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The Dragoons once again attended the annual Battle of the Bulge event sponsored by the WWII Federation. We use this weekend strictly for training and socializing. Here unit members discuss rifle section tactics in the training area.
January 2010 - Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA
In addition to our outdoor activities we use also took the opportunity to conduct classroom exercises as well. Here Brian Neri instructs us on map reading and compass land navigation.
January 2010 - Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA
Back to outdoor fun in the brisk weather. During this evolution team members were required to run forward from a defined starting point carrying all the correct implements of a Bren gun section in combat. After darting approximate 10 yards they would drop and place the gun into action by loading a mag and readying the charging handle and sighting in. We timed the various teams from "go" until the Bren was ready to be fired. Pictured on the Bren are Walter Brocker and Mark Synder from the King's Own Regiment. They drove all the way up from North Carolina to partake in the event and participated in our Dragoon training classes throughout the weekend.
January 2010 - Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA
Back inside the barracks we had a full office / reception area set up. Brian's wife Linda spent time manning the operational switchboard as well as typing out various reports and greeting visitors. Our communications lines were run from the 1st floor up to our friends from Beer Company in the 2nd floor cadre rooms.
January 2010 - Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA
No FIG event would be the same without our annual Polish family meal. This year's menu included pierogees, borscht soup, biogos stew, kielbasa, rye bread, wine and poppy seed roll for desert. Everyone brought something to share. In addition we also had period prewar Polish music to serenade us. Pictured are Linda Neri, Chris Moore, Rich Holliday, Darrell Henning and Brian Neri.
January 2010 - Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA
As an organization we like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication our members put into interpreting Polish history. Here Zach Mateja is officially promoted to "Senior Private" or Straszy Dragoon by Sgt. Petronis.
January 2010 - Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA
Brian and Linda pose for a period shot before getting ready to head home.
January 2010 - Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA
As has been the case for the last four years Sgt. Petronis was asked to play the role of Captain by the Nordwind event command staff. Our unit members therefore selflessly sacrifice their trigger time to volunteer to help out in task force head quarters. Here Cplt. Moore and Drgn. Neri prepare maps for the tactical briefing Petronis is to give to his troops the next day. In addition to clerical duties both Moore and Neri volunteered to act as radio operators for the task force during the tacticals.
March 2010 - Nordwind Invitational Tactical
Here's a view of some of the mechanized elements of our task force while on the tank trail enroute to the tactical area. Notice the haze from the dust being kicked up by the column. I'm glad we weren't driving forward for days at a time in stiffling heat as the orignal veterans did during the Normandy campaign. Pictured here are our friends from the 15th Recce in their half track. Behind the armour are two vehicles from the Polish Paratroopers.
March 2010 - Nordwind Invitational Tactical
The raw weight and power of armor is always awe inspiring. Here Bud Walker manouvers his firefly cross country during the battle.
March 2010 - Nordwind Invitational Tactical
Wireless operator Neri stands by to transmit orders to our attached units.
March 2010 - Nordwind Invitational Tactical
This year's Gettysburg event was great. Our team was joined by James Lobaza from Ohio who represented the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade. Jim also brought his meticulously restored air borne jeep with him. In addition we were honored by the presence of Maj. M Wozniak, Polish Assistant Military Attache from Washington D.C. He and his lovely family spent the day viewing our display as well as touring the other living history groups present.
September 2010 - Eisenhower Farm NPS Gettysburg, PA
The weather Sunday was a bit warmer so we decided to swap out to our denim uniforms. This year also debuted our latest addition to the unit. Natalie K brought a great Polish Red Cross field kitchen display complete with Polish breads and other food. It brought a new aspect to our overall layout and was very well received by the public.
September 2010 - Eisenhower Farm NPS Gettysburg, PA
As always one of the major hits of our display is Brian Neri's personal motor pool. On Sunday Brian attempted to work on the valves of his M20. He didn't get far however as it attracted the motorcycle "gear head" crowd within a 20 mile radius. Consequently Brian did more talking than working.
September 2010 - Eisenhower Farm NPS Gettysburg, PA
The WWII Polish LHG was invited to participate in a time line event sponsored by the Living History Association and town of West Dover 200th anniversary committee. Our display consisted of the unit half track, HQ area and machine gun nest. The Saturday festivities commenced with a bicentennial parade through the main part of town. After that, the camps were open to public interpretation for the next two days. Here Sgt. Petronis discusses the Bren gun with visitors.
October 2010 - 24th Annual Living History Timeline, Matterhorn Inn, West Dover, VT
On Saturday we were honored with the presence of Kazik Barut, member of the 7th A-Tk regt from the II Corps. Mr. Barut participated in the parade and subsequent public Q & A afterwards.
October 2010 - 24th Annual Living History Timeline, Matterhorn Inn, West Dover, VT
Here Kazik mans the .30 cal MG in the ring mount of our half track as the parade gets under way. During his time with the II Corps, Barut was qualified to drive a number of both British & American vehicles. In addition to a half track he also drove, Sherman Fireflys, jeeps, British Valentines and all manner of motorcycles.
October 2010 - 24th Annual Living History Timeline, Matterhorn Inn, West Dover, VT
Our WWII Polish Red Cross representative standing in front of the display area.
October 2010 - 24th Annual Living History Timeline, Matterhorn Inn, West Dover, VT
On Friday, April 30 the City of Utica and The Royal Order Kingdom of Poland sponsored an event to honor WWII Polish veterans of the battle of Monte Casino. This type of recognition is exactly what the WWII
Polish LHG wants to support. We were initially contacted by a local representative of the Polish American Congress to see if we could help out with the ceremony and subsequent public display at City Hall showing artifacts from the battle. The day began with a special mass held at the Holy Trinity RC church in Utica. Polish WWII vets act as the honor guard before mass.
April 2010 - Utica, NY
Here Utica Mayor the Hon. M. Roefaro begins the ceremony with appropriate remarks on behalf of the city.
April 2010 - Utica, NY
A large crowd of Utica residents attended the outdoor portion of the ceremony. The city's population historically was composed of a very large percentage of Polish and Italian Americans. A great cross section of the city was represented.
April 2010 - Utica, NY
As part of the ceremony each veteran was awarded a medal especially designed for the occasion by the Royal Order Kingdom of Poland. Here 3rd Carpathian veteran Joseph Biega is decorated by HRH Diana Lenska.
April 2010 - Utica, NY
Utica resident and veteran of the 3rd Carpathian Division, Henry Jaworski receives his medal. On right Rich Noga assists.
April 2010 - Utica, NY
Our friend John Nieduzak from Buffalo receives his medal. You can read more about John and Joe Biega's wartime experiences under the "veteran advisors" section of our website.
April 2010 - Utica, NY
John offered some appropriate remarks to those gathered.
April 2010 - Utica, NY
WWII Polish LHG member Christopher Petronis addresses the crowd. His speech centered around the reasons of why it is important to honor the sacrifices of our veterans.
April 2010 - Utica, NY
The WWII Polish LHG was able to help the occasion by offering items for display at City Hall. The Monte Casino committee provided the cases and written documentation. We provided a total of six uniformed mannequins to enhance the literature. The display will run until approximately May 27th.
April 2010 - Utica, NY
The WWII Polish LHG was able to help the occasion by offering items for display at City Hall. The Monte Casino committee provided the cases and written documentation. We provided a total of six uniformed mannequins to enhance the literature. The display will run until approximately May 27th.
April 2010 - Utica, NY
Here Chris Moore stands by our display which was in the main foyer area of the embassy. He is wearing a PAF battle dress uniform representing the 305 Bomber squadron as they would appear in 1944.
September 2010 - Embassy of the Republic of Poland - Reception for the Polish Minister of Defense & Investiture of Gen. Colin Powell (ret) with the Polish "Order of Merrit"
General Soczewica and the embassy staff were very gracious and hospitable throughout the evening. The food was great as well. The embassy structure itself is a meticulously restored residence built shortly after the turn of the century.
September 2010 - Embassy of the Republic of Poland - Reception for the Polish Minister of Defense & Investiture of Gen. Colin Powell (ret) with the Polish "Order of Merrit"
We thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the various military representatives of allied nations throughout the evening. All were aware of Poland's contribution to the security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Showing the history of Polish sacrifice to the allied cause in WWII was a great way to link the past with the present. In addition to the current active duty attendees we were also honored to meet several Polish veterans of WWII.
September 2010 - Embassy of the Republic of Poland - Reception for the Polish Minister of Defense & Investiture of Gen. Colin Powell (ret) with the Polish "Order of Merrit"
New member John Hamann portraying a Polish pilot during the Battle of Britain stands next to a U.S. Navy Captain with lots of fruit salad. Given that John is an active duty U.S. Navy helicopter pilot I'm sure these two had lots to discuss.
September 2010 - Embassy of the Republic of Poland - Reception for the Polish Minister of Defense & Investiture of Gen. Colin Powell (ret) with the Polish "Order of Merrit"
Here the two Chris' (Moore and Petronis) discuss the history of the Georgian army as they fought along side with Pilsudski during the 1920 Russo-Polish war.
September 2010 - Embassy of the Republic of Poland - Reception for the Polish Minister of Defense & Investiture of Gen. Colin Powell (ret) with the Polish "Order of Merrit"
We were honored to meet a number of veterans that evening. Here Ppor. Petronis stands beside Bogdan Horoszowski, veteran of the AK. Mr. Horoszowski traveled all the way from Chicago for the event.
September 2010 - Embassy of the Republic of Poland - Reception for the Polish Minister of Defense & Investiture of Gen. Colin Powell (ret) with the Polish "Order of Merrit"
Saturday was a typical, crisp fall day in Highland Falls, NY location of the U.S. Army's West Point Academy. Several WWII living history organizations were on hand for an outdoor display at the museum. Here, Ppor. Petronis stands beside two of the USMA's Kosciuszko Squadron members. The squadron is a volunteer organization of West Point cadets with a Polish-American background. You can access their website by cutting and pasting the following address into your browser: http://www.usma.edu/uscc/dca/clubs/poli/the%20kosciuszko%20squadron%20of%20west%20point.htm
October 2010 - West Point Museum, U.S. Military Academy
Central Connecticut State University's Polish American Studies chair, Prof. M.B. Biskupski sponsored a very interesting talk commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. As part of the day the WWII Polish LHG was asked by Maj. Wozniak for our support in the program. Pictured above, left to right, Christopher Petronis, Wing Commander David Arthurton, MA RAF Assistant Air Attache from the British Embassy, Dr. Michael Peszke and Maj. Wozniak Assistant Military Attache, Polish Embassy. Dr. Peszke was the main speaker while Wing Cmdr Arthurton spoke about what the BoB meant to England and the Allies.
October 2010 - New England Air Museum, CT
For the portion of the program the Major and I were responsible for, we chose the topic of why the Polish air crew were so successful during the war. Here Petronis is a human mannequin displaying early flight gear for 1940.
October 2010 - New England Air Museum, CT
Here is part of the New England Air Museum's display honoring the Kosciuszko Squadron. The two uniforms in the background are original PAF as worn in Britain as well as a prewar uniform. Both are on loan from the S.W.A.P. museum in New York City. Maj Wozniak's uniform is his current PAF flight suit. In addition to the prestige of working at the Embassy, Wozniak is also a qualified Mig 15 pilot.
October 2010 - New England Air Museum, CT