Re-enactment was educational experience
This past weekend, we were treated to a rare event – a military encampment and re-enactment.
The two-day "2013 Armed Forces Tribute," sponsored by Wildlands Outdoor Equipment Inc., owned by Mat Hanabarger, and the WWII Historical Re-enactment Society, Inc. (WHRS) was deemed by the sponsors and attendants alike a success.
The weather cooperated, somewhat, and the array of vehicles was something to see. The advertisement promised me military vehicle displays; it didn’t say I was going to get to ride in a WWII Willy’s Jeep. What a thrill!
A history lesson was also given along with the ride by Dave Marler of the 216 Military Police, and I learned that during the war, the government prohibited "scripting" (putting a manufacturer's name) on a jeep. Ford got around this a little by imprinting an “F” on all the bolts on their jeep models.
The parts of both Willy's and Ford jeeps were required to be totally interchangeable. Ford later sold jeeps to our allies, the Russians. On the earlier jeeps, a five-pointed star was painted on the hood, but after it was reported by pilots that from the air it looked like a swastika, a circle was placed around the star.
Each jeep carries specific identification on the front bumper that indicates the unit to which the vehicle is assigned. The jeep I rode in had a gun mount on the dash, as well as a side mount for a gun and tools.
Kerwin Law and Bill Reynolds, both of Pana, represented a WWII glider battalion. In addition to history about the gliders and their unit, their display of more than 30 weapons from around the world was something to see. Asked to choose his favorite, Reynolds pointed to an American Springfield rifle.
Several vendors were set up with a nice variety of both historic memorabilia as well as collectibles for sale. While these vendors concentrated on military items, Givens Meat Shop and the Hitchin’ Post both were prepared to serve the crowd. As a courtesy, breakfast is prepared for all re-enactors.
Approaching the living history encampment of the 101st Airborne, "The Screaming Eagles," I saw the men were readying for a skirmish. The 101st has a special meaning to me because my oldest brother, Ed, served a tour with the 101st during Vietnam, having previously been with the First Cavalry.
Hate to admit it, but the Germans from the 1st SS Panzer Division were a little scary. All really nice men who had traveled from Kansas City for the event, they brought several very unusual vehicles with them, including an amphibious jeep with a propeller on the rear that could be engaged. The single oar on the driver’s door was to help push off from a bank.
Each of the two re-enactments had a good-sized crowd to watch the action. At the end of the second re-enactment, one of the actors came to the area where the spectators were standing and gave one of the kids a blank cartridge. After that, it was like an Easter Egg Hunt, when it seemed children came from everywhere to search the park for the cartridges.
As I look back on what I have taken away from the first-ever Armed Forces Tribute, I think it was not so much what I experienced but what I saw in the faces of others, such as the veteran as he climbed into a jeep for a ride, or the look on the children’s faces when they found the spent cartridge.
I also think that many people, like myself, may have rediscovered Sonnemann Park with the small creek running through it – a perfect place for a re-enactment.
Members of the 216 Military Police, 3rd Army, were on hand for last weekend’s re-enactment. They gave rides in their WWII-vintage jeeps.
Re-enactors with the 101st Airborne from Vandalia, Naperville, Chicago and McLean participated in last weekend’s re-enactment event in Vandalia.