By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News
The Livingston County War Museum – Dal Estes Education Center is now displaying the uniform of Iceal Gene Hambleton, whose war story was made famous on the big screen by Gene Hackman and Danny Glover.
The story is called Bat 21, which many describe as the largest, longest and most complex search and rescues operation during the Vietnam War and Museum Board President Ed Long said volunteer Don Fortna made it possible to get the original uniform of the war hero at the museum.
“His relative is BAT 21 and his direct relative lives in Chatsworth and that’s where the uniform has been housed since the Vietnam War. Don talked to his brother-in-law and he got him to bring the uniform up to the museum. Now we have an entire BAT 21 display. It has Col. Hambleton’s actual equipment there. We have both of his uniforms. It’s really an honor to have this. It probably belongs in a national museum, but it’s sitting her in Pontiac,” Long said.
To learn more about the uniform or the story of the BAT 21 experience, visit the museum at 321 N. Main Street in Pontiac.
