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Post by kanowarrior on Jun 19, 2011 11:44:48 GMT -5
If you missed this battle, you missed a great one this year! A lot of pre-prep work went into this battle and a lot of people and the Marine unit this year stepped up to the plate to help make this battle the best yet. I myself spent several trips and days at the site building and prepping the site for the battle. Unlike prior years we were able to slow the pace of the battle and kept it going all day on Saturday with several separate allied objectives thoughout the day. The following Sunday was snowless this year and we battled on. Prep work on the site included digging more foxholes, pillboxes, and airfield, a new village and shore batteries at the beach head. In addition, the Marines built two outstanding landing craft mock ups for the beach that I must admit, watching from the other side, they looked awesome when those ramps dropped and the marines came pouring out. One thing about Ozena and many battle sites we attend, the locals much be watched out for. Here is a picture of one of them that I literally stepped on prior to the battle. Fortunately I got him before he got me. Yes, that's a rattlesnake. Attachments:
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Post by kanowarrior on Jun 19, 2011 11:47:25 GMT -5
Unfortunately I did not get enough pictures and when the fighting started I didn't get any. But here is one of the two land craft just prior to loading up. Attachments:
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Post by kanowarrior on Jun 19, 2011 11:51:01 GMT -5
The airfield included two buildings, an uncompleted tower and an airstrip outlined with torches. Defenses were dug and the picture of the building was a control/command building complete with radio. Attachments:
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Post by kanowarrior on Jun 19, 2011 11:55:51 GMT -5
One of the missions for the Allies was to rescue a captured Marine. Sadly they were to late. Pictures cannot convey what was really striking about this body. The smell... it was truly awful, he had been sitting in the sun to long and he literally REEKED! I can tell you that honestly. This body was actually out in the open in a field yet I only know of one allied unit that found him. A few of them skirted around it but I was told they never found him. Attachments:
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Post by kanowarrior on Jun 19, 2011 12:04:53 GMT -5
Finally I would like to add that I really wish I had gotten pictures of the village. Set up by Rick, Amber and Sluggo, this was better than last year and the girls did a terrific impression in the village. Hopefully next year I will remember to bring a camera and even more importantly, remember to USE it! Also thanks to the Australians for supervising the Landing craft. They did an outstanding job getting the troops on the beach. As I said before it was quite impressive watching them hit the beach. Sadly, we expected 4-5 mortars on our side but only two came and we didn't have any time to range any of them. I only know of one hit on the landing craft, but it was just after it had been unloaded. Amazingly that hit came from the one mortar that was staged on the opposide side of the hill from the beach head! It fired over the ridge and across the valley to hit that craft! The mortar on the ridge didn't come close to any of them but was deadly to the allies that hit the beach. Thanks also to Charles Morfin of the AVG who spent his time and money working on the airfield. Carting the bamboo up to the site in his car was interesting. The altitude had the bamboo popping and splitting as we headed up there and we kept hearing it pop as we drove along. What's next year? Join the Japanese if you want to be in on it. We have all loaner gear and planning usually starts pretty quick so we might be discussing it soon. (secretly of course!) Attachments:
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charles
Unit Leaders
Corporal
Posts: 38
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Post by charles on Jun 20, 2011 3:27:26 GMT -5
Wow! A marine and a rattlesnake! LOL! Sounded like a lot of fun! Wish I could have been there!
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