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Originally opening Memorial Day 2015, “Vietnam, The Real Stories” pays respect to those from the Texas Panhandle area who served in one of the longest and most controversial wars fought by the U.S. military. United States involvement officially began in 1957 and ended in 1975. The goal was to help South Vietnam prevent the spread of communism coming from the North Vietnamese. Unlike troops of other wars, Vietnam Veterans were treated disrespectfully and not given the tribute they rightfully deserved. Freedom Museum has the honor of having several Vietnam veterans who are willing to volunteer at the museum and share their personal stories with students and adults. The veterans featured in this exhibit, whether volunteer or draftee, served without complaint or regret. Each rose above the controversy and made the most out of every experience. Several of the museum static displays were either actually in combat situations in Vietnam, or an exact representation of such. There are also personal items throughout the museum which belong to the Veterans whose stories you will read in this exhibit. This exhibit is a favorite of student field trips as they are allowed to have personal contact with Veterans who actually served in Vietnam. To all the veterans and fallen of the Vietnam War, we express our sincere gratitude for your service. To those who were so brave as to share your experiences, we deeply appreciate your participation. If you have a story you desire to share, please let us know.

On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline, to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which, “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day's end, the Allies gained a foot-hold in Continental Europe which would change the course of world history. The cost in lives on D-Day was high. More than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded, but their sacrifice allowed more than 100,000 Soldiers to begin the slow, hard slog across Europe, to defeat Adolf Hitler's crack troops. Visit Freedom Museum to read the personal accounts of men from the Panhandle area who were part of this great battle.

In October 2018, the submarine periscope which has been in storage off-site for many years was delivered to Freedom Museum through the generous efforts of Coyote Trucking of Pampa. Plans are made to install the periscope in such a way as local students and visiting guests will be able to see exactly how the periscope worked. This installation will require considerable renovations to the museum building. If you would like to be a part of this project, please submit your donations to Freedom Museum USA.

Panhandle Veterans Hall of Honor

Check out this new commercial for Freedom Museum USA

Freedom Museum is excited to announce the arrival of its newest static display and looks forward to finding out about its military history and sharing it with museum visitors. Stop by soon and see all that Freedom Museum has to offer. Thanks to Andy Epps, curator, and Joe Reed with Koyote Trucking for bringing this vehicle to Pampa.

Each year Freedom Museum USA and VFW Post 1657 pay homage to the men and women of the 26 Texas Panhandle Counties who have distinguished themselves in military service to our country. At the close of 2016, the photos and names of 188 inductees grace the walls in the Waters Holt Room of the Freedom Museum in Pampa. Those inductees include one woman, a WASP Pilot from WWII; three Medal of Honor recipients, two Doolittle Raiders, two survivors of the Bataan Death March, one survivor of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, and many from various other noteworthy battles. The inductees were servicemen from wars since the Mexican Campaign of the early 1900s. One was a veteran of the Mexican Campaign, World War I and World War II. There are two from WWI, eighty-three from WWII, fifteen from Korea, twenty-six from Vietnam, four from Iraq and one from Afghanistan (Enduring Freedom). Sixteen were killed in action and twelve suffered the horrors as a Prisoner of War. There are more Purple Heart, Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Silver Star and other commendations than can be counted. The lives of these warriors are not taken lightly and it is with great honor and privilege that they grace the walls of our museum. Each of the inductees have so much more to their stories than can be told on one small page. So, the museum is in the process of digitizing all the information provided on each one of the inductees and making that information available to visitors for review. The Panhandle Veterans Hall of Honor induction ceremony and banquet is held in August of each year at VFW Post 1657. If you would like to nominate someone for consideration or simply share the stories of your military family and friends with Freedom Museum USA, send the museum as much information as possible about that person's time in the military. Please provide a short biography about their life before and after the service, any supporting documentation such as discharge papers, commendations, journals, letters, etc. Also, include a photograph while in the service for use should that person be chosen as an inductee. The submission deadline is April 1st and should you have any questions, please feel free to call the museum at (806) 669-6066

Freedom Museum received its newest static display today due to the gracious donation of the VFW Post in Childress, Texas. Special thanks to VFW Post 1657 and Allen Snapp for delivery, painting and set-up. This US 76mm T-124 Anti-Tank Gun is based on a tank main gun. These types were fitted onto lightweight carriages for airborne service in the Korean War. The T-124 was produced in very limited numbers (less than 100), but it seems that many of this number currently exist as monument guns.

The Vietnam War was one of the longest and most controversial wars fought by the U.S. military. The war began in 1957 and ended in 1975. The goal was to help South Vietnam prevent the spread of communism coming from the North Vietnamese. The U.S. involvement was intended to be minimal, but we continued to send troops as the war dragged on. Many U.S. soldiers who served in Vietnam lost their lives or suffered long-term effects such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and illnesses due to exposure to Agent Orange. Unlike troops of other wars, Vietnam Veterans were treated disrespectfully and not given the tribute they rightfully deserved. The veterans featured in this exhibit, whether volunteer or draftee, served without complaint or regret. Each rose above the controversy and made the most out of every experience. Several of the museum static displays were either actually in combat situations in Vietnam, or an exact representation of such. There are also many personal items throughout the museum which belong to the Veterans whose stories you will read in this exhibit. It is the goal of this exhibit to pay tribute to these Vietnam Heroes because it's time for us to listen to and value their stories. If you have a story you desire to share, please let us know. To all the veterans and fallen of the Vietnam War, we express our sincere gratitude for your service. To those who were so brave as to share your experiences, we deeply appreciate your participation.

Pantex delivered an empty B53 nuclear weapon case to the Freedom Museum in Pampa today. The bomb was dismantled in 2011 by Pantex. It weighs around 10,000 pounds and required many engineers to help dismantle it. The B53 was first put into service in the 60's during the Cold War. At the time it retired in 1997, the bomb was considered the oldest, largest, and most destructive weapon in the U.S. nuclear arsenal. “A unique fact about this weapon is this is one of three in the United States built from an actual stock pile weapon,” said a representative of Pantex. Please come by the museum and see this amazing piece of history.

This very special exhibit opened on Memorial Day and will continue through Veterans' Day 2014. Please make plans to come to the Museum and see all the displays and information regarding the invasion that changed the course of history. For additional pictures, check out our Facebook page: Pampa Freedom

We've been lax in adding updates to the blog so you will notice several posts today. There were many more happenings at the Museum; however, we just added the highlights. The first weeks of 2014 hosted an adventure by the Museum in allowing the use of the Half-Track in the Pure Flix Movie “Revelation Road 3″. It was an adventure for one of our Board Members to spend many days on the set and actually participate in several scenes. We are looking forward to the release of the film in September 2014.

During the Annual Directors Meeting several past Board Members were honored for their years of service. Those able to attend were Thelma Bray, James Baird and Doris Robbins. Other former directors who were unable to attend were Mike Porter, Gene Barber and Lewis Epps.

On May 27, 2013 Memorial Day Services were held at Freedom Museum. This is an annual event presented by VFW Post 1657.

November 8-9, 2012 several Wounded Warriors were honored in Pampa. One of the various activities included a visit to the Freedom Museum USA.

Thanks to such generous donations, the aircraft is in Pampa. Sunday will be the final assembly day.

Thanks to the generous donations of several people, it appears Freedom Museum USA will be a recipient of one of the F105D recently decommissioned in San Antonio. We do not have a projected arrival date; however, will post as soon as it is released. You are still welcome to make contributions to this project or any of the other projects ongoing at the Museum.

We are still waiting for release of the F105d; however, in the meantime Freedom Museum is excited to announce that we are the new home for the M60 Tank which had been in residence on the lawn of the Potter County Courthouse. The Tank arrived on May 21, 2011 and drew a great crowd to welcome it to Pampa. Come down and see it. photograph courtesy of Amarillo Globe News

Freedom Museum USA in Pampa, Texas has a unique opportunity to obtain this aircraft for display prior to the plane being placed into the “graveyard” in Arizona. By bypassing that step, costs of moving this aircraft will be only $33,000 a considerable savings of the costs which would be incurred should it be required to move the plane back from Arizona. Most versions of the F-105 were fighter/bombers and many served as “Wild Weasels” for SAM Missile suppression in North Vietnam during that conflict. These aircraft had several nicknames: Thud, Super Hog, Ultra Hog, and Lead Sled. 397 out of 833 were lost in combat or operational accidents in the Vietnam conflict. This aircraft is in pristine condition and if we are to have it from the graveyard, we need your help! If you are willing to make a donation, please send your check to Freedom Museum USA, 600 N Hobart, Pampa, Texas 79065 and designate the funds for “F105D”. We are a non-profit organization so all contributions are tax deductible. Also, if you know of a great way to raise money for this opportunity, please let us know. And, please share this post with your family and friends. Only by remembering the past can mistakes be prevented in the future.