Pacific War Museum in Texas expands gallery named for Bush

Pacific War Museum in Texas expands gallery named for Bush

FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (AP) -- The National Museum of the Pacific War has expanded its George H.W. Bush Gallery with new multimedia exhibits, testimonials and artifacts about the conflict in Asia during World War II.

In-depth exhibits include a look at the impact and destruction of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Among the artifacts on display is an HA-19, one of five Japanese two-man submarines that took part in the attack.

The opening of the new space was timed to coincide with the 68th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks on Dec. 7. The dedication was attended by the former president for whom the gallery is named. Bush, who lives in Houston, is a World War II naval aviator who survived being shot down by the Japanese over the Pacific. About 4,000 people attended the ceremony.

The museum is managed by the Nimitz Foundation, named for Fredericksburg native Adm. Chester Nimitz. He commanded American naval forces in the Pacific during the war.

The $15.5 million museum expansion had been planned for about a decade.

Details at http://www.nimitz-museum.org/. Fredericksburg is about 70 miles west of Austin, Texas.