This cache placed by permission of Little America Hotel owners
and management (point of contact: Annie Fitzgerald, 2009). Code on
the locks is 14-24-34 (standard combo lock procedures you learned
in junior high school). Please come when you have time to soak in
the images and stories in the cache. Large cache container is for
genuine geocaching.com TBs only, no other items please. Long intro
follows but you can scroll down for the direct cache info. Please
LMK if there's a TB or coin that's MIA. Also please carefully
engage the locking tabs of the ammo can as shown below (cachers
have previously broken them off causing me much work and expense
for replacement):
Incredible Bravery
The Blackhawk crew had no chance of survival. And Army Snipers
Randy Shugart and Gary Gordon hovering overhead in another
Blackhawk chopper knew it. The crash site would soon be swarmed
with hundreds of heavily armed Somalis. MSgt Gordon requested from
their Command and Control to be inserted. He was denied twice with
his superiors knowing it was a suicide mission; there would be no
way to extract or even help the snipers after they went in.
But Shugart and Gordon couldn't just sit back and watch their
fellow soldiers get murdered. And that's was exactly what was going
to happen. On their third request they were given permission to
insert to the crash site to help defend the crew. They did just
that but then had to fight their past RPG and automatic weapons
fire coming from just about every shanty shack to reach the injured
crewmembers.
But it was no better at the crash site... in fact it was worse.
They were totally outnumbered and outgunned by the attacking
Somalis but fought back effectively with their limited weaponry, a
couple sniper rifles and their pistols. The attacks were vicious,
brutal, and endless and yet the two snipers somehow managed to
extract the surviving crew members, secure a perimeter, and using
their own weapons and some from downed chopper they fight back
savagely to protect the crew. But ammo quickly ran low after
killing many of the attacking bad guys. Shugart then got killed.
Still fighting back and helping equip surviving pilot Michael
Durant, MSgt Gordon wished him luck and went out again one last
time to defend the site with his last four rounds of ammunition. He
too was killed shortly thereafter. They knew this would be the
price of helping the crew and they paid it willingly.
Shugart and Gordon's actions were heroic and saved Durant's
life. For their actions they were both awarded posthumously the
Congressional Medal of Honor (more info: CMOH Site for Shugart and Gordon).
Sacrifices Even Now
This incredible bravery and sacrifice took place in Somalia, Oct
1993. To me there is no finer example of the fighting spirit and
bravery of the American Soldier. And yet as we go about our daily
lives working, playing, and enjoying our wonderful freedoms similar
sacrifices are going on right now.
"Tour of Duty" (TOD) is unabashedly and seriously dedicated to
our troops who are giving it their all defending our way of life.
CoolCache and the many other cachers who will follow all salute and
thank you. Like Shugart and Gordon these brave men and women are
making unimaginable sacrifices for us and for one another. Take a
moment to peruse the "Tour of Duty" Photo Album inside the cache to
see just a few of the images of these soldiers getting it done and
showing some their gut wrenching suffering. And TOD is dedicated to
all armed services members serving everywhere as they are all part
of the team keeping us safe. Most of the images are from Iraq just
because these images so readily define and capture the often
heartbreaking price these boys and girls are paying for their
service.
MTV Generation Answers the Call After 9/11
After 9/11 President Bush advised the military to "get ready." He
wasn't kidding. It is now common place for service members to
deployed in Iraq for over a year straight coming home for a few
weeks and then going out again. There are several Army National
Guard units right here in Utah that are experiencing this ops
tempo. You may disagree with the effectiveness of our fight but the
sacrifice and patriotism of these troops is unquestionable. And to
many's surprise there are many from the "MTV Generation" that have
demonstrated amazing courage and selflessness in their desire serve
and protect. Their purpose is to fight terrorism abroad and prevent
another 2,986 souls from dieing in another 9/11 type attack. Please
note that this is not a political cache, it's simply a tribute to
these brave soldiers who are fighting and dying even now. As such
please do not post political statements one way or another in your
logs.
About the Container
The container is a 25mm ammo box reportedly taken directly from a
Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle serving in Iraq. This box
held 25 rounds for the Bushmaster auto cannon of the IFV, its
primary defensive armament. When I got the box it was full of
desert sand and had a streak of blood on the lid. It's been
thoroughly cleaned to provide the TBs a clean home and you a clean
caching experience. Inside this ammo box you will quickly discover
the Tour of Duty cache guardian: 1/72 scale desert camouflaged
Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (by Dragon Models)
carefully mounted to the lid. Specifications and photos of this
incredible and interesting vehicle are provided inside the
container and below in the TOD Slideshow. The Bradley is an
appropriate mascot given the container, its ongoing use in theater,
and the refuge and assistance it gives daily to our troops.
Needless to say this is not a trade item, please leave it on the
lid!
About the "Tour of Duty" Cache
There are several purposes for this cache. They are:
1) A tribute and 'thank you' to the troops. I feel this is best
done with their images. With them I attempt to provide an insight
to their bravery, their sacrifices, their fears, and their anguish.
These images are sobering. Current wartime photos are provided for
your viewing both within the cache with the TOD Photo Album and
with CoolCache's TOD Slideshow link below. And they will be
periodically updated.
2) A secure Travel Bug trader right in downtown Salt Lake City,
Utah. Here you will find a good of combination of privacy,
security, and plenty of room at this highly-researched location. On
very rare occasions some TBs will earn a "Tour of Duty" visitation
tag.
TB Guidelines: Try to leave the same amount you take.
This has changed as many cachers took most of the TBs leaving
nothing for those who follow and since many out-of-town cachers
make a special trip to TOD, this can be a real bummer for them
.
3) Closed to trades. All my stocked $2 to $5 items were
taken and only geogarbage was left in their place. As such TOD is
closed to all non-TB items and such items will be discarded to keep
the cache clean. Thanks for understanding.
About the Host
The cache resides on the meticulously kept grounds of The Little
America Hotel. This hotel is the largest privately held chain
of hotels in the country. This is important as this allowed me to
secure permission for this cache directly from the hotel owners,
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Holding. Such permission would probably be very
difficult if not impossible to secure from a faceless corporation.
As such CoolCache expresses his sincere thanks to the Holdings, Ed
Box (SLC Hotel General Manager), Annie Fitzgerald, and Travis Deman
(Head Grounds Supervisor) for their permission in allowing "Tour of
Duty" on The Little America Hotel grounds. All have been
most professional, friendly, and supportive for this geocaching
venture. While they are well aware of the cache please do not ask
them any questions about it as they are sworn to secrecy and quite
busy. Also please be careful of the grounds as you visit, leaving
no trace.
Finally if you're hungry the Little America cafe and
restaurant has great food and service... some of the best. Some
waitresses like "Erica" and "Loretta" have been there for 35 yrs
which again speaks well for the management.
Final Notes
This cache is not designed to be difficult. In fact you should be
able to find convenient short term parking a few feet away (thank
you again L.A.) as you make your way to this quick but very secure
find. As added security for their visits, CoolCache anchored this
large container with galvanized steel chains and bolts to concrete
slabs so trade with confidence. 2986 Souls were killed by the
terrorists on 911. Never forget ... it's why our military is has
been so busy.
For CoolCache's pictorial of today's troops please visit the
"Tour of Duty" online Slideshow, below:
Heartbreaking letters from Iraq (USA Today site).... "They tell
of sandstorms and triple-digit temperatures, the monotony of war
and a gnawing desire for home and normalcy:"
†††† 12/18/05: As previously
promised, the "Tour of Duty Heroes" cache was placed today.
This resides in separate .50 cal ammo cache right beside the
regular TOD cache. It serves as a tribute and memorial to REAL
soldiers who are family and close friends of cachers like you who
have found "Tour of Duty." No trades or TBs in this companion cache
please... it's a museum. Inside are high quality pictures, patches,
stories, and service memorabilia honoring these soldiers. Again
these are emotionally moving images and heart breaking stories of
our own soldiers. This "TOD Heroes" cache specifically honors
today's generation of soldier serving in combat operations around
the world and the inductee must meet this qualification. Please
contact CoolCache through my profile page for things I'll need to
induct your soldier. Local and out-of-state cachers are also
welcome to submit soldiers for this cache.
†††† 12/21/05: Tour of Duty Hero Adam
Galvez inducted into the TODH cache. See my log dated today for his
touching story and pictures.
†††† 01/21/07: Maintenance upgrades:
enlarged extraction hole, made a dirt shield to keep tops of ammo
boxes cleaner, cleaned ammo boxes, WD40'd them, lubed locks,
cleaned out receptacle (twice monthly really), and re-bent large
box clasp back to original form. Please make sure both sides of the
clasps engage in grooves of the large box.
†††† 06/17/09: Locks replaced since
again broken by visitors.
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