Oklahoma D-Day

[SicEmBaylor]

Does anyone else play? Some of you might know that I play big-game scenario paintball, and Okahoma D-Day is the biggest scenario game in the world (traditionally about 4,000+ players but that number has dropped in recent years).

Anyway, I just registered for my 5th year. Despite some issues each year, there is no way to attend and not have an absolute blast.

[SicEmBaylor]

Me playing at D-Day last year:
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/252364_10151636598523484_1206999044_n.jpg

[StoopTroup]

Try Afghanastan.

[SicEmBaylor]

Try Afghanastan.

Try cyanide.

[SicEmBaylor]

Try Afghanastan.

Look, I don't want to go back and forth with you on this. We've done that numerous times. Can you just allow this thread to be in case someone is interested in the sport or interested in Oklahoma D-Day? Showing a little class is probably too much to ask of you, but I'll ask anyway.

And, for the record, scenario paintball is made up overwhelmingly of military and former military. If you have any snarky comments to make about Afghanistan then maybe you'd like to direct them to my D-Day unit commander who did 2 tours in Afghanistan and 1 in Iraq. He's certainly not unique...I'd have a hard time naming many of those guys who aren't in the military.

Three years ago, a group of 15 101st Airborne guys were fresh off their deployment from Afghanistan and had only been home a week yet they allowed up to D-Day and played with the 101st.

Again, I don't want to do a round-robin on this since we've been there done that. If anyone is interested in the sport or attending the largest scenario game in the world which happens to be right here in Oklahoma then we can discuss that.

[olevetonahill]

Got any Vids? Doubt it would be anything Id be interested in participating in, But it might be worth watchin some.

[SicEmBaylor]

Got any Vids? Doubt it would be anything Id be interested in participating in, But it might be worth watchin some.
There's a bajillion of them on YouTube. In fact, Several years ago, a documentary film team began filming footage of OK D-Day over the period of three years or so. They've worked hard at editing the film and getting it published. Many of us have anxiously awaited the release of the film, and next month the DVD will finally arrive. If you really want to know what D-Day and scenario paintball is all about then you can't go wrong with this film. I saw an advance screening last year and thought it was fantastic. They're also working on distributing it via iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, etc.

Their website here: soldiersofpaint.com
A short preview can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rhzyr2kO9B8

And here are some decent YouTube vids:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHSumAGRU7s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5bBKiWMfyg
That's just a couple but there are tons on YouTube.

[SicEmBaylor]

There are still a handful of Vietnam vets that play. We had one join our unit a couple of years ago who was a tunnel rat. He had a blast, but the poor guy literally had a heat stroke during the game and had to be lifelined to Joplin via helicopter.

[olevetonahill]

Are you in any of em?
I may watch tomorrow,

[SicEmBaylor]

Are you in any of em?
I may watch tomorrow,

I'm in that first YouTube video that I posted, but it's near impossible to make me out. For whatever reason, most of the people who video at D-Day stick with the Allies or are Allies themselves. We Germans don't get much publicity, but at about the 5:40 mark I'm on the other side of that berm. At 10:01 you can catch a quick glimpse of the back of me walking off the field.

I've taken a bunch of helmet cam footage, but my videos really really suck and aren't the least bit exciting. I always seem to record when barely a thing is going on. Here are a few of them...

This first one is just a video I shot one morning around my unit's campsite....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPb9bXWw46o&list=UUmply09pyuW_7Iun8JabWOA&index=7

This second one is "Operation Sea Lion" which was just a mini-scenario during the week (not the main game).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjnhdPAT1dE&list=UUmply09pyuW_7Iun8JabWOA&index=5

This one is me stuck behind a bunker after 5 or 600 Allies swept through the valley. I got caught and did my damndest to stay put and hide. I'm amazed to this day that neither they nor their tank that rolled through ever saw me...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG7F7GX9h6E&list=UUmply09pyuW_7Iun8JabWOA&index=19

Anyway, like I said, my **** isn't that exciting.

[Jacie]

What is the range of a PB weapon?

[SicEmBaylor]

What is the range of a PB weapon?

About 150' at about 290fps. You can shoot faster than that but for safety reasons you have to chrono under 300fps.

[SicEmBaylor]

There is still time if anyone is interested!

[diverdog]

I just wish they would not call it DDay.

[SoonerInFortSmith]

I just wish they would not call it DDay.

Thank you for saying it. I think it disrespectful. But I didn't want to appear to just be picking on SicEm. Because I do that enough already.

[SicEmBaylor]

I just wish they would not call it DDay.

It's based on the invasion of Normandy....what else would you call it?
Don't be ridiculous.

[SicEmBaylor]

Thank you for saying it. I think it disrespectful. But I didn't want to appear to just be picking on SicEm. Because I do that enough already.

We've had D-Day veterans (the real ones) actually attend though obviously they didn't play. One of the real original "Dirty Dozen" came every single year though he recently passed away, and he certainly didn't find it disrespectful. Everything there is done with the intention of respect. Not to mention the fact at least 3/4 of the players are active duty military or former military. I don't think they have any intention of disrespect, but you could take that issue up with them if you're concerned.

[SicEmBaylor]

Jake McNiece, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_McNiece, thought it was fantastic and if Jake McNiece never saw anything the least bit disrespectful about it then you shouldn't either. That claim is just full of so much ignorance it's hard to respond to.

[olevetonahill]

Jake McNiece, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_McNiece, thought it was fantastic and if Jake McNiece never saw anything the least bit disrespectful about it then you shouldn't either. That claim is just full of so much ignorance it's hard to respond to.

Sides you wernt the one who named this shindig were ya?

[SicEmBaylor]

Sides you wernt the one who named this shindig were ya?
Correct. I mean if Diver wanted a more generic name then there isn't anything more generic than "D-Day" as I'm sure he knows that was simply the operational term for the designated start of every invasion during WWII. A more specific name would actually have been "Invasion of Normandy" or "Operation Overlord." There were a lot of D-Days in WWII, technically speaking.

Anywhoo, Valken put out their annual D-Day Magazine thing a couple of days ago.

http://www.joomag.com/magazine/valken-newsletter-spring-2013/0075421001367960696#.UYqa53aiK2M.mailto

[SoonerInFortSmith]

Thank you for saying it. I think it disrespectful. But I didn't want to appear to just be picking on SicEm. Because I do that enough already.

We've had D-Day veterans (the real ones) actually attend though obviously they didn't play. One of the real original "Dirty Dozen" came every single year though he recently passed away, and he certainly didn't find it disrespectful. Everything there is done with the intention of respect. Not to mention the fact at least 3/4 of the players are active duty military or former military. I don't think they have any intention of disrespect, but you could take that issue up with them if you're concerned.

Why do you get so defensive? I specifically said I wasn't trying to pick on you. And maybe you should be careful about ordering grown men around.

[diverdog]

It's based on the invasion of Normandy....what else would you call it?
Don't be ridiculous.

If it were a reenactment then I am fine with it. If it is just a glorified paintball game then they should call it something else IMHO. And I was not trying to pick on you. Many apologies if that is the way it sounded.