Chennault Aviation & Military Museum unveils R.C. White, Jr. exhibit

Chennault Aviation & Military Museum
701 Kansas Lane Monroe, LA 71201
Nell Calloway, Director
318-362-5540
www.chennaultmuseum.org
November 6, 2015
Contact: Alex Powell
alex.powell@chennaultmuseum.org
For immediate release:
Chennault Aviation & Military Museum unveils R.C. White, Jr. exhibit
Chennault Aviation & Military Museum is hosting a special ceremony Saturday, Nov. 14, at 2 p.m. for
the unveiling of an enhanced exhibit on Roger “R.C.” White Jr. The public is invited.
Roger Crawford White, Jr. lived a life of public service. He was born in Monroe and enlisted in the U.S.
Army in 1941, shortly after graduating from Tulane University. After graduating from Officer Candidate
School, he was sent to the Anzio beachhead. During the difficult push up the Italian boot to Rome, he was
captured on May 29, 1944, and would spend over a year as a POW, surviving a march from Poland to
Germany in the snow and an abortive attempt at liberating the camp by Gen. George Patton.
After White returned home, he began a program in which the citizens of Monroe exchanged letters with
the citizens of Ingolstadt, Germany in an effort to promote reconciliation and international friendship. He
developed an interest in politics and served in the Louisiana legislature. Through all this, he continued to
serve in the National Guard, and achieved the rank of Captain.
When the Korean War broke out, White volunteered for duty. In May 1951, he was captured by the
enemy while on a mission to rescue wounded troops in his company. He would spend more than two
years in a North Korean POW camp. He was finally released in 1953. He received the Silver Star for
gallantry.
Despite the hardships he had endured, White never lost his concern for his fellow man. He was as
concerned about the civilian victims of war in Korea as he had been about the civilian victims of war in
Germany. He raised donations for the children of Korea through the humanitarian organization CARE,
and he became the sponsor of entire villages in Korea through the Save the Children organization.
During this time, White frequently corresponded with Karin Zumsteg, Sponsorship Director with Save the
Children. After several years, they finally met – and fell in love. They were married in 1955.
White passed away in 1968, and is still remembered as one of north Louisiana’s finest.
The museum is located at 701 Kansas Lane in Monroe, and admission is free. For more information, call
318-362-5540, or visit www.chennaultmuseum.org.
The Chennault Aviation & Military Museum is operated by the Friends of the Chennault Museum.
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