The Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center is home to over 6,000 items that commemorate the lives of the heroes we honor. These pieces tell the story of Medal of Honor recipients and their fellow soldiers from the Civil War to the present day. These items are touchstones to heroes and history: they serve as illustrations to the real-life stories we tell everyday.
Our collections are varied and include everything from firearms, uniforms, personal scrapbooks, flags, and dioramas to a vast array of other items. Our ability to obtain, store and display these valuable mementos is made possible through the combined efforts of countless donors who have contributed their memories – objects that speak to their lives and those of their family members and friends – and committed them to our care. Our collections represent every branch of service, and we continue to expand them to help us tell more stories and put the service of our Medal of Honor recipients into greater perspective.
We rotate these valuable items through our ever-changing exhibits and galleries, keeping them safely in collection storage when they are not on display. Please enjoy a selection of highlighted objects from our collection below:
Item Number: 2019.4.25
Item Name: Canteen
Era: Spanish American War, 1899
Item Description: Cloth-covered canteen with stitched border and “U.S.” printed on the front. On the reverse, elaborately written in pen ink is “Charles F. Stutz.” The piece features the original cork stopper with chain. The leather carrying strap includes holes for adjusting the strap length.
Item Location: On Display
Item Number: 2006.1.3144
Item Name: M-17 Helmet
Era: WWI, 1917-1919.
Item Description: Olive-drab M-1917 helmet, U.S. Army. This piece features the markings of the 6th Marine Corps, which was attached to the 2nd infantry
Item Location: Off-site Storage
Item: 2005.1.1
Item Name: Dog Tags
Era: WWI, 1917-1919
Item Description: Three round metal dog tags with the soldier’s name and company information stamped on them are held together with a cord. The three tags have the following information: “AAGE THOMASSEN CO. B 56 ENG U.S.A. 652409”
Item Location: Off-site Storage
Item Number: 1990.1.1-2
Item Name: Backpack and entrenching tool belonging to Medal of Honor Recipient Desmond T. Doss.
Era: WWII, 1941-1945
Item Description: U.S. Army-issued backpack with folded canvas inside and attached entrenching tool was worn and used by Pfc. Desmond Doss.
Item Location: On Display
Item Number: xxx
Item Name: Medal of Honor
Era: WWII, 1941-1945
Description: Medal of Honor presented to Private First Class Desmond T. Doss
Item Location: On Display
Item Number: 1990.1.13
Item Name: Charm Bracelet
Era: 1959
Item Description: This charm bracelet was presented to Mrs. Dorothy Doss by Ralph Edwards when the Doss couple was on the TV show This is Your Life in 1959. The charms each represent important aspects of their life together.
Item Location: Off-site Storage
Item Number: 1998.1.1
Item Name: Medal of Honor
Era: Korean War, 1951
Item Description: This Medal of Honor was presented posthumously to Master Sergeant Ray E. Duke.
Item Location: Out for conservation
Item Number: 1998.1.1
Item Name: Medal of Honor
Era: Korean War, 1951
Item Description: This Medal of Honor was presented posthumously to Master Sergeant Ray E. Duke.
Item Location: On Display
Item Number: 1994.1.1
Item Name: Uniform Jacket
Era: Vietnam War
Item Description: This item is a dress Marine Corps uniform worn by Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Rodney Davis.
Item Location: Off-site Storage
Item Number: 1995.2.1
Item Name: Medal of Honor
Era: Vietnam War, 1970.
Item Description: This Medal of Honor was presented posthumously to Sergeant Mitchell W. Stout.
Item Location: On Display
For further inquiries about either donating to our collections or doing research on any of our individual items, please contact us at Info@MOHHC.org.