WWII Weekend, Reading, PA

Jimd · #1

This past weekend, my daughter and I attended the WWII Weekend, in Reading PA; it's the largest reenactment and display in the country, and it is HUGE!
Here are some pics to enjoy.....

German Halftrack with shelter half.
German Stug III - that cannon was loud!

Jimd · #2

B-17 on the ground and then taking off.
B-25 Mitchell.

Jimd · #3

My daughter with Dutch Van Kirk of the Enola Gay.

Don Malarkey, Bill Guarnere, and Buck Compton of Easy Co., 101st Airborne. Always a pleasure to see those guys!

Jimd · #4

More pics....
German MG-42 gunner shortly before ripping off 100 rounds of blanks (VERY cool!).

Paul Gordon, a B-17 Ball Turret gunner who was shot down over France. His story was quite amazing, and he was a wonderful guy to talk to. He was wounded and taken prisoner. I bought a small book from him about his story, it's a fascinating read. Found out he lives about 20 miles from me. I gave him one of my B-17 pencil prints as a "Thank You" for his service. This is one of the most humble and interesting guys I've ever spoken with. He still has the pair of blood-soaked socks that he wore that day when he was wounded, along with some other artifacts from the bomber.

We were so priveledged to have met all these awesome people.

Halfneck · #5

Is this just a PA thing, or does it travel around? I'd love to meet the guys from Band of Brothers, soldiers like that make me proud to have been in the 101st Airborne.

Jimd · #6

Those guys do travel around, but the WWII Weekend is just a PA thing, as far as I know.

They do attend quite a few events around the country (the Easy Co. guys). Several of them are from PA; Wild Bill Guarnere lives in South Philly. Forrest Guth is in Deleware. Ed Joint is in PA. A few others are here, too. I never knew it, but Joe Toye lived in Reading, which is around than 20 miles from me. Small world.

Thanks for serving, brother. I never realized you'd been in the 101st. Currahee! PM inbound.

amen74 · #7

Great story Jim. Thanks for sharing your photos. :)

The Mastiff · #8

Another excellent thread Jim. Thanks for the pictures and info. Joe

quattrokid73 · #9

wow in my own back yard! that's some cool stuff.

A.P.F. · #10

Thanks for the images, Jim, very cool indeed.

Halfneck · #11

"Currahee" (Cherokee for Stand Alone) belonged to the 506th Infantry of the 101st Airborne during WWII, and were just reactivated in 2005 as the 4th Brigade Regimental Combat Team of the 101st Airborne.

I was a member of the 187th Infantry, of the 3rd Brigade, of the 101st Airborne. We were known as "Rakkasans" (Japanese for Falling Down Umbrella) and our unit symbol is the Japanese Torii (See my Avatar).

There is also the 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne, which is the 327th Infantry (Of which TK magazine editor Steven Dick was a member in Vietnam). And then there is the 2nd Brigade of the 101st Infantry, which is the 502nd Infantry.

If you see a 101st Airborne soldier on the news, you can identify which Brigade he is by the patch on his helmet. 1st Brigade (327) is a Club, 2nd Brigade (502) is a Heart, 3rd Brigade (187) is a Torii, and 4th Brigade (506) is a Spade.

The card symbols to differentiate the 101st Airborne Brigades came about during WWII. As the 187th Infantry was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division during WWII, they were not part of the 101st Airborne (not till Vietnam) and thus have a different helmet patch.

Confusing as **** huh? :D

Jimd · #12

Halfneck - thanks for the history lesson! And thanks for your service!