“People know me as the guy who wears the green hat or the military guy,” Connor Deck said of his reputation at McCaskey. However controversial, his hobby of war reenactment has certainly made an impression on people.

“My brother had talked about getting into Viking reenactment, and my father always watched historical shows. Eventually there was a World War II event near my house. People started giving me stuff, and that’s how I joined; I thought the people were very nice,” he said. “This man gave me a unit card and said call me when you’re thirteen. And I did, I called him on my thirteenth birthday.”

War reenactment, as implied, is the educational reenactment of historical events, often for film or audiences. Once an event is started, reenactors are not allowed to engage in modern ways of life, except in cases of emergency. Real guns are used, although bullets are switched to blanks. Real clothing is worn. Real conditions are endured.

Physical hardship, however, is only half the battle: “it’s difficult to portray a war without an enemy; someone has to be the bad guy. I’ve worked with German reenactors before since I speak the language, and they aren’t neo-nazis or part of hate groups; they’re just regular people.” There will always be judgment, but reenactors have good intentions, and that’s what matters.

During an event, he is someone else entirely, but problems arise when he has to become Connor Deck again: “I definitely know that I’m perceived as weird because of (reenacting). It’s something you have to dedicate a lot of your personality and money to; a lot of my room is filled with supplies and uniforms. A concern is people thinking this is your entire personality.”

“I’m a down to earth guy. I won’t let my hobby change my perception of everyday life,” he said. His policy—you respect me, I’ll respect you.

“I can talk about music longer than I can talk about reenacting. I like to cook, even if I’m not very good at it. I’m a fashionista and love suits,” he adds, wishing that people would see there was more to his life than just a historical passion. “I’m a good drummer, too. I don’t care about the band kid jokes. I love marching band, it’s been one of my best experiences of highschool.”

At the end of the day, he’s just trying to brighten people’s days. Among his classmates, he’s known for his quick remarks like “the government doesn’t want you to know this, but the organs at the hospital are free” and “always kiss your bros goodnight.”

“I definitely got messed up over quarantine,” he mentioned. “I’m a very social person. I couldn’t do band or my hobbies, and I couldn’t see anyone. I’m still a bit messed up from it today. I struggle with hair pulling now, which is why I wear the hat.”

“People, especially adults, need to realize that just because you made it through something doesn’t mean you’re not still bleeding. Just because I look like a happy person, it doesn’t mean I don’t hide things too. It’s okay to feel sad, but don’t keep berating yourself. Go do something that makes you happy,” he comments. For Connor, that is reenacting.

“Most people think I want to enlist; that was my old plan, but now I want to go to college for archaeology,” he said on his goal to incorporate his lifestyle into his future. “My dream job is to go to the eastern front and re-inter bodies. It doesn’t matter the country they fought for, just that they make it home.”

Even if he didn’t plan on going into a related field, there is much to learn from reenacting: “I think a lot more people should come see (events), because it’s important to see history in color and not just in black and white. It allows you to have a better perspective and overall be a better person.”

Connor is happy to have a conversation about getting started with reenacting or even video games. You can find him on Instagram, @rifle_reenacting.