My tour with the 501My tour with the 501stst Star Star Garrison . . .Garrison . . .

As told from the As told from the data bank of TD-data bank of TD-7012 : John Laurel7012 : John Laurel

Tour of Duty 2003 - Tour of Duty 2003 - 20082008

The Empire wants you!The Empire wants you! First and foremost, the man First and foremost, the man

responsible for showing me that responsible for showing me that Stormtrooper armor exists is none Stormtrooper armor exists is none other than Jared Pike. Jared, other than Jared Pike. Jared, along with Chris Albright, Cliff along with Chris Albright, Cliff Wright and Buck Tadlock were the Wright and Buck Tadlock were the main guys in mid 2001 and early main guys in mid 2001 and early 2002 that Trooped the local 2002 that Trooped the local conventions.conventions.

It was through them and some It was through them and some other members that Star Garrison other members that Star Garrison was formed in 2002, starting the was formed in 2002, starting the Empire in 4 states; Arkansas, Empire in 4 states; Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and of Louisiana, Oklahoma, and of course Texas.course Texas.

A Geek with a Cause ? ? ?A Geek with a Cause ? ? ?Since the first time I saw how Since the first time I saw how kids reacted to seeing the 501kids reacted to seeing the 501stst in armor, I knew that to them, in armor, I knew that to them, they were having a surreal they were having a surreal moment cause they were moment cause they were seeing REAL Stormtroopers, seeing REAL Stormtroopers, like they jumped off the screen like they jumped off the screen and are here in front of them, and are here in front of them, marching on and leaving the marching on and leaving the kids in awe.kids in awe.

To this day seeing a kid’s face To this day seeing a kid’s face react when they see us walk react when they see us walk by, it reminds me how much it by, it reminds me how much it is worth it to see that look is worth it to see that look every time I don the armor.every time I don the armor.

““I can’t see a thing in this I can’t see a thing in this helmet”helmet”

In late 2002, I acquired my In late 2002, I acquired my first set of Stormtrooper first set of Stormtrooper armor which was a cheap and armor which was a cheap and used set, that I eventually used set, that I eventually converted to Texas Dirty converted to Texas Dirty Trooper Mark I. During that Trooper Mark I. During that time, I met up with fellow time, I met up with fellow newbie Trooper and lifelong newbie Trooper and lifelong friend, Jim Marshall and slowly friend, Jim Marshall and slowly we went down the path to we went down the path to becoming part of the becoming part of the Empire…Empire…

Through trial and error, Jim Through trial and error, Jim and myself became the go-to and myself became the go-to guys in South Texas in helping guys in South Texas in helping people assemble and modify people assemble and modify their armor for presentation, their armor for presentation, comfort, and function.comfort, and function.

Imperial invasion . . . Of a Imperial invasion . . . Of a Children’s Hospital.Children’s Hospital.

Fall of 2003 was the first time the 501Fall of 2003 was the first time the 501stst did its magic in the Alamo city, we did its magic in the Alamo city, we visited kids on all the floors and it showed me some of the key elements visited kids on all the floors and it showed me some of the key elements that I have valued in my time as Trooper; Family, charity, and overall, Fun.that I have valued in my time as Trooper; Family, charity, and overall, Fun.

This was also my first Troop with one of my best friends, Buck Tadlock, I This was also my first Troop with one of my best friends, Buck Tadlock, I still remember his humor with the kids when he told one little girl, “Hey, still remember his humor with the kids when he told one little girl, “Hey, did you fall out of your bed when our Star Destroyer landed on top of this did you fall out of your bed when our Star Destroyer landed on top of this Hospital?”Hospital?”

Gimme shelter. . . Children’s Gimme shelter. . . Children’s sheltershelter

For the next couple of years in SA, we paid visits to our local For the next couple of years in SA, we paid visits to our local Children’s shelter, spending time with kids that were less Children’s shelter, spending time with kids that were less fortunate and came from unspeakable situations, giving them the fortunate and came from unspeakable situations, giving them the opportunity to smile and be in our world for a few hours. Visits opportunity to smile and be in our world for a few hours. Visits like these set the pace on what we wanted to see more of, like these set the pace on what we wanted to see more of, bringing smiles to kids faces. . .bringing smiles to kids faces. . .

Fun with Fett . . . And fansFun with Fett . . . And fansBeing a Trooper in the 501Being a Trooper in the 501stst does does have some perks at times, one of have some perks at times, one of those perks is bringing you closer those perks is bringing you closer to the people that help bring the to the people that help bring the Star Wars saga to life; actors, Star Wars saga to life; actors, animators, musicians, fans . . .animators, musicians, fans . . .

Dress like a Trooper, party like Dress like a Trooper, party like a Rock star . . .a Rock star . . .

From Christmas parties hosted by my Best From Christmas parties hosted by my Best Friend and Brother Jereomy Faber, to All-Friend and Brother Jereomy Faber, to All-con, our annual convention in Dallas, we con, our annual convention in Dallas, we continue to have some great non-armored continue to have some great non-armored gatherings, strengthening our bonds of gatherings, strengthening our bonds of friendship, laughing til early morning hours friendship, laughing til early morning hours and catching up . . .and catching up . . .

Star Wars Episode 3: Giving Star Wars Episode 3: Giving something back . . .something back . . .

When Episode 3 was being released in the When Episode 3 was being released in the theatres, a few of us believed it was time to theatres, a few of us believed it was time to give back, to give a little something to the give back, to give a little something to the Children’s shelter that we enjoyed visiting. Children’s shelter that we enjoyed visiting. With the combined help of some 501With the combined help of some 501stst members and San Antonio Fanforce, we members and San Antonio Fanforce, we donated items from our collections to be donated items from our collections to be raffled off at the theatre that we camped at raffled off at the theatre that we camped at for the premiere.for the premiere.

At the end of the evening, we raised over At the end of the evening, we raised over $600 for the Children’s shelter, some lucky $600 for the Children’s shelter, some lucky winners got some highly sought after items, winners got some highly sought after items, and we made some great friends and and we made some great friends and memories, I still get emails from people that memories, I still get emails from people that attended that evening that tell me how much attended that evening that tell me how much fun they had and that they would never fun they had and that they would never forget us . . .forget us . . .

The American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society Halloween Party . . .Halloween Party . . .

For the past three years, we participated with all our heart.

From all parts of the state of Texas, we arrived to spend 2 hours out of the day to bring smiles to some special kids. It’s an event that touches all our hearts and defines the reason why we Troop . . .

Why do you do this ?Why do you do this ?

The 3 main reasons I Troop are The 3 main reasons I Troop are quite simple; for family, for quite simple; for family, for charity, for fun. My immediate charity, for fun. My immediate family such as my niece and my family such as my niece and my new family in the Garrison. new family in the Garrison. Charitable events like the ACS Charitable events like the ACS party and Children’s shelter and party and Children’s shelter and overall, fun at every single thing overall, fun at every single thing we do together, I carry these we do together, I carry these memories with me always . . .memories with me always . . .

Who do I thank for this ?Who do I thank for this ?

I have to give thanks to my I have to give thanks to my Brothers that got me in to this Brothers that got me in to this and CONTINUE to keep me in and CONTINUE to keep me in this !!!! this !!!!

Whether they know it or not, Whether they know it or not, they’ve taught me a lot of they’ve taught me a lot of things, about the Legion, and things, about the Legion, and about myself . . .about myself . . .

Starting with the man that Starting with the man that started it all for me, Jared Pike.started it all for me, Jared Pike.

From all the crazy times at From all the crazy times at various conventions over the various conventions over the years, to teaching me all the ins years, to teaching me all the ins and outs of armor, I thank you and outs of armor, I thank you Jared . . .Jared . . .

Who do I thank for this ?Who do I thank for this ?

Buck Tadlock, my Brother Buck Tadlock, my Brother from Houston. Buck’s from Houston. Buck’s responsible for showing me responsible for showing me the light side of things in the the light side of things in the Garrison, to not stress about Garrison, to not stress about any drama and just Troop and any drama and just Troop and have fun.have fun.

Buck also showed me what it Buck also showed me what it is to make sacrifices, is to make sacrifices, sacrifices for your friends and sacrifices for your friends and for your family. I’ve learned a for your family. I’ve learned a lot from him over the years lot from him over the years and hope to learn more.and hope to learn more.

Who do I thank for this ?Who do I thank for this ?

I could write a book about all I could write a book about all my brothers, and Jereomy my brothers, and Jereomy Faber would take up quite a Faber would take up quite a few chapters. He would few chapters. He would definitely be the Good Cop to definitely be the Good Cop to my Bad Cop in an action my Bad Cop in an action movie and I look at him as movie and I look at him as one of my long lost Brothers one of my long lost Brothers now found. now found.

Jereomy is definitely a friend Jereomy is definitely a friend til the very end, he put a lot of til the very end, he put a lot of confidence in me when he confidence in me when he became the Commanding became the Commanding Officer of our Garrison and Officer of our Garrison and appointed me Executive appointed me Executive officer and he is always one to officer and he is always one to welcome anyone in and call welcome anyone in and call them friend . . . them friend . . .

Who do I thank for this ?Who do I thank for this ?

My Brother from the North, My Brother from the North, Brian Earles. He was one of Brian Earles. He was one of the new guys to step up to the the new guys to step up to the plate running, on breathing plate running, on breathing new life in the Garrison and he new life in the Garrison and he has succeeded. has succeeded.

He’s definitely someone that He’s definitely someone that can get a room laughing time can get a room laughing time and time again, and someone and time again, and someone you can respect for his work in you can respect for his work in Law Enforcement, he puts his Law Enforcement, he puts his life on the line every day to life on the line every day to make sure people are safe, make sure people are safe, and I look to him as a Hero.and I look to him as a Hero.

Who do I thank for this ?Who do I thank for this ?

Last and most certainly not Last and most certainly not least, my Brother Justin least, my Brother Justin Dalby.Dalby.

Justin is probably responsible Justin is probably responsible for the most memorable for the most memorable crazy moments in our crazy moments in our Garrison. Be it by moments Garrison. Be it by moments that he has either that he has either participated in or CAPTURED participated in or CAPTURED on video.on video.

He is my student in Martial He is my student in Martial Arts, my teacher in life and Arts, my teacher in life and laughs, and all around a true laughs, and all around a true friend defined.friend defined.

Finally . . .Finally . . .

I have to thank those that I’ve trooped with, laughed with, fought with, and laughed I have to thank those that I’ve trooped with, laughed with, fought with, and laughed with again. Each person that joins this group has something special to bring to it, with again. Each person that joins this group has something special to bring to it, you can always learn something new from someone, either about them, the group or you can always learn something new from someone, either about them, the group or about yourself . . .about yourself . . .

And for this, I thank you.And for this, I thank you.

Remember who you are and what you represent…Remember who you are and what you represent…

TD-7012, out !TD-7012, out !