"I had all sorts of cool stuff that I wanted an excuse to wear, so I
started sending out emails and making Internet postings. And after
a few emails, a really charming, warm, gracious, and subdued fellow
named Bruce Black called me, and said they were having their first
meeting at St. Stans. (it's all been downhill from there...). At
the first meeting, we had discussions about how one of the CH' (for
the life of me, I can't keep them straight) wanted us to be glider-
riders. Someone else wanted us to be the 9th (or possibly the 2nd),
but someone (maybe Bruce, maybe Terry) proposed that doing the 3rd
would be a good idea. All I remember was having to scoot away from
Byron at that point, due to his unusual level of excitement at the
prospect, and my lack of certainty (given that excitement) as to
what was going on under the table in his vicinity.
I still think we should have done the 98th Division. I really like
hula girls and palm trees, and I wouldn't have to deal with
Sauerkraut."
At a Civil War Reenactment in July of 1998, Chris Johnson, Byron Rudrow and Dale Vinton first came up with the idea of creating a World War Two impression.
Tired of the 'same old' CW events, they contacted several other CW reenactors they knew and set up a meeting at St Stans Brewery in Modesto Ca. early in Jan or 1999.
Present at that meeting were Johnson, Rudrow, Vinton plus Will Portello
John Von Badinski, Mike Houghtaling and Bruce Black and Terry Oglvie. These founding members formed what is now the 3rd ID. Their first event as a unit was at Eagle Field in late Jan. 1999 and was commanded by Bruce Black, now the Over All Allied Commander for entire 2nd Corp /RPS.
By insisting on strict authenticity guidelines and the virtues of 'fair and honest play' the 3rd ID has grown from these eight men to over 45 men in less than five years with members from four states and as far away as Toronto, Canada.
Bob L:
"I hadn't reenacted since moving from New York several years ago and decided to give it a whirl again, this time with my son Robby. I searched around the Internet and came up with the 3rd ID. After chatting with Bruce Black, the units CO at the time, I decided that I liked what I heard and agreed to meet them for a battle at Fort Ord in Sept of 2005.
What struck me from the very start was the high level of professionalism and camaraderie displayed by the boys of the 3rd. They treated Robby and I like long-lost brothers instead of strangers and within an hour we hoisting a few like old friends.
The real surprise came the next day starting with morning formation. These guys transformed from crack-ups and comedians to hard core front line soldiers! These guys not only played hard but they fought hard.
By the end of the weekend Rob and I agreed, that we found a home in the 3rd."
Mike "Tanker" Houghtaling:
"It all started back at a NCWA event where I was minding my own business drinking beer with my unit, the 14th Tenn, and this scruffy lookin' blue belly (Bruce Black) comes up and starts talking to Tom Colross about WW2 and drinking our beer. I joined in the converesation as I had been a Brit Para in the CHS for many years and had a full GI infantry kit that I picked up some time ago. As the night went along and more beer was drunk we discussed what it would be like to form a "leg" unit and I was convinced to come back into WW2 as a GI.
I have fond memories of my first battle with the 3rd as we were assigned point by Mike Haggins and we walked straight into a German MG42 position and got shot to hell with everyone killed except me who was curled up in a ball in the middle of the road screaming "there all dead". It was at this battle where I gained the nickname "Tanker" for my real life MOS as an Tanker in the National Guard.
The next battle me and Byron were holding a patch of tree's in the middle of a dry creek bed and were holding an entire SS unit from advancing. That was until two hard core SS guys crawled almost 1/2 mile up the creek bed in the 100+ sun to toss a few hand gernades on top of us. the SS were surprised that there were only two of us in the trees and we had held up their advance for almost an hour. "
Christopher 'Dutch' Glynn:
" I think what keeps me coming' back to WW2 reenacting is the thought that
I have grown so fond of the guys in the unit. Thank God that we only play at war, but if it were for real I know I could depend on these guys and they could depend on me.
A sobering thought but, but that's the brotherhood we have formed and that's what cements us a group and as a unit."
Tony 'Audie' Zita:
"I did'nt know what to expect my first time out with these guys, how good could they be? Well it didnt take long to realize that these guys rock! After a day in the field of hard combat, I came to the conclusion that the boys of the 3rd ID are a great bunch of guys".
Domnick 'Saus-itche' Zita
“As a kid growing up I was always intrigued with military history in particular World War 2 and the ETO. I sometimes wondered how combat would be like. Well this may not be real combat (thankfully) but it sure as hell felt like it.
The realism of military life and the intensity and fear of combat is as real as it gets.
As the units Canadian contingent coming from Toronto the guys truly made me feel like I knew them all my life.
The camaraderie that is forged between us all is indescribable”.
I hope I earned my nickname from my fighting ability and not the Italian sausage and cheese I bring”
