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Post by weekendwarrior on Dec 5, 2018 23:46:07 GMT -6
Good evening,
My name is Michael D_. I've been an avid enthusiast of the US Army during the Indian Wars for several years now, and recently I've started researching the Little Bighorn in depth. I belong to the LBHA Facebook Groups and I hold an active membership. I look forward to learning from all of your combined expertise regarding this fascinating historical event.
A little about myself: I'm a current Infantry Officer in the California Army National Guard moving into Company Command. I currently work as a civilian law enforcement officer in Southern California. My interest in this era stems from the classic John Wayne/John Ford Western movies, as well as spending many summers exploring various battlefields and old Cavalry forts in the US Southwest. In closing, I look forward to learning from and with you all!
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Post by fred on Dec 6, 2018 6:26:26 GMT -6
Michael,
Obviously, I know who you are.
This is the original site I belonged to, way back in September 2005. It is run, owned, and moderated by Diane Merkel, one of the nicest people you will ever have the occasion to "meet," either within the sphere of "ether" or in person. Her husband, Chuck, is widely respected as probably the foremost authority on Tom Weir and is a retired Army officer, Vietnam combat vet, and one of the most respected members of the West Point fraternity who did not graduate from West Point.
The members here have changed dramatically over the years, many having died in the 13 years I have been following these boards, but there are still some marvelous posters here. And the boards are not as active as they once were, but the information you can find here is invaluable. Plus, the acrimony, so prevalent in the earlier years, has left, which makes it much more sociable and fun.
If you contribute as much here as you have on Facebook, you will have done everyone a great service. Your knowledge and passion are precisely what is needed here.
Very best wishes, Fred.
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Post by AZ Ranger on Dec 6, 2018 6:46:25 GMT -6
Welcome Michael
I renewed my interest in 2009 after a Department training session which explained to us why we needed to do something other than work. As a Marine I served a tour in Vietnam 1969-70 and used the GI Bill to go to the University of Arizona. I worked a short time in Nebraska for the USFWS before getting a job with Arizona Game and Fish Department as an officer. In Arizona our officers are state peace officers and AZPOST certified. My Department has state primary responsibility for fish and wildlife, watercraft, and off highway vehicles. My last 20 years I was the Law Enforcement Supervisor in Flagstaff. I retired from pay but not the job. I am a reserve Captain. Reserves in Arizona have the same peace officer authority as paid officers. What I get out of it is most of the fun without the administrative jobs of a regional law enforcement supervisor. Next week I will be working on firearms as an armorer and teaching a class on unintentional firearms discharges to two Regions.
So every year since 2009 I go to Montana and spend around 2 weeks at the battlefield in June. Using what I have learned from being in charge of investigations I try to look at one thing and try to resolve it for me or at least better understand it. I have made many friends from these boards and other organizations. I have numerous friends in Montana.
So the bottom line is what are you interested in developing a better understanding of?
I have resolved that there are many theories and opinions and that I have to find those that I find makes sense to me.
Do you belong to any organizations or intend to go to the battlefield in the near future?
Regards
AZ Ranger
Steve Andrews
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Post by weekendwarrior on Dec 7, 2018 4:23:38 GMT -6
Gentlemen,
Thank you for the warm welcome! I've been reading through here and there is some amazing scholarship... and mapwork!
AZ Ranger, ironically that is the exact type of agency I've been looking at transferring to. I work for a very small department in a very wealthy, congested area and the quality of life doesn't really compare with the outdoors.
I do belong to the LBHA and I plan on attending the conference as well visiting the battlefield and doing an extensive tour this summer. My goals are to better understand the tactical decisions made by George Armstrong Custer and his command team, and to build a better understanding of how his subordinate commanders (Reno, Benteen, Keogh and Yates) affected the outcome of the battle. In addition, I'd like to better understand Native American tactics and build upon my knowledge of this fascinating era in general. I try to avoid the partisan Custer/Reno/Benteen camps- all of these men were competent US Army officers and despite errors, I do believe they performed to the best of their abilities in an impossible situation.
Michael D
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Post by AZ Ranger on Dec 7, 2018 6:55:29 GMT -6
Michael
Every states has some differences on what an officer does within their agency for wildlife. In Alaska there are brown shirts and blue shirts in their state patrol. Some states the officers are Game Wardens only. In Arizona our officers are state peace officers. Along with law enforcement the district officers work on habitats evaluation, game surveys and hunt recommendations , fish surveys , and information and education. The variety makes the job enjoyable to me.
The law enforcement part of the job varies with location of the officer. As you would guess those on the southern border have different issues to deal with. We have Sig P320s, Remington 870 shotguns, and S&W AR-15s. But as you suggest it is the ability to be in the mountains, on a lake, a grassland, or a desert area that makes some days special. You get to meet nice people as part of the job and you get to meet and deal with real bad guys.
As far as investigations go they run everywhere from simply watching and taking notes to high tech electronic surveillance and data retrieval from internet, phones, and computers. We use the Department of Public Safety crime lab for ballistics, finger printers, blood work and many other techniques. You work alone a lot but join up for special operations when necessary. You develop a broad range in a use of force continuum. At the deadly force end the Marine Corps prepared me for that mostly in mental attitude. The other end is talking and it is the most important skillset to have when working alone.
I can't get enough of the job so I am a reserve. I still do watercraft patrol on Lake Powell, ride a PWC on the Colorado River for OUI checkpoints. Ride my horse on patrols and check water catchments. I like firearms and so I maintain my armorer skills and teach carbine, shotgun, and handgun. I do it for pay also at Northern Arizona University in their Park Ranger Training Program. If you are interested in that or want to learn more about it PM me. The program has lots of veterans and retired police officers along with young students. The police officers are usually looking for a seasonal job only and the veterans look for the seasonal job as step in becoming full time.
Regards
Steve
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Post by dave on Dec 10, 2018 11:00:23 GMT -6
Welcome to the board! Look forward to reading more of your posts. Regards Dave
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