The battles of World War II were fought by land, by sea and by air. Even in movies, it’s rare to see all the vehicles used during this turbulent four-year period. However, an Ohio man assembled a diversified collection of war vehicles and war artifacts in Hubbard, Ohio. The World War II Vehicle Museum and Learning Center was begun by Henry Venetta in 1998. Although he died earlier this year, his mission continues. Last week, Cruisin’ looked at how the museum protrayed various aspects of a soldier’s life. In this respect, Venetta, with his private collection, leaves nothing out. The same concept is repeated with his vehicles, which occupy one half of he 53,000-square-foot facility. Simply enough, it’s called the vehicle room — a large stretch of military green. Venetta also has cutaways of certain models for viewing of engines and other components. Detailed data allows visitors to learn specifics about a particular vehicle. An inside look of a tank’s training turret shows that three people had to fit inside what I calculated to be about a 6-by-8-foot space. Guide Gordy Smith provided extra information such as a Ford engine is inside the tank. Before moving on, Gordy allowed us to pick up a periscope, used by soldiers to view battlefields without exposing themselves to enemy fire. An M20 armored car is one of only three vehicles not owned by Henry. It is on loan from its owner, Phil Nelson. Near the M36 Jackson nicknamed “Slugger” is a model of Rosie the Riveter, a term used for women who worked in the factories during the war. The M36 is a 90mm gun that has angled sides. A bolster truck/trailer weighs 10,350 pounds and has a pontoon used as an assault boat. “The uniqueness is all these vehicles run,” Gordy said, leading us to an ambulance complete with a stretcher with bicycle wheels. “We’ve been told it’s rare.” An amphibious vehicle nicknamed a “weasel” was used to move troops from place to place or pull cargo, he explained. Also on loan from Nelson is a 1/4-ton amphibian or jeep that floats. Looking around, Gordy remarked, “This is Henry’s garage.” There are three half-tracks or trucks with tank tracks instead of rear wheels. These were used for troop transport or ground support. A Higgins boat is a landing craft and according to Gordy, a Jeep and a dozen GI’s could fit there. The M16 half-track has a trailer and “this was capable of shooting down any low-flying enemy aircraft.” The 43-ton M26 Pershing is a 76mm high-energy gun and there’s no missing the Sherman tank, the most visible of these types of vehicles. A shiny silver display is a submarine engine from the USS COD with four separate V-16 engines operating at 100 hp per cylinder. A V8 pony or auxiliary motor sits on its original shipping crate. “The technology back then was ahead of its time. Military technology has to be.” Gordy told us he rode in an amphibious tank when Henry took the vehicle to Mosquito Lake near Cortland, Ohio. Most likely, that sight attracted some attention. A fire truck on loan has been completely restored and only 50 of what is called a transporter with duck trailer were built. A foam truck, dump truck and tow truck are also on site. A mechanic, Gordy helped to take apart an aircraft engine from an M18, now on display. Before wrapping up an informative, thought-provoking journey, he showed us a portable field desk. At the World War II Vehicle Museum and Learning Center, visitors can learn while reflecting. (To submit a Cruisin’ idea, contact Lugene Hudson at (724) 654-6651, extension 620 or lhudson@ncnewsonline.com.)