WWII re-enactors invade Fort McCoy

World War II re-enactment members engage the 'enemy' at a South Post site. (Photo by Rob Schuette)

The 209 WWII re-enactors from around the country converged at the installation for the event. Jon Grossardt, the re-enactment liaison between the group and Fort McCoy, said the re-enactors have been coming to Fort McCoy for the past 15 years.

As befitting people who often spend thousands of their own dollars to outfit and equip themselves, about 50 personnel got an early start on the day's activities at 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

A group of people simulated an airdrop, spread out and regrouped to assault German troops, Grossardt said. The rest of the troops began their day with a bus trip to the South Post area at 7 a.m.

The World War II Re-enactment Society is dedicated to honoring all of the military personnel that participated in World War II, Grossardt said. The society members do it in a number of ways.

Foot soldiers move to a new position during a World War II re-enactment scenario at Fort McCoy. (Photo by Rob Schuette)

Public display re-enactments, where the public can watch, are held at a number of locations, including on July 4 at Fort Knox, Ky.

Grossardt said public displays, such as uniforms and other World War II items, are set up as requested for school groups and civic organizations. During the run of the movie "Saving Private Ryan," several theaters agreed to have World War II military displays in their lobbies so movie goers could see what the uniforms and equipment looked like.

World War II re-enactors also do field re-enactments at places like Fort McCoy. These re-enactments help the re-enactors recreate scenarios of World War II battles. Blanks are used to simulate weapon firing.

"We do the re-enactments in a completely nonpolitical manner," Grossardt said. "The scenarios do not require that the results be the same as they were during the actual war. It gives the participants a slice of what military personnel in World War II experienced."

The scenarios are run like a real battle. Different battles are proposed and fact sheets are passed out that give the historical details of those battles to commanders.

A World War II re-enactor tank crew moves along a McCoy trail to its next battle area. (Photo by Rob Schuette)

Commanders then are instructed to give commands through the chain of command to the participants. One person serves as the Allied commander and another as the Axis commander for a battle.

Nathan Johnson of Eureka, Mo., who was portraying a British paratrooper from the 22nd Independent Parachute Company, was one of the participants who began at 3:30 a.m.

"We were trying to take a German command post," Johnson said. "We had a back-and-forth battle for most of the day. We're reliving history and learning how they fought - their tactics, discipline, falling back, flanking movements. The most fun we had is running around like soldiers."

Jeff Brenda of Festoon, Mo., also portrayed a British paratrooper. He said there are no set results for the re-enactors' events and their success depends upon how well they conduct themselves in the field.

Grossardt said the installation personnel do an excellent job coordinating the groups training and billeting. David Wetuski and Claude Gillam of the Directorate of Training and Mobilization said the re-enactment members conduct themselves in a very professional manner whether they're in the barracks, in the field or are coordinating their needs with the installation.