Role of an Anti-tank Gunner
Alone, next to the road, I lay waiting among the tall grass and weeds. I hear the rumbling of a tank on the road advancing towards me. A slow, quick peak over the log providing me cover, confirms it is the enemy. My heart rate quickens as the sound of the tanks engine gets louder. In my mind I rehearse my next few movements. The enemy is almost upon me as I roll up onto my elbows and lift the bazooka to my shoulder. Taking quick, careful aim I send one round onto the tanks small side killplate rendering it dead. With the adrenaline still rushing in my system I radio the all clear to my platoon. They advance out of the woods and we make our way to the next objective. That was my first kill with my new anti-tank weapon. I was hooked!
I guess the big question is why do we come back year after year? Well the answer would be, because we really enjoy it. I have spent my vacation at Oklahoma D- Day every June since 1999. This year will be my 15 th year. When I tell my friends and coworkers what I do on my vacation they look at me with a raised eyebrow and say,“ You run around the woods for a week shooting paint at people?” I have to explain to them that it is much more than that. It is an event where you come back to see all your friends that you’ ve worked with as a team in the previous years. You also meet new people that have never been here before. I think what makes Oklahoma D-Day unique is the way veterans of the event eagerly welcome and help out all new-comers.
Just as paintball has evolved and become more refined over the years, so to have the game and facilities here at D-Day Park. I have been playing paintball since 1982. That’ s back when everyone had pumps with co2 cartridges and oil based paintballs that cost twenty-five cents each. I’ ve seen many changes and additions over the years Dewayne and his staff have made to improve the action and game play of the field and facilities. Numerous buildings including a large church and two strip malls have helped intensify the action. Other player based components have been added to closer replicate what the soldiers experienced back in 1944, such as tanks, which can range from modified vans to full-scale homemade replicas.
I would have to say my favorite aspect of the Oklahoma D-Day event would be the role of the Anti-Tank gunner, or AT. Soon after the addition of tanks it was clear that AT gunners were necessary to even the odds and add yet another detail from the real D-Day. That year I made a replica bazooka tube around my marker and traveled to the field. There is something very unique about running AT. Being one of the few individuals capable of“ destroying” armor you are a specialized asset to your team. Since there are only 70 AT gunners allocated among the over 3000 players you are a highly prized target by the enemy. In addition to that, AT gunners are only allowed 200 rounds of a different colored paint to use all day; so there is no spraying and praying, you need to use your paint judiciously and strategically. At Oklahoma D-Day I run with the Allied 82 nd Airborne division. They do a tremendous job keeping me safe from enemy fire, and I in turn eliminate any armor that could devastate troops. The week-long event also allows me to interact with my two sons, Justin“ Tater Salad” and Jordan“ Cheerio”. We work together all week as a squad, backing each other up, providing cover fire or serving as a distraction so the other gunners can add one more notch to their barrel. We also share valuable father-son time at this family friendly event.
CEF AT Gunners