Women on the Home Front Event

Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive!

On Saturday, August 14th the retirement community of Pacific Springs Village held an event to celebrate and commemorate the 65th Anniversary of the end of World War II. So by invitation, Dave, Jeff and I went to represent the 2nd I.D. and put on a display to honor our World War II veterans and their service. Over 400 people were in attendance at the event, many of them residents of Pacific Springs Village and their families. The Avi8ors musical group performed a "USO style" show featuring popular songs from the 1930's and '40's. There was also a lot of great food from the 40's era which the fellas and I devoured over a quick break in the action. Dave represented the U.S. Army, Jeff took care of the Navy, and I proudly donned the Eagle, Globe and Anchor once again to honor the U.S. Marines. It was a really fun and family friendly event and one that I was extremely glad to be a part of.

Indianheads in the Hedgerows

I uncovered three really unique photos online this week capturing the 2nd Infantry Division in the hedgerows of Normandy. Great photos! I am assuming that they are still frames from some 2nd Division combat footage shot during the Normandy campaign. It's just neat to see the patch and the uniforms as they were really worn in combat. Enjoy!!!

Khaki Uniforms!!!

Our Authenticity Committee has just decided that this year we will be wearing the cotton khaki uniform for the first time at the Ralston Independence Day Parade. I for one am pretty excited about this news. We have always worn our standard OD wool uniforms for this parade so the lighter weight khakis should feel pretty nice and look really sharp as well. The look we will be going for is an early or pre-war stateside impression with M1 helmets, haversacks, T-handle shovels, cartridge belts, canteens, first aid pouches, gas mask bags, leggings, Type II service shoes, bayonets and M1 rifles. Here is one of my favorite photos of a large formation of G.I.'s marching in New York City wearing this uniform. Wow, they look good!

And here's one more photo of a G.I. wearing the khaki uniform. He looks a little sloppy in his dress and demeanor, but this is the uniform we will be trying to replicate. I'll be posting photos after the 4th to show you how well we achieved the look. God bless America!!!

66th Anniversary of D-Day

The men of the 2nd Division Living History Association joined forces with HQ Company, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment for a tactical battle on Saturday, June 5th just north of Mondamin, Iowa. The weather and foliage was perfect for an early June Normandy-themed event. The overall turnout for the battle was kind of small, but it was a great experience nevertheless. The 2nd I.D. saw Steve, Gus, Sean, Kevin, Tyler, Dave, myself and Matt Hazard returning to battle the Germans. It was Steve's first event fighting with us as a G.I. and it was Hazard's first event back since his early retirement. We also got a chance to catch up with Rick Tupper and Casey Sill, both formerly of our unit as well as Mike and Chris Dankert who we have known for quite some time as well. The photos have been changed over to black and white with a grainy filter added. The authenticity level was so good for this event that you might think you're seeing photos from the Normandy bocage country sixty-six years ago. Enjoy!!!

The 2nd Division in Normandy

As we approach the 66th anniversary of "Operation Overlord" and the D-Day invasion of northern France, I thought I would post an inspiring little collection of photos showing the 2nd Infantry Division during their first few days after the invasion. Be sure to click on each individual photo to see the full sized version. Some of these are amazing in the little details they reveal. The first photo shows a line of 2nd Division soldiers advancing towards Omaha Beach probably sometime on D+1. Note the Indianhead patch on the first and third soldiers from the left.

Here we see a mixed group of both Army and Navy Beach Battalion personnel on Omaha Beach. Look for the Indianhead patches on several of the soldiers' left sleeves.
This is probably the most famous photo of the 2nd Division in World War II as they climb up the bluff overlooking Omaha Beach. Just look at all those men!
This photo show a group of 2nd Division soldiers marching through a town shortly after D-Day. Most of the men are wearing HBTs and still have their gas detection brassards on their right sleeve.
Pfc. Rocco Festa of the 2nd Division Headquarters and Military Police Company works on his French as he waits for a landing craft on June 15th.
A 2nd Division Engineer marks a clearing through a French town in ruins.
A group of 2nd Division medics hook an injured soldier up for a blood transfusion. Notice the small Indianhead insignias on the front of their helmets.
A group photo of the G-3 section somewhere in the hedgerows of Normandy.
A 2nd Division soldier examines a knocked-out tank along the side of the road.

"The Pacific" Veterans Reunion

On Saturday, May 22, the Strategic Air & Space Museum hosted the largest gathering of World War II Marines who served with Eugene Sledge, Robert Leckie and John Basilone who inspired the HBO miniseries "The Pacific." The series is based on the books "With the Old Breed" by E.B. Sledge and "Helmet for My Pillow" by Bob Leckie. In attendance at the reunion were 18 combat veterans from all over the country whose battle experiences include such campaigns as Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Also in attendance at the event was author and historian Hugh Ambrose, son of Stephen Ambrose. Hugh Ambrose is the author of the best-selling book "The Pacific." I had a chance to meet Hugh that morning and had him sign my copy of "The Pacific." But the real highlight of the day for me was meeting all of the old veteran Marines. Each man still had that swagger and passion in his eyes that I have seen with so many Marine veterans. And quite a few of these guys still have a hand shake like a vice grip. I had the tremendous honor of having 17 of them sign the same Marine Corps poster that I had the Iwo Jima veterans sign back in March. So my poster now proudly bears the mark of 23 heroes of the Pacific theater. It was a very touching and unforgettable day for me as a relative of an Iwo Jima survivor. Here is a listing of those who have signed the poster:

James Anderson - New Britain, Peleliu, Okinawa

Harry Bender - K/3/5 Okinawa

Jack Brosnan - B/1/27 Iwo Jima

Norman Casteel - Iwo Jima

John Dillon - K/3/5 Okinawa

Melvin Duncan - Iwo Jima

Robert Galloway - E/2/28 Iwo Jima

Richard Greer - D/1/7 Guadalcanal

Ralph Griffiths - Iwo Jima

Wayburn Hall - H/2/1 Peleliu, Okinawa

James Kerin - B/1/27 Iwo Jima

Sterling Mace - K/3/5 Peleliu, Ngesebus, Okinawa

James Martin - B/1/27 Iwo Jima

Sam Menzelos - K/3/5 Okinawa

Fred Miller - K/3/5 Cape Gloucester, Peleliu

Frank Pomroy - H/2/1 Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu

Clarence Rea - C/1/27 Iwo Jima

John Scheperle - Iwo Jima

Leo Schmittgens - H/2/1 Okinawa

Dave Severance - E/2/28 Iwo Jima

James Young - H/2/1 Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester

Charles "Red" Womack - M/3/5 Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, Okinawa