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USS KIDD Living History Program
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The USS KIDD has embarked upon an exciting new project with its new Living History program. Inaugurated in 2005, the program's goal is to gather a corps of volunteers together to demonstrate and interpret the various historical eras in which Louisiana's sons and daughter have been called to arms. Through "hands-on history," our visitors will come away with a better understanding of what they have seen and heard. |
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Tres Stoltz mans the helm as fellow reenactor John Hesselberg maintains the watch as Officer of the Deck. Photo courtesy of Tres Stoltz. |
A Ship In Need Of A Crew
A ship with no crew has no soul. As the most authentically restored vessel in an Historic Fleet that spans five continents and over 150 vessels, the KIDD offers the unique opportunity to learn the routine of shipboard life in detail and on the actual equipment used!!! Few, if any, reproductions here. Whether a torpedoman, damage controlman, machinist's mate, gunner's mate, yeoman, or disbursing clerk, the goal is to know the ship, the job, the speech, and the dress intimately in preparation for manning the ship for weekend events and interacting with visitors as the actual crew of the KIDD.
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Portraying Multiple Historical Periods
Of course, while we will need quite a few people to fully man a vessel like the KIDD, we are not focusing solely on the World War II era or on the Navy. Other events are held throughout the year featuring other eras and branches of service. We need people interested in the American Revolution era, War of 1812, Civil War, World War I and II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and all points in between. And we're not just looking to portray the American side: Louisianans served under the French and Spanish crowns as well. Also, you know what they say: "Know thy enemy ..." Having the opposition on hand for such demonstrations allows the public to see what our veterans were up against when they stormed San Juan Hill in Cuba or the bloody beaches of Tarawa. |
Members of Le Battalion d'Orleans represent Spanish colonial and War of 1812 soldiers during Armed Forces Day ceremonies in 2003. Photo courtesy of Monica Dugas. |
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Here are just a few of the periods in which we are interested:
Both Young & Old Needed
The old saying goes that "Only the young go to war." We need young bodies to be as accurate in our portrayal as possible (the average age for a World War II serviceman was age 18-22). But we also need our veterans themselves to provide accurate intelligence and information. After all, these young people were not there at Normandy, Chosin Reservoir, or Khe Sanh. If they had been, they'd be too old now to accurately fill the role. |
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We Need A Few Good Men & Women
If you are interested in joining this exciting new program, please Contact Us. Even if it is simply through lending a hand via your expertise, we want you on the team.
If you are part of an already-existing reenactment or living history group and would like to join forces for an event, please let us know. We have worked with a number of reenactment groups from across the Gulf South and would love to have you aboard. |
USS KIDD Living History reenactor Tres Stoltz stands his watch as part of Dog Company 505th reenacting Operation Market Garden at Camp Claiborne near Forest Hill, LA. Photo courtesy of Tres Stoltz. |
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WW II U.S. Army Infantry Bazooka firing demo
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WWII U.S. Navy Air raid drills aboard KIDD
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**Copyright 1997-2007 by Louisiana Naval War Memorial Commission** |
