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>> ASHLEY: Coming up... explore firefighting history, meet veterans channeling their inner artist, climb aboard a historic ship, and learn about Indiana's law enforcement roots.

That's all on this episode of "Journey Indiana"!

♪ Welcome to "Journey Indiana."

I'm Ashley Chilla.

And today's show is all about service.

We're bringing you our favorite stories about soldiers, veterans and first responders, and we're doing it from the Freeman Army Airfield Museum in Jackson County.

The Freeman Army Airfield was once a World War II training base for the Army Air Corps, the predecessor to the U.S. Air Force.

From 1942 to 1946, this was one of the many sites across the country where pilots learned how to fly the Army's dual engine aircraft.

The base was also the site of the Freeman Army Airfield Mutiny, which signaled the beginning of the end of segregation in the U.S. Armed Forces.

And we'll learn all about this historic place in just a bit, but first up, producer Nick Deel takes us to Fort Wayne for a hot take at the Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum.

[ Siren ] >> It's easy to take for granted the speed and efficiency of today's modern firefighters.

Fortunately, visitors to the Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum can get an idea of how this storied profession came to be.

>> It is a museum that chronicles the history of not just the Fort Wayne Fire Department, but the fire service in general from the 1800s up through present day.

What we hope that people take away when they do come in here is to learn a little bit about our history, how far our firefighters have come, what they went through in the early days to get to where we are today.

>> In fact, many Fort Wayne firefighters' paths went through this very building.

>> The building itself was originally built in 1893 as a two-bay station.

And then the west side was added on in 1907, another two bays on the west side.

At its peak, there were 12 horses in this station.

Of course, the motorized came in, the horses all left, and it was an active station until 1972.

♪ >> Strolling through this firehouse-turned museum, you can encounter more than 200 years of firefighting technology.

>> So the oldest equipment we have is hand pumpers, which is what the first fire trucks were.

They were hand pumpers that were used from the 1700s into the mid-1800s.

They were pushed to the fire by the firemen.

Ten guys would get on each side and literally hand pump the unit to get the water to flow through.

And as long as they wanted water, they had to pump that hand pumper.

If they stopped, the water stopped.

So then when the steam engines came in, that was a huge advancement in fire service.

They could pump multiple lines.

They were bigger pumps, and instead of having manpower to pump it, it was done by the steam.

So what that allowed was instead of needing 20 to 40 men, like you did on the hand pumper, it only took two men to operate the steam fire engine, which also allowed cities to then create paid professional firefighters because they could afford less men at the fire scene.

♪ Then you start getting into the more modern fire trucks.

They carried a lot more equipment on them.

They went from piston pumps to rotary pumps, and they were more powerful.

They could pump multiple lines, get a lot more water on the fire, carry a lot more equipment, more firefighters.

They were still different from today.

They didn't have roofs on them.

They were open cabs, and didn't really carry as much stuff as we have today.

>> But there's much more to see here than just fire engines.

The alarm room is dedicated to, you guessed it, the history of fire alarms.

>> In the 1870s, they would have been using street boxes.

And this is an example of a street box.

So if you had an emergency, you ran down to the local corner, and you would go to one of these boxes, open it up, flip that, and then wait.

Because the firemen were going to respond to that corner.

Every box had a different number.

And in the station, this would tick out that number, and it would ring on -- on a gong in the station one time, three times, two times.

And then the firefighters would look that number up in their card catalog, find 132, which -- Box 132.

And it told them what street corner it was on, who responded on the first, second and third alarm.

>> There's also a wing of the museum dedicated to advancements in protecting firefighters themselves.

>> Originally, they -- basically, they stood outside and threw water on the building from the outside if they could.

They went in a little bit, if it was just a room, one or two rooms, they could get close, but they threw water in; whereas, today, we go after the fire.

We will go into the buildings, go into the structures and try to find the seat of the fire and get as close to it as we can and get water on it as fast as we can to protect the rest of the building.

>> On top of his duties at the museum, Dennis Giere is a full-time Fort Wayne firefighter, and is in his 35th year of service.

And so, for him, these vehicles and artifacts are a vital connection to the past.

>> Oh, I think it's important, at least for the firefighters to know where we came from, what hardships the previous firefighters had to get us to where we are today, and how the advancements in technology and everything have really helped our -- our service and allowed us to be better firefighters.

As far as the public goes, it's nice to have this history so they can see how far we've come, and a lot of that stuff we have down here at the museum that they can see what we do.

♪ >> ASHLEY: My oldest son loves firefighters, loves fire engines.

I think when I tell him the fact that the first fire engines required almost 40 firefighters to be involved in them, that's gonna blow his mind.

Want to learn more?

Head to fortwaynefiremuseum.com.

>> Earlier, we spoke with the curator, Larry Bothe at the Freeman Army Airfield Museum to learn a bit more about the amazing history here.

♪ During World War II, the United States Army built airfields all over the country in order to train large numbers of pilots quickly.

The Freeman Army Airfield outside the small town of Seymour in southern Indiana, was one of them.

And the museum that sits on the airfield's former site has a particularly interesting story to tell.

>> Freeman Army Airfield was built in essentially the whole year of 1942.

Rail transportation was really important, late '30s, early '40s.

Seymour had intersecting north-south railroads.

So they could bring in things by rail, and we had north-south highways.

So we had good highways and good rail transportation.

>> The airfield was primarily used to train pilots to fly dual engine aircraft, using Beech AT-10s.

A product of wartime rationing, these training craft were shockingly bare bones.

>> It only had two seats, side by side in the front.

The whole back of the airplane was just empty, open, no seats, no structure for seats, no cargo support, no nothing.

So it kept the expense down.

Secondly, they could build them fast.

And third, it was mostly constructed of wood.

Everything from the cockpit aft was wood.

Now, clearly they had to have metal engine mounts and metal landing gear and so forth, but the wings were wood.

Even the wing spars, the main support in the wings were wood.

>> Towards the end of the war, the airfield was used to house and examine captured enemy aircraft, part of a project known as Luftwaffle Secret Technology or Operation LUSTY.

>> So some of those airplanes, they put back together and test flew to evaluate their flying characteristics, how well they handled, what kind of special high-lift devices they had, aerodynamics.

Other ones, they completely disassembled because they wanted to check the metallurgy, what were these aircraft made out of?

Notably, this airfield was also the site of an early episode in the Civil Rights movement.

Here, over two days in April of 1945, a group of Black officers tried to force their way into the informally whites only officers' club, causing minor altercations between white and Black officers.

>> Because in spite of what the higher up command said, the truth is the segregation in the military bases was still rampant.

In a matter of a few days, the whole country knew about it.

It didn't go over well at all.

People were outraged that these guys got arrested.

>> While nearly all charges were eventually dropped and no officers received heavy sentences, informal segregation in the U.S. Armed Forces would last another four years.

In 1947, the U.S. Army handed over the airfield to the city of Seymour.

It's now known as the Freeman Municipal Airport.

>> Yeah, it's an airport today that is used every day.

It just doesn't have any commercial service.

>> Much has changed over the years, and, in fact, the buildings, which comprise the airfield museum, are some of the last remaining from the 1940s.

For now, though, the exhibits and artifacts inside continue to illustrate what life was like on this historic installation, giving visitors a better understanding of this unique piece of American history.

>> It's museums like ours are the only people that are keeping this stuff.

Yes, you can go down to the big World War II Museum in New Orleans.

I've been through it.

It's really nice.

But how many people can go to New Orleans?

That's a big effort.

Here, these local hometown museums that do things like we do are, I think, really meaningful for preserving our national history.

>> ASHLEY: As I was driving up to this building, I noticed a lot of airplane hangars, and I'm thinking if we talk to the right person, we might be able to go up in one of those airplanes.

Want to learn more?

Head to freemanarmyairfieldmuseum.org.

Up next, producer Adam Carroll takes us to Marion County, to see how art is helping veterans find their voice.

The VA offers all types of therapy for all branches of the military, to help drown out the chatter of their past experiences.

And as part of this therapy, the participants can join in on multiple events, including the VA Arts Festival at the Arts for Lawrence Outdoor Space.

>> I really find that art therapy has a way of, um, really connecting deeply with our thoughts and our feelings and our behaviors, a little bit different than just talking does.

And sometimes it's like nonverbal, so you are creating a piece of artwork, and even though we are not saying things, the art's communicating to the veteran, and that's changing the way they're thinking, just regarding their artwork and making their artwork.

It really taps into, like -- into a deep part of the soul.

And many veterans have the experience of having an identity shift, where something completely changes, whether that's because of a trauma or just being in the training or -- like, there's -- it's a very life-changing event.

And so I find that those creative arts really help express that big shift and change, better than just talking about it does.

♪ >> Christina and her team provide materials and guidance for each participating person.

Where they go from there, it's up to them.

>> So I started the art therapy in April, and it started out with Kristi sending me a box, and it was like Christmas Day.

It was amazing!

And I opened all this stuff, and created a closet, a space for it.

And then I started to create a time, and an allocated day to meet her and talk to her about the art, and the ideas that we were working with.

I told Kristi, when I was 6 years old, I knew what I wanted to do in life.

I went to open house with my parents, and I got to display my artwork.

And I was just on fire.

I was so excited!

So then I fast forward, all through college, I had to work to go to college, and I didn't get to participate in the art showings and so forth, the groups.

Once I got into the military, it's a different kind of art.

And I was stationed at Stout Field for 17 years, where I was a modeling NCO, which does maps, charts, graphs, overlays for catastrophic events.

And so I was doing artwork, but it was not the kind of art that I thought I'd be doing.

♪ >> So this year's creative arts festival ties into a national creative arts festival.

I think this will be the 42nd year of the national festival.

So the local VA shows -- not just ours, but across the country -- filter up to that national show.

So the winners today, first, second and third place winners, have the opportunity to submit their artwork to national.

If they win at national, then they get invited.

This year it's St. Louis.

So veterans get an opportunity to travel, spend the weekend for that national festival.

There's going to be so many different varieties of art, glasswork, metalwork.

It's a family-friendly event.

So I'm hoping we'll see a lot of veterans with their families, with their support people, with their friends, with their kids, and I hope that people stand up and dance when people are performing, when the veterans are performing.

I hope that it is lively and everyone's chatting with each other, and the veteran artists are making connections with each other and finding commonalty in -- in what they create.

>> I am so excited to share this day with other veterans, and learn their stories and talk to them about their art.

And since 2013, I haven't got to mingle with other military people that much.

So it's just an amazing journey.

>> We're all kind of starved for that connection.

We've gone through some really rough years.

We weren't able to have the Creative Arts Festival last year because of COVID, and the year before that it was in the VA. And so we're outside of the hospital.

We're outside.

We're at this great venue with these musical swings and live music and food trucks.

It feels like a real art festival.

It is a real art festival!

And I think that's why we've had such -- so many people who want to be a part of it.

♪ >> I really believe in the healing quality of art, whether you are just coloring a coloring sheet or quilting or -- it doesn't really matter what kind of creative activity it is, I just really think that that's good for the soul.

And some of the artist statements that are out there, the veterans have written up to go along with their pieces, they all say similar things.

Like, this really helps me.

This is how I connect to myself.

This is how I connect to others.

That's really, really powerful.

>> This is it!

This is a 6-year-old girl's dream come true.

I texted my friends and family and said, hey, you know, I'm going to do this.

And for many years, my inner circle has known what I used to do, and they kind of see this as a coming out party, so to speak.

And I can't wait to keep doing this and looking forward to another event next year.

>> ASHLEY: I connect with this idea so much because I know when I have had tough times in my own life, I have turned to art.

I have turned to painting and creating, to sort of work through those feelings.

And I think it's amazing that this opportunity exists for those folks as well.

Want to learn more?

Head to artsforlawrence.org.

Up next, producer Jason Pear takes us to Vanderburgh County, where it's full steam ahead aboard the historic USS LST-325.

♪ >> LST is a landing ship tank.

There were 1,051 of these built during World War II.

Their main job was to get tanks and heavy stuff to enemy beaches where there's no port facilities, because the enemy already owns the ports, like in France at D-Day.

So this opened up the whole Atlantic Wall.

And we talk a lot about Normandy on here, because this particular ship was there at D-Day in North Africa.

We remind folks that there's 60-some odd landings to do in the Pacific after D-Day, and the LST was critical to all of that.

♪ This is the only one out of 1,051 that's still in its original World War II configuration and sails on its own power.

There was 229 LSTs at D-Day, for example, and only one of them was still floating, and you are on it today here in Evansville.

♪ Evansville, the shipyard, which is less than a mile from where we are sitting, built the most LSTs of any shipyard in the country.

So Indiana is the LST capital of the world, because Jeffersonville built them too.

167 was the record here in Evansville.

♪ It's a flat-bottomed ship with a big hole in the front.

Duh.

Who would have ever thought of that?

Actually, the British did.

♪ The original concept was British, but America made them all.

This ship goes up on the beach, and it can unload 20 Sherman tanks, 30 trucks, and 200 troops.

When I say a flat bottom, it's got a slight slope to it, which is engineered to be the average grade of your average beach in the world.

>> We're good to try the props, cap.

>> All right.

Here goes.

>> They are going to cast off here in a little bit at 10:00.

They are heading on their annual trip.

This is our main fund-raiser.

We usually make two to three stops.

One major stop, which will be Charleston, West Virginia; and two lesser stops, the first one being in Brandenburg, Kentucky; and then Ashland, Kentucky.

>> You are clear to come ahead, captain.

>> And they will do tours, like we do here in Evansville all year.

Only in that three and a half weeks they're gone, they will take in more people than we get all year here at Evansville.

♪ The crew on here today will be about 40 people, average age 69 or 70.

And they come from all over the country, really all over the eastern U.S., with a few coming from as far out, you know, in the far west.

So they look forward to this.

And then they're ready to get off the ship in three and a half weeks and go home.

It's hot, hard work, but it's a labor of love.

>> Smooth sailing, LST-325.

>> Thank you, Mr. Donahue.

And thank you for all you do.

>> A lot of them bring their grandpas, their dads here, who are in their 90s.

They come from wherever in the country because grandpa hasn't seen an LST or Evansville, Indiana, since 1943.

So that's the most gratifying thing that I see here.

♪ >> ASHLEY: Want to learn more?

Head to LSTmemorial.org.

Up next, producer Nick Deel takes us to Marion County to explore the history of the Indiana State Police.

>> The Indiana State Police Museum is a collection of historical pieces that have really helped propel the state police to where we are today.

The Indiana State Police Museum's management falls under the auspice of the Indiana State Police Public Information Office.

The purpose of our museum is very simple, education.

We want to educate the general public on the history of the Indiana State Police.

The Indiana State Police was formed in 1933.

It was created for a couple of different reasons.

In the early 1930s, gangs were prevalent.

Gangs that were robbing banks, the Brady Gang, John Dillinger, Al Capone.

So, you know, a lot of notoriety of those individuals and their groups found their way into, through and among our Indiana communities.

And so if there was a bank robbery, say here in Marion County, and the bank robber fled to Monroe County, to Bloomington, Marion County Sheriff had no authority down there.

So there became a need for a law enforcement agency that had that breadth, and that's part of why we became who we are.

This is our 90th anniversary.

There's been a lot of technological changes in 90 years as you can imagine.

Different types of uniform, equipment, vehicles, been utilized by our personnel, both sworn and civilian.

We do have examples of a polygraph machine, which is commonly known as a lie detector test.

We still use polygraphs today, but the ones that are on display here, they go back a few years.

You will find an old Drunkometer.

Today, the technology that goes into a certified breath test machine for intoxication is pretty significant, but when those machines came out, they were -- that was a technology of the time.

Again, just a sampling of the many different things that we utilize with the Indiana State Police.

How vehicles have changed and evolved with our agency is much the same as how we came to be.

In 1933, when our agency actually became the Indiana State Police, we became that out of a necessity.

The automobile was really becoming a primary mode of transportation.

There became more of a need of obviously regulation, rules of the road, traffic laws, but also vehicle crashes.

So there needed to be an entity that was charged with those responsibilities.

To me, I think the two crown jewels are the two privately owned vehicles that we have on display, the 1964 Ford and the 1957 Ford.

And they're a hit with, again, young and old alike, because you don't get to see these very often.

I think it's important that we preserve and represent the history because it -- it reminds us of our humble beginnings.

I think it's extremely important for people to know where we've come from, the things that we're doing, and really do our very best to explain why, because I think that communication component is so very important, especially today.

We're proud of who we are and where we've come from and where we're going.

And we want people to understand realistically what it is that the men and women of law enforcement have to contend with each and every day while they're out there, you know, doing the things that keep the public safe.

>> ASHLEY: And as always, we encourage you to stay connected with us.

Just head over to JourneyIndiana.org.

There you can see full episodes, connect with us on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, and suggest stories from your neck of the woods.

We also have a map feature that allows you to see where we've been and to plan your own Indiana adventures.

Well, I'm gonna go see who I can talk to.

Maybe I can go talk to Larry about going up in one of those planes.

We'll see you next time on "Journey Indiana."

♪ >> Production support for "Journey Indiana" is provided by WTIU members.

Thank you!