Meet Our Donors

Gerald "Jerry" Brixius

Not wanting to be drafted into the Army in 1966, Gerald "Jerry" Brixius enlisted in the Marine Corps. Strong and tough from growing up on a farm, he excelled in boot camp. Within months Jerry was in Viet Nam and remained in the Corps until 1972. Sgt Brixius realized that what the Corps taught him—how to improvise, adapt, and overcome —are skills he has used throughout his life.

After retirement, Jerry became a volunteer at the Uniform Display Museum in Salem, OR. Says Jerry, "Preserving history is important to me. I've visited the National Museum of the Marine Corps several times. I am so proud of how our Museum tells the Corps' story. I wanted to be a part of that, so I included a gift to the MCHF from my estate. I am humbled to be able to help educate future generations about the Corps. Just FYI, I'm still as lean, maybe not as mean, but I'll always be a Marine!"