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Miniature wargames debut in Rock County

Lead Summary
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By
Lori Sorenson

Mike Westerbur and his son, Dylan, 22, shared their passion for miniature war games at the History Center in Luverne Saturday and Monday.
Their World War II battlefield sprawled over a large table in the back room of the museum where visitors — and a few Sioux Falls gamers — gathered to learn more.
“I’m pretty sure we’re the only ones in Rock County who do this,” Westerbur said.
Miniature wargaming is popular in England, but Westerbur hopes it catches on in the United States and eventually in Rock County. That’s why he hosted the demonstration in Luverne.
“I wanted to do something like this to get people interested in it,” he said.
Generally speaking, miniature wargamers battle opposing military forces that are represented by miniature physical models. Westerbur’s soldiers (minis) are about the size of a thumb.
Battle strategies require forethought and cunning of a chess player, but fate is determined by the roll of the dice. “The dice determine how far you move and how well you shoot,” Westerbur said.
A small tape measure sits handy on the side of the battlefield to determine troop advancement.
If shots hit their mark, soldiers retire from the board, replaced by a small paper square that records the casualty.
For non-gamers, it’s a complicated concept to grasp, but to the enthusiasts, it’s hard to walk away from.
“I’ve been wargaming most of my life, and Dylan’s been doing it ever since he could see over the top of the table,” Westerbur said.
“We don’t do it to glamorize war; we do it to remember these important times in history.”
The object of the game, of course, is overtaking the enemy, but Westerbur said the process of arriving at defeat or victory is the best part.
“I don’t care if I win; I just like to play the game,” he said.
“We once spent an entire weekend reenacting the three-day Civil War Battle of Gettysburg,” Mike said. “Some games can last all week, but most games last a day or only a few hours, depending on who’s playing.”
The games can depict any historical conflict (some make up their own scenarios), but the Westerburs prefer World War II.
 “We’ve learned so much about World War II by doing this game,” he said. “Everything has to be historically accurate.”
His grandfather, John Westerbur Sr., who lived in Ihlen, was a World War II veteran who served in Okinawa.
“That’s really what sparked my interest in World War II,” said Westerbur who grew up in Jasper.
The realistic pieces are what sets miniature wargaming apart from other tabletop games that use counters or blocks.
And the creativity required for setting up a miniature battlefield and its platoons is all part of the game.
“I find it relaxing,” said Westerbur, who shows the tiny pinhead-size paintbrushes used to recreate historically correct combat uniforms. “It’s a great stress reliever.”
He uses some mail-order pieces, but most of his components are made from scratch, using common household items.
Westerbur said he hopes the World War II demonstration in the History Center sparks local interest and local gamers.
“I hope to put together a small group of people who want to play and learn about this important time in history,” he said.
Email Westerbur at mwesterbur2001@yahoo.com for details.

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