Posts Tagged ‘Tom Williams’

Your author dressed out as a Marine Lieutenant, Circa 1812. Naval guns at the McHenry Water Battery in the background.

First – My apologies for such a long delay in blogging.  Life just got in the way, but I’m back now.

This past weekend the US Marine Corps Historical Company was at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, MD, for Defenders Day, to tell the Marine Corps story – what the Marines did during the War of 1812. This is an annual program for us, and we are contracted by the National Park Service to provide educational services to the visiting public.  To do so, we brought in an impressive group of active duty Marines from various bases around the east coast. These were led by a cadre of historical interpreters who are active duty, former active duty, retired or otherwise members of the Marine family. Indeed, this cadre is the mainstay of the Historical Company.

Supported by our superb logistics team, we had a dozen Marines in 1812 uniforms, doing both infantry drill and working our 12 pounder naval gunnade as a precision artillery crew. At this time in Marine history, all Marines were expertly trained in multi-tasking.  They served as infantry, artillery (on land when needed and in support of naval gun crews on board ship), and conducted naval shipboard duties, as well.  Over the weekend we fired 18 rounds from the gunnade and numerous infantry volleys, after demonstrating precision manual at arms movements and other drill exercises. The park visitors do so love a big bang, and we gave them plenty.

Marines (in full dress) functioning as infantry.

We had several thousand Baltimore school kids pass thru Friday, alone. Bus loads arrived one after the other.  Non-stop presentations. Tom Williams, the Director USMCHC, gave talks from morning until late pm, not only Friday, but all three days.

Marines (in fatigue dress) functioning as artillery, manning the 12 pounder naval gunnade, while the Director USMCHC explains the gun drill to the visitors in background.

We told the Marine Corps story to lots of good folks, and demonstrated the precision and professionalism that has become the Marine Corps standard of excellence, then, and now. Although I may have just a bit of prejudice, I would have to say our Marines were awesome.

Semper Fi !

Marines in platoon front formation exiting the Fort. GySgt Tom Williams, Director USMCHC on left as you view photograph.

Full seven-man gunnade crew loading the piece in preparation for firing. There are four Marines on the gun itself (Crew Numbers 1 thru 4), a gunner commanding the piece just visible to the rear, and two Marines at the ammunition box in the foreground (Crew Numbers 5 and 6). This versatile gun could be used either on board ship or as a field piece on shore.

By now all my readers know that I am heavily involved in the Marine Corps Historical Company (USMCHC), a not-for-profit educational corporation dedicated to telling the Marine Corps Story. This past weekend, as we do every year at this time, our Marines were at the Manassas National Battlefield Park, doing just that – telling the Marine Corps story. Many of our Marines who attended are active duty, with tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Our display was simply what the Marine in 1861 wore and carried at First Bull Run, compared to what the Marine wears and carries today. We also did presentations of the firing and drill of a Marine of 1861. The following photographs speak for themselves.

Left to Right - Steve Bochmiller, Historical Interpreter, USMCHC; Beth Miller, Dep Dir/Materials, USMCHC; GySgt Tom Williams, Director, USMCHC

I am not a “wargamer,” so the Historicon event on 8-11 July, 2010, at King of Prussia, PA, was totally new to me, and I had no idea what to expect. I was surprised, pleased, amazed, and pretty much blown away. Apparently there are three of these wargaming events each year on the east coast: One I’m not quite sure about I believe called “Cold Wars” in the April timeframe, Historicon in July, and an event called Fall-In, October 29-31, 2010. The major focus of these events is on wargaming various military battles in history on large tables.

The dedicated participants use small figures of various sizes to depict companies of troops, regimental units, or even armies – depending on the battle. Very detailed and elaborate sets are constructed on which to fight – from Medieval castles, to Viking raids on villages, to desert warfare, and, yes, even the skies over Britain for the battle thereof – using model aircraft, flying and fighting at different altitudes no less. This is an over simplification, but combat movements, engagements, confrontations, and the like, are decided by a roll of the dice. These folks really take their work seriously, and one movement or confrontation might take an hour or more to accomplish while they move the various pieces measured distances around the table.

Wargaming Hall

Historicon this year was located at the Valley Forge Convention Center, and it needed the space. They filled two major hotels, and rooms were scarce throughout the entire area. There were three primary features to the event. The foremost was the wargaming activities not only in a huge room full of tables, but in smaller rooms, passageways, and even various hotel rooms. The second feature was an enormous vendor area, sectioned off, which included sellers of everything one might need to wargame from miniature soldiers, to tanks, to planes, to set construction materials, to military history books, and on and on. To my delight, this area hosted such fine historical military artists as Keith Rocco, and Peter Culos, as well as sculptors like Terry Jones. The third activity at Historicon was the “War College.” This was an on-going series of talks by military historians throughout each day of the event and into the evenings.

Notice the detail in this Viking ship

Actor and military consultant for the film and TV industry, Captain Dale Dye, USMC (Ret), was Guest of Honor speaker. The quest speakers included such notables as Rene´Chartrand, former Chief Curator, Parks Canada; Colonel David Glantz, renowned expert on combat studies; and Angus Konstam, former Senior Curator of Weapons, Royal Armouries, London. There were numerous other speakers – including your humble servant. I was asked to give a presentation on the Battle of Balaklava in the Crimean War. When I did so, I discovered, again to my delight, that the folks who enjoy wargaming are not only gaming enthusiasts, but extremely precise and accomplished historians in their particular historical period of interest. My audience asked some excellent questions, and their interest was intense.

All in all, Historicon was a first-rate experience, and I look forward to attending next year. The theme for next year is the American Civil War, and I have been asked to give possibly two talks. One on the impact of the Crimean War on the American Civil War, and the other on Lincoln’s personal security, comparing it to personal security provided modern leaders.

I should also mention that I’ll be busy at the wargaming event in October (Fall-In at Lancaster, PA). The theme there this year is the US Marine Corps, celebrating its 235th Birthday. The US Marine Corps Historical Company will be setting up a massive display to illustrate the theme with uniforms, equipment and weaponry from the Revolutionary Marines to the Marines fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq today. In addition, GySgt Tom Williams, Director, USMCHC, and I will present talks on the Marines at Harpers Ferry and the Marines at First Bull Run.

The Theme for this year's Historicon was 17th Century Warfare

Battle of Isandlwana - January 1879

Keith Rocco - Historical Artist and good friend.

By now most of you should have guessed that I was a career Marine.  What you may not know is that I am still active with the Corps as Deputy Director for Programs of the US Marine Corps Historical Company (USMCHC).  We are a not-for-profit educational corporation dedicated to the Marine Corps by preserving its history, heritage, and traditions.  Although I am not full time, it can come close.  The Director, Tom Williams, another career Marine, spends most of his days and nights managing the USMCHC.  We have evolved over the past ten years into a major business, with the assets and personnel to prove it.

The USMCHC supports the Corps through taskings by the Commandant’s office and as essentially the outreach program for the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.  Our programs include presentations, demonstrations, and static displays of Marine history from 1775 through present.  We educate the public, using the uniforms, equipment, weaponry, flags, and other material artifacts covering all the periods in Marine history.  Some of these programs are presented in period uniforms, but many are given in civilian attire with displays and mannequins in the uniforms.  Our audience dictates the method of historical interpretation.

Marine Color Guard (Korean period uniforms) at Navy Memorial in DC

In addition to programs, the USMCHC supports the heritage of the Corps and the Corps, itself, in numerous other ways.  We advise the film and television industries, with such credits as “Windtalkers” and “Flags of Our Fathers.”  We provided historical advise and material artifacts for the new National Museum of the Marine Corps at Quantico, VA.  We manage the pageantry for various Marine Corps ceremonies, such as the opening of the new Marine Corps Museum, and Marine Birthday Balls, including the Commandant’s Ball. More recently we have been providing comprehensive educational packages to Marine bases, worldwide.  These packages include reproduction uniforms, accoutrements, and weapons of various periods, instructions on how to correctly fit and wear the historical items, and Marine history educational tools/lectures.

All of our members are of the Marine Corps family in one way or the other.  Many are senior Marine NCOs and officers currently on active duty or in the Marine Reserves.  Several are retired career Marines or former active duty Marines.  We have members who are or were Navy Corpsmen, who have immediate family currently serving in the Corps, and even some historians we have adopted as our own, whose passion for Marine Corps history is a great asset to our mission. For many programs we bring in active duty Marine volunteers, kit them in period attire and equipment, train them in the drill of whatever period we are presenting, and let them go.

Korean War display at Navy Memorial in DC

It is amazing how quickly these young dedicated Marines pick up the history and drill.  In only a short time they are face to face, educating the public first hand about their Corps and its values – where we came from.  If you’d like to hear more about what we do, please send me a comment and I’ll be happy to oblige.

The USMCHC Website is at:  http://www.usmchc.org

WW II Parade in Sharpsburg

WW II Seagoing Marines Program - USS North Carolina, Wilmington, NC

1859 Marines at Harpers Ferry Program