Michigan Heroes Museum

Live from the Wurst Open to benefit the Michigan Heroes Museum, Kevin Dietz and Tom Jordan were joined by the Motor City Madman Ted Nugent. Click here to hear Ted's memories of Frank Beckmann and Frank's love for the military, our veterans and the Michigan Heroes Museum. https://lnkd.in/gGMgwDU4

We are saddened to hear that Comstock Park High School graduate Captain Miguel Nava was one of five Marines killed in a CH-53E helicopter accident near San Diego, CA on Feb. 7, 2024. Miguel was born in Traverse City, raised in Comstock Park, and voted most likely to succeed by his his classmates. He chose to attend the US Naval Academy after being nominated and accepted to both the Naval Academy and the US Air Force Academy. His decorations include the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. He leaves behind his wife, Ryann, and newborn son, Luca. Honor. Respect. Remember. #USMC #Marines #MiguelNava #MichiganHeroesMuseum #MIHeroes #MHM #HonorRespectRemember

On this day in 1997 Col. Michael Bloomfield of Flint, MI began his first of three trips into space. Col. Bloomfield served as pilot of STS-86 Atlantis, the seventh mission to rendezvous and dock with the Russian space station Mir. In addition to exchanging an American astronaut stationed on Mir, the crew of Atlantis also performed an EVA (extravehicular activity, or spacewalk) to retrieve experiments left there by a previous US Space Shuttle crew and transferred 10,400 pounds of science and logistics supplies to Mir. Col. Bloomfield’s uniform, flightsuit, and other donated items are on display at the Michigan Heroes Museum, and can be seen daily 10am-5pm. Honor. Respect. Remember. #MichaelBloomfield #STS86 #SpaceShuttleAtlantis #SpaceShuttle #MichiganHeroesMuseum #MHM #HonorRespectRemember

On this day in 1973 the Apollo command module carrying the crew of Skylab II splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, concluding a 59-1/2 day mission, the longest on record at the time. The pilot of the mission was Grand Rapids Col. Jack Lousma (USMC). Skylab, America’s first space station, suffered the loss of its micrometeoroid shield/sun shade and one solar panel, while one solar panel remained stuck in folded/launch position. The crew of Skylab I successfully deployed the stuck panel and installed a temporary sun shield, saving the facility. Skylab II’s crew, which also consisted of Apollo 12 moonwalker Alan Bean and scientist Owen Garriott, installed a permanent replacement to the solar shield. Although all three crew members experiencing space sickness over the first few days of the mission the Skylab II crew was able to accomplish 150 percent of the tasks they were assigned. Col. Lousma’s uniform, flightsuits, watch he wore on his Skylab EVA (spacewalk), Cub Scout hat and neckerchief, and other donated items are on display at the Michigan Heroes Museum, and can be seen daily 10am-5pm. Honor. Respect. Remember. #SkylabII #Skylab3 #JackLousma #MichiganHeroesMusuem #MHM #HonorRespectRemember

On this day in 2006, Space Shuttle Atlantis landed at Kennedy Space Center, Florida with Pontiac, MI native CDR Brett Jett, Jr. (USN) at the controls as mission commander. Following six days spent docked at the ISS which saw the addition of new solar arrays, Atlantis departed. Following the undocking Cmdr. Jett flew Atlantis around the ISS for inspections and to document its new configuration. On September 20, Flight Day 12, the crew did another inspection of the thermal protection system after the discovery of an object orbiting near Atlantis the day before. Mission controllers gave the crew and shuttle a clean bill of health, paving the way for the successful landing on September 21. CDR Jett’s uniform, flightsuit, and other donated items are on display at the Michigan Heroes Museum, and can be seen daily 10am-5pm. Honor. Respect. Remember. #STS115 #SpaceShuttleAtlantis #SpaceShuttle #BrentJett #MichiganHeroesMuseum #MHM #HonorRespectRemember

On this day in 1994, Space Shuttle Discovery landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California concluding the first mission for Eastpointe, MI native Capt. Jerry Linenger (USN). STS-64 astronauts successfully demonstrated a new spacesuit backpack-like device called SAFER (Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue). While an astronaut floating away could be rescued by the space shuttle, this option would not be available on the International Space Station (ISS). As such, all spacewalking astronauts at the ISS continue to wear SAFER, and fortunately no one has ever been forced to use it. Among several other experiments the crew of Discovery also demonstrated the feasibility of using short-wave radio to communicate from the orbiter to amateur radio operators on the ground. This system is now used as not only a method for astronauts to talk to people on the ground in their free time but it also allows astronauts in the ISS to communicate with students in classrooms around the world. Capt. Linenger’s uniform, flightsuit, and other donated items are on display at the Michigan Heroes Museum, and can be seen daily 10am-5pm. Honor. Respect. Remember.

On September 1, 2023, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced the remains U.S. Army Air Force 2nd Lt. Fred L. Brewer, Jr. of Charlotte, NC had been identified. 2nd Lt. Brewer, a Tuskegee Airman, went missing over Italy on October 19, 1944, while piloting his P-51C Mustang aircraft as part of a fighter escort for bombers en route to targets in Regensberg, Germany. His remains were not recovered, and he was declared missing in action. In April 1944, 2nd Lt. Brewer reported for duty at Selfridge Field, Michigan (now Selfridge Air National Guard Base). Honor. Respect. Remember. https://lnkd.in/gvF-RhBV

On this day in 1984, Spc Holly J. McGeogh was born in Taylor, MI. At age 15 she decided she wanted to join the US Army, which she did upon graduating from high school. On January 31, 2004, the vehicle in which she was riding ran over a roadside bomb, killing Spc McGeogh and two others. Here are two stories shared by her mom. "Holly loved the children in Iraq. She asked me to send candy all of the time so that she could give it to the children." "Holly will always be my hero. I don't know where she got her courage and bravery from but she sure had a lot of both. I remember telling her during our first phone conversation when she was in Iraq. If I were her I would be lying in the middle of the desert crying "I want My Mom". She laughed at me. I was serious. She was not afraid at all. She was so very proud to serve our Country and I am so very proud of her. Holly gave the best hugs ever. Nothing like a hug from a Soldier."

On this day in 1944 astronaut Greg Jarvis was born. Greg was assigned as a payload specialist from Hughes Aircraft on three different space shuttle missions before he was finally permanently assigned to STS-51L. Sadly, that mission ended when Space Shuttle Challenger was lost 73 seconds after liftoff on January 28, 1986. His role was to perform experiments related to the development of lighter fuel for the satellites that were then being launched by the space shuttle. Photos courtesy of Greg's widow, Marcia. The first photo shows Greg biking to Carson Pass in 1979. The second shows him snowshoeing in Yosemite National Park in 1982. Next is a photo taken in 1985 and shows Greg’s weightless training in NASA’s KC-135 aircraft. Fourth is a photo showing Teacher In Space Christa McAuliffe and Greg Jarvis after they arrived at the Kennedy Space Center on January 23, 1986. Finally, a rare glimpse into the astronaut beach house, where the crew and their spouses gather the day before launch. Greg Jarvis is on the far left with his wife, Marcia, followed by fellow Challenger crewmember Ellison Onizuka and his wife, Lorna. This photo was taken on January 24, 1986, the day before a scrubbed launch attempt. Greg’s display can be seen 10am-5pm daily. Honor. Respect. Remember.

Yesterday the crew of Artemis II, including Grand Rapids native Christina H. Koch, visited their spacecraft under construction in Florida. Next year they will launch, returning humans to the vicinity of the moon for the first time in over 50 years. Christina's flightsuit and other artifacts are on display in our astronaut gallery. It can be seen 10am-5pm every day. Honor. Respect. Remember.