The Highground Veterans Memorial’s New Museum Exhibit to Showcase Stories of WWII USAAF Bomb Crews

Wednesday, December 17th, 2025 -- 11:00 AM

The Highground Museum is highlighting the stories they care for within their collection, donated by veterans and their loved ones.

They realized they had stories and artifacts that provided a unique window into the daily realities of WWII USAAF bomb crews. The Museum will be showcasing these stories (and more from veterans and civilians who supported the USAAF) in the Main Gallery of the Welcome Center until March 1, 2026.

Within the exhibit are the stories of Gerald Hoefert, Richard Ebben, Lester Willner, Loren Longmore, Robert Stith, Joseph Urban Jr, Michael Podobnik, Frederick Meyer, Vivien Truax, William C. McDonald, Ethel Guffy Simpson, Douglas Rezin, Ruby Jermstad, and Lee Jermstad (who died while being held as a POW in the Japanese Camp O’Donnell after surviving the Bataan Death March).

Within this exhibition is a noteworthy exhibit of the story and artifacts brought back by Carl Nordin who was held as a prisoner of war by the Japanese from March 1942-September 1945.

Following a visit to The Highground by USMC Veteran Gile McWain, The Highground was inspired to create and include an educational exhibit on Atomic Veterans alongside the WWII Bomb Crew exhibit.

This is a perfect segue as the WWII B-29 bomb crews and support personnel were part of and witness to the beginning of our nation’s “Atomic Veterans.” Gile, an Atomic Veteran due to his involvement in atomic testing in the 1950s, brought his story and connections to other atomic veterans’ stories.

One such story included the opportunity to speak with Atomic Veteran Keith Kiefer, commander of the National Association of Atomic Veterans (NAAV). As with all The Highground’s events and missions, this exhibit is the culmination of several volunteers aiding the staff.

James Veeshowske donated a large balsa wood model of a B-24 that he constructed, which is proudly on display. Also on display is the returning exhibit of The Highground’s to-scale replica of “Little Boy,” (created by Combat Parts, Inc and Kulas Body Shop) the atomic bomb dropped over Hiroshima, Japan in 1945.

To offset the horror of WWII and the suffering of civilians and military troops due to the atomic testing and bombs, The Highground is exhibiting their “Senbazuru” 1,000 Origami Crane Exhibit.

A senbazuru is a traditional Japanese custom to bring peace, hope and joy. Creating them became popular following the atomic bomb detonations over Japan in 1945 as survivors were aided in creating them to support their healing.

The Highground’s Senbazuru was created by volunteers and led by the efforts of Debbie and Skip Klabon. Helynn Schufletowski, daughter of USAAF Veteran Gerald Hoefert, assisted with many aspects of the exhibit.

This included her father’s story as well as her own story of researching his bomb group and traveling overseas to see where he was stationed at Horham Air Base in England.

The Welcome Center is open daily from 10am-4pm. For more information about the current exhibit, email Theresa at [email protected] or call 715-743-4224.

(Photo courtesy of The Highground via press release)

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.