History of the Museum of the Soldier

The Museum got its start with three original founders, local military historians James Waechter, Brian Williamson, and Michael McBride. They began culling their efforts in the early 1980s and started providing displays for local schools and events. For 15 years this group provided traveling displays with a goal of preserving and presenting histories of the men and women as well as the families and workers back home during times of war and in times of peace and peace keeping.

Whenever a display was held the question was always asked "Where is the Museum? We would like to visit.” The only answer to this question was, “There isn’t one but maybe in the future.” The future came to be in 1997. The Museum of the Soldier, Inc., now a federally recognized non-for-profit organization, received the deed to the former Coca Cola bottling company plant in Portland Indiana. This gift was made thru the generous contribution of the Hondo Inc corporation, the parent company of Coca Cola . What began as a traveling  display now had a place to display exhibits on a permanent basis. Finally the MOS group had a real home. Although the building was basically a sound structure many items needed upgrading and repairing or just out and out replacement.  The building which had been used for storage for 12 years was now a labor of love and dedication.

Long range plans include permanent exhibits highlighting local military history and a large flexible main gallery space with changing exhibits, a multi-purpose area for lectures, banquets and similar dioramas. Plans also include focusing on the local Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) program of the later 1930’s and the early 1940’s, one of only two black CCC camps in Indiana.

The Board of Directors for the MOS consists of nine members. They are:

James Waechter, President of the Board, LTC US Army (Ret.), Vietnam Veteran

Brian Williamson, Curator, US Army National Guard

Matthew Simmons, Secretary, US Army Veteran

Deb Price, Treasurer

Doctor Eugene Gillum, M.D.,  WW2 USAAF Veteran

Arthur Hall, USN WW2 Veteran, Helmsman of the USS Nicholson DD-442

Michael McBride, Civil War Historian and author 

Michael Bettinger, Vehicle Specialist, USMC Veteran

Nathan Keever, USAF Veteran of OP Iraqi Freedom

The Museum of the Soldier Inc. is a federally recognized 501 (c) (3) not for profit, tax exempt organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Indiana.