I have been interested in the World Wars all my life. There's just so much out there that I had to narrow my focus. After studying World War I for several years, I switched my focus to World War II. Since my father was a combat veteran of World War II and served in the Pacific Theater, and because it seemed that everyone was interested in Hitler and the Holocaust, I concentrated on the Pacific Theater. That is when I was intrigued by something.
Many of the books and most of the movies and other media seemed to concentrate on the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps when dealing with the Pacific Theater. Since my father was in the Army, I was a bit disappointed but also interested in WHY. While I studied naval battles and Marine Corps actions and have the utmost respect for those branches, I wanted to learn more about the, relatively speaking, unsung role of the Army in the Pacific Theater. I have been amazed at what I have discovered over the years!
Long before I earned my degree in History, I began collecting "antiques" from World War II. As a child, they were actually play things, but as I got older and became a researcher, the artifacts had a new meaning for me. To honor my father, I began collecting items that a combat soldier might carry into battle. I later became a History teacher and decided I would like to show my artifacts to students. From that point, things really began to take off. For years, I collected small pieces here and there...looked at them...then put them away in boxes. When I finally had my first opportunity to show a few things, even I was surprised to find how much I had.
Since then, my "World War II Day" has occurred at several schools almost annually. My philosophy is two part: FIRST - students are more likely to learn when there is movement, touch, site, sound, and smell and when the emotions are brought into play. SECOND - students are more interested in History when History DOES something. Realizing that touching slowly deteriorates my things, I allow students to respectfully handle almost everything. What is the point in saving it and having it if people are not truly enjoying it and learning from it?
This site is dedicated mostly to my interest in World War II, but I am also using it to provide my History classes with additional information about the World War II Project involving students.
_
Many of the books and most of the movies and other media seemed to concentrate on the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps when dealing with the Pacific Theater. Since my father was in the Army, I was a bit disappointed but also interested in WHY. While I studied naval battles and Marine Corps actions and have the utmost respect for those branches, I wanted to learn more about the, relatively speaking, unsung role of the Army in the Pacific Theater. I have been amazed at what I have discovered over the years!
Long before I earned my degree in History, I began collecting "antiques" from World War II. As a child, they were actually play things, but as I got older and became a researcher, the artifacts had a new meaning for me. To honor my father, I began collecting items that a combat soldier might carry into battle. I later became a History teacher and decided I would like to show my artifacts to students. From that point, things really began to take off. For years, I collected small pieces here and there...looked at them...then put them away in boxes. When I finally had my first opportunity to show a few things, even I was surprised to find how much I had.
Since then, my "World War II Day" has occurred at several schools almost annually. My philosophy is two part: FIRST - students are more likely to learn when there is movement, touch, site, sound, and smell and when the emotions are brought into play. SECOND - students are more interested in History when History DOES something. Realizing that touching slowly deteriorates my things, I allow students to respectfully handle almost everything. What is the point in saving it and having it if people are not truly enjoying it and learning from it?
This site is dedicated mostly to my interest in World War II, but I am also using it to provide my History classes with additional information about the World War II Project involving students.
_
