Weekend at War

[MrBern]

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/travel/escapes/27Reenact.html

A travel story on Reenactors' WWII weekend escape.

 

[Queue]

An interesting read; thanks!

 

[MrBern]

Anyone going this year?

 

[Bourbon Guy]

I'm sorry, B, but my father and his brothers and his friends earned those stripes. Even those who returned often continued to pay for them for the rest of their lives with nightmares, emotional deadness, and self-medication with alcohol. I hope when you wear their uniforms you do so in reverence of all of them, both the survivors and those who did not return. It was not a game. Or a party. Or a reenactment. It still isn't.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

To those of us who didn't have fathers or brothers who fought in a war, but who grew up on Combat, Rat Patrol and Twelve O'Clock High on TV, these re-enactments are a way to act out a little of what we grew up with in fantasyland. It's not unlike those whose interest is in the American Revolution, or the War Between The States - it's a form of living history and a chance to experience the uniforms, the weapons and the culture of era long past. I'm sure to those involved, their interest and their enthusiasm includes a certain respect for those who actually served and sacrficed to protect such freedom of expression.

-dixon 're-enactor' cannon

 

[Bourbon Guy]

You don't have a clue and neither do I. We weren't there. But some of those who were are still alive. Honor them.

Makes me think of the fellow who wrote a book about his mother who is a concentration camp survivor. When she got old and slid into dementia, an old lady living in the nursing home, she slept every night sitting in a chair, fully dressed, with a suitcase on the floor next to her. Ready to run.

It's too soon.

 

[Lone_Ranger]

You don't have a clue and neither do I. We weren't there. But some of those who were are still alive. Honor them.

Makes me think of the fellow who wrote a book about his mother who is a concentration camp survivor. When she got old and slid into dementia, an old lady living in the nursing home, she slept every night sitting in a chair, fully dressed, with a suitcase on the floor next to her. Ready to run.

It's too soon.

I understand what you're saying. I've seen the guy at the bar that tells all the women he was a Navy SEAL, while the real operator sits quietly in the corner with his back to the wall. But reenacting is a little different.

Too soon? The guys, and girls, who were there, are fewer and fewer every day. All too soon, there won't be any.

If the reenactors want to preserve the memory of what the Greatest Generation did, before there is no one left to tell their story,it can be a good thing. Otherwise the history will be told not by people that want to honor the sacrifice of those who were there, but by those that wish to re write history, to favor their political beliefs.

Would you rather have that book written by the son of a concentration camp survivor, or by someone that wishes to deny that it happened?

 

[cco23i]

Well I will chime in. True many of the people who reenact have never served, BUT many of US HAVE. I DID earn my stripes and have talked to WW2, Korean and Viet Nam vets and we all dealt with simular situations. Here it is again JUMPING to conclusions. I have spent the last 26 years in the military so people CAN reenact and HONOR the vets for their sacrifice.

Scott

 

[dhermann1]

I sometimes also entertain some of those critical thoughts, but I'm also aware that the vast vast majority of actual WW II veterans who attend these events are simply ecstatic about them. I think their feelings tell the story.

 

[DutchIndo]

To those of us who didn't have fathers or brothers who fought in a war, but who grew up on Combat, Rat Patrol and Twelve O'Clock High on TV, these re-enactments are a way to act out a little of what we grew up with in fantasyland. It's not unlike those whose interest is in the American Revolution, or the War Between The States - it's a form of living history and a chance to experience the uniforms, the weapons and the culture of era long past. I'm sure to those involved, their interest and their enthusiasm includes a certain respect for those who actually served and sacrficed to protect such freedom of expression.

-dixon 're-enactor' cannon

My friends and I were the ones who grew up Combat, Rat Patrol and you forgot "Garrisons Guerrilas". Saturday afternoon's always had some War Movie as this was the 60's. Some great Movies came from the 50s-60s. Then we did not have the entertainment kids have now. It was only imagination no XBox, Play Station or online games. When you're a kid your bulletproof it's not till your older that you realize War is horrible. The 60s was the WWII thing in our neighborhood. We built Model Planes played with Army men and GI-Joes. The 70s it would be Star Wars. WWII has made a huge comeback bigger than I ever expected. Now kids don't play with Army Men its "Call of Duty" on the computer.

 

[HoundstoothLuke]

I sometimes also entertain some of those critical thoughts, but I'm also aware that the vast vast majority of actual WW II veterans who attend these events are simply ecstatic about them. I think their feelings tell the story.

I completely agree. I'm sure most of these re-enactment groups serve to simply honour the memory of those who actually did serve, and to preserve the memory, especially as every year there are fewer veterans. However, I can see why people who have earned jump wings and stripes get annoyed with people buying them at a surplus store and sewing them on.

However, if honouring the memory is the main reason, it raises some dubious questions when there units representing SS divisions.

 

[Norumbega]

Qualifying myself, I earned my stripes also, in two branches of our military. I am a member of a Gold Star family, as well as having been a living historian.
I see nothing wrong with them trying to capture a little piece of time travel. That is a facet of what living history is. To my eyes, I see no one attempting to denegrate our former members in uniform regarding this event.

If such notables as Shifty Powers, Earl McClung, or others can attend these and find them acceptable, then I think that's a fairly high stamp of approval.

 

[Tango Yankee]

You don't have a clue and neither do I. We weren't there. But some of those who were are still alive. Honor them.

The reenactments do honor them. They keep the history alive and show those who weren't there in a small way what the people of the time went through. Of course, there's no way a reenactment can completely capture the terror and horror of battle, but it's a lot better then quietly forgetting them. I suppose that there may be a few veterans who dislike them, but for the most part they're appreciated.

I was stationed at RAF Molesworth for four years. The base has a couple of original hangars left, and each year holds a Hangar Dance in conjunction with the 303rd Bomb Group (H) (AKA Hell's Angels) reunion. The veterans appreciate not being forgotten, and for those of us fortunate to speak with some of them it's an amazing opportunity to hear from our forerunners what it was like back then. I've spoken with a ball-turret gunner, a breed of men I've long stood in awe of for the sheer courage it must have taken to lower yourself into that ball knowing that you were a target, knowing that if the hydraulics (on the earlier planes) were shot out, you were going to die when the plane landed on it's belly because there was no way to get out of that turret without them.

If it makes you feel any better about it, consider reenactments as live-action, mobile museums. Certainly many of the weaponry, equipment and clothing items used/worn during reenactments are worthy of museum display!

In summary, reenactments are a way to honor those who went before us, to show those who weren't there a little bit of what it was like (both the good and the bad) and to make sure their sacrifices are never forgotten. And what could possibly be wrong with that?

Regards,
Tom Yeager, SMSgt, USAF (Ret.)
1980-2005

PS HoundstoothLuke, it's kind of hard to have a reenactment unless both sides are represented! The reenactors I've spoken with are dedicated to the accurate portrayal of all facets of the era they are representing.

PPS Here's an excellent web site that discusses the history of reenactment.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

However, if honouring the memory is the main reason, it raises some dubious questions when there units representing SS divisions.

Interesting observation HL. I have a little story to tell. I was at an event at a local airport one weekend. I got there early to have the pancake breakfast. I stood with an elderly guy in a crisp USAAF dress uniform. As we spoke I noticed his German accent. In the middle of our conversation the PA began playing our national anthem. I've heard it a million times since public school - but my new friend turned on his heel, took off his hat, put his hand on his heart and watched at attention as the stars & stripes were raised that morning. I was shocked back into the reality of the moment so I turned and did the same, but only as an afterthought mind you.

It turns out that my friend with the German accent was in fact German and he served in WWII. He served with comrades on the Eastern Front and later in Normandy. He watched his own commanding officer blown up by a mine and he became next in command and watched his men wounded and killed before he himself was captured - by the British! Mein freund was indeed a German; one who had as a young man taken an oath to his Fuhrer as a Waffen SS soldier. He and his men fought and died for something they believed in at that time but he found himself as a defeated POW.

Mein freund told me it was the best thing to ever happen to him. The British treated him with respect and dignity and actually educated him in the culture of democracy. He stayed in Britain until the 1950's when he emigrated to the U.S. and eventually became a citizen - a proud citizen who understands totalitarianism and has a deep respect and love for freedom - one who takes the star & stripes seriously and hears the National Anthem as a call to attention, reflection and gratitude.

Every year mein freund goes back to Germany to attend a dwindling gathering of his 'Kameraden' who have lost friends and family in WWII. They tell their war stories relive old battles. Each year mein freund returns to his American home and each year I see him at the CAF event, sometime in a a perfect German uniform and most times surrounded by much younger men who honor and respect him for his service and his wisdom and his own historical significance. He is a veteran and a POW too, you see.

-dixon cannon

 

[Tango Yankee]

Every year mein freund goes back to Germany to attend a dwindling gathering of his 'Kameraden' who have lost friends and family in WWII. They tell their war stories relive old battles. Each year mein freund returns to his American home and each year I see him at the CAF event, sometime in a a perfect German uniform and most times surrounded by much younger men who honor and respect him for his service and his wisdom and his own historical significance. He is a veteran and a POW too, you see.

-dixon cannon

Well said!!! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[astrang1]

Hello,
I suppose people will have different opinions on WW2 reenactment. Is it too soon .........maybe or maybe not. When I was growing up I built all the usual model kits and read Commando comics, watched Where Eagles Dare etc but I was banned from building any Japanes aircraft or tanks due to the war. For some of my family it was too raw even in the 1970s.
However each year there are fewer and fewer veterans to tell what happened and the live connection with it is going. Also WW2 is slowly disappearing from the History curriculum in schools here and there is a danger that there is a generation of children who will grow knowing little about what happened or the sacrifices made for freedom.
I guess if watching a WW2 reenactment brings it to life for people or sparks their interest and they go and try and find out or read about then it has served a purpose.
Best wishes,
Al