Winter is a lovely time of year. The snow is pretty to look at (a pain to clear, whether or not it is with shovel, snowblower or plow). It is also the time for good gamers to paint minis, build terrain and read all those histories we've picked up in the last nine months. At least this is what I do and it does keep me busy during the long winter nights while thinking of the battles of summer.

There have been a number of excellent histories on cable this winter. The History Channel has ran an excellent history of Britain by Simon Schama. I am going to have to get his book when I finally get into to the Dark Ages/ Medieval period in England. The other great series recently aired is on the Silent Service. This series detailed the history of U.S. subs in World War H and was a great treat.

Many of us are fans of history, and some of us are interested in "Living History", otherwise known as reenacting. I'm interested in the other living historytalking to those who have "been there." It isn't always easy, but it is well worth the time and effort. I finally finished E.B. Sledge's "With the Old Breed" and Donald R. Burgett's "Seven Roads to Hell." After reading these personal accounts of World War II, it has made me more acutely aware of the need to get in touch with old soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines before they fade away into legend.

It is well worth your time and effort to get to know and talk with these folks before they are gone. I know to many I am preaching to the choir, but there are a few members I am sure that are a bit hesitant. However, the stories are well worth it. Not just the typical "Blood and Thunder" war stories that we have all come to expect, but the little oddball tales.

As an example, I went to the local air show several years ago when a PBY from Geneseo (sp.?), New York, flew in. I met an older gentleman standing there and I asked him if he flew them during the war. He said no; he was with Rommel's Afrika Korps. I looked at him for a second -- he didn't have Germanic features and he didn't speak with an accent so I said, "Ok, what's your story?" He proceeded to tell me of his time as a guard at a POW camp in upstate New York. Knowing that that wouldn't make interesting listening, and the fact that most of his charges were from Rommel's Afrika Korps, he just started saying he served with Rommel's Afrika. Korps during the war. It was a neat little tale and one worth listening to.

Take the time to connect with the fading warriors of World War II. Hear their tales and record them for posterity. Take an interest and pride in what they have to tell -- Axis as well as Allied. Whoever you find, learn their tales before it's too late. Well, that's it for this month. Good luck and good gaming.