iRON MiKE July 2016

26th LEGION: KIT CARSON

FEATURED ARTICLES 16 ANIMOSITY OVER ACCEPTANCE

BY SCOTT CASEY

20

FIRST AID FOR SHOOTERS

24

THE FUNNY SIDE OF COMBAT STRESS

BY ROBERT P. LEWIS

BY CHRIS HERNANDEZ

50 HEADQUARTERS OF THE REVOLUTION

54

BY ROBERT H. JOHNSON

ODYSSEY COLORADO

BY BRYAN DOLCH

3

From the Editor

6

The 26th Legion Kit Caron

30

Every Day Carry by John Pinnix

34

Food Stuffed Jalepenos

36 Photo Gallery Mark Logullo Photography 44

Leadership by Jeff Harris

70

Reagan At the Gate

80 Directory 83 Events

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR I hope your summer is taking off to a good start. We took a little extra time putting together this issue and decided to skip over June. The magazine is growing; we are attracting new advertisers, and are being introduced to new contributors. There is a lot more ahead in the coming months. On June 11th we did our first live event in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Tankmachine led the 22Kill Hike and we took part to help support that great veteran support organization. We had a great time and were able to meet a lot of our fans and people that have supported us since the beginning. We are already planning to do more events and hope to see you out there.

Lenta Fortis Inspirare, Bryan Dolch Editor and Owner Iron Mike Magazine

IRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

Editor and Owner Bryan Dolch

Contributors Scott Casey Bryan Dolch Jeff Harris Chris Hernandez Robert H. Johnson Robert Patrick Lewis Mark Logullo John Pinnix

Copy Editor Robert H. Johnson Advertising Sales and Design Bryan Dolch

Iron Mike Magazine is a Publication of Red Oak Marketing P.O. Box 310584 New Braunfels, Texas 78130 Contact us at info@romtx.com

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This month the 26th Legion goes back a little farther in time. Kit Carson lived in a time when the rugged individualist embodied what would become the icon of Americans persona. He left home at an early age and went west into a territory that was unforgiving but provided a freedom only few could manage to handle. He traveled throughout the Rocky Mountains trapping, led a U.S. military survey expedition into uncharted territory, and battled the native tribes of the southwest. He was a pivotal figure in transforming the American expansion of North American and paved the way for Manifest Destiny.

Kit Carson was born on Christmas Eve 1809 to Lindsay and Rebecca Carson; in Richmond, Kentucky. The Carson family was Scots-Irish like many of the families west of the Appalachians at that time. Kit’s father had fought in the Revolutionary War and would fight in the War of 1812. Carson was the sixth child of by Lindsay and Rebecca, who was his second wife. In all Lindsay had a total of fifteen children including five from his first wife Lucy.

When Kit was still a toddler the family moved to Boone’s Lick, Missouri. Boone’s Lick was a settlement founded by the son’s of Daniel Boone. At this time the Missouri territory was the western frontier of America which had been acquired in 1803 from the French Emperor Napoleon. This new territory required that the settlements work to protect themselves from Native American tribes and bandits. The communities were formed around forts that would provide protection and a center station for the community. This lifestyle would be formative in Kit’s thinking and vigilance for the coming years Carson would face in the far reaches of the Rocky Mountains and the American west.

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INTO THE MOUNTAINS The life on a frontier settle was difficult and unforgiving. In 1818, while clearing land, a tree limb broke falling on Lindsay Carson killing him instantly. This left Rebecca with little options but she managed to hold the family together as best she could. Rebecca remarried a short time later. Joseph Martin was a widower with a several children of his own. At the time Kit was a young teen and he clashed with Joseph on several occasions. It was decided that it was best to send the young Carson away. He was signed on as a saddler’s apprentice in Franklin, Missouri about 15 miles to the southeast of the settlement.

The Santa Fe Trail was one of the main trading routes that linked the United States to far western frontier. The trail picked up in central Missouri at two points; Booneville and Franklin. The trail then followed the Missouri River West then headed into Kansas. Once it reached the area around what would become Dodge City it split into two branches; the Mountain Route and the Cimarron Route. Finally, the two routes would link up in the New Mexico Territory and end in Santa Fe. Kit Carson watched as trappers, mountain men, and tradesman left Franklin heading west and decided that he wanted to set out on his own.

In 1826 at the age of 15 he ran away from his apprenticeship and followed a group of men heading down the trail. The trip lasted three months but by the end he found himself alone and ready to make a new life in the New Mexico Territory. He moved north to Taos where he would find work and live until he was able to get on board with an expedition into the mountains.

Carson found Mathew Kincaid who had served with his older brother during the War of 1812. While with Kincaid he learned basic skills of trapping, hunting and field-craft. Kit quickly became fluent in Spanish since the area was by and large a Spanish settlement.

Carson also learned many different languages of the native tribes that lived in the area.

In 1829 Kit was picked up by a trapping expedition to work as a cook and camp hand. The

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Ewing Cook Expedition moved out and went far into the western frontier. In August of that same year a band of Apaches attacked the party while on the Gila River in present day Arizona. This was the first time Kit Carson was involved in combat and would forever change his life. He now knew to survive he would have to be aggressive, calculating, and to live without remorse. Death was knocking at the door at every moment of everyday.

After the Gila River attack the party moved on to California and would pass through areas of present day Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. The expedition made its way back and returned to Taos in the spring of 1830. This expedition was the launch a ten year career as a hunter and trapper.

The hardships of the mountain life were no stranger to Carson. He became an excellent horseman, Indian fighter, tracker, and trapper. He also became a patron of the famous Rocky Mountain Rendezvous The rendezvous started in 1825 and went on until the early 1840s. It was held in many locations but the main camp was always held on the Green River in Wyoming. Here trappers sold their pelts and leathers to a trading company who in turn would provide them with supplies needed for their treks into the wilderness.

During the 1833 Ewing Expedition the camp was raided by Crow warriors who stole 9 horses. Carson and two other men tracked down the bandits and killed everyone in their camp. Kit Carson was not a remorseful man when it came to killing natives. He particularly did not like the Blackfeet. The Blackfoot tribe was known to be a very violent and hostile tribe and Carson looked for every opportunity to kill them. He felt that it was a “mountain man’s instinct and duty” to do so.

By 1840 the style of hats back east and in Europe had changed. The beaver pelts were no longer in high demand and the depleted beaver population made it hard to find them. Carson decided to look for a new career. Kit, by this time had a young daughter with one of his native wives. He decided to take her back to Missouri so she could get an education and live a more hospitable life with family members. On his return trip while on a steamboat he met John C. FreIRONMIKEMAGAZINE.COM | 9

mont. Fremont had been commissioned by the United States Army to go into the Rockies and survey the area for passes and trails to the Pacific.

After talking with Carson, Fremont made an offer to guide the expedition. He offered Carson $100 a month for his services. This was an enormous amount of money for that time and Kit took the offer.

THE FREMONT EXPEDITIONS The first 1842 expedition would target the Southern Pass in Wyoming. The route was would become part of what is called the Oregon Trail. Trappers and traders had laid the trail as early as 1811 and over the next thirty years it became a main thoroughfare into the Northwest. The expedition would last five months. Upon his return, Fremont dispatched reports about the trek and word began to spread about the mountain man that led the way.

The next year in 1843 a second expedition was formed to go farther into the trail and mark the path to the Columbia River in Oregon. The trip planned to follow the trail from the pass north of the Great Salt Lake then down the Snake River to the Columbia. While on the Columbia River they would see the Cascade Mountains, map Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood. The party then turned south towards California. They skirted the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada and then turned west where they eventually found Lake Tahoe. Carson found a pass through the mountains south of the lake which Fremont named Carson Pass. The party moved on to Sutter’s Fort near present day Sacramento. The expedition moved south through California.

While in the Mojave Desert the group came upon a Mexican man and his son. They told IRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

Carson that their party had been attacked by natives. The entire party, with their exception, was killed and mutilated. The warriors then stole their horses. Kit Carson and his friend Alexis Godey went after the marauders and after two days of tracking found their camp. The two men killed two of the bandits while the others ran off escaping death. Carson and Godey were able to return the horses to the Mexican man.

The expedition continued on the move and turned east at Tehachapi Pass near Las Vegas. From there they moved north into Utah and back to the South Pass in Wyoming. The expedition was a great success in mapping the Great Basin area and disproved the legendary Buenaventura River. The river was believed to be a major waterway that flowed out of the basin and into the Pacific Ocean.

The reports filed by Fremont also began a larger migration of settlers into Oregon and Northern California in the mid 1840s.

The last expedition by Fremont into the west began in St. Louis on June 1, 1845. This time the mission was to locate the source of the Arkansas River east of the Rocky Mountains. Once the party reached the river the mission changed. Fremont diverted the party straight to California. It is believed that his real mission all along was to help aid the United States in the war against Mexico. He arrived in California in early 1846 and began to stir the “American� population up to initiate an uprising against the Mexican government. It did not work out for the Americans. The numbers were stacked against him and he quickly moved north into Oregon to reorganize.

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May 9th, 1846; while encamped near Klamath Lake and Williamson River, native warriors attacked the expedition in their sleep.

The battle was quick and deadly but Carson and Fremont survived. They planned retaliation on a nearby Klamath Village. The next day the village was razed and its people slaughtered. It is now believed that the Klamath natives were not involved in the May 9th attack. During the attack a Klamath warrior set his sights on Carson. Kit’s gun misfired as the warrior pointed his bow at Carson. Fremont seeing this charged the warrior trampling him with his horse. Carson felt a great debt to Fremont saving his life.

After the attack at Klamath Lake the party returned to northern California and participated in the Bear Flag Revolt. During the war with the United States, Mexico had ordered all Anglos to leave California. This pushed them to revolt and they declared California and independent republic.

Eventually Carson made his way south supporting American efforts near Los Angeles. By December 1846 Carson found himself in a tight gripped battle. General Stephen Kearny, with Carson as his guide, moved south from Los Angeles to San Diego to help defend the city after its capture by Commodore Robert Stockton. In route, a unit of Mexican Lancers, landowners, and ranchers met them near present day Escondido. After a back and forth engagement the Americans retreated to Mule’s Hill and set up a perimeter. Carson and two others made their way out and headed south to San Diego, twenty five miles south, to gather reinforcements. Once help arrived for the Americans the Mexican lancers retreated to safety ending the Battle of San Pasqual. Kit Carson’s exploits in California during the Mexican War furthered his status as a living legend in his own time. He became the subject of many dime novels and conversations on the streets all over the world.

After the resolution of the Mexican-American War Fremont was declared the military governor of California. Fremont had dispatches and records of events that were required in Washington D.C. and he trusted one man to carry out the delivery. Carson made his way east with the reports and arrived in D.C. in 1847.

By the following year gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill and the Gold Rush was on. CarIRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

son made a second trip to D.C. to report to the capitol to make the announcement. This sparked the 1849 Gold Rush that would expedite a huge migration west by Americans and forever change the continent.

CIVIL WAR AND THE NATIVES During the 1850s Kit Carson moved into a new career as an Indian agent for the United States Government. In 1853 he was assigned to work with the Ute and Jicarilla Apaches in northern New Mexico. Carson was a advocate for the reservation system because he feared that they would be wiped out as the massive migration of Americans moved west.

Carson’s career took another turn in the 1860’s. By 1861 the Union had fallen into Civil War back east. The far reaches of the frontier were not excluded from the fighting however.

Carson decided he should do his part and joined the 1st New Mexico Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He was commissioned a lieutenant but was promoted to Colonel within a year.

He fought only one large engagement against the Confederates at the battle of Valverde in New Mexico on February 20th 1862. The confederates planned to take Fort Craig and its supplies before moving on to take California. During the engagement, Carson’s regiment held off a Confederate thrust on the right flank. Unfortunately, the battle was out of hand and the Union commander lost his will and called for retreat. The 1st New Mexican Regiment, including Carson, was in disbelief.

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With the Confederates driven from the New Mexico Territory, the U.S. Army turned their attention to the native tribes. Major General James Carleton was in charge of the Territory and planned to move both the Apache and Navajo tribes to the Bosque Redondo Reservation on the Pecos River. Carson was ordered to pursue the tribes and get them moved to the reservation. The Mescalero Apache were the first to accept settlement on the reservation. The tribe was worn out from years of fighting and deprivation. Within the year most were working the land as farmers on the reservation. Some had escaped to join other tribes still fighting against the Americans.

Carson then turned his attention on the Navajo. He did not like the orders before him. He was to shoot and kill Navajo men he found and to take the women and children to the Bosque Redondo Reservation (near Fort Sumner). Luckily for the Navajo, their ability to melt into the landscape prevented their death or capture. A scorched earth policy was eventually taken up by the United States Army in order to force the surrender of the Navajo people.

Worn out from the campaign Kit Carson needed a break. He was now in his fifties and the years of adventure and war had caught up with him. His request for leave was denied

by Carleton, who gave him new orders to invade Canyon de Chelly. The canyon was a sacred Navajo area where the Navajo had taken sanctuary. Fortress Rock would be the last stand within the canyon for some three hundred of the tribe’s people. They hid from Carson and his soldiers using their ability to hide amongst their surroundings. Frustrated the army began cutting down peach trees and removing any available food source for the Navajo. Desperate and hungry barely surviving the winter they began to capitulate.

With the surrender in hand, Carson made efforts to get them food and clothes. “The Long Walk� to the Bosque Redondo Reservation proved deadly for many of the tribe.

The reservation on the Pecos proved to be a failure and General Carleton was dismissed.

After investigations by Congress the Navajo people were allowed to return to their homeland and the reservation was closed.

The Indian Wars, however, continued and Carson found himself again in a fight for his life in late 1864. During the Civil War most of the Army was fighting in the east and this created a vacuum of security along the trails connecting east and west. Travelers were being hit by marauding Indians in IRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

greater numbers and Carson was sent to clear them out. On November 25th the men under Carson attacked a Kiowa village in the Texas Panhandle. The army then moved on to an old abandoned trading post called Adobe Walls. About 5,000 Kiowa and Comanche warriors massed and attacked the soldiers who numbered about 400. Carson, outnumbered, led a rear guard action back to New Mexico. Carson managed to prevent many casualties among his men throughout the retreat and it was heralded as a great moment of leadership under impossible odds.

Kit Carson is perhaps the most pivotal figure to emerge from the American west. The knowledge and experience he gained in his early life helped Fremont map the way for mass migration of Americans into the West.

His assistance to the U.S. Army in California was instrumental in preventing its destruction at San Pasqual. Carson’s career move into the ranks of the Army cleared the way of hostile tribes in the Southwest allowing a more peaceful settlement for Americans.

While there was regret in his later years for the handling of the Native Americans, he always did his duty for his country. Kit Carson embodied the rugged individual who was inspiring, self-reliant, entrepreneurial, and held a violence inside that could be brought to bear on anything that threatened him or his companions. His character has all the qualities of the 26th Legion.

If you know someone we should induct into the Legion let us know by sending an email to info@romtx.com IRONMIKEMAGAZINE.COM | 15

ANIMOSITY

over

Acceptance

By Scott Casey A man in his late twenties, Thomas, sits in his favorite chair. A half empty tumbler of rye whiskey and ice are positioned within reach in front of him on a small wooden coffee table. The room is dimly lit by an old lamp which stands sentry in the corner over his right shoulder, it’s shade tattered and covered in a layer of dust. The air is heavy with humidity and a visible layer of tobacco smoke. On the table can be seen, a cordless phone, laptop computer, open box of 45cal. cartridges, a half full ashtray. A cigarette package near the ashtray draw the eye to the pistol lying beside it. Within reach the handgun lies blue black and ominously silent. A scene right out of a detective novel. Perhaps, except for one almost invisible detail, the man’s tears.

An hour earlier, Thomas, had been chatting online with a woman about his pain and wanting to end it all. The exchange between them had been erratic but heartfelt. Emotions poured out as quickly as the rye from the bottle. He explained why he felt the way he did and how ending his life would make things better, for him and for everyone around him. The lady on the other end of the computer chat was beside herself with worry. The feeling that the words of killing himself were legitimate and definitive. She felt certain that it would happen tonight if she did not do something to intervene. With a quick internet search she found and enlisted two online groups who specialized in assisting with this sort of situation. Her request for help in their respective in-box ’s brought immediate responses. The scene which unfolded over the next two hours brought the members of one of the groups to notify local authorities of the impending suicide threat. Within twenty minutes the authorities were on the door doing a check on Thomas. He was held for 24 hours to ensure his personal safety was looked after, and then released.

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In reality this is a troubling but very common scene across North America. The numbers of suicides amongst US veterans is staggering with a prediction that the statistics will be higher than those of Vietnam War veteran suicides. Canadian veteran suicides are well above the previously acknowledged numbers also. With this sort of information readily available it would be irresponsible of anyone to ignore a cry for help. The response should be in direct reaction to the level of the cry for help. Now while many conversations can end with the person in distress feeling better there are those where the individual is knocking on deaths door with a hammer. Those calls will almost certainly end in two manners, one, with the authorities being called to intervene or two, an immediate loss of life. The decision to call the authorities is a judgment call, and can be a difficult call to make. The question is whether the distress call warrants the escalation of care. At the end of the day it is easier to live with having brought the authorities to the home than to deal with the aftermath of a successful suicide.

The one calling for help may not observe the same opinion however. Anger and the feeling of betrayal can quite often be the immediate emotions following a welfare check up. This is caused by the brains defense mechanism desperately trying to mask the issues by saying, IRONMIKEMAGAZINE.COM | 17

“I wasn’t going to really do it.” Followed by, “Why the Hell did everyone overreact? Now I look like even more of a bloody freak.”

The blame is transferred to those who were left to make decisions based on the situation provided by someone who was at the time, irrational and in distress.

This irrationally charged thought process can last for days or weeks beyond the incident, possibly longer; lashing out in anger at those who made the tough choice. The transference is another facet of the brains self defense mechanism at work. It is easier to let the onus land on somebody else’s shoulders than it is to accept that we have a problem we are incapable of dealing with alone. The incident is often the catalyst to finally getting the help needed but it is also shrouded in animosity towards the person or persons responsible for making that leap. It could be quite a considerable amount of time before acceptance makes its way into the foreground of the healing process. The individual or group who made the call to authorities, regardless of the fact that the suicide was averted, will be left with the question of whether or not they did the right thing. A burden that is nearly crippling enough for some, that they refuse to get involved a second time. Tragically, animosity over acceptance wins, and another veteran will lose the battle with PTSD.

Scott J. Casey was born in British Columbia, Canada. He enlisted in the Canadian Forces as an infantryman with the Royal Canadian Regiment at age 18. In the spring of 1992 his unit was deployed to former Yugoslavia. He served in Croatia and the city of Sarajevo, Bosnia. He was honourably discharged in 1994. After his release from the military he moved back to British Columbia became a professional truck driver. He is currently employed as a heavy equipment operator. His writing includes a forthcoming book “In the Devil’s Courthouse”

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The Dirty 8 Ride Aug. 26 - Sept 4, 2016

WITH A TEAM OF BACKWOODS HORSEMEN, 8 VETERANS WILL RIDE FOR 8 DAYS THROUGH SOME OF AMERICA'S GREATEST MOUNTAIN TERRAIN IN UTAH AND MONTANA.

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO RAIDERPROJECT.ORG IRONMIKEMAGAZINE.COM | 19

FIRST AID

FOR SHOOTERS

By Robert Patrick Lewis I still remember the first time I saw someone who had been shot. I was absolutely amazed at how different the wound was from my Hollywood-induced expectations, which had taught me that all gunshot wounds resulted in volcano-like geysers of arterial blood splattering the walls amid shrieks of pain.

The victim was a teenager in Tampa who had been out riding his bike (which didn’t exactly explain the several hundred dollars he had in ten and five dollars bills, but that’s a different story) when hit by a stray bullet in his calf.

I was doing my first of two medical rotations for the 18D (Special Forces Medic) course, during which we focused on trauma and I spent a month rotating between the ER at Tampa General Hospital and riding along on paramedic ambulances.

The police and firemen on scene before we arrived knew who I was, and that I would be smack dab in the middle of various combat zones shortly after my rotation. They grabbed me as I stepped outside of the ambulance to ensure I got an up close and personal look at the wound...which was nothing more than a tiny red circle (it was from a .22 caliber pistol, and with no exit wound that was barely even any active bleeding).

That experience helped to cement two very important lessons in my mind when dealing with gunshot wounds. First, every traumatic injury and wound presents itself differently, based on any number of variables (pain tolerance of the victim, caliber of the weapon, distance/velocity of the round) - which consequently rarely turn out anything like the typical Hollywood special effects wound.

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Second, and more importantly, appearances can be alarmingly deceiving when dealing with trauma. While we knew there wasn’t much more to that injury due to the situation, in my various combat deployments I’ve seen other injuries which were much more severe, but presented just as mildly.

I won’t bother you with difficult medical terminology, but want to explain a physiological component of trauma that any shooter must always have in the back of their mind when coming across a gunshot wound (yes, this is just as important in the civilian world as it is in the military). The human body has an intricate and wonderfully developed sense of its own mortality, and does everything it can to maintain its own life support - for awhile.

Most visibly represented in traumatic amputations (just what it sounds like, when a limb is completely separated from the body, from blunt force trauma, sharp edge, explosion or, in some fun cases, a .50 caliber round from a sniper) the human body will utilize its various muscle groups as an initial tourniquet to stop itself from bleeding to death.

If you look at an anatomical chart of the body, you’ll notice that everything groups together, in the same places. Anywhere you see a long bone you will find a nerve, artery and vein grouped together from inferior to superior (inside/bottom to outside/top) along the body.

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This is the basis of the development of a windlass tourniquet - to take the severed artery from a traumatic injury and wrench it down along the bone, shutting off the blood supply and allowing the blood’s clotting factors to set in place and ensure the bleeding doesn’t resume when the tourniquet is removed.

What most people don’t know is that the body will do this on its own. When a traumatic injury causes massive arterial bleeding due to a rupture of the arterial wall, the muscles around that rupture clamp down on the artery, forming its own sort of natural tourniquet.

There have been many documented situations where a military medic or civilian paramedic will come on scene to a trauma, not see much blood (due to this natural tourniquet) and proceed to immediately package the patient (put them on a stretcher) and begin transport to the hospital.

The problem with this situation is that the body, just as any weightlifter, candidate in Ranger school or the Special Forces Qualification Course knows, eventually tires to the point of muscle failure.

When the lactic acid builds to a point that the muscle can no longer engage and keep the ruptured artery shut off, the floodgates open up and that ruptured artery becomes a garden hose. If the medic/paramedic put the patient in the back of an ambulance without first recognizing the injury and putting a tourniquet or pressure dressing in place, the patient stands a very high chance of bleeding to death en route to the next level of care.

In the military, we were taught (for the sake of time and due to combat scenarios) to always emplace a tourniquet first, and ask questions later. The civilian side is taught to err on the side of caution when deciding to emplace a tourniquet over a pressure dressing, but the point of this article isn’t about which treatment you emplace: the point is to ensure you do a complete check for wounds, regardless of whether you see blood or not.

Forget what you’ve seen in the movies, be prepared for anything, and just because you don’t see blood doesn’t mean there isn’t bleeding.

Robert Patrick Lewis is a Green Beret OIF/ OEF combat veteran with 10th SFG(A), is an award winning author of “The Pact” and “Love Me When I’m Gone: the true story of life, love and loss for a Green Beret in post-9/11 war” and the host of “The Green Beret MBA”.

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THE FUNNY SIDE OF

COMBAT STRESS

By Chris Hernandez

No joke, there he was, on a boring nighttime convoy outside Diwaniyah, Iraq… then the crap hit the fan!

“He” is one of my buddies, a fellow soldier who led of one of our convoy escort teams in Iraq in 2005. His name is Larry Russell (and yes, I have his permission to write this). When we met at Fort Hood in 2004, we were both staff sergeants with about 15 years of service. In civilian life he’s a firefighter. Larry and I were from different units that were thrown together for the Iraq deployment, and we got along great from day one.

Larry and I spent almost a year escorting supply convoys to different bases in Iraq. Several times a week we’d drive hundreds of miles through enemy held-territory, dragging 20 or 30 eighteen-wheel trucks driven by civilians from all over the third world, with all our lights on, on the exact same routes, past the same craters where the same insurgents hid the same kind of roadside bombs, over and over and over. We’d been shot at, bombs had exploded around us, and we’d barely avoided catastrophic accidents. Several soldiers in our battalion had been wounded by Improvised Explosive Devices. A few soldiers in our brigade had been killed. Troops from other units had been killed around us. All of us were stressed the hell out. But on this convoy, eight or so months into our deployment, Larry was a little more stressed than most.

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On a previous mission not long before, a Humvee on Larry ’s team had rolled over and some of his soldiers were hurt. But worse than that, nobody else on the convoy had noticed the accident. This isn’t as strange as it might sound. On convoys our Humvees were sometimes separated by miles, with huge trucks between them. The last Humvee in Larry ’s team had gone off the road, and the rest of the convoy was miles away before an injured soldier in the stricken Humvee managed to call for help on the radio.

That accident was on Larry ’s mind as he led his convoy down the highway. He was at the front, doing what we all did on convoys: trying to stay awake, and looking everywhere for signs of an IED. On missions I always wore my night vision device, and spent most of my time just scanning back and forth from shoulder to shoulder on the highway. Larry was doing the same thing, looking for bombs and trying to keep track of his vehicles.

The mission was boring, like most of them were. We were usually bored out of our minds until someone unexpectedly tried to kill us. Larry was experiencing the weird mix of sensations we all felt on convoys: boredom, anxiety, maybe a desire for the excitement of combat while hoping nothing really serious would happen. But then, something happened.

The night was pitch black. The men on the convoy were quiet. Larry looked side to side. Nothing. The night vision device he wore painted the flat, barren desert a dull green. Larry looked forward. And a tracer round from straight ahead zipped IRONMIKEMAGAZINE.COM | 25

through his field of view, barely missing the windshield.

He bolted upright. Neither his gunner nor driver reacted. Are they asleep? he wondered. Another tracer flashed by.

Larry screamed, “ Tracers!”

In unison, his startled gunner and driver yelled “Where?” More tracers flashed by. Larry ducked, keyed his radio and yelled, “Small arms fire, 12 o’clock!”

His gunner screamed, “I don’t see it, where’s it coming from?” Larry thought, What the hell do you mean you don’t see it? He peered over the dashboard as more tracers sailed past the hood.

“It’s coming from straight down the damn road!”

Larry ’s driver yelled, “I can’t see anything! Where is it?” Larry yelled back, “Shut the f **k up and drive!”

The driver started weaving back and forth on the highway, trying to avoid rounds he couldn’t see. Larry ’s gunner kept screaming “Where’s it at?” and frantically searching for a target. Soldiers in other vehicles asked for direction and distance on the radio, shouting that they couldn’t see anything.

Larry ’s heart pounded. He felt a momentary urge to choke his soldiers.

How the hell could they not see the rounds? He looked over the dash again.

More tracers zipped past. He cringed.

Then one tracer shot directly toward the windshield, slowed, made a little half loop and flew sideways.

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What the…? Larry jerked upright in the seat. His driver was weaving like a madman, his gunner fruitlessly scanning for targets, soldiers on the radio were still saying they couldn’t see anything. The tracers coming toward him started to look a little funny. Larry flipped his night vision device up.

They were driving through a swarm of bugs. The bugs were being lit up by the Humvee’s headlights. In the night vision device, they looked like tracers. Larry had freaked out over harmless little flies.

Usually when a soldier does something stupid, especially if it’s a leader, the soldier in question stays silent and embarrassed while the story spreads around him. Gleeful privates, specialists and junior sergeants happily pass the story on, embellishing as they go, eager to jab at their leadership’s imperfections. But I didn’t hear this story from someone else. Shortly after his Humvee was ambushed by a swarm of vicious Iraqi insects, Larry told us about it himself.

A small group of us, six or seven Humvee commanders and team leaders, were hanging out by our battalion command post. Larry joined us. We were telling war IRONMIKEMAGAZINE.COM | 27

stories, and Larry volunteered his. He laughed as he told it, and by the end of it we were rolling. But we weren’t laughing at him. All of us knew what it was like to have the crap scared out of us by something that turned out to be harmless.

I had nearly called out tracer fire crossing the road high in the air in front of our convoy one night. It turned out a car had driven across an overpass in the dark, and for some weird reason I never saw the headlights, only the red, tracer-looking tail lights. On another convoy lightning flashed in my peripheral vision and I flinched, thinking an IED had just detonated. When you’re constantly under threat of sudden, violent death, it’s understandable that you get a little jumpy.

Right after the imaginary small arms attack, Larry requested to be removed from his convoy escort team. He knew he was too stressed, too nervous, and needed time to calm down. The company leadership agreed, and put him in a support position. He had done his time on the road, and recognized that he needed a break. I didn’t hold it against him.

Larry stayed in the National Guard after that deployment, and later made another trip to Iraq. When I asked permission to write his story, I offered to use an alias. He wanted me to use his real name. I understand why.

Millions of men and women have served in our recent wars. A tiny minority became true heroes, but , most of us didn’t do anything heroic. We just did our best, and should be proud of that. Larry went to war, twice, and did his best.

During one of those trips to war, the stress got to him. Given enough time and enough missions, all of us will reach that point sooner or later. And there’s no shame in that.

Chris Hernandez is a 20 year police officer, former Marine and currently serving National Guard soldier with over 25 years of military service. He is a combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan and also served 18 months as a United Nations police officer in Kosovo. He writes for BreachBangClear. com and Iron Mike Magazine and has published two military fiction novels, Proof of Our Resolve, Line in the Valley and Safe From the War through Tactical16 Publishing. He can be reached at chris_hernandez_author@yahoo.com or on his Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ProofofOurResolve).

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EVERY DAY CARRY (EDC)

By John Pinnix What is every day carry? Excellent question, my friends. Often times it is confused with what gun, holster and knife an individual is carrying. Your weapon, holster and knife of choice are very important. There are other considerations to EDC though, and many of them are often overlooked, because they are not as sexy as the newest piece of kit. We will briefly touch on the most common things considered but will spend more time on the not so sexy things.

Obviously we all immediately want to talk about our gun and holster as soon as someone mentions EDC. This is an important and very personal choice. There are a myriad of good quality reliable firearms available on today ’s market, so what you carry is up to you. The only advice I will offer in that realm is that you carry the biggest gun you can carry and shoot comfortably. The holster you choose should retain your firearm no matter what you do. Since you have spent good money on your handgun do not be afraid to spend good money on your holster as well. If you carry a handgun on a daily basis or at anytime you should also buy and wear a belt that comfortably supports the weight of your equipment and keeps your pants up. I prefer the Original Instructor Belt from The Wilderness.

These belts will cost you less than $50 and last a lifetime, and a bonus is they IRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

are made right here in the USA. The market is full of excellent belt choices ranging from tactical style belts made of nylon to fashionable leather choices from several manufacturers. What you choose depends on your situation.

In my opinion the most overlooked piece of EDC is your clothing. Often times we forget that things can happen to us at anytime. For example, have you had a flat tire, gotten stuck in traffic, caught in a rainstorm, or any of the other common things that occur on a daily basis? I speak from experience here when I saw that I have changed a flat tire in the rain without a raincoat while wearing shorts and a t-shirt. It was a horrible experience but I learned from it. There is also the rare instance that I have seen a person walking down the side of the road wearing inappropriate footwear. That is why I do not advocate the wearing of flip-flops anywhere other than the pool or beach or while traveling to these locations. A story that a good friend of mine likes to tell is of a father coming to pick his children from an activity during the winter wearing shorts and a tank top. The father was late by almost an hour because he had to change a flat tire in sub 30-degree weather, and nearly froze. There is no end to examples or stories I could give where people were caught in the wrong clothing for their situation. The next time you are heading out the door take a second and think about what you are going to do and what could possibly go wrong.

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When I was growing up my dad always carried jumper cables, an old wool blanket, a flashlight, and a bunch of other supplies. As a young man I never understood why he carried all of these things. Once I became an adult and started driving I realized that my dad carried that stuff for two main reasons; first was in case something happened to his truck while he was traveling; and second was that my dad never met a stranger and would stop to help folks out if he could. The other thing I realized, after being stranded a few times, was that I should also carry those things. This brings me to the point here. What do you carry in your vehicle? Today we take our vehicles for granted and expect that they will perform and get us to where we need to go without any problems. As I am sure most of you know this is not always the case. I carry many of the same things my dad carried and a few extras. One of the most important items I carry in my truck is a legitimate first aid kit. I say legitimate because most of the pre-made car kits out there are not very useful during a traumatic car accident. Band-Aids will not stop you from bleeding to death.

Another important item I carry is extra food and water. I happen to live in an area where there is only one route of travel for me to take and I have been stuck on it for several hours. You do not have to carry enough food to sustain an army but a few extra snacks are never a bad idea and they take up very little space.

Water is also not a bad idea as it can be used for many things from topping off the cooling system in your car to flushing an injury out before bandaging. I also carry extra fluids for my vehicle such as oil and anti-freeze. The last thing I make sure that I have in every vehicle is a good tool kit. I have used mine so many times that I have lost count, and I haven’t just used it for my vehicle.

The most important part of your EDC, whether you carry a gun or not, is absolutely the most overlooked item. I am talking about your body. What I mean is that no matter how much cool gear you carry, if you can’t walk from one end of IRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

your house to the other without becoming winded that gear will do you no good if you need it. This is not to say that you should rush out and join a gym or start running marathons but take a little better care of yourself. Physical fitness is not difficult; a little bit will go a long way. It also important to pay attention to what you put in your body as that will determine the level of performance you can get out of it. Proper maintenance of your body is vital to so many things in your life.

My friend Glen Stilson always says that if you are already at a reduced capacity then you will have an even more reduced capacity with which to respond to any situation that life presents. This advice also applies to your mind; it is the best weapon any of us possess. You should be trying to expand your knowledge every day in some way. It only takes a few minutes to read a magazine article or research online about a topic that interests you or something totally new that you know nothing about.

I sincerely hope that my words have given you all some food for thought. You might not agree with everything I said and that is fine. We all have our own interpretations of what EDC consists of. The simple matter is that it covers more than what most people think it does. Sometime back I stopped calling it ‘every day carry ’ and started using the term ‘every day considerations’ because that really is what it is all about. Right now is a great time for you to evaluate your own EDC. It is my hope that you have learned something new here.

John Pinnix is a Marine Corps veteran, current Arizona National Guardsmen, firearms instructor with Independence Training and owner of RedWire Gear.

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Stuffed Jalapenos

Ingredients • 12 fresh jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded • 1 (8 ounce) package whipped cream cheese • 12 slices bacon, cut in half

Prep 20 minutes Cook 45 minutes Ready In 1 hour 5 minutes • • • • •

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Stuff each jalapeno half with whipped cream cheese.

Wrap a half slice of bacon around each stuffed jalapeno half.

Arrange wrapped jalapeno halves in a single layer on a medium baking sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven 45 minutes, or until bacon is evenly browned and crisp.

If you'd like to share your favorite recipe send it to info@romtx.com We want to to try it and put it in Iron Mike Magazine for our readers.

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MARK LOGULLO

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MARK LOGULLO

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MARK LOGULLO PHOTOGRAPHY IDAHO

photosbymarko@gmail.com 208.720.9375 IRONMIKEMAGAZINE.COM | 43

LEADERSHIP The Rubber Band, Match, and Acorn

By Jeff Harris When it comes to leadership, I always keep a match, rubber band, and acorn sitting at my desk. Why? I keep a rubber band handy to remind myself that we are only growing and reaching our potential when we stretch ourselves.

As a leader, we have to be developing ourselves daily. The rubber band is a personal reminder to always push myself and others out of their comfort zones and into their growth zones.

What about the match? As a leader, it’s our job to help others reach their potential. A single match can light a candle and brighten a darkened room. That same match could be thrown down in that room and burn the building to the ground or an entire forest for that matter. A match simply represents the power of the potential that we all have inside of us. A leader focuses on lighting a fire within others. A manager focuses on lighting a fire under others. There is a time for both, and that match serves to always challenge my approach.

And the acorn? The acorn reminds me to look at a person’s potential and not their performance (which is extremely challenging when it comes to sales). It reminds me to be optimistic and see others with all the potential needed to grow into a mighty oak tree.

How tall can a tree grow? As tall as it can. Human beings limit their growth by their beliefs which drive behavior. Thus, everyone needs a coach to help break through those barriers in personal beliefs and keep growing higher. After all, it is only the stories we tell ourselves that often prevent us from realizing our potential. The acorn reminds me to be patient and act as a coach.

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“Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximize their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them.”

– John Whitmore When it comes to unlocking another’s potential, the key is to ensure that person is working in their strength zone. What do I mean by strength zone?

Working in your strength zone means having the ability to consistently provide near-perfect performance. For example, if someone tried to coach and mentor me into being a world-class ballerina, it just wouldn’t happen, and I would look awkward at best. Ballet is not and never will be my strength, so the most I would ever be (with a relentless amount of work) is average. And guess what? No Team can do epic shit with average people. For every average player (B or C) and below average player (D or F) you have on a team, you have one less seat for an A-Player who can deliver consistent results.

When I combine the match, rubber band, and acorn, I ask myself: • Is this person coachable? How can I influence this person to raise their effectiveness and efficiency?

• Is this person pushing themselves out of their comfort zone daily to get better?

• Does this person have a fire lit inside them to achieve excellence? Or, do I have to light a fire under them to do anything?

• Does this person have the capabilities to be world-class with all of my mentoring, training, and coaching?

• Are they in the right seat on the bus?

• Does this person have the opportunity to do what they are capable of being their best at every day?

• Can they soar like an eagle? Or, will they always quack like a duck?

If you have to spend time managing & directing someone, then you probably have the wrong person.

Bottom line, as a manager, we are driven to be number-makers. As a coach, we must be driven to be people-makers, because we can only achieve our potential by helping our IRONMIKEMAGAZINE.COM | 45

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team members achieve theirs. When it comes to being a leader, balancing between the two can make all the difference between success and failure when it comes to improving performance.

A good manager delivers results through others and a great leader develops their team.

A great coach sees himself as a cultivator of human potential. However, we must also be intuitive to determine if our players have the potential to be great at the position they’ve been appointed. Think about a professional (American) football team. Every player has a specific position to operate in their strength zone to contribute to the success of the Team. Would you have the Right Tackle sub for the Quarterback for a passing play? NO! Would you spend time trying to train, coach, and mentor that Right Tackle into learning how to pass the football? Probably not.

Why? Because, we all have unique talents, knowledge, personalities, and skills that help define our strengths at work and in life.

Human Potential is unlimited when you are working in your strength zone. However, human potential can also be very limiting when you are not working in your strength zone.

Regardless, you simply can’t expect to get consistent results from an inconsistent process when it comes to management (execution) and coaching (development). Improving performance has a linear relationship to the quantity of coaching we provide our team members. Thus, the only way to systematically improve performance is through consistent, constructive, & proactive coaching with positive developmental feedback.

“There is nothing more important managers can do that will have a direct and measurable impact on the bottom line than investing time each day coaching their salespeople.” – Keith Rosen Coaching is taking someone where they can’t take themselves. Is the person you are coaching capable of embarking on the given journey? In order to become good at any trade, everyone needs training. However, in order to become great (A-Player), everyone needs coaching. Not everyone can make the cut which is the burden leaders must shoulder to ensure the success of their Team.

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What behaviors, abilities, skills, and attitudes are essential for above average performance in your department or function?

Ability is what an employee is capable of doing. Motivation then determines what they can do, and their attitude determines how well they will do it. A leader must always determine if their team members have the right abilities, motivation, and attitude to accomplish the task at hand.

Training, mentoring, and coaching our staff are all essential for changing behaviors, abilities, and attitudes. So, what’s the difference?

Training is sharing our knowledge, and mentoring is sharing our experience. Coaching is asking questions to help others learn from within by empowering them to think for themselves. However, none of us are good enough to elicit greatness from everyone. Sometimes, a duck is simply a duck‌and a leader’s job is to determine if that duck is in the right nest and capable of soaring like an eagle, or if that duck needs to find a new flock and watering hole to call home.

Jeff Harris is a leading marketing and managment consultant. He is a former United States Marine. A graduate of the St. Louis University. He lives in Colorado with his family.

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The

Green Dragon "Headquarters of the Revolution"

By Robert H. Johnson

The Green Dragon Tavern was located on Boston’s North end on Union St. Originally this tavern had passed through the hands of several owners throughout the 1700s, until 1743 when William Douglas, a physician and pamphleteer bought it and used it as his “mansion house”.

When Douglas died in 1752, a mere nine years later, it passed to his sister who held on to it for a few years. She eventually sold it to St. Andrews Lodge of Freemasons in 1766. The first floor of the building was used by the lodge for meetings and some ritual work, but it’s when you get to the basement, is where it gets interesting.

In the basement of this tavern turned Masonic lodge several political action groups began. For instance one such group was the “Boston Committee of Correspondence”. This of course doesn’t sound like a dangerous group, but trust me.

This group was in all actuality, what some would describe as a shadow government run by leaders of the colonies. The group was initially set up to address the “Currency Act” which was set in place so that British merchants didn’t have to accept the local currency. These guys promptly met in secret and called “bullshit” on that nonsense.

So now you have a running idea of perhaps just how serious these groups were that had been meeting in these places. This wasn’t your typical neighborhood watch meeting; this was political warfare, well, at least the start of it.

Another famed group to meet in the basement of the Green Dragon was the “Boston Caucus”. Again, another non-threatening sounding name, but nothing could be farther from the truth. This group was formed in 1719 by a physician; Dr. Elisha Cook Jr. but the activities which gave the group its notoriety, were perpetIRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

uated under the guiding hand of one Mr. Samuel Adams. I could have said under the influence of Samuel Adams, but then you all would have gotten thirsty. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Under his hand, the group called for the protection of the rights of Boston’s lower and middle class citizens and the social programs of the day.

One of the more secret groups to have met at the Green Dragon was called “ The Loyal Nine”. This was where things started to escalate from political warfare fought with words and ideas, to actions. Formed in 1765 by what is said to have been nine like-minded individuals, all who were residents of Boston, these guys were serious. They banded together to protest the “Stamp Act”, which was a tax on every single printed item made from paper. The British were trying to raise funds to protect the American Frontier, along the Appalachian Mountains by sending ten-thousand troops there. The colonists weren’t so much mad at this, but mad that this was Britain trying to raise money for a project in the Americas.

First of all, they didn’t need to raise the money, they had it. Second, this was passed without the colonies legislature. And of course The Loyal Nine was the precursor to the formation of the now infamous group, the Sons of Liberty. This IRONMIKEMAGAZINE.COM | 51

leads us into the famous saying…

"No Taxation without Representation" All the previous groups I have mentioned all eventually had folks who joined this one group, designed to protect Boston’s people on the streets at any cost. The group formed in 1764.

The group received its name from Isaac Barre` when he referred to the colonies as “ The sons of liberty ”. This is in fact the group which planed the Boston Tea Party, and you can guess where they did it, that’s right, the basement of the Green Dragon Tavern. They [The Sons of Liberty] even had their own flag, which was adopted in 1767 and which had nine uneven vertical stripes representing the Loyal Nine. They named it the Rebellious. The Green Dragon Tavern is known as “Headquarters for the American Revolution” by many historians today. One famous Freemason actually left the Tavern to start his midnight ride to Lexington. Of course this is Paul Revere.

The Green Dragon was demolished in 1854. Today located at 11 Marshal St. on Boston’s North end is a new building titled the same, The Green Dragon Tavern and they publicly state that they are the “headquarters for the revolution” In the words of Patrick Henry at the Virginia Convention in 1775,

“Give me liberty or give me death!”

Robert H. Johnson is a professional mentor, public speaker and lecturer. He is heavily involved in Freemasonry and Occult studies as well as being an avid HIstorian and Master Brewer. He works in the executive medical industry and is a husband and father of 4. He is involved in numerous podcasts dealing with the subject of Freemasonry. You can follow his activity by visiting www.wcypodcast.com or follow on twitter @whencecameyou or @rjthespeaker IRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

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ODYSSEY

COLOR

A TEN DAY TRIP FROM TEXAS TO COLORADO AND BACK! IRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

RADO

By Bryan Dolch

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Last year’s summer vacation was spectacular. My in-laws rented a house in Crested Butte, Colorado. They rented the house for a full week . We decided to go up a little early and visit with friends in Colorado Springs. Here’s a rundown of our trip.

We always leave early in the morning for our long trips. Like last year ’s Big Bend Trip we were up at 5:30 am and out the door within the hour. We like to get the kids going and break for breakfast about an hour down the road. This put us just outside of Fredericksburg and we found a great little rest stop on US 290.

Our goal for the end of the day was to get to Trinidad, Colorado. This was always the stopping point for my father in-law when the made the trip years ago. We made Big Spring, Texas around lunch and stopped for lunch. We found a great hotel restaurant for lunch through Trip Advisor. If you are ever in Big Spring and need to eat Settles Hotel and Grill is a must stop. After lunch we hopped back in the car and continued on US 87 until we reached Dumas, Texas. This town has a variety of offerings for dinner. We chose wrong. Do not stop at Braum’s. The place was not clean and we left with an uneasy feeling about what we had eaten. It’s now a running joke when we talk about going out to eat. We passed into New Mexico that evening and decided to stop in Raton, New Mexico for the night. Trinidad was not much farther but it was already getting dark and we wanted to make sure we could find a place for the night. July is a big travel season in Colorado and hotels can be hard to come by as you pass through New Mexico into Colorado. Both Trinidad and Raton are major stopping points for the trip into Colorado.

The first hotel we stopped at was booked. We found a Holiday Inn Express that had a vacancy and stayed there for the night. The suite was perfect. It had two queens and a pullout couch. The price was a little steep but expected. The final bill was almost $300 for the night.

The next morning we piled in the “Silver Bullet” and headed north. From Raton we made it to Colorado Springs a little before after lunch. We decided to aim straight for the Garden of the Gods. Unfortunately, so did everyone else. We IRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

could not find parking and decided to move on to something else. We reached the main entrance to Seven Falls but were turned back by a road worker. Apparently there was a flood that washed out most of the road leading up to the falls and it would not be open until later this year. We broke for lunch and the tried another waterfall stop that was close by. Helen Hunt Falls is a quick stop but parking was a challenge. I imagine that many people had opted to go there due to the closure of Seven Falls. It was worth the stop so if you have a little patience plan to go.

We had planned to stay with a friend from the Marine Corps for the duration of our stay in Colorado Springs. It had been almost 10 years since we had seen each other so it made the stay even better. From his knowledge of the area we were able to plan our visit for the next few days. By his suggestion we went to Garden of the Gods early in the morning on Sunday. Starting out early in the morning would help us find a parking spot and allow us to beat the traffic on the trails. Garden of the Gods is an amazing outcropping of rock that rivals any national park. The great thing is that it is in the middle of town so you don’t have to plan a long trip into the mountains to get to it. You can spend a few hours then head to your local tavern like Red Leg Brewing when you’re done. The visitor center is phenomenal. After spending some time on the trails head over to learn about the area and view the “garden” from a distance. For more information on the Garden of the Gods check out their website. This is a must on your trip to Colorado Springs.

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On Sunday night I had the great fortune to finally meet my good friends from Tactical 16 and SocoKydex. After working with Erik and Kristen over the past few years it was a long over due meeting. Unfortunately, we did not have a large amount of time to visit but it was well worth the beers and couple of hours to visit with two incredible people. I was also surprised by Tim from SocoKydex.

Tim is one of the great people that I have been blessed to connect with through Tactical16. His company is a top of the line kydex holster company and getting to meet him was awesome. If you get a chance check out their products you won’t be disappointed.

For our Monday event we tackled Pike’s Peak. Well.... we took the cog train up Pike’s Peak. This was a little pricey but it saved a huge amount of time for us. It was an incredible ride up the side of the mountain and the views were inspiring.

When you get to the top you have about 30 minutes to take pictures and visit the souvenir shop. The rapid climb is hard on those of us from lower altitudes and I had one son that began to have a little headache while on top of the mountain.

The peak should be on your bucket list if you are ever in Colorado. It provides a view into the Great Plains to the east and a look into the mountain range that Colorado is famous for. All in all, the ride up and back down took about three hours. We took the train on its earliest run and I would suggest you do the same.

As we came down into the station we found a large group of people waiting to get on board our train. The debarking process was a little unsettling because they allowed the new passengers to pack into the area we were trying to exit. There

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has to be a better option. We had originally planned to stay in the town, Manitou Springs but after we left the Cog Rail station we found it hard to find parking.

Manitou Springs is a tourist town built on souvenir shops and cafes. Skipping Manitou we headed back to the house. We took it easy the rest of the day and planned for one last meal with my friend that evening.

If you are ever in Colorado Springs you have to try Ted’s Montana Grill. This is one of the best steakhouses I have ever visited. Be prepared to pay for it but it is worth the stop.

We ended our stay in Colorado Springs on Tuesday morning. We made a break for Crested Butte about mid morning. We were not in a rush as we were meeting our family later in the afternoon. It took almost four hours to get there from Colorado Springs. It’s a bit deceiving on the map. As you get into the interior of the mountain range the roads maneuver back and forth making a straight shot to your destination almost impossible. One key land mark deserves a warning of caution. The Monarch Pass can be a hair-raising ride. Make sure your brakes are good and drive carefully. I think my wife prayed the rosary at least ten times while driving through. I’m exaggerating of course, kind of, just be cautious.

We arrived in Crested Butte that afternoon to find that we were staying at an amazing home. The house was actually in the area past the ski lodge of Mt. Crested Butte. I’m not sure where my in-laws found the house but there are several sites that are available to find a house to rent. Within a short period of time IRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

my nieces and nephew had returned from a walk up the road to report that they had seen a bear in a tree line. The snap shot they took looked like it was a brown bear. So within a short period of time the excitement had started with a bang.

Would the rest of the week be as spectacular? The answer is yes.

So the first day of adventure led us up the mountain. We cheated a bit and used the ski lift to get us closer to the top with little effort. The lift we was not much considering the time it saved and the view it provided. You can purchase the tickets in the lodge area for $19.05 for adults and $16.97 for kids. Kids 6 and under are free. There are packages that are offered. Check out their website for more details. The lift started at 9:30 am so if you’re looking for an ‘early ’ start up the mountain start walking. They were also offering a twilight ride up and back down the mountain for $7.00. The ride included a beer to enjoy along the way.

Unfortunately we didn’t get to take that ride.

On our way up the mountain I rode with my wife and two of my sons. My middle son rode with his grandparents on the chair behind us. The seats offer an open air experience that carries you up the mountain through the trees and over draws that can be 100 feet down (well that’s my closest guess). In the middle of the ride the cable stopped and we swung upward a good 10 feet as the tension loosened. We came to a rest at least 50 feet above a draw. The looks on my boy ’s faces were priceless. Onward we went and we were dropped off a few hundred feet above the summit of Crested Butte. The trek to the summit was not a treacherous one but...the altitude did take the wind out of you. So if you’re not accli-

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matized for high altitude, take your time. You’ll get there it’s not a race. The last stretch of the climb does get difficult. The trail ends and becomes a pile of loose rocks that appear to have been dumped on top of the mountain. This is a good stopping point for those that are not confident of their footing or are feeling the effects of the lack of oxygen. If you do go on the view is spectacular. The area at the peak is about 20 by 10 feet. There was a small group ahead of me so space was limited. There is an ammo can at the top that has a registry to record your accomplishment. It is an incredible view all around. The total trip up and down the mountain, including the ride back down on the lift was about 3 hours.

Later that afternoon after lunch we decided to take a quick trip up Gothic Rd. to find Judd Falls. This is an easy walk through aspen trees to a set of falls. There is access for off road vehicles which can save you from walking an extra mile.

There are also campsites in the immediate area. While this was a beautiful place it was not a highlight trail for us. Make it an extra when you have some time to kill. That being said, there is a longer trail that continues on for another 4 miles to Copper lake. We turned around at the falls.

The next day we decided to spend time in town. Souvenir shops cannot be avoided on any trip with young boys. This one was no different. Parking was easy in the morning by the visitors center which was close enough to Elk Avenue to walk. Most of the businesses in town that cater to tourists are on Elk Avenue.

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mugs. I’d have to say that I was a little disappointed. While there were a few good items the selections were the same in most stores. I did find an outstanding fly fishing shop that offers guided trips and is worth checking out. I don’t recall the name for certain but I believe it was called Troutfitters (I tried finding a website but they only have a listing in the chamber of commerce). For lunch it was highly recommended by my friend in Colorado Springs to try Secret Stash. This eclectic pizza place was a hit with the kids and my wife. The menu has your basics but if you want to get adventurous it’s your place. Pizzas like Mac Daddy, Tahoe Bluze, and Notorious F.I.G. can be found on the menu. After lunch we walked the shops for another hour then headed back to the house for a relaxing afternoon and a quick walk along the roads by our house.

The next morning we split up from the rest of the family and went on the Lupine trail. This trail was intended to be less strenuous for our son who had experienced some altitude issues when we climbed the summit of Crested Butte. We thought it would be a good idea to take it a little easier on a trail that offered longer switchbacks while still offering a bit of a challenge. The trail itself was great but we found one problem. Apparently the other end of the trail ended (or started) from a point in town that was easily accessible to mountain bikers. We found ourselves constantly having to get off the trail as they raced down the mountains past us. The trail did offer incredible scenery and intense patches of aspen trees and wildflowers. After an hour and a half of dodging bikers we decided to turn back. I don’t think that there was much more to the trail maybe another mile at IRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

most. Overall the trail lasted about 3 and a half hours. I would suggest, from what I saw, to take this trail if you like to mountain bike. The riders seemed to love it and it provides some fast long slopes with tight turns on the switchbacks.

It looked like a lot of fun.

The following day we set out on perhaps the best hike of the trip. The trail was just long enough to burn some fat of the bones yet not one to ruin you for the rest of the day. The views were incredible. Washington Gulch Trail 403 started a few miles outside of Crested Butte on Washington Gulch Road. The road up did get a little precarious for our Ford Expedition. Just before the parking area there was a tight hairpin turn that I had to actually stop and back up to finish the turn.

There was little parking there so if you›re going to do this trail start early so you have a spot. The trail takes up to an area that directs you towards Mount Baldy.

The hike takes you over several open overlooks and provides great views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. I can write about it but words can only do so much. Pictures can give a glimpse of its beauty but fall short. This is a must. The trail is mountain bike friendly as well. We spent a few hours on the trail but could have continued on to complete the trail which ends at road NFSR 317(Gothic Rd).

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The biggest challenge of the trip came on Saturday. We decided to drive up Gothic Road to Emerald Lake. WARNING: Be very cautious as you go farther up Gothic Road. In retrospect I should not have been driving a long wheel base vehicle like the expedition this far up the road. This area is for off road vehicles only. While we did see other small vehicles on the road most seemed to be going through the same regret that I was. We missed the ‘ Y ’ that would have led us down to Emerald Lake. There were no signs marking the turn off. We did however find ourselves on a road that was uneven, wet, and very narrow. The area is called Schofield Pass. Of course I didn’t stop and take pictures of this drive because my grip on the steering wheel was so tight. The picture below was one that I found on the internet. It is the only picture in this article that is not mine but I felt that it was necessary for you to see how rugged and narrow this road is.

Some of the road finds you driving inches from a several hundred foot drop.

Once we cleared the main area that prevented me from breathing I found a “wider ” road that actually allowed me to turn around like Austin Powers. So we never made it to Emerald Lake except for the quick glance we got on the road above as we were coming back down. We were also lucky to find no traffic on the road on our way up or down. Passing would have been impossible. Many beers were had when we reached the house after this.

On Sunday my wife and two of my sons went horseback riding with Fantasy Ranch outfitters. I’m not a rider and it’s been about 30 years since I was on a IRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

horse. My wife on the other hand has had her own horse and said that the ride was well managed. They went out for about a hour and a half. She said that the lead rider was worked well to help the riders along the trail. This was my sons’ first ride and they both walked away wanting more. My youngest wants me to buy one but that’s not going to happen. They do have several times available for their hour and half ride as well as a three hour, half day, and a full day ride.

We wrapped up our stay with a quiet evening on Sunday and prepared to head back to Texas on Monday morning.

We made our break for Texas around 6:30 am heading south through Gunnison but we veered towards New Mexico a little sooner. Instead of following our path back through Monarch Pass we headed south on CO 114 to Saguache. From there we planned to skirt the Rio Grande National Forest to The Great Sand Dunes National Park. First we stopped in Saguache for breakfast at a small cafe. It was perfect. A home-style breakfast and home style service. The people and food were great at 4th Street Bakery and Diner. If you’re passing through Saguache and need a good meal this place will do the trick. Fair warning they are not in a hurry and you shouldn’t be either. Relax and enjoy your meal and companions.

After eating we moved on down the road and arrived at The Great Sand Dunes around 11 am. The dunes can be seen for 20 miles (or more). We made a quick stop at the visitor ’s center then headed to the parking area next to the dunes.

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and begin your trek across the sand. They go on and on. You put it into perspective when you see small specks climbing the summits of the mounds. The wind was not bad that day but be prepared to get your shorts filled. There are water stations to rinse off in the parking lot. Many people had rented boards to slide down the dunes and we had a chance to watch some people that were nearby. It looked like a lot of fun. We had a great time taking off on a full sprint down the slopes that were as high as 50 feet. If you are in southern Colorado and have the chance this should be on your bucket list. Unfortunately we only had about an hour in the park. There is camping and other trails that you can hike into the nearby mountains. Plan a day or two to explore this incredible place.

Back on the road we moved east connecting with the main interstate 25 which took us south out of Colorado and into New Mexico. From Raton we swung east again across to the panhandle of Texas. We made a quick stop at the border and kissed the ground. If we were going to make Lubbock that evening we had to keep moving. We made Lubbock and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on the south side. Another good stay with this great chain of hotels.

In short our last day on the road brought us all the way home. Weary from 18 hours of driving we unpacked the ‘silver bullet’ leaving our gear in the hallway.

It took a few days to decompress and get back into the swing of our daily lives but the memories of the last 10 days will be forever seared into the memory of my family.

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REAGAN AT THE GATE

IRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

Ronald Reagan: Brandenburg Gate Speech Delivered 12 June 1987, West Berlin, Germany.

" Thank you. Thank you, very much.

Chancellor Kohl, Governing Mayor Diepgen, ladies and gentlemen: Twenty four years ago, President John F. Kennedy visited Berlin, and speaking to the people of this city and the world at the city hall. Well since then two other presidents have come, each in his turn to Berlin. And today, I, myself, make my second visit to your city.

We come to Berlin, we American Presidents, because it’s our duty to speak in this place of freedom. But I must confess, we’re drawn here by other things as well; by the feeling of history in this city—more than 500 years older than our own nation; by the beauty of the Grunewald and the Tiergarten; most of all, by your courage and determination. Perhaps the composer, Paul Linke, understood something about American Presidents. You see, like so many Presidents before me, I come here today because wherever I go, whatever I do: Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin. [I still have a suitcase in Berlin.]

Our gathering today is being broadcast throughout Western Europe and North America. I understand that it is being seen and heard as well in the East. To those listening throughout Eastern Europe, I extend my warmest greetings and the good will of the American people. To those listening in East Berlin, a special word: Although I cannot be with you, I address my remarks to you just as surely as to those standing here before me. For I join you, as I join your fellow countrymen in the West, in this firm, this unalterable belief: Es gibt nur ein Berlin. [There is only one Berlin.]

Behind me stands a wall that encircles the free sectors of this city, part of a vast system of barriers that divides the entire continent of Europe. From the Baltic South, those barriers cut across Germany in a gash of barbed wire, concrete, dog runs, and guard towers. Farther south, there may be no visible, no obvious wall. But there remain armed guards and checkpoints all the same—still a restriction on the right to travel, still an instrument to impose upon ordinary men and women the will of a totalitarian state.

Yet, it is here in Berlin where the wall emerges most clearly; here, cutting across your city, where the news photo and the television screen have imprinted this IRONMIKEMAGAZINE.COM | 73

brutal division of a continent upon the mind of the world.

Standing before the Brandenburg Gate, every man is a German separated from his fellow men.

Every man is a Berliner, forced to look upon a scar.

President Von Weizsäcker has said, “ The German question is open as long as the Brandenburg Gate is closed.” Well today—today I say: As long as this gate is closed, as long as this scar of a wall is permitted to stand, it is not the German question alone that remains open, but the question of freedom for all mankind.

Yet, I do not come here to lament. For I find in Berlin a message of hope, even in the shadow of this wall, a message of triumph.

In this season of spring in 1945, the people of Berlin emerged from their air-raid shelters to find devastation. Thousands of miles away, the people of the United States reached out to help. And in 1947 Secretary of State—as you’ve been told— George Marshall announced the creation of what would become known as the Marshall Plan. Speaking precisely 40 years ago this month, he said: “Our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine, but against hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos.”

In the Reichstag a few moments ago, I saw a display commemorating this 40th anniversary of the Marshall Plan. I was struck by a sign—the sign on a burnt-out, gutted structure that was being rebuilt. I understand that Berliners of my own generation can remember seeing signs like it dotted throughout the western sectors of the city. The sign read simply: “ The Marshall Plan is helping here to strengthen the free world.” A strong, free world in the West—that dream became real. Japan rose from ruin to become an economic giant. Italy, France, Belgium— virtually every nation in Western Europe saw political and economic rebirth; the European Community was founded.

In West Germany and here in Berlin, there took place an economic miracle, the Wirtschaftswunder. Adenauer, Erhard, Reuter, and other leaders understood the practical importance of liberty—that just as truth can flourish only when the journalist is given freedom of speech, so prosperity can come about only when the farmer and businessman enjoy economic freedom. The German leaders—the German leaders reduced tariffs, expanded free trade, lowered taxes. From 1950 to 1960 alone, the standard of living in West Germany and Berlin doubled.

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and apartments, proud avenues, and the spreading lawns of parkland. Where a city ’s culture seemed to have been destroyed, today there are two great universities, orchestras and an opera, countless theaters, and museums. Where there was want, today there’s abundance—food, clothing, automobiles—the wonderful goods of the Kudamm.¹ From devastation, from utter ruin, you Berliners have, in freedom, rebuilt a city that once again ranks as one of the greatest on earth.

Now the Soviets may have had other plans. But my friends, there were a few things the Soviets didn’t count on: Berliner Herz, Berliner Humor, ja, und Berliner Schnauze. [Berliner heart, Berliner humor, yes, and a Berliner Schnauze.]

In the 1950s—In the 1950s Khrushchev predicted: “We will bury you.”

But in the West today, we see a free world that has achieved a level of prosperity and well-being unprecedented in all human history. In the Communist world, we see failure, technological backwardness, declining standards of health, even want of the most basic kind—too little food. Even today, the Soviet Union still cannot feed itself. After these four decades, then, there stands before the entire world one great and inescapable conclusion: Freedom leads to prosperity. Freedom replaces the ancient hatreds among the nations with comity and peace.

Freedom is the victor.

And now—now the Soviets themselves may, in a limited way, be coming to understand the importance of freedom. We hear much from Moscow about a new policy of reform and openness. Some political prisoners have been released.

Certain foreign news broadcasts are no longer being jammed. Some economic enterprises have been permitted to operate with greater freedom from state control.

Are these the beginnings of profound changes in the Soviet state? Or are they token gestures intended to raise false hopes in the West, or to strengthen the Soviet system without changing it? We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty—the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace.

There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace.

General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate.

Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate.

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Mr. Gorbachev—Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

I understand the fear of war and the pain of division that afflict this continent, and I pledge to you my country ’s efforts to help overcome these burdens. To be sure, we in the West must resist Soviet expansion. So, we must maintain defenses of unassailable strength. Yet we seek peace; so we must strive to reduce arms on both sides.

Beginning 10 years ago, the Soviets challenged the Western alliance with a grave new threat, hundreds of new and more deadly SS-20 nuclear missiles capable of striking every capital in Europe. The Western alliance responded by committing itself to a counter-deployment (unless the Soviets agreed to negotiate a better solution)—namely, the elimination of such weapons on both sides. For many months, the Soviets refused to bargain in earnestness. As the alliance, in turn, prepared to go forward with its counter-deployment, there were difficult days, days of protests like those during my 1982 visit to this city; and the Soviets later walked away from the table.

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But through it all, the alliance held firm. And I invite those who protested then—I invite those who protest today—to mark this fact: Because we remained strong, the Soviets came back to the table. Because we remained strong, today we have within reach the possibility, not merely of limiting the growth of arms, but of eliminating, for the first time, an entire class of nuclear weapons from the face of the earth.

As I speak, NATO ministers are meeting in Iceland to review the progress of our proposals for eliminating these weapons. At the talks in Geneva, we have also proposed deep cuts in strategic offensive weapons. And the Western allies have likewise made far-reaching proposals to reduce the danger of conventional war and to place a total ban on chemical weapons.

While we pursue these arms reductions, I pledge to you that we will maintain the capacity to deter Soviet aggression at any level at which it might occur. And in cooperation with many of our allies, the United States is pursuing the Strategic Defense Initiative—research to base deterrence not on the threat of offensive retaliation, but on defenses that truly defend; on systems, in short, that will not target populations, but shield them. By these means we seek to increase the safety of Europe and all the world. But we must remember a crucial fact: East and West do not mistrust each other because we are armed; we are armed because we mistrust each other. And our differences are not about weapons but about liberty. When President Kennedy spoke at the City Hall those 24 years ago, freedom was encircled; Berlin was under siege. And today, despite all the pressures upon this city, Berlin stands secure in its liberty. And freedom itself is transforming the globe.

In the Philippines, in South and Central America, democracy has been given a rebirth. Throughout the Pacific, free markets are working miracle after miracle of economic growth. In the industrialized nations, a technological revolution is taking place, a revolution marked by rapid, dramatic advances in computers and telecommunications.

In Europe, only one nation and those it controls refuse to join the community of freedom. Yet in this age of redoubled economic growth, of information and innovation, the Soviet Union faces a choice: It must make fundamental changes, or it will become obsolete.

Today, thus, represents a moment of hope. We in the West stand ready to cooperate with the East to promote true openness, to break down barriers that separate people, to create a safer, freer world. And surely there is no better place than Berlin, the meeting place of East and West, to make a start.

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Free people of Berlin: Today, as in the past, the United States stands for the strict observance and full implementation of all parts of the Four Power Agreement of 1971. Let us use this occasion, the 750th anniversary of this city, to usher in a new era, to seek a still fuller, richer life for the Berlin of the future. Together, let us maintain and develop the ties between the Federal Republic and the Western sectors of Berlin, which is permitted by the 1971 agreement.

And I invite Mr. Gorbachev: Let us work to bring the Eastern and Western parts of the city closer together, so that all the inhabitants of all Berlin can enjoy the benefits that come with life in one of the great cities of the world.

To open Berlin still further to all Europe, East and West, let us expand the vital air access to this city, finding ways of making commercial air service to Berlin more convenient, more comfortable, and more economical. We look to the day when West Berlin can become one of the chief aviation hubs in all central Europe.

With—With our French—With our French and British partners, the United States is prepared to help bring international meetings to Berlin. It would be only fitting for Berlin to serve as the site of United Nations meetings, or world conferences on human rights and arms control, or other issues that call for international cooperation.

There is no better way to establish hope for the future than to enlighten young minds, and we would be honored to sponsor summer youth exchanges, cultural events, and other programs for young Berliners from the East. Our French and British friends, I’m certain, will do the same. And it’s my hope that an authority can be found in East Berlin to sponsor visits from young people of the Western sectors.

One final proposal, one close to my heart: Sport represents a source of enjoyment and ennoblement, and you may have noted that the Republic of Korea— South Korea—has offered to permit certain events of the 1988 Olympics to take place in the North. International sports competitions of all kinds could take place in both parts of this city. And what better way to demonstrate to the world the openness of this city than to offer in some future year to hold the Olympic games here in Berlin, East and West.

In these four decades, as I have said, you Berliners have built a great city. You’ve done so in spite of threats—the Soviet attempts to impose the East-mark, the blockade. Today the city thrives in spite of the challenges implicit in the very presence of this wall. What keeps you here? Certainly there’s a great deal to be said for your fortitude, for your defiant courage. But I believe there’s something deeper, something that involves Berlin’s whole look and feel and way of life—not IRONMIKEMAGAZINE.COM | 79

mere sentiment. No one could live long in Berlin without being completely disabused of illusions. Something, instead, that has seen the difficulties of life in Berlin but chose to accept them, that continues to build this good and proud city in contrast to a surrounding totalitarian presence, that refuses to release human energies or aspirations, something that speaks with a powerful voice of affirmation, that says “yes” to this city, yes to the future, yes to freedom. In a word, I would submit that what keeps you in Berlin—is “love.”

Love both profound and abiding.

Perhaps this gets to the root of the matter, to the most fundamental distinction of all between East and West. The totalitarian world produces backwardness because it does such violence to the spirit, thwarting the human impulse to create, to enjoy, to worship. The totalitarian world finds even symbols of love and of worship an affront.

Years ago, before the East Germans began rebuilding their churches, they erected a secular structure: the television tower at Alexander Platz. Virtually ever since, the authorities have been working to correct what they view as the tower ’s one major flaw: treating the glass sphere at the top with paints and chemicals of every kind. Yet even today when the sun strikes that sphere, that sphere that towers over all Berlin, the light makes the sign of the cross. There in Berlin, like the city itself, symbols of love, symbols of worship, cannot be suppressed.

As I looked out a moment ago from the Reichstag, that embodiment of German unity, I noticed words crudely spray-painted upon the wall, perhaps by a young Berliner (quote): “ This wall will fall. Beliefs become reality.”

Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall, for it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.

And I would like, before I close, to say one word. I have read, and I have been questioned since I’ve been here about certain demonstrations against my coming. And I would like to say just one thing, and to those who demonstrate so. I wonder if they have ever asked themselves that if they should have the kind of government they apparently seek, no one would ever be able to do what they ’re doing again. Thank you and God bless you all. Thank you."

The Brandenburg speech is perhaps one of the most important given by a U.S. President in the 20th Century. The speech was highly controversial and many in Reagan’s cabinet opposed him giving it. Reagan turned down the advice and made a stand against oppression and the Soviet Empire. This helped build the resistance in the "Iron Curtain" and the “Wall” actually fell by the end of 1989. The Soviet Union collapsed a few years later.

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DIRECTORY 22KILL: VETERANS CHARITY

AMERICA GRIP: FIREARMS ACCESSORIES

BEE TACTICAL: KYDEX PRODUCTS

BRIM-IT: HAT ACCESSORIES

DEAD GOOSE SOCIETY: FIREARMS MANUFACTURING

DECISIVE ACTION: TACTICAL TRAINING

FIGHT THE NOISE: POLITICAL ORGANIZATION

FIRE ARMS POLICY COALITION: POLITICAL ORGANIZATION

TEXAS FROG FEST: CHARITY EVENT

HEROES MEDIA GROUP: ONLINE RADIO

INDEPENDENCE TRAINING: TACTICAL TRAINING

KENAZ TACTICAL GROUP: TACTICAL TRAINING

KOTA LONGBOARDS: PREMIUM LONGBOARDS

IRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

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DIRECTORY CONTINUED KRIS ‘TANTO’ PARONTO: PUBLIC SPEAKER

LONE STAR GUN RIGHTS: POLITICAL ORGANIZATION

MILLER TACTICAL GROUP: KYDEX PRODUCTS

PIPE HITTERS UNION: APPAREL

RAIDER PROJECT: VETERANS CHARITY

REAPER CUSTOMS: CUSTOM METAL WORKS

RED OAK MARKETING: MARKETING AND PUBLICATION

SCHULTZ PHOTOGRAPHY: PHOTOGRAPHER

SONORAN DESERT INSTITUTE: ONLINE COLLEGE

TEXAS FIREARMS FESTIVAL: FIREARMS EVENT

THE ARMS ROOM: PODCAST

WHENCE CAME YOU?: PODCAST

WISHES FOR WARRIORS: VETERANS CHARITY If you have a company, organization, or a need to reach our readers let us know. The directory is here for you. It's an affordable way to let people know who you are. Email us at info@romtx.com for more information on getting listed.

IRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

EVENTS JULY 2016

Independance Training - Intro to Dirt Medicine TWAW

JULY 2ND

JULY 12TH

Kenaz Tactical Group - Intro to Defensive Handgun

Independance Training -Veteran's Action Shooting

Independance Training - Practical Shotgun

JULY 23RD

JULY 3RD

Independence Training- Ladies Practical Carbine

Kenaz Tactical Group- Intro to Carbine/ AR15

Kenaz Tactical Group- Intro to Defensive Handgun

JULY 4TH

JULY 24TH

Independance Training - Independance Day Rifle Match 10am Arms Room Radio Show

Kenaz Tactical Group- Colorado Conceal ed Permit Class

JULY 9TH Kenaz Tactical Group- Tactical Rifle/ Carbine 1 Independance Training - IFAK Life Saver JULY 10TH Kenaz Tactical Group- Intermediate Carbine 2

JULY 28TH Kris Paronto- Scottsbluff GOP, Scottsbluff Nebraska JULY 30TH Independence Training- Basic Handgun/ If you're interested in listing in event contact us at info@romtx.com. This is a great way to reach out to our readers and let them know what you are up

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IRONMIKESUPPLY.COM IRON MIKE MAGAZINE | JULY 2016

Shots ring out! You're on the move with not only yourself, but your family. Do you know how to properly engage targets while going mobile? This type of scenario is more and more common in our increasingly violent world.

Active shooter scenarios play out every day on the news. Are you prepared to get you and your loved ones away from the threat safely? A static target is a dead target. Mobile Dynamics is a 4 hour specialty class that focuses strictly on shooting while on the move. You will be put through a portion of the same rigorous training regimen that our High Threat Security Operators go though before they deploy with a security team. In this class, we will teach you using the same Executive Protection techniques our operators use while shooting and moving. You always have your loved ones with you while out in public-- that is why it is so important to know the correct way to shoot and move while getting your loved ones to safety. In any situation involving a gun, you most likely will not be standing still. We train you to retreat while engaging targets. You are also trained in forward engagement and shooting moving targets while you yourself are mobile. This is an action-packed class that is not only focused on mobility, but on giving you that bodyguard style mentality while shooting and moving.

#TrainLikeYourLifeDependsOnIt DecisiveAction-US.com

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LENTA • FORTIS • INSPIRARE