News 8
Museum highlighting Texas military history to open in FW 
10:22 AM CDT on Friday, July 3, 2009
FORT WORTH - While Fort Worth already has a well-known Civil War museum, a new museum dedicated to the Texans who have fought in all wars since is slated to open July 17.
News 8 got a sneak preview Thursday night.
"This is our first step for creating a museum for the metroplex," said Tyler Alberts, the founder of the Warren G. Alberts Military History Center.
Stepping into the old house on Dorothy Lane is like taking a step back in time.
"We try to concentrate on men or women that served in Texas, or served in unit based or trained out of Texas," Alberts said.
Alberts named the museum after his grandfather, who never liked to talk about his role in World War II.
"Upon his death, I was bequeathed his unit history," he said. "I was shocked and amazed at the different things and actions my grandfather was involved in."
The souvenirs he left behind inspired Tyler to build a vast collection, which was augmented by hundreds of donations.
"We have a mannequin dressed for combat late 1944," he said.
The museum covers all the wars of the 20th century, but highlights Texas tales, such as the "Kraut Killers," that might otherwise be forgotten.
"This patch was awarded for men who had confirmed kills of five Germans," Alberts said.
There is also money from Vietnam and black SS uniforms stitched by Jews in slave labor camps. Much of what is at the museum are items Texans brought home, including a Nazi flag seized and signed by soldiers.
"These were the trophies that our soldiers got," Alberts said. "They didn't get a great paycheck, we know that. But, some of what they did get were some great memories from these artifacts because it is a sign of victory."
The museum will be free to the public when it opens officially in two weeks. Alberts said they are looking for more artifacts, especially from ongoing wars.
Warren G. Alberts Military History Center is located at 712 Dorothy Lane in Fort Worth. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
E-mail greaves@wfaa.com
