Lazarus Guestbook

James W. Draper

Tue, 13 Jan 2015 20:27:28 +0000

3. It would be an honor to meet with any veterans from the Mayaguez Incident / Battle of Koh Tang who decide to visit our museum. All are welcome. It would also be my great privilege to provide a tour of our facility to those of you who make the trek. Please let me know ahead of time if you expect a sizable group, so I can properly accommodate.

4. Please do not try to retrieve objects you donated to other museums in order to donate them to us. It places that museum and us in a very awkward position. Moreover, military museums may prove to be a more suitable repository for your materials.

5. We evaluate all artifact donations to ensure they meet our mission and to ensure we can properly preserve them. Storage space is limited. Accepted donations consist of a transfer of ownership of the materials to us with no strings attached. We do not guarantee exhibit of items donated. When you visit a museum, what you see on display represents just a fraction of that institution’s collection. Like most museums, our mission focuses on collecting, preserving, and interpreting historic materials for future generations, not just exhibiting.

James W. Draper

Tue, 13 Jan 2015 20:11:35 +0000

The length of this message requires me to post it in increments. Here's the first part:

I hope the New Year finds you well. I want to clarify a few points to help individuals and/or groups determine their plans for the 40th anniversary of the Mayaguez Incident / Battle of Koh Tang and to avoid any potential misunderstandings:

1. Our institution, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, will mark the occasion with lobby displays in our museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan and our library in Ann Arbor, Michigan. These displays will consist of materials from our collection. We also plan to release a website on the subject to highlight further artifacts, photos, and documents from our collection.

2. We are offering our museum as a destination, not as an event. No special event or programming has been planned for the 40th. I cannot guarantee anything will be planned. We offer exhibits on the life and times of Gerald R. Ford, as well as a current temporary exhibit on the history of aircraft carriers. We do lease space for special events, but that must be scheduled through our events staff and it is regulated by federal facility guidelines.

Ernest Manning

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 03:08:06 +0000

Was stationed at NKP,Thailand on May ,15 1975... Was a Fuels Specialist and actually refueled the HH53 that went down just north of the base..Proud of all the brave men and women who participated in that recovery effort and God's grace to those who gave all...

Navarro

Wed, 31 Dec 2014 21:28:12 +0000

Belated Merry X-Mas and a happy New year to all Golf 2/9, to all veterans involved in the Mayaguez recovery, and military families who have supported the cause for freedom. I salute you all. Belated Merry X-mas n new year Lt. Keith.

Dan Spahn

Sat, 27 Dec 2014 14:03:46 +0000

To all the Brothers I met in Branson, may 2015 bring you health and happiness!

Dan Hoffman

Wed, 24 Dec 2014 19:03:41 +0000

Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all in the Koh Tang/MAYAGUEZ Veterans Organization.

Bud "Buddy" williams

Thu, 18 Dec 2014 15:58:51 +0000

Merry Christmas to All! I'm a "Combat" Disabeled Veteran that was on the USS Hammerin' Hank (DDG-7) on May 15, 1975. I have a COMDESRON 17 Certificate that cites this as a "Combat Operation" however; unfortunately only a few received this important ribbon. When is this group going to Champion and effort to get "whole ships crew" recognized for this Significant award? It's only fitting that the whole crew to receive a Combat Action Ribbon... We were all in Danger and many of us suffer from PTSD which is directly related to this 24 hours of combat action in Naval History. GOD Bless Us All!

william polly

Mon, 15 Dec 2014 00:58:43 +0000

MAY ALL MY BROTHERS HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. MAY PEACE FILL YOUR HEARTS. ENJOY YOUR DAY.

Terry Brooks

Sat, 13 Dec 2014 21:18:26 +0000

Just wanted to wish all of my Brother's and families a Happy Holiday.
Terry&Kathy Brooks

James W. Draper

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 18:37:39 +0000

An update from the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum: The renovation of the Museum's core exhibit has been postponed to the fall of 2015, so we will be fully open to the public in May for the 40th anniversary. We plan to mark the occasion with small lobby displays at our Museum in Grand Rapids and our Library in Ann Arbor. Feel free to contact me if you plan on visiting. I would be honored to meet you and to provide a tour. Take care.