Military History at its Best

It was the middle of January and the weather was mild, but it had snowed. Now, the battlefield at Gettysburg was under a white blanket several inches thick. Although it appears picturesque, the battlefield doesn't lend itself to easy touring in a comfortable or effortless manner when it is in this condition. The sun was hidden most of the day so shades of gray predominated the landscape. It was a dull and dreary day.

For someone interested in military history the seasonal doldrums had just set in. I thought of reading some of the many additions to my library when a thought hit me. Why stay cooped up in a house, sheltered from the cold, when I could be in sunny Sarasota, Florida?

What do the white sands of Lido Beach and the temperate Gulf climate of Florida have to do with military history?

My friend, Bob Maher, is the president of the Civil War Education Association (CWEA) and American History Forum (AHF) of Winchester, Virginia. Every year in January or February, Bob holds a Civil War and a World War II conference in Sarasota. The meetings are held at the comfortable and exclusive Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel on Lido Beach, which is filled with white sand beaches, palm trees and warm temperatures.

I contacted Bob and found out, at such a late date, I could not get into the Civil War session but the World War II and newly added World War I sessions were available. On January 24, I boarded a direct flight from Reagan International Airport (DCA) to Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport (SRQ). When I arrived, two hours and thirty minutes later in Sarasota, the temperature was in the seventies and the skies were clear and sunny. (At this point I momentarily reflected on the thirty degree temperatures and four inches of snow on the ground back in Gettysburg.)

The Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel offers four different rates for its customers, depending on the desired location of the rooms. The hotel offers two swimming pools and a large section of beach for swimming. For the convenience of the guests, they also have dining facilities which serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and room service. The outdoor bar is a handy place to relax and enjoy adult beverages while having interesting conversations with other guests or the friendly staff. (Rumor has it that the Sandcastle Hotel was Leona Helmsley's favorite hotel in her vast holdings.) Oh by the way, it took twenty minutes to get to the hotel from the airport.

As stated before, this year's sessions included the Civil War for two and a half days, World War I for a day, and World War II for two and a half days. The presenters at the sessions were the "Who's Who" of military history. They numbered twelve for the Civil War and World War II and five for World War I. I'm sure you'll recognize some names in this brief listing; William C. “Jack" Davis, Edwin C. Bearss, Joseph T. Glatthaar, Harold Holzer, Robert K. Krick, David E. Long, John F. Marszalek, James I. "Bud" Robertson, Jeffrey D. Wert, Frank Williams, Col. Robert J. Dalessandro, Carlo W. D'este, Erin Mahan, Col. Jerry D. Morelock, Robert F. Baumann, Dr. Roger Cirillo, Bruce Gamble, Rob Havers, Craig L. Symonds and Harold Baumgarten. Had enough?

The subject matter covered is greater than the list of historians. This is just a sampling: George H. Thomas: An Evaluation , Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics: The Army of Northern Virginia and Interesting Numbers, The Western Theater, Where the War Was Decided, Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties in Wartime: Then and Now, Thomas Worthington, William T. Sherman and a Place Called Shiloh, Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Strategic 1863, The Baker Commission and the Birth of the American Expeditionary Force, George S. Patton and the Development of The U. S. Army Tank Corps, "Snow on Their Boots:" Russia's World War on the Eastern Front, The British Expeditionary Force, Hike-em Hiram Bearss: A Marine in World War I - My Cousin's Story, Hitler versus Stalin: Russia and the Eastern Front, The Ground War in Italy: January - June 1944, Operation Market Garden, MacArthur's pacific War: Myths and Realities, Desperate Days: Stopping the Japanese onslaught in the South Pacific, A Conversation with our World War II Veterans: Their Recollections of Service and Their Opinions on Military Issues of Today. Did this get your attention? And, there was more!

I found the sessions I attended to be informative and very interesting. The question and answer periods with each presentation and the panel discussions, provided ample time for debate, dialogue and inquiry. The setting was intimate which provided a relaxed and respectful atmosphere for discussion.

The presentations were instructive and enlightening as well. Many other attendees agreed with me on those points. I also found that those who had attended the Civil War session, stated that those lectures were of equal quality.

At this conference, as with most, I found the discussion and conversation during the social hours was as edifying as the presentations. This time offers interesting discussions with other attendees and historians as well. The relaxed atmosphere and tropical ambience puts everyone at ease, transforming the most stolid wallflower into a gregarious student of history.

This particular trip was made special to me when I discovered that the indefatigable Edwin Bearss, would accompany me on my flight back to Washington. Ed had given presentations at all three of the sessions and had conducted a tour of Civil War sites in Florida. I felt privileged and deeply honored to have a long and educational conversation with Ed during my return trip.

Ed Bearss retired from the National Park Service in 1995 and held the position of Chief Historian. He was bestowed the title of Chief Historian Emeritus upon his leaving government service.

Ed is not only a historian but he served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He was wounded in the Battle of Cape Gloucester, in the South Pacific. He suffered four wounds that day and languished on the battlefield, pinned down by Japanese machine gun fire for over three hours until he was able to reach the battalion aid station, with the assistance of his fellow Marines.

While attending the history conferences I learned a lot about the battles, strategy, leaders and warriors of those conflicts. I was even able to speak to some genuine heroes of WWII in person such as Ed Bearss and Harold Baumgarten. I even picked up some tips on paths to follow concerning my own family genealogy. I met old friends and made new ones among the attendees, historians and hotel and conference staffs.

If you have an interest in American history, especially military history, maybe you should plan to spend some time in Sarasota, Florida in 2013. The conferences offered by CWEA/AHF are of excellent quality with affordable prices. The facilities and weather are perfect while the attendees, historians and staff are friendly and personable. Come on, why not spend January and February down south? Become a "historical snow bird"! You'll never regret it.

Copyright 2012 Gerald Desko All rights reserved.