I am writing as I am attempting to trace a military Center/Museum in Texas :  The Center For Military Studies in Grenville Texas. http://centerformilitarystudies.org/index.php
The reason I am writing is because the Center is listed as being in Greenville but owned by a resident of Rockwall Tx - a Mr Gerald Kochan.
We have been unable to trace the Center in Greenville Texas despite the help of The US Air Force Association ( Texas ) and the Greenville Chamber of Commerce .
I was wondering if anybody could possibly be able to help ?
The reason we are attempting to trace the Center is we are trying to recover an item of great historical importance to my family.
I am the joint trustee of the estate of Fl Lt Tarkowski - a Polish WW2 Fighter Pilot - my Grandfather
In 2001 Mr Gerald Kochan approached my Grandfather on behalf of The Center of Military Studies , Greenville Texas . He stated that he was researching the wartime activities of Poles for a documentary.
At the time my Grandfather was very ill and six months away from his death , he was also suffering from dementia.
Mr Kochan somehow convinced my Grandfather to sell his WW2 RAF Pilots Log Book to The Center - an action that in the view of the family was totally out of character.
Six Months later my Grandfather passed away.
It took my mother five years to discover that Mr Kochan had obtained this emotionally and historically priceless item and she contacted The Center immediately to try and return it to The Family - Mr Kochan refused.
We have been in contact with Mr Kochan via email to attempt to try one last time to have the item returned - however the family has great concerns that we have been unable to actually trace The Center .
We have family in Texas and through them , friends in Dallas and The Texas Chapter of the US Air Force Association all have failed to establish an actual physical presence for The Center.
The family also has major concerns that the Log Book does not feature on the website archive http://centerformilitarystudies.org/sitemap.php despite the fact that Mr Kochan has had the item since 2001.
Mr Kochan has failed to provide an evidence that he is still in possession of the Log Book - despite numerous requests - so this coupled with the lack of any progress on tracing the actual physical address of the Center in Greenville has led me to believe that it may possibly be in Rockwell .
I thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide .
Matthew McCarthy
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)


The Contact Details we have are http://centerformilitarystudies.org/index.php
Gerald Kochan
Director of M&A
PO Box 951
Greenville
Texas
75403
Tel 214-914-5432

We have not heard of this individual, but did run across a Yahoo message thread regarding this topic:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Kresy-Siberia/message/20811

If anyone knows more about this collector/curator/organizer, could you please respond?

Response from Gerald Kochan posted in new thread:
http://planetrockwall.com/forums/viewthread/63/

“Among the many museums benefiting from the Center’s programs and donations have been The Mighty Eighth Air Force Memorial Museum, The 82nd Airborne Memorial Museum, The Silent Wings Museum and the National Infantry Museum” http://centerformilitarystudies.org/index.php

Dear Sir,

Over a period of 3 years, 2000-2003 Mr. Kochan donated various items to this museum to be placed in the Polish AF exhibit. There were only medals, a garment bag, hats, ties, etc. All of these items had no personal names attached. We required a Deed of Gift from Mr. Kochan which in effect gives us legal right to the items. There were no logs included. We have not heard or seen the gentleman since and have no knowledge of the Center as these were donated as a personal donation from him. None of this helps you with your quest and lack of contact with him is unacceptable in our view. His address you gave is the same one he used here.No mention of “The Center” is anywhere in evidence with this donation.

(Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum)

Please understand that this museum does not have any business arrangement or agreement with Gerald Kochan. In addition, he has never been employed by the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum. It is true that he has donated some artifacts in the past. It is also true that he rented space at this museum for a luncheon. However, this museum rents space to paying customers, and it was on that basis that he was here.

(Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum)

I have checked the correspondence files for information about Gerald Kochan.These letters do not indicate any museum affiliations. In addition, he has never been employed by the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum.

(Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum)

Response from U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum

I’ve contacted all the museum folks here at Bragg . None of us have ever heard of Mr. Kochan and we know nothing of a Polish Military Museum. I’d check with the American Association of Museums or some of the other professional museum organizations to verify the person. We at Fort Bragg have no knowledge of him.

U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum*

Response from Texas Association of Museums

From: Admin []
Sent: 11 August 2010 23:02
To: McCarthy, Matt
Subject: RE: Center for Military Studies - Greenville Texas ( Gerlad Kochan - Rockwall )

Mr. McCarthy, I regret that I have no information to help you.

I am not familiar with The Center of (for) Military Studies or the name Gerald Kochan. I have checked the membership database of Texas Association of Museums. There is no record of the center or the person.

Executive Director

Texas Association of Museums

About two years ago I visited Rockwall and Greenville in an attempt to locate Kochan’s museum.  At that time he had already purchased a lot of WWII memorabilia from aging Polish veterans in the UK claiming that his museum was in fact, in Rockwall. It isn’t. Nor is it in Greenville as his stationary states.
The phone number Kochan lists as his “office” number in Greenville is also his home.

Gerald Kochan made claims that he had donated several WWII items to museums on the U.S. east coast, including military museums. In checking all of this out, I found it wasn’t true.  I would be very suspect if Kochan approached anyone else about buying their WWII memorabilia.

Kochan does not have a public museum in Rockwall or Greenville. He lives in Rockwall.

I’m glad I found this forum where I can make more friends.We cant find new and interesting things together