Fort Hood-HMRV Rally 09-11 Oct 2020

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Fort Hood-HMRV Rally 09-11 Oct 2020

Unread post by 1SGCAV77 » September 16th, 2020, 5:04 pm

This rally is really cool event. Friday is show and tell static display. This year will be near main entrance of main PX. Last year was a rain out on Friday. Saturday and Sunday were sunny but chilly. Saturday is tank trail riding. A controlled event since units are in training areas. Sunday is more trails with visit to unit training on range. All the details are at mountedwarefarerally.weebly.com. I have just finished PMCS on the Jeep and trailer for Friday event. Their trail days are behind them just like me. Besides, there are not many trails on Ft Hood that I haven’t traveled. Will take pictures to post for everyone. I know is difficult for most to make the trip. Just like Rickf said, takes two days of traveling just in TEXAS.
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Re: Fort Hood-HMRV Rally 09-11 Oct 2020

Unread post by m3a1 » September 16th, 2020, 9:41 pm

The last time I took a historic MV to Ft. Hood, it was the Nimitz Museum's Sherman tank (now, the Center For Pacific War Studies). The museum no longer has that tank (it belonged to the Army, actually) and it was collected by them and sent to Ft. Hood as a static display. We operated and maintained it when we had it and repairing it was my first official effort with the museum's military vehicles. That sort of wrenching would go on to become a long and enjoyable thing for me, for many, many years and I certainly wasn't the only mechanic there.

But THAT day at Ft. Hood. WELL! What a day! We were a full tank crew, all up on line and being inspected by General Somebody-or-other (and not one of us was military) and yet, there we were, with a Sherman tank and all dressed up (correctly so, I might add) in full tanker kit of the era. Boy oh boy, did that feel weird! Naturally, the General didn't look us over too closely but I was left with the feeling that he was under the impression that we were active military. Just suck it in, hit a brace and stare straight ahead...do the salute thing and all will be well.

Our tank was painted up as The Battlin' Basic; which was the first (but not only) tank to enter the University Santo Tomas internment camp and liberate the prisoners the Japanese had kept there.

https://ww2in172.com/?p=626&cpage=1

The remaining crew member, extant, was a fellow by the name of Kersey (Jack, or perhaps John...it's been some time and I'm terribly embarrassed to say I've forgotten). He was there with his extended family but the fact that our particular tank was there had been kept from him. With him were his kids and their kids...the whole entourage.

Mr. Kersey walked up at an angle from which he was unable to see Battlin' Basic's special markings. He was so engrossed in introducing his family to the Sherman tank, that when his daughter pointed those markings out to him he grew very silent, as many veterans do when a lot of memories suddenly come flooding back.

I asked the museum curator if I might not be able to give Mr. Kersey a ride. Didn't take him long to say yes but Mr. Kersey was an old man when he served..something like 25 years of age at the time. But, how would we get him up there without risking breaking every bone in his body if he fell?

First things first. Would he decline, or say yes? Since I was the driver, I asked Mr. Kersey, "Would like me to take you for a little ride around the parade ground?"

There are rare moments when old men suddenly become young men again. I have seen this many times with aged veterans and this was to be one of those moments. "Hell YEAH!" he replied and brother, he didn't wait for anyone to change their mind about it. I must say, it is really something to see a fellow around 80+ years of age scramble up the mostly vertical Sherman tank just like he had done it yesterday. Three points of contact all the way up!

Wow!

Mr. Kersey had been the loader on the Battlin' Basic. "Where are ya gonna ride, Mr. Kersey? Your old position?" I said. "Heck NO!" he said, "I'll be up in the commander's seat where I can see!" With just the two of us sharing crew space in Battlin' Basic, we took a leisurely ride. To say the pleasure was all mine wouldn't be fair....but it also wouldn't be an understatement.

I would like to say this again here and now, because I expressed the following sentiment to Mr. Kersey....It was quite a privilege for me to be able to express my personal gratitude for the job Mr. Kersey and men like him have done for us and to do this small thing for him in return. The Nimitz Museum certainly did (and still does) a great deal to make contemporary Americans aware of those achievements and sacrifices and to show their gratitude to veterans.

When we rolled back in, there were cheers and applause and yes, even hats in the air for Mr. Kersey...and his former crew.

Thank you for your service, Sir!

Cheers,
TJ

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Re: Fort Hood-HMRV Rally 09-11 Oct 2020

Unread post by 1SGCAV77 » September 17th, 2020, 8:57 pm

That’s a great story T.J.
Six months ago I was in rehab center for knee replacement. At meal time myself and three other Army vets sat at same table. Mr. Loftin, was a 95 yr old WWII vet. He would tell a war story each meal. Sometimes we had heard the story, but didn’t let on. He and I were last to leave the table. Sometimes we were last to leave the dining room. I would go back to my room and write down his stories. Those three times per day were definitely the highlights. We three were discharged the same day just as China Virus lockdown started. Mr. loftin was transferred to long term resident. He passed soon after we left. His war experience in France and Germany were so interesting. I was blessed to know him.
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Re: Fort Hood-HMRV Rally 09-11 Oct 2020

Unread post by 1SGCAV77 » September 17th, 2020, 9:04 pm

Failed to say....I find this hobby very interesting meeting vets. Hearing their stories. The smiles on their faces. Compliments for sharing “it” with them.
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Re: Fort Hood-HMRV Rally 09-11 Oct 2020

Unread post by m3a1 » September 17th, 2020, 9:40 pm

Well, he we are, with Mr. Kersey (yours truly, kneeling to Mr. Kersey's left).
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And here is the real deal, open for business and looking for work, with Mr. Kersey inside at his loader's position, no doubt!
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Cheers,
TJ
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Re: Fort Hood-HMRV Rally 09-11 Oct 2020

Unread post by rickf » September 18th, 2020, 8:51 am

Ain't no way that is you TJ, That is a skinny guy in that pic!!!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
Great to see the old vets paired back with their equipment. Being of smaller stature he was well suited for that job. I got wedged into a M60 tank with four others in addition to the tank crew in an extraction from an ambush and let me tell you! 8 guys in a tank!!!!!!!!
For any of you that were never in the military or never saw the innards of a tank, think 30 college kids in a VW Beetle! Same effect except we had people shooting at us.
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Re: Fort Hood-HMRV Rally 09-11 Oct 2020

Unread post by m3a1 » September 18th, 2020, 1:27 pm

Left to right -
Troy Thiel - Troy was a teacher and is now deceased. A member of the Nimitz Museum's living history group, Troy was a very kind and knowledgable man who was very well liked and respected by his peers.

Marvin Schroeder - Employed with the museum and defacto leader of 'G Company' and the Nimitz Museum's all-volunteer living history program. Marvin and his brother Melvin introduced me to living history and reenacting, though my personal interests always laid chiefly with the military vehicles.

Jeff Hunt - Now the curator of the Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas. Mr. Hunt REALLY knows his history!

Mr. Kersey - Crew member and Loader of the Sherman tank, Battlin Basic, Co.B 44th Tank Battalion. Battlin Basic (along with other tanks) became famous for its actions in the battle for the liberation of Manila, particularly in its participation in the liberation of the notorious Japanese internment camp located at Universidad Santo Tomas, 1730hrs, 3 February, 1945.

Myself - The most handsome fella in the bunch.

Bill Daskalos - My longtime friend. Bill joined G Company with me. We had many amazing adventures while participating in the Nimitz Museum's living history program and in reenacting with G Company, nationally. We also met and had personal interaction with many amazing historical figures, some famous and some who never made it into the history books.

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Re: Fort Hood-HMRV Rally 09-11 Oct 2020

Unread post by 1SGCAV77 » September 18th, 2020, 3:50 pm

This is so interesting. Living history. Thanks for sharing. My daughter and her two sons are history buffs. Think they got it from me. Boys are one teenager, one pre-teen.
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Re: Fort Hood-HMRV Rally 09-11 Oct 2020

Unread post by halftracknut » September 21st, 2020, 5:40 pm

My Dad would have loved that show...he was stationed at Fort Hood and a tank destroyer with the 611th....WWII...htn
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Re: Fort Hood-HMRV Rally 09-11 Oct 2020

Unread post by 1SGCAV77 » September 25th, 2020, 2:53 pm

Just checked the long range weather forecast for this event. Sunny with high temperatures in mid to upper 70’s. Will be great weather. Last year was cold and raining.
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Re: Fort Hood-HMRV Rally 09-11 Oct 2020

Unread post by 1SGCAV77 » October 16th, 2020, 1:27 pm

Well the HMVR 2020 Rally at Fort Hood is in the books. Is on Fort Hood’s calendar of events same time in 2021. This year Mother Nature was nice to us. Got a little sunburn on Saturday. Partly cloudy and lots of sun.
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The line up was 18 vehicles early. Two more came around lunch.
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This truck and trailer were used to haul the photography equipment display. Owner drove up from San Antonio. Took six hours.
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This is the display of photo equipment. He also had poster size photos taken of Normandy beach before and D+1. Heck of a display.
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Re: Fort Hood-HMRV Rally 09-11 Oct 2020

Unread post by 1SGCAV77 » October 16th, 2020, 1:33 pm

Part 2
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work in progress
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My M151A1 and M416
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Re: Fort Hood-HMRV Rally 09-11 Oct 2020

Unread post by 1SGCAV77 » October 16th, 2020, 1:35 pm

Part 3
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Re: Fort Hood-HMRV Rally 09-11 Oct 2020

Unread post by 1SGCAV77 » October 16th, 2020, 1:40 pm

Part 4
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Re: Fort Hood-HMRV Rally 09-11 Oct 2020

Unread post by 1SGCAV77 » October 16th, 2020, 1:45 pm

Final chapter
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These were pictures that I took. If interested in seeing pictures from the three day event search FaceBook - Fort Hood Military Vehicle Rally. Videos and over 100 pictures.

Keep them rolling.
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