Before I begin my report, I would like to extend my appreciation and thanks to the Red Raiders. They understood that I was feeling a little displaced without my team and graciously let me run with them. As far as honor, respect, and team play, the Red Raiders go above and beyond. Thanks guys!
I did not know what to expect for this event being that it was the first of its type that I would be attending. Having loaded up my car with basic camping equipment for the weekend trip along with my usual paintball gear, I headed out Friday about 3:00. I would be the lone wolf representing TAPs, so I was really eager to play as hard as I could and give my team proper recognition. Arriving at the field (a local single runway airfield known as Cross Keys airport in Williamstown, NJ) about 7:00pm, I confirmed my registration and headed over to the VC campsite. It was at that point I realized I was severely under-equipped for a three day/two night camping trip. Others with experience for these types of events had come with campers, RVs, or at the very least tents as large as small rooms of a house. Small grills or campfires accompanied each campsite with coolers stocked with food alongside. All I had was a small tent, two protein bars, and the water in my hydro-pack. Being that there were no food vendors set up, that was going to have to suffice for the evening. After setting up my tent I took a walk around the area to get an idea of what was going on. A pick-up truck full of people waving a VC flag playing Vietnam-era VC propaganda circled around getting everyone in the mood for tomorrow’s play. At about 10:00pm a meeting was called in the VC HQ. Doug "Radio Man" Decker, Co-Captain of the Red Raiders, was going to be the VC General. After an event-coordinator went over the rules, Doug went over some of the strategies and tactics we would be using to kick some American butt. He encouraged everyone to get into the role of being a VC. As he explained, the difference between woodsball and a scenario game (as this was) is that you have to get into character, don't just go out there and spray paint around. We really should act as if the Americans were infiltrating our land as they did in Vietnam, and act accordingly. I got really pumped and looked even more forward to tomorrow. This would give me a good chance to see how I would handle mock-combat play. After the meeting I went back to my tent to get some sleep.
I awoke the next morning at about 6:45. Some people were already up cooking breakfast or getting their equipment ready. I took another walk around the field to see if any food vendors had set up yet, but none had. I was assured that there would be plenty of food available so I returned to my tent and waited a little longer. At about 8:00 I took another circuit around the field still seeing no vendors. Returning to my tent, I asked my neighbors if they knew where I could get something to eat. They thought there might be something set up back at the registration area. The only thing I found there were people waiting to register. After a half hour I came to the conclusion there would be no food found here so I walked back to the campsite getting a little agitated. I saw some vendors open selling equipment and clothing. Much to my stomachs delight, there was also a table set up selling breakfast sandwiches. I bought one along with a Gatorade and headed back to my tent to eat. Afterwards I got my equipment out and prepared.
It was starting to get a bit muggy out as the sun rose above. At 10:00, another meeting was held in the VC HQ to confirm strategies and go over updated intelligence. Afterwards, I got my air tank filled, the cases of paint I had ordered, and my marker chrono-ed. I noticed the same vendor I had bought breakfast for was still the only food vendor there and was now only offering pizza and hot dogs. So much for the abundance of food I was assured would be available. All the walking involved getting everything together was starting to take a toll on me as the sun rose higher and the temp rose with it. The only shade I could find was the shadow of my car, another sign of how ill-prepared I was. Other campers had canopies either included with their tents or as a supplement where they could escape the sun. At about 11:00, I met up with Patrick "Warhammer" Galarza, Co-Capt of the Red Raiders and VC 1st Battalion CO, at the Red Raiders camp site. Since I would be running with them, I figured I would hang out for a bit so I could prepare with them. (Also, they had a camper which offered plenty of shade.) Patrick must have seen that I was a little down-and-out from being without my team. He offered encouragement, assuring me that I belong by the side of his team as much as I do my own. That gave a great boost to my morale. We made final preps and headed out to the VC CP at 11:30.
In the VC CP, which was about 20 yards into the woods we would be playing, the Battalions organized around the COs. Brandon "Scarecrow" Decker of the Red Raiders was 1st Battalion XO. He rallied us around and gave us our final orders. 1st Battalion, which consisted of the E.R.S.A teams, was to take point to Large Bunker One, then to the boat, where we would set up a line of defense. 2nd Battalion, (RTD, Night Stalkers, and Nemesis) and 3rd Battalion (13th Legion) would provide flanking positions on the boat. 4th Battalion (Grassy Knoll Gunnmen and the infantry) would cover rear, and move to cover 2nd Battalion as they pushed forward. This would provide a 3-1 offense. Everyone started getting really pumped and chants of "VC!!" echoed through the woods. The Battalions grouped and moved into position and at 11:45 the snipers were allowed to insert to their positions. Just before the game started, Brandon called for three runners to run a point dash to the boat to set up a small defense as our Battalion moved in. I volunteered since that is what I do being a Dagger. With one last review of the map to make sure of our route to the boat, the clock struck noon and the whistle sounded.
I ran full force while still allowing one runner to go ahead of me since I was not familiar with the terrain. We reached Three Bunker Town in about twenty seconds and raised the VC flag. After confirming no enemy activity, we proceeded up the trails to Large Bunker one. About 30 yards before the bunker, we reached an intersection and the leader runner called a halt. Sounds could be heard ahead of us, so we took up defensive positions looking out for snipers and watching for any Americans. The lead runner cautiously scoped out the trails about 10 feet ahead as we crept behind. About 10 seconds later our Battalion came up behind. The lead runner explained the situation and Brandon ordered us to secure the intersection as the Battalion took the right flank. When it passed, we (the three point runners) would continue down the right flank and meet in the middle towards the bunker. We could see 2nd Battalion moving off to our left. We did not encounter any enemy movement as we rounded the flank and met up with the Battalion. Another few feet up the trail we came to another intersection. Brandon ordered a couple of men to run recon left and right. I noticed a hole in the brush directly ahead leading to a trail lined with tall reeds so I told Brandon I would recon it. Making my way through I saw the trail lead to a curve to my right where I lost sight of it. A couple of seconds later I saw a head poke around the curve so I called contact with the enemy. Firing a couple of shots, I forced the American to retreat. That's when all hell broke loose. The left flank encountered an American force and the fight was on. Brandon spilt the Battalion, sending a squad to the left to engage the enemy, and a squad to the right to see if there was a position to flank. He ordered me to hold position and cover the trail. As I did, another American tried to move around the corner. I fired on him and got my one and only kill for the game. I looked back to see what the Battalion was doing and noticed I was being waved back to rejoin. I did so, but was not given any direction to go. Brandon was still trying to assess the situation. A couple of our guys were already starting to get tagged out as the confrontation got heavier. The woods were getting louder with marker fire.
I decided to cut through the brush once more to find a way around the back of the Americans. That proved to be a bad move as once I poked my head through to the trail on the other side, a couple of Americans hiding behind the reeds tagged me out. As I walked back to the dead zone, I felt my combat vest getting heavier and the heat really affecting me. Instead of hanging out waiting to re-insert I bought some water, topped off my hydro-pack, and cleaned up a bit to relax. I re-inserted immediately after that (don't know what happened to the 1/4 hour rule). Instead of going straight back to my Battalion, I hooked up with a few guys also re-inserting. Also at this point we were getting ready to run our first tank. Following the tank down the trail until it got stuck, our little group of six walked double column on each side of the trail. Again, at each intersection we stopped to recon before proceeding. Passing Three Bunker Town, we headed up to the last intersection before Large Bunker 1, where a few VC had encountered some Americans blocking the trail. Paint was traded as we tried to figure out the best way to get past them. Our group of six decided to take the right side and move around. We made our way through the brush trying to short cut. As I moved I started to really feel the onset of the heat affecting me. My legs started growing weak, I was sweating profusely, and my stomach began to ache. I pressed on though. After about ten minutes through the brush, our group emerged at the same intersection we just left. How we made a circle around I don't know. At this point I could barely stand as I tried to do my part securing the intersection. After a few minutes I could not take it anymore and called myself out. I walked back to my campsite, changed into the shorts I had brought (thankfully), disassembled my tent and packed my car. Before I left I wrote a note to Patrick explaining my situation and left him the grenades and 1 ½ cases of paint I still had left at the Red Raiders campsite. As I was pulling away I saw an ambulance at the VC insertion point so I figure more guys were starting to feel the effects of the heat as well. I had played about an hour and a half before I had to cut the weekend short.
It was a big let down to have to leave early as I did, but it was a learning experience. It was my lack of proper camping equipment and experience that was a major contributor. Pyro Paintball had put together an awesome game getting every detail worked out. The field was great for this type of scenario play, allowing for every position and experience level to get the most out of it. Hopefully our team gets to have another shot at something like this. It was well worth the money and a weekend. Next time though, we will be better prepared!
