INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Gens. George Patton and Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz are out at the Indiana War Memorial and homegrown heroes Raymond Spruance, David Shoup and Samuel Woodfill are in.

Three inside rooms at the monument in downtown Indianapolis are being renamed for three of Indiana’s own military heroes.

Spruance grew up in Indianapolis and achieved great success as an admiral against the Japanese fleet in World War II. Shoup, a Marine general from Battle Ground, near Lafayette, won the Medal of Honor for his leadership during the landing on Tarawa, also during World War II. Woodfill, an Army major born in Jefferson County, was among the most decorated soldiers in World War I.

The changes mean no disrespect for the more famous World War II leaders, said Brig. Gen. J. Stewart Goodwin, director of the Indiana War Memorials Commission.

“We got a little bit of pushback from some of the World War II guys until we explained that we meant no disrespect,” Goodwin said.

“Our mission is to honor Hoosier veterans.”

Posted 6/10/2009