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News & EventsMineral Wells, TX
May 20 , 2004
[PRINTABLE VERSION - PDF]Museum Acquires Additional Artifacts
In 1970 SP4 Kenny Haines drove 2-1/2 ton trucks for the 79th Maintenance Company (U.S. Army) in Long Binh, Vietnam. On May 16, 2004, Kenny was reunited with one of the old trucks, like the one he drove in Vietnam, as he drove the two and a half ton -- "Deuce-and-A-Half" -- truck from the GSA Equipment Facility in Fort Worth to Mineral Wells, Texas to become a part of the National Vietnam War Museum to be built in Parker County.
JIM MESSINGER ACCEPTS TRANSFER OF THE M35A2 FROM GREG CONN OF THE TEXAS BUILDING AND PROCUREMENT COMMISSION.
THE NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR MUSEUM TREASURER KENNY HAINES PREPARES TO DRIVE THE NEWLY ACQUIRED DEUCE-AND-A-HALF FROM FORT WORK THE MINERAL WELLS.The truck is an M35A2 built in 1968 and could have been in Vietnam with Kenny. The vehicles historical records will be researched by the museum staff to see if a link can be discovered. Regardless of the specific truck’s history, the vehicle is identical to the trucks that Kenny drove for a year in Vietnam. We often see stories about pilots reunited with aircraft they flew in combat, but soldiers on the ground had much the same relationship with their equipment. Naming rights, via the truck’s bumper markings will be offered to interested units organizations. Organizations representing any branch of the service that used the M35A2 in Vietnam are eligible to bid on the naming rights.
The National Vietnam War Museum project was developed by a group of local Vietnam helicopter pilots, but it is not a helicopter museum. The museum will be an educational facility designed to teach future generations the lessons of the Vietnam War and era. The mission of the museum is primarily to promote an understanding of the Vietnam era, while at the same time honoring those who served our nation during those contentious times. It is a $25 million project and the board of directors is in the early phases of fundraising. On July 3, 2004 the museum site will be dedicated as a part of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association national reunion. The reunion is at the Adams Mark Hotel in Dallas and the pilots and their wives will be bussed to Mineral Wells for the dedication ceremony. The ceremony will begin promptly at 11 a.m.
The ceremony is open to the public, however attendance is limited due to available parking, so advance reservations are necessary. There is a $10 per person charge which includes a BBQ brisket lunch. Anyone interested in attending should contact the National Vietnam War Museum at P.O. Box 146, Mineral Wells, TX 76068. Send checks payable to the National Vietnam War Museum, or send credit card number and expiration date. Receipts for tickets will be provided by return USPS mail. Tickets will be issued at the gate in exchanged for the receipt. Gate opens at 10 a.m. There will be old and new military equipment on display including Kenny's truck.
