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Too old to "reenact"?


D.A.T.
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I just passed the 50 year mile marker, and am just starting to be conscious of my age. I'll keep reenacting, but I'm getting tired of kids who ask, "Gee mister, were you really IN World War One?!" :blink:

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I have a copy of an article from 1945 about the "oldest GI Joe" Sgt Harry Rudolf was 66 in 1945, was a veteran of the Phillipine Insurection and WWI at that point. Served with the 20th AF in WW2...

 

When it comes to reenacting I belive its like anything else in life, youre only as "old" as you want to be. A lesson taughtby my grandpa.

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I just passed the 50 year mile marker, and am just starting to be conscious of my age. I'll keep reenacting, but I'm getting tired of kids who ask, "Gee mister, were you really IN World War One?!" :blink:

 

About the same here, at some Event, I tell the kids I was a tanker in the army, and they'll ask "Were you in the Sherman tank"?

And I'll hit back by saying "When I was your age I was in the army", gosh-darn punks! :mad:

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I have a copy of an article from 1945 about the "oldest GI Joe" Sgt Harry Rudolf was 66 in 1945, was a veteran of the Phillipine Insurection and WWI at that point. Served with the 20th AF in WW2...

 

When it comes to reenacting I belive its like anything else in life, youre only as "old" as you want to be. A lesson taughtby my grandpa.

 

Found some info on Sgt Harry Rudolf, like to find a picture of him.

THE GROUND ECHELON LEFT FIRST

ONE REALLY WANTED TO GO WITH US EVEN THOUGH UNCLE SAM SAYS NO

AND HE DID TOO:

S/Sgt. Harry Rudolph, 66, was a veteran of three wars (Philippines Insurrection under Gen. MacArthur and in World War I as a bayonet instructor in France). According to the medical officer, "The sergeant is as fit as a man 30 years his junior." Permission was granted to the sergeant's request by Gen. H. Arnold upon the condition he was physically qualified. He passed with room to spare. He was a mess sergeant and when the ground echelon orders to sail were cut, HE WAS ON THE LIST.

 

http://www.315bw.org/331bg.html

So has the reenacting age limit risen to 66 years old now? ;)

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Found some info on Sgt Harry Rudolf, like to find a picture of him.

THE GROUND ECHELON LEFT FIRST

ONE REALLY WANTED TO GO WITH US EVEN THOUGH UNCLE SAM SAYS NO

AND HE DID TOO:

S/Sgt. Harry Rudolph, 66, was a veteran of three wars (Philippines Insurrection under Gen. MacArthur and in World War I as a bayonet instructor in France). According to the medical officer, "The sergeant is as fit as a man 30 years his junior." Permission was granted to the sergeant's request by Gen. H. Arnold upon the condition he was physically qualified. He passed with room to spare. He was a mess sergeant and when the ground echelon orders to sail were cut, HE WAS ON THE LIST.

 

http://www.315bw.org/331bg.html

So has the reenacting age limit risen to 66 years old now? ;)

 

 

Yeah...just like the retirement age Pat....but not for me! :bye1:

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Found some info on Sgt Harry Rudolf, like to find a picture of him.

THE GROUND ECHELON LEFT FIRST

ONE REALLY WANTED TO GO WITH US EVEN THOUGH UNCLE SAM SAYS NO

AND HE DID TOO:

S/Sgt. Harry Rudolph, 66, was a veteran of three wars (Philippines Insurrection under Gen. MacArthur and in World War I as a bayonet instructor in France). According to the medical officer, "The sergeant is as fit as a man 30 years his junior." Permission was granted to the sergeant's request by Gen. H. Arnold upon the condition he was physically qualified. He passed with room to spare. He was a mess sergeant and when the ground echelon orders to sail were cut, HE WAS ON THE LIST.

 

http://www.315bw.org/331bg.html

So has the reenacting age limit risen to 66 years old now? ;)

 

 

This sounds great, would you have any objections to my placing some info about it in our group magazine? The point is to illustrate to potential new members, "You are never too old to re-enact"!

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This sounds great, would you have any objections to my placing some info about it in our group magazine? The point is to illustrate to potential new members, "You are never too old to re-enact"!

 

By all means! :thumbsup:

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Been digging around my old pictures trying to find this guy, seen him at a couple Events down in Switzerland, kind of old to be a Captain, insignia not quite correct, and his shoes look comfy, also seen him riding shotgun in a jeep saluting people, you know he's having fun, the way it should be for us older boys, who haven't quite grown up yet. ;)

oldtimer.jpg

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Here's my 2 cents. I am 61 yrs old been reenacting CW for 20 yrs and WW2 for 5 yrs. No I don't hump through the mud, leap tall buildings, fight hand to hand combat any more. But what I do is Honor those men that fought for our freedom. I do living history because its my my way of showing those that gave so much that I care. As long as I feel like honoring those men , I don't care if I am 161 yrs old, I will do it. So youngsters get over it and hope you live as long and have as much fun as I do.

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In the 1990s, we had a 26th division vet come up to our group before the Auburn, WA veteran's day parade ansked if he could fall in with us as he was in full combat uniform, his wools still fit! Naturally, we welcomed him warmly and would have loved to have him again at any event, and told him so. Great guy. He would have been in his 70s at least then. We have a guy who was POW after being in the 28th Div and captured at the Bulge. He restored a WW2 Jeep and comes to parades with us. Great guy, too, and he's pushing 90 by now, I think. :thumbsup:

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In the 1990s, we had a 26th division vet come up to our group before the Auburn, WA veteran's day parade ansked if he could fall in with us as he was in full combat uniform, his wools still fit! Naturally, we welcomed him warmly and would have loved to have him again at any event, and told him so. Great guy. He would have been in his 70s at least then. We have a guy who was POW after being in the 28th Div and captured at the Bulge. He restored a WW2 Jeep and comes to parades with us. Great guy, too, and he's pushing 90 by now, I think. :thumbsup:

 

Sounds like these two guys are not re-enactors, they are the real deal Veterans.

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Sounds like these two guys are not re-enactors, they are the real deal Veterans.
They're both, at least in my mind they were. The guy in our group has called himself that, even though he just does parades with us from time to time...
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Found some info on Sgt Harry Rudolf, like to find a picture of him.

THE GROUND ECHELON LEFT FIRST

ONE REALLY WANTED TO GO WITH US EVEN THOUGH UNCLE SAM SAYS NO

AND HE DID TOO:

S/Sgt. Harry Rudolph, 66, was a veteran of three wars (Philippines Insurrection under Gen. MacArthur and in World War I as a bayonet instructor in France). According to the medical officer, "The sergeant is as fit as a man 30 years his junior." Permission was granted to the sergeant's request by Gen. H. Arnold upon the condition he was physically qualified. He passed with room to spare. He was a mess sergeant and when the ground echelon orders to sail were cut, HE WAS ON THE LIST.

 

http://www.315bw.org/331bg.html

So has the reenacting age limit risen to 66 years old now? ;)

 

Found a picture of Sgt. Harry Rudolf. :salute:

sgtharryrudolph.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...

My re-enacting was the American Revolution I am now 51 and if my legs were good (need knees replaced) and I lose some weight I would consider re-enacting again.... but rather than infantry or grenadeers I think I would go to a slower unit.... Artillery you don't have to carry as much stuff the gun is on wheels and you have a better view of the battle while still contributing.....

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  • 2 months later...

I have the opposite problem. I do Gen. Patton on occasion. Mostly for school presentations, special event's etc. People say I am too young to be Patton. I pride myself in educating people about Ole Blood & Guts. I portray Lt. Gen. G.S. Patton Jr...NOT George C. Scott's version of Patton. :D

 

pattonandfj.jpg

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Found a picture of Sgt. Harry Rudolf. :salute:

sgtharryrudolph.jpg

Almost forgot, (happens alot these days, speaking of old :lol:) here's the backside of Harry's photo.

harryrudolf.jpg

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Pat...at your advanced age, maybe "Too old to react" would be more appropriate?! :lol2:

Ian, react to what, my medicine? I take legal drugs these days. :whistling:

Don't forget buddy, you're still older then me! :lol:

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I have the opposite problem. I do Gen. Patton on occasion. Mostly for school presentations, special event's etc. People say I am too young to be Patton. I pride myself in educating people about Ole Blood & Guts. I portray Lt. Gen. G.S. Patton Jr...NOT George C. Scott's version of Patton. :D

 

pattonandfj.jpg

Hey captzak, lookin' strack! But you don't have enough fruit salad on your chest like George did. ;)

44pattonribbons.jpg

 

Source; http://wargodpatton.blogspot.com/2010/08/g...ton-photos.html

 

Are you using real Colts? :thumbsup:

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Hey captzak, lookin' strack! But you don't have enough fruit salad on your chest like George did. ;)

44pattonribbons.jpg

 

Source; http://wargodpatton.blogspot.com/2010/08/g...ton-photos.html

 

Are you using real Colts? :thumbsup:

 

My fruit salad is what Old Blood & Guts had while he was 3 stars. At this event the guns were props. I don't take the real steel out in the Socialist Republic of Illinois!

 

ps - Patton did not always wear the foreign awards and he had a number of different uniforms with different fruit salads. :D

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