Click here to download

"Texans Serving Texas"

 
FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC RELEASE:

World War II-Close Assault Reenactments Kick off Saturday, Ends Sunday

 

AUSTIN, Texas (May 22, 2018) –  Close Assault 1944 will kick off on Saturday, May 26 and conclude Sunday, May 27, 2018 at Camp Mabry,  to honor the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans and focus on the history of the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard during World War II. 

The free program, now in its twelfth year, is extremely popular with all age groups and will feature members of the Texas Military Forces Living History Detachment exhibiting the uniform and equipment worn by the American GI in the European Theater of the Second World War, as well as those of his German opponent.  Visitors will also be able to see everything from tents, radio equipment, GI baseball gloves and mess kits to operational vehicles, such as an M4 Sherman Tank, M3 Halftrack and Jeeps.

The two-day event will also provide visitors the opportunity to witness firing demonstrations of the most famous U.S. and German small arms of World War II.   Among the weapons that will be demonstrated are the 1903 Springfield, German K98 rifle, M1 Garand rifle, Browning Automatic Rifle (the famous BAR), Thompson submachine gun, MP-40 German submachine gun, the Browning .30 caliber machine gun, mortars, the bazooka and many more.

In addition, at the end of each hour and 15 minute program, the re-enactors will recreate a combined arms assault on a German pillbox, using small arms and automatic weapons as well as a Sherman tank, halftrack and jeeps.

Visitors are encouraged to take pictures or film.  Food vendors and souvenirs will be on hand.  Plenty of bleacher seating is available, but guests should come prepared for the sun or rain.  Camp Mabry is open to the public; vehicle operators need merely show a valid driver’s license to come on post.

The Brig. Gen. John C.L. Scribner Texas Military Forces Museum will be open to the public throughout the weekend including on Memorial Day with docents standing by to teach every visitor what it was like to fight or serve during the Texas Revolution, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, and the Cold War as well as the story of today’s Soldiers and Airmen fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan and assisting fellow Texans in need during hurricane relief operations.

For detailed driving directions or more information please visit the museum’s web site at https://tmd.texas.gov or call 512-782-5770.  The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free.

-30-

 

The mission of the Texas Military Department (TMD) is to provide the Governor and the President with ready and trained forces in support of the citizens of Texas and State and Federal civil/military authorities at home and abroad.

The Texas Military Department is commanded by the Adjutant General of Texas, the state's senior military official appointed by the governor, and is comprised of the Texas Military Department (formerly the Adjutant General's Department), the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG), the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG), the Texas State Guard (TXSG) and the Domestic Operations Command (DOMOPS)

For more information about the Texas Military Department visit our Website at https://tmd.texas.gov.