Why do we reenact WW2?

[kanowarrior]

know I do it because my dad was in the ETO as a combat infantryman. He was wounded several times, fought in some hellish times and came out a very different person then when he went in.

Well that's the bottom line for me, but out of the curiosity of what happened to him to make him the way he is, I made a life and hobby out of WWII.

From there it's gone to finding out more about my family in general and of course having a good time in the process. Basically because in the process I've discovered that life is just to darned short and we don't get alot of second chances in this life. Stressing the little stuff is for morons.

[mayo]

I do it to honor those who served. I want to do so by experiencing a glimpse of what they went through. By attending some public events, my goal is to show them that they have not been forgotten.

[davep]

Why do I reenact?

So I can better understand, what the average GI may have gone through. What did an M1 feel like, how did it operate. How long does eight rounds last. What is is like to feel pressure (not the same I know) of try to reload. What was it like to drink water, without having a coke. What was it like to wear a metal helmet all day. What did all the crap weight.

So I can better visualize, so when I read a book or listen to a book I can visualize; both in sight and sound what the author is telling me. When they mention a piece of equipment or sound I can picture it in my mine.

So I can related to a vet when I have a conversation with them. And see the sparkle in their eyes when they know, I know what they are talking about, or can show them my collection.

So I can better appreciate; or attempt to appreciate all the personal hardships the average GI was trapped in, whether it be cool, mud, heat, flys, food, weapon sounds, orders, patrols, bordem, etc.

So I can be educated on how equipment t was design and put together. How simple designs rather than over engineer items were used.


And finally to have some good old fashion "male bonding" that these guys have and had during WWII.

PS- Tim thanks for posting this sharing thought provoking question. I like to hear why "individuals" reenact, rather than why people think other people do it. Answers from one's own gut are always more authentic!

It's easy for us. But we should alway be prepare to give an answer, for the reason why we do what we do, when a stranger asks "why in the hell would anyone do war reenacting"

[barcelonablom]

I see it as giving back to the public and serving as a reminder to the average jane and joe that there were some great sacrifices made by our country. The public displays allow me to do this and teach (my hopeful future career) people about what happened.

Tacticals for me (especially when I can get a leadership position later) are exercising all this info I've absorbed from Boot and beyond. Then and MCT we learned to be basic rifleman (or the grunts went SOI and learned how to be full blooded infantry) now as a Corporal I have to start doing the PME and maybe Corporal's course to learn how to be a leader of riflemen, and it only builds up from there...

/me looks at his Sergeant's Course MCI Coursebooks sitting on the floor: Its all about warfighting at the squad and platoon level and some basic leadership stuff.... And I really need to get kicking on it soon, that's 100 points towards my score when I'm eligible for Sergeant, and I'm going to need every point I can get...

So tacticals I see as professional development on a combat level... not modern and not true... but close enough... and damned fun!

[m14msgt]

The motivating factor for me was embarking upon family research and discovering my uncle Norris Wells, PFC, L Co. 36 ID, 143 IR was killed by mortar fragment wounds on August 28, 1944 during the "not so well known" Battle of Montelimar in France. Also, I spent more than half of my adult life in the military and have always felt a bond with GIs of any era.

Plus, I love WW2 weaponry and what better way to play around with it than at a reenactment battle.

[osok1953]

Plus it's alot more fun than playing with GI Joe's. I always hated when the ends of the M1's would break off.

For me it was them old vets from the barrio i grew up in and their stories that got me hooked on WW2 and all it's infamous stories of valor and cowardice.

[mexbob]

I can't believe I didn't post earlier.

I re-enact for the chance to crack the door and barely glimpse into the Long House of Valhalla and hear the echo of deeds of bravery and tales of glory. For a chance to continue my life-long pursuit: to learn about sacrifice and brotherhood.

Yes, to learn about my Dad and his classified missions (as de-classifying continues).

To sharpen my skills, dulled by age and use.

And finally because soon, like all my hobbies since I was 12, it will be illegal to do so, in the post-modern Feminazi world... :wink:

[davep]

This is a nice video post by KETC channel 9 St. Louis. Unless most if not all WWII reenactor videos, this one deal with "why we reenact", plus it has some WWII vet reactions to what we do.






For those who can't view the video direct here is another link
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJfVUPJGX6c

[davep]

Here is another video, it involves the folks from Colorado with the Panzer III and some American and British units as well. It's from the Akron Colorado Air Show called the National Radial Engine Exhibition. It's similar to our Chino Airshow, in the sense it has a lot of old WW2 planes and a static WW2 Reenactors Camp with a Public Reenactment. This video covers the whole show, but if you wait for the 1:40 minute mark, the reenactor part starts. Great commentary amd protechinics, one of a guy fire a bazooka

I love this line

"One teacher told us, that she had two days scheduled for studying World War II, she said thanks to us we're on our second week because of the questions generated in their visit"

[sniper63]

I'm in it because of men like Lieutenant Daniel Inouye
442nd Regimental Combat Team
Lt. Inouye was hit in his abdomen by a bullet, barely missing his spine. He continued to fight until his right arm was shattered by a German rifle grenade. He lost his right arm.
US Senator from Hawaii.
His Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded to a Medal of Honor on June 21, 2000.


The 442nd RCT were Americans of Japanese ancestry. Fought in Italy and France.

[kanowarrior]

There's more to this story as I heard it. On his way home he stopped in at a Barbers shop to get a haircut in San Francisco. Standing there with an empty sleeve pinned to his shoulder and his medals of valor pinned to his chest the barber pointed to a sign in the window. "We don't serve Japs."

Oct 18, 2010 20:13:23 GMT -5 sniper63 said:

I'm in it because of men like Lieutenant Daniel Inouye
442nd Regimental Combat Team
Lt. Inouye was hit in his abdomen by a bullet, barely missing his spine. He continued to fight until his right arm was shattered by a German rifle grenade. He lost his right arm.
US Senator from Hawaii.
His Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded to a Medal of Honor on June 21, 2000.


The 442nd RCT were Americans of Japanese ancestry. Fought in Italy and France.

[kanowarrior]

More to this as time goes by. I pretty much know everything there is to find at about my father at this time although I still keep an ear and eye out for more and it always takes interesting turns. But on my way home from Lost Valley I began to realize there is more to it now.

We stopped in uniform at a restaurant in Temecula and alot of the patrons were older couples. I didn't realize it at the time but some of them were very curious about us and as we were leaving and making visits to the bathroom one older gentleman motioned to me so I went over to speak with him. Right behind him was another man who also was very curious about us but he was able to hear our entire conversation.

The man asked what uniform we were wearing. After all these years he couldn't recognize it and after I explained we were wearing WWII US Army uniforms he did but was confused as to why we were wearing them. I explained we were a volunteer group that did this as a hobby and did public events, parades, etc and on our own time our club did wargames but untilmately we did this so people would remember and not forget the war.

The last part really touched his heart. He was an MP in WWII in Italy and the look on face was priceless when I told him. The look of thanks on his face really struck a cord with me as well and I could tell it did with the person behind him as well. I had really hit a point that had been escaping me all these years and until that moment I had been unable to put into real words.

This is why I reenact and I'm pretty sure I echo that for many of us. Its for the vets. It's to say, "Thanks".

It was late and I had to go, but on my way out of the bathroom and to get back on the road, as I passed my new found friend, he saluted me. His way of thanking me for recognizing him and all the other WWII veterans out there.

[clw1989]

this is probably the greatest thing we can do for the vets. the things they saw and the emotions they experienced are something we as civilians just cannot understand, and i truely believe that by reenacting we are telling them that we have not forgotten the sacrifice they made on our behalf.

Oct 19, 2010 14:05:30 GMT -5 kanowarrior said:

More to this as time goes by. I pretty much know everything there is to find at about my father at this time although I still keep an ear and eye out for more and it always takes interesting turns. But on my way home from Lost Valley I began to realize there is more to it now.

We stopped in uniform at a restaurant in Temecula and alot of the patrons were older couples. I didn't realize it at the time but some of them were very curious about us and as we were leaving and making visits to the bathroom one older gentleman motioned to me so I went over to speak with him. Right behind him was another man who also was very curious about us but he was able to hear our entire conversation.

The man asked what uniform we were wearing. After all these years he couldn't recognize it and after I explained we were wearing WWII US Army uniforms he did but was confused as to why we were wearing them. I explained we were a volunteer group that did this as a hobby and did public events, parades, etc and on our own time our club did wargames but untilmately we did this so people would remember and not forget the war.

The last part really touched his heart. He was an MP in WWII in Italy and the look on face was priceless when I told him. The look of thanks on his face really struck a cord with me as well and I could tell it did with the person behind him as well. I had really hit a point that had been escaping me all these years and until that moment I had been unable to put into real words.

This is why I reenact and I'm pretty sure I echo that for many of us. Its for the vets. It's to say, "Thanks".

It was late and I had to go, but on my way out of the bathroom and to get back on the road, as I passed my new found friend, he saluted me. His way of thanking me for recognizing him and all the other WWII veterans out there.