Museum Soesilo Soedarman is located at Gentasari Village, Cilacap District, Central Java Province, Indonesia. The Museum is accessible from Yogyakarta, pass thru Purworejo – Kutoarjo - Kebumen – Gombong – Buntu and Sampang. From Sampang, turn South for a 5 kilometers to the Museum. There are many street boards within the roads which shown the direction to the Museum.



Museum Soesilo Soedarman was inaugurated in year 2000 in honor of the late General Soesilo Soedarman (1928 – 1997), a prominent Indonesian military leader and one of the Indonesia’s distinguished citizens. He act in the Indonesian military establishment since 1945 as a Cadet at The Yogyakarta Military Academy, and joined the guerrilla campaign in West Java and in around Yogyakarta Capital areas during the War of Independence (1945 – 1948). He and his unit, the SWK-104, Werkhreise III, was participated in the successful March 1, 1949 major-attack of Yogyakarta Capital under the leadership of then Colonel Soeharto, the Commander of the Werkhreise III Brigade, and later became the 2nd President of Indonesia.



Soesilo Soedarman graduated with honor from the Yogyakarta Military Academy Class of 1948, and was swearing in as a Second Lieutenant by Ir. Soekarno, the Indonesian first President, on November 28, 1948. He served in the Indonesian Cavalry Corps.



During his 40 year of military career (1945-1985), he act distinctly as a field commander, an Operation Officer, a Staff Officer, a teacher in Military Schools, a Defense Attache in Washington-USA, a General Staff at the Indonesian Armed Forces Headquarter, and as a Commander of the Sumatera and West Kalimantan Defense Regional Command (1981 – 1985). He saw military campaigns in West Java, West Sumatera and South Sulawesi. He also received military trainings in Netherlands, United States of America and Soviet Union.



Since 1986 until 1997, he assumed public position as the Indonesian Ambassador to the United States of America (1986-1988), the Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunication (1988-1993) and the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs (1993-1997).

General Soesilo Soedarman died on December 18, 1997. He was buried at the Kalibata Hero Cemetery in Jakarta with full military honor. He has a wife, Widaningsri, and five children. Indonesia went into 3-days National Mourning and the flag was lowered into a half-staff. For his 52 years of contribution to the Nation, Soesilo Soedarman honored 25 medals of Honor coming from The Government of Indonesia, the USA, The Netherlands and The Kingdom of Austria.



The Museum exhibits memorabilia, articles and photos of Soesilo Soedarman during his life as an Indonesian Military Officer, during his public service roles and his role in the communities, among others, as Vice Chairman of the Indonesian National Sport Committee (KONI), as Member of The Board of Trustees at the University of Lampung, the University of General Soedirman in Purwokerto and at the University of March 11, in Surakarta. He was also chaired the Ki Hadjar Dewantara Foundation, The Seruan Eling Banyumas (SERULING MAS) Foundation and was The Chairman of the Indonesian Armed Forces Retirees Organization (PEPABRI).

SOME OF THE MUSEUM COLLECTIONS:

The Museum occupies the Joglo Style Javanese House, build in 1899, as the house of Soesilo Soedarman’s grandfather, the first Village Chief of Gentasari. This house was the place where Soesilo Soedarman spent his childhood time. At the West Wing side, the gamelan instruments, the Kyai Manis, and a set of Shadow Puppet collection is being stored.

At the courtyard, there is a Russian-Made BRDM amphibious panzer, built in 1958. This armor car is the Command Car for Major Soesilo Soedarman, the 1st Cavalry Battalion Commander, during the campaign to crushed the rebellion of the Darul Islam/TII Movement in West Java (1959-1960).



Also at the Museum yard, there are a NOMAD N-22 Maritime Patrol Aircraft of the Indonesian Navy. This airplane, with call-sign number P-806, was used by Lt.Gen Soesilo Soedarman during his tenure as the Commander of the Defense Regional Commander I, handling Sumatera and West Kalimantan (1981-1985).



A one-horn rhino mascot statue is also being placed at the Museum courtyard to commemorate the Visit Indonesia Year 1991 event.



Inside the Museum, there are collections of rifles, pistols and machine guns, collections of special uniforms, historical goods, and photos. Photos of Soesilo Soedarman with almost all Indonesian Presidents can be found at the Museum. Also photos of Soesilo Soedarman during his military service period, as well as, during his public service periods.



Historical newspaper articles of are also being exhibit at the Museum. Also the medals of Honor from countries are being displayed.

The Museum is also equipped with a library, a mosque, children playing ground and a swimming pool.

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