NT History Museum honoring veterans

North Tonawanda’s History Museum announces upcoming events honoring veterans who served in Vietnam (7 p.m., May 10) and World War II (7 p.m. May 24). Activities will take place at 712 Oliver St., North Tonawanda.

Executive Director Howard Roeske said, “We are excited to recognize and honor veterans who fought for our country with these special guests – one who wrote about being in the war, and two who were deeply involved in it.”

Town of Wheatfield Supervisor Don MacSwan, co-author of the book “DOC,” will join the History Museum on May 10 to speak on the Vietnam War. Event organizers said he will take readers “on a journey through the eyes of a combat medic (MacSwan) who served in an infantry platoon during the 1968 Tet Offensive where the platoon suffered a 90% casualty rate.”

Richard Keil and William Gosch, both World War II veterans, will be keynote speakers on May 24, discussing their personal experience during “The Greatest War of All Time.” Keil, 100, was in the U.S. Army Air Corp stationed in the Knettishall Airbase, England, the 388th American Bomb Group. Gosch, 98, was a PFC in the Marine Corp 2nd Battalion Carlson Raiders, stationed in the South Pacific islands of Guadalcanal and Guam.

History Museum volunteer Susan Gosch (William’s daughter) said, “I am grateful these three men are able to tell us their first-hand experiences about the sacrifices they endured for the freedom we have today.”

There is no admission fee for either event, but donations would be greatly accepted to benefit the History Museum. For more information, call 716-213-0554.