On October 19th a group of 7 scouts and 2 adults set out for Camp Tuckahoe in Dillsburg PA. During the two hour drive there were chats about school, likes and dislikes, family, and of course a 
few naps. Upon (or A Pon per the boys) their arrival at cabin Poplar the group quickly unpacked, picked bunks, get comfy and hung around sharing stories and lots of laughter. After checking out the facilities they agreed that the woods were better. Yep, even our boys have standards! The night ended with a small snack of cookies and drinks than off to sleep in the little cabin in the woods. The only heat source was wood in a fireplace but honestly, it never got cold enough for that.
On Saturday, the cheery group awoke, dressed and enjoyed a breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausage in bags. The lesson here was lessening the need for clean up. Two pots of hot water and breakfast was good to go. Everyone was eager to start the day. The group loaded into cars and drove over to the https://ahec.armywarcollege.edu/ where they toured The Soldier Experience Gallery. They experienced the United States Army through the eyes of the men and women who lived its history, in war and peace, from the Spanish American War to current operations in Afghanistan. Their first stop was to pick up a “dog tag” representing one of six Soldiers whose story is part of the USAHEC collections. The dog tags help you to experience Army life as a Soldier does, learning about their Soldier throughout the gallery. The exhibit also featured hundreds of artifacts, a movie theater, and the opportunity to write a letter to a currently serving Soldier. The boys most enjoyed being able to test their marksmanship at the digital shooting range, parachuting into Normandy as part of the D-Day invasion, and experiencing a night attack during the Korean War.
“Good-Bye Broadway, Hello France” – America in the Era of World War I was a two part exhibit with artifacts, photographs, and archival materials from the USAHEC Collection tell the Soldier stories and history of the First World War. In the second part of the exhibit, items are exhibited in an in-depth and engaging battlefield landscape, providing visitors with the feeling of walking through the trenches, as they learn about the lives and experiences of Soldiers who called them home.
The USAHEC holds personal papers, photographs, artifacts, audio-visual media, and library materials pertaining to the history of the U.S. Army since its founding in 1775. These items number in the millions, and many are tied to individual Soldiers and their units. Others stand alone as symbols of the U.S. Army’s role in the history of the United States. Exhibit highlights many types of materials, collected since 1967. Objects displayed were selected due to their distinctive nature or because they provide a unique perspective on the history of the U.S. Army, as well as what Soldiers found important about themselves, their units, the people they met, and the places where they served. Several unique immersive experiences, such as a “spider hole” and “booby traps,” which allow visitors to experience, first-hand, the types of challenges U.S. Soldiers faced. Each Soldier’s story is unique, and the exhibits showcase different areas of Vietnam, with corresponding Soldiers’ stories to illustrate the experiences of the men and women who served. In-country experiences in combat and medical evacuation operations will be featured, in addition to sections relating to the experience of POWs and veterans upon returning home. The exhibit also includes the short film, “Our Journey Through War,” which was produced in-house by the USAHEC team, and features the stories of those who were involved in the conflict.
This immersive experience is designed to be a touch-point for current Soldiers and veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as to enlighten the general public. The boys got to see what appears to be a portal in the hallway and as they enter, they will note they are in a portion of a military cargo plane. As they exit the “aircraft”, they will hear the sounds of military aircraft and see on both sides, expansive photos of the tarmac and images of Soldiers proceeding from the planes with their gear. Soldier cutouts add depth to the display, while a video monitor displays rotating images of Soldiers arriving in theater. Proceeding through the hallway, they noticed the sky over the Middle East above them, and further down the corridor, a display of gear as it was stowed. To the left, a warning sign on the door (in Arabic) that tells them they cannot enter. Moving through a small doorway, the boys entered the second portion of the exhibit and could hear Soldiers voices, while seeing images of Soldiers speaking to each other and receiving briefings. A wall mounted video monitor showed images of Soldiers receiving orders or waiting to be briefed, while an existing window with an inserted graphic of the desert reminds visitors of where they are. At the end of the hall there was a large wall graphic that creates the optical illusion of a much larger space.
The final leg of the indoor tour On Patrol builds off of experience of Soldiers arriving in theater, as is presented a hallway exhibit. Immersive and interactive, On Patrol provides a glimpse of Soldiers’ performing their duties in country. It showcases their experiences “outside the wire,” during the conflicts of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The uniforms displayed on mannequins and large format photographs of each area help define the period, and the experiences of Soldiers deployed to both areas. Though the uniforms featured in the exhibit are tied to specific years, the experiences of patrolling through rural Afghanistan or urban Iraq resonate for Veterans of these campaigns, regardless of their dates of deployment. The exhibit concluded with a hallway of large format photos, showcasing units and families welcoming Soldiers home from their deployments.
The group took a break for lunch in the museum cafe. While patiently waiting for their lunches they privately pointed out the horrible behavior of another scout troop. There were boys sitting on the table tops next to people eating, trash and food all over the floor, their noise level was like an outside playground. Our young men sat like gentleman outside of an Army classroom full of staff and ate their lunches like proper young men. They cleaned up and left their table better than it was when they arrived.
The Army Heritage Trail serves as the USAHEC’s outdoor museum. It encompasses the grounds of the USAHEC, covering about one mile and highlights nearly every era of Army history with different exhibits and large artifacts. Designed to provide an immersion experience that allows the visitor to walk into each period represented, the Trail also serves as a stage for living history presentations by historians serving as interpreters. Fourteen individual exhibits include full scale reconstructions of a French and Indian War way station, Redoubt Number 10 from the Revolutionary War siege of Yorktown, a section of the Antietam battlefield, a Civil War winter encampment with cabins, a WWI trench system, a WWII company area, a replicated Normandy Bocage scene from World War II, a Current Operations HESCO Bastion barrier checkpoint, and an interpretation of the Vietnam helicopter air assault at Ia Drang that includes a period Fire Support Base. Additionally, there are numerous smaller exhibits featuring armor, aircraft, and artillery from several different eras of U.S. Army history. There was also an hour long competition between our boys of who could complete the Army training obstacle course!
While visiting the museum store one of the leaders had a conversation with a police officer from the near by Army Barracks. With information from him the Troop was actually able to get clearance to enter the US Army Base and War College. Carlisle Barracks is the second oldest army installation, dating back to 1745, when British soldiers created the “Camp near Carlisle.” In December 1776, the Continental Congress authorized establishment of an ordnance center at Washingtonburg, as the Barracks was called during the Revolutionary War. Carlisle Barracks is now an Installation Management Agen
cy installation supporting the U.S. Army War College, a field operating agency of the U.S. Army, which educates and prepares military officers for leadership at the highest levels. The highlight of the base visit was the Hessian Powder Magazine, also known as the Hessian Guardhouse Museum, is a historic guardhouse and gunpowder magazine. It was built in 1777, and is a stone walled structure, lined with interior brick. It measures 70 feet by 32 feet and the walls are 4 1/2-feet thick. It has a vaulted stone roof, covered by timbers and tin to take a gable form. Tradition says that some Hessian Prisoners of war, captured at the Battle of Trenton were sent to Carlisle. They were used to build this guard house, originally a magazine. It was probably first used as a guardhouse in the 1870s and when included as part of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School (1879–1918). Afterwards, it was used as a quartermaster and medical supply storehouse, filmstrip laboratory, message center, and U.S. post office. It was designated a museum in 1948. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Then back to the cars for a short return to camp for some free time, one group played Gaga ball and another hiked the camp. Then another less mess meal of Mr Craighead Sr pre-made meatloaf, veggies in a bag and potatoes and a trip to the camp store. While chatting with the Ranger the boys were offered free water ice pops for their walk back to the cabin. Just when they were prepared to build a fire the rain set in. So, into the cabin for unending rounds of cards and a late night snack of apple and pumpkin pie. Lights out and another great day in the books.
The group was early to rise, dress, pack and a quick breakfast of bagels before hitting the road for the drive home. Everyone took a chore and completed it without hesitation. During the ride home there were more rounds of cards, musical roulette and some more naps. Over all the trip was a success and everyone seemed to find fun somewhere while learning just a little.