2015 Grand Muster After Action Report

[Pitspitr]

I am requesting that you post your after action reports here

[Delmonico]

Well, I just made it home safe.  Will work on pictures later.

[Major 2]

looking forward to them 

[Bow View Haymaker]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/308112292558615/

there are some pictures and vid on GAF facebook group.

Know that I was with you all in spirit.

[Major 2]

I don't face-book , twitter or any of the other social media ...I'll have wait on Glen

[Sagebrush Burns]

This was my first Grand Muster and what a great time it was!  First was meeting folks in person that I have encountered at the Barracks - and a great group of people they are.  Next were the stages and shooting activities.  Movement and target distance and location were fun and challenging but not impossibly difficult (although on the first stage I discovered that my rifle was way off - point of impact was 2 feet right of point of aim at 50 yards and high also - once that was corrected the rest was quite straight forward).  I guess I'd better practice a bit at distances longer than SASS 15 yards before next year.  The swapping of yarns and tales (campfire BS) was most excellent and the various areas of knowledge and expertise were a joy to absorb.  I met so many people I can't begin to remember who everyone was...  Larry Little and his brother, Lonnie and his brother, Vaughan, Dave, Brian & Mark form Texas, and many more.  My wife, Karol, came along and has decided to become a part of GAF.  She had a great time and was treated wonderfully by everyone - thank you all.  Some thank yous are in order.  I can't remember everybody's name who helped put on the match, but here are a few:  Pitspitr, Drydock, Ned Niederlander, Quick Fire, River City John, Delmonico.  I am overwhelmed by the quality of the people and honored to be a part of it all.  Rest assured, I shall return!

[ColDiamond]

The Grand Muster was a challenging match.  Thanks Jerry, Chuck, Glen, Dale and all the rest who worked so hard showing us a good time in a beautiful area of Nebraska.   

[LT Col Long]

Special thanks to Glen who (in my opinion) did one heck of a job with the chow!!
Thank You Glen!!!

LtCol Long

[Pitspitr]

[pony express]

Wish I could have made it! Looks like several new friends I haven't met yet.

[Delmonico]

July 1 2015
From Headquarters of Commissary Department
Lincoln Nebraska

To: General Jerry Davenport
Headquarters Grand Army of the Frontier
Near Sargent in Custer County Nebraska

Sir:

The Commissary Departments gear was loaded in The Field Marshall and lest Headquarters just before noon on June 23, arriving in camp with a small hole in the lower radiator hose.  Quartermaster Dale Beethe was able to obtain one and the Commissary Department is grateful for his fine work.

Upon arriving in camp, the Field Marshall was unloaded in the kitchen area and a fire was started, producing tea for iced tea and coffee.   The Ordinance Officer and I decided that rather than go to Sargent and try the food of the indigenous people of the area I would make our meal in camp.  A fine meal was made of sliced baked potatoes, Vidalia onions and Italian Sausage links, although the ordnance officer did not bring his Carcano.    Turkish Coffee was our desert. 
"Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love."
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord


A ham was put on to bake over night as well as potatoes for ham and fried potatoes for breakfast.  Colonel Long showed up and biscuits, cheese and more ham were served for lunch, a baked  ham, cheese and potatoe dish was served for supper.    The remains of said ham became ham and beans at another meal and the rest of that became baked beans.   

The usual roasted pork loin, cheese steaks on biscuit, pot roast and other familiar meals were served as well as the camp tradition of sausage gravy and biscuits for Sunday breakfast made with the good sausage made at the local suttler (The Corner Market in Sargent).

The Sunday noon meal was meatloaf, baked macaroni and cheese, homemade bread and both pear and peach cobbler, favorites of our late companion Steve Summers aka Stu Kettle.  His family dined with us before the memorial ceremony.   

The two local recruits were back and performed wonderful.

The Commissary Department was loaded on The Field Marshall  and departed about 11 am and was back at it's headquarters a little after 3 pm. The unloading was completed yesterday and the cleaning and storing gear still continues.  The last of the leftover meat loaf was just consumed by the Chief Commissary Officer and was still quite tasty.

One of the new dishes served in camp was a turkey cut up to fit the 20 inch dutch oven "Bertha"  and rice was added and cooked in the juices before serving.  This dis was well received since it was totally eaten with no leftovers.

Your Obedient Servant

Bvt Major Glen Carman
Chief Commissary Officer

[pony express]

, arriving in camp with a small hole in the lower radiator hose. 

There seems to be a pattern developing here.....

Also, from the picture posted above, seems the Commissary Department's  camp helpers have acquired more suitable attire, look good! Hopefully, their quarters remained intact through the weekend this time.

[Bow View Haymaker]

The food alone is worth the trip. right?
I will attept to move ouintains ton be there nest year.

Sagebruch,  now you kinow what and why I was trying to start some GAF activity out here in AZ.
unfortunatly, life events have forced my hobbies to take a backseat for a while.  I hope to back in the thick of it again soon.

[ira scott]

As a "first timer" I very much enjoyed The Muster! General Davenports Ranch is a beautiful place to spend time/shoot, and I felt privileged to have  spent time with a group of very knowledgeable and entertaining people. I won't soon forget Drydock's dry sense of humor (the guy could be a stand up comedian!), or Niederlander's infectious laugh! Thank you again to LTCol Long for hauling the Gatling gun all the way from "Illernoise" and to Jerry for all the time he spent at the loading bench just so everyone could enjoy it!   
Campin, shootin, eatin, drinkin, bullshitin with a fine group of gentlemen! It don't get much better than that! I also shall return!

[Quick Fire]

July 4 2015
From somewhere out in the Plains, a scouting for Injuns

To: General Jerry Davenport
Headquarters Grand Army of the Frontier

Suh;

This herah muster was a fust rate doozy. Ya'll really outdid yerself once again. I'm proud to scout fer a first rate bunch of soldjurs such as ya'll have gathered. Ye can just bet I'll be back next year to scout on yer next campaign. Until then,

Adios

Quick Fire

PS. Wouldn't be much of a scout if I couldn't point out a couple of items that could be improved on to make it an even better Muster.
Water jugs on each battle site and some more shade on the site that I helped out. Other than those two minor improvements it was the best shoot I've ever been to.

Respectfully:
Quick Fire

[River City John]

July 4
Report by Veldcornet Johan De Covert


My Compliments to General Jerry Pitspitter and Staff and My Fellow Comrads in Arms:

Arrived at camp in the foothills of the Bohemian Alps on Thursday, 25 June, with my traveling companion Colonel Diamond of the U.S. Volunteers. I was struck by how the surrounding countryside reminded me of my homeland in Transvaal!
Ascended to the Laager at the top of Pitspitr Hill and made contact with the forces stationed there. All was astir with preparations for the coming Muster, so I got to work immediately and inspected the first of the latrines. An army may move on it's stomach, but the proper course of an army requires many movements. My unofficial mission was to ensure all was in order for the troops as to sanitation facilities.

I took the opportunity to spare five precious rounds to sight-in my newly issued short Mauser. Very pleased with it's performance, and very grateful for helpful tips received on sight adjustment from Col.'s Little and Drydock. Safe to say the rifle and load combination was capable of greater accuracy than were my poor efforts to operate it. It was apparent that 100 rounds was not sufficient to engage all targets planned what with misses, so next year I will know to bring more ammunition.

The four engagements were very challenging, fun and well thought out.
In fairness to myself, most of my costly misses were on the first skirmish of the day down in that infernal gully where the morning sun had not yet penetrated and the targets hidden in the foliage were shadowed, such that many carefully sighted rounds were expended removing the threat of what proved to be only a large, leafy plant. (It was a vicious looking plant, though!)

I was very impressed with all the efforts the General and Lt. Col. Neiderlander made in creating the many new improvements to the Muster, especially the newest stage below the camp in the valley, nicknamed "Fort Hell". A lot of work in building steps, bridging, ramparts and the palisades. Sadly, I was so footsore and exposed by the time we finished that run that Sgt. Bursovsky took pity on me and retrieved an ox-cart from camp to haul my sorry self back up to the Laager. It took some time afterwards, including eating the noon mess and drinking several tankards of your strange  American concoction, "Gatorade", before feeling refreshed enough to push on to the fight at Fort Scottsman. The desire to man the Gatling gun once again was an inducement, to be sure! Thank you to all in the Division of Illinois who made this second appearance of the Gatling possible.

The Commissary Dept. outdid itself, and my vote for the best meals would be the roast turkey and rice, pork loin and 'taters, and of course the biscuits and sausage gravy. Capt. Delmonico is to be commended.

The weather added some interesting entertainment. A very hearty Thank You to all who provided rides up and down Pitspitr Hill to Col. Diamond and myself when our beast of burden could not negotiate the muddy track and that treacherous wallow.

My only lament is that we who had lengthy travel times ahead of them on Sunday and had to break camp in the morning caused us to miss Stu's memorial later that afternoon. It was a very respectful and fitting remembrance towards Stu for his family. I am proud of GAF for planning this.

Veldcornet Johan De Covert


     

   (Edited for accuracy.)
 




 

[Bat 2919]

I would like to thank the Command Staff and every one who helped with set up and ran the stages for another very well run Grand Muster.  Having been the match director of many large matches including the AZSA Championships as well as SASS Regional and State Championship events I know just how much time and effort went into this match. 

The main match format was well organized and should work very well for a larger numbers of participants. 

The long range match was perfect for our rifles and very realistic.  I also enjoyed the long range pistol event.

I would also like to add my support for additional shade and water on the stages.

Waiting with baited breath for the results.

Congratulations gentlemen.

[Drydock]

Improvements can always be made.  Big acknowledgement of water and shade where needed!  Some targets probably need to be different colors. (We now know why Napoleon had so much trouble seeing Prussians in the woods)  And some particularly fearsome large leaf plants need to be cut back . . .

[Delmonico]

Anyone having extra water jugs should bring them, we can always get plenty of ice.

[Niederlander]

From the Quartermaster,  Plans for better shade are already in progress, as are some improvements at the campsite.  We find things we need to improve on every year, and more water is going to be a MAJOR priority!