Jackson man putting together own war memorial

Two years ago, the U.S. military told Charles Pewitt his dream didn't stand a chance of coming true.

"I said, 'I'm kind of a persistent individual. Let's just see what happens,'" said Pewitt, a Jackson physician.

The military repesentative Pewitt spoke with wasn't being facetious. Pewitt said he was told no private individual in the United States had ever established an outdoor memorial exhibiting military equipment.

But after two years of paperwork and preparation, the 10 acres of land behind Pewitt's medical center in Jackson is about to become the first.

Right now, the SPEC OPS Plaza consists of a flag pole-marked entrance, a few concrete pads, three cannons and the casing of a nuclear weapon from the Korean War.

But the pieces -- from an M551 Sheridan tank to a World War II-era M42 Duster -- are falling into place now. Along with the Sheridan and Duster, Pewitt has purchased an M114 command carrier from the Vietnam-era and an M109 Tract Howitzer. There are three cannons from 1820s British warships, a Civil War cannon and the nuclear weapon already on site.

Last January -- after two years of being told it wasn't likely to ever happen -- Pewitt received approval from the U.S. Army to proceed with his memorial. The certification he received allows him to purchase demilitarized equipment, like the tanks and other large pieces. He has formed a not-for-profit organization to oversee the exhibit, and has so far funded the project himself. He hopes local businesses may eventually take an interest and help expand the project.

The idea for a memorial has gathered steam over the 20-year course of Pewitt's career -- as he spoke with patients who were also veterans, as he watched military conflicts unfold in the media.

"How often do you hear something positive about our military? Not very often," he said.

Since receiving the certification eight months ago, plans for the exhibits have taken off. Eventually, Pewitt would like build a prisoner-of-war camp replica, as well as use a hill behind his medical office as a stage for a beach offensive displaying Navy landing craft.

But his pice de rŽsistance will be a Huey helicopter. Pewitt purchased one that was in New York but was unable to have it transferred off Manhattan. So he exchanged it for other equipment and remains on the hunt for another chopper.

"I won't stop until I get a Huey," he said. "A lot of people relate to a Huey."

Local military recruiters plan to use the memorial as an inspiration for new recruits. Local emergency workers will be able to train for radiation detection -- which also fulfills a military condition that the equipment be checked for radiation.

But most importantly, Pewitt and area veterans hope the exhibits will be a teaching tool for students.

"We hope it will be an on-site interactive history lesson," said Pewitt. "A lot of these things kids aren't learning in school these days."

Veterans have already agreed to be on-hand when school groups visit to help answer questions and discuss the history of the equipment.

Pewitt has spoken with everyone from the History Channel's Lee Ermey to U.S. Sen. John McCain's office in hopes of drumming up support for the memorial.

He's now started contacting local veterans groups and will soon share the idea with Southeast Missouri business organizations as well.

"I hope local businesses will see the benefit to the community and get on board, but even if they don't, I've accomplished what I set out to do," said Pewitt.

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128

M551 Sheridan light tank: The Korea-era tank is equipped with a 152 mm gun/missile launcher, a 7.62 mm machine gun and a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun. This armored vehicle first entered service with the U.S. Army in 1966 and remained in service with the 82nd Airborne Division until 1997.

M114 Command and Reconnaissance Carrier: From the Vietnam War-era, this carrier was first introduced in the early 1960s. A .50-caliber machine gun could be aimed and fired from within the vehicle.

M42 Duster: This World War II-era vehicle is among the rarest in the collection and features a .30-caliber machine gun and 40 mm cannon.

Tract Howitzer: From the Vietnam era, this machine has a 155 mm cannon and .50-caliber machine gun. It weighs 54,500 pounds loaded.