Ghosts of the Battlefield Collection

Museum Collection Artifact: XM177E2 “Colt Commando” Carbine (Model 629)

Much like the famed Fairbairn-Sykes dagger of WWII commandos, or the Thompson submachine gun of paratroopers, the Commando embodied a spirit of daring. To see it slung across a soldier’s chest was to know he was no ordinary infantryman.

From the Collection

Blade of the Brown Water War: A SEAL’s Mk2 Fighting Knife

Wrapped in tape, scarred with rust, and strapped with flares, this Mk2 knife isn’t just an artifact—it’s a survivor of the Mekong. Carried by a U.S. Navy SEAL in Vietnam, it speaks to the brutal, close-quarters fight waged in the rivers and jungles.

From the Collection

Ghosts of the Rising Sun: The Nambu Type 14

“Every weapon tells a story—not just of battles fought, but of the men, and destinies tied to its steel. The Nambu Type 14 pistol stands as both a relic of empire and a warning from history, demanding preservation before its lessons are lost.”

From the Collection

Ghosts of the Rising Sun: The Story of a Yosegaki Hinomaru

A simple flag, inked with prayers and signatures, became a soldier’s shield as he marched into the chaos of war. Yet behind its folds lies a haunting silence—we do not know who Iinuma Tatsuo was, whether he survived, or what role he played.

From the Collection

Unseen Service: The Burial Identification Bottle and the Road to Normandy’s Sacred Ground

At Ghosts of the Battlefield, discover a humble burial ID bottle—used to mark the fallen in temporary graves before cemeteries like Normandy’s were built. A quiet witness to sacrifice.

From the Collection

Echoes from Omaha Beach: The M-1 Helmet of the 29th Infantry Division

A rusted M-1 helmet from Omaha Beach, worn by a 29th Infantry soldier, stands as a powerful relic of sacrifice—on display at Ghosts of the Battlefield.

From the Collection

"The Hat of the Sailor That Weathered the Storm: The Naval Journey of Harold C. Sandifer"

From the icy waters of the North Atlantic to the thunderous shores of Normandy, Harold C. Sandifer’s Navy hat carries the weight of a life spent in service. Worn by a man who survived his ship being cut in half.