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Debriefing: Following are debriefings of completed NWHA events over the past three months. The club had a busy quarter with two major events and the numerous living history events centered around Veterans Day and Remembrance Day. |
September Italian Front
Cassino & Gustav Line, 1944
Each year the NWHA holds an Italian Front event at Camp Rilea, usually in August or September when the weather is at its hottest. This year the club's 6 Fallschirmjager Regiment were the sponsors. The scenario was based around the bitter fighting of the Gustav Line and around the mountain village of Monte Cassino.
September Italian Front morning lineup.
The weather was cooperative, although a bit cool with some misting rain. The Fallschirms passed out some 'propaganda' materials for barracks reading, including surrender pamphlets for the allied forces! Many units broke out the tropical equipment and uniforms that were worn in Italy. There was a lot of good action on north end of the base, including the Iron OP.Milwaukie High School
Veterans Day Living History
Each year the NWHA takes part in the large living display put on at Milwaukie High School in Milwaukie, Oregon. This event is sponsored by the school district and takes place during a weekday, during which literally thousands of students and veterans attend to view the displays.
Milwaukie High School Army Air Corps displays.
Around 15 club members attended with their displays. At least half of the tables were stocked with the collections of NWHA members, covering all branches of the military, as well as Commonwealth and Soviet tables, and displays for other periods such as Korea and Vietnam. The Oregon Military Museum, Oregon Military Vehicle Society, the Marine Corps, Army, and Oregon National Guard also had displays on site.
Vancouver, WA & Albany, OR
Veterans Day Parades
The NWHA has participated in numerous parades in the Northwest for Veterans Day. One of the largest events is the annual Vancouver, Washington parade. This year around a dozen members participated with several vehicles, including the 3rd Armored's halftrack.
Vehicles of the NWHA's 3rd Armored
Division during the Vancouver parade.
Another parade that was well attended this year was in Albany, Oregon. The club participated in a combined WWII display along with the Oregon military vehicle club.November ETO Event
Lorraine, 1944
The club's last event last event of the year was held in late November, and was sponsored by the NWHA's 2 SS Division, "Das Reich". The scenario was Lorraine, 1944. Over a dozen guests attended from the California Historical Group, well representing that club's high standards for authenticity and fair-play.
Over 100 participants from five states
and two Canadian provinces attended!
A wound-card system was implemented at the November event, in which each combatant carried an envelope of possible 'wounds'. This involved the unit medics to a much higher degree than normally, and improved the authenticity of the tactical engagement. A system of unit objectives was also tried out, and went very well, helping to guide the actions without controlling them.
 "Souvenir Hunters" A wartime cartoon on display at the Bovington Tank Museum in Bovington, England. |
