A "Duty First" 2007 re-enactment production: Hemroulle 1944 - Hemroulle (Belgium)

Important note

Photos provided on this website are not an endorsement of any political idea or of war. War is one of the most regrettable human activities.

All photos on this page are copyright Robert Mary & Frédéric Lo Cascio and may only be reproduced with their express permission. You may contact me here

Practical information

On 15 and 16 December of each year re-enactment groups are gathering together in order to celebrate the American liberators who fought during the Battle of the Bulge.

In the morning of 15 December Marches are organized and jumps of paratroopers from C47 Dakotas are taking place in the small village of Hemroulle (4 Kilometers away from Bastogne). The next day visitors can watch paratroopers jumps from the Mardasson Memorial in Bastogne (where the museum is located).

The "1st Big Red One (Duty first)" re-enactment group

This event was organized on the initiative of the Duty first re-enactment group with the collaboration of all other re-enactment groups present that day (including the Spearhead - see below-), each of them being responsible for its own part.

A small band (12 persons) wanted to create an infantry squad of the United States Army during WW2 caring for the smallest details to become a "living museum". That's the origin of the group who has chosen the 16th Infantry regiment, Company E of the Big Red One.

During WW2 the Big Red One liberated North of france before entering into Belgian territory via the Province Hainaut. Therefore a large member of the group came also from France, this increased the membership to a total of 36 persons (including 27 infantry soldiers, an entire MP section and a Combat photographer).

THE FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION'S MOTTO: NO MISSION TOO DIFFICULT; NO SACRIFICE TOO GREAT; DUTY FIRST.

More information is available on the Duty First website where you can also see other photos at Hemroulle.

Big Red One song Lyrics: Donald T. Kellett Toast of the Army, favorite son! Hail to the brave BIG RED ONE! Always the first to thirst for a fight, No foe shall challenge our right to vict’ry. We take the field a grand sight to see! Pride of the Infantry! Men of a great division, Courage is our tradition, Forward the BIG RED ONE! I’m in the Army, proud fit to burst! I’ve joined the great FIGHTING FIRST! Hand me my rifle, hitch up my pack, Smile through your tears, I’ll be back (in three years). Write me a letter, bake me a cake! Don’t cry, my heart will break! Next time you see me, Baby, I’ll wear some chevrons (maybe?). Cheer for the BIG RED ONE

This is the official website of the Big Red one Division of the US Army.
This the Big Red One museum's website at Cantigny in the United States.

The « 3rd US Armored Division Spearhead » Belgian Historical Reconstitution re-enactment Group

The open doors day (15/09/2007) was also the opportunity to meet the « 3rd US Armored Division Spearhead » Belgian Historical Reconstitution Group which is managed by the BHRG non profit making organization located at 3 rue de Hodeige 4350 Remicourt (Belgium).
Why the 3rd US Division ? Because this unit (among others) liberated our Region.
The BHRD is a « living museum » which includes and infantry section, a medical section, a radio section, a MP section, a chief of staff section and a kitchen section.
It shows up US military camps and liberation convoys.
To get info on this association, contact the BHRD Association, which has its own website.

More photos of the 3rd Spearhead group can bee seen on the Blog of the Association.
There is the Blog of a former member of the association more focused on the role of women during WW2.