MARCH TO THE SEDAN 2009

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MARCH TO THE SEDAN 2009; Brief AAR and Photos
Topic Started: Oct 25 2009, 03:45 PM (187 Views)
MerleHay	Oct 25 2009, 03:45 PM Post #1
Sergeant Posts: 100 Group: Members Member #105 Joined: December 16, 2005	Gentlemen, I am pleased to report from the outstanding "March to the Sedan Event" held in rural Iowa this past weekend October 22-24. After an evening of incredible living history with soldiers gathered around an original phonograph operated by an enthusiast playing original selections from his collection of more than 10,000 records. As well as photographs struck on an original 1910 Browning camera operated by a brilliant local college professor whose matchless passion for history made the evening a once in a lifetime memory-maker. Cold ceaseless rains of the previous days yielded to a brilliant, clear, cold, heavily frosted morning for the soldiers to take the field. First person was strictly held to as the doughboys stepped off smartly at first light in pursuit of the retreating German Imperial Forces. Following largely original 19th century roadbeds, across broken ground, dense woodlands, step ravines, gushing creeks and open ground. With the constant threat of Germans fighting desperate rear guard actions left the doughboys of Co. A, 168th IR no opportunities for rest. The resulting progress was fraught with tense moments as the doughboys cleared abandoned works, improved positions and high ground. After more than four hours of constant patrol, the doughs, assured their position was secure as patrols from the reserve units would now take the point fell out for a brief respite. Boiling coffee, cleaning weapons, writing letters and good camaraderie of soldiers under arms came to a crashing halt as stragglers from the 120th Wurzburg Regiment desperate for food and provisions attacked our position. Springing to action the brave boys repelled the Hun, quickly flanking them and after a sharp clash of arms took the Boshes prisoner. The doughboys from Iowa quickly learned the Hun were not to be trusted as one in particular made repeated attempts to escape. After moving the patrol and prisoners to a more secure position outside of abandoned german works word was sent back to Regimental PC. Word came forward to hold in position and wait to be relieved. Interrogation continued to reveal small bits of information indicating the Hun were near finished and a literal race was on to reach the German border. Our prisoners came to terms with their fates and the day settled into the common soldier's experience of waiting and watching. Soon word came forward to move the prisoners high ground to turn them over to the MP's. A long steep march toward the main line of advance later and the doughboys and their prisoners reentered the modern world to sit and debrief their day's experiences. All involved agreed the the weekend was a smashing success! The level of first person interaction was INCREDIBLE and there were many moments, where for just a split second, all felt that they were actually in the muddy woods of the Argonne Forest. With such high commitment to authenticity, the application of research, and the level of creativity displayed by Great War reenactors in the midwest, I feel that there is a future for more such strong living history events. I am looking forward to more time in the field with these troops on this ground again! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/CIMG0238.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/CIMG0240.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/CIMG0247_2.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/CIMG0248.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/DSCN4792.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/DSCN4796.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/DSCN4799.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/DSCN4804.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/DSCN4805.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/DSCN4810.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/DSCN4823.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/DSCN4827.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/DSCN4828.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/DSCN4838.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/DSCN4843.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/DSCN4845.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/DSCN4846.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/DSCN4848.jpg More photos to be posted as they are made available. Darrek Orwig deserved great credit for his tireless efforts at coordinating such outstanding living history events. Make it a point to mark your calendars for the spring event it will be even more amazing! See you in the trenches. Tom



1886lebel	Oct 25 2009, 05:45 PM Post #2
Sergeant Posts: 74 Group: Members Member #180 Joined: June 26, 2006	What did they do to John N of the 120th Wurzburg Regiment ... STARVE HIM !!! he looks so hungry and exhausted, You guys next time give him something to DRINK I know why he was so SAD now ... he missed "Pierre the Rat" sleeping with him ... Pierre send his squeaks to him Looks like you all had a good event, glad it went well Patrick Edited by 1886lebel, Oct 25 2009, 05:48 PM.
	Vive La République Française, le Lebel et le poilu Verdun 1916: "Ils ne Passeront pas" "On les aura!" Fusil d'Infanterie Modèle 1886 Modifié 1893 dit "Lebel" 151ème Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne Vive le Pinard !http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axfM1sFqIK0


MerleHay	Oct 26 2009, 11:14 PM Post #3
Sergeant Posts: 100 Group: Members Member #105 Joined: December 16, 2005	Four more AMAZING photos from the event taken by Joerg Rochlitzer on his 1910 Browning Camera. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/scan0027.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/scan0029.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/scan0030.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/courage505/scan0033.jpg THIS made the event AMAZING! Tom



Baston Grande	Oct 27 2009, 04:16 PM Post #4
Corporal Posts: 44 Group: Members Member #643 Joined: June 6, 2009	Tom, The photos look simply fantastic. The material culture part of your impressions look spot on! I've got to ask how many participants you had? Are you planning on having a similar event next year?
	Mark Headlee


MerleHay	Oct 27 2009, 05:02 PM Post #5
Sergeant Posts: 100 Group: Members Member #105 Joined: December 16, 2005	Yes we will repeat the event! The March to the Sedan 2010 will be October 15-17. Watch the web for details. The event was small yet very powerful! Tom



Baston Grande	Oct 27 2009, 06:45 PM Post #6
Corporal Posts: 44 Group: Members Member #643 Joined: June 6, 2009	I'll be sure to mark it on my calender!!
	Mark Headlee


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