Memorial Day Tribute

So Memorial Day is upon us and I have finished my Vietnam M16A1 rifle project just in time to honor all of those who gave everything so that we could be here today. An awful lot of time and research and money went into the making of this tribute to our Vietnam infantrymen.  I'd like to thank the folks at Nodak Spud, Fulton Armory, US Collectors Ordnance, Apex Gun Parts, Green Mountain Rifle Barrel Company, Orion Arms, Gun Broker, Schluder Shots, Jarrell Sharp, my friend Kirk Gustafson, and the guys at Carl Jarl gunsmithing here in Omaha.  I picked the rifle up on Wednesday after the assembly was complete.  I am very happy with the final results.  This rifle is something that I am very proud of putting together and a piece that I will use in displays and to honor our veterans for years to come.  And now, some photos of the finished rifle taken in my backyard on a canvas shelter half.

Captain Winters Photo

Today I came across this really awesome photo I'd never seen before featuring Easy Company's celebrated commander, Richard Winters, seen in the foreground on the right. On July 1, 1944, Lt. Winters was informed that he had been promoted to the rank of Captain. This photo was taken the next day on July 2 at a ceremony where Winters was presented with the Distinguished Service Cross by none other than General Omar Bradley, the commander of the U.S. First Army. Winters received the DSC for his heroic actions in the Brecourt Manor assault where his team of 13 men destroyed a battery of German 105mm howitzers that were firing on Utah Beach. Winters was recommended for the Medal of Honor for his actions at Brecourt Manor, but due to a rule that only one Medal of Honor could be distributed to each division for actions during the D-Day assault, already awarded to Lt. Col. Robert Cole of the 101st, the recommendation was downgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross. I think that it's interesting that Capt. Winters is wearing a regular OD wool uniform and not the typical M42 jumpsuit of the paratroops. An amazing photo of an incredible soldier!

Receivers Are Here!!!

I picked up my new upper and lower receivers today at Carl Jarl in Omaha - sent from NoDak Spud up in Minnesota. Tim is a great guy to work with and the FFL paperwork was pretty painless. I was very impressed with the new parts - they look great!!! So the actual rifle kind of looks like a rifle now if I lay all the major components out together on the floor. My next step is to get some proper engraving done on the lower receiver and then it'll be time to get the whole thing put together. Almost there...

The M16A1 Project

I started an enormous undertaking back in December to build my own semi-automatic version of a Vietnam-era M16A1. I've ordered lots of parts, received lots of parts and am patiently waiting on a few more key parts that are on back-order. Overall, it's coming together nicely and I've learned a lot in the process. So hopefully sometime this spring (if not sooner) I can post some photos of the finished rifle. I gotta say, I love this project!!!

Battle of the Bulge 2012

The new year is finally here and so is an exciting new year of living history and reenacting! The men of the 2nd I.D. started out the new year with one of our favorite events down at Camp Clark with the 137th Infantry's annual Battle of the Bulge tactical. The event took place over the weekend of January 13-15 and was attended by myself, Matt, Will, Jeff, Kirk, and Logan. We started the weekend with a group visit to the National World War I Museum in Kansas City and then it was on to Camp Clark and the fireworks! Rather than expound on everything that happened over the weekend, I think I'm just going to let the pictures do the talking. I really enjoyed photographing our group throughout the weekend and feel like I captured some pretty cool moments. Enjoy!

Unit Christmas Dinner 2011

The men of the 2nd I.D. reconnected at our old stomping grounds on Saturday, December 10 for some beers, dumplings and laughs at the Bohemian Cafe in Omaha. In attendance were Dave, Jeff, Eric, Will and Matt. We had a great time discussing the events of this past year and doing some pre-planning for 2012. Afterwards we took some photos of the group with most of us dressed in our Class A uniforms. It was really fun to see everyone again and I look forward to an exciting 2012 that will be Second to None!

A Veteran's Week Visit

With Veteran's Day approaching this Friday I wanted to get out and make a visit to the resting place of Donald Steven Waite, the local 101st Airborne soldier who I have been following on this blog through most of 2011. I knew that he was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery here in Omaha, so with some quick hunting on the internet I got a pretty good idea of where he was located at in the cemetery. Once I entered Forest Lawn Cemetery, that became a whole different story - the place is huge and just keeps going and going. I must have driven around for 10 minutes looking for the "Garden of the Apostles" until I finally stumbled upon it. Once I found that section of land, it was easy for me to locate his grave. Wow. It felt kind of mind-numbing that I was finally here. I have been following this man's story for the better part of two years. I had dedicated my Vietnam War exhibit to him back in 2010, an event where I met his mother for the first time. I had written about him on this blog, finally tracking down a photo of him and retracing his story. I had seen his name on a traveling Vietnam Wall in Omaha and then traced his name with my fingers at the actual Vietnam Wall in Washington DC this past May. And now here I stood. Face to face with his final resting place. It felt very surreal... just envisioning his life... his training and journey to Vietnam... his time there and what he meant to his comrades... and then his death and his body coming back home to Nebraska. And then I just spent some time thinking about the 43 years of peace and solitude on this quiet little piece of land that have passed. I was thinking about all of the things that he has missed, all of the things and events that he never got to enjoy or be a part of. It was a beautiful day today - sunny with a crispness to the air. The autumn leaves blowing in the wind. It was one of those days today that I enjoy so much... and I just wish Donnie could have been around to enjoy a day like this too. God Bless you Donnie. And thank you once again for your service and your sacrifice on this Veteran's Day.