National WW II Museum

    After a relaxing couple of days following Christmas Eve, we zipped into New Orleans again to visit the National WW II Museum. This is a very well laid out and informative presentation of both the European and Pacific Theaters of operations. We started off by seeing the movie presentation, “Beyond All Boundaries”. This is billed as a 4-D experience and it is that and more. The film, hosted by Tom Hanks, presents a moving synopsis of the war from Dec. 7th, 1941 to VJ day. Personal comments and remembrances from soldiers are voiced by the likes of Kevin Bacon, John Goodman, Brad Pitt, and Gary Sinise. You are surrounded by sights, smells, and sounds of the battles. Your chair often literally vibrates with the action on the screen. I would be surprised if anyone leaves the theater without an appreciation for what was accomplished and the cost to all involved!

    The second floor of the exhibit building consists of a Pacific Theater timeline with displays, photos, and artifacts. One of the striking artifacts displayed was a copy of FDR’s Dec. 8th address to Congress. It is a first draft that has editing marks and changes made by the President. For instance, he changed the original text “... a date that will live in World History...” to the now famous “...a date that will live in infamy...”. It makes for fascinating reading as I have heard the address hundreds of times. It’s kind of like reading the actual Gettysburg Address. 

    The Third floor is devoted to the European Theater with a lot of emphasis on the Normandy Invasion and it’s immediate aftermath. Weapons used and uniforms worn by both sides are on display. 

Full size aircraft that were instrumental to fighting and winning the war hang from the ceiling. Along the wall to the right are the Colors of all of the Divisions that fought in the war. 

    Why is the WW II museum located in New Orleans? Well, at the start of the war, a small boat builder, Andrew Higgins, petitioned the Government and proposed a radical new troop and supply movement ship. Eventually this ship became known as the Higgins Boat and was a major mover of troops and supplies in all theaters of the War effort. His boat manufacturing facilities were in New Orleans. None other than Gen. Eisenhower said that “Andrew Higgins... is the man that won the war for us.”

Three models of different derivations of the Higgins Boats. 

Looking up the ramp of a Higgins Boat. 

I could have spent days here, but limited it to a few hours. I highly recommend a visit if you are in the area and I dare you to come away unmoved!