NJ Nam '08

In years past, NJ Nam was a last minute decision event, we were unprepared for the heat, the lack of resources, and the amount of fun had. This year for NJ Nam 08, the Kent Island Sea Monkeys came prepared. Five Sea Monkeys made the trek from MD to Elmer NJ. Captain Steve "B-ski" Biedrzycki, Sea Monkeys Chris "Yeti" Laird, Rob "Rob" Hoffman (Seriously we gotta come up with a better nickname), and New faces Zach and Mike brought the pain to the Americans, CIA, and KR all weekend.

Saturday started off with a few hiccups in communications which were totally B-ski's fault. I don't know where he got it or what poor kid he left crying when he stole it from him, but Rob pulled a giant VC flag out of nowhere 5 minutes after being told to go "hang" our flag at one of the windmill style flag stations. From there the team split for a little bit. Mostly because of half of the team being shot charging while the other half mopped up and remained unshot. Rob and Chris made their way across the field crawling through everything imaginable to include one swamp, a mud bog, countless briar patches, a crater and a stagnant pond. Their "Special Ops" offensive scored merciless eliminations and did their part in menacing the Allies throughout the day. B-ski, Zack, and Mike all took part in running missions for points while the Special Ops offensive went on, scoring some nice points to put the VC up over the Allies before the mandatory break at 3:30 because of the heat. ***Safety tip of the event*** Don't wear a full ghillie suit when it's 100 degrees out with 90% humidity. They don't mix well. KISM did not participate in the night play.

Sunday started a few hours earlier to make up the time lost on Saturday due to the medical emergency aforementioned. The VC came out hard taking lots of ground in the shade letting the Allies bake in the hot open fields. Suckers. While completing a mission at the CIA headquarters, B-ski took a hit and went back to the CP to tag up and get back to the fight. Upon getting to the CP, he found that the Cambodians had attacked us and assassinated our General only moments before. Having had to deal with not being able to fight back all day Saturday because we were trying to keep good relations with these guys, it didn't take much to rally anybody when the General used a few explatives mixed with "Wipe those guys off the map and tear down their border tape!" It was one of the most hard fought non-final battles B-ski has ever participated in. Fierce. After exterminating the KR vermin, B-ski returned to his fellow KISM just in time to witness three enemy helicopters landing to try to take our mission points away. Thinking thin and hiding behind a big tree B-ski got the drop on one entire chopper, while Zack gloriously bunkered another. The rest of the helicopter crews were dispatched by Chris, Rob, Mike and a few random players we managed to keep at that post. It was magical the way we had the ability to walk from one major skirmish to another all day long. Afterwards, there was a big push for the center of the field at which point in time KISM decided to cool off and hydrate for the final battle.

The "Human Tank" made it's debut for the final battle, carrying two cases of podded paint and a 4 cubic foot 4500 psi cylinder regulated by a CP reg. B-ski got quite a few looks and comments coming onto the field, but assured everyone that he had just what he needed for the battle to come. Upon the start of the battle, KISM set up position at a tire bunker, now affectionately known as the Machine gun nest, just in front of the final flag. The battle was to last one hour. 30 minutes into the battle, with Rob shooting, B-ski and Chris feeding paint into his hopper, we were running dry. Unsung heroes of the VC cause stepped up and donated another case and a half of welt-giving paint to the Machine gun nest. At 10 minutes left, the Machine gun fell silent. No more ammo. Seizing the moment, KISM launched themselves into motivating the final push. B-ski running the VC flag unarmed into the enemy flank with countless Comrades in pursuit (and yes he got mowed down like last week's lawn about 200 yards into the rush), and the rest of the guys all charging the flag unarmed to ensure the red flag was standing at the end of the game giving the VC victory for the 3rd year in a row.

Our success was mostly impart to the VC ability to work as a whole unit and not just 10 or 15 separate teams like the Allies did. Thanks in part to excellent leadership by Ron of Philly Paintball Group and his crew, KISM and the VC were able to pull out a victory and KISM was able to earn the award for Most Valuable Team. Here's looking to earn the same next year!

-Bski