Dr. Frank Blazich, Jr.
@milhistcurator.bsky.social
Curator @ National Museum of American History; National Historian Emeritus @ Civil Air Patrol; Secretary @ Air Force Historical Foundation; curator/historian, father/husband, lover of birds (pigeons especially).
Two dog harnesses/collars. One for the famed Sergeant Stubby, and the one for a the dachshund of Kaiser Whilhelm II. Both still have their tax tags attached, fittingly enough.
September 30, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Two dog harnesses/collars. One for the famed Sergeant Stubby, and the one for a the dachshund of Kaiser Whilhelm II. Both still have their tax tags attached, fittingly enough.
Sorry for being so quiet of late. Tons going in.... meaning I owe a lot of posts.
July 17, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Sorry for being so quiet of late. Tons going in.... meaning I owe a lot of posts.
Reposted by Dr. Frank Blazich, Jr.
share the money pigeon for 10,000 years good luck 💸🍀🤞
May 19, 2025 at 9:01 PM
share the money pigeon for 10,000 years good luck 💸🍀🤞
Today is the 83rd anniversary of the surrender of American and Filipino forces on Bataan peninsula. Every time I see a dandelion in my yard, I think of Henry T. Chamberlain and all the Battling Bastards of Bataan. Lest we forget. americanhistory.si.edu/explore/stor...
When the dandelion went to war: An American prisoner of war's story
During the Great Depression, Henry T. Chamberlain ate dandelions to survive. During his military service, he did it again.
americanhistory.si.edu
April 9, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Today is the 83rd anniversary of the surrender of American and Filipino forces on Bataan peninsula. Every time I see a dandelion in my yard, I think of Henry T. Chamberlain and all the Battling Bastards of Bataan. Lest we forget. americanhistory.si.edu/explore/stor...
This is the Butler Medal, 1 of 197 examples privately funded by Maj Gen Benjamin Butler to recognize distinguished courage by the U.S. Colored Troops. The engraver of this medal, Anthony Paquet, also engraved the Medal of Honor. The motto translates to “Freedom will come to them by the sword."
March 28, 2025 at 2:36 AM
This is the Butler Medal, 1 of 197 examples privately funded by Maj Gen Benjamin Butler to recognize distinguished courage by the U.S. Colored Troops. The engraver of this medal, Anthony Paquet, also engraved the Medal of Honor. The motto translates to “Freedom will come to them by the sword."
For National Medal of Honor Day, I offer some amazing items. On the left is a silver prototype of the the Navy MOH delivered to the Navy Department on 1 Oct 1862. This is the oldest extant example of the medal which exists today. (Pt 1)
March 25, 2025 at 11:50 AM
For National Medal of Honor Day, I offer some amazing items. On the left is a silver prototype of the the Navy MOH delivered to the Navy Department on 1 Oct 1862. This is the oldest extant example of the medal which exists today. (Pt 1)
I let the conservators borrow the hero pigeons for condition assessment and the next thing I know the birds are out getting their photos taken. Yeesh!
March 19, 2025 at 1:02 AM
I let the conservators borrow the hero pigeons for condition assessment and the next thing I know the birds are out getting their photos taken. Yeesh!
Articles I wrote for the US Navy on Black Seabees in WWII over ten years ago have been "404ed". How mighty white of "leadership." Perhaps they can show me on the doll where history hurt them....
March 9, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Articles I wrote for the US Navy on Black Seabees in WWII over ten years ago have been "404ed". How mighty white of "leadership." Perhaps they can show me on the doll where history hurt them....
A fun comparison of Cher Ami's breastbone with the 3D printed replica. Rather remarkable to see the technology at work & the finished project.
March 3, 2025 at 6:38 PM
A fun comparison of Cher Ami's breastbone with the 3D printed replica. Rather remarkable to see the technology at work & the finished project.
Got to work with a super rare Medal of Honor (Tiffany Cross) then saw something else which has me flabbergasted.
These are Civil War type 1 Navy Medals of Honor. Note the actual medal... one of these is silver & most likely a prototype of what became the bronze medal.
These are Civil War type 1 Navy Medals of Honor. Note the actual medal... one of these is silver & most likely a prototype of what became the bronze medal.
March 3, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Got to work with a super rare Medal of Honor (Tiffany Cross) then saw something else which has me flabbergasted.
These are Civil War type 1 Navy Medals of Honor. Note the actual medal... one of these is silver & most likely a prototype of what became the bronze medal.
These are Civil War type 1 Navy Medals of Honor. Note the actual medal... one of these is silver & most likely a prototype of what became the bronze medal.
I find I suddenly have a wealth of new followers but I've been remiss in posting up history content. I'll try to rectify this in the coming weeks.
March 3, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I find I suddenly have a wealth of new followers but I've been remiss in posting up history content. I'll try to rectify this in the coming weeks.
Behold, the 3D printed Cher Ami breastbone, in original and enlarged size!
February 23, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Behold, the 3D printed Cher Ami breastbone, in original and enlarged size!
Nothing like sitting in my office working on paperwork and seeing a mouse run across my carpet in broad daylight. Eh, guess he got the memo about being back at work five days a week.
February 6, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Nothing like sitting in my office working on paperwork and seeing a mouse run across my carpet in broad daylight. Eh, guess he got the memo about being back at work five days a week.
Now cataloged, I recently collected the uniform shirt, Purple Heart, Air Force Commendation Medal, & other insignia from the late USAF TSgt Leonard P. Matlovich. In 1975, he became the first service member to come out as homosexual, launching the effort to allow all homosexuals to serve openly.
February 5, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Now cataloged, I recently collected the uniform shirt, Purple Heart, Air Force Commendation Medal, & other insignia from the late USAF TSgt Leonard P. Matlovich. In 1975, he became the first service member to come out as homosexual, launching the effort to allow all homosexuals to serve openly.
I have the full 3D rendering files of Cher Ami's breastbone should anyone wish to print one at home. Just ask and I can send you a link to them.
January 28, 2025 at 3:10 AM
I have the full 3D rendering files of Cher Ami's breastbone should anyone wish to print one at home. Just ask and I can send you a link to them.
My anger will only continue to expand over the coming years at discrimination like this and worse. www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...
MAGA commander terminates female Navy pilot’s Top Gun application—unveils anti-DEI '10 Commandments'
And so it begins … the MAGA military commanders are now running the show, gleefully flaunting their newfound power to thumb their noses at the Constitution and dismantle every vestige of equality in o...
www.dailykos.com
January 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
My anger will only continue to expand over the coming years at discrimination like this and worse. www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...
Since Cher Ami's actual breastbone is FAR too fragile to display, the museum had it 3D scanned & these are some of the first renderings. You can clearly see where a bullet or shell fragment hit the pigeon and then began to slowly heal up. The hole is approximately the size of a dime.
January 24, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Since Cher Ami's actual breastbone is FAR too fragile to display, the museum had it 3D scanned & these are some of the first renderings. You can clearly see where a bullet or shell fragment hit the pigeon and then began to slowly heal up. The hole is approximately the size of a dime.
Reposted by Dr. Frank Blazich, Jr.
Tesla: on the road of life, take the Third Reich.
January 22, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Tesla: on the road of life, take the Third Reich.
Artifact of the day is this set of custom shoulder straps worn by General William Tecumseh Sherman during his tenure as Commanding General of the United States Army from 1869-1883. The design is distinctive to Sherman and I am not aware of another pair of these in a museum (speak up if otherwise!).
January 22, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Artifact of the day is this set of custom shoulder straps worn by General William Tecumseh Sherman during his tenure as Commanding General of the United States Army from 1869-1883. The design is distinctive to Sherman and I am not aware of another pair of these in a museum (speak up if otherwise!).
My building is surrounded by fencing on the National Mall. Let freedom ring... indeed.
January 16, 2025 at 3:27 AM
My building is surrounded by fencing on the National Mall. Let freedom ring... indeed.
Artifacts of the day is a picture of a just a few Congressional Gold Medals. Each box is an individual actual solid gold medal. Nine so far and more to come.
January 13, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Artifacts of the day is a picture of a just a few Congressional Gold Medals. Each box is an individual actual solid gold medal. Nine so far and more to come.
Pigeons rule
January 13, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Pigeons rule