MorgenDautrich.com - WWII Promtional/Educational Events

After years of planning, construction on the Visitor and Education Center and the Museum Support Facility was ready to start. The two new buildings are designed to make the AHEC more interesting and accessible to visitors and better able to analyze and conserve historical materiel. Everyone at the AHEC was excited and I was happy to be one of the historians [1] brought in for the ground-breaking ceremony. We were lucky to have several Vietnam veterans greeting and talking with guests [2]. The ceremony [3,4] had an impressive guest list including: PA Senator Pat Vance, Congressman Todd Platts, and MGen Robert Williams, Commandant, US Army War College.

After the talks was a the symbolic ground-breaking [5] followed by refreshments and socializing [6]. During the dinner I was fortunate enough to meet WWII veteran Willard Dominick [7]. ___ Dominick was with the ________________. The event was a success, and for extra bonus I got my photo in the Patriot News [8].

Word must have gotten around about the 508th winning best barracks award last FIG (LINK), because the author Todd Ross wanted to use our [allegedly Hollywood] group to shoot the illustrations for his upcoming airborne book for living historians entitled Parachute Rifle Company (LINK PENDING PUBLICATION). The Major setup a weekend at Torrance and he came prepared with an extensive list of shots he wanted [2]. While the photos below are shots taken by members of our group, no the photographer, we hope some similar to make the book. The collection below is a combination of behind-the-scenes and posed shots, arranged roughly as the they were taken. You'll have to purchase a copy of the book in Feb `10 for the text.

[1]


[2]	[3] Photo by Sue Soltis	[4]	[5] Photo by 1SG Weaver	[6] Photo by Sue Soltis

Most of the shots required just a few troopers so there was a lot of standing around waiting/watching. Most action shots (like patrolling [ ]) required a few runs through before we got it right. Shots requiring smoke were even trickier [7,8].


[7] Photo by Sue Soltis	[8]	[9] Photo by Sue Soltis	[10]	[11]


[12]	[13]	[14]	[15]	[16] Photo by Sue Soltis

It was hotter than hell and we took a break around lunch time. To mimic Hollywood we had a small tent set up with drinks and finger foods [17]. Allegedly some of the participants were drinking during production [17] while others had enough from the previous night [18].


[17] Photo by 1SG Weaver	[18] Photo by Sue Soltis	[19] Photo by Sue Soltis	[20] Photo by Sue Soltis	[21] Photo by 1SG Weaver

I switched sides after the break, but fortunately, due to shortages in Wehrmacht troops, my position was elevated enough to demand my own wardrobe assistant [19]. I envisioned looking über-Teutonic in my uniform [20,21] and melting into the forest to ambush the foes [22]. I even practiced some atrocities so I would be good and ready for the camera [23]. Unfortunately, my role was limited to mimicking stupid de-motivational posters [24] (I was laughing too hard to look bad-ass), surrendering [25], and dying [26]. At least my carcass might make it into the book...


[22] Photo by MAJ Soltis	[23] Photo by 1SG Weaver	[24] Photo by 1SG Weaver	[25] Photo by Sue Soltis	[26] Photo by Sue Soltis


[27]	[28]	[29]	[30] Photo by 1SG Weaver	[31] Photo by Sue Soltis

This presentation at the War College was a bit different, in that the audience was much smaller than usual, both in size and in scale. In fact, the audience was one 8-yr-old boy named Eric. My interactive WWII talk was part of a tour that the Make-A-Wish Foundation had arranged with USAHEC for Eric and his family. To accommodate Eric's broad interest in history, several other re-enactors were in attendance, representing other time periods [1]. After a tour of the center and gift-given ceremony in Ridgeway Hall [2], we were cut lose to prepare [3] while Eric was given a Humvee ride, shot an airsoft rifle and got to crawl around inside a tank.

I spent most of my time with Eric doing Q&A. He wanted to touch everything and then try on some of the items. We got him geared up and took a few photos [4,5,6]. He seemed to have a blast and was energetic for the entire visit. Hopefully it was a day he'll remember for a long time.

Valor Studios had just released their second print in the 65th Anniversary Series entitled Brothers in Arms [1]. The painting commemorates the cooperation of the 101st and 82nd airborne divisions on the ground outside of Ste. Mere Eglise early on D-Day. As with their previous prints, the staff at Valor brought in veterans to sign the prints before they were sold [2,3]. This time, Brian Domitrovich had helped organize some of the airborne vets from Erie, so some of the 508th troopers came along [4].

Because the print featured both 82nd and 101st divisions, the array of veterans was impressive. Chet Harrington (82ABD, 505PIR, A Co.) [5] wears four battle stars on his wings [6]; one each for: Husky (Sicily), Avalanche? (Salerno), Neptune (Normandie), Market (Netherlands). Several members of the Band of Brothers (101ABD, 506PIR, E Co) were present as well: (front→back): Joe Lesniewski, Ed Joint, Ed Bernat [7]. Joe Drago was 326AB in the 101ABD. At least he claims he was, but we all agreed he looks too young to have been born during WWII, yet alone fight in it [8]. He claims not to have a secret to youth.


[5]	[6] Photo by Neil Baughman	[7]	[8]	[9]

The real treat that made the 6-hour drive to Erie (plus 10.5-hour return) worth it was meeting Brian's grandfather, Stephen Domitrovich [9]. He was a medic in the 575th Ambulance Co. attached to the 101ABD during the Battle of the Bulge. He and 100-150 other soldiers were taken prisoner and then machine-gunned by the Waffen-SS. He is currently the only known survivor of the Malmedy Massacre, in addition to a hell of a nice guy and way more coherent than Brian [9].

Captain Neil and I were brought in to give two related presentations to high school classes as the WWII portion of their field trip to the War College [1, 2]. Each class made several stops at the different exhibits along the Heritage Trail before our presentation in the 40's-style tar-paper barracks. After a little spiel about the airborne, and some Q&A, we had hands-on equipment [3] and weapons displays for the students to examine. There seemed to be quite a bit of interest [4] and despite the large number of knives, bayonets, and firearms, fratricide was kept to a minimum. The Captain and I considered it a win [5].
	[1]	[2]


[3]	[4]	[5]

John Tintera [1] from Osprey got me a gig doing promotional work with him at Origins in Columbus [2], one of the largest gaming fairs in the nation. We were there to advertise our military history books, specifically the new Field of Glory ruleset aimed at tabletop miniature gaming. On a simplistic level, tabletop gaming is what the generals do on large tables in their headquarters in old WWII movies: they strategize by moving icons of soldiers and tanks and ships around the map with longs sticks and shout "boom!". I was familiar with the concept, but blown away by the variety and especially the size of the games [3,4,5,6,7], all of which take place on a vast variety of custom designed terrains.
	[1]	[2]


[3]	[4]	[5]	[6]	[7]

From what I see, the tabletop gaming spans all time periods, from ancient Greek to modern warfare to futuristic, in addition to countless sci-fi and fantasy scenarios. Naturally, our military history books are most useful when simulating actual historical battles, but many gamers reference the color inserts when constructing scenery and painting their miniatures [11].

			The collection of gaming pieces is another aspect of tabletop gaming which I discovered can get infinitely involved. Different players prefer different, non-interchangeable scales, although 15mm (1:100) & 25mm (1:72) seemed to be the most popular. It is possible to purchase professionally painted figures, which are exquisitely detailed [9,10] , but quite expensive because of the time required. Therefore, many players paint their miniatures with their own designs/team colors. To accommodate this aspect of the hobby, vendors sell countless pieces [12] to be painted with a spectrum of colors [13]. Requirements include incredible fine motor skills and a willingness to go blind for any army with more than 4 units.
[8]	[9]	[10]

[11]	[12]	[13]

The conference was massive [14] and certainly not limited to tabletop gaming. In fact, Origins was one of the sites for the national Pokémon tournament [15]. Countless other board and card games were unveiled and demoed [16], 17].
	[14]	[15]	[16]	[17]

The fair was well grounded in the physical and while I noticed that some computer games, only those with table-top or card-based origins were permitted.
	[18]	[19]

One of the big draws at the convention was the Renaissance fair scene. The hardware and clothing seemed quite authentic, but the cheesy combat with foam swords ruined by Medieval fir-per. I was re-invigorated by the chick in the chainmail bikini, but she didn't come close enough to the booth for a photo.
	[20]	[21]	[22]

The futuristic analog to foam-based Medieval combat, BB-based anti-alien-combat was also featured. Apparently current recruiting trends have continued through 2040 until the United States Space Marines will take almost anybody [23]. Speaking of bizarre para-military groups, how about the "Party Hardcorp" [24]
	[23]	[24]	[25]

There were many exhibits of concept art, fan arts, etc, but unfortunately cameras were off-limits in the galleries. This photoshop piece in progress [25] was the only picture I could get a shot of.

Working with John was quite pleasant and the entire conference was an eye-opening experience. Looking forward to working with Osprey again.

One of the nights, John and I went to dinner with Dana Lombardy and Gerald Swick, two representative from Armchair General magazine [34]. They were experienced in historical writing and extremely interesting to speak with. For added bonus, the dinner was in the German village [33]
	[32]	[33]	[34]


[1]	[2] Photo by USAHEC	[3]	[4] Photo by USAHEC	[5] Photo by USAHEC	[6]