Our group departed Akron, Ohio on THURS, 28 JAN, 0830 hrs. Along with myself, the group included Pvt Mark Gaynor (also of B/502) and Frank Artino who would be portraying Canadian Home Guard. The weather was extremely windy with snow drifts blowing across the road. This changed drastically for the better once we crossed a mountain range in Pennsylvania.We arrived at Ft. Indiantown Gap and quickly found the registration building. Frank’s experience in attending the event over the last few years, and the information passed along by other reenactors prepared us for smooth sign in and ammunition check. Within minutes we were on our way to our assign barracks. FIG is a US Army base that houses tank and helo units. There is even an Air Force Reserve unit operating C-130s down the road. The base loves to have us there and opens the PX to reenactors while they are visiting.
Members of B/502 had been assigned to the 4th Squad of the Information and Recon Platoon attached to HQ Company (46 personnel in the platoon, 10 in our ssquad). We drove to barracks 12-45 where the platoon was housed and looked for Lt. Felmlee. As he was at a Company meeting, we checked in with the platoon clerk and looked for an open set of bunks. At that time, we could only find a pair on the main floor and not upstairs with the rest of the squad.
The barracks are the perfect accommodations for this type of weekend. These are the original World War II barracks that have been maintained over the years. Once the bunks were made up to reg, and many period foot locker displays were laid out, it I really put you in the right frame of mind. I would like to point out that the thing we heard about FIG over and over is how HOT the barracks are. The boilers are either on or off. My recommendation is to get a bunk on the first floor. If it is 78 degrees on the first floor, it will be 83 on the second!
Once we made up our bunks and stowed our gear, we put on our uniforms, found a keen parking spot of the truck and started to look around. First on the list was the “flea market” which was six buildings of reenactor gear and militaria of a variety that would boggle the mind. It didn’t take long for me to find what I was looking for and soon I was able to get what I needed to complete my dress uniform. One building of note was really packed full. Within were a half dozen plasma TVs running full tilt, and hundreds and hundreds of DVDs for sale featuring military movies and programs from around the world. It would have been so easy to fill up your arms with cool stuff you have never seen before.
After a good dinner in town, Mark and I came back to look around some more. There was so much stuff going on, you couldn’t take it all in. Period training films and movies were being shown on 16 mm in one of the buildings. There was a “media center” that was taking portraits and displayed period still and film cameras, along with other correspondent gear. The Germans had set up a café in another building. I heard through our pal Frank that “our kind” was NOT welcome in there (3PO, you and R2 better wait by the speeder). All and all, there wasn’t enough time on base to see everything.
A number of people had ordered items from my web store and were to be personally delivered at FIG. After we decided it was too cold to keep wandering around, I warmed up and went in search of one of my customers. Heading over to Regimental HQ, I entered a barracks where many GIs were coming and going. I approached the HQ clerk’s desk inside the door and asked if they knew where I could find the First Sergeant of Headquarters Company. The clerk shrugged and said, “I don’t know anything. I got this job because no one else wanted to do it.” Somebody else pointed upstairs. After delivering the package, I stepped outside. There in the cold, I lit a Lucky and chatted with the other GIs standing around the ash can. With the barracks street void of modern vehicles, and now filled with WWII jeeps and trucks, I had “that” moment. For just a few seconds, it was the winter of 1944. Then somebody walked by with their cell phone, and it was gone. Thanks pal!
Back in 12-45, our Squad Leader, SSGT Salay inspected us for the following day’s engagement. Along with checking ammunition, required items were jeep cap, extra socks, gloves, scarf, water, and a k-ration. We also held a briefing on our tactical objectives. Reveille was going to come early. Time to hit the rack.
Friday morning. 0530 hrs. Lights on in the barracks. Bodies slide off their bunks. Some head to the showers. The rest of us start layering up into our uniforms. Outside it is 13 degrees. The boiler is still working. Inside it is 78. The local Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol squadron runs a mess hall at the event and keeps food coming from sun up to sun down. A very professional job. Hot coffee and a good breakfast was welcome as we had no idea when we would eat again.
Outside 12-45, the platoon formed up for weapons inspection. Our squad was made up of guys from the 82nd Airborne, the 83rd ID, and us from the 101st. A great group of guys and were lucky to have this assignment. We marched over to the road and loaded up into the restored period trucks and jeeps. Our home for the ride was a beautiful 1943 WC-63 named “Eddie”. Here is where we started separating the men from the boys…
From the time we loaded on the vehicles and waited. Drove twenty minutes with one stop to pee. Waited some more. Had vehicle breakdowns, and then arrived at the jump off point. All told, we spent about an hour and a half packed into the trucks. Trying to stay warm was a chore. Hands and feet got numb. Welcome to Bastogne.
Once on the ground and moving, feet and hands warmed up and life was tolerable again. Our squad was to secure a bridge over the creek to keep a clear path for the battalion in case the Krauts pushed us back. And they would be pushing! It wasn’t long before things opened up. I swear, every German must have had a machine gun! A half track came up to support us but one minute they were there, and the next they were gone. The battalion came flooding back over the hill and we covered their withdraw. Suddenly the Germans were on us like sauerkraut on pork. I turned to look down the road and a Jerry stepped out. With one motion he flung a grenade in our direction. It landed at the feet of Sgt. Mike and myself. Helmets off. We were out of the game for the moment. Pleased with himself, the German soldier turned around and Mark dropped him were he stood. War is hell Hans!
Back that the rally point, we resurrected and were given our next assignment. The platoon crossed an open field that had recently been a forest, and finally moved into the cover of trees and brush probing for the Germans. It didn’t take long and they were punching us in the nose again. They moved so fast there wasn’t time to withdraw. Helmets off. Shit.
Back at the rally point again. Our platoon had been taking a beating all day. The Company CO sent us across the open ground again into a wooded area that commanded the whole field. There we hunkered down behind logs and in shallow holes. From there we could watch the Krauts exchanging fire with our men in the valley. Right in front of us was a hundred yard patch of open ground. On the other side were more Germans behind mounds of earth. Just walking back and forth having a good old time. After about forty five minutes, one of their officers finally noticed our platoon in the trees. It was then that they started pouring across open ground right at us! Open ground!! Now this was a situation that Mark and I could relate to as we took down one target after another. It even prompting one member of our platoon to chant “Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg.”
After five hours in the field (not including the truck ride), the tactical concluded and in the trucks we went and back to the base. Those 78 degree barracks were wonderful!!
Out of our combat clothes and into M36 wools. With a dust off of the boots we explored more of the market and headed to the mess hall for a great spaghetti dinner. Then it set in. Somebody had beaten us with a baseball bat and we didn’t get the number of the truck they were driving either! It was a good time to relax in the barracks to BS with new friends, have a Grape Ne-Hi, and reflect on the day. Oh man, it’s only 1900? Can we go to bed yet? Another squad inspection and mission review. Then a hot shower and it was indeed time for bed (at least for us old men).
Saturday. 0530. Lights on. Slide out of bunk. Layer up. Were we just here? Sgt Mike tells us to forget the CAP breakfast. He’s got something we are going to love. The ladies with the British reenactors run an out of the way real period café with hot coffee and all kinds of breakfast goodies.
With Friday’s truck-a-thon as our learning experience, the transport to the field was much quicker. Our half-way pee break even included a galloping deer that weaved its way between vehicles and urinating men. Not a live round in the group!
We offloaded at the point we left off the day before. The squad huddled together between trucks to get out of the wind. Another thirteen degrees plus wind chill. The platoon was given a more appropriate I&R assignment today as we probed into the woods. Mark was tasked to be the radio op and stick with Lt. Felmlee. He reported after the day was over that is was interesting hearing all of the traffic from around the battlefield including and officer screaming that he was being over run with the blast of gun fire in the background.
It wasn’t long before everything opened up again. Man did it get hot fast. The battalion moved up into place as the platoon fell back to regroup. They sent the Jerrys down into the valley and it gave us a chance to take a breather. We knew better from the day before not to get to comfortable. When it looked like we might be there a while, I reached in to grab my k-ration (the same one we never had a chance to eat the day before). “Alright. We’re moving out.” Damn. That ration is STILL in my musette bag!
Through the woods and across the road, the land opened up into a rolling devastated terrain. As the shortest legs in the squad, I did my best to keep up. Germans kept popping up on the ridges in the distance and the exhaust from a German Sturmgeschütz tank drifted above the trees down the road. Thank goodness for Old Smokey. We always knew where she was. The platoon moved from cover to cover finally stopping in high grass fifty yards off a road. We saw a German troop truck drive up the road but it was empty. The entire platoon shifted to the left of where the truck had come from and there they were. All the Krauts that had off loaded were just standing in the road enjoying a smoke and water from their canteens. The word went out to open up and you should have seen them fall over themselves trying to find cover or run into the woods. Today was going much better than Friday!
The next hour or so was a fox hunt as we moved to press the German lines and keep them from flanking the battalion. Plus stay away from Old Smokey (which was eventually retired by a recoilless canon). After another five hours, we loaded up in the vehicles and headed back to base.
Out of combat clothes. Realize the guy with the baseball bat and truck had been to visit again. Put on the M36 wools and neck tie. Now, here is the rule of thumb to remember. Stick with the GIs that have been coming to the event for years. They know the best places in town. Make a note: Frog’s Hollow, beer and a steak dinner for under $20.00. Also, if you go into town for a drink, they say stay away from “The Stallion” and “The Man Hole”. Need I say more?
Though Mark and I didn’t attend the official event dinner at the Club on base, we did want to check it out. It was great to see the veterans and everyone else dressed in their best. The bands was setting up but the guy with the baseball bat had taken his toll and we didn’t stay long enough to hear the music. Looked like a good time though. Might be worth attending next year.
That wasn’t the only place for evening fun though. On Friday and Saturday there were parties every where. I think Mark and I were so saturated by the whole experience, and not being hooked up with the party crowd, we did what most soldiers do and hung out at the barracks with some of the guys for a few laughs. After a hot shower. I hit the rack and only flipped to roast the other side.
Sunday. We slept in… until 0600. Then it was asses and elbows as everyone packed up to get out by 0700. That is when the US Army facilities manager at Ft. Indiantown Gap comes to throw you out. We finally met back up with our traveling companion Frank though we had not seen all weekend.
Back on the road, it was nice to get home in the early afternoon. It was a great trip and a great experience. This is my first time to a large WWII event in years. There will be a lot of good stories to tell from this one and I encourage the other members of Baker Company to register for next year. The leadership was fantastic Our Platoon Leader Mike Felmlee, and Squad Leader Mike Salay did a really bang up job. They made it look so easy and created a great experience for the GIs under them.
The only feedback I can give overall is very minor. I am not sure why the event is labeled as a reenactment of the Battle of the Bulge. The actual battle saw a lot of airborne infantry (especially the 101st) in the center of the action as we all know. I don’t think I saw more than a dozen guys from US Airborne units in the field. We fought along side Canadian paratroopers and many other units that weren’t even there. The Allied Commander was British. Those are just a few examples. Aesthetically, it might make more sense to dub this event Winter 1944 and make it a general campaign. Did it really affect the experience? No.
SUBMITTED:
Pvt. Christopher L. Smith
101st Airborne Division
502d PIR, Company B
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