Born and raised in Charleston,SC, I've been a re-enactor for 20 years, since the age of 10. I started off with the 10th SCVI (old Co. B of the PB). I am also a founding member of the 27th SCVI (Be easy on me Brian, I was young at the time). I started at the bottom as a musician (fifer/drummer), instructed by George Carroll. I've played with nearly every Fife & Drum Corps around the Country, including:

2nd Maryland Fife & Drum Corps
Cumberland Guard Fife & Drum Corps
Iron Brigade Fife & Drum Corps
Old Ft. Jackson Fife & Drum Corps (1996 Olympics-Savannah & Atlanta)
Camp Chase Fife & Drum Corps
Americana Fife & Drum Corps
(3rd Reg't) Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps
Colonial Williamsburg Fife & Drum Corps (when I was 15)

When I turned 16 I picked up a rifle, and set the martial music down. Around the age of 14, during the first Red River Campaign, I was officially introduced to campaigning, and started attending ither c/p/h events with units such as The Bully Boys, Columbia Rifles, Southern Guard, and others. I great many thanks goes out to "Massa Chawls" Heath for pushing me to improve, and for countless hours in camp, on the march, and on the phone for selflessly helping me to improve my impression (RIP Charles Heath).

I moved to West Virginia in 1999, and began a campaigner CS Cavalry unit (8th Va. Cav, Co. E "Border Rangers". After realizing how expensive cav is, I was homesick for my infantry roots. Since there is a huge lack of quality Federal campaign units in WV, a few of us decided to start the 33rd OVI. After 3 years, the Acorn Boys Mess was formed. I was elected the first Captain, and remained in that capacity until this year, and now I'm happy being back in the ranks. Hampton Cokely is actually one of the founding members of the Acorn Boys Mess.

I am married to the best girl in the world, Angie, and I have 3 boys, ages 12, 10, and 7. My 7 year old son Connor, dubbed by the mess "cricket", picked up the drum after teaching him the basic and intermediate rudimentary principles, and is learning the ropes of a campaigner.

I plan on moving back home to Charleston within the next year, and hope to hook up with the TB.

I've been a Fireman-EMT for the past 13 years, serving up here in the north and with St. Andrews FD Engine Co. 4 (IAFF Local 3697), and the City of Goose Creek FD, Engine Co. 8.

One day I may work with Brian, who knows? Then again, West Ashley is quiet again.

Nick,
Looking forward to seeing you in the ranks.

Keep us posted as to when you're coming down.

Will you be at RB?

S/F
RedTurner

Yeah, I'll be at RB in February. I will be 1st Sgt. of Co. A with the campaigner battalion that Galen is raising. We'll be at LBL too. Looking forward too it. I haven't been to RB in 9 years.

Nick,

Come February, I will be escaping from The Citadel to hang out with you. Did you say you are moving back down here?

To all members,

First I want to apologize to everyone, including my pards for not keeping in touch for the past few months, and not attending events. Here's what it's been like for the past few months. You know how hard it can be to attend events due to my line of work (Emergency Medicine, Fire, EMS, etc..) The weekend of River's Bridge I was unable to make due to the situation in Haiti. I was out of the country for 10 days, working at a hospital in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. We lifted up from O'Hare in Chicago on the 28th of January. The two weeks prior I was anywhere and everywhere in the U.S. preparing for our medical team's deployment, including several briefings at the State Dept. in Washington. I hit 14 Major U.S. cities in just 15 days preparing our team. We treated 3,000 patients the first 7 days and lost only 4. We went to work only an hour after we landed.

Between February to mid-June I didn't have the Internet at home due to financial reasons. Seems I had to make some cutbacks at home in order to pay the ever increasing energy costs in the State of West Virginia.

My wife, Angie, finally graduated college with Honors this past May, and finally landed a job up here. She plans on staying with this corporate law firm for 2-3 years and then transferring to their office in Charleston.

I suffered a knee injury on the job the same month and tore every ligament in my left knee except for the LCL. The meniscus is torn to the root and surgery will be in the the next month or so. I'm pretty much out-of-action for the next 3 to 4 months. I was also supposed to be back in Haiti last week, for another 14-21 day deployment. On top of that Dad and Mom both have serious health conditions, which warrants me to stay and help them when I can. Seems 2010 is not a good year for me thus far. If you have any questions feel free to call me at home at (304) 576-4149. I'm there all the time. Thanks for understanding!

Good to have you here Nick and you are always welcome to post. I hope your health improves.