Today we featuring artifacts on display at the museum. This is the infantry pack and the list of its contents that we have in our infantry area. These packs would have been carried by the 12th's 17th AIB, 56th AIB, and 66th AIB. (fb)

Veteran Highlight: Leonard Quentin Skelton 43rd Tank Battalion / Service Co Mr. Skelton was born January 13, 1921 in Black Oak, Arkansas near Winslow, Arkansas. Mr. Skelton joined the Army on October 14, 1942 in San Francisco, CA. He married Alice Marie Wilson on April 17, 1943. Mr. Skelton was part of the 43rd Tank Battalion / Service Company in the 12th Armored Division. He hauled ammunition and fuel to the front lines and took prisoners that were captured back to the supply line. After the war, Mr. Skelton and his brothers established Skelton Brothers, Inc. in June of 1951 and hauled Grade A milk from farm to market in tank trailers. In 1956, they established Shelton Motor Company. He also operated G&H Bandag Company, Inc., Jeanway Industries, Inc. and S&H Parts & Equipment. Shelton Brothers, Inc. also manufactured and delivered Boston Mountain Ice within a 100-mile radius of Springdale. In 1987, Skelton and his sons established Shelton Reload. He had 4 children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mr. Skelton passed away on December 2, 2015. The picture of the tank and soldiers are, left to right: Quentin Skelton, Homer Sims, Olie Kravek, Michael Brana, and Danny Stoners (crew chief). Their tank was called “5 men & a boy”. It is believed that the 1st shot fired at the 43rd was fired at them as they were servicing a bridge to get through to Herrlisheim, possibly Spano Bridge. Bullets ricocheted past them and killed 5 men in the 17th AIB. Thank you for your service Mr. Skelton. (fb)