Takes a mountain of a man, and Pete Minix has collected a mountain of archives at the Gen. Patton Museum filled with over 400 stories of US Military Veterans and others who experienced the Korean and World War 2 first hand.
A couple months ago I flew my grandfather to the General George S. Patton Memorial Museum in Chiriaco Summit, California which has a small public runway 1000 feet from the entrance. My grandfather served under Gen. Patton in WW2 and thought it would be great for his 91st birthday. The museum is nestled at the base of the Eagle Mountains where Gen. Patton chose to set up a camp to train soldiers for the North African Invasion.
The museum is filled with countless vehicles, weapons, uniforms, medals, and many amazing showcases of World War 2 including various belongings to the General himself. There is even displays for the Korean War, Vietnam and the Gulf War. There is also a 20 minute video of the General and the history of the camp. A must for US Military World War 2 history and nostalgia.
While we were there the museum general manager, Mike Pierson, took notice of the 91 yr old WW2 Veteran touring the displays. He introduced himself and told us of a complimentary service the museum provides to families of those wishing to have their Veteran loved ones archived at the museum. I soon learned of Pete Minix, a museum board member and the invaluable volunteer work he provides for those looking to learn more about the men and women that served.
Pete was not at the museum that day but later he would give me a call and begin the process of documenting my grandfather. I was impressed with the level of commitment Mr. Minix takes to gather the info to create each individual’s archive. Pete and I spoke and soon he was interviewing my grandfather and documenting. Being a part of this and learning more about what he does for the museum it dawned on me that someone needs to interview Mr. Minix and honor what he does and the thousands of hours he volunteers to help families discover their US Veteran heritage.
I asked Pete if he would be interested and he agreed. He seemed very modest about what he does for folks and I looked forward to learning more. We set a date to come and interview him. It was the beginning of April and the weather was not cooperating. Each day we scheduled I awoke to Extreme High Winds alerts or Severe Marine layers and of course “May Grey”. For weeks we were stymied by Mother Nature. After almost 8 weeks of crazy southern California springtime “El Nino” weather there was a break in the clouds!
June 5th the weather cleared up for another crazy weather episode with a record high heat wave but it was clear and calm enough to fly! I could only think of the days leading up to D-Day and how the US had to wait for a break in the weather to being able to make the campaign successful. Finally I would be able to meet Mr. Minix in person. When I arrived we met at the local Coffee House that has a pretty good breakfast restaurant next to the airstrip and museum. He was wearing a Red, White and Blue flannel shirt and a USMC cap adorned with various pins. He stood up to shake my hand. Being 6’3″ myself I’m not used to having to look up to folks, but he was surely a couple inches taller and for 63 years old a mountain of a man.
He was inked with tattoo art on each exposed arm and leg of various Veterans and cool shark images. Mr. Minix was also a Veteran reaching the rank of Sergeant with the USMC after 5 years in. He also served with the National Guard for another 3. He started this project 16 years ago and have documented nearly 400 Veterans.
We ate breakfast and talked about his 18 years dedicating time and energy to help anyone who requests the archiving service. He joked about his “hunt and peck” typing and bemused by anecdotes of people who actually don’t care about finding out about their own heritage. I can’t imagine why someone wouldn’t accept Mr. Minix’s generous offer to take the countless hours and many strokes of the keyboard to manifest these individual Veteran archives to be kept for future posterity.
Once the museum opened at 9:30am we went over and he took me back to the archive room where he kept the volumes of Veterans he has researched and data based. Each one meticulously organized and thoughtfully outlined he pulled out one in particular that he wished to share. It began with an Auschwitz survivor. As a boy of 14 he was captured by the German Army and forced to wear a yellow Star of David. He lost his entire family to the camps and his parents were put to death by the Nazis. Just surviving is defiance to tyranny!
This truly framed the reason on which World War 2 was fought…To defend freedom and defeat those who wish to take it away.
The volume contained another story of an US Army Veteran that jumped on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers and survived! There were pictures of him shaking hands with President Truman receiving the Medal of Honor and miraculously a picture of him today in uniform. Incredible acts of bravery with no regard of one’s own self to save others in harm’s way. These people are the true heroes of history that made a difference that may have allowed someone else’s loved one to return home.
The next was another Medal of Honor winner that served in the 1st Marine Division in Peleliu. My other grandfather was also there and we wondered if they perhaps knew one another. Seeing the picture of the Marine in the book washed over me as I thought of my grandfather’s experience in the South Pacific. These pages came to life as they turned revealing countless stories and documents of each of these amazing individual’s stories and accomplishments during the most darkest years of world history.
Amazing stories of amazing people against amazing odds defeating Fascism in Europe.
The volume was about 5 inches thick and each page protected by plastic covers contained only 8 people. The amount of care and handling to each of these works is monumental. As the pages kept turning I was blown away by the depth and scope of the entire archive and how much time and effort he must have made to assemble this magnitude of documentation. A treasure to the General George Patton Museum providing an ever expanding wealth of history for those that care enough to discover its riches.
If you know anyone that may be interested or perhaps a family member that has had a loved one serve in World War 2 or Korea do yourself a favor and reach out to Mr. Minix to give you the care and appreciation our Veterans deserve in remembering the incredible testaments in the never ending pursuit of Freedom. It was my honor to have been able to share this time and learn more about the selfless endeavors of Pete Minix in bringing this extensive archive of heroes and those that paid the ultimate price to ensure our future and posterity of America! God Bless America and all those that have served to keep her flag flying high!
Happy 241st Birthday US Army! Without them we wouldn’t have a country, the ability to defend it, our way of life and the ability to bring freedom to others who deserve it! The United States Amy since its days as the Continental Army has been at the forefront of America’s birth and has fought in her many wars and battles securing our way of life from anyone who would threaten it.
On June 14th, 2016 the United States Army will celebrate its 241st Birthday and Vision-Strike-Wear.Com will be there to honor and celebrate it with them.
At the beginning of the United States when the American Revolution erupted, the rebellious English colonies did not have in their possession an army in the modern sense or even a rag tag version of one. Instead, the American revolutionaries had at their hands an amateur force of colonial troops, thrown together from various New England militia companies. There was no unified chain of command, and although at the time Artemas Ward then of Massachusetts maintained authority by semi-informal agreement, officers from other colonies were under no obligation to obey his orders. The American volunteers were led, equipped, armed, paid for, and supported by the colonies from which they were raised. It was the only way they could field any type or form of force as disorganized as it was.
It was then in the spring of 1775, this American army was about to full attention and would summarily confront British troops near Boston, Massachusetts. The odds were heavily weighted against the colonists. Quickly, the revolutionaries had to re-organize their forces immediately if they were to have half a chance against Britain’s well-seasoned professionals. Recognizing the need to enlist the support of all of the American seaboard colonies, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress appealed to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia to assume authority for the New England army.
Reportedly, at American forefather, John Adams’ request, Congress voted to “adopt” the Boston troops on June 14, although there is no written record of this decision. Also on this day, Congress then resolved to form a committee “to bring in a draft of rules and regulations for the government of the Army,” and voted $2,000,000 in 1775 dollars a grand sum indeed, to support the forces around Boston, and those at New York City. A change that would make a huge difference in a successful war against the British.
It was then, Congress authorized the formation of 10 companies of expert riflemen from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, which were directed to march to Boston to support the New England militia. These were the first troops Congress agreed to pay from its own funds, and later became the 1st Continental Regiment.
George Washington then received his appointment as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army the next day, and formally took command at Boston on July 3, 1775.
In honor of these men that stood against a seasoned and well trained British army and the development of an American Army that would defy all odds against them and win and determine the unification of the American colonies and the American Independence from Britain we honor the US Army on its 241st Birthday.
Vision-Strike-Wear.Com had developed several new US Army coin in keeping with the one of the US Army’s mottos of Leading From The front by designing several new coins with the original and unique artwork only a leader in US military coins can offer.
Serious US Army coins for serious collectors of the highest quality military coins in the industry! Each of these highly detailed, artisan crafted US military coins are deeply cut from 4mm thick metals on a 2 inch diameter coin which is among the highest quality of its type in the military coin marketplace. The US Army, its Soldiers, past and present deserve the very best in 3D Army coins and we aim to make it happen for them!
US Army Veteran Pfc Ernest Frost turned 91 this March and I (his grandson) made plans to fly him to Chiriaco Summit where the General George Patton Museum resides for a walk down memory lane- World War 2 style.
The museum was founded in 1988 to commemorate General Patton and the tank training base camp he forge in the southern deserts of California for they resembled the terrain of North Africa where they soon would be deploying.
Pfc. Ernie Frost stands next to Gen Patton’s bust and portrait. He served under Patton in the 7th Army, 3rd Infantry Division.
Grandpa tells me about the types of rifles he used during the war.
Being a scout his main weapon was a 1903 Springfield Sniper rifle having over 20 confirm kills.
Various games and products from the era celebrating the Battle of the Bulge.
The updated bazooka. Grandpa had a much smaller version.
P08 and P38 Walther pistols.
Looking at the Nazi Luftwaffe helmet along with may other he remembers putting holes in them with his rifle;)
He had many stories of Junker JUs and BF109 pilots strafing them from above. HE said the sound they made when the aircraft began to dive on them was unforgettable.
The BAR Browning Automatic Rifle. Had fired in training but never used in combat.
Lugar P08 9mm. Grandpa got one of these off a dead German soldier.
Grandpa said they drove one of these around Strasbourg after curfew with a 50 cal to take out any lights that weren’t supposed to be on. Martial Law was in effect and the Germans were told to follow the rules or get there asses kicked.
Didn’t take long for museum manager, Mike Pierson, to notice grandpa wearing his US Army uniform from 1945.
Pfc Ernie Frost points out the Bronze Star award which he received for his actions during the Colmar Pocket Campaign.
Nazi dress uniform daggers and stilettos. The German Army definitely loved their blades.
Walking through the outdoor portion of the museum he reflects on memories of engaging these metal monsters. Once he was asked by his Lt. to take a bazooka and attack a Tiger tank wedged in an intersection. The guns we still able to rotate so grandpa quickly instructed the the Lt to go do it himself if thinks he can. He knew it was a suicide mission to try to attack a Tiger tank with one of our old bazookas. Not a chance.
After the museum manager, Mike Pierson, discovered grandpa he quickly included him in the presentation for the patrons that afternoon.
He asked him questions and described all the decorations on his uniform.
Grandpa was enjoying all of his attention and discussion about his participation in the greatest conflict of all time with the one of the greatest Americans in history!
Sometimes it is just plain time to raise the black sail and slit some throats. With the world filled with sea going Pirates and smuggler attempting to pollute America with their filth it is the United States Navy they should fear. They have the ability to fight them in all manners from above, on the sea and below it. They can board, cut down and terminate with conviction anyone who would take hostages, threaten a US Navy warship or attempt to attack a friend of ally of the United States on the high seas. Not a good idea for those who desire long life. The US Navy will cut you down.
As such it goes without saying that the professional expertise from the training its Sailors receive to the execution of its powers that the world’s seas and oceans will now and forever be protected and its sea lanes will be open and free of pirates and any who threaten safe passage.
The Jolly Roger USN Rating shirt was designed and printed in the honor of the US Navy and because it displays the skulls and crossbones, wings, crossed tridents, wind, sea, storm and porthole all associated with the US Navy once can immediately connect with the US Navy as a veteran or active duty Sailor alike and understood to the their hear that no one controls the sea except them because the Sea Is Ours!
