through a realistic multimedia presentation.
• A Combat Stories audio feature where visitors will hear compelling stories told by Minnesota men and women who experienced the war on the front lines.
• Stories and objects from the Military Intelligence Service Language School at Ft. Snelling where Japanese-American soldiers trained for work in wartime intelligence.
• Stories and objects from the University of Minnesota’s "semi-starvation" study in which conscientious objectors volunteered to be "guinea pigs" in a wartime project studying the effects of malnutrition.
• A 1950s television showroom with clips from popular shows of TV’s pioneer days and the KSTP Archives housed at the Minnesota Historical Society, as well as an interactive area where kids can test TV tubes to see if they are faulty.
• An iconic "St. Paul Tourist Cabins" neon sign.
• A 1950s-era hospital nursery with an "endless babies" vista.
• A 1955 Ford nicknamed "the Bluebird" by its original owners in Clinton, Minn.
• A dry-cleaning shop with a moving rack of clothes highlighting the activities of this "generation of joiners."
• A 1960s airport setting recalling the global reach and work of men and women of this generation from Washington, D.C., to the State Department and the United Nations.
• A multimedia show that will remind visitors of the life arc and profoundly important legacy of this "greatest generation."

"Minnesota’s Greatest Generation: The Depression, The War, The Boom"Experiencing Their Past, Learning For Our Present"

NEW EXHIBIT OPENING MAY 23 AT THE MINNESOTA HISTORY CENTER
http://www.mngreatestgeneration.org/

The Great Depression, World War II and the boom that followed the war were all defining events in the life of Minnesota's Greatest Generation. With the current challenges facing our county, including a struggling economy and high rates of unemployment, it is more important than ever to reflect on their stories and learn from their enduring legacy. Experience the accomplishments, sacrifices, disappointments and challenges of this remarkable generation at the Minnesota Historical Society's new exhibit, "Minnesota's Greatest Generation: The Depression, The War, The Boom," opening May 23, 2009, Memorial Day weekend.

This landmark, 6,000-square-foot exhibit traces the entire life arc of the generation – from birth to legacy – in a manner unlike anything else at any other history center or educational institution across the nation. With the use of recorded interviews, archival footage, film and audio, members of the generation guide visitors through their childhood and adolescence in the 1930s, to their years as young adults during the war and post-war era. The exhibit is a highly moving experience, featuring artifacts, displays, hands-on elements and multimedia interpretive techniques that reveal the experiences of Minnesota's Greatest Generation.

Put Yourself in Their Place
"This exhibit is the culmination of one of the most ambitious undertakings in the Society's nearly 160-year history," said Nina Archabal, Minnesota Historical Society Director. "It tells the story of a generation that endured great hardship, displayed courage and seized the opportunity to shape our modern nation and world. At a time when there is a rare and clear convergence between past and present, we are so fortunate that many of the members of the Greatest Generation who lived these experiences have told us their stories in their own words. Looking around us today we see Minnesotans and other Americans facing hardship, displaying courage and seizing the moment to change the world."

Exhibit visitors will embark on a journey that transports them back in time and creates the feeling that they are experiencing the events of the past. As they travel from a childhood trip to the movies to a classic, 1930s soda fountain, visitors will gain a new understanding of how the attacks on Pearl Harbor ripped the generation from their peaceful lives and threw the United States into the middle of a tumultuous World War.

A re-created factory assembly line where visitors can learn to pack ammunition shells conveys the dedication and determination of life on the home front. A simulated D-Day flight in the fuselage of a war-era C-47 airplane reveals the intensity of the battlefield. Finally, a 1950s television showroom and hospital nursery return visitors to the wonders of prosperity and suburbia as the post-war boom begins.

Opening Weekend and Summer Events
To celebrate the opening of the exhibit, a series of events will be offered at the Minnesota History Center from Saturday, May 23, through Monday, May 25, Memorial Day weekend. Events include educational presentations, musical performances, film screenings, craft and cooking demonstrations and programs honoring veterans’ service. In addition, the Minnesota History Center and state historic sites, such as Historic Fort Snelling, will host Minnesota's Greatest Generation events throughout the summer. For more information on events, please visit www.mnhs.org/mggevents.

The Minnesota's Greatest Generation Project
The exhibit is the capstone of the Historical Society's multi-year Minnesota’s Greatest Generation project. Since the project’s launch on August 14, 2005, the 60th anniversary of the end of the World War II, tens of thousands of people across the nation have been engaged to collect, preserve and share the stories of Minnesota's Greatest Generation through traditional and Web-based programs, including a collections initiative, an interactive Web site, oral history project, publications, and public and educational programs. The project has been lauded by the National Endowment for the Humanities as an initiative that "may establish a model for history museums throughout the United States," and the exhibit has been designated as a prestigious "We The People" project for promoting knowledge and understanding of American history and culture. For more information about the project please visit http://www.mngreatestgeneration.org/.

About the Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849 to preserve and share Minnesota history. The Society collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and book publishing. More information can be found at http://www.mnhs.org/. The Carver County Historical Society is an institutional member of the Minnesota Historical Society.

Veterans' Gallery Post-Phase I Construction

A volunteer's workstation - cataloguing bayonets







Temporary housing for all the objects that were in the gallery prior to renovation






Temporary uniform storage







Our makeshift barred entryway - we knew that pew would come in handy someday!






A view of the gallery entrance - note the beautiful khaki color






One of the curved walls that will form the outer ring of the displays










The same wall, as seen from another angle








The men pictured here are some of those that will be featured in a photographic exhibit of soldiers from Carver County

Another of the curved walls to form the outer ring of the exhibit - behind it is a brand-new storage closet for many of the things that won't be on display

The interior of the storage closet, which will be fitted with gun racks and uniform storage

The new wall. You can also see the ceiling, which was recently painted black.

The large case pictured here will house 5 mannequins dressed in different soldiers' uniforms that we have in the collection. This exhibit will change periodically to highlight different uniforms, branches, and Carver County soliders and veterans.

The photographic exhibit. This nook will showcase a photograph and name of each person from Carver County who has served in the military.

Phase I Construction on the Veterans' Gallery

Leo Tomperi, Joe Anderson

Zack Smith

Leo Tomperi, Joe Anderson, Zack Smith

Rick Peterson, Leo Tomperi, Zack Smith

Joe Anderson, JD Johnson, Zack Smith, Leo Tomperi, Mike Bennett

Leo Tomperi, Joe Anderson, Zack Smith

Leo Tomperi, Joe Anderson, Zack Smith

Leo Tomperi, Joe Anderson, Zack Smith

Leo Tomperi, Joe Anderson, Zack Smith

Leo Tomperi, Joe Anderson, Zack Smith

Zack Smith

Leo Tomperi

Kenny's Story, Part II

Ken's letters were addressed to his parents and his brother Chuck. Kenneth Dressel arrived in Vietnam on December 19th 1967 and died in gun fire January 25th 1968. This is the second half of his story, in his words. The letter dated March 17th was written by Ken's fellow service man Mike Essen.

Jan 68

Hello family

I suppose that you have read in the paper about the large fight between the Vietnamese and the 2nd and 22nd INF. On the 1 or 2 day of the year we killed over 1,000 VC and they only killed 22 of our men and wounded about 125 men that same night the VC were mortaring our post so that we couldn't leave here to help them. I glad that we could get out of here. I think that we got hit with over 100 mortar rounds but no one got hurt.

Your son

Ken

Jan 18 1967 (Editor's note:should read 1968)

Dear Chuck,

Well how is everything treating you back in the world? Well I'll tell you if I had my choice I would rather be back there, because this place just isn't for me, because there aren't any girls and most important there isn't very much beer to drink so I guess that I will have to make up for that the next time I come home and then I will be 21 and old enough to drink, "wow". But then again by the time I come home you will have your driver's license and that means that I will really have to fight to get to use dad's car…But if the competition is too great I will just have to buy me a sting-ray so that I will have something to drive and don't start getting any ideas about driving it either because I won't let you. Ha Ha. But meanwhile back in Vietnam, I have work to do before I can come home until my year is up and then they better hide all the girls and the beer because I will have a year to rest up for them. Putting all the kidding aside say hi to (everyone)

your big brother

Ken

Sun 21, 1968

Hello Everyone,I was sure glad to get 3 letters from you today… those pictures turned out real nice. I showed them to all the guys because everybody always shows their pictures to us… Boy do you have the wrong impression of Vietnam. You must think that they are always after us but they don't come close to the base camp unless they have about 10,000 men and it is hard to get that many together because every day we go out on sweeps to look for them and keep them from grouping together. You also asked if we get much sleep…we get 8 hours or more a night….Do you know that it is only 11 more months or 328 days. I'm not counting the days but Dick Denny said how many days we had left today. We usually get one hot meal a day and that is supper and then we get a cold soda and BEER. That is one thing a GI looks forward to when he is out on a sweep during the day hot food, cold beer and a letter from home

Watching out

Ken

Wed 24 1968 (Editor's note: Kenny's last letter home)

Dear folks,I got your letter today that had the Kool-aid in it so now we can make some Kool-aid when we come in at night. About two nights ago we really got drunk. A convoy came in and it had extra beer so we went and bought 8 cases boy did that feel good for a change…I am starting to get more mail. That is always nice because it takes my mind off what's going on over here…Well I guess that is all for now

Your son,

Ken

Sunday morning, February 6th, Mrs. Dressel was standing at her kitchen window washing dishes when a government car drove up to the house. Kenneth had been listed as missing in action. He however died in gun fire January 25th 1968, three weeks earlier at the age of 20, less than five weeks after his arrival.

A letter from Mike Esser dated February 11, 1968 surprised the family. Mike had been a friend of Ken's and was on patrol with him when he died. Mike's letters discussed that Ken "was the best of a friend." Subsequent letters described, at Mr. and Mrs. Dressel's request, how Ken died.

March 17

Dear Mrs. Dressel,

I am glad my first letter helped make Ken's passing away a little easier for the both of you. You had asked me if I could fill you in on the day of Ken's death. I was out there that day…We the company's of A-B-C and D 2/14 INF were making search and destroy missions out of Katum along the Cambodian border on the day of Ken's death. We were air lifted out, we were suppose to make something like a 2500 meter sweep and be picked up by choppers and brought back. Around noon gun ship's spotted hut's from the air and so we were taken off our first course to check out the report. The going was rough and the jungle thick, it was very hard to see very far ahead. Both Ken and Dick Denney were working security for the lead platoon and both were hit by the same round. The enemy first opened up with small arms fire which wounded the third person in the file twice in the arm when this happened Ken jumped in a bomb crater hole and Dick behind a fallen tree, an RPG rocket was fired which hit Ken in the leg and wounded Dick, as much as I know this was the only wound Ken had but a very bad one. People in his platoon and a medic went up and brought both Ken and Dick back where they could work on them. There were two medics working on Ken most of the time. So you know he had the most medical care we could give him at the time, and they did everything they could. After Ken did die our senior medic sat down put his hands to his head and cried. All this time Ken was with us, even though was reported missing was a mistake. After Ken was pulled back, he was like always smiling talking and smoking. The first thing he said was as soon as he gets in he wanted a cold beer. If in pain he never really complained. But being the first hit and getting a chopper in was impossible while in the fight. Loss of blood finally got to Ken…. The jungle was so thick, no chopper could land so they sat at tree top level and all wounded were lifted up in baskets but his time Ken had already passed away. This is how I seen it, I have told you all I know, I hope it clears some things up for you.

A Friend,

Mike

Kenny's Story, Part I

This story, written by Wendy Biorn, CCHS Executive Director, appeared in the Carver County News, Chanhassen Villager, Chaska Herald, Lester Prairie Herald Journal, Norwood-Young America Times and Waconia Patriot the week of April 9, 2009.

In an effort to raise funds for the gallery, several people and families have stepped forward, volunteering to tell their stories in an effort to raise awareness and funds for the gallery. Harold and Mabel Dressel donated a box containing the essence of their son Kenny's life to CCHS. The box contained numerous items including: a purple heart, bronze star, newspaper clippings, burial flag, national defense service medal, Vietnam service medal, pictures, letter from President Lyndon B. Johnson, baptismal certificate, confirmation certificate, Watertown High School Diploma, funeral memorial book and most notably letters from Kenny himself documenting his life in the military. It is the wish of Kenny's family to publish his account of the military to help finance the veterans' gallery at CCHS.

Kenny Dressel's story was related to me by his sister, Mary Loehrs. Kenny's letters were addressed to his parents and his brother Chuck. Kenneth Harold Dressel was born December 6, 1947 in Watertown, the fourth child of Harold Dressel and Mabel Mesenbring. He graduated in 1966, enlisted in the Army July 12, 1967 and arrived in Vietnam on December 19th of the same year. He died in gun fire January 25th 1968.

Kenny (pictured at left) was quiet yet always kidding around and quick witted. He was a "very nice kid" who when his friend, Bruce Miller, was drafted, volunteered so that they could be together. Before he left for basic training, he told his girlfriend and sister Carol, he knew he wouldn't be coming home. This is the first half of his story, in his words. Kenny's first letter home is dated Thursday December 21.

Thursday, December 21

Hello everyone,

Well I have been here a few days already and I am still alive, no I was just joking. It hasn't been too bad yet because I have not gone out in the field because we have to have about a week of more training, before they send us out. The weather over here is real nice now because it is during the dry season, and the temp is about 85 degrees so I am getting a real nice sun tan. We got paid when we got here so I got a check of $100.00 made up and sent it home, you maybe have it already, put it in my savings account…Bob Hope and company are going to be here on Christmas Day so they are getting ready for him….I ran into a few guys that I have been with for the past few months and last night we went out and got drunk, there were about 12 of us and we really had a good time. They changed the division I was supposed to go to. Now I am in the 25th Inf. Division; we are real close to the Cambodian Border. I got a patch that the whole 25th division wears and I sent it along…From what I hear there is a battalion of Vietnamese outside of our parameter but they aren't giving us any trouble so don't worry about it because I'm not...

Your son and Brother

Ken

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Wednesday (January) 10, 1967

Hello family,

It is about 2:00 in the afternoon and I am sitting on my bunker again... I got your 2nd letter today and thank you for the Kool-aid, but it should have been pre-sweetened because we don't get very much sugar out here. We are going to go down to our little river today and go swimming and wash our uniforms and other things. You wrote in your last letter that you said that you know just about where I am. Well I am 75 miles northwest of Chi-Chi and only about 4 miles from the Cambodian border. To get back to the Kool-aid if you want you can send 1 or 2 packages with every letter because water gets real sickening. One more thing that would be real nice, if you would get a subscription to the Watertown paper because there isn't very much to read around here and some days get real long if we run out of things to read….We have got about 20 guys in our platoon and I think that ½ of them are negroes but I get along with them real well.

Your son

Ken

Next post: Ken's last letters home

Special Thanks to the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation

It is with great pride and excitement that the Carver County Historical Society announces the redesign of the Veterans' Gallery has begun. It has long been the hope of CCHS to redesign the gallery to concentrate its story on Carver County residents. The goals for the gallery is to serve as a memorial to Carver County servicemen and women who have sacrificed their lives in the armed forces, to acknowledge the military services of Carver County veterans, both living and deceased, to provide basic information about military conflicts in which Carver County has been involved, including their causes, the course of events, and resolution, and to provide specific information about the activities of Carver County residents during military conflicts, including the activities of servicemen and women and life on the home front.

Gallery construction began in January with the painting of the ceilings. Construction of walls began March 30 with volunteer labor supplied by the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation. The cost for the gallery will be approximately $15,000 which will be generated from donations, grants and volunteer time. The Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation has donated approximately $8,000 in volunteer time time, almost half the amount budgeted for the gallery.

Pictured above: A preliminary sketch of the Civil War exhibit as imagined by CCHS Curator Larry Hutchings