The National WWII Museum's newest special exhibit, SOLDIER | ARTIST: Trench Art in World War II, takes an in-depth look at a military pastime known as "trench art": the creation of art, souvenirs, and tools out of discarded materials and the waste of war. Just as evaluating any other art form can reveal the life experience of its creator, the artifacts featured in this exhibit offer visitors a unique way to connect to the WWII veterans who made them—whether they did so out of boredom or necessity.

Cities, birds, and denizens of the deep. Three items which on the surface have nothing in common, yet they were all conventions for naming US warships in the WWII era.

Jack Glass describes his experiences aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6) during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons in August 1942.

The groundbreaking 1952 television documentary "Victory at Sea" and its magnificent musical score marked an enduring tribute to the US Navy’s role in winning World War II.

To celebrate the end of the war and the journey back to the United States, US Navy ships often flew long pennants to commemorate their time overseas.

Raymond Bailey describes a horrible experience he had after the USS Franklin (CV-13) was hit by two bombs while operating off the coast of Japan in March 1945.

Joseph LaNier describes two encounters he had with racism in the military, one of which surprised him.

James Allen describes his experiences aboard the USS Wahoo (SS-238) during her second war patrol in the waters off Guadalcanal.

PhoM2c William “Bill” Roy describes his experiences aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5) during the Battle of Midway.

Jack Yusen describes his experiences during the Battle Off Samar during which the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) and a handful of destroyers and destroyer escorts turned back a Japanese fleet.

Charles Bishop describes his experiences during the first patrol of the USS Piranha (SS-389).

Stanley “Swede” Vejtasa describes his experiences during the Battle of the Coral Sea on 7 May 1942.