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AUSTIN, Texas - Tabletop war-games are a great pastime for
hobbyists and collectors. Thanks to some support from the Texas
Military Department's Camp Mabry, these games are also serving as a
valuable outlet for veterans and their family members in central
Texas.
Eighteen individuals faced off across from each other,
looking down at the delicately crafted game on the table between
them. In the back of their minds, they may remember this as a
Saturday in February, 2016, and that they are gathered in the Hall
of Honor in the Texas Military Forces Museum at Camp Mabry in
Austin, Texas. In the creative foregrounds of their experience,
however, the players find themselves in Tunisia, Russia, France, or
any of the other deadly theatres of World War II.
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Joe Wicker, an Army veteran, participates in wargaming in a Texas Bolt Action event hosted by the Texas Miltary Forces Museum at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas, Feb. 6, 2016. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Michael Giles)
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Texas Bolt Action is a group of craftsmen, hobbyists and
gamers who dedicate time, energy, money, and creativity to
enjoying the different facets of tabletop games that
replicate historical battles. Players assemble and paint
their intricate terrains and miniatures, later sharing
photographs of their works online. This sunny winter
Saturday, their gathering was hosted by the Texas Military
Forces Museum, home to a collection of historical weapons,
vehicles, uniforms, and other reminders of Texas' warrior
heritage.
Players enjoy wargaming and these meetups
for different reasons. Joe Wicker, a retired Army officer
and veteran of Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom,
says, "it's an opportunity to have fun and relax a bit." He
enjoys discussing his lifelong fascination with military
history and his belief that it is an important subject for
our society to study.
"It's important to teach about
the military so that people better understand our sacrifices
for our country," Wicker said.
Radiologist, retired
Air Force officer, and father of four, Chris Lisanti said he
has appreciated the game for the educational value since his
youngest son got him into it years ago.
"They
understand and gain a sense of their heritage and
understanding of the world," Lisanti said. "World War II is
a profound historical event."
Carlos Sierra, a player
who served in the Navy during the Gulf War, explained that
he finds therapeutic value in wargaming. This sheds possible
light on the value that veterans find in painting and
assembling their armies and terrain, and then getting
together to compete.
"It helps PTSD," Sierra said.
"It helps me relax."
Play and art have both
demonstrated their value in the mental health field. Not all
players present were veterans, but most were either former
service members or their sons. The elements of the game that
participants said they appreciated--the relaxation,
connection and understanding origins—are all aspects of
mental well-being.
Sierra pointed to the battle
represented on the table between him and his opponent. "It
has helped me acknowledge that this does exist and it's ok
to walk away from it," he said.
By U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Giles
Texas Army National Guard
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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