January 2012

WWII – Battle of the Bulge Reenactment, January 25 – 29. Ft. Indiantown Gap PA. Contact: http://www.wwiifederation.org/index.html

February 2012

WWII - Elbe River Event, February 25, 2012, Old Bedford Village, Bedford, PA. regardless of the weather as usual. They still
have several buildings available and are currently accepting pre-registrations. As we speak, we have a few more in attendance this year

than last at this time. Just as a reminder, please bring PLENTY of ammo. Attached is the link for registrations and such..  www.freewebs.com/elbe1945 For any questions, call: Roger Bombard at: 703-431-6843.

March 2012

WWII - February 1943 Tactical event. March 9 and 10. Newville GWA site. Sponsored by 193rd Rifle Division and Fusilier Regiment Nr. 90 re-enacting units. Contact John Niemiec at : ostfrontjohn@verizon.net      Download waiver

Timeline – Military Through the Ages, March 17 and 18 at Jamestown Settlement, Jamestown, VA.  http://www.historyisfun.org/calendar.htm

October 2010

Militaria Show – October 1-2, MAX Show  (Military Antiques Extravaganza) Monroeville  Convention Center, just outside Pittsburgh, PA.  See:

http://www.themaxshow.com

WWI – October 1-3, Newville, PA. Western Front Total Immersion Event. Great War Association.  Invitation only.

http://www.great-war-assoc.org

WWII – 2-3 October 2010 Brentsville (Virginia) WW2 Living History Weekend. Robert Orrison, Historic Site Manager Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, Prince William County Historic Preservation Division . 703-365-7895 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              703-365-7895      end_of_the_skype_highlighting – Office, 571-641-0223 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              571-641-0223      end_of_the_skype_highlighting – Mobile.

www.pwcgov.org/brentsville

WWII – October 9-10, Williamsport, MD, WWII Weekend, Registration available at:

williamsportmd.gov/wwii.

Civil War – October 8-10, Battle of  Droop Mountain, Hillsboro, WV. Sponsored by WVRA. For information, see:

http://www.wvra.org

Civil War – October 15-17, Battle of Cedar Creek, Middletown, VA. Sponsored by Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation. For info:

http://www.cedarcreekbattlefield.org

Timeline - October 23-24, Massachusetts Military Reservation 2010 Open House * Living History Camps, * Tours of Training Facilities, * Military Vehicle Displays, * Weapons Demonstrations, * Musket Drills, * Assault on the MOUT Site (Americans VS Germans), * 101 Field Artillery 105mm Howitzer Salutes, * Vendors. Over 300 Reenactors expected with units representing our fighting men and women from the first muster to today’s war on terrorism. Contact: SSG LAWRENCE F. CLINTON JR., EVENT COORDINATOR, CAMP EDWARDS, MASSACHUSETTS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD. 508-233-6630 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              508-233-6630      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, DSN:256-6630,  http:\\savetheydhq.tripod.com

WWII - Western Front. Odessa, New York. September 10, 11,12, 2010. For information, contact:

odessaevent@gmail.com

Civil War – September 10, McGrew House Living History, Kingwood, WV. For information:

http://www.mainstreetkingwood.org

WWII – September 10, 11, 12. Greenwood Lake Airshow (WWII Themed) 126 Airport Road, West Milford, New Jersey 07480. Large living history area. Allied and Axis groups welcome. Camps will incorporate some static period aircraft. Ice and cold water provided to reenactors. Call 973-728-1143 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              973-728-1143      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or email:

greenwoodlakeairportairshow@gmail.com   Website: www.greenwoodlakeairshow.com

Old West – September 11 to October 10, located at 1449 Greenbush Cobb Rd, Williamsburg Ohio, 45176 between Mt. Orab and Williamsburg, Ohio just off St. Rt. 32, just 15 minutes from Cincinnati, off I-275. Authentic Dodge City Old West town. Come in your best period attire. For info, see:

http://www.oldwestfestival.com

WWII – Flights of Our Fathers Fly-In. September 18, 2010, Terrell Municipal Airport, Terrell, TX. The BFTS museum is hosting a Fly-In to honor the WWII British pilots who trained here and the American officers and civilian staff who assisted with that training.

For more information please contact Freda Freeman:

no1bftsmuseum@yahoo.com

WWII – WWII Weekend, Eisenhower Farm. September 18 – 19, Gettysburg, PA. For information:

http://www.nps.gov/eise/parknews/world-war-ii-weekend.htm

WWII – WWII Living History, Old Mill Village, New Milford, PA. All allied and Axis military impressions welcome. Military vehicles welcome, but tracked vehicles can be used for static display only. Contact Chris Kane for details: herc00798@yahoo.com website: http://www.oldmillvillage.org

Timeline Event – CANCELED The American Soldier at War, September 25-26, Corrick’s Ford Battlefield, Parsons, WV. For information:

http://americansoldieratwar.webs.com

EVENT: Soldiers Christmas at Fort Mifflin.

WHEN:Friday, Dec. 4th from 5:00pm to 10pm.

LOCATION: Fort Mifflin, Fort Mifflin & Hog Island Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19153
Phone: 215-685-4167

CONTACT: Lee Anderson for more details:
leeanderson@fortmifflin.us

DESCRIPTION: For this very interactive event Fort Mifflin opens it’s doors to the public.

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet soldiers and civilians that are celebrating the holiday season throughout the history of Fort Mifflin.

Examples of eras that will be interpreted are; Revolutionary, 1812, Civil War, World War I & II and Korea.

Uniformed living historians will be in several locations in the Forts historic buildings and have the area decorated to the time in American history they are portraying.

Visitors will also have a chance to sample some of the food of those eras and sit down and speak to the re-enactors.

And don’t forget to hear about the ghosts of Christmas Past at the fort as well. Hours of operation are 5 Pm to 10 Pm.

www.fortmifflin.us

—————————————-
FOR UNITS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING:

Date: December 4th (IMPORTANT: its a Friday night – one night only.)

Set up from 10am through 4pm

Public hours: 5pm until 10pm.

Concept: This is a Fundraiser for Fort Mifflin. The public will walk through the various camps and troop set ups around the Fort. They will see how soldiers lived in each era, specifically, how they celebrated Christmas.

Units will welcome the public into their camp area, and are encouraged to interact in the 1st person for your time period.

Welcome them in, share your food, ask them to help decorate your Christmas tree, sing along with some Christmas carols, fill out Christmas cards for your families…lots of possibilities.

Units can set up on the field, or indoors / casemates (subject to availability)

There is no charge for this event but units must contact the host unit 9th division for barracks assignments / quarters.

Contact us at www.9thdivision.com

*UPDATED!!!* APPROACH TO BUDAPEST!

Approach to Budapest, Dec. 1944 ( Dec 4-6th 2009 in Lugoff SC, near Camden ) Hosted by IR 134 ( German ) and the 13th Guard ( Soviet ) Registration 1200 Friday – 0800 Saturday $15 per person, period vehicle owners/ horse owners are admitted free.

This will truly be a unique event you’ll never forget! All hardcore Red Army and Romanian reenactors welcomed! Germans are by invite only. Strict authenticity WILL be enforced so farbs stay home or prepare to remove what items are not permitted.

Please, no modern glasses (hessenantique.com has proper 40′s frames for a good price) or sunglasses, full beards, goatees or sideburns, M-36 or Czech helmets ( unless properly converted to an M-39), postwar blue ushankas, early war Y straps etc. I won’t go into great detail on the subject as it’s YOUR duty as a Red Army reenactor to know what’s right and what’s not for a late 44 event. It is also encouraged that when the Shinel greatcoat is not being worn, you wear it as a horseshoe roll like they did over the left shoulder. This is something seldom seen at GPW events. Proper loaner gear will be lent free of charge if you do not have it, including proper ushankas ( first come, first served ), just please make sure I get my stuff back.

Any questions on these subjects may be directed to me, look for my email address and phone number below. Please, serious questions only, I’m not looking to debate authenticity with anyone by email. I’ll have enough questions as is.

Must be 15 or older to participate in the battle. Pyro is allowed, however, they must pass proper safety inspection.
We’ve already started proper Soviet defensive positions on this land so please bring e-tools, period shovels, pick axes, axes etc. Every minute of downtime will be used to help improve the site for future use. The land owner has given us permission to do anything we want on the land, within reason. We plan on making this site the Newville of the south and it’s well on it’s way already!

All frontoviks will be required to wear what you’ll need on your back that weekend. Please, no sleeping bags, modern tents, coolers etc…extra wool blankets can be provided if you should need. If you have extra blankets for others to use, please bring them! Strict? You bet! Standards are high and for good reason. We really want you to have a good “time-trip” and have a good time doing it. Also, real Russians with really good impressions will be at this event as frontoviki, so look sharp!

Firewood, hay and water will be provided. If all goes well, I will personally supply borsh soup, bread, vodka ration (after the battle of course) and period Belomorkanel cigarettes on Saturday for those interested, free of charge. Just my way of saying “bol’shoy spasiba” for coming. However, for the most part, you will have to supply your own food rations for the weekend. No one will be selling blanks on site that I know of, so have your own blanks ahead of time. Vendors are welcomed to set up in the parking lot to sell your items.

THERE IS NO PRE-REGISTRATION! You pay on site.

BATF Address and actual address for the event is : 102 Gettys Rd Lugoff, S.C. 29078 Kershaw County. Follow the WW2 signs. For more info, contact Dorian Motowylak @ dorianmotow@yahoo.com or call 910-624-2866 day or night.

Vash tovarish,

Guard’s Captain Dorian Motowylak

The following is a report on the Cedar Creek reenactment by our correspondent, Nick Korolev:

UNION VICTORY AT CEDAR CREEK

This report should be titled neither rain or mud will stop us from our appointed mission. Weather wise the weekend for the Battle of Cedar Creek reenactment was a long way from ideal. It was cold in the low 30s, rainy and that kind of misty drizzle that makes the cold seem worse. We spent most the weekend under flies and by roaring fires when the rain showers let up. I slept under four wool blankets in uniform and still felt a bit chilled. However, we had a great time with our friends regardless of conditions that made us all realize what our ancestors went through on a daily basis without the relief of going home after two days. It was so bad with slippery mud that made footing for horses difficult, the tactical was officially called off though a handful of participants from both sides decided to do one anyway early Sunday morning. Several cannon shots let all know some diehards were at it before the bugler blew reveille. The sun did not show itself until later Sunday for the second half of the battle at 1:30pm.

The event is done on the real battlefield which is owned by a private foundation. It is the major fundraising event of the year for battlefield preservation. This event was a little different for me this year. Due to a bad knee from an injury I did not take to the field. I am sticking with living history from now on. Instead of trooper for the new Federal Volunteer Brigade cavalry, I have been promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant and serve as the cavalry commander, Major John Brindle’s, adjutant/aide/clerk and push papers, which I am very good at, being a freelance writer with an administrative background. Too bad I can’t fall into a job this easy in the real world. But, I digress. I kept an eye on camp and made sure our ladies who cooked were not alone, helped a little in stirring the camp stew when they had to leave it and kept the fire going, though not many spectators walked through camp. Still, during our stay we kept strict military protocol, passes were issued to anyone who had to leave camp, officers were to be saluted, drills and weapons inspections were to be done etc.

The only view of the field I had was our artillery battery up on the ridge in front of the camp. We estimate that there were about 6,000 reenactors at the event though some less hardy souls left on Saturday night having had enough of the weather. The second day I had a great view of our artillery and the battleline and saw Sheridan and his staff ride by to the troops cheering. It was an great “You are there” moment.

In camp the usual insanity broke loose. We all have a rather wild sense of humor and certainly needed several laughs considering the terrible weather. I brought my “pet skunk” Corporal Stripes to the event. He is a real skunk hide complete with feet that I bought online a couple of years ago and turned into a hand puppet I can operate in a realistic manner. I am also an artist and am involved in theater so wrapped partly in a towel and carried in my arms, he is very convincing. My buddy Rick “Byrdie” Byrd was with me and we “skunked” the 17^th PA Cav. we were camping with and our friends who fed us, the 3^rd MD Infantry. All we met believed Stripes was real and asked if he had been descented. Rick caused a near panic with a few by saying I caught him in camp. Boy, did they back away quick, though, Byrdie said, “Oh, don’t worry, Nick is the naturalist for Lost River State Park and knows how to handle them.” We even tricked a few into being brave and petting him before revealing the secret. They loved the joke. Just before the battle on Sunday, the 3^rd MD band had their fun. The fellow who plays the base drum dressed as the Energizer Bunny and walked through all the nearby Union camps beating away. It was hysterical and a lot of cameras came out. Proves we all have the attitude, when nature gives you lemons you make lemonade.

The downside of the battle reenactment, there were two injuries on the field both on the Confederate side. I did not get the details. On the upside, from what I heard, both the Confederate and the Union commanders were happy with the performance of their troops on the field and how well the historic events were followed. It must be remembered none of this is rehearsed beforehand. It is like improv theater – you are given a scenario to perform and you run with it. We all ended up tired, chilled, but happy we were helping in battlefield preservation and remembering the sacrifices of our ancestors. Everything was dry to pack up and we all said our good byes to friends, many planning to get together at Gettysburg for Remembrance Day weekend in November.

Nick Korolev

The weekend of  October 10-11 saw the bi-annual reenactment of the battle of the 1863 Battle of Bulltown in Braxton County, WV sponsored by the Stonewall Jackson Reenactment Unit. Despite heavy rains on Friday, There was a decent turnout of reenactors and a goodly number of spectators for the weekend. There was also a quality sutler in attendence this year-James River Mercantile-which enabled me to get my broken Enfield fixed. Something I had been needing for a couple of years and hadn’t gotten around to.

According to Wikipedia, the real Battle of Bulltown took place on October 13th, 1863, when ” William L. “Mudwall” Jackson, the cousin of “Stonewall” Jackson, led a raiding party of 800 men into central West Virginia to capture the strategic “fort” at Bulltown which overlooked an important crossing of the Little Kanawha River. The goal was to cut Federal communications between the Greenbrier and Kanawha Valleys.

The Union garrison of roughly 400 men was commanded by Captain William Mattingly. The Union troops manned a “fort” of makeshift log barricades and shallow trenches which can still be seen today.

Jackson approached Bulltown secretly. He divided his forces in an attempt to converge on the Union position from two different directions. The Confederates advanced at 4:30am on October 13th. They quickly captured the Federal picketts and would have taken the garrison by surprise but one Confederate, whether due to excitement or nervousness, fired his gun and alerted the Union troops.

The Confederates advanced against the fort and a drawn out skirmish lasted until about 4:30pm, almost twelve hours after the battle began. Twice, Jackson sent a flag of truce with a surrender to demand to which Captain Mattingly replied “I will fight until Hell freezes over and then fight on the ice”.

Jackson eventually retreated back towards the Greenbrier Valley. Casualties were very light considering the length of the battle. On the Union side there were no fatalities. Captain Mattingly was wounded in the thigh and there were some other slight wounds in the Federal camp. the Confederates lost 8 killed and a like number wounded.”

The Stonewall Jackson Reenactment Unit, which sponsors this event is always a good host and furnished us with a generous chili dinner on Saturday evening (no, that wasn’t the pickets firing all night long) and enough sausage biscuits on Sunday morning to feed a small third-world country. A good bunch of guys.

There was a tactical on Saturday afternoon through the rugged wooded areas surrounding the Federal fort, which I arrived too late to participate in. By all accounts, this went well. Sunday’s reenactment of the Battle of Bulltown, complete with pyrotechnics, went off pretty much as planned and was well received by the spectators.

Bulltown is a pleasant event, which is run by reenactors. The amenities are good and the particpating troops get to fight on a real battlefield, and for the Federals, in the actual trenches. Additionally, October in Braxton County is a very scenic time of year, so participants also get to enjoy the fall foliage.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers runs the park (as part of the Burnsville Dam and Lake complex) and does a nice job of maintaining the historic buildings and adjacent park. They also seem quite appreciative of the reenactors.

Overall, this event is a pleasant, mainstream reenacting event. A nice way to spend the weekend.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bulltown

http://www.lrh.usace.army.mil/projects/lakes/bus/bulltown

Another report from our indefatigable correspondents -  Bill and Linda Donegan:

When Kim Bowers invited us to attend the ww2 living history event at Williamsport Md. We had no idea how much fun we would have.

This is the second year for this event. Organizers Kim Bowers (RationingBoard@aol.com), Greg Henesy (G.henesy@airborne506.org), Joan Knode (joaneknode@msn.com), and Phil Mayhue (Navyboy924@aol.com), did an excellent job of recruiting all the best WW2 reenactors and ww2 veterans this side of the Ohio for this year’s event.

Richard Falvey, 101 Airborne Division, 506^th Parachute Infantry Regiment, blessed us all with his experiences of the war in Europe. He was the featured speaker. Herb Fleming, author of “From Hitler Youth to American Soldier” held a book signing at the Town Museum, which was full of WW2 memorabilia.

There was a ww2 mess kitchen, parade, concert, recognition ceremony, USO dance, worship service, and displays from all allied and axis powers, and much more.

The venue was Byron Park near the Springfield barn complex. The barn is an old hundred plus year old building and was the focal point of the event, with all the crowd activities centered there (Dance, speakers, church services, meeting point etc). On one side of the barn the Allied camps were set up, with the Axis camps being on the opposite side. There was one military vendor set up near the German camp, Phil’s Militaria (I have misplaced his e-mail address, but it is easy to Google). Phil took all of my twenty dollar bills.

I should mention “The Lunch Box” which is a new sandwich shop located at 22 N Conococheague Street. Owned by Bill and Diana Church 301-223-7723. Excellent food! This is walking distance from the barn. There is also an antique shop across the street, which has some ww2 collectibles! For example a German helmet shell for $100.00! I didn’t buy it as I had forgotten my wallet! Besides I have enough in my collection. At least that’s what Linda keeps telling me.

When Kim asked me to attend this event, I asked him if I should come as a German or a GI. He said, “Why not come as FDR?” I said ok. Kim then told me that he would arrange for a period car for me to ride in for the parade. Kim also told me that he would have secret service protection for me. The man who was organizing the parade, Jewell, owner of Jewells Appliances, 5 N Conococheague St. 301-223-5433, told me that he had found a dog for me to take along in the car. The dog turned out to be a bit larger than expected. Then I met a ww2 female veteran, who had worked for Lord Louis Mountbatten in India and South Pacific during the war, who was doing her impression of Eleanor Roosevelt. She and I got along great so I insisted that she ride in the car with me. My wife Linda then became Lucy Mercer, my secretary. The car turned out to be a Ford model T, which was too small to accommodate my large entourage, so we had to lose the dog. A woman who knew the dog’s owner took the dog away (At least I hope she knew the dog’s owner).

As the photos will show, we four fit well into the convertible. The parade was a lot of fun. FRD was in the second car. In the lead car there was a Major General of the 82^nd Airborne Division, who actually walked back to my car and apologized for having been put in the lead car. I told him it was ok since he was a real general and I was a fake president. Our friends Ron and Bonnie, who were dressed as Army Colonel and Captain, and who were riding with Keith and Libby Rocco in the Rocco’s restored cab, got out and saluted me before the parade started.

Following the parade, which was witnessed by the entire town, we went back to the park and were greeted by the press and political friends wishing that I was really running for president.

Linda and I went back to our digs for a spruce up before the dance. I changed into a US War Correspondent uniform, but people still referred to me as “Mr. President”.

I should mention that there is a Red Roof Inn about three miles away from the Park on Rt. 11, where most of the out of town guests were billeted. For those wishing to spend a little more money, and be waited on like royalty, there is a bed and breakfast, “The Candle Light Inn” located on Conococheague Street.

The USO Dance was a lot of fun, with a lot of period civilian dressed dancers in attendance.

The following morning I dressed in a German Privates uniform, and was still addressed as “Mr. President”. I visited the 24^th Infantry Division, 31^st Regiment, where Pete and Kate Gentry kidded me as being someone whom they would vote for following their capture and naturalization as US citizens.

Linda and I were reacquainted with Frank Fanning of the Gross Deutschland Infantry Regiment, and Brad and Kami Wenger, whom we had met at Great War Militaria in Chambersburg, Pa. The Wengers have started a ww2 uniform business, springing off his parents’ ww1 business, called Soldaten Werk (WWW.soldatenwerk.com) 717-352-4437. Kami makes Helferin, DRK, BDM, and HJ uniforms.

Following the period church service conducted by Bob Hundertmark, Chaplain of the 506^th H.Q. Co., we met and prayed with a new couple that we met from the town of Williamsport, who are friends of mutual friends of ours from our home church in Charleston, WV. We have had a blessed time with them and the e-mails have already started between us.

K imp Bowers has already asked me to do FDR again next year. I told him Lord willing I will.

Bill Donegan

The weekend of October 3 and 4 marked the first time that Co. K of the 28th Infantry Division, 110th Regiment, participated in the Portersville Steam Show at Portersville, Pa. This is a very nice event which is put on by the Northwest PA Steam Engine and Old Equipment Association Inc. It offers an opportunity to view some very interesting old machinery of many different kinds. Often, they have a Civil War group participating, but for this event, they invited us.

Besides the working machines, they feature an old-fashioned print shop, a blacksmith shop, an early service station, an old-time machine shop and exhibition halls. There was also a flea market where we were able to pick up   a few vintage military items.

Rege had suggested that I bring my other impressions along for some variety and I did so. Therefore, for Saturday, I portrayed a German prisoner of war and on Sunday, I functioned as a Soviet Liaison with the 28th. This seemed to spice things up and stimulated a goodly number of questions. We had good crowds all weekend and, as frequently occurs, we had a couple of WWII veterans stop by and talk about their experiences.

I view these old equipment shows as just another part of the living history community. Just as reenactors preserve history through weapons, uniforms, field equipment and military vehicles, these folks preserve domestic history with their steam engines, horse drawn farm equipment and their printing presses. It is nice to have an opportunity to bring the two segments together.

The Steam Association folks really seemed to enjoy having us there and went out of their way to thank us and invite us back. I think we all enjoyed the weekend and I would not be surprised at all if we come back next year.

Also, thanks to Shawn and Randy Keif, Rege Biggerstaff, Bill Burress and Don Grimm for another successful weekend for this unit. It is definitely a group effort.

Russian Mosaic Festival 2009

September 20th was this year’s date for the annual Russian Mosaic Festival.  Part of a series of ethnic culture festivals held at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia.

The 193rd Rifle Division was once again in attendance to help honor Russian art, culture, and heritage at this fine event.  The 193rd Rifle Division of the Workers and Peasants Red Army is an organization of WWII or “Great Patriotic War” (as our Russian comrades refer to it) living historians.  We honor the men and women of the Soviet Union’s armed forces who made many sacrifices in defense or their Motherland.

This year’s event was attended by: Lou Sliazis, Ted Lazcano, Emily Momot and myself.  Also in attendance and representing the White Army during the time of the Great Revolution was our comrade Keith Allen.

The weather was fine, the devushkas finer.  Ted had noted, and I’m paraphrasing here, that you would think America are a gun loving culture but the Russian people really seem to embrace their firearms.  It seems to still be respected as a symbol of strength whereas Americans seem to be shying away from this as a whole.

The people are the friendliest you will find, the food and drink are always good though this year the vendors were not as plentiful.  The music and weather were to be enjoyed and of course with our own com station set up (thanks Lou) we had our traditional songs of struggle and inspiration playing over the radio.  Ted displayed an impressive array of weaponry and Emily a growing medical impression.

People lined up for photos, asked questions, shared stories from the Motherland, and came away feeling good.  What I found even more impressive were the people of non- Russian heritage who stopped by to learn more of this rich culture.  This is a special event for me as I am a part of this vast culture myself.  It includes all the peoples of Russia and the former Soviet Republics.

Come out and visit or participate if you have something to add.  This event is attended by the 193rd at the personal invite of the event organizer.  This is source of honor and pride for us for they don’t invite just anybody.