How Close Are You To Your Squad Mates?

After shooting together for 5 years, we have decided to pull our trap squad from New Port Gun Club League tonight. The reason for removing the squad is due to an sudden collapse shooter 5 Greg T. I have been shooting with Greg and his brother since 2005. We learned that yesterday that his lungs have stopped working and that there is some kidney issues also. This came from a blood vessel rupture in the base of his brain. We can't concentrate on the targets and don't want to sub shooter 5. We just stand there and look at each other and try and keep from crying. You earn your way onto this team and you better have some thick skin because everyone is subject to a squad prank. You get a nick name and everyone is waiting for a chance of a poke or a joke at something to make the evening fun. A sample would be Jake our #4 shooter complaining about his shoulder hurting because of his gun. The team gave him a nickname of "Jakelyn" after the current issue with Bruce Jenner. Last Monday Greg collapsed putting a door on a house he was getting ready to buy. After rushing Greg to Kettering Hospital where he still is in intensive care, his brother our squad leader went over and secured the house This week we decided as a team to remove the squad from the league after the summer league is over. It's terrible trying to shoot on the squad without our squad mate. Has anyone ever gone thru this hell besides us?

 

We have had two long term squad mates pass away. It is definitely a challenge. Most of us are getting older and we are not exactly health nuts so it was not a surprise. I am sure we will go through it again in the next couple of years. I am sorry your friend is going through this.

 

Brian,
First of all, I am sorry that your squad mate is having these problems, and will keep him in prayer.
What surprises me most about your post is that you have a squad that has shot together for 10 years! We are constantly scrambling to fill out our squad. Folks anymore have lives that take them in so many different directions, keeping a group together for that length of time is phenomenal!

 

Sorry to hear about your friend. Having been through a similar situation, although it doesn't sound like we were quite that close, I can say that time does help. Prayers for your friend and squadmate.

 

Prayers sent for your friend and his family also you squad mates , what you have had is a real special group that is very hard to find any more with times as they are .Take time and with blessings and help from above hopefully you can resume your team again next year .
Jdhog

 

Sorry to hear about your squad mate, hope he recovers. We had a squad that shot together for 5 years league and ATA. One of the squad members passed away suddenly one of the others had major surgery and was away for a time. The squad slowly fell apart and now if they shoot they shoot independantly if they shoot at all. Age sure has a profound affect on our lives.

 

"Has anyone ever gone thru this hell besides us? "

I shy away from treads like this because of the personal pain it invokes .... My father was my squad-mate from the age of 8 until we lost him when I was 45, ten years ago .... I don't think I have shot a League Shoot since then. I have lost too many of the shooting family I grew up with.

Best wishes and prayers for your squad mate ....

 

Thanks Guys for all the prayers and thoughts. It is a very special group that I belong to. The squad mate that is in the hospital is 53, and our squad leader is his older brother. I met Greg and Tom while shooting at Troy Fish and Game. They are my brother in law's cousins. Right off the bat we became very close and over the years have grown in shooting ability, knowledge and learned how to compete. I personally was upset because Greg and me are the same age and the dinosaur on the team is Jake. We like Jake because he has been around since the start of the Grand American in 1924 ( just kidding!) and he treats us like we are his sons. Our #4 shooter is just starting out and we are trying to help Ken. I think it hit him the hardest by the look on his face last week when I told them why I was leading the squad that week. It was good to have Tom back this week and the decision was made by the squad that we will wait for Greg to return to compete again. Thanks for all the kind thoughts and prayers. Brian Seibert - Flinch King

 

Brian you got me to thinking about shooters that I used to shoot with that are no longer with us. With 40 years of trap behind me the number is to large to mention everyone of them. If I could shoot one more time with some of these friends I choose Vandalia during the Grand week.

It would be in the late 70's, on the East End of the line. It would be Tuesday of grand week. 100 doubles, 100 handicap my favorite day. Wednesday was the Clay Target so Tuesday was the last day with no real pressure. We'd start just East of the old shoot off traps. There were a lot of nice shade trees there and I used to lie under them and watch 4 or 5 squads shoot ahead of my squad. That gave me a chance to get a feel of how the targets were flying and I also got to visit with shooters from all over the country. Traveling like I did I shot with different people in different parts of the country, so I didn't have just one real squad like you describe. By August it had been half a year since I'd seen lots of the guys from the western and Florida chain shoots so I enjoyed the chance to see what they'd been up to.

My squad would have Joe Powell from Indiana leading off. Joe died in 1997, he would be late to the event like he usually always was. The rest of the guys would hope for nothing less from Joe.

E.G. Adams from Delaware would be on post 2. EG died in the Early 2000's but quit shooting ATA early than that. EG was the best natural gun pointer I ever shot with but was his own worst enemy. EG would probably already be at the starting trap when I showed up.

Leo Harrison III would shoot post three. I don't need to tell anyone about Leo. We shot so many targets, at so many clubs, in so many places, over so many years together that I'd just like to spend this last afternoon with him one more time at my favorite trap shoot. Leo and I would try to make the other one laugh about something, generally meaningless, and then when the shooting started we'd be down to business. I can honestly say nobody was happier when Leo won than I was and he the same with me. Loosing him has made not shooting registered trap much easier.

Post 4 would have Frank Little. Frank would be fashionably late to the traps, quite possibly having his named called over the loud speaker a couple of times. They did that back in the day and I was never sure if Frank did this because he liked to hear his name called, if he was otherwise engaged in his camper trailer, or just to piss off Cletus Zirkell the old squad hustler that ran (with an iron fist) the East end of the grand at Vandalia.

I'd shoot post 5. I'd want this last day too gone own as long as possible. Brad

 

Thanks Brad,
I too have lost several mentors in my short shooting career. I still try to spend as much time as possible without being a pain and listen to any bit of instruction from Larry and Pete. From time to time Dennis will be in for service and we will set and talk about the way things used to be. I think that the younger shooters coming up are very strong, but when they get into a slump, don't know or have the knowledge of the older shooters. That's where the listen part comes in. The younger generation don't want to listen or talk constructive instructions. That's what we had as a squad. If I missed a couple of targets, I could talk to Tom or Jake . The support was very good along with the advise. I wish I could have watch your squad shoot, I'm sure it was amazing. Someday you guys can shoot again as a squad at the grandest trap line of all! Maybe E.C. and Frank will be on time since they had a head start on you.

 

Brad after reading your post I got to thinking.Do you remember the time that you myself Joe Powell and E G shot an event together during one of the preliminary days at the grand many years ago? After the event was over do you remember the question that E G asked us?

Dave Berlet

 

Dave EG and Joe are both gone, they have no say in the matter of who they shoot with. It's my day. Brad

 

Well Greg is up and is awake and talking. Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts. Hopefully he can get the strength to finish his house and get his life back in order. I know that the squad breaths a lot easier.

 

I understand how important squad mates are. Due to a series of events a year ago, pertaining to squadding I'm about to quit the game.

 

Spoonbill

I cant shoot with my all my friends anymore. I shot with a young 14 year old or so girl last weekend. She shot birds faster out of the house than 95% of the most seasoned trap shooters. A feerless shooter. She shot a 95 in a 35 mph headwind from the caps.

At the OH State shoot I shot with her young friend. He shot a 95 in a downpour.

Meeting new people like that on the trap line. Gotta love it.

 

Even though not many shooter really think about it, trapshooting is a sport. The biggest reason we have stayed together is because we are a close knit team. I also like to meet people But how many times have you been on a squad with someone that has a annoying habit or throws a lissy fit because they missed a target. I have also shot with a group of younger shooters and had a blast. I think it's the "making memories" part that love the best. It helps me make it thru the week, and always is a topic at the lunch table. It starts "so how'd you shoot last night?" And I answer "stunk the place up" and smile. Can't give it up yet, probably never will.

 

It is great to hear he is awake, I hope and pray for his speedy recovery

Gary Bryant Dr.longshot