Honoring Park County Veterans: A Military History

A tribute to local people who served in the military from the 1800s to present day, we generally add stories to this 2013 exhibit biannually. 

There are personal stories from the Civil War forward, including the Spanish American Philippine War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Iraq War. More biographies will be added.

Several World War I and World War II interpretive panels follow the biographies. The museum is conducting additional interviews with Korean and Vietnam War veterans in spring 2021, which will then be added to this online exhibit. If you know of any Park County, MT veterans we should interview, please call 406-222-4184. 

Spanish American Phillipine - War April 25, 1898 - August 12, 1898

World War I - July 28, 1914 - November 11, 1918

World War II                             September 1, 1939 - September 2, 1945

A Rewarding Story!

While doing research for our 2015 military exhibit, volunteer Susan Kraft found photographs of Floyd Witthoeft in Yellowstone National Park's archives; he worked in the park and served in the army during World War II (see above story). I located his descendants and called his son, Allan, who lived in Michigan, and asked about his father. My inquiry prompted Allan to discover negatives that his dad had taken during his time in Yellowstone and his service overseas during WWII. Allan developed the photos, which had been stored in a metal canister since the 1940s. He and Theresa (left) were so excited about the exhibit that they drove to Montana for the opening and they donated copies of the photos to the museum. --Karen Reinhart

Korean War - June 25, 1950 - July 27, 1953

Vietnam War - November 1, 1955  -  April 30, 1975

Iraq War - March 20, 2003 -  December 15, 2011

More about World War I and Montana

The museum is grateful to the people who have helped with the exhibit over the years.

• Dean Gilbert
• Susan Kraft*
• Norm Miller
• Pat Miller
• Shirley Petersen
• Anna Simons
• Carol Woodley
• Michael Yardley 

And editors: Ruth Dargis, BJ Earle, and Rosamond Stanton

*The Susan Kraft Memorial Fund has been established to support future Military Exhibits at the museum, including research, fabrication, and gala events. If you would like to donate to this fund, please mail a check to Friends of the Yellowstone Gateway Museum, PO Box 815, Livingston, MT 59047 or contact Karen Reinhart, 406.222.4184. Please indicate on your check the "Susan Kraft Memorial Fund." Thank you.