Meet Our Donors

Bill Bauer, USMC

LtCol Harold W. Bauer USMC was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his service in the South Pacific during World War II. What his only child, Bill, learned about his father— U.S. Naval Academy graduate, naval aviator, war hero—made him want to follow in his father's footsteps. After Bill's own graduation from the Naval Academy, he served in the Marine Corps for 27 years. He flew Phantoms in Vietnam and as a test pilot was the first Marine to fly the F-14 Tomcat. He is also a member of the prestigious Golden Eagles.

"The Museum means a lot to me—it tells our history. My strong personal connection is the pride I have in knowing that my father's Medal of Honor and citation signed by President Truman is in the Museum's collection, along with other memorabilia including his war diary and a pair of his aviator sunglasses. I also sponsored a seat in the Medal of Honor Theater to honor my father. My legacy gift celebrates our family's deep connection to the Marine Corps."