Oklahoma D-Day 2011

[shotgunneeley]

This is essentially a bump, but with Oklahoma D-Day less than a week away I just wanted to see if anybody fromt the AH community will be there. I'll be there Sunday (June 5th) for the entire week until Sunday (June 12) when they finally throw me out. I'll be with the Allied 1st divsion "big red one", shoot me a pm if you'll be joining

[shotgunneeley]

Oklahoma D-Day debriefing:

I participated in Oklahoma D-Day 2011 with the Allied Army -> 1st Infantry Division -> Special Operations Group (Heavy Weapons). Overall, I enjoyed this past game much more than my first experience back in 09. I was much more active and involved with my unit this go around. I would get up at 4:30 for PT training with my 6-man squad and would not stop until around midnight each day. By the end of the week, after my group took Omaha Beach and Colleville in record time, I was a complete wreck and 10lbs lighter than when I started. It was much more exhausting and physically demanding this go around because I was more involved with my group since I had gained some experience since 09.



Me under the D-Day entrance sign



More of the Colleville area. This town is located just above and west of Omaha Beach. The allies captured this area and Omaha Beach in less than an hour.



Home Sweet Home for a solid week



4 out of 6 of my 1st ID Special Operations Group posing around our mobile gun/bunker built in less than 3 hours. It was intended to to be left on Omaha Beach, but proved indispensable in defending Colleville from German counterattacks.



A round busts on the plate, and I hurriedly raise my yellow caution flag to signal that he has been hit. German armor patrol this road that runs along the perimeter of Colleville and I want to neutralize him before he can eliminate any of my teammates. To my left is our mobile AT gun, which my unit employed to knock out three German panzers.



The dreaded Omaha Beach. from this perspective, I'm looking at a 45 degree angle up several hundred feet

[jimson]

Oh to be young again.

I hung up my paint stained BDU's back when most players were still using pump action guns.

The first true semi auto had just come out, Tippman 68 special I believe it was called.

June in Oklahoma is no place I would be running around outdoors.

Should schedule it in October so their players don't puke from heat exhaustion.

Where is Wyandette? Is that in the tick filled woods?

[shotgunneeley]

Oh to be young again.

I hung up my paint stained BDU's back when most players were still using pump action guns.

The first true semi auto had just come out, Tippman 68 special I believe it was called.

June in Oklahoma is no place I would be running around outdoors.

Should schedule it in October so their players don't puke from heat exhaustion.

Where is Wyandette? Is that in the tick filled woods?

Believe it or not, I never had a problem with bugs. Both times that I have gone I only picked one tick and there were no mosquitoes or chiggers to speak of. The worst part about the week is definitely the heat and humidity because there was just no escape from it especially if you slept in a tent. I would go through at least 6 liters of water a day out of my camelback alone.

Wyandotte, OK is about 8 miles from the OK-MO border, near the quad state area shared between Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Its just over a 6 hour drive for me.

There was a guy in my unit that was over 70 years old. I have no idea what became of him or if he even survived the big game but he was out there in full camo and gear. He looked like he was in real good shape, probably an avid runner, but I was still amazed to see him in that kind of environment that seriously tested younger and more athletic guys.

One of the most gratifying parts of the week was Operation Sea Lion (proposed invasion of Great Britian by German forces). It took place on Omaha Beach where the German forces were pouring out of the landing craft and attacking the allies positioned on top of the hill. Since I knew how rough that hill was, I was grinning from ear to evil ear when I saw that the germans were not taking it seriously and some even had the audacity to dress up in nothing but swimming trunks and floaties to have a "beach party". Those poor fools I'm sure are still in the hospital receiving blood. Needless to say, we ruled that hill the entire mini-scenario and didn't allow them to even destroy the sea walls at the base of the hill.