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I had visited this museum as a kid and enjoyed climbing on the tanks. Having recently visted there as an adult, this museum may be one the best in the world dedicated to a single division, The Big Red One. With elements going all the way back to the revolutionary war, the museum graphically depicts World War I, WWII, Vietnam and even Operation Desert Storm.
Included are mock-ups of a Word War I trench, entering a D-Day landing craft while you watch an eight minute film on the actual D-day, and a small tank park.

For those of you that will never get to Illinois, the excellent website may be the next best thing.

http://www.firstdivisionmuseum.org/museu...fault.aspx

T26E4 Pershing

The only one left of the 25 produced. Only one of these made it to Europe but never saw action

M5 Stuart The main light tank of Operation Husky and all of those great desert scenarios

M24 Chafee

Vietnam Era M48 Patton Tank

Thanks for the great pic's !

A World War II meal with a story....now that is truly a "Happy Meal"

The following information regarding the "Hot Box" is included in a typed note that has been placed in the archival portion of this collection in the Research Center (1999.158.1):
"Hot Box" was in Musette Bag of Captain Thomas E. Bennett, Assistant G-3, 1st Infantry Division, approximately Midnight 31 July 1944 when JU-88's dropped "Grass Cutter" bombs on the Division Command Post near Saint Denis le Gast, France. Musette bag was a pillow on the opened out bedding roll in Captain Bennett's unoccupied pup tent. One "Grass Cutter" landed in front of the tent, exploded and sent fragments 360 degrees through the air, perforating the tent. One fragment pierced the musette bag and embedded itself in the "Hot Box," see 'How to Use' side of box. Still another fragment pierced the pocket of Captain Bennett's field coat and shattered an unopened bottle of British Gin the Captain was saving. The Germans were sometimes thoughtless like that."

Thanks for the interesting info :-)