Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines!

Consider the event on April 1-3 to consist of a hodge-podge of activities.  We will battle, we will eat, drink and be merry.  But, the property owner has authorized us to begin building MG (machine gun) Nests and fortifications on site.

Some of ya’ll have never been to Zavalagrad in east Texas, well, this is the vision that we have for Denison.  Foxholes, fighting emplacements, maybe some infantry obstacles.  You will need to bring your own water, entrenching tools, pick axes, etc…The landowner may provide a tractor for us to move the larger items and to loosen the soil.

Bring food for breakfast and lunch and if the numbers are good, which I assume they will be, we may either go into town to eat dinner or rustle up some BBQ on site.  If you have any questions, call or e-mail me.  This is our chance to make a great battlefield for our tacticals and unit drills.

Thanks,
Scott Fullerton
President, TMHS

http://www.tmhs.net

Look, Mom! Are those Doughboys?

A Novice’s Guide to Reenacting
By Morgan Montalvo
TMHS Public Affairs Officer
(Reprinted from the CAF Dispatch)

You’ve seen them at airshows, parades and other patriotic pastimes, adorned in period garb and gear, gathered around a vintage vehicle or beating the heat beneath the wing of a warbird. They recall, often quite convincingly, bygone eras as they entertain and educate. And when the event begins, they transform from bystanders to belligerents locked in a struggle to decide Man’s fate.

So, who are these temporary time travelers known by the collective title of “reenactors” and why are they commanding more of the history-minded public’s attention?

“Reenacting” is a broad term that describes the desire to recreate a period of history, usually based upon an individual’s or group’s level(s) of interest and expertise. Military-themed reenacting is arguably the most popular branch of the hobby; in fact, battle recreations date back at least to the Roman Empire , when its rulers organized these events as entertainment for the masses or to encourage patriotism. But not all reenacting involves military history or even

conflict.  Whether suiting up for a skirmish or sitting at the spinning wheel, most reenactors profess desires to learn more about a particular era by “experiencing it” and sharing their knowledge with the public. Military reenactors overwhelmingly express honor for the sacrifices of veterans among their stated goals.

Experts on the pastime generally point to the mid-1970s as the time frame when World War II reenacting began. While no one has stepped forward to claim the title of card-carrying World War II Reenactor No.1 many, if not most, reenactors believe Second World War group role-playing surfaced somewhere on the East Coast when Civil War reenactors decided to branch out to other time periods.

The website www.reenactor.net describes the early days of World War II reenacting as a time when “it wasn’t cool to cut your hair or even to wear military uniforms” and the early hobbyists as “groups of guys who rejected the ‘Hogan’s Heroes’ view of the war.” As with most activities involving large numbers of people with similar interests, it wasn’t long before the hobby divided into two major, closely related camps. They are:

“reenactors” who pursue the activity with varying levels of dedication and authenticity and divide their time between private mock confrontations called “tacticals,” public demonstrations referred to as “show battles,” and “static display” where they exhibit collections and wear original or reproduction (or a combination thereof) clothing and equipment while interacting with spectators. Reenactor-combatants garner the majority of the public’s attention because of the excitement generated by show battles. Since tacticals and show battles are conducted either privately or at some distance from the public, many reenactors limit their costumes (called “impressions”) to uniforms, weapons and equipment and may not concern themselves with small or personal items that would have been carried by people living in the time period being recreated. There also exists a tiny percentage of reenactors that chooses to not interact with the public and participates only in the battle portions of reenactments, known as “trigger time” and “living historians” who assume (or “interpret”) the persona of an important historic figure, or who represent more-or-less generic characters from a chosen era. Living history often attracts people who, for reasons of age or health, limit their activities to displays and presentations. The genre also includes women, children and men who portray non-combatants and civilians. Many living historians do take part in the more physically demanding “reenacting” aspects of the hobby. Because of living history’s up-close nature, more emphasis is placed upon such small details of daily life as printed materials, food and eating utensils, jewelry, money, even health and hygiene items.

As one can see, the two groups are not mutually exclusive.

In the early days of World War II reenacting uniforms and equipment were more available and relatively inexpensive. As interest increased and time otherwise took its toll on wool and canvas. the supply of vintage uniforms, belts, pouches, boots and helmets – to say nothing of weapons – waned and prices skyrocketed. Here another factor came into play: clothing sizes.

There’s a generally accepted notion that people were smaller, or at least weighed less, during The Depression and the war and there is truth to that. Accordingly, the hobby’s “husky,” “big-boned” or “athletic” adherents were resigned to waiting for a costume (many reenactors recoil at the mention of the word: “It’s a UNIFORM, %$@* it!” they declare) in their size, losing enough weight to fit into what was available, or piecing together something that looked “close enough” – and that third notion morphed into what’s commonly called “the 10-foot Rule” in reference to any item in the reenactor’s kit that might appear acceptable (if not authentic) at that distance.

In the days before the free market discovered that grown men worldwide will forgo life’s necessities in favor of acquiring a well-made facsimile of grandfather’s Ike jacket or Wehrmacht tunic, most units allowed for a bit of “wiggle room” in a reenactor’s collection – if not in his trousers. This meant granting dispensations to first-timers, newbies and reenacting “veterans” who could not acquire rare (or correctly sized) items. How times have changed: currently at least two dozen companies in the United States and abroad are dedicated to turning Everyman into an Audie Murphy, if not a Rommel or a Patton (and, Goodness, how the “Pattons” of the reenactor ranks range from the passable to the pathetic).

The average cost for Joe the Reenactor’s head-to-toe, reproduction World War II dress uniform: about $1,200. The look on his wife’s face: priceless. The subsequent conversation: unfit for print or the ears of children, pets and clergy.

Authenticity has also coined a term unique to the hobby: “farb,” also written as “Farb,” “FarB” or “FARB.” The word refers to any item – or reenactor – not passing muster by reason of authenticity and is used with the same derision service personnel reserve for “SNAFU” and “FUBAR.”

The jury’s out on the origin of “farb”; a Wikipedia entry on “Historical re-enactment” (sic) declares that its use stems from “a truncated version of “Far be it from authentic” or, alternately, “Far Be it for me to question/criticize.” A third explanation offered by Wikipedia is an acronym derived from “Fast And Research-less Buyer,” while a fourth theory ties the term to the German word “Farbe, color, because inauthentic American Civil War reenactors were over-colourful compared with the dull blues, greys or browns of the real uniforms that were a principal concern of American reenactors at the time the word was coined.”

“Farb” can be used as an adjective (“That’s farby”) or as a derogatory noun (“He’s a farb.”). The description might be levied upon a member of the community by a keen-eyed, conscientious peer who strives to portray his time period of choice with realistic reverence, or by one of the dreaded stitch Nazis; thread-counting fanatics who immerse themselves completely in the era, wear even underclothing of the correct pattern and fabric, and find fault in everything from the width of a reproduction rucksack’s tie-down straps to (it is whispered) their mother’s love.

“Farbiness” is also used to describe reenactors who, for age, health, weight or gender reasons, do not authentically represent people of the time period they wish to portray. This has generated criticism from within the ranks — and catcalls from the public — concerning the large percentage of: greying, hefty PFCs; barrel-bellied, Tommy Gun-toting “commandos” and “paratroopers” who’ve never jumped from a plane; and numerous “We’re all pilots here,” aviation troupes that boast nary a single real-life aviator, much less an aircraft.

As with any other social movement, reenacting is subject to influence by the mass media. After the release of Saving Private Ryan, there was a groundswell of interest in portraying U.S. Army Rangers; the Pacific Theater enjoyed increased popularity after The Thin Red Line and The Great Raid; and, years hence, the hobby remains in the throes of a Band of Brothers paratroop mania. Following several false starts, Vietnam is generating increasing interest among living historians.

Morgan Montalvo is a former Navy officer, an investigative reporter and anchor for WOAI News and an economics lecturer at Phoenix Middle College/St Philip’s College Southwest Campus in San Antonio, Texas. His previous association with the (then) Confederate Air Force was as a member of the CAF Airborne Detachment in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

We’ll be switching over to our TMHS forum in January so go ahead and create your ID and log on!

The old yahoo group will be decommissioned soon.

The Board.

Event planning…

Friday: 0900- all day. Check-in. All participants will check in at Command Post in the cabin and assignments to their individual period-specific camps.
Battle Fee of $20.00 will go towards donations to the fort and barracks restoration.
Meal Fee: $5.00 for dinner on Saturday night. This will go to compensate members of the MP-KP-CP Consortium providing the meal.

Friday Night: 1800 Hours. Briefing with all unit commanders in the cabin over weekend itinerary, concerns, additional ideas, duty assignment for personnel, etc.

Saturday: 0800. Breakfast. All camps will be responsible for their own meals with the exception of Saturday evening. Due to circumstances as they are, it is unrealistic to try and provide food for all participants. With the kitchen gone, we’re operating on our own auspices.

0830 Formation and Raising of the Colors. Address by overall commanders.

0900. Fort opens to the public. Throughout the day, MP’s from all camps will rotate in shifts manning the front gate, taking ‘donations’ of $5 per person for admission into the camp and handing out event fliers.

1000 Hours. All units will provide living history tours of their individual camps to attendees. You are all professionals and old hands at this, interacting with the public and answering questions about your era, gear, weapons, etc. It would be a good idea to have some ranks stationed at your camp at all times, not only to stand watch, but to maintain the tour atmosphere while other unit members are elsewhere for public battle and weapons demonstration activities. It would be preferable to gather the public attendees together and have a designated tour guide lead them through each camp, but since fort guests will trickle in throughout the entire day, this isn’t realistic, so expect to do your individual presentations multiple times if necessary.

1100-1200 Hours. Weapons Demonstration on the parade grounds. In chronological order, member units will explain and demonstrate the usage and variety of their weapons to the public. This should be a great activity, showing the public the evolution of military weapons from muskets to M-16s. This may take only an hour, but allow for some overtime. Interest should be high for this, especially with the variety expected to be presented.

1230-1400 Hours. Fall out for chow. Lunchtime is allotted an hour and a half, but expect to interact with the public during this time, as that it is assumed they will still be meandering about the fort and roaming from camp to camp.

1430-1600 Hours. Public Show Battles. Understandably, most units will want to throw a public battle for the attendees. I suggest doing this in chronological order, from earliest era to latest. Scenarios are still to be determined and any and all input is welcome and encouraged.

1700 Hours. Fort closes for the day. A private tactical will follow for any interested parties. In the past at WWII events, we’ve held a tactical for all Allied and Axis units in the woods behind the cabin and down near the Confederate Cemetery.

1800 Hours. Dinner and Colors retired for the night.