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Iowa Civil War exhibit features unique stories, artifacts (audio)

April 13, 2012 By

A new exhibit — “Iowa and the Civil War, Nothing But Victory” — opens at the State Historical Society of Iowa Saturday.

In the second of a two-part series, Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson previews of some of the displays and other activities in the exhibit.   Danielson report :67

 

The exhibit features some of the personal stories from the thousands of Iowans who went off to war 150 years ago. Museum history curator, Jack Luftkin, says one of the more interesting tales includes an actual piece from a prison brought back from South Carolina by Iowan Samuel Byers.

Luftkin says they don’t know for sure if it’s true, but the story says Byers cut a whole in a wall with a spoon or fork and was able to escape with another prisoner. After the war he came back and cut the whole out of the wall. Byers was also famous for writing the poem “Sherman’s March to the Sea,” which later was put to music. Another exhibit shows how military hospitals were developed.

“It’s called ‘Hospital Horrors, Civil War Medicine,’ which is almost a contradiction in terms. I mean they didn’t know about how to fight bacteria…all that was coming. Antibiotics weren’t known and heard of, so doctors would operate and they wouldn’t even wash their hands, they didn’t know it was important to do. So we have these horrible surgical kits,” Luftkin explains.

One area focuses on the battles where Iowans played a prominent role. Luftkin pointed out a key border battle that is displayed in a diorama.

“This battle was called Wilson’s Creek, which is a park in Missouri. It was one of the first battles that Iowa units participated in,” Luftkin says. “Even though the Union lost the battle, it saved Missouri from going to the confederacy. And then the battle that kind of ensure that for sure was a battle in Arkansas called Pea Ridge, which was just over the border. An Iowa general led that.”

State Historical Museum director, Susan Kloewer, says the artifacts in the displays are supported by modern technology. “We have a variety of different digital viewers that are exploring the topics a little bit further, so that way you can visualize it as you are viewing the artifacts,” Kloewer says.

There is also audio that includes popular music from the time. It’s not all look and listen, as Kloewer says they have several interactive events planned too. They include making hard tack, and watching Civil War reenactors in the camp life area. The exhibit and the interactive events are all free at the State Historical Building. Find out more here:www.iowahistory.org.

Audio  Dar Danielson previews Civil War exhibit with museum director, curator. 23:00

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Iowa Civil War exhibit set to open Saturday

April 12, 2012 By

The finishing touches are going on new exhibit at the State Historical Society of Iowa that is part of the events marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.     Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson has the first of a two-part preview. Audio 1:18

 State Historical Museum director Susan Kloewer says the exhibit came out of discussions by the Iowa Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee, and they developed a concept and plan to focus purely on Iowa’s role in the war. Iowa probably isn’t the first state that comes to mind when you mention the Civil War, but museum history curator Jack Luftkin says the involvement of our state was substantial.

“Iowa contributed thousands of troops, 50 some units, regiments or utility batteries. And sure paid a dear price, about 8,000 killed, which was a big percentage for the population at that time,” Luftkin says. Luftkin says the exhibit shows several issues from the Iowa perspective.

“It’s not like linear in chronological order…like a book would be. And the subjects are really those that would have been from Iowa’s perspective, what was important to Iowa and Iowans, politically or socially or militarily or economically…” Luftkin explains. “So you start and you walk in and you see what Iowa was like in the 1860′s — sort of get a sense of what would have been found in people’s homes, what kind of jobs they would have had, that kind of thing.”

There’s a variety of the tools of war at the time on display, from cannons, rifles and handguns — to military uniforms and tattered battle flags. Luftkin says all the artifacts are part of the state’s collection. New technology is also featured along with the 150-year-old items, including a large video touch screen where kids can sit and teachers can move through information on various topics.

Kloewer says the idea is to offer an exhibit that people of all ages will enjoy. “Iowa and the Civil War, Nothing But Victory, opens on Saturday April 14th, and along with our exhibition galleries we are also going to be offering a robust calendar of different programmatic offerings, whether it’s a speakers series, lunch and learn series and different hands-on demonstrations,” Kloewer says.

The exhibit is free and the Historical Society is open seven days a week. For more information on the exhibit go to: www.Iowahistory.org.

Filed Under: Human Interest, Military, News, Recreation & Entertainment

Iowa soldier talks about ag mission to Afghanistan

April 9, 2012 By

National Guard units from Iowa and from other farm states are working to help people in Afghanistan rebuild their agricultural sector after decades of war. Captain Peter Shinn, with the Iowa Air National Guard’s 734th Agri-Business Development Team, says during a tour of that nation last year, his team of farmer-soldiers couldn’t make any moves to help the Afghan farmers learn modern techniques unless they had a sizeable escort.

“We could not conduct our mission inside the wire,” Shinn says. “We had to go out and deal with the Afghan people, the Afghan farmers, the Afghan government officials. To do that, in order to leave the forward operating base, we had to bring at least 16 of our closest friends, armed, in four armored vehicles. That was the minimum amount of support for us to go and do anything.”

Shinn says his team of so-called Dirt Warriors worked with the Afghan farmers on a variety of commodities, including corn, wheat and grapes. “Agriculture is extremely important to the economy of Afghanistan,” Shinn says.

“That’s one of the reasons that the National Guard has sent agribusiness development teams over there. It’s because if the life of the average Afghan is going to improve, they’re going to have to do better in terms of agricultural production and agriculture value.” During their ten-month deployment, Shinn says the National Guard members found the Afghans were more appreciative of a “show-me” mentality when it came to ag techniques, like how using a small tractor could be much more effective than manually planting.

Shinn says, “We had to build some demonstration farms that we controlled so we could actually have place for them to go and learn.”

 The goals of the mission included helping the Afghans learn to better provide for their families — and eventually their country — while maintaining their sense of dignity and self worth. The team of Iowa Guardsmen also included: soil specialists, veterinary staff and water specialists.

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Legislators mark 150th anniversary of “The Battle of Shiloh”

April 7, 2012 By

Three state legislators took time this past week to mark the sesquicentennial of an event that has come to showcase the heroism of Iowans. Senator Rob Hogg said “The Battle of Shiloh” is an important part of Iowa’s military history.

“It is the battle in which more Iowans fought and died than in any other battle in any other war,” Hogg says.

Over 6600 Iowa soldiers were engaged in the battle and more than 2400 of them were killed.

On April 6th and 7th of 1862 Confederate soldiers staged a surprise attack in southern Tennessee on Union troops under the command of General Grant. Iowa soldiers helped staged a now-famous defense in “the Hornet’s Nest” on the first day to stave off the surging Confederates. It gave Union forces time to regroup and win the battle on the second day. Representative Nate Willems told his colleagues this week that if it hadn’t been for those Iowans, the Union may not have had its first major win in the west. Iowa had 11 regiments in the Battle of Shiloh.

“We are who we are because of those who came before us,” said Senator Dennis Black.

There are a dozen monuments on the battlefield in Tennessee that honor the Iowa soldiers who fought in The Battle of Shiloh. Black cited the bravery of Edward Spaulding, a soldier from Sioux City who despite a wounded right shoulder and a shattered left hand, led a spirited charge against the Confederates at Shiloh.

“Edward Spaulding came back to Sioux City following the war. He was presented the Congressional Medal of Honor,” Black said. “He became very well-known in the Sioux City area. He, personally, with his wealth that he derived from railroading, banking and from dry goods stores, built the water system for Sioux City.”

In 1875 — 10 years after the Civil War ended — Edward and his brother, Albert, started the Spaulding Sporting Goods Company in Chicago, where Albert Spaulding lived.

Filed Under: Military, News, Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Iowa pilots carry special cargo on duty over Afghanistan

April 5, 2012 By

High-tech laser-guided weapons are standard equipment on the F-16′s flown by Iowa Air National Guard soldiers on active duty in Afghanistan, but their flights also include some special cargo.

Staff Sergeant Andrea Jones says the U.S.A. flag flying program allows soldiers to request a ride along for Old Glory in the military aircraft on patrols.

“What happens is they submit those flags to the base flag program, from there, they can have their flag either flown in an F-16, a C-130, they can even do it in the unmanned aircraft and even the helicopters. It depends on the flight that the person submitting the flag would like to have their flag flown in,” Jones says.

Jones oversees the flag program for the 124th Fighter Squadron pilots who are part of the 132nd Air Wing based in Des Moines. She prepares the flags that ride along when the Iowa pilots kick in the afterburners and head for the sky.

Staff Sergeant Andrea Jones.

“We send them up with the pilots in a bag and they go ahead and put those in the cockpit with them and fly those over the course of their mission. And when they bring them back, I process those flags, create flag certificates, and then return them to the base flag program where the submitter is able to pick them back up,” Jones explains.

Squadron Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Travis Acheson of West Des Moines, says they are proud to carry along the Stars Stripes. “The pilots love doing that, we stack the cockpit full of American flags and we take ‘em up with us when we rage around the skies of Afghanistan. And then when we come back, we turn the flags in,” Atcheson says.

Atcheson says the soldiers are pleased to be able to give the flags to those on the ground who support them while they are in harm’s way.

Atcheson says,” They can have that as a memento of what we’re doing over here and the position of freedom that we’re here to enforce.”

Jones says the Iowa pilots take up an average of 50 to 75 flags on each mission, and near the end of March had already flown over 300 flags high above Afghanistan. Jones and Acheson spoke with reporters recently from their base in Kanduhar.

The 300 some Iowa Air Guard soldiers will wrap up their mission and come home later this spring.

Photos courtesy of the Iowa National Guard

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Senator Grassley receives complaints about Iowa City veterans hospital

April 3, 2012 By

Complaints are surfacing that veterans are being mistreated at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Iowa City.  Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s been forwarded a half dozen complaints about alleged problems at the VA hospital and he’s now calling for an investigation that focuses on reported staffing issues at the facility.

Grassley says, “We’ve heard problems of bad administration and favoritism, but these come from six people that I legitimately and respectfully call whistleblowers, although until we get into it, we don’t know the legitimacy and accuracy of the complaints.”

Grassley, a Republican, says he routinely gets whistleblower-type complaints about alleged wrongdoing in government agencies, but he adds, rarely do they come from Iowa. He says he’s putting this report about the Iowa City VA through the proper channels.

Grassley says, “I turned it over to the inspector general at the VA and until he gives his report, I won’t know about the legitimacy of it and then, if it is legitimate, what actions will be taken because we will probably rely entirely on the inspector general’s report.”

The complaints say morale at the hospital is terrible and describe the working environment there as “vindictive.” Grassley says the complaints merit a comprehensive investigation to look into what he calls “serious allegations.”

Grassley says, “I think that it’s absolutely necessary for me when you have indications that veterans are not being served the way that they deserve to be served.” The Iowa City VA extends its services to about 185,000 veterans in eastern Iowa and western Illinois.

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Military, News, Politics & Government

Marine with Iowa connection introduces his autobiography

April 2, 2012 By

Benjamin Busch

A man who represents an unusual combination of careers will be making one stop in Iowa tonight to promote his debut book. In addition to being an author, Benjamin Busch has acted in several television shows, he’s an acclaimed photographer and filmmaker, plus, he served two combat tours of Iraq as an infantry officer with the U.S. Marines.

It seems the 43-year-old Busch has already succeeded at several careers. “People like to say that but I consider them all interdependent and intertwined,” Busch says. “The Marine Corps has informed my writing and my acting and, in many ways, my disposition, and my art has informed my ability to be in some ways a better, more observant Marine.”

Busch says his endless curiosity and fascination with his surroundings provided a heightened awareness in Iraq to see things others might have missed. Busch is beginning a nationwide tour touting his just-released memoir, called “Dust To Dust.” The Purple Heart recipient says it’s not anything like a typical autobiography.

“It goes against the conventional standard which begins somewhere in youth and travels through a relatively clean narrative arc in chronological order,” he says. “I reorganized it to replicate, in some ways, the way we remember. Each chapter is a scene, an elemental scene that was important to me in my youth.”

Part of his youth was spent in Iowa City. His father, novelist Frederick Busch, was one of the leaders of the University of Iowa’s writers’ workshop in the late 1970s. The younger Busch spent some of his formative years in the eastern Iowa city, though the book is frequently set in his first home.

“Each chapter begins somewhere in my youth, usually in the mid- to late-70s when I was eight to ten years old in a small, rural town in upstate New York, and then progressing along that theme, following that theme like memories often do, to sometime later in my life, and then resetting.”

Busch has played roles on TV shows including, “The Wire,” “The West Wing,” “Homicide” and “Generation Kill.” He’ll be reading passages from his book and taking questions tonight at 7 o’clock at Prairie Lights Books in Iowa City.

See more about the book here:www.harpercollins.com/books/Dust-Benjamin-Busch/?isbn=9780062014849

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