Operation Insight
Every Veteran Has a Story, They Can Share It Here Brought to you by the Mid America Veterans Museum in O’Fallon, Missouri, this podcast facilitates stories of service and sacrifice as told by veterans. Marvel as military history is brought to life through firsthand accounts and insightful conversations. Operation Insight delivers compelling interviews with servicemembers both past and present, veteran advocates, and friends of our museum who remain dedicated to preserving the legacy of our heroes. Tune in as we explore stories of military life, the personal side of sacrifice, and how service continues beyond the battlefield. All are welcome and all are invited to be inspired and carry the legacy forward. 🎖️Listen. Honor. Remember.🎖️
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Episodes
Tuesday May 10, 2022
Tuesday May 10, 2022
Welcome to the Dog Tag, Episode 2 of our inaugural season. This week’s show features exciting stories of local veterans told by two of the founding members of the museum. We will walk you through some of the exhibits and stories, starting with World War I through the present day.
These are real stories of local heroes who served our country. Renee and Jim explain the rich history of the county. As you enter the museum, you see a replica of a War of 1812 Fort (Zumwalt). Back then, St. Charles County was the “wild west,” complete with Indian uprisings. One of our famous early settlers was Daniel Boone. The county was very conflicted during the Civil War, with both sides trying to gain control.
In the World War I exhibit, you see many handwritten letters and documents along with “sweetheart art.” Soldiers would craft and shape empty shell casings or parts of enemy planes into jewelry, picture frames, or a vase for parents or loved ones.
We have a large photograph on the wall in our Korea exhibit of the landings at Inchon Bay. The photograph shows U.S. ships and supplies stuck in the mud as the tide drastically shifted out. You’ll see the story about PFC Albert Koch of the 1st Cavalry who boarded a Japanese Ferry, the Toya Maru, and was hit by a typhoon with 118 miles an hour winds. The ship sank with more than 1,000 people losing their lives. Of the 57 Americans on board, including soldiers, women, and children, only one soldier survived. These stories in Korea remind us, we were fighting “Mother Nature” as well as the North Koreans and Chinese.
United States Marine Corporal James Club and his wife Judy exchanged over 500 letters while he was in Vietnam, mostly on pink paper. While James safely returned home to Judy, many friends were not so lucky. Jim explains his feelings through his letters.
The art of letter writing is vanishing. Through letters, we learn, the veteran’s hopes and fears. We preserve the veterans’ stories through their letters.
You’ll read the story of Combat Medic Master SGT Matthew Sims, who earned three Purple Hearts on one Deployment. You’ll also read letters from thankful parents and fellow soldiers thanking him for the opportunity to raise a family because of Matt’s devotion to saving lives.
Visit our website, sccvetsmuseum.org, for more of these and other stories. We hope you enjoy this podcast.
Tuesday May 03, 2022
Tuesday May 03, 2022
Welcome to The Dog Tag, a podcast by the St. Charles County Veterans Museum.
Our podcast airs each Tuesday at 6:00 PM. Our museum began with one man’s dream to honor veterans. Private Ralph Barrale, a World War II veteran, who landed on Utah Beach on D-Day, fought at the Battle of the Bulge and was among the first troops to enter the Dachau Concentration Camp. Ralph felt it was important to honor veterans of all wars and share their stories.
Ralph believed, “No one is ever gone as long as someone has memories of them.” Our museum is unique in that it tells the stories of local men and women who served. We honor them by preserving and sharing their stories. This week, we’ll share the beginnings of the museum on our 3rd anniversary, along with major projects and plans for 2022.