Regimental Dispatch
June 2005
Sic Semper Tyrranus

Richmond, VA

Commander's Column

Men of F-Company,
    Rally on the Colors!  We will next form our line of battle at a small Virginia country crossroads known as Cold Harbor.  I expect and hope that every man who is loyal to this unit, and able to shoulder a musket, will fall in behind the proud flag of F Company, 21st Virginia Volunteer Infantry.  We will add another well-deserved battle honor to our colors that day.
   Gents, this was actually a major engagement for F Company.  Worsham says "On the morning of the 29th we formed a line of battle not far from Bethesda Church.    After sharp skirmishing on June 1, the Second Corps (under Jubal Early) the next morning made the attack and took three lines of fortifications, and captured about 700 prisoners.  While we were in the enemy's position, they made several attacks on us, and they fired their artillery through the woods.  Once they fired two rammers of their cannon,
and the rammers struck in the ground a little in the rear of the 21st Virginia.   Corporal James H. Anderson was wounded in these fortifications on June 3, and Captain Reuban Jordan was severely wounded while he was on the
skirmish line in front of them."
   Please remember that the National Park Service is counting on us to have a good showing for the folks.  This will be a much easier event than last year, and we will have the honor of being the main group on the field.  Park Ranger Ed Sanders has asked me to speak again at the torch-lit tours, and to do something similar to last year with my men, which was very well received.  They loved the picket post behind the trees in the dark, and the sentries that jumped out and about gave heart failure to the "New Recruits."
He has also asked that we bring a couple of shovels so that we can be seen to be digging earthworks.  Remember that there will be an Executive Committee meeting, this weekend, so all members please come prepared to do a little Company business.
I Remain Your Obedient Servant.
*****
Capt. Ramsey
Commander F Co/ 21st Virginia

1st Lieutenant’s Report

    I have what I hope you will consider good news. We will be in Harper’s Ferry on the weekend of September 10-11 for a Living History program. The event coordinator of Harper’s Ferry, Ms. Day, has approved our participation. She had checked with the Stonewall Brigade, who is putting on this event. They said that they know us and would be glad to have us there. So, it is set. This is a wartime event as opposed to the militia living histories that we have done in the past. This means that the entire unit can attend.
Harper’s Ferry is a unique and picturesque setting where the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland all converge. The program will center around an interpretation of the Battle of Harper’s Ferry 1862 and the surrender of the Union garrison to the southern forces under the command of Stonewall Jackson. This should be a good program.
    In another matter, maybe to be considered for next year, I did check out the New Market Reenactment on Saturday, May 14th. I drove up for the day just to observe. It was a gorgeous day for a drive up to the mountains. It was fairly good size event with about 1,200 reenactors. I recognized some people but did not see any units that we normally like to fall in with. But I did see the “black powder face” companies that we have formed up with in the past. Oh well! The Confederates were camped right next to the New Market Museum. The Yanks were camped next to the parking area (go figure). There were a good number of Sutlers with two long rows forming a sutlers’ alley and of course there were vendors to supply food and drink. At 2:00 p.m., there was a tactical/battle scheduled. It began in the woods and progressed into the open fields for public viewing. It was nice to see the Yanks continuously pushed back.
The event does have some drawbacks. It will be hard to “step back” in time. The museum is on site and Interstate 81 cuts right through the battlefield. There seems a high level of “farbiness”. Even so, it looked like a fun event and I think we should consider it for next year. The quality that we prefer may not be there, but I’m sure we have attended lesser events and we don’t have to go back if we don’t like it. Give it some thought.
Now, it is on to Cold Harbor. Let’s try to have a good showing. This usually makes for a good, fun event. See you there.
*****
Respectfully submitted
1st Lt. Turley

Fort Pocahontas

After fighting the rain on our journey on Friday, the weather for the weekend was the best we’ve ever had for this event. After a poor showing for the past two years, we did manage to compile enough interest in the membership to make this a pretty good turnout. Present for duty for the weekend were: Captain Ramsey, 1st Sgt Pearson, Corporal Gammon, & Privates Powell, Harris, Paryzch, Catlett, Gammon, Pate, and Dachos. Let it not go unnoticed that we also had Pvt. Gregory join us for Saturday’s fighting and North Carolinian Pvt. Lambert filled our ranks the entire weekend. Thanks to all who spent the time away from family and work to help maintain our unit. It was greatly appreciated and I enjoyed your company.
We were fortunate enough to have had the honor to meet with Harrison Tyler, grandson to John Tyler, the 10th President of the United States, and also meet, talk with, and have a photo with the former Governor of Virginia, Douglas Wilder.
Despite the event having an overall low attendance by participants, it was great to be out there with the men. There was ample drill time, and the 1st Sergeant made use of that time. The men were game for the refresher and helped to bond them with the newest member of F-Company, Private Dachos.
Just when we thought we would be little lost lambs on Sunday morning with no one to lead us in prayer, the event coordinators did schedule church services on the deck of the Museum. However brief, the service and hymns lifted our hearts. But, there’s nothing like a Turley/Schirmer church service.
Many thanks to Private Powell and Macalah for arriving first at Fort Pocahontas and establishing our location for camp for the weekend. There was plenty of wood and the water/latrine facilities were only 20-30 yards away. A wonderful dessert (Apple Cobbler) was again baked on site by Macalah and graciously shared with the men.
Thanks to the cool evenings and daytime breezes, the insect situation was pretty much eliminated, with the exception of one tick that grew fond of my leg and decided to leave Virginia and make its deadly trip to Maryland.

Cold Harbor
June 4-5

Next on the slate is our Annual visit and commitment to the NPS at Cold Harbor. Although this is pretty much the same agenda every year, it has always been our obligation to the community by supporting the National Parks. We are always treated with respect and the gratitude is truly sincere. For those wishing to arrive on Friday, June 3rd, remember to pick out the best area for the unit. There will be plenty of firewood and straw that is supplied to us. Come prepared to set-up your she-bangs or shelter halves. No A-Frames are to be used as we did at the C.O.I. The nearest water supply and bathroom facilities are located at the visitor’s center about ¾ mile away.
Mr. Gammon will be bringing company mess gear and water jugs. We will have a Company Mess on Saturday evening only. Depending on your arrival times, plan all other meals from what you decide to pack. So, bring your own vittles and frying pans to cook breakfasts. WE NEED A HEADCOUNT FROM THE UNIT ON ATTENDANCE… you need contact your Corporal so we can plan. The Saturday dinner will be a joint effort from within the membership. The list of vendors are: Private Powell- who is roasting a pig prior to the weekend and we will have pulled pork, Private Catlett’s wife is supplying us with her world famous green beans, Private Harris will be providing us with good old corn on the cob, Private Pate has volunteered to bring home the bread, and the 1st Sergeant has to bring his ammunition for the weekend in the disguise of Pork’nBeans with brown sugar and molasses. There is a rumor going through the state of Pennsylvania that Miss Dottie will provide the dessert. That’s all I can say. No other information has come my way, and even greenbacks could not pry the lips of our spies.
This is not a registration event. That means for all to come regardless if you thought you were not able to earlier in the year. This event is very important to Cold Harbor and the community. Our support for the many years we have been participating is not taken for granted, but more so, is an honor for our unit. The NPS and F-Company’s relationship is a very tight bond. They rely on men like us, who perform with decency, skill, and pride. If your calendar is clear for this weekend, please pay homage to this hobby and why we do this and fill our ranks to make this a great unit effort.
For those new to the Cold Harbor National Park, there are some rules and regulations that come with doing a Living History at a National Park:
Be sure to bring your cartridges and caps in a separate bag. They will need to be turned in on Saturday morning upon being inspected by the park service.
The NPS will conduct weapons inspections on Saturday and Sunday, so do not arrive with a dirty musket or you will not be allowed to participate in the firing programs. We will conduct our own inspection prior to the Park Service.
The NPS will supply our camp with a fire extinguisher for safety reasons. Two years ago, there was an unattended fire in the Yankee camp that spread and burned some valuable equipment. The fire extinguisher is of no use if there’s no one to guard the camp. Therefore, we will probably put out our fires before leaving for any demos, unless Private Parzych’s son would consider being our camp aid for the weekend.
Finally, the Park Service usually provides earplugs to all men participating for the weekend. I know it’s not period correct, but they want to preserve our eardrums.
***********
There will be members that are planning to be there Friday, so if you wish, please come on Friday, otherwise, you need to be on site and ready to go early on Saturday morning. I do not have the Park Service’s schedule, but the firing programs are usually 11am…1pm…3pm. I would strongly recommend for member arriving on Saturday, to be there no later than 8 a.m. Earlier, if you need to set up your shelters before we fall in for roll call, inspections, turning in ammunition /caps, and company drill.
Should anyone have any questions prior to leaving for Cold Harbor, you may either contact your Corporal, or the 1st Sergeant at your convenience.
I am looking forward to this event. It’s a great chance to be together without the burdens of a long drawn-out staging and plenty of camp time and comradery.

Directions to Cold Harbor
(Once on I-295 South, look for the Brown signs on the side of the road for Cold Harbor.)

From the North or West:  Take I-95 South toward Richmond, Take I-295 South toward Norfolk. Take the second Creighton Road Exit 34 A.           
From the East and South:  Get on     I-295 North toward Washington. Take the 1st Creighton Road exit 34 A.
Once you’ve reached the exit, the first light is Cold Harbor Road.  Take a right. Go about 3 miles and the park will be on the left. You will clearly see the small visitor’s center building.  We are camping at Stop 2, Confederate Turnout. Drive your stuff down and unload at our camp, then go and park for the weekend. The designated parking area changes slightly from year to year, but it is always down by the visitor’s center, usually by the fence on the left (as you come in).

GETTYSBURG

142nd Anniversary

I am repeating the information for Gettysburg in June’s newsletter due to the fact that this event will be happening before our July newsletter will be sent out. This event will create a little more confusion because the numbers may be larger than what we’ve faced so far this season. I am a personal friend with S&S Sutlers, so I will do everything I can to place a map or directions to where we will be camping at their tent for the weekend. It may not get you right to my dog tent, but it’ll get you close enough to yell and be answered. More than likely, Pvt. Schirmer will be there before I arrive, so if I hook up with him, he may be able to shed some early light on the camping arrangements. Last resort, cell phones. I know, not period, but again…if they had them, they would have used them.…sigh!
Weekend Schedule

Friday July 1, 2005
8:30 Gates Open
9:00 Medical Demonstration/Cavalry Exhibition
10:00 Civil War Spies/General Longstreet
11:00 CS Generals (Tent 1) US Generals (Tent 2)
1:00 Live Mortar Fire Competition (Field)
1:30 Massive 142nd Artillery Explosive Commemoration
2:00 Life in 1860’s/US Signal Corps
3:00 Civil War Wedding
4:00 Civil War Veterinarian/1860’s Fashions
5:00 46th PA Brass Band/Civil War Spies
6:00 Gettysburg: “The Ball Begins” (Battle)

Saturday July 2, 2005
8:30 Gates Open
9:00 46th PA Brass Band/General Meade
10:00 Medical Demonstration/Cavalry Demonstration
11:00 Gettysburg Plains: “Those Damn Dutch” (Battle)
1:00 Civil War Wedding/2nd South Carolina String Band
1:30 Live Mortar Fire Competition (Field)
2:30 CS Generals/US Generals
3:00 1860’s Fashions/CS Signal Corps
4:00 Little Round Top: “A Close Action: (Battle)
Massive 142nd Artillery Explosive Commemoration
6:00 Civil War Religious Revival Service
8:00 Reenactor Dance/2nd South Carolina String Band

Sunday July 3, 2005
8:30 Gates Open
9:00 Period Worship Service/Catholic Service
10:00 46th PA Brass Band
11:00 “Come on you Wolverines”(Battle)
12:00 General Longstreet/General A.P. Hill
1:00 Medical Demonstration/1860’s Fashions
2:00 “A Valiant Effort” - Pickett's Charge (Battle)
Massive 142nd Artillery Explosive Commemoration
3:00 Music (Tent 1)

Directions to the event:

From the East
Route 30 West to US Route 15 North, to Hunterstown Exit Route 394, (Shrivers Corner Road). West on Shrivers Corner Road to left on Table Rock Road to parking lots.

From the North
Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) to exit 17/US Route 15 South. Follow US Route 15 South to Hunterstown Exit, Route 394, (Shrivers Corner Road). West on Shrivers Corner Road to left on Table Rock Road to parking lots.

From the South
Follow US Route 15 North to Hunterstown Exit, Route 394, (Shrivers Corner Road). West on Shrivers Corner Road to left on Table Rock Road to parking lots.

From the West
US Route 30 East to left on Herr's Ridge Road, left on Biglerville Road (Pa Rte 34), right on Goldenville Road, right on Table Rock Road to parking lots.

Balance of Events for 2005

Cold Harbor L.H.- June 4th-5th
Entire unit welcomed to attend
Gettysburg- July 1st-3rd
Registration completed
Ramsey, Turley, Pearson, Firth, Stafford, Gammon D., Gammon M., Ward, Talbert, Harris, Lawrence, Parzych, Dachos, Schirmer and Schirmer.
************************************
Summer of ’62- August 26th-28th
(Registration due by July 1st @$15.00 each)
Ramsey, Turley, Pearson, Firth, Stafford, Gammon D., Perry, Pate, Gammon M., Ward, Harris, Powell, Schirmer, and possibly Parzych and Alexander.
************************************
Harper’s Ferry- September 11th-12th
WE NEED AN ACCURATE COUNT
FOR THOSE INTERESTED TO GO
************************************
141st Cedar Creek- October 14th-16th
(Registration due by June 25th @ $10.00 each, but at this price, we need to register individually and also send in their waiver form. We can discuss this at the next event.)
Ramsey, Turley, Pearson, Firth, Stafford, Gammon D., Perry, Pate, Gammon M., Price, Harris, Powell, Schirmer, Lawrence, Parzych, and possibly Baird
************************************
Fort Branch- November 4th-6th
(Registration information to come)
Ramsey, Turley, Pearson, Firth, Stafford, Gammon D., Perry, Perry, Pate, Gammon M., Catlett, Alexander, Talbert, Harris, Powell, Schirmer, Sanders, Parzych
************************************
Remembrance Parade- November 19th
(No Registration needed to attend)
Turley, Pearson, Firth, Stafford, Gammon D., Perry, Gammon M., Alexander, Price, Talbert, Harris

If your name is not listed at any of the above events and you wish to attend, we need to hear from you A.S.A.P. We need to assure registration for those who intend on participating.

Reckoning at Cold Harbor

In a near painful crouch and with my nose almost in Sgt. Pitt's backside we inched toward an opening in a low draw of the battlefield. The air was thick, damp and warm--almost sticky. A slight breeze quickened upon our faces and felt like it was heaven sent. With it came a quick and not long enough relief from the closeness of the night and the restrictions of your shell jacket and accoutrements. My, at present unpleasantness, ceased when we suddenly stopped. I tightened so I almost snapped. Then part of all that heaven sent coffee that I gorged myself with in the rear rose part way up my throat. Did Sgt Pitt see something ? Did we stumble on a union picket, patrol, or some sappers? It was none of these. In a muffled grunt that one could detect pain and disgust, Sgt Pitt dropped his right hand from his rifle and rubbed relief into his right knee, the knee that he favored moments before in the rear at he start of our mission. My eyes still locked on his back when he rotated his head as an owl . That was when he locked his eyes into mine. The look on his face was that of a card player and the silence was broken by two long and deliberate breaths. I reached to assure him that all was well with myself . Then his face went into a squint as he tightened his lips . With a nod that was almost unseen his face and body relaxed, his head motioned us foward . We slowed our pace and it was then that I knew we were close to that draw and would soon leave the comfort and protection of that covered way.
Suddenly like the parting of the veil we reached it .The coolness of the woods ceased and the damp closeness of the battlefield started. I wondered almost out loud what calamity would befall us as I stood there and gathered enough ugliness to last three life times. Twisted bodies with something missing. An arm, leg , head  gone or even worse yet just hanging by what the minnie ball left. Men swollen  like feed sacks , their burnt faces whose eyes were whelped  by the sun facing to the heavens. A look on some as if they were pleading to the Lord to take them quickly home. Broken men strewn like cast off leaves in the fall and a heavy, indescribable stench. Yes, the perfume of death was heavy and at that moment I knew that  it would stay with me forever. There would not be enough soap to wash that off my body or mind.
I was frozen and near gagging when my trance was broken by a slight touch to my arm. It was Pitt and then all my attention was his. He glanced at the waste before us and drew himself close to my ear. I caught a glimpse of his face as he surveyed the field before us. I caught a hint  of the same disbelief  I was having. Then with his mouth to my ear he took a cleansing breath and I could smell the twist he was chewing. "We sure enough worked on them didn't we, boy?" Then he inhaled and pointed to a spot. "We have to get there before it gets too much more light," as one eye tightened to almost closing. "Stay close to the ground, crawl if you have to and stay close to one of them." One of them was the dead on the field and my look to him was one of disgust. Then both of his eyes tightened into a squint and with a hushed growl, "Look here young'en, they will give us cover and stop or slow the one that will bite you."
We started off mingling in the "work" of what myself and my comrades had done just short days before. First, I tried to meander around and through this mess, Trying to be respectful to what was left of these men that I couldn't help thinking at one time resembled my living  self. I then noticed that Sgt. Pitt was opening the space between us and I had to quicken mine to stay up and hopefully survive. I told myself then that these were just shells and their souls had gone on.
We worked ourselves to a group of fallen Yankees. Looked like what was left of a platoon. The ground furrowed up before them probably done by solid shot from one of our field pieces. As I positioned myself up one end of this human windrow and Sgt. Pitt at the other I then saw the effect of canister shot.  "Pretty much what took these boys out and many around them," I mused as I nestled amongst them.  I took off my canteen and placed it close to me on my right, I primed my rifle and eased it to my other side. I glanced over to Sgt. Pitt and his look was that of "Too much moving around Boy."   Laying on his back he slowly opened his haversack and out came another site of sorts. He placed it on his rifle and with two turn knobs locked it in place. Then with a glance to me he nodded his head in the direction of the Federal tree line as if to say, "Start looking for that Yankee sniper boy." He then rested his head on the arm of a fallen Yankee and started gazing at the green patch of cloth on his sleeve. We were now ready.
The nightingales had ceased their chatter and the sun came up. There were no clouds in the sky as if God wanted to see what was going on. The sun rose above the trees and soon it began to warm up. I peered into the tree line trying to find the person who had taken much of our boys and sent my friend Rascal to Chimborazo. Hope he is alright and hope I survive this thing and get back home to farming as before. Quick glance at Pitt and he is still looking at that green patch of cloth on his jacket sleeve. My mind drifted to home and a lady of which at my station I have no business thinking of. Before the war I worked for her father. What could she see in me? My thoughts of her keep me alive and hope for us keeps me going.
My left hand was resting on my rifle as I thought of nothing but the Yankee treeline when suddenly it leaped from my hand. I looked as a Yankee, one of those that thought we all dead in our heap, had my rifle. He was shaking off what was a bad headwound.  As he was rising up past his knees I could hear the hammer go back. I did the only thing I could. I grabbed the muzzle trying to shake it from him. Then I got to my knees and snatched my canteen and struck him in the face. He was more upright now and shoving me away - the blow with the canteen did no harm to him. I was making one more stab at my piece as my foe shouldered my rifle against me. It was then that his chest exploded with fire and flame, splattering my face with matter. As he slumped I wrested my rifle from him. Behind him was smoke and Sgt. Pitt.
It was then that I heard a whirl and a smack like a hickory stick snapping driving me back to the ground. I tore my jacket open to see how I was hit. Looking towards the tree line I saw gunfire and it was falling all around us. "Hurry Pitt," I urged, "Before he gets another chance at me." Pitt was steadily reloading his rifle and barked,  "You keep your eyes on the tree line Boy."  I was starting to feel a sharp pain below my breast and looking towards the enemy when suddenly the ground exploded near my face. The Minnie ball sang as it skipped over me. I shook my head to free the dirt from my eyes and then I saw a faint trail of smoke from the oaks midway up. "Pitt," I screamed, "He has got me with the next one. He's there up in the oaks. Hurry -- He sees me." "No," blurted back Roy Lee as he dropped his rammer, "He now sees me!" Then Sgt. Pitt sighed as he got his stiff knee under him and rose past the protection of the human parapet that we had and got into a kneeling position, primed his rifle and looked through his site. Fear turned my head toward the tree line and I saw that puff of smoke from the same spot, I heard a rifle rattle close to me. I jerked my eyes to Pitt and saw that he was slumped over towards me rubbing his arm. "Pitt -- Pitt," I hollered, "Are you alright." "Better get your backsides over here young'n. It's gonna get hot sure enough," he grunted as he surveyed his rifle.  The stock was splintered halfway down and the barrel was bent. I flung myself toward him and pleaded, "Are you alright?" "Hey boy, that fellow was good sure enough, but I touched mine off a mite before him."   "Ruined my rifle," as he pulled my shirt back to see if and where I was wounded. "Boy, what a bruise, this hurt?" as he poked with his finger.
I flinched as bullets were raining all around us and over us from our boys in the rear. The battlefield erupted with rifle fire, canister, solid and bursting shot.   "Looks like you broke a rib." then glancing at what was his rifle, "You know it was a good shooter but at times hard to load. One of those English guns you know."  Then as the tempest roared around us he straightened his stiff leg somewhat and reached into his coat jacket and pulled out a small bottle with a whittled stopper. "Here Nick, this will take some of your sting away," passing the bottle to me. I took a gulp and found it was something more than water. While I was wheezing from the first he produced another bottle and pushed it into my hand. I shook my head no. He snorted and a slight smile cracked his face. "Nick, that was corn. This one is water," he assured.
"Boy, how much coffee did you drink?" as he gave me a once over.  Then it dawned on me what his amusement was all about. During all the things we had experienced that morning I had somehow relieved myself and had two wet pants legs to show for it. Then his attention was turned to the Yankee we had dispatched laying there with us in the hole and then he glimpsed toward the tree line. With another deep sighing breath he muttered, "What a waste."
       We baked in the sun that day, in June of 1864. That night we skidaddled to the safety of our ranks at a place that there wasn't much water and it wasn't cold.
Pass it on.
Pvt. Nick Garnett

*************************

"Rascal"---Nick's friend that was wounded and sent to Chimbarazo survived. Spent six months in hospital and returned to his unit and was promoted and was present at Appomattox. Became a typesetter for a newspaper in Maryland. His wound bothered him later in life (limp). Died in 1901 at a reunion of southern veterans.
"Nick"--- Survived the war. He went home and made that landowner's daughter his wife. He became a successful tobacco farmer and between them had five children---two boys and three girls. Did much to better his lot and those around him during and after reconstruction. Became active in local and state government late in his life. Died of Typhoid fever in 1898.
"Sgt. Roy Lee Pitt"---Never made it back home to his world in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Killed March 1865 at Petersburg. Story has it that he was buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, in a grave that is not yet marked.
Lee and Grant for some sort of reasoning could not agree on when it was appropriate to come to the aide of those left on the field at Cold Harbor. After much haggling both sides were out on the field tending to those who were left for such a long time.  While both sides, North and South, were close administering to the dead and wounded they exchanged everything from coffee, tobacco, news, politics and insults. One bit of information that the southern soldiers found interesting was the day after Sgt. Pitt's and Nick Garnett's mission a Federal sharpshooter, clad in green and from Vermont was found in an oak tree where he had secured himself. He had been shot through the cheek.

Harper’s Ferry 1862

It is now official. We have a fantastic event for the month of September. Many of us have been to Harper’s Ferry for either a visit or for the Election of 1860, which has been a civilian and militia event. On September 11-12th weekend, we will be fighting the Union garrison at Harper’s Ferry. This will be a wartime event depicting the 1862 fighting under the command of General Jackson to take over the town from Federal forces. This is a great opportunity for Jackson’s Division to shine brightly at the crossroads of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. This will also give us time to visit the town and all its history.
We need to know who is interested in attending this fine event.

Exceptional Job on our F-Co. web-site

I wish to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Parks for his excellence on our web site. If you have not visited it lately, you’ll see that many constant changes are occurring and new information and photos are up-to-date almost on a weekly basis. Anyone visiting our web site has to be impressed with the outstanding work that is being done there in communication, education, and what we are doing every step of the way. Thank you for all that you are doing for the unit, Mr. Parks. Being behind the scenes doesn’t always have the glory of being in the field, but it should never go without praise. Please keep up the great work. Our kepi’s go off to you for your service, creativity, craftsmanship, and to the dedication of our unit.

Webmaster's note-  The "excellence  on our website " is due to the  membership of  F Company   (present and past). The photo contributions, the feed back , the putting up with me "invading the moment" to snap pictures . Thank you gentlemen and 1Sgt. -Pvt. Parks

Editor’s Note

There’s never too much happening or too much to say that we can’t reflect back in some years’ past to honor the men that came before us in F-Company and gave us the foundations on which we strive to be our best and represent the common soldier with the dignity that they all deserved.
I’d like to take the time to share the names of some great friends that I miss: Jones, Vice, Gregory, Eastman, Pierce, Perry D., Falconer, Hicks, Owens, May, Courson, Franklin, Wheeler, Nixon, Wilson, Wood, Wooddy, Voshell, and many others through the years that filled the ranks of F-Company. As long as we continue are journey, keep bringing new recruits along the way, this company can survive the test of time and the ever changing role of honor. There was a lot of misery and a lot of laughs. For your service to this unit, I truly thank you.
Best wishes to Mr. Norman, whose military service has him heading to the Middle East, and Mr. JC Alexander, who’ll be starting his service with the Marine Corp. Stay safe, do your duty for our freedom, and return home soon. Our prayers and blessings go with you.