World War II comes alive at weekend re-enactment at Fort Mott State Park

Members of the 9th Division World War II Historical Preservation Society during this weekend's re-enactment at Fort Mott State Park in Pennsville Township.

From NJ.com: World War II comes alive at weekend re-enactment at Fort Mott State Park
PENNSVILLE TWP. — The 9th Division World War II Historical Preservation Society held a living history event here at Fort Mott State Park this weekend.

The event, titled “Dug In! Holding the Line,” gave spectators a first hand look at interactive displays as well as tactics and equipment used by World War II soldiers.

“We are portraying a unit on the front line, what they call a ‘dug-in unit’,” said 9th Division re-enactor Matt Carroll.

During the event, re-enactors portraying GI’s held the line along the Rhine River (the Delaware River in Fort Mott’s case) as the Allied Armies looked to cross the river and take the war deeper into German territory.

The focus of the event held Saturday and Sunday was to demonstrate the procedures and techniques that American troops used when digging in to secure a beachhead from enemy forces and in preparing to cross a river during an invasion.

Re-enactors were dressed head to toe in World War II uniforms. The scene was portrayed as realistic as possible, down to the rations the soldiers ate for lunch to the cigarettes they smoked.

Stark realism was also provided by way of machine gun fire and rifle grenade rounds.

Carroll, who resides in Burlington City, was a History major in college. He said a lot of the volunteers who participate in the re-enactments do so because they have strong family ties to World War II.

“It’s about keeping the tradition alive,” Carroll said. “Unlike Revolutionary War re-enactors, we can interview the veterans and know exactly what they did and how they acted when they served.”

9th Division Re-enactor Chris Barebo, of Emmas, Pa., said one of reasons he participates is because of the bond that is created among the group.

“I won’t liken it to the guys that really served, but the bond we have is far beyond any of the friendships I have back at home,” Barebo said.

Though the 9th Division World War II Historical Preservation Society does conduct public demonstrations, Carroll said it is not their main function.

“We like to go to veteran World War II reunions and actually set up the equipment for them and they get a kick out of it,” Carroll said.

Re-enactor Dave Mitchell said the joy he gets from the demonstrations is when veterans approach the unit and thank them for what they do.

“It’s a lot more rewarding because you have the veterans coming up and thanking you for honoring what they have done,” said Mitchell. “There are too many people these days who don’t remember the history and it’s important to keep it alive because without history you don’t know where you came from.”

Mitchell said often times veterans who see the demonstrations start to share stories with the re-enactors as well.

“Even some veterans who have never spoken about the war,” he said.

For more information on the 9th Division World War II Historical Preservation Society please visit www.9thdivision.com.

Living history programs provided by Fort Mott State Park are free to the public.

If you have any questions or would like more information on upcoming events, contact Fort Mott State Park at (856) 935-3218