Detachment News

G Company has had an eventful last few months representing the museum as the Texas Military Forces Living History Detachment. On August 15, 2007 a dozen members of unit took part in the dedication of the World War II Memorial on the grounds of the state capital. The unit deployed five jeeps and one jeep trailer to the event, running a convoy from Camp Mabry to the capital grounds and back. The jeeps represented various configurations of this iconic wartime vehicle, including one paint in U.S. Marine Corps markings, a medical jeep, radio jeep and reconnaissance jeep. Under a GP Medium tent detachment personnel put up an impressive display of artifacts covering all branches of the armed forces and wore uniforms representing each as well. Four G Company soldiers formed a 36th Division color guard and had the privilege of presenting the colors during the ceremony dedicating the memorial, which was attended by several hundred people, many of them World War II veterans and their families. The exhibit was very well received and we had the chance to speak to a lot of veterans and thank them for their service to our nation over those trying years.

Other opportunities to say THANKS! and Well Done! to our veterans came at the annual meeting of the 36th Division Association in San Antonio this last September. The display of weapons, uniforms, equipment and 36th Division memorabilia fielded by members of the company was truly impressive. A good many memories were evoked as the heroes of the 36th saw and touched for the first time in many years, the tools they used during the war. The detachment provided a color guard for the opening of the associations meeting as well. Vets of the 36th related all kinds of wonderful stories and details to us that will help us do an even better job of telling their story in the future.

As any combat soldier will tell you, some of the bravest men in battle are combat medics. The modern army certainly knows this and works hard to instill in today’s medics an appreciation and understanding of the heritage they uphold. One of the latest efforts by the U.S. Army Medical Corps to fulfill this mission is the production of a documentary entitled Army Medic: Spirit of Courage. This film, produced by the army, tells the story of representative army medics from World War II, Vietnam and the War on Terror. G Company was asked to take part in the filming of the World War II scenes. Nine members of the detachment participated in a night shoot over Labor Day Weekend. It was an interesting and enjoyable experience, especially for Roger Dean, who is the detachment’s medic and hence the star of our segment. Needless to say the vignettes captured on film were very impressive. The film will be shown to every army medic currently on duty.

Lest you think G Company is trapped solely in the Second World War, the detachment also provided the color guard for the dedication of the Choctaw Code Talker exhibit. Dressed in authentic and reproduction World War I uniforms four of our members were honored to be part of such an important event. On October 13, G Company also took part in the Partners Across Texas October Fest event at Camp Swift. More than a dozen unit members, dressed in World War II, pre-World War II and 1960’s era uniforms put up a very nice display of weapons and equipment, including three jeeps. We were also joined by noted firearms collector Charlie Wallace who brought out some of the prized M1 Garands and 1903 Springfield’s. These were a big hit with visitors as always.

Members of the detachment have also been working hard to get our Sherman Tank and M3 halftrack ready to go for the next Close Assault 1944 living history program, scheduled for Nov. 10 and 11. The battlefield “set” will be greatly enhanced this time, with the shelled out farmhouse now a full four-sided building with roof, a destroyed barn and barbed wire obstacles added to the scene, in addition to other improvements. We will also be using army issue pyrotechnics during the show to increase realism. So if you didn’t get to come see us over Memorial Day weekend, try to make the Veterans’ Day event

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