Fort Pillow State Park

When I was in Boy Scouts, my troop stayed the night and hiked the trails at Fort Pillow but that was many years ago. After studying the American Civil War and the battle fought there in April of 1864, I thought it would be time to re-visit the battlefield. I noticed a geocache is placed at the battlefield Lionel Booth's Folly, a traditional cache. The cache page indicates little about the history of the area and maybe the reason I have over looked it on previous passes along Highway 51. Maybe, also the cache is a 20 minute drive away from Highway 51 and there are no caches along the way?

Anyway, on October 20, I decided it was time to find that cache and also tour the battlefield. In the process, I set up 13 waymarks within the park. I also obtained information and and photos to set up an earthcache. We will see if I can pull that off.

Cachestalker94 caught wind of my plans on the afternoon of October 19 and found it necessary to stay the night with a friend, making herself unavailable for the adventure. Minnie Mouse, however, didn't have any choices and she came along for the ride. We arrived at the coordinates given by cgeek, which indicated the cache was .21 from our parking area. We hiked up one hill, down a hill, and up another hill. Was a good hike for me, however for Minnie Mouse, it was testing her endurance. We arrived at the Union earthworks, slipped over and found the cache. After signing the log we toured the earthworks. Being a student of military science, I soon realized the Union soldiers were in a bad situation at this site. The guns only could fire through a port hole in the defenses. All the Confederate dismounted cavalry had to do was avoid the portholes and overwhelm the defenses. During the battle sharpshooters, (would be called snipers today), picked off the Union defenders allowing the dismounted cavalry troopers to scale over the walls and enter the fort area. Another part I noticed, when setting up a defense, a route or way needs to be selected to retreat. The only way for the Union soldiers to escape was down the hill into the gully. Today, the area is forested, but in 1864, the land would have been clear, it was apparent the Union troops would have been shot like fish in a barrel.

Minnie Mouse and myself toured the remainder of the state historic park and did a little more hiking and also visited the interactive museum. After touring the fort, we ventured over to Henning, TN to set up more waymarks and visit the Alex Haley boyhood home and his grave.

Completed 20 years of service

Yesterday on Friday, Oct. 5, 2007, I reached a personal milestone, in which, I have completed 20 years of military service. At paygrade E-6 and were to retire upon receiving my 20-year letter, I would have to wait until age 60 to receive my retirement pay, which would be about $700 a month. For now, I do plan to stay in the Guard.

My military career began in August of 1985 when I left Memphis for Great Lakes, IL for the US Navy. After basic training, I was trained as an Aviation Support Equipment Electrician at NAS Memphis. I received further training at NAS Jacksonville. While stationed in Florida, I had my first chance to swim in the ocean and visit Disney World. After training, I was transferred to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. I worked at the airfield and maintained equipment that kept the planes flying. Toured much of Puerto Rico, including the beaches and San Juan. Also during my time, visited St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands twice. Upon discharge from the Navy, I returned to Tennessee and began attending the University fo Tennessee at Martin. During that first semester, I did enlist into the Tennessee Army National Guard in the 1174th Transportation Company. The first year in the Guard was uneventful, but in November of 1990, the unit received orders for active duty. The next nine months were at Ft. Campbell, KY and flown to Saudi Arabia. During the 1991 Gulf War, I did visit Kuwait and Iraq.

In 1992, I took a break and remained a civilian for 3 years. I was told of a Military Police Company in Murray, KY. I joined the 438th MP Company. While with the MP's, I did visit Ecuador and Panama. Also participated in state active duty for the Kentucky Derby, various concerts and security in the Paducah area when the Ohio River flooded the region.

In 1999, I transferred back to the 1174th Transportation Company. During that time, I have visited California, a weekend in Las Vegas, NV, Fort Knox, KY and Fort Stewart, GA. In 2003, the unit was again placed on active duty and I re-visited Kuwait and Iraq. Returned home in 2004 and remained on active duty for medical problems. Medical problems were remedied and released back to the 1174th. After Hurricane Katrina, the unit was placed on federal active duty and I visited the ravaged New Orleans.

The National Guard was re-organized, the 1174th, became the 1171st and in order to be promoted, I took a position with the 1175th Transportation Co. in Humboldt, TN. Today, I am with the 1171st Transportation Company and plan to remain there.

Intro to Geocaching at the Big Cypress Park

On Saturday over 30 geocachers that included cacher families attended the Intro to Geocaching a the Big Cypress Park located five miles outside of Greenfield, Tennessee. Salamander60 and I co-hosted the event after months of planning and discussions. It has been observed that the event has been a huge success. The same weekend, a new cacher family from Sharon, Tennessee begun caching. And due to the media exposure prior to the event, many Fall Festival participants were aware of the sport and asked some very good questions. The event began at 10 am with a presentation by myself after an introduction by Salmander60 whom is the President of the Friends of the Big Cypress Park. Presentation including the history of GPS where the military was first to use the technology, various types of handheld GPS receivers, who GPS can be used on a laptop with voice directions. The presentation went into the history of geocaching and explained the sport.

Cachers came from all over to attend the event in the beautiful day where the temperatures were in the 80's and no rain. Cachers were from GOWT, JAG and non-associated with any organization. Attending were: cannotreadgps from Dresden, TN, Salmander60, is daughter Lil Sal and wife Sweet Thang from Greenfield, TN, Penfencer from Montevallo, Alabama, Cataluna Woods and RaevenDarkWings, UT Martin students, yogi & dolphin of Yuma, TN, BigdaddyD of Scotts Hill, TN, dalls of Beech Bluff, TN, RiverNWick drove in from Parsons, TN, cachestalker and minnie mouse of Dresden, TN, Pharmd93 and Sherlock121 of Martin, TN, 1998volsfan of Greenfield, tnwoodturner from Paris, TN, Williefan of Bruceton, G-T-Martin came in from Kenton, TN, 76Stinger and Poohbear94 of Munford, TN, Leavarock of Clarksville and gleasondad of Gleason, TN. Lost-n-tn became cachers that day and logged the cache page.

Good times were had be all in attendance. Cachers enjoyed the new caches in the park and speaking to the muggle audience about our obsession. Cachers witnessed a Bird of Prey presentation by the Reelfoot State Park employees, there were Arts and Crafts on display, a nature trail to walk, Civil War re-enactors and their campsite to view.