LSU Military Museum tells veterans' stories

Jul 17, 2023

The William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum's mission is to tell the stories of the men and women who served in the U.S. military, all with connections to LSU.

The museum's exhibits begin with the university's origins as a military school in the 1800s and continues to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It also highlights the many generals who have hailed from LSU, features stories of everyday soldiers whose acts of valor made a difference during their service.

The museum is located in LSU's Memorial Tower. Hours are 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and admission is free.

The museum continually seeks out stories from and about military veterans with LSU connections and is always accepting donations of artifacts.

For more information, call (225) 334-2003 or email [email protected].

James Gregory, director of the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum in Memorial Tower, stands next to the exhibit case displaying Whitney Langlois' C-ration soup can label check that saved his fellow American POWs from hunger.

The William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum is located in LSU's Memorial Tower.

The C-ration soup label Whitney Langlois turned into a check and sent to his hometown bank in New Roads while a prisoner of war in a Japanese camp during World War II is framed within an exhibit case in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum. The bank cashed the check and sent the money to Langlois, who used it to buy food for himself and his fellow POWs.

A detailed view of the C-ration soup label Whitney Langlois turned into a check and sent to his hometown bank in New Roads while a prisoner of war in a Japanese camp during World War II framed within an exhibit case in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum. The bank cashed the check and sent the money to Langlois, who used it to buy food for himself and his fellow POWs.

The Bank of New Roads' endorsement on the C-ration soup label Whitney Langlois turned into a check and sent to his hometown bank while a prisoner of war in a Japanese camp during World War II. The check is framed within an exhibit case in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum. The bank cashed the check and sent the money to Langlois, who used it to buy food for himself and his fellow POWs.

A reproduction C-ration Campbell's Soup can is on display in the Whitney Langlois exhibition case at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

A photo of New Roads native, 2nd Lt. Whitney Langlois in the Philippines before the Japanese invasion during World War II. The photo is on display at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

New Roads native, 2nd Lt. Whitney Langlois in the Philippines before the Japanese invasion during World War II. The photo is on display at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

A photo of New Roads native, 2nd Lt. Whitney Langlois in the Philippines before the Japanese invasion during World War II. The photo is on display at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Medals awarded to 2nd Lt. Whitney Langlois are featured in the the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

A plaster sculpture of David French Boyd, who served as superintendent of LSU, and Thomas Duckett Boyd, who later served as president of the university, is on exhibit at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

A walk through the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum in LSU's Memorial Tower on campus. Staff video by Robin Miller

Gazing into one of two galleries at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum in Memorial Tower.

LSU's history as a military school is highlighted among the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum. Gov. Huey P. Long stands in front of a sign bearing LSU's moniker as the 'Ole War Skule' attached to a train filled with students whose trip he funded to an away football game.

The William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum features a section on LSU's athletes who have served in the military. Included in the exhibit is the letterman sweater, photo and dog tags of football player-turned Sgt. Joe Negata, who served in the U.S. Army's Company F of the 42nd Regimental Combat Team.

The William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum features a section on LSU's athletes who have served in the military. Included in the exhibit is the letterman sweater, photo and dog tags of football player-turned Sgt. Joe Negata, who served in the U.S. Army's Company F of the 42nd Regimental Combat Team.

This LSU flag was flown over Forward Operating Bass Lightning in Gardez, Afghanistan. It is signed by the members of the 2nd Platoon, 92nd Engineering Company of Baker and is on display in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

LSU's founding as a military school is commemorated in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum by this cadet uniform jacket that belonged to Cadet Capt. Robert Y. Mills.

This 1940 banner is on exhibit at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Artifacts that belonged to LSU's four-star Gen. Charles Christopher 'Hondo' Campbell, commanding general of the U.S. Army, is on exhibit at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

The flight suit worn by Lt. Col. James Dozier, U.S. Air Force, is on exhibit in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

The helmet with oxygen mask worn by Lt. Col. James Dozier, U.S. Air Force, is on exhibit in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

The gloves sunglasses worn by Lt. Col. James Dozier, U.S. Air Force, is on exhibit in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

This uniform stands in the center of a display commemorating LSU's generals in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Binoculars used in Berlin during World War II are on exhibit in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

The four star insignia plate that was own Gen. George S. Patton's car is on display at the William R. Brookshire LSU Military Museum. It was donated by John Bass, Patton's driver during World War II.

A compass with case used during World War II is on exhibit at the William R. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Artifacts used during World War II are on exhibit at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

A Luger with holster and a Colt .45 automatic pistol with holster used by Lucien P. Laborde during World War II are included in a display on his service, as well as the service of his brothers John and Alden at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

A U.S. Army officer's notebook is on display in an exhibition case commemorating brothers Lucien, Alden and John Laborde during World War II in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Dog tags are on display in an exhibition case commemorating brothers Lucien, Alden and John Laborde during World War II in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Artifacts are on display in an exhibition case commemorating brothers Lucien, Alden and John Laborde during World War II in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

The flight suit worn by Lt. John James Capdevielle, U.S. Army Air Corps, during World War II is featured in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Letters written in the field by LSU's military personnel to their families are on exhibit at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Letters written in the field by LSU's military personnel to their families are on exhibit at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Letters written in the field by LSU's military personnel to their families are on exhibit at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Letters written in the field by LSU's military personnel to their families are on exhibit at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Letters written in the field by LSU's military personnel to their families are on exhibit at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Letters written in the field by LSU's military personnel to their families are on exhibit at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Letters and telegrams sent from the field by LSU's military personnel to their families are on exhibit at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

A combat field pack, a steel helmet and a Japanese soldier's flag, all used during World War II, are on display in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

A multi-purpose tool, which includes a fork, spoon, knife, saw and scissors, used during World War II is on display in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Utensils used during World War II are on exhibit at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

A record of mandatory items and a flight log book used during World War II are on display at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Photos taken from the perspective of planes bombing cities during World War II are on display at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Photos taken from the perspective of planes bombing cities during World War II are on display at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

An air raid siren used during World War II is on display at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

A canvas covered canteen issued during World War II is on display at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

An aviator's cap used during World War II is on display at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

A compass issued during World War II is on display at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Capt. Ralph T. Brown's Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals are on display in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

A collection of personal mementos from the collection of Eugene Cazedessus, a member of the Flying Tigers, is on display in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Flight Officer Louis A. Hebert's officer's identification card is on display in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

A war ration book issued during World War II is on display in the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.

Foot powder issued to soldiers during World War II was important to maintaining dry feet when they marched into battle. This is on display in the William R. Brookshire LSU Military Museum.