Wicksteed
at
War
2017
What
an
absolute
blast!
After
arriving
early
on
Friday
morning
and
taking
a
look
around,
it
was
clear
to
see
that
the
show
had
grown
considerable
since
last
year,
there
were
so
many
more
vehicles
and
so
many
more
groups,
and
even
a
slightly
expanded
arena!
And
not
to
mention
the
nice
pitch
that
we,
Rolling
Thunder,
had
to
play
with.
Friday
was
taken
nice
and
slowly
as
we
laid
out
a
small
display
and
spoke
to
the
school
children
about
the
Vietnam
war
on
both
fronts,
with
Pete
getting
them
protesting
and
Phil
showing
off
all
of
his
gear
whilst
we
waited
for
more
Rolling
Thunder
elements
to
arrive.
And
the
showers
and
blustery
winds
still
didn't
put
a
dampener
on
things,
as
we
were
excited
for
the
weekend
ahead.
And
luckily,
the
weather
became
oh
so
beautiful.
After
the
majority
had
arrived
throughout
the
day,
we
set
up
and
got
down
to
business.
We
certainly
put
together
one
hell
of a
display.
With
GP
tents,
a
pup
tent
city,
fly
sheets,
a
M38
A1,
mannequins,
kit,
personal
effects
and
weaponry
galore
and
even
the
damn
hippies!
Also,
the
glorious
M113s
and
the
fantastic
guys
of
the
American
Infantry
Preservation
Society
(AIPS)
.
Peter
Seal
brought
along
his
leeches
and
a
dead
tarantula
and
scorpion
to
show
that
its
not
just
the
enemy
you
had
to
fight
but
also
the
wildlife.
After
all
was
set,
we
chowed
down
and
went
to
party!
What
a
fantastic
night
it
was!
Pete's
dancing
is
enough
to
put
a
smile
on
anyone's
face.
Waking
up
bright
and
early
on
Saturday
morning,
it
was
clear
to
see
that
Mother
Nature
was
going
to
be
kind
to
us.
Topped
off
with
a
pleasant
breakfast
from
Mo!
The
sight
of
Grunts
sunning
themselves
around
camp
was
one
to
behold.
I
can
assure
you
that
there
are
still
a
vast
amount
of
sun
burns
and
tans
present
from
the
weekend.
Really
immersing
ourselves
with
the
heat,
the
sound
of
AFVN
broadcasts,
the
good
old
banter,
and
living
in
the
period,
really
made
for
a
good
feeling.
Experiences
like
that
can't
be
gained
anywhere
else.
And
having
the
absolute
pleasure
of
talking
to a
living
legend,
1st
Lieutenant
John
Harris...
a 3
tour
USMC
pilot.
John
is
an
absolute
hero,
the
stories
he
can
tell
are
well
worth
listening
to
and
he's
a
man
that
I
could
talk
to
for
hours
on
end!
Now...
show
time...
After
extensive
planning
and
running
around,
especially
by
Luke
and
Craig,
it
was
time
for
Rolling
Thunder
and
the
AIPS
to
take
centre
stage.
After
collecting
our
weapons,
we
mounted
up
on
the
tracks
and
made
way
for
the
battlefield.
It's
impossible
to
describe
the
feeling
of
being
in
the
back
of
an
M113
just
waiting
and
waiting
for
our
time.
And
the
adrenaline
rush
as
we
hear
the
gears
shift
and
feel
the
track
begin
to
move
is
such
an
amazing
high.
As
the
ramp
dropped,
we
all
fanned
out
on
either
side
and
began
laying
down
fire
on
Mr.
Charles
in
the
tree
line.
After
advancing
up
to
the
knocked
out
Jeep,
I
took
a
hit,
and
went
down
kicking
and
screaming.
The
surrounding
sound
of
gunfire
and
the
sight
of
smoke
and
charging
GIs
was
truly
disorientating,
I
couldn't
imagine
how
those
brave
souls
that
did
it
for
real
must
have
felt.
After
Victor
Charlie
had
been
dealt
with,
we
mounted
up,
took
a
tour
of
the
field
and
headed
back
for
our
debrief,
and
even
practiced
our maneuvers
in
the
arena
with
the
AIPS
after
show
hours,
to
really
get
us
looking
spot
on
for
Sunday's
battle.
Later
that
evening,
we
had
a
wonderful
BBQ,
courtesy
of
Mo
and
Wayne.
There
is
no
better
comfort
than
having
delicious,
hot
food...
and
lots
of
it!
I
can't
possibly
thank
you
enough
for
the
way
you
looked
after
us.
We
all
truly
appreciate
your
efforts!
Along
with
the
presentation
of
an
absolutely
wonderful
cake
for
the
AIPS'
Pete's
50th
birthday,
which
looked
and
tasted
great!
The
atmosphere
was
just
fantastic.
Sunday
morning,
the
last
show
day.
The
Wolfhounds
gear
up
for
our
photo
shoot
with
Sean
RT
Bao
Chi,
Scott,
and
also
Aidan
of
NAM
Photography.
After
finding
a
fantastic
bamboo
shrouded
area
on
the
Friday
afternoon,
we
met
up
with
our
photographers
and
headed
straight
there,
which
made
for
some
epic
photographs.
And
then
we
were
sent
through
the
thick
vegetation,
and
took
some
relaxed
shots
of
Grunts
at
rest...
Then
we
came
to
the
part
that
we
were
oddly
excited
about.
The
lake!
Our
dear
Roger
braved
the
water
first,
getting
drenched
and
covered
in
silt
and
mud,
especially
after
a
couple
of
tumbles,
I
certainly
didn't
envy
the
task
of
cleaning
everything
Roger!
Then
one
by
one,
we
all
took
the
plunge
and
headed
into
the
lake.
This
made
for
some
awesome
photos,
but
the
stench
of
our
uniforms
afterwards
was
close
to
unbearable.
And
our
hard
as
nails
M60
gunner,
Ben,
even
fully
submerged
himself
and
held
the
Pig
high
in
order
to
recreate
a
somewhat
famous
photo
from
the
time!
Now
that's
dedication.
After
all
of
us
waded
out
to
neck
high
water
and
got
a
badass
group
shot,
we
charged
straight
out
of
that
lake
and
went
to
dry
off
and
dull
the
awful
smell.
We
then
dedicated
the
rest
of
our
time
before
the
battle
to
getting
everything
dry
and
relatively
clean.
With
Luke
even
showering
in
his
fatigues
And
again,
our
time
came,
we
donned
our
gear,
went
to
collect
our
weapons,
and
mounted
the
tracks.
Ready
to
put
on
the
show
of
shows.
And
we
sure
did!
I
never
got
to
see
much
of
the
battle
in
person,
as I
took
my
hit
again
and
flailed
around
until
the
end.
But
the
videos
look
tremendous!
Now
the
fact
that
the
show
was
coming
to
end
had
set
in.
As
we
began
to
pack
down
our
camp
and
displays
and
say
our
farewells,
it
was
clear
to
see
that
Wicksteed
at
War
2017
was
a
hit!
We
were
all
still
hyped
up
and
I
wish
it
lasted
longer.
A
massive
thanks
to
everyone
who
took
part.
You
really
made
the
show
what
it
was!
A
personal
thanks
to
the
AIPS
for
use
of
their
tracks
and
for
the
good
times
shared.
Until
War
and
Peace.
Ash
McNeill,
2/27th
Wolfhounds,
Rolling
Thunder.