442ndRCT Soldier's Forum

I know I do it because my dad was in the ETO as a combat infantryman. He was wounded several times, fought in some hellish times and came out a very different person then when he went in.

Well that's the bottom line for me, but out of the curiousity of what happened to him to make him the way he is, I made a life and hobby out of WWII.

From there it's gone to finding out more about my family in general and of course having a good time in the process. Basically because in the process I've discovered that life is just to darned short and we don't get alot of second chances in this life. Stressing the little stuff is for morons.

I do it to honor those who served. I want to do so by experiencing a glimse of what they went through. By attending some public events, my goal is to show them that they have not been forgotten.

Why do I reenact?

So I can better understand, what the average GI may have gone through. What did an M1 feel like, how did it operate. How long does eight rounds last. What is is like to feel pressure (not the same I know) of try to reload. What was it like to drink water, without having a coke. What was it like to wear a metal helmet all day. What did all the crap weight.

So I can better visualize, so when I read a book or listen to a book I can visualize; both in sight and sound what the author is telling me. When they mention a piece of equipment or sound I can picture it in my mine.

So I can related to a vet when I have a conversation with them. And see the sparkle in their eyes when they know, I know what they are talking about, or can show them my collection.

So I can better appreciate; or attempt to appreciate all the personal hardships the average GI was trapped in, whether it be cool, mud, heat, flys, food, weapon sounds, orders, patrols, bordem, etc.

So I can be educated on how equipment t was design and put together. How simple designs rather than over engineer items were used.


And finally to have some good old fashion "male bonding" that these guys have and had during WWII.

PS- Tim thanks for posting this sharing thought provoking question. I like to hear why "individuals" reenact, rather than why people think other people do it. Answers from one's own gut are always more authentic!

It's easy for us. But we should alway be prepare to give an answer, for the reason why we do what we do, when a stranger asks "why in the hell would anyone do war reenacting"

Two reasons, I guess three, not in any real order.

1. I always wanted to have a collection of gear and uniforms from each war the US was in as far as infantry. The only way it would have started was to get into reenacting-all the gear I had purchased before that was for use in the milita so I was used to having to reseach stuff somewhat before I bought it. Little did I know how much more stuff would cost vs the Nam/80's era items I bought to complete my Guard issue.

2. Seeing how the old stuff worked compared to the new stuff-the blankets of the Civil War, WW2 compared to the sleeping systems of today for example(Where I use my Country Cloth repo army blanket in the barracks, and my Afghan blanket in the hole). The belt and cartridge strap vs the haversack, and now the molle mesh. When I joined the army they still had the pot, but the garand and the web gear (Haversack) took getting used to. Thanks to Cindrich I learned quick.

3. Understanding my job(s) history, and finding out any old tricks from back then to use now. Found some good stuff in WW2 manuals on pass words, and emplacing troop positions in a 1850s drill book. Made me a better instructor at work since I understood the history and to some extent the why to things vs just droning on about "according to page xxx of task xyz..."

So no rembering this or honoring that for me-simple job improvement.

simon

Kinda what Simon says and kinda what everyone else says, but in more I see it as giving back to the public and serving as a reminder to the average jane and joe that there were some great sacrifices made by our country. The public displays allow me to do this and teach (my hopeful future career) people about what happened.

Tacticals for me (especially when I can get a leadership position later) are excercising all this info I've absorbed from Boot and beyond. Then and MCT we learned to be basic rifleman (or the grunts went SOI and learned how to be full blooded infantry) now as a Corporal I have to start doing the PME and maybe Corporal's course to learn how to be a leader of riflemen, and it only builds up from there...

/me looks at his Sergeant's Course MCI Coursebooks sitting on the floor: Its all about warfighting at the squad and platoon level and some basic leadership stuff.... And I really need to get kicking on it soon, thats 100 points towards my score when I'm eligible for Sergeant, and I'm going to need every point I can get...

So tacticals I see as professional development on a combat level... not modern and not true... but close enough... and damned fun!

The motivating factor for me was embarking upon family research and discovering my uncle Norris Wells, PFC, L Co. 36 ID, 143 IR was killed by mortar fragment wounds on August 28, 1944 during the "not so well known" Battle of Montelimar in France. Also, I spent more than half of my adult life in the military and have always felt a bond with GIs of any era.

Plus, I love WW2 weaponry and what better way to play around with it than at a reenactment battle.

I only listed what came to mind when I initially came to mind when I read the post. There are many reason I do this, but one of them is indeed using all the cool stuff.

Plus it's alot more fun than playing with GI Joe's. I always hated when the ends of the M1's would break off.
For me it was them old vets from the barrio i grew up in and their stories that got me hooked on WW2 and all it's infamous stories of valor and cowardice.




"CHARLIE DON'T SURF"

Oh yeah, and the chance to cycle rounds through the:
Tommy gun
BAR
PPsh
MP40
1919a4
MP28
Sten
.......
The unexpected one was being on a civil war cannon crew shooting lead cannon balls down range-I never thought I would get to do that.

I do it because I love the history, it's a lot of fun, and I love the guys. seriously i dont have many friends outside of reenacting.

I can't believe I didn't post earlier.

I re-enact for the chance to crack the door and barely glimpse into the Long House of Valhalla and hear the echo of deeds of bravery and tales of glory. For a chance to continue my life-long pursuit: to learn about sacrifice and brotherhood.

Yes, to learn about my Dad and his classified missions (as de-classifying continues).

To sharpen my skills, dulled by age and use.

And finally because soon, like all my hobbies since I was 12, it will be illegal to do so, in the post-modern Feminazi world...

This is a nice video post by KETC channel 9 St. Louis. Unless most if not all WWII reenactor videos, this one deal with "why we reenact", plus it has some WWII vet reactions to what we do.






For those who can't view the video direct here is another link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJfVUPJGX6c

I think that covers it well and the 82d Vet said something with irony. Its hard to explain how he feels towards us so others will understand and at times for us its hard to explain to other people (believe me I know, everyone here assumes I'm motivated about my career in the Marine Corps because I re-enact WW2, how the two correlate that well I have no idea).

One important fact though is that he appreciates what we do as to many no longer remember the sacrifices they made and endured. To see us put so much effort into it makes them feel acknowledged.

So it should be.

awesome video Dave. Interesting that it was a public event, where folks could watch. I don't know how many times I get asked by friends/co-workers that know I do this if they can spectate.