28-04-2025
National Vietnam War Museum Inspires Untold Stories
MINERAL WELLS, TX (FOX 44) — Did you know that the National Vietnam War Museum is based here in Texas? As the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon approaches, the museum offers a powerful look at that pivotal moment in history.
In this story, we'll meet the museum's founder, learn what inspired him to establish it, and explore how the Fall of Saigon continues to help shape its mission today.
'Welcome to the National Vietnam War Museum. Follow me to see the secrets,' says Jim Messinger, one of the founders and the current treasurer of the National Museum of the Vietnam War.
Messinger knows all about the 'secrets' which are on display as soon as you walk through the door: a utility truck, with its armament and specs – all detailed in a compelling display. A giant 7 x 12 quilt with 68 photos – all people who served in Vietnam.
And a training helicopter – something near and dear to Messinger.
'What kind of memories does this one bring back? Oh, the greatest memory of all is I almost failed flight school because of this helicopter,' Messinger says.
Yes, Messinger was a helicopter pilot – did tours in Vietnam in 1967-68 and again September of 1970 through September 1971.
'[Being a] Helicopter pilot was a big thing. I wanted to be in the air force, and they required a college degree. I was majoring in women and beer at the time and my grade point average was slipping – if you go below 2.0 you get drafted, and it was at a 1.8 (GPA) when I went to sign up for the Army,' Messinger says. 'I asked the Air Force guy if they were still requiring a college degree, and he said yes. So, the Army recruiter was right next door to him, and he says, 'We have this helicopter program. All you need is high school diploma,' and I had three years of college under my belt, and I found out they weren't going to give me a degree for my major, so he said, 'Okay, sign up.''
Messinger says it was fellow helicopter pilots who trained at what then was Fort Wolters near Mineral Wells, who met to form a local support organization, which morphed into something else.
'A guy named Jim – not me – raises his hand and says, 'Let's build a museum!,'' and that's how it kicked off,' Messinger says. 'We didn't know anything about what we were doing or how to do it. We just started down the road. We knew how to raise money. Today we have a 10,000-foot two story building, and we're building another building right now, so in couple of years we'll have two of these, and then we'll be talking about what the third one will be.'
For Messinger, building the museum was his second life – flying helicopters (was) his first.
'There's nothing more fun than flying helicopters, and they really are fun,' Messinger says. 'When I went to Vietnam, I was 21 years old, and my first job was to fly around and let people shoot at me. Anybody out there wants that job – let me know!'
Across from the training helicopter, another display that touches Messinger's heart in a different way.
'Evacuation from Saigon,' Messinger says.
A display that features a video surrounding the Fall of Saigon in the spring of 1975.
'My big thing is this display behind me, (which is) the evacuation of Saigon, and what I am going to teach people that come here about their government, and why we need a different government,' Messinger says. 'It's the only war that's been blamed on the soldiers. The soldiers don't do it. The government tells us to go to war, and unfortunately the government wanted to run the war. They don't know the first thing about running wars, so it was messy over there.'
Much of the messiness on display as you stroll through the museum's decorated hallways, as well as its impacts on all people involved.
'I'm out here at least two days a week,' Messinger says. 'And sometimes more. And it's still very emotional for me. Still.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
