Muster Day - American Heroes Celebration
2011
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 16, and Sun. April 17, 2010. Set up on Friday April 15.
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: jeff.hunt@ng.army.mil 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
Please register for the event HERE
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.
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 15.
Unlike the last three years we will not be doing a Siegfried Line Scenario.
This year's reenactment will focus on the battle of Montelimar in August, 1944.
To learn more about this battle go to http://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.com/36division/archives/montelim/montelim.htm
The battle will run north-south, rather than the east-west direction of the past several events. The road running alongside the pond will be the focus of the battle, with the pond standing in for the Rhone River. A large German convoy will move about a mile around Camp Mabry to get into position before the battle. That convoy will turn left and come down the road, with the pond on its left, moving toward the intersection at the bottom of the big hill. The combat village set up at that intersection will be Montelimar. The crowd line and bleachers will be on the road in front of the treeline from which Allied Forces attacked last year.
U.S. and FFI troops will begin the scenario by moving in jeeps and trucks to occupy the village. The German convoy coming down the road will be stalled by their resistance. Artillery fire will begin to rake the column while German infantry deploys to assault the village. Light U.S. armor (Stuart tank, M8, halftracks) will attack the right flank of the German column, moving north across the large field over which the dragon's teeth were set up last year. Enemy light armor (armored cars and halftracks) will counterattack, and drive off the U.S. armor. The fight for the village will see-saw back and forth, with Germans taking the village, Americans re-taking it and so on. U.S. heavy armor (two Shermans) assisted by light armor will attack the German right flank at which point the Hetzer and STUG III will leave the German column and attack along with German halftracks and armored cars. A series of attack and counterattack will ensue.
We are working on having professional pyrotechnics. In addition we are trying to organize attacks by Allied aircraft on the German Column.
Some German vehicles will manage to breakthrough and escape before the Allies finally hold the village and overrun the column.
Vehicles already committed to the event:
2 x Sherman Tanks
M5A1 Stuart Tank
M8 Armored Car
U.S. M3 Halftrack
Hetzer
STUG III
SKD Halftrack
Numerous trucks, jeeps, motorcycles and kubelwagens
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.