Tag: military

  • 2022 events

    All listed events are tentative pending Covid restrictions, government rulings, etc. Several events have not yet posted their schedules. February 2022 18th Century – February 25-27. Prickett’s Fort, Prickett’s Fort State Park, Fairmont, WV. 18th Century Firearms and Accoutrements Show.  http://www.prickettsfortstatepark.com/events.html March 2022 Timeline – March ? No info at this time. Reenactor Appreciation Weekend, …

  • Events for 2021(?)

    I know that I have been pretty quiet as of late. The situation with Covid restrictions has been tough to assess. They seem to be loosening up in some areas and some groups are finally starting to plan events. There are other questions that I have heard expressed by concerned reenactors. Will Cancel Culture put…

  • Book Review: Sacred Ties

    I learned today that the Tidioute Remagen Bridge reenactment has been cancelled, although this may be partly because the organizers have heard that the Reading Airshow may be moved to that date. How everything shakes out remains to be seen. At least we have books to read. Book Review: Sacred Ties Sacred Ties by Tom…

  • Events: January to June 2020

    This is what we have so far: January 2020 WWI – January 10-12, 2020: “Fortifying the Line” (Unit Sponsored Event) (Hosted by Fusilier Regiment 90). Time period: Early 1915. Event held at the Caesar Krauss Great War Memorial Site, Newville, PA. http://www.greatwarassociation.com/Schedule.html

  • Cedar Creek 2019  From the Confederate side

    Cedar Creek 2019 From the Confederate side

    The reenactment of the Battle of Cedar Creek was held over the weekend of October 19-20. Since I hadn’t fallen in with the Confederates at a larger event, I decided to do so this time. I have known Tony Morgan since the days of filming ‘Gods and Generals,’ and he was pleased to have us…

  • D-Day Reenactment, Conneaut Ohio 2019

    D-Day Reenactment, Conneaut Ohio 2019

    D-Day Reenactment 2019 We have been less active this summer due to my wife having her arm broken when our new neighbor’s large dog attacked her. She was finally up to making it out to an event in August albeit with her arm in a sling. So, we journeyed up to Ohio for the reenactment…

  • A Quick Overview of 2018

    A Quick Overview of 2018

    Here is a quick overview of events that we didn’t cover in individual articles. April 6-8. School of the Longhunter – Prickett’s Fort, near Fairmont, WV. This is a very informative seminar on life on the frontier in the 18th Century. Subjects can vary from an enlightening discussion on the life of Simon Girty to…

  • This Year’s Coming Events

    Here is what we have so far: January 2019 WWI – Jan 11-13, 2019: “The Calm Before the Storm”(Hosted by FR 90 (German). Time period: Winter 1917-18. Event held at the Caesar Krauss Great War Memorial Site, Newville, PA. http://www.greatwarassociation.com/Schedule.html

  • Brownsville Steam Show 2018

    Brownsville Steam Show 2018

    On the weekend August 11-12, 2018, we and other members of the 28th Infantry, Co. K (reenacted) , set up a WWII living history camp at the National Pike Steam,Gas and Horse Association show at the Association’s property off Rt. 40 outside of Brownsville, PA.

  • Remagen Event 2018

    Remagen Event 2018

    On the weekend f August 4-5, we took part in the WWII reenactment of the taking of the Ludendorff Bridge, recalled in Ken Hechler’s book, “The Bridge at Remagen,” which was in early March 1945. It was one of two remaining bridges across the river Rhine in Germany when it was captured during the Battle of Remagen by United States Army forces during…

  • GAP 2018

    GAP 2018

    This year the Battle of the Bulge Reenactment at Fort Indiantown Gap was held a week later than usual – from January 31 to February 4th. The weather for the event was predictably cold, but there was no snow to speak of. We spent most of our time portraying German volunteers and Volkssturm in charge…

  • Recap of (Most) of 2017

    Recap of (Most) of 2017

    This past year has been an interesting one to say the least. Here is a recap of what we have done since April. We attended the Lantern tour at the Grafton National Cemetery in Grafton which contains 2100 internments, including 1252 Civil War soldiers. I delivered General Black Jack Logan’s address of May 5, 1868 to…

  • Initial 2018 Calendar of events

    Here is what we have so far for the coming year through April. January 2018 WWI – Jan 12-14, 2018: “Bathelémont: Baptism of Fire”(Hosted by FR 90 (German) and the 18th RI (French)). Time period: November 1917. Event held at the Caesar Krauss Great War Memorial Site, Newville, PA. http://www.greatwarassociation.com/Schedule.html WWII – Battle of the…

  • GAP – Battle of the Bulge Reenactment 2017

    GAP – Battle of the Bulge Reenactment 2017

      This annual reenactment/living history event was held from January 25 through the 28th at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. As usual, it was a great opportunity to see some outstanding impressions, visit with old friends and shop at the many vendors who came to sell their wares at the event. As usual, we assisted at…

  • 2016 – A Retrospective

    2016 – A Retrospective

      This is a month late, but better late than never. The following is a quick summary of events we attended last year: Our first event of the year was at Fort Indiantown Gap for the annual Battle of the Bulge Reenactment, sponsored by the WWII Historical Association. We take part in the Axis hospital…

  • Events – January – May 2017

      Below are the events on which we currently have information. More to follow. January 2017 WWII – Battle of the Bulge Reenactment, January 25- 29. Ft. Indiantown Gap PA. Contact: http://www.wwiiha.org/new/index.php/fig February 2017 WWII – Elbe River Event, February 18,  Old Bedford Village, Bedford, PA. regardless of the weather as usual. They still have…

  • 75th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor

    75th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor

    The USS Arizona during the attack* Today is the 75th Anniversary of the “Day of Infamy,” as President Roosevelt described it. During a period in which our country and it’s history are beset with enemies from without and within, it is important those Americans who lost their lives in this attack and the brave response…

  • Reading Airshow June 2-5, 2016

    Reading Airshow June 2-5, 2016

         This year’s Reading event was blessed with reasonably good weather for the first couple of days. The third was another story – more on that later. The 193rd was again out in the farthest reaches of the airport grounds, with a US group largely hiding us from view, but we still got a good…

  • Grafton Lantern Tour 2016

    The Grafton Lantern Tour is a memorial to the hundreds of Civil War soldiers buried in the Grafton National Cemetery located in Grafton, Taylor County, W.Va. This cemetery  is a particularly appropriate location for such a memorial. “In 1867, Maj. R. C. Bates was ordered by the War Department to locate a permanent burial site…

  • Fort Frederick Market Fair 2016

    Fort Frederick State Park is a Maryland State Park surrounding the restored Fort Frederick, a star fort active in the French and Indian War  (1754–1763) and the American Revolution (1775-1783). The fort served as a refuge for settlers and was originally garrisoned by the 60th Regiment of foot and local militia. It was never directly…

  • Memorial Day

    There are numerous stories and legends about the origin of Memorial Day that have grown up over the last 150-odd years. From the freedmen of Charleston, SC, who cleaned up and landscaped the burial grounds of 257 Union prisoners of war buried at the Hampton Park Race course and then held a memorial service for…

  • Fort Indiantown Gap 2016

    This year, The Battle of the Bulge Reenactment was held from January 27-31. On the way up on Friday, we had a harrowing drive through a white-out in western Maryland and, having been in one fender-bender already this winter, the thought of turning around and going home did cross my mind. But we toughed it…

  • Grafton Lantern Tour

      Grafton, West Virginia – Grafton National Cemetery Lantern Tour On Friday evening, May 22, at 8:30 p.m. There will again be a living history tour of the Grafton National Cemetery.  Tour leader Mark Tennant will lead the tour of Civil War graves in the cemetery. Mark and reenactor assistants dressed in Civil War period…

  • FIG 2015

    Occuring as usual during the last week of January,  this year’s FIG event was a particularly cold one. Once again, Linda and I joined the folks at the German hospital to assist with the living history.  I am not sure what the standing temperatures were for the weekend, but the wind chill was impressive.  To…

  • Upcoming 2015 Events – January through April

    The following is what I have so far for our general region. Some events have not yet released their 2015 event information. Check back for updates and additions. January 2015 WWII – Battle of the Bulge Reenactment, January 27 – February 1. Ft. Indiantown Gap PA. Contact: http://www.wwiifederation.org February 2015 Civil War – February 20-22,…

  • Old Bedford Village 2014

    This year the annual battle between Grossdeutschland and their invited units and the 193rd Rifle Division,  their comrades the 9th Guards and other gallant Red Army units, took place on the weekend of November 7-9, 2014. This year, the scenario involved the Red Army’s advance into Poland. As has been the case for the last…

  • Cedar Creek 150th Anniversary Reenactment

      The 150th Anniversary Reenactment of the Battle of Cedar Creek took place on the weekend of Octorber 17-19, 2014.I had not attended this event for some time and was looking forward to going back. It also promised to be the largest Civil War reenactment that Linda had experienced. We went down Thursday in order…

  • Chief Logan Civil War Reenactment 2014

    News Flash! The following is a report from our correspondent, Bill Donegan from the field in the Southern Mountains:   Federal Battalion wiped out!   A Federal Battalion led by Captain Steve Allen was wiped out to a man at Chief Logan State Park on Saturday September 27, 2014. The Federal objective was to capture…

  • Reading Airshow 2014

    The following is part of a group of reports that are regretably late due to several months of intermittent illness and other projects which demanded my attention. Anyway, here goes: On the first week of June, we made our annual trip to the Reading Airshow. The 193rd was once again as far back in the…

  • New Market Pt. II

    The following is Captain Chuck Critchfield’s AAR from New Market: This year’s reenactment at New Market, Virginia, marked the 150th anniversary of the battle fought in a thunderstorm and made famous thanks to the Virginia Military Institute.  But it was also a milestone for member of the 1st West Virginia who participated in the 125th…

  • Battle of New Market Reenactment 2014

    The 125th anniversary reenactment of the Battle of New Market, Virginia, was my first experience in Reenacting in May of 1989. So it was fitting that I made it back for the 150th this year, also the  25th year in the hobby for myself and Mark Tennant, 1st Sgt. of our unit, Co. A, First…

  • MTA 2014

    For a change of pace for me this year, Linda and I attended MTA at the Jamestown Settlement as mere tourists, rather than participants. Because of this, we were able to actually take our time and look at every exhibit in depth and at our leisure. Certainly a different feeling than the usual ‘stealing a…

  • The GAP 2014

    The reenacting/living history season, for many of us, begins at Fort Indiantown Gap during the Battle of the Bulge reenactment week. (Last week of the month).  This year was no exception, as Linda and I once again were part of the German hospital display hosted by Pete and Kate Gentry. As usual, I portrayed a…

  • After action report: OBV/Elbe Tactical, Bedford, Pa. 2014

      The following is a report from our correspondent, Bill Donegan, just back from the front:   For those who don’t know or who have never been, you can time travel back to Germany 1945 via Old Bedford Village (OBV). OBV is located 1 minute from the Pa. Turnpike off exit 146 Bedford, 220 Sawblade…

  • Burning Springs Documentary Filming

      Here is the latest dispatch from our correspondent, Bill Donegan: Thanks to Jack and Tonya Daft I was able to participate in the making of a documentary about the oil and gas history in the Kanawha Valley area. “Burning Springs” is a documentary produced by Motion Masters, a Charleston, W.Va. company that has produced…

  • Ukraine 1944 – Old Bedford Village Fall event 2013

    The scene is Ukraine in 1944: The Ukrainian people find themselves in the middle of a three-way struggle during what seems like an endless and brutal war. On the weekend of November 9-10, 2013, this scenario played out at Old Bedford Village in the annual fall battle tactical between Grossdeutschland Division and the 193rd Rifle…

  • Great War Association Fall event – 2013

    On Friday, November 1, I once again made the trip to Newville, PA for the Great War Association’s Fall WWI event. The parking lot was full, indicating a good turnout and the Flea Market was extensive and busy. This year, the weather was quite favorable during the event and although the sky clouded up Saturday…

  • Burning Springs

       The following is a post from our correspondent, Bill Donegan: Thanks to Jack and Tonya Daft I was able to participate in the making of a documentary about the oil and gas history in the Kanawha Valley area. “Burning Springs” is a documentary produced by Motion Masters, a Charleston, W.Va. company that has produced…

  • Droop Mountain 150th

      The West Virginia Reenactor’s Association held it’s reenactment commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Droop Mountain on Labor Day weekend this year due to a scheduling conflict later in the fall. While the event lacked the attraction of colorful autumn leaves, which it normally has, the park is still a remarkably beautiful…

  • Tank Farm 2013

    The weekend of August 21-22, the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles (http://www.vmmv.org)  and the  Americans in Wartime Museum ( http://www.nmaw.org), held their annual open house. The weekend offered a little bit of everything. In addition to the usual array of military vehicles and reenactors, there was a diorama of the invasion of peleliu made entirely from…

  • Remagen Bridge Reenactment 2013

    Here is a report on the event at Tidioute, PA this past weekend, by our correspondent, Bill Donegan: Do you know what God did this year at the Tideoute event? First I have to set this up for you. Mr. Ken Hechler used to be Secretary of State for West Virginia. He was a member…

  • Reading Airshow – June 7,8,9 2013

    As some of you know, I have had a very demanding year and this has resulted in the blog being neglected. Hopefully, my health problems have straightened out and now I am getting happily settled into a new marriage and a new home. Hopefully, I will be able to get things in order on this…

  • 150th Chancellorsville- May 3-5 2013

      The following is a report from our correspondent, Nick Korolev: From the Living History Camp The 150th Battle of Chancellorsville on the W. J. Vakos Companies property at Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA presented living history, battle reenactments, plus a huge selection of sutlers, the First Brigade Band from Milwaukee, MI playing period music, the U.…

  • THE LONG ROAD HOME EVENT : FALL OF RICHMOND – APRIL 5-7, 2013

    The following is a report from our correspondent, Nick Korolev:   The third of five annual events in the Long Road Home program leading up to the 150th anniversary of the surrender at Appomattox continued April 5-7, 2013 at Clover Hill Village in Appomattox, VA with the Fall of Richmond. It was hosted by Appomattox…

  • Federal Generals’ Corps at the Dr. Samuel Mudd House

       The following is a report from our correspondent, Nick Korolev:   Federal Generals’ Corps at the Dr. Samuel Mudd House   March 22-24 , 2013 the Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Society hosted the Boy & Girl Scout encampment and the Battle of Zechiah Swamp activity on the grounds of the historic Dr. Samuel Mudd…