Even though the Malad Valley was not settled until the 1850s, the spirit of America 250 is being featured at the Oneida Pioneer Museum. The Museum’s collection of military artifacts celebrates the men and women of Oneida County who have served our country in every war since the Spanish-American War (1898).

Dale Reece, long-time resident of Malad and veteran of World War II, had a large collection of items reminiscent of World War II. His daughter Kay Caldwell donated two models of World War II era ships that were in her dad’s collection.

The U.S.S. Independence was commissioned on January 14, 1943, and joined the Pacific Fleet.  The ship was involved in strikes against Wake Island, Rabaul, and Tarawa. During a Japanese counterattack, the Independence was attacked by a group of aircraft.  Six aircraft were shot down, but one launched at least five torpedoes, one of which hit the carrier’s starboard quarter. Seriously damaged, the ship had to return to San Francisco for repairs.  The ship later took part in the invasion of the Philippines, including the Battle for Leyte Gulf. The ship was scuttled off the Farallon Islands near California in 1951.

The U.S.S. Missouri is famous for being the site of the official surrender of the Japanese, thus ending World War II. Built in 1944, the Missouri was the last battleship commission by the United States. It participated in the Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and shelled Japan islands. The Missouri also was in the Korean War. It was decommissioned in 1955 but later reactivated and modernized so it could serve in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. In 1992 the Missouri was again decommissioned and became a museum ship at Pearl Harbor.

Come to the Oneida Pioneer Museum to see the models of these famous ships and other collections important to the history of Oneida County and our country.  The Museum is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.