OSHKOSH, Wis. — It’s not something you see too often, a convoy of 20 vintage military vehicles rolling through town.

That’s become a common sight since last Friday when the group made their first appearance in Hudson, Wis. They’re part of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) and are on a 2,100-mile road trip from Aberdeen, South Dakota to Conneaut, Ohio to raise awareness for these iconic machines and the people who drove them.

“I guess what I like most is the reception we get through all these small towns,” said Fred Ryan of Denton, Texas.

Ryan worked as an HVAC Service Tech for 35 years and found himself wanting more out of his retirement.

“I needed something to get me out of my comfort zone,” said Ryan. “I was just home on the farm all the time, a very comfortable life. This changes things up. It’s an adventure.”

The group arrived in Hudson on Friday and made stops at several towns including Stevens Point and Waupaca. They made their way to Fond du Lac where they set up camp for a couple of nights at the fairgrounds. On Tuesday, the convoy lined up and made rolled out to the Military Veterans Museum in Oshkosh.

“It draws attention to our veterans and service personnel we’re doing with these vehicles,” said Terry Shelswell, Convoy Commander for theMVPA. “It helps to show what an older brother or a father or grandfather was doing while they were in service.”

Ryan drives a 1946 Willys CJ2A open-air jeep that he purchased before joining the MVPA. When Ryan told his wife about his plan, she had questions.

“I told her I wanted to have fun. I had no idea what that meant,” said Ryan.

This is now his third convoy with the MVPA. Previous adventures took him to Route 66 and even a tour of New Zealand. 

Ryan, Shelswell, and other drivers finance and maintain their vehicles. About half of the convoy members served in the military. Occasionally a veteran will stand and salute the group as they roll along.

“There are times when if you’re in the cab with some of these guys, there may be a few wet eyes because of the emotional response that we have when we’re going along,” said Shelswell.

It’s that connection to the past that keeps guys like Ryan and Shelswell moving forward.