Bobby Lall made a large donation to the Fort Tuthill Military Museum and a retired U.S. Army general presented his sidearm to Lall in a gesture of appreciation in an event held at Old World Guns in Camp Verde on Saturday, July 22.
“The donation that we’re getting is the largest donation that we’ve ever received,” museum President James Denton said. “This $25,000 donation is going to allow us to have some long-term sustainability, which is what we’re looking for.”
The museum is volunteer- and donation-based and does not receive any state or city funding. It was founded in 2004 by Jim Warbasse, the grandson of Brig. Gen. Alexander M. Tuthill, who was Adjutant General for Arizona from Feb. 4, 1936 to June 25, 1952.
“We want people to see our museum,” Denton said. “It’s Arizona history, that’s what’s very important about it.”
The mission of the museum is to preserve and share the history of the 158th Infantry Regiment, 158th Regimental Combat Team and current 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry of the Arizona National Guard. The museum follows the history of the regiment from its organization in 1865 as the 1st Regiment Arizona Volunteers through the 1967 retirement of the regimental colors and the 2005 organization and deployment of the 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry.
The museum houses an extensive collection of military weapons in a multimedia space, with both self guided and docent-guided tours available.
“What makes it unique is the people that work here,” Denton said. “It’s just a labor of love. We’ve never had anybody come out of there and say that it was a waste of their time. They’ve always said that they’ve learned something about Arizona that they didn’t know.”
Gen. Tuthill is considered to be the father of the Arizona National Guard. In civilian life, he was a surgeon credited with pioneering the use of foreign material in bone surgery.
Tuthill’s military career began in a cavalry troop of the California National Guard. He then commanded the 2nd Cavalry Troop of Arizona and was later promoted to colonel and given command of the 1st Arizona Infantry. In 1917, the 1st Arizona Infantry was designated as the 158th Infantry Regiment, an Arizona National Guard unit. During World War I, Tuthill was one of the U.S. Army’s youngest brigade commanders and one of the few National Guard officers selected for promotion to brigadier general. In 1936, he was appointed Adjutant General of the Arizona National Guard and filled the role until 1952. Tuthill’s awards included the first Arizona Medal of Honor ever awarded and the United States Medal for Merit.
Fort Tuthill was constructed in 1929 and was considered one of the finest National Guard training facilities. It served as the permanent annual field training site for the 158th Infantry Regiment from 1929 to 1937, and was used for the purpose again in 1939 and 1948.
Retired Brig. Gen. Alberto Gonzalez also presented his general officer’s sidearm to Lall during the event. Gonzalez, who is from Tucson, was an infantry officer with the 1st Cavalry Division during Operation Desert Storm, commanded the 1st Battalion 158th Infantry and was deployed with the American army of occupation in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008.
The 158th Regimental Combat Team was nicknamed the Bushmasters and is one of the most famous American military groups; Gonzalez’ grandfather enlisted with the unit.
According to David Jonas of Old World Guns, generals receive a sword, flag and sidearm that have a serial number exclusive to each of them.
“These are never, to my knowledge, ever given up,” Jonas said. “I’ve had general officers’ sidearms come up for sale very rarely. I’m not aware of any living general surrendering his sidearm in order to support something. This could be the first time.”
“I don’t think anyone’s ever presented their general officer pistol to a donor to show their appreciation,” Denton said.
Jonas’ shop specializes in antique, collectible and military firearms, and also loans guns for the museum’s exhibits.
“Our mission is to bring this history to the young people, and they’re really hungry for it,” Jonas said. “The younger generation, they’re playing this game called ‘Call of Duty’ and it gives them a taste of military history. My shop is full of young people wanting to learn more about U.S. military and other foreign military histories.”
Jonas claimed that the museum is a great resource for young people to get a real sense of military history in the United States and abroad.
