Kalona

The Kalona Historical Village offered visitors a glimpse into the lives of World War II soldiers during a presentation Saturday.

Mid-Prairie senior Caedyn Huston, son of Washington County Military Museum founder Mike Huston, spoke to the crowd while dressed in a World War II uniform and displaying weapons and equipment from the era.

Caedyn and his father share a deep passion for history, particularly the wars in which the United States has fought. During this year’s Fall Festival, Mike gave a Civil War presentation. He also spoke about soldiers’ lives in the 1860s during the Civil War Meal in August.

On Saturday, Caedyn turned the focus to World War II, explaining what soldiers wore, the equipment they carried and the conditions they faced.

World War II uniform

Huston wore an M1 helmet, boots and a field jacket as part of his World War II uniform. He explained that the wool uniform, known as the M37, could become uncomfortable, especially when soldiers wore it for extended periods.

“A lot of times, the only uniform that you’re wearing. So you wear that for weeks at a time, and they get pretty warm fast.”

He also displayed several firearms, including an M1 carbine, an M1 Garand and a 1903 Springfield.

Along with the weapons, Huston showed the crowd a shovel and explained how the military changed its equipment to make digging foxholes easier. He demonstrated the M1943 shovel, which replaced an earlier model.

“The U.S. Army figured that out pretty quick. It is much easier to dig a foxhole with one of these. Probably not too much easier.”

Weapons

While displaying the firearms, Huston explained their uses and which soldiers typically received them.

The M1 carbine was generally issued to soldiers who were not riflemen.

He next discussed the M1 Garand, a semiautomatic rifle with an eight-round clip. According to Huston, the rifle was one of the major reasons the U.S. Army performed so well during World War II.

The 1903 Springfield was an older, bolt-action rifle that had served as the standard rifle during World War I, he explained.

M1 helmet

Huston also discussed the M1 helmet, an iconic piece of equipment familiar to many through photographs, movies and video games.

Introduced during World War II, the helmet was designed to protect a soldier’s head. However, soldiers found other uses for it, including eating, shaving and even going to the bathroom.

Huston explained that soldiers were told not to cook with the helmet because heating it could weaken the metal.

“They were strongly ordered against doing this. Reason being, when you heat up metal, it becomes weak, so it’s brittle and chip. You stress, stress, stress fractures in it.”

Equipment

Along with their weapons, soldiers carried canteens, a small personal first-aid pouch, an M1928 haversack for carrying gear and a mess-kit pouch with a knife, spoon and fork.

They also carried rations and a ditty bag containing hygiene items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, razor, comb and mirror.

Personal belongings could include letters, books or a Bible. Huston also referenced the familiar saying, “there are no atheists in foxholes,” while discussing soldiers carrying Bibles.

Food

Huston explained that the rations soldiers carried were intended for short-term use rather than as a regular diet.

“It’s said that soldiers aren’t supposed to go more than three days living on these, so just enough nutritional value to live off these for three days before you eat a different type of food.”

The ration packages also included items such as coffee, cigarettes, gum and a small amount of toilet paper.

After mentioning the cigarettes, Huston jokingly reminded the crowd to consider the era: “remember it's 1944, cigarettes are good for you.”

Washington County soldiers

Later in the presentation, Huston discussed local soldiers who served during World War II, including Carl Adams, of Ainsworth, and Robert Shannon, of Washington.

Huston said Adams was killed in action in Germany while serving with the 329th Regiment of the 80th Division.

Shannon served on the crew of the bomber nicknamed “Hot Stuff,” which Huston described as the first to complete the 25-mission quota. The crew remained overseas for additional duties, including reconnaissance and transporting important personnel.

According to the presentation, the bomber completed 31 missions before Shannon’s death. It was scheduled to return to the United States for a tour but encountered bad weather and crashed, killing those aboard, including Shannon.

Reenactments

Huston participates in reenactments throughout the year, including WWII Remembered in Cedar Rapids, which he said has been held for 12 years.

He and his father also plan to travel to Prairie Grove, Arkansas, in December for a Civil War reenactment.

“In December, me and Dad are headed down to Prairie Grove, Arkansas, to portray the color guard of Company C of the 19th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, for the Civil War reenactment. We’re going to carry a one-to-one reproduction of the flag that they carried at the battle. We’re on the original battlefield, which is amazing.”

New location

The Washington County Military Museum will remain inside the Village for the rest of the year, with plans to move into the Showalter House early next year. Renovations to the Showalter House are expected to be completed by summer 2028.