Eisenhower National Historic Site, World War II Weekend

The NPS is holding its annual WW II Weekend in September at the Eisenhower National Historic Site, Gettysburg, PA.
Here is the schedule:

World War II Weekend
Date: 9/19/2009, 9/20/2009
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Location: Eisenhower NHS

Details:

On Saturday and Sunday, September 19 - 20, the National Park Service will sponsor a World War II living history weekend at the Eisenhower National Historic Site. An authentic recreation of both Allied and German army camps, complete with original World War II vehicles, will be set up on the site. Over 150 living history enthusiasts will portray military personnel from the European Theater in 1944.

Living history volunteers representing American, British. Soviet, Canadian, Polish and German soldiers will present programs on World War II medical services, weapons and equipment, communications, military vehicles, and the life of the common G.I.

The 1944 Allied and German Army camps will be open to the public 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days. Interpretive talks on World War II military life will be offered every half-hour, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Aces Museum for Minority World War II Veterans will present puppet shows for children. The puppet shows, focusing on contributions to the war effort made by various minority groups, will be presented at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Both days veterans will be at the Eisenhower bookstore to sign copies of books they are mentioned in or have authored. Authors Sharon Wells-Wagner and Steve Wagner will autograph copies of their new book Ordinary Heroes and Sharon’s book about her late father, World War II veteran Red Wells.

Author/historian Don Markle and National Security Agency employee Rick Henderson will be on the site to talk about and demonstrate a captured German Enigma Code machine. Mr. Markle is an authority on intelligence operations and has authored several books on World War II and the Civil War.

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS:
Saturday, September 19

10:00 a.m. - Richard Biehl, as a member of the 26th Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, landed with the third wave on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, on D-Day, June 6, 1944. His unit fought its’ way through the hedgerows until finally OPERATION COBRA effected the breakout near St. Lo in late July.

11:00 a.m. - Gust Kraras served behind enemy lines as a member of OSS Group I in occupied Greece. In early July 1944 this unit ambushed a German convoy of five trucks on an important supply route. It was the first time in the war that American ground forces fought the enemy occupiers in that country.

12 Noon - Joseph Haines served in the invasion of Okinawa in late spring of 1945 as a member of the 81st Heavy Signal Construction Battalion, a segregated African-American unit. One of his duties was to string communication wires from high poles while under enemy fire.

1:00 p.m. - Robert Hitchings, served at General Eisenhower`s Headquarters (SHAEF) and was an aide to Ike`s Chief of Staff General Walter Bedell Smith.

2:00 p.m. - Nick Phillips, 109th Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, participated in the costly fighting in the Huertgen Forest during the fall of 1944. Later his unit took part in the Battle of the Bulge. He was captured and spent much of the rest of the war as a prisoner.

Sunday, September 20

At 10 a.m. an Army Chaplain`s Service will be held in the encampment.
11 a.m. - Richard Hiller, 318th Regiment, 80th Infantry Division, Third Army, participated in the rapid advance across France during which his unit helped close the Falise Pocket by capturing Argentan on August 20, 1944. In early November, in the Lorraine Region, he was wounded and had to be evacuated.

12:00 Noon - Mahlon Fink, Company E, 26th Regiment, 5th U.S. Marine Division, landed on Iwo Jima February 19, 1945. On the fourth day of the fighting there he witnessed the famous flag raising on Mount Suribachi. On the twelfth day of the battle he was wounded by shrapnel and had to be evacuated.

1:00 p.m. - Ted Jenkins, Company D, 409th Regiment, 103rd Infantry Division, Seventh Army, fought in Southern France and the Voges Mountains. He was captured by the Germans on December 2, 1944.

2:00 p.m. - Stephen Sherman served in Europe and the Pacific with a segregated African-American army unit. In late 1942 Sherman met and befriended war hero Dorie Miller, the famous cook from the U.S.S. West Virginia who manned an anti-aircraft gun and downed several Japanese planes during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Commander Sherman will share both their stories.

Saturday night, September 19, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. a World War II style USO dance will be held at the U.S. Army Reserve Center at 1200 Fairfield Road (Route 116) west of Gettysburg. The Gettysburg Big Band will perform 1940s big band music. Tickets are $5.00 per person. Living historians encamped at the site are admitted free. Refreshments will be available.

Lunch may be purchased at the site between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The Heidlersburg Fire Company will provide food service. Access to the site is by shuttle service from the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center. Shuttles run every half hour from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Weather permitting, this weekend only there will be on-site parking as well. Fees are Adults, $7.50, Children ages 6-12, $5.00. Children age 5 and under are admitted free.


Eisenhower National Historic Site - Schedule Of Events (U.S. National Park Service)


Dave

 

Events and Programs at Fort Miles Historical Area

I haven't been to any of these events (hopefully this month) but I've been to the artillery area and in the watch towers. Very cool.