WWII exhibit draws a crowd to the museum Saturday
By Loretta Cozart
Last Saturday, Kings Mountain Historical Museum featured a World War II timeline camp on the grounds, featuring various living history displays. Reenactors were present to interact with the museum guests, telling of the U.S. military’s involvement in the European Theater of Operations.
Emphasis was on Airborne Operations (Parachute Infantry Regiment) during World War II. Presented by the 508th Headquarters-HQ Company. This is a living history event, with a focus on how a headquarters company operates, specifically medical, demolition and communications.
In addition, author, Steve Zaley, was on site selling his book “They Are Only Gone If They Are Forgotten”. Zaley is the son of a Paratrooper who served in the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division in World War II who had been involved in 4 combat operations behind enemy lines by parachute insertion in Sicily, Italy, Normandy, Holland.
He spent three decades listening to his father’s stories about fighting in World War II with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He then spent another twenty years writing a full anthology about his father’s experience.
His book is the story about the original members of the 82nd Airborne Division’s, 505th Combat Team, Third Battalion, Headquarters Company from inception in 1942 to the demobilization of high time combat forces at the end of the Second World War. The story follows the men through initial parachute training and how the Combat Team is formed. Being so successful in stateside training the President selects them to become the first division of Paratroopers to enter the war in North Africa.
The 82nd Airborne Division’s, 505th Combat Team become the only Paratroopers to perform four combat operations behind enemy lines by parachute insertion. Then, after the long ground pushes into Germany, the war ended. In a field, those present count heads to see who made it from the beginning to the end of the line and remember those who paid the ultimate price. Only a hand full of the 122 men from the beginning make it to the end of the Second World War. Those who made it from the beginning to the end of the line were changed forever.
The author was contracted to produce the book with the U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Benning Ga. Historian and Provisional Parachute Group Historian.
A steady stream of guests visited the museum throughout the morning and into the mid-afternoon. “I’m very pleased with the turnout today,” said January Costa Director of Kings Mountain Historical Museum. “Several hundred people have been through the exhibit already today, and many of them came from out of state to be here. There is a great deal of interest in WWII history.”
Last Saturday, Kings Mountain Historical Museum featured a World War II timeline camp on the grounds, featuring various living history displays. Reenactors were present to interact with the museum guests, telling of the U.S. military’s involvement in the European Theater of Operations.
Emphasis was on Airborne Operations (Parachute Infantry Regiment) during World War II. Presented by the 508th Headquarters-HQ Company. This is a living history event, with a focus on how a headquarters company operates, specifically medical, demolition and communications.
In addition, author, Steve Zaley, was on site selling his book “They Are Only Gone If They Are Forgotten”. Zaley is the son of a Paratrooper who served in the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division in World War II who had been involved in 4 combat operations behind enemy lines by parachute insertion in Sicily, Italy, Normandy, Holland.
He spent three decades listening to his father’s stories about fighting in World War II with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He then spent another twenty years writing a full anthology about his father’s experience.
His book is the story about the original members of the 82nd Airborne Division’s, 505th Combat Team, Third Battalion, Headquarters Company from inception in 1942 to the demobilization of high time combat forces at the end of the Second World War. The story follows the men through initial parachute training and how the Combat Team is formed. Being so successful in stateside training the President selects them to become the first division of Paratroopers to enter the war in North Africa.
The 82nd Airborne Division’s, 505th Combat Team become the only Paratroopers to perform four combat operations behind enemy lines by parachute insertion. Then, after the long ground pushes into Germany, the war ended. In a field, those present count heads to see who made it from the beginning to the end of the line and remember those who paid the ultimate price. Only a hand full of the 122 men from the beginning make it to the end of the Second World War. Those who made it from the beginning to the end of the line were changed forever.
The author was contracted to produce the book with the U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Benning Ga. Historian and Provisional Parachute Group Historian.
A steady stream of guests visited the museum throughout the morning and into the mid-afternoon. “I’m very pleased with the turnout today,” said January Costa Director of Kings Mountain Historical Museum. “Several hundred people have been through the exhibit already today, and many of them came from out of state to be here. There is a great deal of interest in WWII history.”
