The North Carolina USO Troupe "American Cynergy" entertained the "troops" at a party featuring a Down East style bbq served by "Donut Dollies" Juanita Bullard, Bridget Knowles, and Karen Mlott. American Cynergy sang World War II tunes, the way a live USO show from that era would have done. A professional production crew set up light towers and a music sound system. The Troupe dressed in period costume to recreate the atmosphere of a live USO show from World War II, entertaining the players as they feasted. Many players dressed in historically accurate military attire.
An MP interrupted the USO show: "Bastogne is about to be attacked by German forces! All R&R leave is canceled. All troops are ordered immediately to return to their units, to prepare for battle tomorrow!"
Saturday morning. Players took their positions at various sites across three training areas of a landing zone.
Coastal Paintball, Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, hosted the Brothers in Arms scenario game, Battle of Bastogne, and it was about to begin. The scenario game was based on the key fight for Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, 1944, where an outnumbered and surrounded American force fought off the German 5th Panzer Army. In an act of final desperation, Hitler's forces were attempting to defeat the Allies who had begun the battle for "Fortress Europe" on the beaches at Normandy.
Much like the Americans in the real battle, surrounded by thousands of German troops, the American players found themselves holding forts, tents, and camouflaged netted outposts representing the town of Bastogne, while German players continually attacked from the surrounding woods. German Panzers probed the American defenses, drawing heavy fire, while Panzer Grenadiers attacked across the fields. Mark Anderson, a physically challenged player, came off the field in his modified wheelchair/paintball tank totally covered in white paint. Still smiling, he said he was having a blast..
Brothers in Arms This game concluded the 04 Millennium Paintball Games' Brothers in Arms Series. The number of players had been strictly limited for this historical event--the first time a scenario production company had been invited onto the military base. Players have been waiting several decades to play Camp Lejeune's training areas; it finally happened due to the efforts of this writer and Ben Torricelli, producer of the Brothers in Arms series (www.mppgames.com).
Saturday night. Saturday night at dinner break players were once again surprised. While standing in the chow line waiting their choice of burgers or MRE's, a distant sound grew louder. Dennis Hall, renown
bagpiper, appeared out of the mist dressed fully in kilt, sash, jacket, and hat. He played such tunes as "The Marine's Hymn", "When the Battle's O'er", "Sgt. McKenzie", and "Amazing Grace" in tribute and as a reminder to attendees of the true cost of this battle, the biggest and bloodiest battle of World War II, where nearly 77,000 Americans were KIA, WIA, or MIA. Several players were seen discreetly wiping tears as Hall walked among them, and with no disgrace.
Later that night, the battle resumed. Heroic Americans counter-attacked through German lines, even reaching one of the German Headquarters and bringing it under fire. With temperatures falling to the low 40s, the game ended (all leaders conferred and decided they preferred a warm fire, cocoa, and their sleeping bags).
Sunday morning. Play resumed early Sunday morning after the Donut Dollies appeared with coffee, hot cocoa, muffins, and of course, donuts, for the "cold and weary troops". The day's conflict brought to mind the legendary confrontation reported from the 101st Airborne's history of the event, General McAuliffe's reply to the German demand for his surrender: "Nuts!" By the end of the day, the German juggernaut had been fought to a standstill. The Allies were victorious.
Scenario Games
On the web site for Millennium Paintball Productions (www.mppgames.com), you'll find their schedule for the year, rules, and more. What is scenario paintball gaming? MPP describes it as "the ultimate mix of intense paintball action, live-action role-playing games, partying with friends and living the ultimate role in your favorite action movie." |
Some civilian players learned some hard lessons about military training areas. 1) The areas are not "groomed" flat fields free of thorns or vines; 2) the foxholes are REAL, well camouflaged, and deep enough for head cover; and 3) if you are warm and happy in your dark foxhole and are attacked, do not jump up and run away. There is probably another foxhole 10 feet in any given direction and more than likely the guys in it are friendly!
Ultimately, the moral to this story is: Be careful what you wish for. You might get it. Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard units conduct paintball scenarios in Coastal Paintballs Camp Lejeune military training fields, and the staff is always happy to introduce civilian players to the tactical side of military unit training/paintball gaming--with safety as a first priority, followed by fun.
Bambi Bullard owns Coastal Paintball, Jacksonville NC; Coastal Paintball, Camp Lejeune, NC; and Coastal Paintball, Myrtle Beach Special Events. The host field for the Battle for Bastogne scenario game in the Brothers in Arms series was Coastal Paintball, Camp Lejeune, NC.
