Photo By Spc. Jodi Krause | Task Force 34 Soldiers raise their right hand and begin their meeting with the...... read more read more
"I am a hunter. I hunt deer. It is in my blood. Every fall I go in quest of the thirty-point buck. Sometimes I am lucky. Sometimes I am not lucky. I go anyway," begins the official secret oath of the Red Green's Possum Lodge, Camel Chapter #34.
Fashioned from the popular PBS TV show "The Red Green Show," Camel Chapter #34 gathers every Thursday night in one of the Task Force 34 conference rooms on Joint Base Balad, Iraq, where they watch hunting videos, eat venison jerky, and talk about the great outdoors. Recent classes have been on knot tying and deer stand placement.
"I basically came up with the idea that it would just be a lot of silly fun, patterning Our Honored and Illustrious Organization after the Possum Lodge," said Sgt. Maj. Gene Lofquist, TF34 HQ Property Accounting non-commissioned officer. "I miss the Minnesota forests and lakes. I thought we could get together, watch some hunting videos that show the beauty of nature, and just get together with like-minded sportsmen who enjoy and appreciate the same things."
To make the chapter official, Sgt. Maj. Loftquist, Interim Chapter president, and Capt. Nathan Schilling, TF 34 HQ Information Technology Deputy officer and Chapter sergeant of arms, wrote out rules of the chapter, to include the official secret oath, proper uniform and etiquette and closing phrase.
"Anyone can come and to be an Official Card Carrying Club Member; you have to be wearing the official club uniform," said Master Sgt. John Haggerty, TF34 HQ Housing manager. "The official club uniform is a blaze orange hunting cap or hat of any sorts, a flannel shirt and a pair of suspenders. The suspenders play a big part in any voting in the club meetings."
To create a more Minnesota atmosphere, homemade cookies, fudge and venison jerky as well as hunting paraphernalia are shipped from Soldiers' homes and in various care packages.
"I contacted Operation Minnesota Nice," Sgt. Maj. Lofquist said. "They have provided us with bags of venison sticks, deer hunting videos, hunting and outdoor magazines."
After some cards are played, some magazines are browsed, and some snacks are devoured, the meeting begins.
"We start by saying our oath. Then we take care of any old or new business [usually there isn't any]. Then we get into the main part of the meeting, watching hunting videos," said Maj. David Freberg, TF34 HQ Logistics officer.
Before each movie or class, there must be a motion and it is voted upon.
"If you are in favor of something you have to take the thumb of your left hand and tuck it under the left suspender about breast high. And your right thumb is raised in the air with approval while you state out loud 'Yah Sure' or 'Yah, You Betcha'," said Master Sgt. Haggerty, Honorary Card Carrying Voting Member of Camel Chapter #34. "You see where the suspenders are so important if you really want to vote at the meetings ya know!"
When the planned events for the evening are complete, one last bit of official business needs to be completed.
"We have an official Closer at the end of all of our meetings, where All Honorary Chapter Members stand and raise their right hand and together we recite in Latin, 'QUANDO OMNI FLUNKUS MORITATI'," Master Sgt. Haggerty said, "which in Minnesota English means, 'When all else fails, play dead!'"
By Spc. Jodi Krause, HSC 834th ASB Unit Public Affairs Representative
5 Mar 09
| Date Taken: | 03.05.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 03.14.2009 07:56 |
| Story ID: | 31100 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 534 |
| Downloads: | 239 |
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