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                 Gilbert Lodge Blog
         The life and times of Mark and Paula Persons
Sunday, June 21, 2015:  There was a World War II Weekend at Fort Snelling in St. Paul, Minnesota. 
Lots of military equipment to see at the interpretive center.
 
Re-enactor guards in authentic uniform with weapons were there to let visitors into the fort gate. 
Big smiles because there was no worry about the bad guys showing up.
 
Camp life back then.  Hurry up and wait.
 
Europe, that was the main objective in 1943.  Training millions to fight was a huge task.
 
Young guys learned how to handle weapons and battle tactics.
 		  
Then there was "chow" time. 

Mess Sergeants were important. 

A well-fed army fights well.
Spam was an important food during World War II.  The stuff was canned by Hormel in Austin, Minnesota, and shipped world-wide to feed troops.  Today it is a favorite of Hawaiian people.
Mark tells the story of his friend Marv Olson who served on the Spam Festival committee in Austin, but never put it on his work resume in fear of being laughed out of the room!
 
Back on the home front, women replaced me in manufacturing jobs and did very well.  Women also worked in civil defense.  Everyone did something.
 
This Sergeant was observed reading a copy of Life Magazine.  A favorite of the time. 
Much of the communications was via Morse Code, as demonstrated by the man on the right.
 
Then the Army National Guard Red Bull 34th Infantry Division band showed up to entertain troops and visitors.
There are many more women in uniform today. 
 
Then there was a re-creation of a Bob Hope USO (United Service Organizations) Show. 
This included incredible sound effects by one soldier.  It broke up the crowd.
 
Who could have a show without dancing.  Nicely done.
Quote of the day:    Where do you buy brown shoes like that today?   Mark    < Back to previous story Ahead to next story >

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page last edited 07/05/2015