Our Collection
Along with its primary mission of collecting the stories of Stratford’s veterans, the museum is also a repository for select items donated by veterans and their families. If you are interested in possibly donating or loaning an item to the museum, please visit on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm, Sundays and Wednesdays from 1 to 3 pm, other days by appointment, or email us.
You can print out and use this form (feel free to send us a hard copy or email a scan) when providing information on the item you want to loan or donate. Also please feel free to include images of the item.
Check out photos of our current displays.
Here are some of the items that have been donated and loaned to the Stratford Veterans Museum.
They are listed by period, then alphabetically.
Books By and About Straford Veterans
Among the items you will find in the museum, is a collection of books written by/about Stratford veterans. These volumes are available for your perusal when visiting the museum.
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A Book of 8 Short Stories by WWII Veterans -- This volume includes a selection of stories from Stratford Second World War veterans regarding their experiences in that conflict. |
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A Book About Thomas W. Cook Civil War Veteran – Thomas W. Cook enlisted in the Union Army at age 19 and fought in the Civil War battles of Roanoke Island, Kingston and the siege of Charles. He was a member of Company G, of the Tenth Connecticut Volunteers Infantry. This book covers his experiences during the conflict. |
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A Book About Civil War Veteran Sergeant Charles B. Goulding – Stratford resident Charles B. Goulding fought in the Civil War as part of the Union Army and took part in campaigns in Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Vicksburg (Miss.), and New Orleans. He was wounded in battle. This book provides a look at his experiences during and after the conflict. |
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My Life … The Life and Times of a Hero, by Ralph Martire – Ralph Martire of Stratford served in World War II from D-Day (Utah Beach), through the drive across Europe, and during the Battle of the Bulge. His actions earned him both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. This book includes recollections of his experiences during the war. |
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My War: A Story Which Involves Horror and Humor by Bob Swirsky -- Robert (Bob) Swirsky was a radio operator, tech sgt. for the 3rd Armored Division of the US First Army, seeing front-line combat during the war for 323 days. His halftrack, 3-Baker was a part of the army that pushed across Europe from landing at Omaha Beach to the end of the war on VE Day. His service included fighting across Europe from Normandy (D+18) to the liberation of the Nordhausen concentration camp. In this book, he talks of his experiences in the war. |
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One Soldier’s Experience by Peter E. Clark Jr. – Through letters written home during World War II this book tells the story of Stratford resident Peter E. Clark Jr. who served with the U.S. Army in New Guinea during the war. |
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| The Battlin’ Bastards of Bravo by Melissa Ziobro – This volume includes interviews with Vietnam War veterans (including a Stratford resident) who were members of the 101st Airborne’s Bravo Company during the conflict. |  |
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The Smoke Screen written by U.S. Army 78th Chemical Smoke Generator Company (property of Cpl. Francis A. Counter) -- The U.S. Army 78th Chemical Smoke Generator Company (of which Stratford veteran Francis A. Counter was a member) was a specialized unit under the Chemical Warfare Service during WWII. Operating massive mechanical generators, the unit produced heavy, artificial smokescreens to mask troop movements, bridges, and ports from enemy artillery and aerial observation. This book is a collection of the unit’s operations during the war. |
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Three Day Pass: Beho, Breakthrough, Battles Beyond A – A First Hand Account of Triumph in the Face of Adversity by James V. Morgia – In this book, Stratford resident James Morgia talks about his experiences during the Great Depression, then into World War II (including the Battle of the Bulge), and post war. |
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Vietnam Voices by Peter Ulisse – Stratford resident Peter J. Ulisse examines his experience (as well as those of his fellow soldiers) during the Vietnam War where he earned the Bronze Star for his actions. |
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OUR DIORAMAS
The Stratford Veterans Museum features a number of dioramas representing scenes from U.S. military history beginning with the Revolutionary War and continuing to the present day. Here is a listing of the dioramas complete with links to additional information about the subject.
Minutemen retreat from British troops on Lexington Green where shots fired moments before beginning the Revolutionary War.
Troops under General Washington surprise Hessian soldiers in Trenton.
3 Washington Reviews Continental Troops
As commander-and-chief of the Continental Army, General Washington oversaw the building of the first American army.
Union soldiers and artillery begin the long march south during the Civil War.
Prior to the battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate troops pass by their leaders.
6 The Decisive Battle – Gettysburg
Confederate troops storm Union positions on Cemetery Ridge during the battle of Gettysburg.
7 The Lion of Little Round Top
Colonel Joshua Chamberlain leads the 20th Maine regiment at Little Round Top during the battle of Gettysburg.
Pickett’s Charge was the climax of the battle of Gettysburg and the furthest north Confederate forces would advance.
Connecticut troops were among the Union forces that met Pickett’s Charge during the battle of Gettysburg.
Connecticut solders were among the troops that stormed Petersburg.
Union troops try to make dinner out of a stray turkey.
World War I saw great jumps in technology including the first use of tanks at the Battle of Cambrai.
German troops try to stop an American-manned French Renault FT tank.
U.S. troops advance from the Anzio beachhead towards Rome.
The crew of the B-24 Bomber “American Beauty” pose by the plane as its nose art is painted on.
A U.S. Sherman tank advances in Italy past a religious service held by an Army chaplain.
Japanese troops attack Edson’s Ridge during the fighting on Guadalcanal.
U.S. Rangers prepare to climb the cliff at Pointe Du Hoc.
As part of the Allied invasion of France, U.S. Paratroopers deploy from a landed glider prior to the seaborne attack.
20 First French Town Liberated
U.S. paratroopers and German troops engage in street fighting in Saine-Mere-Egliese.
21 Saving Lives in the Aftermath
In the days following the invasion of Normandy, medical personnel worked round the clock treating wounded at aid stations set up within the beach head.
A Red Ball Express truck has a face off with a pig and her brood.
23 The Whistling Death – Vought Corsair
Mechanics prep a Navy Corsair for takeoff from an aircraft carrier deck.
24 Any Landing You Walk Away from is a Good One
A Marine-flown land-based Corsair after a crash landing on an island airstrip under construction.
U.S. Infantry prepare to ambush a German Tiger tank during the drive across France following the breakout from Normandy.
U.S. mechanized troops enjoy a break at a French farm during their drive across that country.
U.S. troops and an M8 howitzer move past a knocked out German halftrack as they advance to the German border.
A modified Sherman tank assists a standard Sherman with repairs as they cross the Siegfried Line into Germany.
U.S. troops in Aachen after the battle for the city.
30 Check Point – Battle of the Bulge
A Sherman tank equipped with a rocket launcher moves past a U.S. check point during the Battle of the Bulge.
31 The Battered Bastards of Bastogne
A Sherman tank enters the town of Bastogne, which was occupied by 101st Airborne troops to deny the German Army use of the road that ran through it.
U.S. Marines faced freezing temperatures during the withdraw from the Chosin Reservoir.
A “Dragonfly” helicopter is being used to evacuate a wounded Marine after the Inchon landings.
U.S. Marines engaged in street fighting with Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces.
A CH-54 is shown here during the Vietnam War delivering an artillery piece to a fire base.
A Black Hawk provides support for combat troops during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
Members of the 192nd Engineer Battalion survey a destroyed bridge in Afghanistan.
U.S. Marines combat Iraqi insurgents during the Second Battle of Fallujah.
39 U.S. Special Forces on Horseback
U.S. Special Forces soldiers were the first troops to put American boots on the ground in Afghanistan after 9/11.