The History of the Ghost Squad

The Ghost Squad formed and developed, to grow into what it is today. It started in the woods of Mt Juliet, Tennessee from a collection of guys who started playing paintball in the woods behind Rob Carnahans house in the summer of 2004. These guys meet every Sunday to play paintball and enjoy each others company.

Slowly the fever of paintball took over and compelled them to play every weekend and when they were not playing, they were thinking about it. Among this group were Rob Carnahan, Kip Perkins, Chase Perkins, Chris Shoemake and Adam Smith. Shortly, Jamie Reynolds, Aaron Cummins and Jimmy Dicicco joined them on a regular basis. This was very much a family and friends collection of guys and that was the reigning atmosphere. Others from the neighborhood came to play, as did friends and co-workers of the guys as they preached the paintball gospel to everyone who would listen.

Then, in May 2005, Kip decided that they could take their game to the next level and play as an official team. Any type off paintball would do, scenario, woodsball or speedball, it did not matter as long as it was paintball that was being played and enjoyed by all. After playing all three types of games, Kip saw what he did and did not like in paintball. He loved the fellowship, camaraderie, and challenge of the game; but he hated the cheating and poor sportsmanship he witnessed at some events and fields. He decided that this team would play fair, play hard, and set an example to people of what paintball should be played like; in honor of oneself and others.

He took this idea to Jamie, and it did not take any effort to convince him. After much debate, the name Ghost Squad was settled upon. Thus, in May 2005, the Ghost Squad was born with the above-mentioned players and a website launched to promote the team and give a sense of the official to the team. Two games were scheduled for the team to make its first scenario appearances; September 2005 at Aliens vs. Predators vs. Marines produced by 24 Hour Games in Dalton, GA and that November at The Battle of Kursk at Bear Claw Paintball in Fayetteville, TN.

In the meantime, Jamie set about trying to get everybody and anybody to sponsor the Ghost Squad. The Ghost Squad originally set out to get someone to help pay for paintballs, but ended up with more than they asked for. In July Action Awnings and Signs stepped in to help with banners for the Ghost Squad and later Red Soldier contributed Night Vision.

In August 2005, N2 Paintball Supply in Mt Juliet, Tennessee stepped up to sponsor the team. Owned by Kurt Williams and run by James Williams, N2 Paintball Supply is the most helpful, knowledgeable, and useful paintball store known to the Ghost Squad and is also the defacto headquarters as well. N2 Paintball Supply aides the team in any way they can and their support truly helps the team to be as successful and fun as it is. Not only was Kurt a sponsor, later that month he officially joined the team and was added to the roster.

Late August and early September saw the addition of several new Ghosts. Mike Bell, Alan Stokes, Pat Connell, and Tony Giorgeianni all joined the team during this time. In October, James Hedges and Paul Hedges became Ghosts.

In September 2005, the Ghost Squad saw its first scenario action as Colonial Marines facing Aliens and Predators in Dalton, GA. This was a real eye-opener for the team on how the scenario world works and how a team does as well. All the Ghosts reported having tremendous fun and learning a lot during this experience. The biggest lesson to come out of this game was the need for the team to learn how to stay together. From this time on, the Ghosts have been unlearning their lone-wolf recball tendencies and have been developing a team the plays like a team.

That November, the Ghost Squad played at Bearclaw Paintball in Fayetteville, TN in the MPPGame The Battle for Kursk as Russians fighting Germans on the Eastern Front. Since the Battle of Kursk was the largest tank battle in history, it was only fitting that the Ghost Squad deploy their tank, the Phantom. The Phantom performed with distinction on both the field and in the tank events. At Kursk, the Ghosts showed improvement in staying together and regrouping, and accomplishing missions. The Ghosts also won the Generals Special Service Award.

During the winter months of December to February 2006, the Ghost Squad added James Williams and Jeff Williams to the roster, and played a lot of recball games to stay sharpe and play with all the new equipment they got for Christmas. It was during this time that the Ghost met and created their by-laws to govern and better organize the team. The ethics of the Ghost Squad were formalized as well as membership requirements. A Security Council was created to act as the elders of the team; consisting of 3 permanent members and two annually filled spots. Kip and Jamie as the founders and Kurt as the owner of N2 Paintball Supply filled the three permanent seats with Mike and James Hedges being elected to fill the annual seats.

In March 2006, the Ghost Squad returned to 24Hour Games in Dalton to attend the Watch on the Rhine. The Phantom again made an appearance, but was not as successful due to ineffective infantry support. It was parked as the Ghosts focused on the mission that they had been tasked with, hold or blow the bridges at the top of every hour. The bridges were the scenes of the most intense throughout the scenario. It was this game that highlighted a role the Ghosts excel at: rallying fighters and leading them to fight. The Ghost Squad was humbled and proud to receive constant complements from other players. The one consistent remark was that Ghost Squad guys were leaders who rallied people at every turn to form effective fighting units and people would fall in with the Ghost Squad at every chance. The team won the Most Valuable Team award for their efforts.

The following April, 8 Ghost Squad guys took 10 non-members for their first scenario experience to Bearclaw paintball for MPP Games Operation Sea Lion. Again, the team showed tremendous strides in keeping together an organized force and regrouping, even with the non-team members that joined them. Again, the Ghost rallied people to whatever mission they were on to cause havoc and mayhem among the Germans. Since the Ghost only had about half the team and a collection of people consisting of friends, family, and girlfriends; the Ghost Squad was surprised and shocked to be named Most Valuable Team for their relentlessness on the field.

In June 2006, the Ghost Squad left the southeast, crossed the Mississippi River, and journeyed to Wynadotte, OK for D-day 2006. At D-Day, the Ghost transformed into 2nd Platoon, Bravo Co, 101st Airborne. Enduring the 107-degree heat in full tactical gear, the Ghosts marched 2+ miles to hit Utah Beach from behind in support of the 4th ID storming the beach. From there, the Ghosts were involved in pushing to Pegasus Bridge later in the day. Amazingly, the Ghost completely stayed together as a fighting force throughout the entire event in spite of playing on an 800-acre field.

Two more members were officially added to the Ghost Squad roster in August 2006, Jamie Irons and Joe Griffith. Joe first played with the team at Watch on the Rhine and both joined the Ghost in Operation Sea Lion. That Spetember, the Ghost Squad invaded Dalton, GA as Martians to take over the earth. Unfortunatly, we were forced to leave this puny planet as the humans were just too tiresome to deal with. However, the Ghost Squad Machine Gun made it's debut, manned by the Young Guns of the Ghost Squad. Thier staunch defense of the Martian base earned them the Most Valuble Young Gun award from the Martian commander.