One of the founders and owners of Grateful Generation Tours is Teun van Doorn. Since Teun was 8 years old, he collected items from the Second World War. He now has a unique Collection with, among others, a number of identified items. During our tours, we give information about Operation Market Garden, and also we tell the stories of veterans who participated in this operation. At the end of the tour there is a possibility to visit this exhibition, where original items can be seen from these veterans. The original owners of all of these items have a part during our tours. If you would like to get in contact with us in regard to the exhibition, please feel free to fill in the contact form at the end of this page or send us an e-mail to teun@gratefulgenerationtours.nl.

The veterans and their items

From many veterans we tell stories of during the tours, we have and show their original items, uniforms and memorabilia. During the visit of the exhibition, we again tell the stories of the real heroes and they get extra attention, by giving additional information. In the exhibition, their stories get told in the best way we possibly can. For every identified item we have, we pay the most respect and attention in telling their stories. These stories are gathered by among others reports, interviews with veterans, shared stories by relatives and friends of the veterans, books, and a lot of extra research. Our purpose is keeping the memory alive of Operation Market Garden, with special attention to the veterans. Because of the items in the exhibition, our visitors can experience the history even more in a special way.

Below, you can see several veterans who’s items are displayed in our exhibition. We have done everything we possibly could, to give everything the place and display it deserves. From all the veterans, we have a lot of detailed information wich gets told in the exhibition itself. If you have any questions about anything or any of the veterans, please feel free to mail us at info@gratefulgenerationtours.nl.

In the exhibition, we have arranged perfect circumstances to preserve the items as best as possible. We have done this by making sure the temperature and humidity are both set on perfect depot level, for the best preservation. Next to that, everything is highly secured.

This page is W.I.P.! We are currently adding the pictures of the items from the veterans!

From the following veteran’s we have items in our exhibition, in ascending order of surname:

Ruben C. Black – 9^th Troop Carrier Command, 434^th T.C.G., 71^st T.C.S.

Vernon L. Blank – 82^nd Airborne Division, 319^th G.F.A.B., HQ Btry.

Benjamin F. Chilic – 82^nd Airborne Division, 505^th P.I.R., G. Co.

Arnold I. Cook – 9^th Troop Carrier Command, 316^th T.C.G., 44^th T.C.S.

Archibald S. Davis – 9^th Troop Carrier Command, 435^th T.C.G., 76^th T.C.S.

Paul J. Foynes – 9^th Troop Carrier Command, 439^th T.C.G., 94^th T.C.S.

Gerald E. Grau – 82^nd Airborne Division, 505^th P.I.R., Service Company

Harry G. Gutherless, Jr. – 9th Troop Carrier Command, 439^th T.C.G., 92^nd T.C.S.

Clarence J. Hamm – 82^nd Airborne Division, 508^th P.I.R., HQ & HQ Co.

Harry F. Holloway – 82^nd Airborne Division, 325^th G.I.R., 2^nd Bn. Headquarters

Olin H. Jennings – 9^th Troop Carrier Command, 442^nd T.C.G., 306^th T.C.S.

Joseph A. Marcel – 9^th Troop Carrier Command, 316^th T.C.G., 44^th T.C.S.

Allen F. McClain – 82^nd Airborne Division, 504^th P.I.R., 3^nd Bn. Headquarters

Donald W. McKeage – 82^nd Airborne Division, 505^th P.I.R., F. Co.

Philip Melman – 9^th Troop Carrier Command, 316^th T.C.G., 44^th T.C.S.

Hugh D. Mumford – 82^nd Airborne Division, 307^th A.E.B., C. Co.

Stephen D. Myers – 101^st Airborne Division, 81st A.A.A., H.Q.

Francis E. Orsini – 82^nd Airborne Division, 505^th P.I.R., B. Co.

Milton E. Schlesener – 82^nd Airborne Division, 505^th P.I.R., D. Co.

Harvey R. Shanks – 9^th Troop Carrier Command, 435^th T.C.G., 78^th T.C.S.

George A. Shephard – 101^st Airborne Division, 321^st G.F.A.B., B. Btry.

Sam A. Southall – 9^th Troop Carrier Command, 436^th T.C.G., 80^th T.C.S.

Anthony M. Stefanich – 82^nd Airborne Division, CO 505^th P.I.R., C. Co.

Thomas B. Swirczynski – 101^st Airborne Division, 377^th P.F.A.B., A. Btry.

Thomas R. Talmadge – 9^th Troop Carrier Command, 438^th T.C.G., 88^th T.C.S.

Albert G. Vogt – 101^st Airborne Division, Artillery Headquarters

Frank J. Volek – 82^nd Airborne Division, 325^th G.I.R., G. Co.

Robert H. Wienecke – 82^nd Airborne Division, Division Headquarters, Chief of Staff

Gaddis S. Young – 9^th Troop Carrier Command, 440^th T.C.G., 97^th T.C.S.

P.I.R.: Parachute Infantry Regiment

G.I.R.: Glider Infantry Regiment

G.F.A.B.: Glider Field Artillery Battalion

P.F.A.B.: Parachute Field Artillery Battalion

T.C.G.: Troop Carrier Group

T.C.S.: Troop Carrier Squadron

Co.: Company

Btry.: Battery