Philippine Harbor Defense event - July 18-19

[VeeVee]

Got this info from Andy Grant of Fort Mott, NJ

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Victor,

Just wanted to touch base with you concerning Ft Mott’s summer living history event. This year’s event is scheduled for July 18 & 19. We are going to continue to go with the Philippine Harbor Defenses Theme. I have started to work on some of the graphics for the event. If you or someone else would be available to have a display or talk about the Philippine Scouts, that would be great. Also, if there is a way to get the event info out to people who may be interested, let me know.

Hope you and the family are doing well and I look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers,
Andy

Andres G. Grant
Park Historian

Fort Mott State Park
454 Fort Mott Road
Pennsville, New Jersey 08070

[phone] tel
[phone] fax

[VeeVee]

By the way I stopped by last year for a couple of hours near their closing time. Here are some pictures from that:

pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=photosreenacting&action=display&thread=705

[VeeVee]

Just bumping this. I may put up a display for a day. Not sure yet.

From LTC. Shawn Welch
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WARNORD

"Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bay"

I. Situation:

a) The Japanese have been increasing their hold on China, and continue to threaten western interests across the Pacific. Since the signing the Tri-Partite Pact in 1940, Japan's interests have increasingly diverged from those of the United States and Great Britain. American forces in the Philippines have been increasing in strength since the fall of 1940. Additional soldiers have arrived for the Harbor Defense regiments from the United States beginning in the Fall of 1940. The April 1941 arrival of the UST Grant brought almost 1,000 new Coast Artillery soldiers to the HDM&SB. The defenses are being brought up to standard, new equipment installed, and newly arrived soldiers trained on the existing armament. Members of the 59th, 60th, 91st and 92nd Coast Artillery Regiments continue to prepare for inevitable war. Filipino reserve units are scheduled for induction into the United States Army in August 1941. President Roosevelt and General Marshall are locked in a heated debate with congress over extending the Selective Service Act (draft and force use authorities) which will expire 1 September 1941. On 21 July President Roosevelt will speak to the American People on the extension of the Selective Service Act and allowing National Guard and drafted soldiers to be deployed outside the continental United States (prohibited under the current act).

b) AGFA members transform Fort Mott into Fort Mills, Philippine Islands. Fort Delaware will become Fort Hughes, and Ft. DuPont is the southern tip of Bataan (Pucot Hill). Battery Arnold becomes Battery Wheeler and Battery Harker becomes Battery Grubbs.

II. Mission: The HDM&SB prepare the defenses during 17-19 July 1941 (2009) and explain to the visiting public the significance of the HDM&SB defenses and how soldiers prepared for war in the summer of 1941.

III. Coordinating Instructions:

a) Uniform for Saturday is Khaki field as the defenses are on war alert. Uniform for Friday (work) and Sunday at the soldier's discretion is either Blue Denim, khaki or HBT coverall.

b) Soldiers are required to obtain unit crests for either 59th, 60th, 91st and 92nd Coast Artillery Regiments for wear during the event. Please contact 1LT Grant or other AGFA members to assist in locating appropriate crests. Wear of the Philippine Department patch on the uniform has not been decided for this event.

c) Field uniform items include M1917A1 helmet, Pith Helmet, Campaign hat or blue daisy mae, cartridge belts, canteen/cup/cover, first aid pouch, gas mask, brown ankle boots, leggings, M1905 bayonet, M1910/28 Haversack (optional) or M1936 suspenders (officers/senior NCO's only), and individual weapon i.e. M1903 for enlisted personnel, M1911 for senior NCOs and officers. Pith helmets can be purchased at www.uswings.com/khakis.asp#Pith for $29.95 without shipping.

d) Operating schedule is as follows:

17 July 1941 (Friday)

0900-1700 - Arrival and setup
1700-1900 - Mess Operations
1900-2300 - Operational coordination

18 July 1941 (Saturday)

0600-0730 - First call and soldier Hygiene operations
0730-0900 - Breakfast and preparation
0900-1100 - Final setup
1100-1700 - Public Engagement
1400-1500 - Muzzle Loading (Civil War) cannon firing at sea wall
1700-1930 - Mess Operations (Picnic - Hawaiian shirts authorized and encouraged)
1930-2130 - Searchlight operations
2130-2200 - Searchlight recovery operations
2200-2300 - Operational coordination
2300 - Taps

17 July 1941 (Friday)

0600-0730 - First call and soldier Hygiene operations
0730-0900 - Breakfast and preparation
0900-1100 - Final setup
1100-1600 - Public Engagement
1600-UTC - Recovery and departures

e) Mess Sergeant is SSG Grant and PFC Turner. All meals will be served either in field location or in/around Bldg 9 (HQ). Open mess operations will be in force with all soldiers responsible for reimbursing Mess Sergeant.

f) Field Hygiene will be observed. Soldiers will shave each day and take showers at the shower point.

g) Each AGFA member is requested to identify appropriate Philippine related material they can bring to enhance the location aspect of the event. These include memorabilia, orders and other material. Assistance is also required for development of HDM&SB displays and educational material. Provide 1LT Grant any ideas for interpretation you may have. Examples of displays already in the works are as follows:

1) 1LT Grant - Philippine Department signs (patch and crests) for use outdoors.

2) LTC Welch - Office display with telephone directory, 2.95-inch shell with Philippine Commonwealth crest, photographs from the Ruhlen collection, 60th CA cigarette holder, book of RCW's on HDM&SB.

[VeeVee]

It's official. I'll be suiting up for this event and bringing my "museum" to add to their display. I'll be the Bataan aspect of the event. They have both forts and everyone else in their unit as the Harbor Defense, and I'll be the "Bataan value-added" content. I hope the weather will be good.

[rickthelibrarian]

The only complaint I can make is that this event is too far away from yours truly!!

[VeeVee]

Here's the text from the flier they've emailed around:
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EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT
FORT MOTT STATE PARK

NEW JERSEY DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
DIVISION OF PARKS AND FORESTRY
454 FORT MOTT ROAD, PENNSVILLE, NJ 08070
856-935-3218



COAST DEFENSES LIVING HISTORY WEEKEND 2009

On Saturday and Sunday, July 18th and 19th, Fort Mott State Park will host a living history event from 11:00 am until 4:30 pm with members of the Army Ground Forces Association and Park staff portraying soldiers of the Coast Artillery Corps. This year’s event will focus on the role that Coast Defenses played in combat situations during World War II, using the Harbor Defenses of
Manila Bay, Philippines as a case study. The forts that comprise the Harbor Defenses of Manila Bay contain gun batteries similar to those found at Fort Mott, and saw intense combat during the opening days of America’s entry into World War II. This event will provide insight into how these Coast Defenses were able to withstand bombardment and slow the advancement of the Imperial Japanese Army in early 1942.

Saturday and Sunday, living history interpreters stationed throughout the Park will provide information and engage the public in hands-on activities. Battery Arnold and other sites usually closed to the public will be open, weather permitting. Selected items from the Park’s historic collection, as well as private collections, will be on display, including a special display dedicated to the American and Filipino soldiers on Bataan (Saturday only).

In addition, members of the Salem Light Artillery will also have a large display of Civil War Era artillery. At 2pm on Saturday, July 18 a demonstration of this artillery will take place at the waterfront.

At dusk on Saturday, enjoy fireworks celebrating Delaware City Day followed by the Fort’s WWII Sperry 60-inch Anti-Aircraft Searchlight illuminating the sky around Fort Mott State Park. The searchlight puts out an 800 million candlepower beam that is visible for over 40 miles.

If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Fort Mott State Park at [phone]. As always, living history programs provided by Fort Mott State Park are free to the public.

[VeeVee]

Pictures from the event...

(click for bigger)

[indiosbravos]

Well done Vic. Is the display all yours?

Liked the Bataan poster board, you'll never miss it....

[legionnaire]

Nice One Vic!!! Keep the scouts memory and legacy alive!

Philip

[szadipoland]

wow super fotos ;] well done !!! brawo to team-squad !!

[rickthelibrarian]

Wonderful job, as always -- both the re-enactment and the photos. Now if you guys would ever like to do that with some REAL disappearing guns in the background, I know a plac about 3 miles from home....

[VeeVee]

Hi Rick,
Are there coast artillery reenactors in your area?

[rickthelibrarian]

The "boss" of our volunteer group at Fort Casey (@ 50-60 miles NW of Seattle) has a complete coast artillery dress uniform that he wears at special events, but no reenactment group to my knowledge.