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Selling the Soul of SEAL Team 6

Peter Kniskern: A Warrior From Birth

9/11: Eyewitness to Terror

Cops vs. Drugs in Americas Heartland

Rockcastle Blown Away: 3-Gun The Story of Pro-Am Troy Givens

American Warrior
THE NRA MAGAZINE FOR THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR

NUMBER 04

American Warrior
THE NRA MAGAZINE FOR THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR

NUMBER 04

Welcome to the Warrior.


ON THE COVER & THIS PAGE: CW2

Kyle Johnson, US Army CH-47D Pilot In Command; Bravo Company 2-3 GSAB 3rd Infantry Division Hunter Army Airfield Savannah, Ga.

WarriorWare

Backup guns and more backup guns. And the sweetest cop ride youll see today.

Virtual Warrior

Superhero movies, NRA Country and a quick Call of Duty fix. WA R R I O R F E AT U R E S


P R E S E N T E D BY C O LT

Shut Up About the SEALs


While theyve earned much praise and adoration, SEAL Team 6 needs us to keep our mouths shut. A bungled BATFE operation results in the death of a Border Patrol agent and now, it appears, the cover-up is on.

A Fast & Furious Cover-Up

A Warrior by Birth 9.11

The amazing story of Peter Kniskern, who served his country in WWII at the age of 12. For those at Ground Zero and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, forgetting will never be an option.

The Interstate Has Eyes Rocking 3 Guns

At the junction of I-35 and I-40, a two-officer team holds the line in the war on drugs. 3-guns top dogs shot right alongside shooters new to the sport at a unique event at Rockcastle Shooting Center. NRA Life of Duty was there in full effect.

Blown Away: The Troy Givens Story

An IED shredded Troy Givens MRAP and a good part of his lower body, but his fighting spirit remains intact.

The main video window at NRALifeofDuty.tv serves as your gateway to a plethora of outstanding videos featuring American Warriors of all kinds.

Patriot Profiles

Now
NRALifeofDuty.TV is brought to you by

f youve never visited NRALifeofDuty.tv, youre missing some of the best, most up-to-date coverage of true American Warriorsmilitary, law enforcement and first respondersavailable on the Internet. The fabulous, full-length Patriot Profile videos are the cornerstone of this coverage, giving an in-depth look into the real lives of real American heroes. Check them out when you get a chance. Youll be glad you did.

Murphy Law

Find out how Bill Murphy is crafting the next generation of elite warriors.

This Navy SEAL paid the ultimate price for freedom.

A Tribute To Adam Brown

ODA 574 The Calling


Meet some of the most special of Special Forces.

SUPPORT

Find out more at NRALifeOfDuty.tv

IT ONLY TAKES 30 SECONDS TO TEXT

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NRA Life of Duty serves those who protect and defend the safety of the American people. Make sure their stories are heard; take 30 seconds to text Patriot to 50555, and give $5 to support the LOD mission by providing exclusive NRA LOD programming, including Patriot Profiles, with broadcast-network quality stories covering those at home and abroad. Frontlines with LtCol Oliver North, offering never-before-seen footage, reports and interviews with the retired U.S. Marine Corps officer. NRA American Warrior, an exclusive digital magazine with interactive media, videos and articles detailing the latest tactics and technology. Theres more, tooinsightful coverage thats geared toward those who put their lives on the line. And with your support, new NRA LOD programs are in developmentincluding Live and Listening, a live commentary show; My Hometown, a place for families and friends to submit videos and stories to those deployed; plus Archives, a channel celebrating veterans and their achievements. Help NRA tell the stories other media outlets ignore: the stories of Americas Warriors.

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GUNS, GAMES, GEAR & GADGETS FOR THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR

A M E R I C A N WA R R I O R

WHEN YOU HAVE TO REACH FOR A BACKUP GUN (BUG) ITS NICE TO HAVE ONE OF THESE STRAPPED TO YOUR ANKLE.

s the number of law enforcement officers being killed in violent encounters continues to surge upward, police officers have to hit the street with the right tactics and tools to make sure they get through the shift safely. One of those important tools is the backup gun (BUG). Approved for carry by about 75 percent of law enforcement agencies, the BUG is an essential tool for every street cop. Most departments implicitly recognize that just like any machine, an officers primary duty pistol can break or malfunction, rendering it useless. Additionally, there is always a risk that an officer will lose his or her primary pistol in a struggle. Without a secondary gun to immediately bring into action, an officer may have no chance of prevailing when the stuff really hits the fan. What should you look for in a BUG? A good BUG has to be absolutely reliable, small enough for the officer to conceal, yet chambered in a potent caliber. Lets take a look at several quality handgunsboth new and not so newsuitable for backup duty.

SMITH & WESSON 642 SMITH & WESSON BODYGUARD 380 STURM RUGER LCR SERIES STURM RUGER LC9 SIG SAUER P290 GLOCK 27

BUG

HUNT

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B O D Y G U A R D

3 8 0

BUGHUNT
M I T H & W E S S O N 6 4 2

Smith & Wesson


The Smith & Wesson 642 is a solid double-action-only revolver chambered for five rounds of .38 Special. The revolver has a lightweight aluminum frame with a stainless steel barrel and cylinder. The internal hammer is completely concealed, allowing for a snag-free draw. Sights on the 642 are fixed with a serrated ramp front sight and a shallow notch rear. Smith & Wesson has gotten a lot of criticism regarding the reliability of the internal locks in the companys revolvers. As a recent return to the S&W lineup, the 642 can now be purchased without the internal lock for guaranteed reliability. This revolver retails for $549. S&W also offers a polymer-framed .380 ACP pistol called the Bodyguard 380. The pistol is double action only and hammer fired. It features a manual safety and an internal Insight laser. The Bodyguard 380 holds 6+1 rounds and has an MSRP of $399.

The Bodyguard 380 was recently approved by the Los Angeles Police Department as a backup gun for its officers. According to a representative at Smith & Wesson, the Bodyguard impressed LAPD because the slide locked back after firing the last round. Many other .380 ACP pistols do not lock open on an empty magazine. LAPD versions of the Bodyguard 380 will have the manual safety removed and the internal laser disabled.

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R U G E R

L C R

BUGHUNT
Sturm Ruger
Ruger manufactures a line of polymer-framed revolvers called the LCR. LCR stands for Lightweight Compact Revolver. The original LCR is a five-shot .38 Special gun, while the latest model, the LCR-357, is chambered for the legendary .357 Magnum. The front sight on the LCR line is pinned, allowing for replacement of the standard ramped sight. One model of LCR ships standard with the XS Standard Dot tritium sight. Rear sights on the LCR handguns are simple, but effective, wide notches in the frame. The basic .38 Special LCR retails for $525, while the .357 Magnum version has a $575 price tag. Options like Crimson Trace Lasergrips drive the price up from there.

R U G E R L C R - 3 57

Shown with Crimson Trace LG-412 Laserguard (not included)

The Ruger LC9 is only 6 inches long, less than an inch wide and boasts a payload of 7-plus-1 9 mm cartridges. It features an adjustable 3-dot sight, high-performance glass-filled nylon frame and has a suggested retail price of $443.

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The P290 is double action only and does not have any external safeties. The grip panels are interchangeable, allowing the owner to customize the look of the pistol. The standard P290 has a suggested retail price of $758. A SIG P290 with an integrated laser module has an MSRP of $828.

G L O C K

2 7

S I G

S A U E R

P 2 9 0

BUGHUNT
SIG SAUER
Designed for backup use, the polymer framed SIG Sauer P290 is chambered in 9 mm, giving it a bit more stopping power than the .380 ACP The flush fitting P290 magazine holds . six rounds, and SIG plans on releasing an extended eight-round magazine.

Glock
Jumping up to .40 S&W, the Glock 27 is a time-proven backup gun design that has been updated to Gen 4 status. The Gen 4 line of Glock pistols introduced a new, more aggressive standard grip texture. Additionally, the shooter can add an included backstrap to change the grip size to small, medium or large. The Gen 4 Glock 27 retails for $649.

Holding 9+1 rounds in the flush-fitting magazines, the Glock 27 can also use the larger Glock 22 and Glock 23 magazines. This factor makes it an excellent choice for officers carrying a full-size Glock duty pistol. For this reason, several law enforcement agencies issue the subcompact Glock pistol as a backup to the larger Glock duty pistol.

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The

IN DEPTH:

I
R U G E R L C 9

BUGHUNT
by R IC K STEWART

e Ruger LC9
SHOOTING INDUSTRY ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE 2011 HANDGUN OF THE YEAR

must admit, in full disclosure. that I am not normally a 9 mm guy. I know the pros and cons, and I respect the varying opinions on the 9 vs. the .45 auto; its just that I personally fall into the category of preferring the latter. That is until recently, when I purchased a Ruger LC9. Concealed carry presents issues for almost everyone based upon dress and the ability to properly conceal a weapon. The lighter the apparel and the fewer the layers of clothing, the greater this challenge becomes. A weapon carried for personal defense should not have to compromise in so many areas that it leaves the person holding it less than confident in its ability to do its job. Size matters, but too big is not the only issue with those who want to carry a concealed weapon for personal protection. Too small is of equal concern when the handguns mass (or lack thereof) makes it uncomfortable to shoot. Even in smaller calibers like the .380, many complain about the sting or hand fatigue they feel in shooting a small handgun with little mass. The addition of polymer frames only exacerbates the issue.

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At 6 inches in length, less than an inch wide and only 4.5 inces tall, this handgun provides all the best features of the LCP but delivers a more powerful payload.

The Ruger LC9


Slide Material: Slide Finish: Barrel Material: Barrel Finish: Barrel Length: Length: Width: Height: Weight: Sights: Capacity: Grip Frame: Twist: Grooves: MA Approved & Certified: CA Approved: Through-Hardened Alloy Steel Blued Alloy Steel Blued 3.12 6.00 0.90 4.50 17.10 oz. Adjustable 3-Dot 7+1 Black, High Performance, Glass-Filled Nylon 1:10 RH 6 Yes Yes

BUGHUNT
Rugers compact LCP line quickly developed a large following. According to Ken Jorgensen, director of Rugers media relations, What people liked about the LCP was how small and well designed it was, yet it still remained very affordable. As popular as the LCP has been, more than a few customers told Ruger they would like to see the same style and reliability in a 9 mm. Taking that to heart, the Ruger team developed the LC9. With less than an inch difference in height or length over the LCP the LC9 adds , many features that make it inviting to other markets as well. The Ruger LC9 weighs only 17 ounces unloaded. At 6 inches in length, less than an inch wide and only 4.5 inces tall, this handgun provides all the best features of the LCP but delivers a more powerful payload. It has adjustable 3 dot sights, a 7+1 capacity, and a highperformance glass-filled nylon frame. Added safety features include an internal lock, a magazine safety and a loaded chamber indicator that provides a visual indication that a round is ready to fire. The lightweight design and smooth edges make the LC9 very comfortable to carry in the pocket, the waistband or on the ankle. The no-compromise caliber and adjustable sights make the LC9 a great stand-alone concealed carry weapon or the perfect complement to law enforcement officers wanting

Ive made it my primary concealedcarry weapon this summer.


a dependable backup. A single-dot dovetailed front sight and two-dot adjustable rear sight provide a highly visible three-dot configuration for rapid target acquisition. The 7-round magazine can be purchased with a flat floor plate or with an extended finger grip to accommodate shooter preference. The LC9 comes well lubricated from the factory for extended storage. It is recommended that purchasers break down the pistol and clean it prior to using it the first time. The few extra seconds of familiarity with the weapon and its easy disassembly and cleaning are features that only add to the end users confidence. Immediately after purchasing the LC9, I fieldstripped and cleaned it thoroughly before hurrying to the range to put it through its paces. I put 100 rounds through the weapon and was incredibly pleased with both its accuracy and reliability. Unlike many small-bodied, composite-framed pistols, the LC9 is comfortable in the hand while offering the striking power of the 9 mm. It may not be a .45, but this compact pistol has made me do some serious rethinking as Ive made it my primary concealed-carry weapon this summer. I am very impressed with its performance, its size and its pound-for-pound advantages over other concealedcarry options. The Ruger LC9 is a great pistol at a great price.

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AND IF YOURE NOT YET SICK OF THE LC9:

Crimson Trace LG-412 Laserguard: The Perfect Complement for the Ruger LC9
Concealed-carry firearms often suffer from the diet that has made them acceptable to carry and conceal in the first place. By the time companies whittle away the rough edge and trim the fat, things like sights, grips and other features have fallen by the wayside. The LG-412 Laserguard from Crimson Trace was engineered in conjunction with Ruger for a perfect fit with the LC9. Available since July 1, the LG-412 Laserguard targeting system adds a seamlessly designed laser to the LC9 that does not change the pistols low-profile, compact nature at all. In fact, once you put it on, it looks like it was intended to be there all along. Right out of the box, the LG-412 takes less that 5 minutes to install. It is pre-zeroed from the factory at 50 feet, and the user may fine-tune windage and elevation for different loads. One 1/3N battery offers four hours of continuous run time. With an MSRP of $209, the LG-412 Laserguard is a great addition to your LC9. STICK IT IN YOUR EAR:

SureFire EarPro
Cause youre gonna tire of saying What? What? all the time.

EVORAENVY

Man, the Italians have everything. Pizza, Asia Argento and now this.
The Arma dei Carabinieri, which polices both civilian and military populations in Italy, will soon take delivery of two specially equipped Lotus Evora S cars. The cars are intended to provide rapid response (172 mph rapid enough for ya?) and deliver essential emergency services in Rome and Milan, but you just know theyll spend most of their time spinning doughnuts in the Rome PD parking lot. Whatever. Well line up our Dodge Charger and race em for pink slips any day of the weekand twice on Domenica.

Delivering essential emergency services to Italians ... Like a corkscrew.


PHOTO: TOPSPEED.COM

If you end up suffering hearing loss when you test out your new backup gun, we dont want to hear about it (but we know we will because youll be talking so loudly). Small but effective, SureFires EP3 Sonic Defenders allow normal sounds to pass through while reducing potentially harmful noise

(above 85dB). Add on the included stopper plugs and you can even block out low-level noise. Need proof that they work? Ask Lt. Troy Givens. He was wearing them in Afghanistan when his MRAP was shredded by an IED (click here for the story). Hell be able to hear your question just fine.

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Your patented pockets may stay on, even if your lips dont.

600
THE AIR FORCES
-KNOT VEST
Armorpiercing round protection ... that floats. We couldnt make this stuff up.

Dont eject at nearly 700 mph into enemy territory without one of these.

In the steamy jungles of Southeast Asia and beyond, pilots of the United States Air Force are accustomed to flying with a combat survival vest loaded with essential items to facilitate their survival and evasion of the enemy. The evolution and development of these vests took a dramatic turn when the United States Air Force and its Aircrew members saw the need to incorporate integrated body armor and other advanced performance requirements. The Air Ace Survival Vest and Ace Advantage Body Armor were developed to meet these requirements, and were selected to replace the SRU21/P survival vest and other existing technologies as the approved system for

The vest must stay intact during ejections at 600 knots.


Air Force flight crews. To understand the dynamic requirements of aircrew flight clothing, one must understand the high speeds and environmental extremes that a combat pilot may endure if forced to leave the aircraft. Certification requires that the vest must stay intact during ejections at 600 knots. These forces can tear the human body apart, and thus the equipment must be able to withstand the worst possible situations (and then some) that pilots may encounter. Windblast testing, ejection seat sled testing, centrifuge testing, parachute testing and a host of other requirements for fire retardancy, ultraviolet light, abrasion and other degradation threats must be passed. Long before the pilot

ever hits the ground to perform his Survival, Evasion, Resistance or Escape (SERE) responsibilities or those required for rescue and recovery extraction, the vest has already passed these elite standards. The patented SnapTrack pocket attachment mechanisms allow pockets to be reconfigured in a multitude of mission configurations. Hundreds of different pockets, with right- and left-handed configurations, have been developed for the military, FBI, Secret Service, CIA and a host of other elite customers. The integrated, unidirectional Level IIIA body armor can be worn stand alone or in conjunction with the vest. It can be fitted with Level IV plates for armor piercing round protection and meets all the requirements of the National Institute For Justice Standard NIJ 0101.06. Weighing in at 1.1 lbs. per square foot the armor is some of the lightest in the industry and is even buoyant. Multiple sizes are available and both vest and armor meet the United States Air Force Safe to Fly certification. The material used in the armor covers and vest pockets meets or exceeds ASTM D6413-99 Fire Standards and meets Natick NIR Standards for infrared detection. The folks at ADVANTAC have a long history of meeting special design requirements for a host of military, law enforcement and other agency requirements. Contact (206) 965-9660, (866) 479-7994 or e-mail govsales@ advantac.com.

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NRA LODS NEWEST SPONSOR:

NASGW
Has Our Six
There is strength in numbers, and the number of NRA Life of Duty members should soon be on the rise thanks to the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW). The NASGW has signed on to support the NRA Life of Duty program in a big way. The association is asking its member companies to provide $2 for each firearm sold in the month of December to go toward sponsoring NRA Life of Duty memberships for U.S. military personnel. This is an opportunity for our members to participate in a fantastic program that will benefit our active military, said NASGW Chairman of the Board Jack Baumler. When the Board first heard about the program at the NRA Convention, we decided then and there that we should participate. All NASGW members are being encouraged to take part in this effort and will be recognized for their participation. A sign-up form is available at www.nasgw.org/files/public/NRA_LOD_ComForm.pdf

BENELLI LIGHT ATTACHMENT M4:

BLAM4
-KNOT

Now you can fix a rail to your favorite tactical shotgun without having to rob a bank with it first.

If the Benelli M4 Shotgun has a shortcoming, its the lack of a costeffective method for integrating a light to the firearm. Quality handguard replacements are available, but can cost $450 to $650. Enter the Benelli Light AttachmentM4 (or, as its more explosively known, the BLAM4), a cost-effective rail mount for M4 users. Developed by operators for operators, and available through Brownells, the BLAM4 can be installed in less than 10 minutes and can be oriented in four positions, depending on the users grip and light location preference. The single factory snap ring of the Benelli shotgun is the connecting mechanism for the BLAM4. Its simple design and rugged features make it virtually indestructible. The mounting arm is made from black anodized steel with a durable, corrosion-resistant finish. The Magpul L1 MOE Polymer Rail Section allows the attachment of various 1913

Picatinny spec rail-mounted accessories such as lights and lasers. The BLAM4 also allows operators with dedicated lights to quickly remove that light for use as a backup flashlight, an option normally unavailable with current handguard-mounted lights. The BLAM4 has an MSRP of less than $55. For more information or questions regarding the BLAM4 or the soonto-be-available BLAM1 (Benelli Light Attachment M1/Super 90), contact CTG at www.corpstechgroup.com or, if youre ready to purchase, head to www.Brownells.com.

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ords are powerful but are often made more powerful in musicthe rhythmic cadence and flow of sounds, thoughts and emotions that instantly return a person to a significant time and place.
Bronze Star recipient Keni Thomas, who fought valiantly in the Black Hawk Down battle in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993, knows a thing or two about words and music. He is now a masterful songwriter whose real-life experiences not only permeate the paper he writes on, but flow forth from him in a lyrical way that touches the soul. When NRA Life of Duty produced a Patriot Profile documentary on this extraordinary man, we, like so many others who get to know him, were blown away by the humble nature of this American hero turned musician, actor, motivational speaker, spokesperson and now, author. The titles that fall behind Thomas name are not nearly as important to Thomas as leading a life that fulfills his God-given calling. His message to all wholl listen, and included in his new book, Get It On! What it Means to Lead the Way, is to use the gift that God has given you. Yet he knows that words are often plentiful, and that actions speak much louder than words. When I sat down and read what I had put together in this book from cover to cover, I realized that if not a single person purchased this book, that I was still better off and personally changed for having done it, Thomas said. The title of the book comes from the three words that changed the lives of all who participated in the Black Hawk Down event. They are three words that put a mission, and its men, on a course with a destiny that they could not erase. With the Bronze Star of Valor from the U.S. Army, the Army Ranger turned country singer brings a message of inspiration, reminding readers that, as individuals, every person matters and can make a difference in the world, no matter where they are in life. There are a few people in life whose words and firsthand experiences just make you want to listen to them. Keni Thomas is one such individual. He is as engaging as he is entertaining, funny as he is introspective and thoughtful. Thomas offers commonsense advice to readers from a most uncommon perspective. Get It On! What it Means to Lead the Way is scheduled for release in October. For a limited time, for every two books pre-ordered, a third will be sent to a warrior currently serving in Afghanistan. To pre-order a copy or learn more, visit www.bhpublishinggroup.com/books/ products.asp?p=9781433672743.

Commonsense advice to readers from a most uncommon perspective.

GET IT ON
B O O K R E V I E W
-KNOT

By Keni Thomas

WHAT IT M TO LEAD THEEANS WAY

I was writing a letter home to my mom when the call rang ou t across the Am erican compoun Get it on! And d. just like that, the course of my life was changed forever. Decorated U.S. military veteran-t urned-country music star Keni omas gives a per sonal account of his heart-wrenc hing experiences in the chaotic 1993 Battle of Mogadishu to exp ress a unique set of leadership les sons and inspir ed view of lifes greater purpose. Get It On! remind s readers that we , as individuals, do indeed matte r, that we are any thing but ordinary, fully capabl e of carrying ou t life-changing assignments at any level and in any situation. We can make a di erence in this wo rld. Today, Keni car ries a guitar ins tead of a rie and has shared his stories from the stage of the Grand Ole Op ry to overseas con certs for active soldiers, always passionate about the battle that still shapes my thoughts on a dai ly basis. Here, he writes to enc ourage the absolu te best in those who are willing to answer whate ver call God places on their lives.

Thats a words ll it to ok

Three

KENI

THOMAS

U.S. ARMY RANG ERS VETERAN OF BLACK HAWK DO WN MISSION

THOMAS

If you are a veteran, you need to read this book. Keni shows us that the principles of leadership we learned when we wore the uniform still apply to us all out here in the real world. LtCol Oliver North

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Maximum Strength Music, Video, Games, Apps ...

What to Watch Between Watches

Superhero origin movies dont get much more origin-y than this. Professor X and Magneto are friends. Professor X has hair and doesnt roll around in a wheelchair. Heck, Professor X isnt even called Professor X yet! This prequel takes us way back in X-Men history and, despite a (not quite total) lack of Wolverine, it just might be the best yet in the X-Men movie franchise.

X-Men: First Class

Thor has no business being cool. His character is drawn from Norse mythology, he talks all old-timey and hes armed with a hammernot even a claw hammer, mind you. Its more of a mallet. Nevertheless, Thor was one of the better superhero movies of the past summer, and it helps set the stage for the upcoming Avengers movie, which, by Odins bristling beard, should be the most awesome spectacle to ever grace the silver screen.

Thor

Rogue cop (yawn) plays by his own rules (seen it) takes the law into his own hands while tracking down a psychotic assassin (wasnt this the plot of, like, every Dirty Harry movie?) starring Jason Statham (I must see this movie!).

Blitz

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Celebrate Freedom with NRA Country


Some of the biggest names and hottest newcomers in country music have teamed with the National Rifle Association to form NRA Country: a celebration of patriotism,

freedom and pride in America. Shine your boots then prepare to scuff em back up while listening to the latest releases from these NRA Country artists.

Trace Adkins: Proud to Be Here


Released just two months after a fire destroyed his familys Brentwood, Tenn., home, Adkins latest could just as easily be titled Lucky to Be Here. Shell out a few extra bucks for the Deluxe Edition and get three bonus songs, including a duet with fellow NRA Country artist Blake Shelton and Adkins tribute to the Marine Corps, Semper Fi.

Justin Moore: Outlaws Like Me

Blake Shelton: Red River Blue

On Outlaws Like Me, Moore sings about heaven, honky tonks, country roads, pickup trucks and guns. If love of such things makes one an outlaw, well, we reckon we might be outlaws, too.

Blake Shelton is at least three things youre not: reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year, star of NBCs The Voice and married to Miranda Lambert. Stop hatin and start enjoying his latest release, highlighted by the hit single Honey Bee.

Adkins:

Rising like a phoenix from the ashes.

From Poyen, Ark., pop. 272, to country music superstardom.

Moore:

Shelton:

As far as we're concerned, the best voice on "The Voice."

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Apps

Never Forget
Explore 9/11 Cost: Free
The sky was so pure. The air was so crisp. Everything was perfect. One of those New York days that you love and youll remember. So I sat at my desk and started downloading my e-mails. Then I heard the sound of the plane. So begins the narration of Bruno Dellinger, who went to work, as he would any other day, on the 47th floor of the World Trade Centers North Tower. But this wasnt any other day. This was Sept. 11, 2001. Dellinger is one of many 9/11 survivors whose words lend a sense of gravitas, immediacy and poignancy to an iPhone app created by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum to commemorate the tragic events of that day. The Explore 9/11 app features a walking tour of the area around the World Trade Center site, augmented by narration from first responders, rescue workers and those, like Dellinger, who worked in and around the World Trade Center; a timeline of events leading up to and following the attack; and startling, often heart-wrenching photography contributed by survivors and witnesses to the days events. While it would be ludicrous to suggest that something as simple as an iPhone app could adequately encapsulate and recreate perhaps the most tragic day in American history, this is an app worth downloading as we look back during this 10th anniversary year and pledge once again to never forget.

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YouTube

This is the proper way to handle an open-carry situation.

Kudos, Sir

Some of our Favorite YouTube Moments


Super Cop
Nothing stands in the way of the collar.

Dash Cam Horror


Miraculously, no one was seriously injured, though many pants were soiled.

It seems that a tank is the best solution.

Lithuanian Mayor vs. Scofflaw

A-10: Up Close and Personal


Once again: Pants. Soiled.

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TH

GAME GENRE: First-Person Shooter

PLAYERS: 1 to 18

PUBLISHER: Activision

HE WAITING IS THE

Call of Duty: Black Ops Annihilation Map Pack

HARDEST PART

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Call of Duty: Black Ops Annihilation Map Pack

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Call of Duty: Black Ops Annihilation Map Pack

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ear gamer, we feel your pain. Staring at the calendar. Counting the days. Wondering if Nov. 8 will ever arrive. Nov. 8 is, of course, the release date for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Its marked on our calendars, and dont lie: Its marked on yours, too. It might as well be a national holiday, cause were danged sure ditching work that dayand likely a day or two after. But theres good news. Cause for hope. Reason to be, courtesy of a downloadable CoD: Black Ops content pack newly available for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC platforms. The new Annihilation DLC pack features four new multiplayer maps. The Drive-In map places you in a circa-1960s drive-in movie theater. Its a small, but challenging arena with two ideal sniping locations. Hangar 18 plops you down in Area 51 with lots of ladders, high points and even an SR-71 that makes for a good bit of cover. The Hazard map has you fighting your way through a dilapidated cliffside Cuban golf course thats in dire need of a new groundskeeper, and the expansive, challenging Silo map is set in a massive ,abandoned missile-launch facility. Lots of close-quarters engagement in this one. Annihilation also includes a new zombie map called Shangri-La. If battling the undead is your thing, ShangriLa makes this DLC pack worth the price of admission. Zombie people, zombie monkeys, zombies shambling all over this map set in a funky temple in the middle of a lush jungle. OK, playing Annihilation is nothing like the thrill of loading up a full release (like, say, CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 3!), but its engaging enough to get you glassy-eyed for a few days. And every day of distraction counts as we slog toward Nov. 8.

The Hazard map has you fighting your way through a dilapidated cliffside Cuban golf course thats in dire need of a new groundskeeper.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Annihilation Map Pack

EDITORIAL

by WAYNE LAPIERRE, Executive Vice President, National Rifle Association

SELLING THE SOUL OF SEAL TEAM 6: A MEDIA MISCARRIAGE

SELLING THE SOUL OF SEAL TEA

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SHUTTHE UP ABOUT SEALS

ith celebrity adoration in America rapidly approaching the fervor of a religion, its understandable that the Navy SEAL team that killed Osama bin Laden would be singled out for the sort of public scrutiny usually reserved for Englands royals or the latest starlet on MTV.
Understandable, maybe, but neither practical nor wise. Covert military teams operate in the shadows for good reason. Basically, its the difference between success and failure, life and death. Sadly, instant celebrity hasnt been a bonus for the SEAL team that took out public enemy number one. Since that daring raid, individuals ranging from public officials to filmmakers to ex-military have forgotten the need for communications security, and tongues have wagged. As a result the safety of team members and their families may have been compromisedoftentimes for the sake of personal ego, political one-upmanship, or a desire to capitalize on the exploits of these consummate warriors. Frustrated former military commanders have pleaded with public officials, individuals still in uniform and those recently out, asking all to resist the temptation of fame by association, or any possible fiscal gain awaiting those willing to speak that best left unsaid. Theyve pointed out that sensitive or classified information has been openly discussed, and information has been revealed that is potentially harmful to active SEAL members, their families and loved ones; also, exaggerated claims about training, operations and accomplishments have been made. Yet even the objections and admonishments of colleagues and commanders havent been enough to slow the rush of some politicians,

parasites of all things military and egotists hungry for limelight, each willing to share SEAL knowledge in exchange for press or camera time. Journalists in a feeding frenzy have, since bin Ladens death, sought out anyone claiming to have privileged information or willing to reveal details from unidentified sources. Secrecy barriers have been breached with near total disregard for the security of the men who carried out the bin Laden mission, their families and all the other warriors still engaged in covert activities around the world. Americas undercover war against the terrorist community is a deadly serious one. Its a new kind of conflict in which the skills of our special ops units are at a premium. As a result, there is nothing extremists would like better than to harm either a member of the team that stormed the Pakistan compound or someone in their family. It would be a coup with the potential to rekindle the urge to fight, and to continue killing Americans at home and abroad. Unfortunately, the desire to cash in on current Navy SEAL popularity could create a security portal allowing our enemies to do unprecedented harm. Soon after the Pakistan raid, the Discovery Channel produced a one-hour documentary called Secrets of SEAL Team 6. Producers issued a disclaimer saying that actual members of the bin Laden team wouldnt be identified by name. However, several former SEAL team members expressed fears that

SELLING THE SOUL OF SEAL TEAM 6: A MEDIA MISCARRIAGE

Sensitive or classified information has been openly discussed, and information has been revealed that is potentially harmful to active SEAL members, their families and loved ones.

SELLING THE SOUL OF SEAL TEA

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EDITORIAL

SHUTTHE UP ABOUT SEALS


One former SEAL told a news outlet that those capitalizing on the teams success ... have unwittingly compromised the safety of team members on active duty, as well as their families.
security concerns outweighed the entertainment value of such programming. Some SEAL team veterans believe that the deluge of books, articles and television programs, coupled with information divulged to the media by elected officials, opens new doors to terrorists already in the process of seeking the identities of American soldiers who have delivered devastating strikes against their organizations. One former SEAL told a news outlet that those capitalizing on the teams success, including newspaper and television journalists, ex-military and shortsighted politicians, have unwittingly compromised the safety of team members on active duty, as well as their families. Military security experts say insiders have provided journalists with detailed information on items ranging from the high-tech scopes on SEAL rifles to state-of-the-art grenades designed for urban combat situations. These same security analysts believe that some of these disclosures bridge the public right to know, and come perilously close to revealing information that risks the safety and success of troops in the field. Navy SEAL team members endure training few of us would even consider, much less complete. As a result of this training, these men become the worlds ultimate warriorsconfident, capable and able to operate under the radar of public scrutinyunless their security is undermined by boastful officials or callous journalists who have placed

video:

A Salute to Our Troops from NRALifeofDuty.tv.

personal goals over the needs of the nation. Certainly the hearts of patriotic Americans swell with pride when our covert ops teams utilize their superior skill and training to accomplish the seemingly impossible. Yet the reason their identities, training, weapons and activities are classified should be clear. The Aug. 6 downing of a military helicopter carrying 30 American warriors, 22 of whom were Navy SEALs, underscores the danger these elite warfighters willingly subject themselves to every day as they perform their jobs. These warriors operate on the edge. They go where no one should be able and accomplish what only a handful dare to do. Even the smallest advantage is critical to their success. Paramount among these is total secrecy. Team members understand this and accept it. And, if the public truly cares about the safety of our clandestine warriors, they will, too. Not long ago, a former Navy SEAL was asked to comment about an article being written on SEAL Team 6. He told the journalist, You know, Id love to help you, man, but I cant say a word about Team 6. There is no Team 6. And thats the security bottom line. Lets leave well enough alone and allow our nations warfighters to operate in a murky and confrontational world of which we have no knowledge, and little need to know. Its enough to take heart that theyre doing our nations most critical bidding and keeping us from harm. For that, we owe them the security they require to stay alive.

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SELLING THE SOUL OF SEAL TEA

n the latest development in the ongoing Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) Fast and Furious scandal, the Department of Justice has announced the appointment of U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota B. Todd Jones to serve as Acting Director of BATFE, replacing Kenneth Melson.

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The DOJ also announced that Dennis Burke, U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona, has resigned. And the Wall Street Journal reported that Emory Hurley, the assistant U.S. attorney responsible for the day-to-day operations of Fast and Furious, has been removed from his post and reassigned to the departments Civil Division. The reckless and utterly failed BATFE operation known as Operation Fast and Furious, which resulted in the death of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry and countless other people in Mexico and north of the border, was run from the BATFEs field office in Phoenix. The bungled operation put thousands of guns into the hands of violent criminals in Mexico. For those who might not be up on all the details of the ever-ballooning Fast and Furious scandal, a short primer is in order.

That government-sanctioned gun-running conspiracy has operated for two years, beginning in 2009. Under Fast and Furious, BATFE street agents were instructed to stand down and passively watch as serial felony violations of federal firearms and smuggling lawspunishable by decades in federal prisonwere committed. When conscientious federally licensed dealers reported illegal straw sales involving large numbers of guns, they were told by agency officials to allow the felonious sales to be completed on the spot and to look the other way in the future. Agency superiors thus forced field agents to passively observe the walking of as many as 2,000 illegally acquired firearms beyond agency control into the cave-darkness of criminal commercemostly in Mexico. The absurd idea was, allegedly, to trace those guns to drug kingpins across the border. How could that even be remotely feasible when neither Mexican law enforcement at any level, nor BATFE representatives stationed as guests As the scandal spreads and the body count grows, of the Mexican government, were even made the Obama administration scrambles to contain aware of the operation? It was top secret. the stain. For the planners of Fast and Furious, the free big-media ride ended a few days before Christmas 2010 in a lonely canyon in Arizona near the Mexican border, where Border Patrol agent Brian Terryduring a firefight in the wee-hourswas gunned down. Two of the AK semi-autos at the scene were the product of Fast and Furious. The death of Terry, a family man and veteran, changed everything. Were it not for Terrys death, the operation doubtless would have continued unabated, with U.S. gun control forces ghoulishly pointing to the ever-mounting body count south of the border to further their agenda. The more information that comes out about Fast and Furious, the more clear it seems that knowledge of the operation, and approval for it, went higher than the Phoenix field office, or even BATFE. There is clear evidence, uncovered by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee headed by Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., that senior Obama administration officials were aware of this disastrous operation. And as the evidence continues to mount, its looking more and more likely that what were seeing unfold is a very large-scale cover-up. Click the Americas 1st Freedom cover above to read more in-depth Fast & Furious coverage.
SNEAK PEEK! Obamas Second Term P22 LaPierre vs. the U.N. P30 Mexico Readies Lawsuit Against U.S. Gunmakers P38 Sammy Davis, Jr.s Pistol P44
www.nranews.com October 2011

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Warrior Stories

A Warrior By

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Peter Kniskern served his nation before he was old enough to shave. Now he strives to stay forever young.

Birth
Peter Kniskern
By Gary Lantz

oung men volunteer to fight for their country for a variety Warrior Stories of reasons: duty, a sense of adventure, personal challenge, family tradition, patriotisms undeniable call. Peter Kniskern understood the allure of all the above, and at a remarkably young age. When Kniskern went to war on behalf of the Stars and Stripes, the adolescent from Hinsdale, Ill., was only 12 years old.
Kniskern, now 82, admits he was big for his age. He was also caught up in an almost unbelievable set of circumstances. In North Africa when World War II broke out, he and his mother soon found themselves fleeing the advance of Germanys General Rommel. They managed to escape Tunisia ahead of the seemingly invincible armored commander, arriving in Algiers in time for the burly 12-year-old to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Obviously, he lied about his age. Still, the youngster proved to be a godsend. Kniskern said in a recent NRA American Warrior interview that he was fluent in five languages: French, Arabic, Italian, Spanish and English. So the Allies most likely overlooked the obvious. He was such a good linguist that, for a while, some thought he might be a German spy. However, his immediate and invaluable service as an interpreter quickly dispelled such notions. Initially used as a Civil Affairs Officer to locate living accommodations for assigned officers and occasional

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One of his ancestors was with Napoleon when the French commander marched against Russia.
handyman services, Kniskern was eventually used as an interpreter for the NAAF and Captain Stuart B Mockford. Being multilingual, Peter was able to lead American Forces to the hidden, makeshift graves of Allied paratroopers who had been captured and murdered by pro-German Arab sympathizers who wanted the silk from their parachutes for clothing. The bodies of these fallen American heroes were often tossed into underground grain silos or pits. Knowing the local language, Kniskern was able to help locate the bodies and identify some of those responsible for these horrific crimes. During the arrest by the local gendarmerie, Kniskern witnessed confessions extracted from those being interrogated by the use of what we would call water-boarding today, he said. Some of these interrogation sessions were fatal. While the consequences for those responsible were often brutal, Kniskern said he knows that the families of many service members would have never known the fate of their loved ones buried unceremoniously in those silos. I take pride and a little consolation in the knowledge that I saved those families from that torment.

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.. hes lived an absolutely unusual life, starting with service in a world war at a very tender age.
The proud veteran says he lived the adventure to the fullest, flying in the same cockpits with several of the Allied forces top aces, dodging bombs and shells, watching the war unfold through the wide open eyes of a young man forced to grow up in a hurry. Kniskern spent two years helping defeat the Nazis before returning home a hero, even though he admits that, at the time, he didnt even understand what a hero was. He tried to readjust to life in the United States and a much more mundane existence as a high school student. However the boyish veteran had seen too much, and undertaken too many adult endeavors, to quietly slip back into the banality of life in a Midwestern high school. In a matter of months, Kniskern left the everyday rituals of a teenage life in the heartland and returned to what he knew best. As soon as he turned 16, Kniskern joined the Marines this time without lying about his age, and with his fathers blessing and signature. During his stint in the Marine Corps one of his most memorable assignments took him to the Bikini Atoll, where he assisted the Navy as a translator during the testing of the atomic bomb. Today the international businessman acknowledges that hes lived an absolutely unusual life, starting with service in a world war at very tender age. I always loved the fact that I was participating in what had to be the ultimate adventure, Kniskern said. At the same time

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Warrior Stories

I was too young to actually comprehend the dangers inherent in what I was doing. Yet somehow the glib Midwesterner managed to survive, and even excel, in his service to the war effort. Kniskern admits part of his warrior ability seems to be in the blood. One of his ancestors was with Napoleon when the French commander marched against Russia. The warrior gene seems to run in the family, Kniskern said. Following his stint in the Marine Corps, Kniskern again pursued his education and eventually graduated from college. Today, hes a linguist who assists corporations seeking to establish communications outlets such as overseas call centers. During the summer of 2011, he was traveling between the U.S. and Panama, doing business with the aplomb of much younger men. But then a glance at his picture shows why Kniskern, who also represents a firm making anti-aging products, appears to be one of his own best testimonials for living life on the wild side, and doing it throughout the duration of a remarkably long and ambitious span of years. Mostly, Kniskern says, he never shrank from doing his duty. Unlike most, however, he launched his own unprecedented tour of duty as a fuzzy-faced youngster who couldnt abide Hitler and his efforts to achieve world domination, and decided to do what he could to help stop the Nazis insane scheme. Too often today, kids at age 12 cant even leave their worried parents behind long enough to saunter down to the local city park. Kniskern felt that, by the time he managed to get the first few months of warfare behind him, hed already grown into an adult. Ive lived a long and fulfilling life, and I truly started young, he recalls. The war in Africa helped me grow up fast, and since that time Ive kept living my life to the fullest, savoring the moment and making the most of every opportunity. As part of the dedication of the World War II memorial in

... by the time he managed to get the first few months of warfare behind him, hed already grown into an adult.

Washington D.C., Kniskern was sent a letter and Army lapel pin from Army Chief of Staff General George Casey Jr., and congratulated for his service. Our greatest tradition is service to our country, Casey wrote. As todays soldiers serve, the tradition and legacy passed on to them by Army Veterans in previous conflicts sustain them so that they can do what must be done to protect our freedom You make a difference to todays Army. Becoming an American warrior requires a unique mindset, and Kniskern understood this rigid philosophy when most youngsters are still playing with Christmas toys. The Illinois youth saw his service as an opportunity both for adventure, and as a chance to help keep the Third Reich from annihilating the North African branch of his family. And thats a heavy role for even a grown man to accept, much less a boy of 12.

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mericans will never forget where they were or what they were doing that fateful morning in September 2001 when Islamic terrorists hijacked four U.S. passenger planes and intentionally crashed three of them into the Pentagon and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. That morning in most parts of the country, the tranquility of a beautiful, blue-sky day was shattered by shocking news and horrific images we will never be able to erase from our minds. America the beautiful, America the indivisible, suddenly felt like America the vulnerable. As horrible as the memories are for those who watched the events unfold on TV in the relative comfort of their homes or workplaces, the emotional distress that plagues those who lived through the experience in the buildings and responding to the event on the ground is truly incomprehensible. For these people, even today, certain sounds, smells and other sensory triggers can instantly transport them to a particular moment in time, a moment they would rather forget.

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By R I C K ST EWA RT

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FBI Agent Steve Denny was

four blocks from the World Trade Center the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. At work in the bureaus New York City Manhattan field office, Denny was conversing with other members of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force and focusing on the business at hand. At the same time, he was looking forward to his brothers birthday celebration planned for that afternoon.

No stranger to terrorism, Denny was an investigative agent during the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993, when terrorists planted a 1,300-plus-pound bomb in the underground parking garage of the North Tower, killing seven people. Denny would testify at the trial of those implicated in the attack, including Ramzi Yousef, Mohammad Salameh, Nidal Ayyad and others who had received instructions from their blind leader, Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman. Eight years later, as he stood in a cubicle on Sept. 11, Denny felt the building shake and heard a loud noise of metal on metal. Nine stories up, Denny and his co-workers were normally insulated from street noise and construction. Whatever he had heard, it was violent. As Denny stepped out of the cubicle, he saw a flurry of activity and overheard someone say that a small plane had struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Steve and others hurried to his supervisors office, where they would have an unobstructed view of the towers. The sight was one they couldnt fully comprehend at first, but as Denny looked at the gaping hole in the North Tower and counted window sections, he quickly surmised that whatever hit the building wasnt a small commuter plane. It was something much bigger. The office TV set was turned to CNN, and various talking heads were beginning to speculate how a plane could have struck a building on such a beautiful, clear day.

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Steve Denny, an FBI agent with the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, saw his worst fears actualized on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

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Whatever he had heard, it was violent.

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LARRY BRUCE / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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As they listened to reports and looked out at the building, a huge shadow darkened the sky.

As they listened to reports and looked out at the building, a huge shadow darkened the sky. Denny and his co-workers watched as the second plane flew directly into the other tower. The size of the fireball was enormous, Denny said, and the visual superseded the sound and the shudder of the building as the shockwave of the explosion reached our building less than four blocks away. Zero doubt remained. Dennys greatest fear has just been actualized: Terrorists had carried out an attack on American soil. Denny reached for his phone and called his brother to tell him he had little chance of making it to his birthday party. He would be reporting immediately to a command center being established about a block and a half from the burning towers. Denny joined Danny Calamine, a New York City Police Detective on the task force, as they grabbed their raid jackets emblazoned with FBI and quickly exited their building to walk the two blocks to the command post. When they reached it, they joined a hastily prepared, in-progress briefing that offered little in the way of information and even less in terms of guidance or instruction. Building evacuations by first responders would be the first priority, and other investigative functions would follow. As the meeting broke up, a few agents exited the glass doors leading to the street. For reasons he doesnt remember, Denny says he headed toward the center of the building. Suddenly, he felt the whole building shake, and he ran toward the exit only to meet his fellow task force members running full speed back toward him. As Raul Pizarro, a New York State Police Detective on the task force, ran past, he yelled at Denny to runthe World Trade Center building was coming down. As they ran toward the center of the building, trying to distance themselves from the collapse of the South Tower, they found dead ends and locked doors. The men suddenly panicked, feeling that the farther they sank into the subterranean levels of the building, the more likely that theyd be buried alive if their own building collapsed. Denny remembers Calamine

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9.11

yelling, Lets get out of here! I dont want to die in here! in his heavy New York accent. We turned around and ran back toward the entrance of the building, Denny said. And when we got to the lobby, we were shocked that day had turned into night, and that we could see nothing outside the glass doors of the building because of the heavy cloud of dust, building matter, papers and falling debris. Denny exited into almost zero visibility and a choking cloud of particulate matter. As some of the cloud began to lift, he could clearly see that one tower was gone. Looking toward the other tower, he saw what he initially thought was a large piece of steel, peeling away from the building and falling some 80 stories toward earth. He remembers thinking that the hunk of falling debris was going to hit one of the firefighters or first responders around the base of the building and kill someone. As the object neared the ground, he watched and waited for the crash of steel on the pavement below, but heard only a muffled, hollow thud. He had just witnessed his first jumper. But it wasnt the last, as numerous other victims trapped within the building were forced to make the unimaginable decision of jumping to their death or being burned alive. In his memory, he has tried very hard to make that falling body something other than what it was. But truth trumps the attempt at every turn. The shocking images of people emerging from the choking cloud, injured and in the grip of uncontrollable terror, were difficult to witness. He saw firefighters, police officers and other responders overcome with grief in the knowledge that they had lost partners, even entire companies of firefighters and friends. As the dust settled and the slightest hints of visibility returned, Denny remembers moving into the street and staring at the void where the towers should have been. He heard a sound he will never forget: many firefighter-motion alarms, designed to sound when the wearer is down and unable to move. As Denny stood at the site of the worst terrorist act in U.S. history, the alarms chirped a horrible chorus all around him.

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... he saw what he initally thought was a large piece of steel, peeling away from the building and falling some 80 stories toward earth.

That first 30 minutes of my day was the best, he said. A blissful half hour to myself with a cup of joe before my counterparts spread out around the world began to wake and flood my inbox with e-mails and ring my phone off the hook with needs, direction and operational support. With direct responsibility for more than 400 people, Arnolds job typically offered little rest and an endless onslaught of criticism and emergency requests. Everything to the West would be waking soon, he thought to himself that morning, so savor the last few moments of bliss before the world awakes and a new day of chasing your tail begins. As Arnold spoke with another senior NCO coming off a shift in the Crisis Action Center (CAC), the colonel in charge of his section entered and said to fire up the television. The colonel said he had caught the tail end of a news report about a small plane colliding with one of the Twin Towers in New York City. Seeing the smoke pouring from the side of the building, Arnold wondered

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Chief Master Sergeant Ricky Arnold arrived to work at

the Pentagon that morning with more than 25,000 other warriors, contractors, paper pushers and political appointees. The Senior Enlisted Career Field Manager of the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) community, Arnolds job required him to hit the ground running on most days. On Sept. 11, 2001, seated in a tiny cubicle deep within the Pentagons subterranean underbelly, Arnold began his workday surrounded by uncharacteristic calm.

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CMSGT Ricky Arnold USAF (retired) came to work at the Pentagon like any other morning. A trained emergency medical technician, Arnold knew that evacuating the Pentagon was not an option. He stayed on site for more than 17 hours pulling bodies from the rubble and evacuating the injured.

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if perhaps a sightseeing planes pilot had gotten a little more up close and personal than hed intended. I mean, what crazy bastard could miss a building like that on a clear day like this unless he was trying to hit it? he said to himself. Moments later the question was answered when another plane struck the second tower. This was definitely a deliberate attack. As he watched the coverage unfold, a streaming ticker message scrolled across the bottom of the TV with breaking news that the Pentagon had been struck and was on fire. There had been no alarms, no building announcements, no sounds of an explosion. Arnold had heard or felt nothing that would make the news seem plausible. Arnold climbed the stairs to the only exit route on his side of the building and found the area abuzz with activity and evacuating people. About that time, Arnold saw an electrical power cartthe type used by maintenance workers and others to get around the massive buildingcoming his way. Over-glorified golf carts, he described them. These carts most days were fitted with a flat bed for hauling tools and supplies. But today as the cart approached, it was laden with dead bodies. Another carried injured people.

While others were streaming from the building and the fire raging within, Arnold was racing toward it.
Holy crap, Arnold thought. This is for real! Like most men, I am not exactly the best at communicating with my wife, and she often worries, Arnold said. Im not sure why I thought to do it, but I got on my phone and let her know that I was OK. It was one of the smartest things I ever did. Arnolds chosen profession, SERE, is one that prepares a person to rapidly assess his or her situation and immediately respond to events. Its a calling that draws one toward danger, not away from it. While others were streaming from the building and the fire raging within, Arnold was racing toward it. Near one of the building exits, he saw an agitated man trying to push his way past a security guard with an assault rifle slung across his chest. Apparently not understanding the severity of his actions, the man had one hand on the guards assault rifle as he was pushing against

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... Arnold knew this confrontation was not going to end well.

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him. Seeing the security officers hand moving toward his sidearm, Arnold knew this confrontation was not going to end well. He quickly intervened to defuse the situation and asked the man what he needed. The guy said he needed a phone to contact his fellow workmates. They had been in the side of the building struck by the plane. Arnold offered the man his phone and then noticed a head wound and blood running down the back of the mans shirt. He told the security officer that he would escort the man to the Pentagons medical clinic. At the infirmary, Arnold saw Major Lorie Brown, on the radio directing traffic, triaging patients and providing leadership in the chaos. Arnold distinctly remembers her poise under fire. He informed Major Brown that he had medical training, and before he could say volunteer, he found himself in a medics vest and assigned to a small search team heading into the smoke to look for victims. When he arrived at the area where American Airlines Flight 77 had struck the west side of the building, he could smell the jet fuel, along with burning petroleum products and human flesh. His team found a man sitting at his desk, completely charred in place like the remnant of a cigarette left burning in an ashtray too long. He knew if anyone had touched the body, it would have crumbled into pieces. The sights were gruesome, and the smells were horrific, he said. But we had to push them a little deeper and press on. The sights of human carnage and the sounds of those screaming for help triggered a switch within Arnold that transformed anxiety into courage and determination to save those around him. With no respiratory equipment, tools

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or even a flashlight, Arnold made multiple trips in and out the impact areas carrying the injured and treating them the best he could. At their deepest penetration into the building that day, Arnold and his team came to a set of doors so hot they could barely touch them. Because of the intense temperature and choking smoke, he made the difficult decision to not proceed farther for the safety of his team. In the days to follow, Arnold learned that many who had perished had done so just beyond those doors. The thought of people just a few feet away still haunts him to this day. For his courage and heroism, Ricky Arnold was awarded the Airmans Medal, one of the Air Forces highest awards for gallantry and heroism. A Scout leader in his local community, Arnold was made an honorary Eagle Scout by The Boy Scouts of America, which also awarded him the crossed palms, Scoutings highest awardtheir equivalent of the Medal of Honor.

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The thought of people just a few feet away still haunts him to this day.

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... thats a heavy role for even a grown man to accept, much less a boy of 12.

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no stranger to human suffering or the emotional aftermath. A Navy combat veteran, Walker was in the Tet battle for the City of Hue where nearly 150 Marines were killed in one of the fiercest engagements in Vietnam. Having served his time working within the realm of a classified program, he left the military for a short stint and then returned as Navy Chaplain for the SEALS. Now a police chaplain with the Campbell Police Department in Campbell, Calif., Walker has seen and heard more than his fair share of heartache, stress and psychological paralysis.

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According to Chaplain Dave Walker, Bible college cant prepare you for the kind of human tragedy we encountered on 9-11. But his service in Vietnam during one of that conflicts most costly battles certainly did.

CHARLES LE PHOTOGRAPHY

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On Sept. 11, when he responded to Ground Zero to provide comfort, aid and assistance, Walker had no idea of the physical and psychological toll the weeks to follow would have on his own life. Ministry can prepare you for many things, but no amount of Bible College or seminary can prepare you for the kind of carnage and loss youll find at the site of a terrorist-sponsored act of evil. It was incredibly difficult to witness the mutilated remains of those they found within the rubble, he said. Yet he saw the heartache was even greater for police officers and firefighters as they came across fallen friends or counterparts. Every time we came across a uniformed officer or firefighter, the aligned or affiliated would form up as we draped a flag over the remains and carried them out toward the temporary morgue, Walker said. These tributes and acts of respect were not just provided for those among their ranks, but for every victim we came across. Witnessing the aftermath of evil truly challenged Walkers faith. But when the smoke cleared and the workers on the ground saw the shape of a cross rise out of the twisted steel, their spirits were bolstered. It is saddening, he said, that 10 years after the event, people would be fighting or suing over its (the cross) inclusion in the 9-11 museum.

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... the heartache was even greater for police officers and firefighters as they came across fallen friends or counterparts.
CHARLES LE PHOTOGRAPHY

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A cross, formed from the steel of the World Trade Center towers, is a special reminder of Walkers time at Ground Zero helping others. Evil can bring down buildings, but Gods grace will never fail.

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One of Walkers most significant memories occurred one day when he and others came across the bodies of six firefighters, which, unlike many victims they had found, were virtually intact. He said that as they were about to enter the cavernous opening where the bodies were located, someone pointed out that the way that the cross beams of light were illuminating the dust atop the site, it looked like six crosses towered over the location where the six firefighters were entombed. As the bodies were recovered, draped with flags and carried from the rubble to the temporary morgue, one of the rescuers directed everyones attention back to the area. The firefighters now recovered, the images of the crosses no longer remained. Within days of returning home from his work at Ground Zero, Walker, like many, began to experience a chest rattle and cold-like symptoms brought on by the inhalation of toxic fumes and hazardous particulates. The rattle would become full-blown pulmonary illness, which was followed by other complications including gastrointestinal issues. Over time, he would be diagnosed with cancer and would diligently work to stall or defeat it. Walker, like others, has suffered an almost cruel reward for his unselfish service those fateful days at Ground Zero. He said he has no regrets and does not hold ill will against anyone for his suffering; although at times, he has been incredibly disappointed in the lack of recognition or forthright acknowledgement about his medical sufferings and their connection to the site. He does not expect any great financial windfall or monetary reward coming his way from litigation and adjudication on responders behalf.

LARRY BRUCE / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

... six crosses towered over the location where the six firefighters were entombed.

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In the days

that followed the attack, Americas civility, unity and collective sense of purpose inspired everyone. America, for months to follow, seemed to lose its selfish tendencies and proclivity toward partisan squabbling. God, country, and kicking ass were back in vogue and America the vulnerable redesigned itself as America the hyper-vigilant. Flags and yellow ribbons adorned almost every car or home, while Americas discourse seemed focused on getting even and finding ways to make sure such an event never happened again. Yet as the flags and decals faded, so too did Americas civility, compassion, and ability to remain united. On the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, let us remember Steve Denny, Ricky Arnold, Dave Walker and the thousands of other examples who reminded us who we Americans really are. Let us dust off the decals, unfurl the flags and recommit ourselves to those days when we promised to never forget and truly meant it.

JUNE MARIE SOBRITO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

CHARLES LE PHOTOGRAPHY

Walker, like others, has suffered an almost cruel reward for his unselfish service those fateful days at Ground Zero.
Chaplain Dave Walker and his wife, Holly, have endured a lot since his stint at the World Trade Center. Lingering health issues continue to this day.

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(DRUG) TRAFFIC COPS

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The Interstate

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How Does a 2-Officer Drug Interdiction Team Pick Out The Narcotics Traffic?
By G A R Y L A N T Z

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Kellee Robertson, a 10-year veteran of the Norman, Okla., Police Department, has worked in the drug interdiction program for the last four years.

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ellee Robertson spells her name with feminine flair. And it fits the petite, pretty 34-year-old, despite the fact that she goes to work with a gun on her hip, escorted by a dog trained to drag down a large man whenever the German shepherd gets the nod.
Kellee patrols a busy stretch of Interstate 35 near its junction with Interstate 40. This is the crossroads of America, a place where thousands of cars, trucks and minivans stream past her unmarked SUV every day. Any of the vehicles could be moving drugs north along I-35 or transporting funds from a successful drug transaction south to suppliers in Texas or Mexico. So Kellee watches the traffic speed past, and she depends upon her training and a sort of sixth sense to tell bad guys from good, drawing upon both classroom sessions and intuition to determine who to stop, who to question and which vehicles need a trained canines nosy evaluation. Across the interstate, Kellees partner, Darin Morgan, is monitoring traffic headed in the

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Formerly an undercover narcotics agent, Darin Morgan is still fighting in the war on drugsbut now he does so in uniform.

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Some compare their skills to that of a hawk on a telephone pole watching for a mouse in the roadside thatch.
opposite direction. If Kellee spends her shift looking for drug traffickers, then Darin scrutinizes each passing car for clues that might hint at drug cash headed south. The roles are interchangeable, the equipment the sameexcept that Darins dog hails from Czechoslovakia, and, as Darin points out, tends to be bilingual. The equipment is sound and the training good. However, none of it measures up to the capacity for plain old gut instinct that makes these two police officers so successful at their work. Police professionals have written books about the nuances of drug interdiction, and both Kellee and Darin regularly attend seminars. But on the highway, parked beside a prairie field with thousands of cars whipping past and only a dog for company, the success or failure of each succeeding day depends upon intangiblesupon the ability to see something for only a split second that triggers some predatory instinct and ends in a successful seizure of drugs or ill-gotten gains. Interdiction is a fairly new weapon in the war on drugs. Today, states in regions with high rates of drug trafficking not only field interdiction officers but also count on interaction between units affiliated with various law enforcement agencies including state police, county sheriffs departments and municipal police departments. Kellee and Darin work for the city of Norman, Okla., a town intersected by I-35. Both began their law enforcement careers for the city 10 years ago, at age 24, working as undercover narcotics officers. For Kellee, it was an opportunity to accomplish something shed been told she couldnt. She learned to shoot and hold her own in what shed been told was a mans world, and now she excels at both. Today, both officers serve in uniform rather than the street clothes of undercover work, but the target remains the same: illegal drugs and those who transport them for a profit. The success of nationwide interdiction efforts appealed to the pair, and both simultaneously signed on to a program theyve worked with enthusiasm for four successful years. Talk to anyone whos ridden with either Kellee or Darin, and the first thing they mention is the uncanny intuition both display. Some compare their skills to that of a hawk on a telephone pole watching for a mouse in the roadside thatch. Theirs is a world of nuance: a motorists revealing glance, something

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about a car that doesnt look right, the slightest instant of erratic behavior, a couple that somehow seem out of place. Any of the above can be enough to provoke a closer look. And then, if suspicions linger, the officers patiently await a reason to make the stop. Its the questions following the stop that tend to seal the deal. Both Kellee and Darin take pride in their ability to politely and intelligently talk suspects into trapping themselves. We start a conversation, listen to their stories, Darin says. Then if something in the dialogue doesnt jibe, the dog comes out of the SUV. And if the dog says drugs are present, the traps been sprung. Our interdiction officers may be in uniform, but theyre trained as detectives, Kellee and Darins boss, Captain J.D. Younger, asserts. They have the skills, talent and intuition to do this job. They understand how to coax people into revealing their criminality by carefully using the right words and demeanor. As a result they are an invaluable asset with the ability to slow the flow of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, pills, even illegal firearms. The police captain adds that above all else, Kellee and Darin have learned how to discover clues through the process of conversation. Plus, they are quick to determine if a suspect is lying. Our interdiction team isnt just drug interdiction, its criminal interdiction, Captain Younger points out, adding that their efforts have blocked the distribution of as much as 90 pounds of marijuana in a single shipment, helped unravel auto theft rings, busted drivers license and check counterfeiters and helped net major criminals wanted for a variety of crimes. Criminals are criminals, the captain contends, and those involved in the drug trade are generally active in other criminal endeavors, as well. Plus, theyre increasingly well organized, a trend the interdiction teams counter with their own increasingly complex organization of various law-enforcement agencies. We try to spot new trends and relay information to other agencies involved in interdiction, Kellee says, adding that the team also partners with the postal service to stop the transfer of contraband through the mail. Essentially, it seems, the officers are taking the point in an ongoing cat and mouse game pitting criminals against law enforcement agencies constantly seeking to determine changing patterns.

Kellee may require her German shepherds assistance on only a fraction of stops, but her well-trained canine partner is always at the ready. ROAD SAG E SAG E ROAD SAG E ROAD SAG E ROAD SAG E ROAD SAG E

If something doesnt jibe, the dog comes out of the SUV.


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Its a large task, and oftentimes a tedious one. The law enforcement community estimates that as much as 300 million pounds of marijuana alone may enter the states through major distribution routes. Awaiting each shipment are officers like Kellee and Darin, who may stop 10 to 15 vehicles a day on the interstate. Of these 10 to 15 vehicles, maybe only one will warrant a search utilizing a dog. A months worth of searches may average only a single notable arrest. However these good busts tend to be notable indeed. Kellee and Darin have netted counterfeit-check artists wanted by the Secret Service, stopped shipments of illegal steroids that could have destroyed the lives of gullible young athletes, and even helped lock the doors to a widespread ring of chop shops, and in the process slammed the brakes on a major car-theft racket. All in all, this pair of young law enforcement professionals helps take a serious bite out of illegal drug profiteering. Their interdiction efforts, plus those of their comrades working for a network of state and county officers, managed to capture $14 million in cash profits from drug sales in a single yeara figure that led the nation. Both officers emphasize that stopping the flow of drugs requires constant communication and a massive team effort, organizational skills increasingly employed by the traffickers, as well.

Their interdiction efforts, plus those of their comrades ... managed to capture $14 million in cash profits from drug sales in a single yeara figure that led the nation.

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For veterans like Darin, its the results that matter. What we do isnt any big secret, he says. Its just instinct coupled with experience. What he doesnt mention is that for those in charge of breaking down the influx of illegal drugs flowing into the United States, the combination has been a godsend. According to figures posted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, officers like Kellee and Darin have made an impact in their area. Some 900,000 fewer teenagers now use illegal drugs, a figure thats dropped 25 percent since 2001. Meth use fell a stunning 50 percent. Cocaine consumption dropped 33 percent during the same time period, and LSD use was down 53 percent. Overall, workplace drug use declined as much as 50 percent. Meet Kellee and Darin on the street, and its difficult to imagine these two are frontline warriors in the nations assault on drugs. Theyre like the new neighbors everyone hopes will move in next doorsmart, polite, well mannered, easy to talk to, community oriented, wholesome. Nice kidsbut dont underestimate the underlying toughness. Kellee evolved from never having held a firearm to becoming one of the better marksmen within her department. Both she and Darin know what its like to wrestle with drug dealers intent on escaping with a sack of large bills they stupidly left sitting in the backseat floorboard. Thats when the dogs, trained in both detection and apprehension, earn their kibble. And Kellee and Darin chalk up another win for the good guys in this seemingly never-ending, deadly serious game.

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Some 900,000 fewer teenagers now use illegal drugs, a figure thats dropped 25 percent since 2001.

By STEVEN M. BROWN

AR15.com/Rockcastle Pro Am 3-Gun Championship

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AR15.com/Rockcastle Pro Am 3-Gun Championship

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Dianna Liedorff shoots for Team FNH USA when shes not working as a police officer in Tulsa, Okla. She applies the lessons learned in 3-gun shooting to her work in law enforcement.

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s Hurricane Irene prepared to wreak havoc to the east, the stars shone bright in the night sky over Rockcastle Shooting Center at Park Mammoth Resort in south-central Kentucky.

But stars of a different type came out during the day as this relatively new but magnificent shooting sports resort played host to the inaugural AR15.com/Rockcastle Pro Am 3-Gun Championship, Aug. 26-28. These were stars like five-time USPSA 3-Gun National Champion Jerry Miculek, 10-time USPSA Ladies National Champion Julie Golob and four-time USPSA Multi Gun National Tactical Champion Taran Butler. They shot alongside the shooting stars of television, like Maggie Reese and Iain Harrison from the History Channels popular Top Shot program.


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343 competitors198 pros and 145 amateurstook part in this unique pro-am event, the brainchild of NRA Board Member Joe DeBergalis and the owners of AR15.com.

Team Rockcastles Tony Holmes takes aim with an XRAILequipped shotgun.

And most significantly, these stars of the shooting-competition universe shot, taught and rubbed elbows with a field of 145 amateurs, many of them brand new to the sport, many of them first-time 3-gun competition shooters. For these newbies, this was a veritable 3-gun fantasy camp. In total, 343 competitors198 pros and 145 amateurstook part in this unique pro-am event, the brainchild of NRA Board Member Joe DeBergalis and the owners of AR15.com. The AR15.com/Rockcastle Pro Am 3-Gun Championship was, in essence, two competitions running side by side. The pros shot eight stages, while the amateurs shot seven. The pro stages were a little more technically difficult, and the targets were a little farther out with slightly more difficult presentations compared to the amateur stages. But both sets of stages were similar enough, and close enough in proximity, to one another that a first-time shooter on, say, Stage 1 could look across the road and see a heavy-hitter like Bennie Cooley shooting, basically, the same game. We set it up to bring more new shooters in, match director Jeff Cramblit said of the unique format. The folks who came here and shot in the amateur competition got to meet all the legends, all the people they see on TV. Its like playing golf with Tiger Woods without having to actually compete head to head against him. The idea was not simply to present a top-flight 3-gun competition, but to present one where the inexperienced could shoot comfortably with the

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ultra-experienced, where newer shooters could learn from the masters and where those who had never shot 3-gun before could be introduced to a type of competition that is as popular and addictive as any out there. And to do so while all involvedpros and amshad the times of their lives. Lofty goals, perhaps, but the organizers of this unique eventwith invaluable assistance from a host of volunteers and title sponsors Brownells, Hornady Manufacturing and AR15.comhit their target dead on. Nick Noble, CEO of Park Mammoth Resort and Rockcastle Shooting Center, estimated that as many as a third of the weekend competitions amateur shooters had never shot in a major 3-gun match. And once shooters are introduced to 3-gun, a sport in which competitors use a rifle, pistol and shotgun to engage targets at varying distances over a course of fire that differs in design from match to match, theyre hooked. Tony Holmes, a pro shooter with Team Rockcastle, has been shooting 3-gun since the late 1980s and doesnt recall ever attending a match where he witnessed as many newcomers as he did at this pro-am. He was left with little doubt that he would see these same new shooters again at future competitions. If you start shooting 3-gun, you wont want to just shoot pistol anymore, he said. Youre going to want to shoot three guns and have three times as much fun. Hornady Manufacturing President Steve Hornady has shot rifles, pistols and shotguns all his life. Hes probably shot more guns than he can countway more than threebut until this late-August weekend, he had never shot 3-gun. Hornady was one of those first-timers who will undoubtedly be back for more. I did compete, but Im not going to say I was competitive, Hornady said. Nothing went wrong. I got all my targets. I didnt DQ. I finished in the middle of the pack, so Im not last and thats OK.

A third of the weekend competitions amateur shooters had never shot in a 3-gun match.
Whether shooting from behind a barrier on a pistol stage or on the move with a rifle, 3-gun provides special challenges that shooters must overcome to succeed.

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Its a tremendous amount of fun. I have a lot to learn with the shotgun stage. And the handgun stage. Oh, and the rifle stage. But it was just a riot. Fun but challenging, this 3-gun sport. And not just for those new to it. Even the pros can struggle at times. Every course of fire is different, depending on match location. The stages, which generally require quite a bit of movement from target to target, can be physically grueling. Team Surefire member and former Top Shot participant Maggie Reese injured a knee during the competition on Pro Stage 5, which had competitors engaging three rifle targets, then moving to a position behind a car to engage more targets before finally mounting an elevated platform to engage four more rifle and six pistol targets. Mechanical difficulties are a part of the game, too. Team Smith & Wesson shooter Julie Golob suffered cycling issues with her shotgun on the 20-shotgun-target Pro Stage 2. Its all part of the game, the blood, sweat, tears and occasional SNAFUs, just as its all part of life. Thats what makes 3-gun such an engaging shooting sportthe necessity of adapting to the unexpected. Its also what can make 3-gun shooting a valuable learning tool for those in law enforcement, according to Dianna Liedorff, who was at the pro-am competing for Team FNH USA, her team for the last two years.

AR15.com/Rockcastle Pro Am 3-Gun Championship


3-gun has caught fire with shooters of all ages. At the age of 16, Team Benellis Katie Harris is already a force to be reckoned with on the pro circuit.

AR15.com/Rockcastle Pro Am 3-

Liedorff has been involved in shooting competitions since high school, starting off in IPSC handgun competitions before moving on to shotgun matches in college. She took up 3-gun about three years ago and estimates shell shoot around 15 competitions this year. But competitive shooting isnt Liedorffs main vocation. For the last 19 years, she has worked as a police officer in Tulsa, Okla., and shes a firm believer that the lessons learned in a 3-gun match are applicable to her day job. Anytime I can spend behind my weapon, Im becoming more familiar with it, more confident, more aware of its capabilities, she said. Theres also the competition aspect. These are long courses of fire, so something in your plan is not going to go the way you wanted it to. It can scramble your brain. Thats exactly how it works in the real world. Liedorff wasnt the only law enforcement officer shooting at the AR15.com/ Rockcastle Pro Am 3-Gun Championship, and she wasnt the only one who was there to get more than a good time and a healthy dose of competition out of

It can scramble your brain. Thats exactly how it works in the real world.

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There

Rifle shooting 3-gun stages often closely mimic situations faced in the field by law enforcement and military personnel. Match Director Jeff Cramblit took a turn on the course of fire he helped design.

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are no secrets here.

the weekend. Bill Allen, NRA Board Member and an Inspector for the Shelby County (Tenn.) Sheriffs Office, was on hand at Rockcastle Shooting Center with the chief from his offices training division. Allen was at the event to have a good time, but also to evaluate how 3-gun shooting could help in training his fellow law enforcement officers. While the stress of a shooting competition cant compare with the stressful situations of a drug bust or hostage situation, Allen does believe that working against match nerves can benefit those in the law enforcement profession. He has first-hand proof. I was so confident with my skills from doing competition shooting, situations where I could have shot somebody and been justified doing it, I didnt have to because I knew I could wait maybe an instant longer before I did it. When your friends and your fellow law enforcement officers are out there watching you, you want to do the best you can, Allen continued. It adds to the stress level and teaches you to operate under those stress levels. It also gets you in that competition mode where youre going to go back and practice more and more to get better. Practice, practice, practicea word heard over and over again at the competition as amateurs sought advice and took instruction from the sports top dogs. There are no secrets here, said Bruce Piatt, who was not only competing but also teaching a clinic. Ill tell you whatever you need to know. If you ask me a question about shooting, Im glad to help. Practice loading your shotgun, said Team Rockcastles Tony Holmes. I dont think you can practice loading that shotgun enough. The whole key is getting that gun loaded back up again. For Officer Liedorff, who takes notes on each stage and immediately goes back through the positives and negatives afterward, its the rifle that gets the focus. You have to know your rifle, she said. You have to get your scope set up, and you have to know your ammo. The new shooters soaked up the info like sponges. The pros tore up the course of fire. And a ton of shooters took home a virtual treasure trove of prizes. No one shot a perfect match (although Daniel Horner came ridiculously closesee results), but everyone had a blast, virtually ensuring that this first-ever AR15.com/Rockcastle Pro Am 3-Gun Championship will not be the last.

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NRA Life of Duty was on hand in a big way at the AR15.com/Rockcastle Pro Am 3-Gun Championship.

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The NRA Life of Dutys efforts during the proam resulted in $17,460 being raised ...

While the professionals and amateurs didnt compete head to head at this unique event, they did get to share bragging rights during the closing awards ceremony. A random drawing during the event paired each amateur with a pro. Each duos scores were tallied, and when the last pistol, rifle and shotgun had been fired, the scores were totaled and the top-scoring pro-am team was named the inaugural NRA Life of Duty Challenge award winner. In the end, it was amateur shooter Jason Hawkins who hit the jackpot by being paired with shooting legend Jerry Miculek. Their combined scores earned them bragging rights as the first-ever NRA Life of Duty Challenge champs. All throughout the competition, competitors and spectators had opportunities to donate money to NRA Life of Duty, either when they checked in or when the participated in various side matches. The money went to NRA Life of Duty, but only briefly. During the awards ceremony, Pete Brownell, President of NRA Life of Dutys presenting sponsor Brownells, stood before the crowd and presented all the proceeds from these efforts to two organizations important to all American warriors: Marcus Luttrells Lone Survivor Foundationwhich seeks to empower wounded warriors and their families through health, wellness, and therapeutic supportand the Task Force Dagger Foundation, which assists U.S. Army Special Operations Command soldiers and their families. The NRA Life of Dutys efforts during the pro-am resulted in $17,460 being raised, half of which went to the Lone Survivor Foundation and half to Task Force Dagger. As NRA Life of Dutys presenting sponsor, Brownell had the honor of presenting the checks to the worthy causes. NRA Life of Duty is about recognizing and supporting the soldiers, the law enforcement agencies and the first responders whose main job is to protect us and make sure our families are safe, either here or abroad, said Pete Brownell. This is to say thank you to everybody out there whos fighting and serving to make America great.

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The Skinny on Rockcastle

Rockcastle Shooting Center is the newest addition to the Park Mammoth Resort property, which is developing into the nations premiere shooting sports resort. The shooting center offers a 15-station Sporting Clay course, 5 Stand, Pistol and Rifle Ranges out to 1,500 yards, a SASS Range and two 3D Archery Ranges, which are open to the public with various levels of membership opportunities available. The center is nestled among the wooded ridges and valleys of the historic property encompassing 2,000 acres of the Park Mammoth Resort located in south-central Kentucky.

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AY T H E T R O Y G I V E N S S T O RY

BY RICK STEWART

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You train. You prepare. Youre cautious. Youre protected. But this is Afghanistan. Youre in trouble.

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B L O W N AWAY T H E T

rom the time he was old enough to speak, Troy Givens voiced his lifes dream to anyone who would listen. He wanted to be an Army man. On Halloween, he wore not a superheros cape or cowl, but an Army helmet and fatigues. He owned just about every G.I. Joe action figure available and spent hours vanquishing imaginary enemies in his neighborhood, using sticks for guns, pinecones for grenades. Life was good.
But on the real-world battlefield of Afghanistan, where, since the conflicts outset, Improvised Explosive Devices or roadside bombs have resulted in 66 percent of the injuries and deaths sustained by American forces, life can change in a split second. Today, Troy Givens is living proof of that fact. Back in grade school, the Cub Scouts offered Troy his first chance to wear a real uniform and be a part of something special. Campouts and hikes only encouraged his desire to someday join the Army. Junior high and high school brought Webelos, Boys Scouts and, eventually, Scoutings highest prize: the Eagle Scout title (left). With high school coming to an end, Troy enlisted in the Army National Guard as a way of funding his education while serving his country. In college, he joined ROTC to achieve his goal of becoming a commissioned Army officer.

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Lt. Troy Givens demonstrates the transition from his HK416 service carbine to his HK .45 sidearm. Previous page: Troy attained the Eagle Scout rank on April 24, 2004.

There is something unnatural about letting your child go off to war.

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Troy stands with his mother and father, Janet and Bill, and his brother Eric on the day of Army Basic Training graduation at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

Along the way, there was no misunderstanding about Americas involvement in Iraq and Afghanistannor the likelihood that Troy would end up there, sooner rather than later. Completing his MOS training as a 21Alpha Engineering Officer, he was assigned to the 2nd Engineering Battalion in White Sands, N.M. While in training, Troy learned that his unit had been called to service in Afghanistan, and that he would be joining them when training was complete. Janet Givens, Troys mother, says that kissing her son goodbye at the airport as he left for Afghanistan was about the most difficult thing she has ever done. There is something unnatural about letting your child go off to war, even when stopping him directly conflicts with his calling or childhood dreams, she said. You are scared to death to let them go, yet you know you cant stand in the way of their decisions. Stationed in the Balkh Province of northern Afghanistan just south of Uzbekistan, at Camp Dehdadi II southwest of Mazar-i-Sharif, Troys camp sat not far from Camp Marmal, where his best friend and Army Blackhawk helicopter pilot, Will Townsend, was stationed. The two were able to see each other from time to time when Troys convoys passed through the area or Townsends helicopter occasionally landed at Dehdadi II. Troy is the kind of soldier you hope to have as an officer and leader, Townsend said. Hes one of those hard-charging A-type personalities that doesnt get hung up on his authority over others. If youve got to go outside the wire, you want a guy in charge that demonstrates he cares about you and will always put your safety and well-being first. Thats Troy. As the platoon leader of a Personal Security Detail (PSD), Troy took his team through numerous patrols and convoys each week within a large operating area. Some days the route led them to Camp Spannthe camp named for Johnny Michael Mike Spann, the CIA operative who was the first U.S. combat fatality in Afghanistan,

Troy Givens snapped away at his convoy, his MRAP-RG31 and his men the week an IED hidden in a water-filled pothole would change his life forever.

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on Nov. 25, 2001. As part of an engineer team, Troys platoon had the primary mission of keeping supplies, personnel and essential equipment moving through the area by maintaining roads, clearing obstructions, inspecting bridges and looking for IEDs. Troy and his men had traversed the routes many times with increasing familiarity, but never with complacency. The Taliban and insurgent fighters had proved themselves adept and creative in finding ways to surprise American forces and disguise improvised explosives in ways that could not be detected by American technology. Its like playing Russian roulette with vehicles and an IED, rather than a gun with the spinning cylinder and the chance of a bullet, Troy said in an exclusive interview with NRA American Warrior. Every time you dodge one, it doesnt necessarily make you feel safer, just lucky. You make every effort to not drive over things you cant see, so we avoided puddles, muddy ground and disturbed road areas as much as possible, he said. Three days after Christmas 2010, while operating out of the city of Kunduz, Troy and his men set out to drop mission-essential equipment at the Isa Khan Bridge. A heavy rain had left numerous puddles in the pothole-filled roads, and everyone avoided them as much as possible. Troy and his men made it to their objective that day and were returning to base over the same roads when they reached a series of large, water-filled potholes. Troys vehicle was part of a nine-vehicle convoy of Mine E T R O Y G I V E N S S T O RY Resistant Ambush Protected MRAPs known as M-ATVs. Three vehicles moved ahead, and Troys driver did his best to follow their exact path, not knowing that hidden in one of the puddles was an IED.

You make every effort to not drive over things you cant see.

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The force of the explosion lifted the 20,000-pound vehicle nearly eight feet in the air.

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Troy was loaded on a C-130 medevac for transport from Brooke Army Medical Center to Richmond, Va.

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I V E N S S T O RY

When Troys M-ATV hit the makeshift bomb, the force of the explosion lifted the 20,000-pound vehicle nearly eight feet in the air and turned it on its side before depositing it back in the 8-to-10-foot-deep crater created by the IED. The vehicle landed on its passenger side where Givens was seated, pinning him to the bottom of the crater with the M-ATV crushed in around him. The vehicles door was blown from its hinges and ended up inside the vehicle, crushing Troys legs and pinning him in. Pinned inside the dark vehicle at the bottom of the hole, Troy regained consciousness and began to see light, the source of which he soon realized: His vehicle was on fire. I cant even begin to explain how terrifying it is to know youre trapped inside a vehicle and realize that you may burn to death, he said. There are a number of ways a soldier can go, but thats about the least desirable on my list. I screamed and begged anybody listening to extinguish the fire and not let me burn to death. Wrecker-crew members from a nearby unit risked their lives to come to the area, but their wrecker was not designed to deadlift the M-ATVs massive weight. The crew had to lift the vehicle, support it with blocks and lift again, repeating this process several times before they could safely extricate Troy. Troys men set up a 360-degree security perimeter, and medics did their best to offer assistance and treatment until the vehicle was freea process that took his team well over an hour to complete. I could not see or feel my legs, Troy said. I wasnt sure if they had been cut off by the door, if I was paralyzed, or what. I had a few lights positioned around the cab, and I started trying to work them to get a fix on my situation. The lights clearly revealed the door crushing my leg, and the sight of my own injuries was hard to take with absolute calm. Wet, bleeding and unable to feel his legs, Troy used his knife to cut away body armor that was hung up on part of the vehicle and then worked the extraction harness that was suspending his body. When it released, my body fell with a gigantic thump to the cold, muddy floor of the hole, he said. Lightning-bolt waves of shock seemed to run through my body with the slightest movement of the vehicle.

I could not see or feel my legs. I wasnt sure if they had been cut off by the door, or paralyzed, or what.

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Those climbing in and out to assess his injuries and provide support only added to the excruciating discomfort. Troy in ICU at Brooke Losing blood and all of the other elements of the situation Army Medical Center brought upon shock and the need to maintain my vitals and near San Antonio, Texas. stabilize me as soon as possible, he said. An external fixator brace Finally, thanks to the hard work and courageous actions of prevents movement of his brothers willingly putting themselves in harms way, Troy was pelvis and spine. free of the vehicle and its claustrophobic confines. A medevac helicopter, which had been on standby, was called in as soon as it became evident that his extraction was imminent. Troy was quickly placed on a litter and loaded aboard. Back home, Janet Givens was awakened in the middle of the night by a phone call from Troys commanding officer at the rear detachment in White Sands, N.M. Information about her sons injuries was sketchy. All the commanding officer could report was that Troy was injured and had been flown to Kunduzand a German NATO military hospital nearbyand that he was stable with multiple injuries to his legs and pelvic area. Janet sat down at her computer the next morning and began her first group e-mail to friends and family that would become a diary of sorts over the months to come. Her first e-mail informed friends of the news she had received, asking all to pray for her son and the other soldiers who had been injured in the blast. Troy will be kept in Afghanistan, she wrote, until he is stable enough to be flown to Germany we will join him as soon as we can. please pray. Troys injuries were substantial. His knee was dislocated and almost all connecting tendons and ligaments were torn, stretched or damaged. His lower spine was detached from his pelvic girdle, and his pelvis was shattered both front and back. A large mass of flesh and muscle was torn loose from his

T H E T R O Y G I V E N S S T O RY

I was so happy that he was alive that I hardly noticed at first the hardware and external frame supports.

calf, and multiple fractures to his tibia, fibula and femur required extensive stabilization. Internal injuries and bleeding were evident, and X-rays revealed that his colon, where it attaches to the large intestine, was severely bruised and that his urethra was almost entirely obliterated. Troys father, Bill Givens, had always done his best to not worry about his son. He respected Troys calling, trusted his good judgment and knew that his boy was doing what he had always dreamed of. He sat down to write an editorial to the hometown newspaper just three days after his sons incident to enlighten those in the community. Keep Troy and his platoon in your prayers, he wrote. Stand at attention when the flag is presented sing along with the national Anthem Troy will hear you, as well as other veterans young and old. On Dec. 30, the Givenses received word that Troy had been moved from Kunduz to Bagram Air Force Base, where he was presented a Purple Heart by the division commander. At the same time, they learned that if all went well, Troy would be flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany later that evening. From Germany, Troy was flown to Andrews AFB outside of Washington D.C., and then to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) near San Antonio, Texas. The Army worked diligently to provide air transportation, housing and other assistance to Janet, Bill and Troys brother Eric, who all arrived at Brooke Army Medical Center the day after Troy. I was so happy that he was alive that I hardly noticed at first the

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The hardest thing Ive ever had to do was go to my sons hospital room and tell him that his father was dead.

hardware and external frame supports that held his legs and broken pelvis together to immobilize him, Janet said. The injuries, both external and internal, were hard to accept. Yet the family knew that if anyone could overcome the obstacles ahead of him, it would be Troy. From Jan. 7 through April 7, Troy worked through his treatment, surgeries and initial rehabilitation with his parents by his side. The Army then announced they were going to move Troy to a VA hospital in Virginia. Troys father went home and brought the family vehicle back to Texas so they could have transportation when they arrived in Virginia, and Janet flew with Troy aboard an Air Force C-130. Bill Givens left Texas a day later, somewhat under the weather with symptoms of a cold. In Louisiana, he sought treatment in an emergency room where he was given medication and instructions to rest in a local hotel room. By morning, his condition had worsened and Bill went back to the hospital, where doctors informed him he had a severe case of pneumonia. He was admitted into the hospital hoping that he would soon be able continue his journey to be with his wife and son. On April 9, Janet wrote in her journal, Bill sounded horrible. His health did not improve, and she wrote that she was going to make arrangements to fly out and be with him. On April 11, she made her last diary e-mail entry to family and friends with the news that Troys father had passed away during the early morning hours from heart complications brought on by the pneumonia. I thought that the hardest thing I had ever done in my life was kiss my son at the airport as he was boarding his plane for Afghanistan, Janet said. But I was wrong. The hardest thing Ive ever had to do was go to my sons hospital room and tell him that his father was dead. Troy Givens has certainly had more than his fair share of unspeakable heartache, yet his service to his country and commitment to the Army have never wavered. Circumstances have him strapped to a gigantic roller-coaster ride of uncertainty. The journey moving forward is filled with

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Troy with Army Chief of Staff George W. Casey and his parents at Brooke Army Medical Center.

anxiety and many unknowns. If anyone every tells you that No news is good news, or that Time will heal, Troy said, tell them they are crazy. Recovery from debilitating injury does not stop time. As you wait for the what ifs that surround your ability to be whole again, the world keeps moving on without you. It can psychologically minimize you. Every day brings new challenges and hope. Troys faith in God, faith in country and the strength of his family and friends provide the necessary foundation for whatever comes his way. Troy said that, when he was growing up, his father always encouraged him to inspire others. With his family, his fellow soldiers and others looking on, Troy is determined to continue to make those two words his ultimate goal.

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