The General Lewis “Chesty” Puller Gallery features the following exhibits:

Consequences Theater
Seated in the theater, you can watch a short film which introduces guests to some of the consequences the United States faced following the end of World War II. This film educates the viewer on the prelude to the conflicts in Korea and later Vietnam.

The Korean War

The Pusan Perimeter
An underestimation of North Korea’s military capability almost led to the United Nations’ losing South Korea. This exhibit showcases the difference in armament between the North Korean and United States forces early in the War, and how our lack of military preparedness left us momentarily less than capable in combat.

Landing at Inchon
Featuring a Higgins Boat, Landing at Inchon displays how a gamble orchestrated by the U.S. Military paid off to achieve a stunning victory, allowing the United Nations to seize the initiative back from the North Koreans.

Learn the remarkable stories of Lt. Baldemero Lopez and photographer Marguerite Higgins.

Battle of Seoul
Battle of Seoul recognizes the back and forth struggle to capture the South Korean capital. By the end of the war, Seoul had changed hands four times during the Korean War.

Defeat at Chosin
Defeat at Chosin recalls the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, where UN forces faced a brutal North Korean winter and a numerically superior Chinese force, forcing our troops to retreat to the coast for evacuation.

Stalemate and Armistice
In order to prevent the possibility of global, even nuclear conflict, President Truman orders a policy of “limited war.” The next two years of the Korean Conflict will see brutal trench warfare break out along the 38th parallel, leading to an armistice that remains in effect today.

The Vietnam War

Helicopter War
As you enter this exhibit you will see a UH-1B helicopter gunship. In Vietnam, our troops utilized helicopters to an extent never seen before by any military. The helicopter was a universal tool that assisted in medevac operations, rapid transport of troops, delivery of supplies, reconnaissance and fire support for ground forces. Through this exhibit, you will better understand why the U.S. combat in Vietnam is often called the “Helicopter War”.

Women In Vietnam
Women In Vietnam commemorates the almost 7,500 women who volunteered to serve in Vietnam, including the eight who lost their lives. Although women could not serve in combat roles, they were allowed to volunteer for duty in combat zones. An overwhelming majority served in medical duties.

Hardened Convoy
Hardened Convoy features a number of vehicles used to transport supplies on the limited roadways in Vietnam. Especially vulnerable to ambushes, U.S. troops became creative in innovating additional security measures. The story of convoys in Vietnam and the risk involved emphasizes the fact that the front line was everywhere.

Jungle Warfare
Jungle Warfare immerses guests in the experiences of a combat patrol in the jungles of South Vietnam. This interactive display allows guests to view examples of traps, enemy defenses, a jungle listening post, and a section of the Ho Chi Minh trail hidden among the bamboo.

Firebase
Guests will emerge from the jungle into an isolated U.S. firebase. The exhibit includes the typical features of a firebase, including a fire direction center, fighting positions, and infantry living quarters. The centerpiece of the base is an M109 self-propelled Howitzer.

The Living Room War
Moving from the firebase, guests will find themselves stepping back in time. The Living Room War exhibit displays period television clips from 1961- 1968 to form a better understanding of how the American public viewed the war.

The Tet Offensive
Considered a psychological turning point for the American public, The Tet Offensive displays the U.S. Military’s critical underestimation of the military prowess of the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong in 1968. In this massive surprise attack, the enemy thrust strategic attacks upon U.S. forces all across South Vietnam for almost 2 months.

Despite increased public interest in ending the war in Vietnam quickly, it would be seven more years before the war officially came to an end.

Agent Orange
Sprayed heavily in Vietnam, the defoliant Agent Orange was a defoliant used to kill vegetation. Although period research showed that Agent Orange would cause cancer, birth defects, and other health issues, it was not until 1991 that the Department of Veterans Affairs acknowledged the negative lasting effects Agent Orange exposure had on Vietnam veterans.

Brown Water Navy
Controlling the rivers of Vietnam was vital to prevent the transport of enemy supplies and manpower. For the first time since the Civil War, the United States Navy engaged in riverine combat in “Operation Game Warden”. The “Brown Water Navy” or Mobile Riverine Force, used a variety of small, maneuverable craft to secure rivers in areas like the Mekong Delta.

Both a PBR Mk. II (Patrol Boat River) and STAB (Strike, Assault Boat) are on display.