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MVCCO Annual Fort Stevens Campout and Living History Weekend
(8-11 August, 2002)



A panoramic view of the 3/505th bivouac at Fort Stevens as it appeared on Thursday and Friday. from left to right are: The M-1936 Pyramidal tent which served as quarters for the unit, An M-1942 small wall tent for excess gear, another M-1942 which was used as a communications center, and a "T" marked out with marker panels. The spectators refered to these as GI Slip n slides due to there superficial resemblance to a popular toy of the 1960's.



On Saturday The 3/505th was augmented by I Co. 504th PIR (PNWHG) We are proud of our association with these guys and together we serve as an example of what can be done through the spirit of cooperation. Above members of the two units engage in bayonette drill for the public. LEftLawrence Bateman (I Co 504th PIR) demonstrates the guard position. Center and right Trooper Gay parrys Trooper Peterson's thrust and follows suite with a head but. FACE="ARIAL">



Two of Trooper Kimpton's radios set up for display in front of the communications tent. Left an SCR-300/BC-1000 back pack radio on a plywood packboard. right A BC-654 field set.



A view of how life was on the other side of the tracks. Left Friends of Willy and Joe and the Pacific Northwest Living History Society set up directly across from us with two small wall tents and a pyramidal tent.This is how it looked from our pyramidal tent door. The tan colored shelter seen in both images, is Sam Kimpton's pre-WW I pyramidal tent set up as his contribution to their display for the weekend. right A different view of the FOWJ/PNWLHS camp.



Steve Gay of Freinds of Willy and Joe brought his newly restred jeep and Chevy 1 1/2-ton for the weekend. In the background can be seen the Revolutionary War camp. The concrete structure to the right is Battery West.



The camp as seen from the top of Battery Lewis. The MVCCO display can be seen in the top left of the image and the combined living history displays to the right. The tracked vehicle is MVCCO President Steve Preston's M-18 "Hellcat" and the two jeeps and 1 1/2-ton truck next to the tents belong to members of FOWJ.




Our turn out for this event was the highest to date with eight uniformed members in attendance on Saturday. Troopers Peterson, Nygard, Grilley, Kimpton, Bateman, Ilyandkof, Gay, and Van Vleet and non members Ryan Stubbins and Kirk Skaggs set up over 12 inspection layouts for the public. Presentations included M-1 rifle demonstrations, bayonette drill, gas protective equipment, axis machine guns, T-5/T-7 parachute systems, and basic combat loads.

These together with Trooper Kimpton's pyramidal and wall tents and radio equipment made for what was called by one MVCCO member a "rather impressive display."

Ryan Stubbins provided a motor pool for use by unit members with his new Willys jeep.

Overall attendance for the weekend by participants was over 75. This is the largest number in over 10 years. The event also had its first active military representation with the inclusion of a HUMV provided by the 2/218th Field Artillery who are based in Portland and were in training at Camp Rialea at the time. MVCCO member Steve Preston also brought his operational M-18 Tank Destroyer on which our cadre rode Saturday evening after the Historical site closed to the public.

Several 3/505ers commented that this was the best year for this event in recent memory and and good time was had by all. Operation a success!


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