War and Idaho

COEUR d’ALENE — World War II was a time of great heroism.

A time of unity.

Americans stood together for a common cause.

That's why Britt Thurman believes the timing is right for the Museum of North Idaho's latest exhibit, "At War: North Idaho During World War II."

"I think it’s just in this time where everyone kind of feels polarized and pulled in every different direction, to realize that this isn’t new," she said. "There was so much strife before; a deadly world war with countries pitted against each other."

But America and her allies rose up to win the fight for life and liberty.

"We were able to overcome that and come back together as a people," Thurman said Wednesday. "It’s just important to remember those things when it feels we’re so divided we’re never going to come back together."

But there is hope today, just as there was eight decades ago when the United States entered World War II.

"At War: North Idaho During World War II" shares stories of local men and women who served in the war or aided in the effort and how the wartime era impacted North Idaho’s culture and economy.

It opened Saturday and runs through October.

It highlights Sgt. James Wofford, Coeur d'Alene's first casualty of the war when he was killed at the age of 25 on Feb. 18, 1942, at the Port of Darwin, in Australia.

Nearly 2,000 Japanese aircraft were attacked in what came to be known as the Australian Pearl Harbor.

The exhibit spotlights the role of the Farragut Naval Training Station on the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille, where nearly 300,000 sailors were trained during the war.

The station became a major economic force and was a boon for businesses. In 1944, Farragut employed more than 2,000 civilian employees with an annual payroll of more than $19 million.

The exhibit showcases a piece of iron from the USS Arizona, which still rests at the bottom of Pearl Harbor.

"You literally are able to touch history," Thurman said.

Hundreds of German prisoners of war were held at Farragut and were treated well, which is explained in the exhibit.

“It was a very different story from how prisoners of war were treated in other countries," Thurman said.

A tribute to Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, North Idaho's legendary aviator, is part of the exhibit, as is Vernon Baker of St. Maries, who received the Medal of Honor in 1997 for his actions during the war.

One of Thurman's favorite pieces is a display dedicated to Gladys Dawson Buroker, who trained pilots during the war in Coeur d'Alene at what was then named Weeks Field, today the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

"She’s just a phenomenal figure when women were kind of pigeonholed into certain fields," Thurman said.

A recent addition just outside the museum is a 1943 fire truck used at Farragut during the war. It was donated by the Coeur Group, which spent two years restoring it.

"A new engine, transmission, lots of angry words and plenty of oil, she now runs like a champ," according to a note from the Coeur Group. "We hope you enjoy her as we do!"

Thurman said the reaction to the exhibit has been "overwhelmingly positive" and she expects it to bolster summer attendance.

The Museum of North Idaho is at 115 Northwest Blvd. It is open daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.