It started in 1972. I was looking for a hobby and found an article in an Argosy Magazine about "War Games". I liked the idea but could find none of the games or other people who were interested. I finally found a game called "Gettysburg" but I couldn't figure it out, so I gave up on war gaming and thought I would try model railroading. That never happened. I was in a hobby shop looking at model trains when I spotted a sign. It asked "Are you interested in War gaming?" and it gave a list of names and numbers. I called the guy at the top of the list by the name of Paul Grey. He took my information and about an hour later a fellow named Ken Stremmel called me up, invited me over and we played my first miniature game. French Revolution with plastic figures. I out flanked him. The game went on until about two in the morning. I invited Ken over to my place the next night to teach me how to play Gettysburg. We played until about two in the morning. He showed me no mercy. The wife wasn't happy.
The next Saturday found Ken and I at a local Pizza Hut playing board games in the back room. I never realized there were that many out there. Some little snot nosed kid was chopping up my armies like crazy in a game called Borodino. I asked him how come, when he won a die roll, my little piece was taken off the board and when I won the die roll, all he did was move back. He explained to me that my piece was surrounded and had no place to retreat to, then he wiped his nose with his sleeve and took another one of my pieces. I started doing better after that. While there, Ken and I were approached by Oscar. Oscar said he was having a miniature game and asked if we would like to come over. We said "Sure!"
The next day found us in Oscars basement, looking at the biggest sand box I ever saw. Only this thing had towns and hills and trees and even a river with real water flowing through it. I was hooked. I met Russ, Dave, and Adam. Russ was in a wheel chair and we had to carry him upstairs and then downstairs each turn. We were not allowed to see what the other team was doing you see. Russ, Dave, Adam, Ken and I became the core of our little group and when we played on the same team, no one could beat us. We became life long friends.
Russ and his brother both had a very rare disease and after a few years, his family moved to Arizona. The weather was better for their health. Russ's younger brother passed away and about a year later, so did Russ. Russ was a data magnet. He could tell you everything you wanted to know about any tank ever in existence. He was the best tactician of all of us and the best General. He could not be beat at the game of Diplomacy. Ken was usually the leader after Russ left us. Dave and Ken too, were the best painters. but Dave excelled. Adam was the organizer and still does large scale games. Adam has also become an awesome modeler and painter. I was good at following orders and just spray painted everything. Dave dropped out for a few years but has come back to gaming. I moved away and Ken passed away about a year ago. We were known in the St Louis gaming community as the four horsemen. When we got into a tournament and divided up the forces, we knew what each other would do and played accordingly. We never lost.
I still play Call of Duty and sometimes Guild Wars with my Grand son. I play Skyrim, which is a nice single player game and I still play Diplomacy. 3 games going almost all the time and I do well, Russ is with me on those, I am sure.
Just recently spent a weekend in St. Louis with my oldest son. We played games all weekend. Adam and Dave were there and I had not seen them in over 15 years. We had a blast.
Russ and his brother both had a very rare disease and after a few years, his family moved to Arizona. The weather was better for their health. Russ's younger brother passed away and about a year later, so did Russ. Russ was a data magnet. He could tell you everything you wanted to know about any tank ever in existence. He was the best tactician of all of us and the best General. He could not be beat at the game of Diplomacy. Ken was usually the leader after Russ left us. Dave and Ken too, were the best painters. but Dave excelled. Adam was the organizer and still does large scale games. Adam has also become an awesome modeler and painter. I was good at following orders and just spray painted everything. Dave dropped out for a few years but has come back to gaming. I moved away and Ken passed away about a year ago. We were known in the St Louis gaming community as the four horsemen. When we got into a tournament and divided up the forces, we knew what each other would do and played accordingly. We never lost.
I still play Call of Duty and sometimes Guild Wars with my Grand son. I play Skyrim, which is a nice single player game and I still play Diplomacy. 3 games going almost all the time and I do well, Russ is with me on those, I am sure.
Just recently spent a weekend in St. Louis with my oldest son. We played games all weekend. Adam and Dave were there and I had not seen them in over 15 years. We had a blast.
Oliver J. Wischmeyer, 61, of Forks Township, died Monday, February 24, 2014 in his home.
Born: October 4, 1952 in St. Louis, MO, he was a son of the late Oliver J., Sr., and M. Eileen (Bowers) Wischmeyer. Personal: He and his wife, the former Stella E. (Levandowski) were married 37 years. He served in the Air National Guard and was a director at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Bridgewater, NJ. Memberships: He was a member of Dallas-Lafayette Lodge #396, F&AM, Easton. Services: A Masonic Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, Feb. 27, in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Call from 1:00 pm until service time Thursday in the funeral home. Interment will be in Easton Cemetery. Memorial Contributions: Dallas-Lafayette Lodge #396, P.O. Box 3511, Easton, PA 18043-3511 or Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, 4 Ginger Creek Parkway, Glen Carbon, IL 62034. Offer online condolences atwww.AshtonFuneralHome.com. |
My son has a tendency to embellish the truth sometimes
He used to really tick me off when someone won a game because of some really stupid thing that the other side did that we all knew could not really happen. Then we realized he was wedging the game so the new guys could win and then they would be hooked. Makes me wonder about that first game I played on his sand table with Russ and Dave as my partners. Didn't know a thing but we won. No wonder the other side was so ticked off. He probably wedged it so I would win and come back, which I did. He brought a lot of guys into the hobby. It is a very sad day.
Just figured it out. 43 years ago and we are still wargaming. Thanks Ollie. |