American Heroes Re-Enactment Brings History to Life

Photo By Master Sgt. Daniel Griego | Period actors reenact a World War II battle at the 2010 American Heroes Celebration.  

AUSTIN, TX, UNITED STATES

04.19.2010

Story by Staff Sgt. Daniel Griego 

Texas Military Department

The Muster Day reenactment brings to life a time in America's history when the nation was a member of the Allied forces fighting against Germany in World War II. The annual event, put on by the Brig. Gen. John C. L. Scribner Texas Military Forces Museum, took place at Camp Mabry in Austin during The 2010 American Heroes Celebration, held April 17 and 18.

Throughout the two-day reenactment, the period actors camped out in the field in authentic tents.

"I have been inspired by WWII history since I was a child and my father, who is a WWII veteran," said Matt Rayson, portraying a field medic in the 36th Infantry Division.

G Company, 36th Infantry Division, the main body of the reenactment, along with other living history groups and military vehicle collectors, built the battlefield and campgrounds of the American Division and their German counterparts. The battlefield was filled with simulated dragons' teeth, barbed wired, bombed out buildings and military pyrotechnics.

The goal was to remind people of what life was like for Texas Army National Guard's 36th Infantry Division in World War II, honor all veterans. The public was also educated on Texas military history with vehicles such as a Sherman Tank, M3 Halftrack, jeeps, German Hetzer, and Kubelwagens. The re-enactors also had authentic uniforms and weapons.

"Veterans appreciate [the re-enactors] being out there, veterans from the 36th have come by time to time," said John Reed, a 36th ID re-enactor.

The event recreated the attack on the Siegfried Line in March 1945, which was the last line of defense the Germans had before the US entered Germany.

With the Allied troops in the east tree line and Axis troops coming in by convoy, their encounter began the engagement. With shots fired from rifles and machine guns on both sides, the 36th ID slowly moved forward on the German bunkers and buildings. When the 36th's Sherman tank rolled onto the battlefield, the Germans quickly started using mortars and their own armored vehicles against the US troops. After the 40-minute battle, the 36th ID ended the skirmish by destroying the German headquarters. After the re-enactors performed a quick clean up of the battlefield, the spectators joined them on the field to collect and keep parts of the engagement as souvenirs.

"If anything's my favorite, it's the old World War II tanks," said Daryl Reif, a spectator of the event. "I would love to see a tiger tank, but those are very hard to come by."

Daryl, who has attended the event for four years straight, enjoys bringing his six-year-old son each time. "It keeps getting better every year."

• Date Taken: 04.19.2010
• Date Posted: 04.20.2010 12:39
• Story ID: 48420
• Location: AUSTIN, TX, US