Korean War hero Staff Sgt. Lewis G. Watkins' Congressional Medal of Honor is on display at the museum.
On Oct. 7, 1952, U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Lewis G. Watkins of Seneca led his unit through the dark Korean morning to retake an outpost from the enemy. As the men reached the crest of the hill, they faced intense small-arms fire and grenade attacks.
Watkins was wounded, but ignored the pain. He had a job to do. He took up a wounded marine’s automatic rifle, silenced an enemy machine-gun position and moved his men into a trench for cover while they pressed the attack. There, an enemy grenade fell among Watkins and his comrades. In the crucial seconds that followed, Watkins pushed his companions aside, grabbed the grenade and attempted to throw it from the trench.
The grenade exploded in his hand, mortally wounding Watkins, but his actions saved the lives of his men. For his heroism and self-sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor.
Watkins’ story is one among many on display at the Oconee Veterans Museum in Walhalla. The museum is dedicated to preserving the artifacts of war and the stories of South Carolina veterans who have served in combat from the Revolutionary War to today’s conflict in Afghanistan.
“There’s so much historical significance in this area and so many veterans … we figured that a veterans museum would be a natural fit,” says Jon Busch of West Union, vice president of the museum's board. “A lot of history is being lost, and this is our way to preserve it.”
The museum is divided chronologically, laid out like a walk through history. Visitors start with the Revolutionary War and move on to the Civil War, which Busch calls “The War Between the States” because “no war is ever civil.” Then, it’s on to World War I.
The World War II display, the museum’s largest section, gives an insightful look into the life of an American soldier. While 1940s music plays in the background, military uniforms, helmets, government-issued handbooks and weapons adorn the walls—alongside the photos of local veterans who once used them. Photos like “The Walhalla Boys,” three friends who went to boot camp and war together and remained close the rest of their lives.
Also in the World War II collection: sand from the Normandy beachhead codenamed “Utah” during the D-Day invasion, captured Nazi insignia, and ornately crafted “trench art,” or sculptures crafted out of spent artillery shells.
The Korean War section houses Staff Sgt. Watkins’ Medal of Honor, which is displayed during museum hours, alongside photos and the story of his sacrifice. A third room holds Vietnam memorabilia, like Ho Chi Minh sandals and a Vietnamese montagnard crossbow.
There’s even a wall dedicated to the Cold War, before visitors arrive at the still-evolving displays dedicated to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Some of the kids come in and say, ‘Cold War? What’s a Cold War?’ And I say ‘I’m so glad you asked,’ ” Busch says, always happy for the chance to educate. “A lot of people don’t really realize the sacrifices that have been made.”
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Get There
The Oconee Veterans Museum is located inside Patriot’s Hall at 13 Short St. in Walhalla, just off Highway 28 behind the Oconee County Courthouse.
Hours: Every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Group tours may be arranged at other times.
Admission: Free, though donations are encouraged. The museum is handicapped accessible.
Details: (864) 638-5455;oconeeveteransmuseum.org
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The S.C. Cotton Museum is only one of Bishopville's highlights. Check out "Must See Bishopville."