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| HUTCHINS FAMILY GIVES |
| JOHNNIE'S MEDAL TO MUSEUM |
| TO TEACH FUTURE GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS |
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| Johnnie's brother, Harold "Hutch" Hutchins, of Lumberton, Texas, announced in May of 2001 that the Hutchins family had made the decision to donate his Medal of Honor to the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. The decision to place the Medal there was based upon the solid financial resources of the Museum, the leadership at the Museum and the high volume of visitors to the Museum. |
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| The Hutchins family has expressed to the Museum, their desire to see not only Johnnie's story told there, but the story of Johnnie's shipmates, the history of his ship, as well as the great historical significance that LSTs played throughout WW II. |
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| The Hutchins family hopes that the exhibit will remind and teach future generations of Americans of the great sacrifices that were made by so many during WW II to ensure our sacred freedom. They uniquely understand that "freedom is not free." |
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| The Museum, with the help of the Navy, will restore the ribbon portion of the Medal that has deteriorated over time. The Medal and related historical documents and photos will be part of the exhibits that will be housed in the new Pacific Wing of the Museum. The Grand Opening of the Pacific Wing will take place on December 7, 2001, the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The Hutchins family and all LST 473 shipmates will be special guests of the Museum at the Grand Opening. |
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| Museum Update |
| December 15, 2001 |
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| The Hutchins Family along with former LST 473 shipmates and friends met in New Orleans for the December 5, 2001 Grand Opening of the Pacific Wing of the National D-Day Museum. As special guests of the Museum they proudly viewed a beautiful display that contained Johnnie's Medal of Honor and the citation that describes Johnnie's heroism. The exhibit also contains a photo of Johnnie and his ship, the USS LST 473. The viewing of Johnnie's exhibit along with the rest of the Museum was a very emotional one. Those present for this wonderful event were: |
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| Hutchins Family |
| Hutch and Lorene Hutchins |
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| Former Shipmates |
| Kenneth E. Knight and his wife Betty |
| Joy Knackstedt and his wife Pat |
| Harold Marlette and his wife Marjorie |
| Don Murray and his friend Bertt Siefker |
| Glenn Van Wieringen and his wife Nola |
| Ed Waltenspiel |
| Hank Zimnicki and his son Mike |
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| Family of Jake Dodero Who Was |
| Killed in Action on LST 473 |
| Joe Dodero |
| Frank Dodero |
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| Friends |
| Scott and Carolyn Lockridge |
| Joe Guarino |
| Mike Guarino |
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| New Orleans Travel Guide |
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| and |
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| All About New Orleans |
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| For information on the Museum click on the following link: |
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| National D-Day Museum |
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| Thanks, |
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| Mike Guarino |
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