Suited up

The hat, the pack, the belt and the flashlight. Each in turn flashed before students’ eyes as Josh Drega equipped himself like a World War II soldier Thursday morning in a Kate Collins Middle School classroom.

Then came the food rations can, pocket translators for French and German, and finally a helmet.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for you to see this equipment,” Jim Belcher Jr. told the students, adding that Drega, at 18, represents the age of soldiers who went to Europe.

Belcher, who organizes World War II history events with survivors from the torpedoed USS Indianapolis, spoke alongside Drega before a group of seventh-graders.

“I love to have history come alive,” teacher Paulette Purcell said. “It just opens their eyes.”

Although separated by years of experience, Belcher and Drega connect when it comes to a passion for preserving veterans’ memories. Drega collects uniforms and equipment, which in turn go into military education displays that he shares at veteran events and at the D-Day Memorial in Bedford.

And he speaks with veterans and their children,

“I learn the information and I want to give it back,” Drega said. “Kids now don’t get the full story in history class.”

Drega has about a dozen uniforms for which he knows their history. Additional equipment spills out of three rooms in his home.

The R.E. Lee High School senior was spurred into war history at age 10, when his great-grandfather began talking about his days as a B-24 bomber mechanic. Now Drega consumes war books and documentaries.

“Sometimes I’ll sit and study photographs,” Drega said.

His quest for uniform accuracy also includes input from war veterans. One recently told him how to adorn his helmet.

“The [veterans] love it,” Belcher said, pointing to Drega’s garb. “They tell their stories when they see this uniform.”