Museum Notes
Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum press releases

New Book in Gift Shop includes Audie

In the Footsteps of Valor by Henry Bodden is a brand new book we are offering in the Gift Shop. This 220-page hardback is a personal pictorial diary consisting of trips to Holland, Israel, Jordan, Europe, the Philippines, Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Guam and Iwo Jima. Using WWII photos from the National Archives and other sources as "then" photos, author Henry Bodden would then find these sites and photograph them as “now” photos for comparison.

As a youngster, two war movies formulated Bodden’s interests in history and WWII: Sands of Iwo Jima with John Wayne and To Hell and Back with Audie Murphy. An avid WWII movie fan, Bodden became hooked on the history of the war; as an adult, he visited dozens of previously wartorn areas where so many Americans fought and sacrificed for our freedom.

However, the book is not just a collection of photographs depicting the history of WWII. Bodden was able to meet and photograph scores of WWII veterans and hear their stories. The inclusion of these photographs and stories make this book very personal. (One of these veterans many of you might recognize was our own Harry Thompson!)

About 12% of the book is devoted to Audie Murphy - his time in the military, his homecoming, the Hollywood years, and his death. There is even a "plug" for Audie Days and the Museum!

This beautiful book retails for $29.95 and is signed by the author. If you wish to have a more personal autograph, Henry will be here for Audie Murphy Days in April.

After much discussion, the Audie Days committee has decided to change the date of Audie Murphy Days.

This year the two-day salute to the military will be held on April 20-21.

“The end of June is just too hot to be able to have much outside,” said Executive Director Susan Lanning. “An example is the 1st Cavalry Horse Division from Fort Hood. The last time they came, they nearly cancelled as the temperatures were 100 degrees and that is just so hard on the horses.”

This year we are also planning to change the event’s format a bit to entice more people to come. The committee--Larry Winters, Robert Davis, Barbi Weaver, Bernie Herlt and Jimmy James--has already had one meeting and has come up with some potentially exciting ideas for this new format. As things are finalized, the newsletter will keep you updated!

  Hall of Heroes Wing

The Hall of Heroes wing is now open at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum. Approximately 3,700 sq. ft. of exhibition space has been added which has been a great opportunity to expand the military history section of the Museum. These dynamic exhibits cover the Civil War up through the Vietnam War with a special emphasis on WWII and Audie Murphy, the most decorated combat soldier of WWII, who was a native of Hunt County, Texas.

Experience WWI warfare by walking through a mock-up of a trench hearing the battle sounds, feeling the percussion of gunfire as the floor vibrates and watching film footage of that time period. Discover the experiences Audie Murphy went through during WWII as he fought with the 3rd Infantry Division through the bloody beachhead of Anzio, Italy where he earned his first Bronze Star, over to France and up to Holtzwhir where he earned the Medal of Honor.

Listen to a soldier and his wife reading letters they both just received from each other in a diorama taking place during the Battle of the Bulge.

Discover what other fascinating things veterans of Hunt County achieved during their time in the service.

The Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10a.m.-5p.m. and admission is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors (60+), military veterans, and college students, and $2 for children 18 and under.

For additional information contact the Museum at 903-450-4502.