Jeeps @ the Fort Miles Reenactment Event

17 Comments

1. JoeMay 5, 2017 at 1:29 PM

   Fort Miles' primary mission during the war was Harbor Defenses of the Delaware (Bay). The Army garrison had a military presence from WWII as the 261st Coast Artillery Battalion thru the early 1980's, ending as a Naval Facility (NAVFAC Lewes). All vehicle owners of the jeeps attending the event are members of the Harbor Defenses of the Delaware Living History Association. While the primary emphasis of this event is on WWII, post-war military vehicles are also displayed, but in a separate area just outside the Fort. The general public is able to see the evolution of vehicular technology that began with the MB, GPW's thru the Willys M series and ending with the M151 series. We enjoy displaying our jeeps and especially like hearing veterans jeep stories during their service years......
2. Bill ShawMay 5, 2017 at 4:48 PM

   Lot of post war stuff. Re-enactments should be correct. It's as bad as MASH with civilian stuff
3. John B Zistl IIIMay 5, 2017 at 5:12 PM

   Show me one reenactment that is 100% correct...what did Donald Rumsfeld say to the young GI asking about armored humvees.."son, you go to war with the army you have, not the army you want." Th folks that participate in the WWII weekend at Ft Miles do a great job in bringing the daily life around the fort back to life...and that is the mission/goal...not to appease rivet counters
4. David C.May 5, 2017 at 5:22 PM

   I saw a bunch of vintage military vehicles on trailers Sunday afternoon on I-70 heading west from Baltimore. I figured they were coming back from a show but didn't know where. Now I know.
5. Bob WMay 5, 2017 at 11:33 PM

   Joe, Do you know if the Jeep with hood number USMC 162610 is a CJ-V35/U? Thanks, Bob 52cj3a@gmail.com
6. rdjeepMay 6, 2017 at 1:14 AM

   Boy, the stuff you learn about here! I had been to see the Lewes beach a couple of years back, and recognized the circular gun track peeking out from under the dune crossing bridge by the bath house. This is even better! I am thankful there are folks who preserve the military vehicles and perform the re-enactments. I'm not locked into to perfect accuracy, though I consider myself a perfectionist. After all, what military op ever went exactly according to plan?
7. RickMay 6, 2017 at 11:35 AM

   Yes, that Jeep is a CJ-V35/U.
8. Bill ShawMay 6, 2017 at 11:35 AM

   If you are looking to present WWII keep it visually correct. Yes a CJ2A s dressed as a MB will work but what doesn't is one with it's civilian grill. M series jeeps and trucks are clearly out of place. Reading Air Show WWII encampment does a pretty good job of screening out what wouldn't be in WWII.
9. Bob WMay 6, 2017 at 11:40 AM

   Rick, Do you know the owner? I'd like to get in contact with him. Bob
10. RickMay 6, 2017 at 11:45 AM

    His name is Bill. Try mjbg1@verizon.net.
11. Bob WMay 6, 2017 at 11:51 AM

    Thanks!
12. Joe in MesaMay 7, 2017 at 3:17 AM

    Very good points here, and an event I would love to see in person. Bill Shaw, I don't believe the vehicles were mixed... only the above pics are mixed: Joe noted "post-war military vehicles are also displayed, but in a separate area just outside the Fort." ...but unfortunately I wasn't there so...
13. JoeMay 7, 2017 at 1:37 PM

    Joe in Mesa.... Thank you for reading the entire text along with viewing the pics. The pics are, in fact, out of order...... But it doesn't matter. We at Fort Miles are very much aware of creating an impression of the war years during this event. Visit www.fortmiles.org for more info. Approximately 1500 guests visited the event including a tour of Battery 519 and, of course, some visitors stepped forward to talk about the jeeps. Not one guest mentioned the post-war jeeps at the event but that's why they were separated in a designated post-war display area. Funny story!!! Quite a few years ago, a friend and I received a request from the CEO of a living-history association to escort dignitaries to their WWII era Liberty ship for a 6 hr. cruise. The dignitaries ended up being actors portraying Gen. MacArthur and President Roosevelt. I made it absolutely clear to the CEO that the jeeps we had were post-war and wouldn't be correct for this event. The response was to bring the jeeps anyway..... if it's an olive drab military jeep, the general public will never know the difference between years and models. We did and no adverse comments were received that day. All paying customers enjoyed the cruise!!! Bob W.... That Willys IS a CJV-35U, original # 610. Bill, the owner, will be in touch with you.
14. David EilersMay 7, 2017 at 2:44 PM

    Joe, there was a proper order? If that's the case, my bad! As my wife knows, sometimes you gotta give me ALL the instructions :-)
15. JoeMay 7, 2017 at 2:58 PM

    Dave, the pics are out of order in the way they were taken (in order to tell a story.....) some of the pics of the post-war stuff were taken either before or after the event when no members of the public were in attendance. I simply wanted to share the awesome talents of the guys owning these jeeps in keeping military history alive. No harm, no foul on your part, Dave....... At ease!!!! And thanks again for such a great site dedicated to Willys Jeeps......
16. David EilersMay 7, 2017 at 3:05 PM

    Happy to help. And thanks for the photos. ALWAYS appreciated!
17. Bob WMay 8, 2017 at 12:17 AM

    Thanks guys for the replies about the CJ-V35! I didn't recognize it at first but I have already been in touch with Bill about it.