"Texans Serving Texas"

TEL. (512) 782-5452                                                                                             Public Affairs Office, P.O. Box 5218, Austin, Texas 78763

 

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC RELEASE:

Vietnam War-Close Assault 1968 Reenactments Kick off Saturday, End Sunday

 

AUSTIN, Texas (May 25-26, 2024) – Close Assault 1968 will kick off on Saturday, May 25 and conclude Sunday, May 26 at Camp Mabry. The event will commemorate Memorial Day and honor the service and sacrifice of America’s Vietnam Veterans, including those members of the Texas Army and Air National Guard who volunteered for service in Southeast Asia and the many Vietnam veterans who joined the Texas Guard afterwards. 

The free program, beginning its fifteenth season, is extremely popular with all age groups and will feature members of the Texas Military Forces Living History Detachment exhibiting the uniforms and equipment worn by the American Troops in Vietnam, as well as those of their North Vietnamese and Viet Cong opponents.  Visitors will see everything from radios, grenade launchers and machine guns to operational vehicles, such as an M113 Armored Personnel Carrier, M106 Mortar Carrier, M151 Jeeps and more.  

The two-day event will also provide visitors the opportunity to witness firing demonstrations of the most famous U.S. and Enemy small arms used during the Vietnam War. Among the weapons that will be demonstrated are the M16 Rifle, AK47 and SKS Rifles, M60 Machine Gun, M79 Grenade Launcher, Claymore Mine and many more. In addition, at the end of each hour and 15-minute program, the re-enactors will recreate a typical small unit battle in the jungles of Southeast Asia, using small arms and automatic weapons as well as armored personnel carriers and simulated artillery fire. 

Visitors are encouraged to take pictures or film.  Snacks and souvenirs will be on hand.  Plenty of shaded bleacher seating is available, but guests should come prepared for the sun and heat.   Camp Mabry is open to the public; adults need merely show a valid photo ID such as a driver’s license, passport, etc. 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 hurricanes, wildfires, floods, snow storms and pandemics.   

For detailed driving directions or more information please visit the museum’s web site at www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org or call 512-782-5770.  The museum will be open on Monday May 27 in honor of Memorial Day in addition to its regular hours Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free.

Media are invited to cover any Close Assault 1968 re-enactment on May 25-26, 2024 at Camp Mabry starting at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday (May 25) and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday (May 26). Please call in advance to ensure timely media escort to the event area and parking.
Texas Military Forces’ Museum point of contact is Jeff Hunt at (512) 782-5770 or (512) 934-4059 (cell).
 

 

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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 Office of State Administration (formerly the Office of the Executive Director), the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG), the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG) and the Texas State Guard (TXSG).

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