- Joined
- Feb 23, 2013
- Location
- East Texas
Before he became a nationally-known author my friend and reenacting mentor Jim Marrs was a reporter and writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a pioneer in both Civil War and World War II reenacting back in the 1970's and early 1980's. I just received the unwelcome news that yesterday he lost his battle with kidney failure at the age of 73. Jim was best-known as the author of Crossfire - The Plot That Killed Kennedy which was one of two books that director Oliver Stone used to base his film JFK. Jim was much interested in all sorts of conspiracy theories, from Kennedy to aliens from outer space, and could often be found expounding on his theories on late-night talk shows or his blog The View From Marrs and was the author of several other related books. But it was as a reenactor that I first met and knew this remarkable man. Above, Ulysses Simpson Marrs at Corinth, Mississippi in 1976.
I have pictured Jim in many of my threads here concerning reenacting in the past, like the above photo showing him second from the right along with myself and friends Mike Hubbard and Ed Owens from the left, this time at a living history encampment at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, in October, 1979.
Jim was invariably full of fun and ready for any challenge like in the sequence above when he practiced the derring-do routine with fellow Texas reenactor Randall Gilbert they planned for the "battle" at a small event at Yellow Bayou, Louisiana. As the Federal commander, naturally it fell to Jim to be the one to fall!
When I joined our group in spring of 1976 during the Bicentennial Jim was serving as the lieutenant of what was then known as Good's Texas Battery and he took his position seriously, as above in the foreground commanding the left gun at the event at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. He was invariably accompanied by his lovely wife Carol who joined us on the field with her camera and captured the action in these photos; below, the grim harvest of war, naturally starring her husband as he gazes out over the carnage of battle!
In 1978 we began to turn to more authentic impressions and Jim shared leadership of our group with Glen Smith at events like Billie Creek, Indiana; above, the two of them share a quiet moment. At left is a candid shot of Jim I took while he was sewing on a button in our tent at Corinth, Mississippi, the following year. About this time Jim began to divide his time between the Civil War and WWII, becoming the acknowledged leader of the "German" Gibergsjaeger forces at the annual event held near St. Louis, Missouri.
Here in these two photos above and below from Billie Creek Village, Indiana by Carol Marrs our gun crew prepares to be overrun in a charge by Thomas's Mudsills. Unfortunately, around the end of the decade he turned more to his writing and as the 1980's dawned we saw less and less of the Marrs's in the field.
Below, Jim in all his glory where he liked best to be: the center of attention in the middle of a group of friends or associates entertaining everyone with his storytelling, singing, and banjo playing - May he rest in peace!
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