War exhibits at the Tennessee River Museum

Hardin County’s Tennessee River Museum is hosting a temporary exhibit featuring war memorabilia.
The owner of Shiloh Tours and Museum, Larry DeBerry, who is also a co-founder and board member of the Tennessee River Museum, curated the war exhibit.
“Visitors can view local Veterans’ uniforms, a woman’s medic uniform, Japanesse war artifacts and more,” DeBerry said.
DeBerry said he passed his collection to his granddaughter, Annah DeBerry.
“I am honored to continued my grandfather’s mission of sharing stories and displaying items of those who sacrificed for our freedom.”
The exhibit includes uniforms from former Courier publisher, Joe Hurd, CD Rickman, and Ken Hansgen.
“Hansgen actually stepped on a landmine and it blew his foot off, but you would never know if you seen out and about town,” DeBerry said.
One interesting uniform has a patch that is referred to as the “rupture duck.”
“There were a lot of soldiers who came back from WWII who didn’t have their civilian clothes and such, so the military allowed them to wear their uniforms until they found a job and could buy clothes.
“Normally, once you leave military service, you can only wear your uniform for ceremonial purposes, but if you had this patch then it was okay to wear your uniform until you were able to buy civilian clothes.”
The patch, while referred to as the “ruputure duck,” is actually an Eagle, and is easy to see if you visit the exhibit.
DeBerry said he started his war collection by chance but is grateful that for the memorabilia and happy that his granddaughter will continue the tradition of displaying his artifacts.
The war exhibit is to coincide with the “Salute to the 40s,” event this Saturday, June 14, and the museum is also displaying its temporary Travis Monroe Burns WWII exhibit, “Praying for his return.”
The Tennessee River Museum in downtown Savannah,  495 Main St., is open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.