Muster Day - American Heroes Celebration
2013
What:
Reenactment of the battle of Montelimar, August, 1944, when the 36th Infantry Division almost cut off the escape of the German 19th Army following the invasion of Southern France (Operation Dragoon).
Time Line of Texas military history.
American Heroes Celebration and Air Show
When:
Sat. April 20, and Sun. April 21, 2013. Set up on Friday April 19.
Where:
Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas.
Camp Mabry is located on 35th Street, just west of Loop One North (MoPac).
Why:
To honor our veterans, educate the public on the full range of Texas military history, and support the men and women wearing the uniform today.
Host:
Camp Mabry, Texas Army and Air National Guard, Texas Military Forces Museum
Event Coordinator:
Jeff Hunt. Email: [email protected] Phone: 512-782-5770
Who:
All living history groups and military vehicle collectors or clubs related to Texas military history are invited to attend. This includes: Texas Revolution, Indian Wars, Mexican-American War, War Between the States, Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars, World War I, World War II, Cold War, Korean War, Vietnam War. All Allied and Axis World War II impressions welcome. Civilian impressions relevant to the above also welcome.
Registration Fee:
None
Registration:
Required
A parking pass will be mailed to all those who register. This will allow you to park in the reenactor parking area, close to your camps and displays.
Amenities:
Access to showers and indoor latrines, shaded display and camping area, nearby parking, realistic WWII battlefield, free access to all American Heroes Celebration and Muster Day events on Camp Mabry, free breakfast and dinner for all registered participants on Sat. and breakfast and lunch on Sun., free tours of the Texas Military Forces Museum and admission to the museum’s military history book sale. Please plan to eat period rations in your display/camp area as part of your interpretation.
Arrival and Set Up:
15 April. If you wish to stage vehicles, weapons or equipment to Camp Mabry prior to the event weekend arrangements can be made to do so.
Billeting:
No barracks are available for this event. Period camping is allowed and encouraged.
All living history display/camping areas are adjacent to WWII battlefield. Water and portable latrines will be emplaced nearly. Showers, restroom facilities and food vendors will be available elsewhere on post. Different areas will be designated for different time periods and impressions.
Concept of Operations, Non WWII:
Establish living history camps and displays Provide living history interpretation to military personnel and general public. Area set aside for living history displays is shaded and will boast a newly erected snake rail fence. If we have enough Civil War troops on hand we would like to do a company/battalion drill on the parade ground Sunday.
The Traveling Vietnam Wall will take part in the event this year. Vietnam living history camps will be set up on the parade ground near the wall. There will NOT be a Vietnam battle demonstration this year due to space limitiations and safety concerns.
MVPA display area will be in front of the museum.
Concept of Operations, World War II:
Establish living history camps or displays in general area of operations open to the public. Set up of WWII Battlefield will occur during the weekend before the event and on Friday, April 19.
The Battle of Montelimar, Southern France, will be our theme again this year. The battle will run pretty much as it did last year, with only a few minor tweaks. The action will see-saw back and forth in front of the crowd from south to north, which each phase of the engagement involving increasing numbers of troops and vehicles.
We will have WWII aircraft overhead again, as well as lots of armor on the ground, including two Sherman tanks, an M8Armored Car, M3 halftrack, Hetzer and Stug III, as well as numerous trucks, jeeps, motorcycles and kubelwagens.
As always we welcome the participation of all units and period correct vehicles that are appropriate to the ETO and Southern France. This includes U.S., British, Free French, FFI and includes Paratroopers as well as leg infantry. For German units this is the perfect event as the 19th Army carried along units of every branch of the German armed forces with it during the retreat. If you have concerns about whether your vehicle or impression is appropriate for the battle, please contact me.
The WWII Battle Reenactment will take place at 2 p.m. each day. A walk through and safety briefing will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Attendance at the walk through and briefing are mandatory for those who wish to take part in the scenario.General Information:
Firearms and Ammunition: Naturally we encourage you to bring whatever historic firearms are useful for your impression or your encampment. Dummy ammunition is allowed, but absolutely NO LIVE AMMUNITION may be brought on post. If you are bringing a Class Three Firearm on post please have your paperwork on hand in case it is needed.
Campfires: Are permitted, but we are not allowed to dig fire pits on base. If you wish to have campfires please bring an appropriate container in which to build them.
Deportment: We will all be representatives of the Texas Military Forces and our veterans at this event. Please be sensitive as to your language while in front of the public, and treat controversial historical subjects with tact. We ask that you remain in first person character as much as possible while in your display area. No illegal substances of any kind will be permitted on post and speed limits must be strictly observed. We discourage alcohol on post. If you wish to have alcohol in your encampment please practice moderation. Excessive rowdiness, drunkenness, use of illegal substances or unsafe activity with firearms, animals or vehicles will not be tolerated and violators will be asked to leave the post.
Safety: Both your safety and that of the public are paramount. EMTs will be on hand at all times and the nearest hospital is only two blocks away. Proper and safe handling of firearms, animals, vehicles, ammunition and pyrotechnics is expected at all times. No projectiles may be launched from any weapon at any time during the event.
Authenticity of impressions will be strictly enforced. As a public, educational and commemorative event, it is vital that all participants wear correct uniform and equipment for their impression. Hair cuts, mustaches and beards MUST conform to proper military standards for the time period you are representing. This applies to both male and female participants. Watches must also be of period look or vintage. Anachronisms in the camps must be completely hidden during public hours. Rations eaten in display areas must have a period appearance. Authenticity of attitude is also important and everyone wearing a military uniform will be expected to behave in a manner that reflects positively on the armed forces and our veterans. During the battle scenario troops will be expected to act in a realistic manner and follow orders passed through the chain of command. Anyone who cannot adhere to the authenticity and safety standards of the event will be asked to leave.
Rank: You may wear whatever rank, below that of a general officer, which is appropriate to your impression in the display areas. In order to maintain historical authenticity and ensure appropriate command and control during the World War II battle reenactment rank above that of NCO will be assigned by the event staff. A unit that brings 6 to 8 men will be entitled to a Sergeant, a unit with 10 to 18 men will be entitled to a Lieutenant, a unit with 20 or more men may have a Captain. No higher ranks will be permitted on the battlefield without approval. Specialist such as Chaplains, Medical personnel, etc. may wear rank appropriate to their position with approval by event staff.
Organization: We encourage the participation of all units and will respect unit integrity. Units may be grouped together with outfits with similar impressions and assigned a “group” commander to facilitate command and control on the battlefield. Individuals not attached to a standing unit will be assigned to one. Specialist troops (MPs, vehicle crews, chaplains, medical personnel, etc) will be assigned to overall headquarters of both Axis and Allied commands.