“The Greatest LOST Generation,” by Brigadier General Arthur G. Austin Jr. on June 12 at the Eldred WWII Museum

Retired US Army officer to present on the people of color who fought in WWII

From the Eldred PA WWII Museum, pictured is NYS Sen. George Borrello, General Austin, and Karen Austin

Eldred, PA – Brigadier General Arthur G. Austin Jr, a retired military veteran, will speak at the Eldred WWII Museum on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 6:30 pm in the Museum’s Mitchell Paige Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

General Austin will provide an inspirational talk titled “The Greatest LOST Generation”, a title referring to the people of color who served and fought in WWII.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, General Austin entered into military service in 1977 as an enlisted member in the 177MP Group, 210th Military Police Battalion, MIARNG. He attended basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, before attending the Military Police (MP) Advanced Individual Training course at Fort McClellan, Alabama.

General Austin was commissioned in March 1982 through the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) at Michigan State University. He held various leadership positions until his retirement as the Deputy Commanding General, 46th Military Police Command, of the Command-and-Control CBRN [chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear] Response Element – Bravo (C2CRE-B), command team in October 2014.

He mobilized during the 1980 Cuban Refugee Crisis, for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in December 1990, in 2003 to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for Operation Enduring Freedom, in 2005 for Operation Katrina / Rita, and in 2008 for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in social science from Michigan State University, a master’s in organizational management from the University of Phoenix, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College. He is also a graduate of Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government National Preparedness Leadership course and an inductee in the Michigan State University ROTC Spartan Battalion Hall of Fame. He was the 2024 Daughter of the American Revolution National Outstanding Veteran of the Year. He was recently inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame for 2025.

Among General Austin’s awards are the Federal Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3), Army Achievement Medal (3), Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (6), National Defense Service Medal (2), Southwest Asia Service Medal (2 Bronze Stars), Global War on Terror Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (w/ Silver Hourglass & “M” Device), Army Service Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medal (w/ bronze star), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Michigan Overseas Service Ribbon, Louisiana Emergency Service Medal and the Michigan Service Ribbon (OLC).

General Austin now lives in Cuba, New York, where he and his wife Karen call home.

This event is an opportunity for attendees to learn more about our nation’s history. We encourage you to attend and visit our website: https://www.eldredpawwiimuseum.com. For more information, please contact us at (814) 225-2220 or email us : info@eldredpawwiimuseum.com. The Eldred WWII Museum is dedicated to its mission “to preserve and interpret the history of World War II.”