OKLAHOMA D-DAY 2008 MESSAGE BOARD
Check in here for periodic SITREPs from the Oklahoma D-Day 2008 event in Wyandotte, Oklahoma. The Hellions will be well represented at the event. GeneralOberst Dan "Spartacus" Pianfetti is the Chef des Generalstabes (Axis Command Chief of Staff). Oberst Kevin "Buckshot" Buchaniec is the Commander of the 6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment, better known as the "Green Devils". Hauptmann Lonnie "Grendel" Colson will assume command of the II.Bataillon (2nd Battalion) with the core group of Hellions in the 5.Jäger.Kompanie (5th Squad): Charles "Woodchuck" Daclan, Mark "Mase" Masen, Gary "Sandmand" Urbahn, Kevin "Kevlar" Quinn, Adam "B.A." Holle, Adam "Mimic" Welte, Alan "Rebel" Hay, D.j. "Honu" Fox, Brendan "Buzzer" Connors and Jeff "Viper" Urbahn. Adjutant Kurt "Slasherdan" Benson, Scott "Sauerkraut" Simon and J.T. "Scavenger" Simon are serving in the Aufklärungbataillon (Reconnaissance Battalion).

SAT 14JUNE2008: GERMANS WIN! GERMANS WIN!
The Hellions awoke at 0530 and assembled on the obstacle course ready to move out at 0700. They marched out with the entire 6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment to the staging area before breaking down into their 2nd Battalion and continuing on to their assigned position on the battlefield. Without revealing the mission's posture, direction or objective, the opening minutes of the game did not unfold exactly as anticipated. Axis Command quickly adapted and reorganized its elements to counter the Allies' every move.

As the game developed, the Germans had the North well in hand but were slowly ceding territory in the South under a combined Airborne offensive sweeping in from around the lower gates. German special units continued to harass their rear as they pushed up the beaches from Caen. The line in the sand was drawn south of Colleville. The fight was bitter and lasted all day as the Allies pushed several times into the central town but were pushed back. Flanking maneuvers were disrupted and central objectives went back and forth from red to blue. One of the pivotal moments of the game occurred when Alan "REBEL" Hay somehow charged the flag station at St. Laurent and changed it with seconds to spare before scoring. It was so close that the Axis Command did not realize that the referees had given the points to the Germans until much later.

The Airfield dead zone just north of the intensely disputed Colleville--the winner of which would likely carry the game--was packed to capacity with players from both sides. Referees struggled to keep the Allies from re-inserting too early or too close to the German rear. As the final minutes of the game ticked away, Colleville was only partially under German control but the flag station still had a blue (Allied) flag. Tanks swarmed around the area and playes poured fire from the newly constructed two-story church and treeline into the Allied front and flank. The final deciding re-insertion saw the Geisterjäger and Fallschirmjäger units flanking the Allied left flank through the treeline and crippling their last ditch surge. The flag changed to red with only 15 minutes to spare. As an example of how intense the fight was, GRENDEL went through a 88 cubic inch 4500 psi tank in the final 25 minutes. During that insane encounter, he used his own 1,000 rounds as well as a similar amount of paint donated by nearby players who were out of air or range. Together, the German defense and counteroffensive was enough to stall the all-out Allied assault. By every account, it was the closest, most hard-fought D-Day in the 11 years of the event. In the end, the announcement was anticipated but still well received: "Germans Win!"

See all the photos taken by the team at the Hellions' Oklahoma D-Day Gallery.

 

FRI 13JUNE2008: "IF IT AIN'T RAINING, WE AIN'T TRAINING"
Players awoke to the sound of a raging storm. SPARTACUS, BUCKSHOT, GRENDEL and those sleeping in the connex had to get up in the heavy wind and cut down their tarp awning before it could blow away and possible injure someone. The wind actually picked it up off the ground despite each pole being attached to a cinderblock. After dismantling the awning, they went back inside and went back to bed.

The Paratrooper Readiness Assessment (PRA) was postponed from 0900 until 1200 when the storm broke. All members of the 6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment had to complete the obstacle course to recieve their wings. The tactical march was cancelled due to harsh conditions. The team used the afternoon to walk the field and orientate themselves on parts they had never played on.

The Axis Command had their Intel Briefing that evening where unit commanders were given their specific roles and duties in the upcoming battle. Those officers in turn delivered the battle plan back to their subordinates who checked and double-checked their gear to ensure that it would be ready to go at first light.

 

THU 12JUNE2008: GERMANS OWN THE NIGHT
The morning 'mini' scenario had close to a thousand players packed in and around Colleville. The Hellions finally had an opportunity to put their Hammerhead barrels to use in the open terrain. The slight backspin provide by the backwards porting of the barrel break gave them slightly more distance and the rifled barrel provide much more precise shots. Even a couple of the staff commented that they were impressed by its performance as team members shot across the ravine at Cherborg bridge. Every respawn seemed to have twice as many Allied players coming out of the dead box as Germans, which obviously meant that the Axis was eliminating many more than they were losing. The Germans also seemed to hold the majority of the field for most of the game. Allied players were heard grumbling about the reasons that they had been beaten. Somehow, however, the Germans were declared the losers by a single scoring. Although the score did not reflect it, the Axis considered it a victory as it had demoralized a considerable portion of the opposing players.

D-Day hosted a special guest, Jake DeNiece, the inspiration of the famous movie "The Dirty Dozen". Mr. DeNiece was a member of the "Filthy Thirteen", the unit from which the movie is drawn. He quietly told his incredible story to a hushed crowd around the DraxXxus tent. Afterwards, he signed autographs and copies of his book.

The Night Game had a huge turn out. There were at least 1,000 players on the field as the sun began to set. As darkness fell, the only light came from a single portable light--a new addition this year that was not well received by everyone--and the endless barage of fireworks and flares. The game was incredible as Hellions later boasted of countless barrel tags and similar exploits. When it was over, the Germans had won by a considerable margin. Members of team VICSEC instituted an alternative, impromptu game that could have been dubbed the 'Dress Bowl'. Several put on the dresses left over from the Valkyries' photo shoot and took the airball field for a hilarious challenge.

 

WED 11JUNE2008: HONEYMOONERS
The morning started bright and early with regimental field training involving tactical movement and reaction to fire. The highly proficient members of team VICSEC, who drove all the way from Georgia, provided the excellent instruction.

D.J. "HONU" Fox, the newest member of the Hellions had to really sell D-Day on his wife, Lani a.k.a. "SKY" of the Valkyries, in order to make the week-long trip. He decided to take advantage of the opportunity to renew his vows on his 10th wedding anniversary. The rest of the Hellions and Valkyries were happy to assist in planning the confidential operation. SKY was told that she and her paintball sisters were doing a period photo shoot for the Soldiers of Paint movie. Several players donned period costumes to participate as well. The JU-22 airplane mock up and Hellions' Das Grindhaus tank were used as backdrops for the group photos. Many more D-Day'ers dontated their time and services such as the chaplain presiding over the ceremony as well as the JU's designer volunteered to create a professional photograph package.

Erich of Tippmann Sports had contacted the Hellions prior to D-Day to see if they would be interested in field testing the new Straightline barrel from Hammerhead built for the Tippmann X7. After the ceremony, the team went to pick up their new barrels. Robert Judson, the engineer who designed the Hammerhead was at the Tippmann trailer. He remembered MASE and GRENDEL from last year.

The afternoon mini-scenario took place down in the valley of St. Laurent. The Germans pushed and took the objective early and had forces flanking around the Allies on the ridges. The tide turned when the Allies managed to stage a frontal assault and take the objective. A large portion of the Germans used up their paint and simply left the field as they gave up ground. Outnumbered and outmaneuvered, the valley turned into a death trap from which the Axis could not escape. As the final minutes expired, the last Germans for forced off the field by a swarm of Allied players.

The D-Day staff instituted the first ever Invasion Bowl in the airball field. It was a unique game that combined scenario paintball, speedball as well as football into a grudge match between Allied and Axis officers. GeneralOberst Dan "SPARTACUS" Pianfetti, the German Chief of Staff had to make a showing. He joked that he planned to just see how fast he can get through a hopper of paint on his Tippmann X7 with E-Grip on auto mode. He charged the left side of the field blazing away making it all the way to the middle of the field. As he reached a bunker, some poor players started his slide into the other side. SPARTACUS leans over the top and pelts him several times before lunging right and then darting inside and charging several more players. He eliminated four or five Allies single-handedly which collapsed the whole left side. He had GRENDEL serve as his personal paparazzi showing off the photos to everyone. In the end, the Germans won 4-0. After the two mini-scenario losses in a row, the Axis Command is saying that the sleeping giant has been awoken.

 

TUE 10JUNE2008: DAMAGE CONTROL
During the night on Monday, the Black Ops shennanigans began. The Hellions were on the receiving end of the 'flag detail' last year while serving on the Allied side. After a heavy dose of cold refreshments and cigars, the team decided to reconnoiter opposing camp and 'borrow' some of their unit colors. It was all done in jest with every intention of returning them first thing in the morning. Apparently, there were other players out there engaging in less than honorable operations. There were some tent stakes pulled up and gear moved around or taken. Due to the fact that the team openly conducted the first operation, they were understandably accused of the other ops as well. SPARTACUS, BUCKSHOT and GRENDEL spent the afternoon doing damage control. The team apologized to unit leaders for any part they may have played in encouraging any of the pranks-gone-wrong.

"Soldiers of Paint" post cards with GRENDEL's back side are everywhere. Team members scoured the vendor area for the usual great deals like $30 Auto-Cocker markers and promotional freebies--not to mention the ever-popular sno-cones.

 

MON 09JUNE2008: TRAINING BEGINS
In accordance with the old military adage: "If it ain't raining, we ain't training", the officers of the 6th Fallschirmjager commenced unit training despite a constant downpour. The troops were ready, willing and able to go stomping through knee-deep mud puddles like good little German commandoes. Unfortunately, GeneralOberst SPARTACUS conducted a risk assessment and postponed the morning FTX (Field Training Exercise).

In the interest of not letting his men waste time and energy laying around in their bunks, Oberst BUCKSHOT instituted a high-tech, alternative train-the-trainer program in the officer's connex. He screened the recently released movie "Rambo" for its obvious educational benefits.

The downpour ended about 1500, just in time to gear up for the afternoon scenario. BUCKSHOT and GRENDEL went out with a handful of Germans and some great Canadian plus-up players to even the sides. The 3-hour scenario was called after 2.25 hours due to the fact that the Germans held the objective from the start and never relinquished it. The Allies basically quit the field. There were only about a half dozen players visible when the game was called.

 

SUN 08JUNE2008: TWO-CAR CONVOY TO OKLAHOMA
MASE, SLASHERDAN and GRENDEL left Chicago at 1100hrs in the Mini-VAN (Vehicle Assault Normandy). WOODCHUCK joined up approximately 150 miles North of St. Louis. SLASHERDAN was stuffed in the back in QUETTE's former position--crammed somewhere between ice chests full of steaks, brats, burgers and cold drinks as well as other necessities such as cooking supplies, folding chairs, the ever-vital Macbook Pro. GRENDEL was able to save space by ditching supplies he brought last year (i.e. air mattress, etc.) but would no longer need since he upgraded to the Officer's Quarters.

Below is the 2nd annual roadie pic. It is much less 'hostile' as the majority of the team are similarly en route instead of backing out at the last minute as several did last year.