Tanks Battle It Out, Passengers Travel Back In Time With The Armor Experience On LI

BETHPAGE, NY — Participants traveled back to June 9, 1944, with the Museum of American Armor’s "Armor Experience" program on Sunday as part of an American infantry unit. They geared up and headed to their WWII vehicles to be immersed in a hypothetical tactical challenge taking place in Belgium, France.

Their mission — to cut off German troops and keep them from expanding. After the debriefing, participants loaded into their half-tracks and ventured into the "French countryside" of Bethpage, keeping their eyes peeled for German troops, acted by living historians, in the distance. American soldiers, also acted by living historians, crouched near trees and leaves, preparing for enemy ambushes. Children were given the opportunity to man the guns on the half-tracks.

The platoon leaders shouted for people to get down as gunfire erupted, smoke filling the fall air. Once it was safe to continue, the half-tracks kept on the dirt path, as participants, children to adults, took in the wartime re-enactment.

Living historians ran from half-track to half-track, asking for medical supplies, ammo, and extra guns. A scout car was set on fire by the enemies, and gunfire in the distance made its way closer, louder.

The half-tracks rolled onwards, tanks leading the troops and following close behind as well, unsure where the enemy was. All vehicles lined up as they made their way to a battlefield against the German soldiers. Boom — the German soldiers were mortaring the advancing American troops. "Mortars" hit the ground close enough to the half-tracks to cause black debris to fall on participants, immersing them fully into the experience. Explosions, gunfire, shrieks of the fallen: sounds of combat. Tanks battled it out until the last explosion hit the Sherman Tank, and the Germans started to retreat.

The troops carried on, pushing through a village. The participants’ soldiers won — the Germans retreated. The mission, all agreed, was a success.

The "Armor Experience" is one of multiple programs that the Museum of American Armor has throughout the year, and has been part of the museum’s events for over 10 years.

Living historian volunteers dedicate hours of their time to crafting the immersive historical experience, from portraying soldiers, medics, tank commanders, and the fallen, to spending hours learning how to properly and safely drive the tanks, to reviewing the storyline of each "Armor Experience." There are also volunteers behind the scenes, including Lindsey Wolfer, in charge of the pyrotechnology and wiring up the field — determining when the mortars will go off, creating the battlefield atmosphere, and more.

Frank O’Brien, 74, has been part of the museum community on Long Island before the Museum of American Armor opened in 2014, partaking in experiences and re-enactments at the American Airpower Museum, as well.

He said it’s important to learn history to avoid repeating it.

"We do this to make sure people don’t forget what the greatest generation did for us," he said. "The men and women who fought WWII — and who built the planes, and tanks, the rifles, the everything — those people founded modern America."

O’Brien said his father was in WWII and went to Europe in November of 1944; as soon as he got there, they flew combat, and during the Battle of the Bulge, they were grounded.

"My brothers and I decided that dad had PTSD before they had an acronym for it," he said. "We have these freedoms because other people really laid their butt on their line."

Some participants traveled from hours away, while others were local.

Christian, 6, said the best part about the experience was watching the fighting. David Reyes of Bethpage said Christian’s a huge fan of anything related to the military, and it was a great experience.

"The people were really involved, and it felt like you were part of the war," Reyes said. "I liked the fact that when the missiles were dropping, some of the stuff came inside the car. It felt very realistic, with the bullets flying around. It was a cool experience."

Mike Keane has been a living historian for about 15 years, doing his part to keep what the veterans did alive: "Nobody can ever forget what they did, their sacrifice," he said.

Keane mentioned how, although this was an incredible way for everyone to experience a battle, it was only a glimpse into the reality of history and the hardships soldiers went through during WWII.

"They didn’t have a bed," he began. "They slept in a foxhole, if they could dig a foxhole, if it wasn’t frozen. They would eat their rations if it wasn’t frozen. They were out there for months on end."

He said he hopes people have a better understanding after the experience, but they can’t fully grasp what all the soldiers went through.

"I’m going to bed tonight," he said. "I don’t have bullets zinging past my ears and head. I’m not starving out here. I’m not worrying about if we can’t get gas for the vehicles, or if we can go further, or if we run out of ammo and get charged by the enemy."

Keane continued by saying people should always pay respect to their veterans.

"We’re here to keep the history alive for younger generations," he said. "Anytime you see a veteran, always thank them for what they did. It’s a big sacrifice. Honor what the men and women did for us."

All the living historians are trained before following the script of the experience, and they are committed to their role.

"Trained in driving the vehicles, trained in everything we do here," he said. "Everything you see, we all buy ourselves from the clothing, the gear, the helmets, to the rifles."

Stacy Wasson was the first woman to join the Museum of Armor’s "Armor Experience" about 10 years ago, right after they began the program, and her goal was to be a tank commander — she achieved it.

She had two grandfathers in the military, and her dad was a military vehicle enthusiast.

"Being a tomboy and always wanting to do what my dad did, I became involved with this museum," she said. "I was really interested in where their [her grandparents’] minds were [during the war] and experiencing it as close as I could."

She has a long history of historical reenactments, from armor combat on foot to jousting on horseback to Renaissance and medieval fairs — her husband joining her in some of her ventures, including the Museum of American Armor and jousting. They received international invitations and traveled around the world. She now teaches high school art.

Wasson said she desperately wanted to drive the Sherman Tank, making it her mission, and has since driven the 33-ton vehicle: "It’s a lot of responsibility."

"It never gets old — climbing up onto the top of the Sherman Tank is like nothing I’ve ever done. It’s like the best jungle gym. It shows how exposed these guys were."

Wasson said she has enjoyed her time at the Museum of American Armor and working in historical reenactment for years.

"I have built really nice friendships along the way," she said. "We all have the same purpose – to preserve the artifacts, educate the public, and talk to them about what was happening during that time period. What were those guys really doing? What was their motivation? Doing their civic duty. Defending the country."

She was a tank commander for approximately five years, and now takes on the role of the French resistance in the "Armor Experience."

"I feel I get to interact more with the public," she said. "Ultimately, my goal is to make people feel. Did you feel something inside? What did you feel? Our worst enemy in the world today is indifference. These veterans are disappearing. Another year or two, they will be gone. There will be nobody in living memory able to tell the stories."

She added: "Fortunately, we have recordings of them, but the majority of the population is not getting that, so this is another way to disseminate some of that information to the public. Share the story, share the experience."