Reenacting the Vietnam Conflict, August 1969
Weekend warriors reenact the grunt's battle in Vietnam.
US Forces LEFT to RIGHT: SP4 Wegelin, SGT Bishop, PVT Huuvein, 1LT Arbuthnot, SSG MacLellan, PVT Fauquier, SP4 Woodley, (rear) PVT Patterson (author).
Amongst the group of friends I play airsoft with (See August 02 Ruminations) there is a group that is dedicated to reenacting the US GI's experience in Vietnam. Reenactors make a tremendous effort to collect the appropriate period equipment and uniform patches to ensure they recreate real world units. Additionally many obtain Vietnam era airsoft based M16s (M16A1 Airforce versions) to complete the illusion.
The weekend of August 27, 2005, I participated in "Operation Pine Ridge" in Woodstock, Ontario, on about 200 acres of woods, meadows and trails. The simulation included a group of Viet Cong whom we engaged. At times we tripped into booby-traps, found ammunition caches, fought small unit actions on paths, in bushes, through swamps and in bunkered firebases and landing zones, and we took VC and civilian prisoners. We had a base in the middle of the playing area that was bunkered with sandbags and surrounded by forest, to which the Viet Cong targeted many of their operations. We had to patrol the paths and roads and attempt to interdict civilians smuggling weapons and generally causing mayhem for US forces. During the entire game, nobody was to make modern references and characters were played who were meant to be as realistic as possible. The reenactors playing the Viet Cong were given full latitude in the employment of guerilla tactics and posing as civilians in order to confuse, avoid and attack US forces.
At one point it began to rain and with thunder pounding we carried on and engaged in a vicious final battle on a path to a strategic point for the American's: a bridge. In the chaos of the battle men from both sides went down on the path in the mud and an incredible volume of fire was exchanged on both sides of the path. US and Viet Cong casualties littered the path, equipment spilled where it was dropped and men called for additional magazines, yelled out flanking orders and the wounded called for medics. The rain slicked foliage jumped when hit by rounds from our guns and the moisture caused a vapor muzzle-flash each time you fired - it was such a complete simulation in all respects. I was awed by it -it felt so real. Computer games cannot compare to getting out into the real world and doing this.
In short, it was an incredible experience that I look forward to doing again now that I have the equipment. Its an expensive pastime to get into but it can hook you as much as something like golfing or fishing can. It makes for a very interesting conversation by the water cooler on Monday morning.
For more information about this type of reenacting, please visit http://www.incountry.ca.
The weekend of August 27, 2005, I participated in "Operation Pine Ridge" in Woodstock, Ontario, on about 200 acres of woods, meadows and trails. The simulation included a group of Viet Cong whom we engaged. At times we tripped into booby-traps, found ammunition caches, fought small unit actions on paths, in bushes, through swamps and in bunkered firebases and landing zones, and we took VC and civilian prisoners. We had a base in the middle of the playing area that was bunkered with sandbags and surrounded by forest, to which the Viet Cong targeted many of their operations. We had to patrol the paths and roads and attempt to interdict civilians smuggling weapons and generally causing mayhem for US forces. During the entire game, nobody was to make modern references and characters were played who were meant to be as realistic as possible. The reenactors playing the Viet Cong were given full latitude in the employment of guerilla tactics and posing as civilians in order to confuse, avoid and attack US forces.
At one point it began to rain and with thunder pounding we carried on and engaged in a vicious final battle on a path to a strategic point for the American's: a bridge. In the chaos of the battle men from both sides went down on the path in the mud and an incredible volume of fire was exchanged on both sides of the path. US and Viet Cong casualties littered the path, equipment spilled where it was dropped and men called for additional magazines, yelled out flanking orders and the wounded called for medics. The rain slicked foliage jumped when hit by rounds from our guns and the moisture caused a vapor muzzle-flash each time you fired - it was such a complete simulation in all respects. I was awed by it -it felt so real. Computer games cannot compare to getting out into the real world and doing this.
In short, it was an incredible experience that I look forward to doing again now that I have the equipment. Its an expensive pastime to get into but it can hook you as much as something like golfing or fishing can. It makes for a very interesting conversation by the water cooler on Monday morning.
For more information about this type of reenacting, please visit http://www.incountry.ca.
posted by Scarecrow at 12:50 AM
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