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AIRBORNE
AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS MUSEUM
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The Airborne and Special Operations Museum is
located at 100 Bragg Boulevard in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It is open from
Tuesday to Saturday. Admission is free. The following information is copied
from the museum brochures. The exhibits depict the organizations and operations
of U. S. Airborne and special operations units from World War II to the
present. In addition to a huge permanent exhibition hall the museum has special
exhibition gallery, a Motion Simulator and the Yarborough -Bank Theater. The
main gallery has displays on the history of U. S. parachute, gliders, and
Special Operations forces since 1940. In addition to the U.S. Army units there
are also the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) units, Rangers, and other
Special Operations such as the Jedburghs. The motion simulator provides the
operator with a dramatic ride that simulates such experiences and free-falls
from 10,000 feet, ski patrols, and low level aircraft flight. The theater shows
airborne and special operations training on a huge screen . The museum has an
excellent web site at http://www.asomf.org
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The following photos were taken during a
recent visit to the huge museum. But they show only a small part of the
exhibits.
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This monumental entrance is apropriate for
the massive museum inside
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The entrance hall - atrium in the Museum of
Airborne and Special Operations Forces
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Paratrooper at the center of the entrance
hall
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Sign over the museum information desk in the
entrance hall
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Display honoring Vietnam Veterans at the
entrance to the exhibit halls.
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One of many signs describing the operation in
Somalia (also termed "Battle of Mogadishu") in which two helicopters
were shot down and many US soldiers killed - This is a special exhibit first on
the right as one enters the exhibition.
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"A nation in Chaos' another sign about
the operation in Somalia (Battle of Magadishu)
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"Clans, warlords and terrorists"
the exhibition about Somalia continues
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Wall display of items related to the Somalia
operation
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Wall display of standard small arms used by
terrorists.
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Manikin in setting of Somali terrorist with
weapons stock
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Manikin in setting of Somali terrorist with
weapons stock
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Sign on wall describing some of the events
during the battle
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Task Force Ranger - wall sign
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Wall display cabinet with typical small arms
used by Rangers
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Wall map of Mogadishu showing locations of
some critical events in the battle
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A section of one of the downed helicopters
recovered later from Mogadishu
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A section of one of the downed helicopters
recovered later from Mogadishu
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Wall display case with some personal items of
Rangers.
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A wall sign - one of several - with a time
line of events during the battle
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Wall display about the battle
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Display case with items of Ranger gear
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General view of wall displays of Ranger
clothing and equipment
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Manikins of Rangers in combat in Mogadishu
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A captured 'technical' a pick up truck with
automatic weapons mounted in the bed. This one shows results of being under
fire
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A captured 'technical' a pick up truck with
automatic weapons mounted in the bed. This one shows results of being under
fire
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Manikins of Rangers in combat and caring for
wounded comrade, one of the helicopter pilots.
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Another wall display with part of the time
line for the battle.
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Entering the main display halls with the
opening of the chronological section - Bragg as 'boom town' when airborne
operations were being developed
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Boom Town - Fort Bragg during World War II
with map and photos of barracks.
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Large photos along wall depicting evolution
of airborne soldier uniforms and equipment
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Manikin wearing early version of parachute
equipment
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The airborne development began with the 'test
platoon' in 1940 and developed into airborne operations by 1944.
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Manikin in display of the 501st Parachute
Infantry Battalion in early development
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Wall display case for 'test platoon' uniforms
and equipment
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Sign on wall urging comparison between men in
combat and those civilians supplying the war effort
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Wall display "Architects of the
Legend" with photos of some of the early American advocates and developers
of airborne policy. Of course the Russians and Germans had been conducting
large scale airborne operations for decades already.
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Manikin soldier in a WWII Jeep
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Wall world map depicting widespread locations
of airborne and special operations during World War II
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Manikin in World War II airborne uniform with
parachute and carrying case for equipment
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North Africa - Operation Torch - first U. S.
Army airborne assault
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Interesting large photo of parachute soldiers
inside a troop transport aircraft.
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View of gallery with displays of early
airborne operations in World War II
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Wall display of Rangers and Paratroopers in
North Africa
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Wall display case with artifacts from
airborne operations in North Africa
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Wall display for Operation Husky - Airborne
landing in Sicily
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From Salerno to Anzio in Italy 1943
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Manikin in uniform worn in Italy in 1943
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Gallery for special operations in France
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Cut away C-47 fuselage
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Wall graphic 'Unied we will win' United we
are strong -showing flags of allies on cannon barrels.
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Large diorama of special force soldier
meeting French resistance fighters
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Wall sign and photos about special forces
operations in Europe - Jedburghs - who met French resistance as in adjacent
diorama
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Wall case showing Jedburgh operations in
France weapons and clothing
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Overhead - a C-47 aircraft - the leading
troop carrier
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Overhead a view of the C-47 aircraft from a
different angle.
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Road traffic and direction sign in Normandy
showing among others the way to Cherbourg
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Wall sign describing Normandy Invasion
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Wall display for Operation Neptune - Normandy
landing
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Wall display for 82nd Airborne Division
objective at St. Mere Eglise - the same operation that is shown with
paratrooper landing on church over at the 82nd Airborne Division museum.
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Wall display for 82nd Airborne Division
objective at St. Mere Eglise - This is first French town liberated.
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Manikin of soldier carrying full equipment
and weapons
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Wall display - Raners lead the way - Rangers
at Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach during Normandy invasion
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Wall display for the 82nd Airborne crossing
the Merderet River at La Fiere on D+3
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Manikins of soldiers searching in a town
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Flash photo of Manikins of soldiers searching
in a town
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Larger view of soldiers in display of
searching a town.
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Wall case display - Screaming Eagles assault
Fortress Europe - the 101st Airborne enters battle
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Wall case of 101st Division in Normandy from
Utah Beach to Carentan
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Manikin of soldier and bushes to show
fighting in the hedgerows.
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Wall display for Operation Dragoon
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Wall display case for airborne participation
in the invasion of Southern France - showing uniforms and articles
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Wall display case for Operation Market Garden
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Wall case - scene shifts to Pacific and
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
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Wall display case - Counter attack in the
Pacific - operations in New Guinea and Philippines - 1943-45
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Wall display case - Return to Corregidor Feb
1845
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Manikin of soldier in Pacific theater
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Manikin of soldier in Pacific theater
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Back to Europe - Wall display case for
"Battle of the Bulge" in Ardennes - December 1944-Jan 1945
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Wall display case - Airborne in Ardennes -
uniforms, weapons
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Manikin of soldier in Pacific
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Manikins in diorams depicting the American
commander's reply to German demand for surrender at Bastogne.
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Diorama of a jeep being driven out of a
glider
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Manikin of paratrooper in full combat gear
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Wall display showing how to assemble a CG-4A
glider
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Full view of the diorama showing the jeep
being driven out of a glider
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Wall display case - Pathfinders leading the
way - showing the special radio equipment they use to guide airborne to landing
- also a Thompson sub machine gun
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Wall display case - "These guys don't
get paid enough" - and indeed, considering the casualties in glider
landing, they did not. The case has uniform and other gear - the glider element
was a lesser known component of the airborne division then.
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Wall sign for Airborne Engineers
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Airborne bulldozer in diorama
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Wall display about airborne artillery in
World War II
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Diorama of airborne solder and airborne 105mm
howitzer
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Wall display about the CG-4a WACO glider
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Diorama of glider with two soldiers from
different angle
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Sign describing Corporal Rudy Hernandez
"Here I come" on Hill 420 - the scene in diorama in next photos - in
Korean war. He received the Medal of Honor for his action described here.
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Diorama of airborne soldier (Corporal
Hernandez) bayoneting Korean in battle during Korean war
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Diorama of airborne soldier (Corporal
Hernandez) bayoneting Korean in battle during Korean war
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Wall display case describing Ranger Special
Operations in Korea
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Wall display case describing Ranger Guerrilla
Command - White Tigers - actions in Korea
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Wall sign discussing Ranger operations in
Korea
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Wall display - the Rakkasans in Korea
-Airborne assault
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Wall display case 187th Airborne actions in
Korea
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Wall display case on Developing and
unconventional war capability
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A 105mm howitzer packed on platform for
airdrop
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Rear view of the 105mm howitzer rigged for
drop
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Wall sign describing the 105mm howitzer
rigged for heavy drop - a Revolution in air delivery
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Wall display for Special Forces "A"
detachment
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Manikin in uniform of a Special Forces master
sergeant
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Wall display describing the establishing of
US Army Special Forces - with photos
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Wall display explaining support of civil
authorities in period of domestic 'unrest'.
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Wall display for Operation Powerpack in
Dominican Republic 1965-66
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Wall display titled Who will liberate the
Third World - 1954-1975
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Diorama with Special Forces soldiers doing a
medievac with wounded troops on ground
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Diorama with Special Forces soldiers doing a
medievac with wounded troops on ground
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Diorama with Special Forces soldiers doing a
medievac with wounded troops on ground
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Wall display describing heroic actions
-Courage and Compassion - of Special Fifth Class Lawrence Joel and Chaplain
Charles Watters who both received the Congressional Medal of Honor for
different operations in VietNam
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Diorama of soldiers dismounting from
helicopter
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Wall sign describing airborne operations in
VietNam - units of the 82nd and 101st Divisions and the 173rd Brigade
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Wall display for 173rd Airborne Brigade (the
Herd) in Vietnam
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Display of weapons of the173rd Airborne
Brigade and a VietCong prisoner cage in background
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Wall displays for Long Range Reconnaissance
patrols, LLRP, and Civil Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) - both Special Forces
units
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Display cabinet with Special Force weapons
and uniforms
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Diorama - Viet Cong prison cage
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Wall display - Special Forces in South East
Asia 1961-75
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Wall display - Winning Hearts and Minds -
Psychological operations in Vietnam
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Diorama with manikins - Angels in Red Hats -
MACV Team 162 - 1955-73
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Wall display Ranger advisers in Vietnam -
From the Delta to I Corps
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Wall Display - ARSOF at the Crossroads -
Rebuilding Army Special Forces
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Wall Display - A World Unraveling 1973-1982 -
An Era of Global Unrest
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Wall Display - M551 Sheridan Tank - Airborne
Armor
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Diorama - Sheridan tank
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Diorama Sheridan Tank
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Diorama Sheridan Tank
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Wall Display - Battle of Pacora River Bridge
in Panama - 7th Special Forces Group
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Diorama of Special Forces in Desert at a team
calling for Close Air Support - Iraq and Afghanistan
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Diorama of Special Forces in Desert at a team
calling for Close Air Support - Iraq and Afghanistan
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Wall display - Close air support - The
Ultimate Force Multiplier
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Diorama - Special Forces in a 'spider hole'
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Diorama - Special Forces searching a village
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Diorama - Special Forces searching a village
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Diorama - Special Forces searching a village
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Overhead - MH-6 Helicopter
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Diorama - searching a village
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Diorama - searching a village
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Wall display - Night Stalkers to the Rescue -
Operation Just Cause in Panama - 6 Minutes to Freedom
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Wall display - Operation Just Cause `989-90 -
Panama
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Diorama - vehicle with radio antenna
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Different view of vehicle with high radio
antenna
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Special Forces searching village
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Diorama with Special soldier providing
medical assistance to local
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Diorama of Special Forces soldier in
convesation with local leaders.
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Diorama of Special Forces soldier in
convesation with local leaders.
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Wall display - Psychological Operations -
ARSOF Force multiplier
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Driver and vehicle bringing ammunition
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Wall display - Combat Service and Signal
support - Keeping ARSOF connected, refuled, fed - subject of previous photos
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Wall Display - Transporting ARSOF - multiple
means
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Special Forces vehicle with multiple weapons
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Different view of Special Forces vehicle used
in Iraq
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Wall Display- ARSOF in Iraq - victory no
north and West
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Photo of a Video screen that shows a running
series of pictures of operations in Iraq - this of an Iraqi monument gate
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Photo of a Video screen that shows a running
series of pictures of operations in Iraq -this of Special forces troops with a
captured Iraqi rocket
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Wall Display showing Special Forces training
course
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Diorama with manikins - a Special Forces
soldier in training in conversation with a local who is playing a foreign
national in some location - but it is in the woods at Ft Bragg.
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Wall display a sign about Special Forces -
"Masters of Chaos" in many foreign locations
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View of the sales store at the museum - it
has many military related items for sale.
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Statue of "Iron Mike'
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Statue of "Iron Mike'
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Statue of "Iron Mike'
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Inscription of base - General Henry Hugh
Shelton - among other major assignments the commander of Special Operations
forces
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Statue of General Shelton in the plaza in
front of the museum
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Inscription on base listing qualifications
and awards
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Inscription on base of statue listing General
Shelton's major assignments
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