Willie "California Creek" Dixon reporting for duty!

[Willie Dixon]

With my sincerest thank you I would like to humbly join the Grand Army of the Frontier.

I checked out the GAF website, finally got that working, and I'm all for being a member.

My great-great grand Uncle is "Billy" Dixon, so in his honor and remembrance I am applying for a position within your Scout divisions.  Most notably the "Buffalo Scout" division.  (OOC I am also purchasing other firearms as well, but I'm building my Sharps from scratch in about two weeks and getting 1858 Remington.)

Here are the basics of my attire and reasons therein:
United States Navy/Revenue Cutter Service Shell Jacket (1864 double breasted, junior officer)
United States Navy/Revenue Cutter Service Frock Coat (1864 double breasted, junior officer)
"High Plains Drifter" Hat - same one as Charlie Prince in the new 3:10 to Yuma
Buckskin pants
Cavalry boots

now as to the why... Willie Dixon is a sailor that always had fantasies about the frontier.  He served during the Civil War with the Revenue Cutter Service with the Union blockading rebel ships and confiscating smuggled cargo.  The boat he sailed the most time on was the Harriet Lane.  He still has that "life" about him, he's honored by his service and enjoys the funny looks he gets when people spot his "unique" wardrobe.

OOC
ok, so basically I'm going to be working on a custom 1874 Sharps in my gunsmithing class.  After fervor enthusiasm I was able to convince them that all rifling classes can be met with either this gun or my Marlin lever-action I'll purchase after building this.  I'm getting the C Sharps model 1874 double trigger action and will be making the stocks and the barrel from scratch.

If I have to wait until this is complete, I humbly understand and I just wanted to say this seems really awesome.  I'm a history/anthropology double major, which in reality just translates to a "living historian."

Thanks

Pat
Willie "California Creek" Dixon

[Drydock]

Welcome aboard! Nowhere do we require you to have weapons in hand to join.  Morning parade is a 0700, Scouts included.  If you'll be so kind as to come with me, we'll repair to the sutlers to see about your whisky ration . . .

[Willie Dixon]

Aye, aye, reportin' in.

[Advertising]

[Pony Racer]

Mr Dixon welcome aboard!!

I portray a later USRCS officer rouchly 1870-90's who has served on USRCS McCullough and have been able to secure some period correct reproduction buttons from waterbury button company.

These are new buttons made from the original die.  While they are not 1850-160's buttonms if you desire some please let me know.  I had to buy a full box of large and small buttons and would love to help out anothe Coastie re-enactor/shooter with actual USRM/USRCS buttons.

V/r Pony Racer

[Willie Dixon]

OMG, thank you so much.  I'll let you know when I'm ready to make that purchase!

My mom is an awesome stitcher and I got some skills in the pattern department so for less than one coat, I get to have the whole uniform!!  Shell Jacket, Dress Frock, Undress Frock, overcoat, etc... I just love that USRCS era, we were basically Federal Pirates! LOL

oh, and btw, I'm Coastie born and bred too.  USCG TACLET and Rescue Swimmer, June 2001-June 2006... November 161 basic training company class and QM 04-02 class for A-school! (I think those pics are still on Fred's Place)

so are you just a fan, or fellow Coastie too?

[Bristow Kid]

Welcome aboard  Just what we needed another yankee 

[Delmonico]

Welcome aboard  Just what we needed another yankee 

Worse than that, another in the Revanue Cutter Service, wait till River City John sees this.

[Texas Lawdog]

T Men, G Men, Revenuers too!

[Pony Racer]

WD - I am an Active Duty O-4 (just waiting for July to put on O-5).

I went to OCS when it was still in Yorktown back in 1993 and have been on ships, Groups, a SECTOR , LANTAREA staff and now HQ staff working Defense Ops.

When I was at LANT I was supporting the TACLET program with testing/buying new equipment, the ill-fated DPB project and non-lethal tech and alot of the fun things being a mid grade LT doing that stuff was awesome!!

I spent a year with the USMC getting my Masters degree - which was great fun (thats is why I am at DC now).

I hope to go back to the field next year and return to either the South East Coast or Gulf Coast.

Are you retired or still in?

PR

[Willie Dixon]

I'm out.  I enlisted and got my money.  I also did it as a foot in the door for Federal Law Enforcement.  I've been wanting to be a US Marshall all my life, I figured that was good for my resume.  Now I'm at Northern Arizona University, taking advantage of those benefits and I'll be getting that USMS Internship in about a year!  I heard rumor that you get that, you're almost guaranteed a badge, as long as you don't mess up in-between of course.  I also like it because it'll give me a great chance to feel out the USMS or if I want to go to a Sheriff spot in Prescott area.

I loved Yorktown, so beautiful. I was there in the spring-summer.  Cape May was cold during Jan-March!  I was a Quartermaster by trade and did a bunch of extra side gigs on my boat.  USCGC Hamilton, WHEC 715!

I just thought it'd be cool to combine my Great-great grand Uncle's history, with my past as well.  Make a USRCS member that got out after the Civil War and headed west.  Makes for a great, unique looking costume as well.

Fair winds and following seas

and congrats on getting that O-5 spot, I know that's a hard one to get to.  Looking forward to command of a 210?

[Pony Racer]

WD - sounds like a full nice career.

I was actually looking to work for USMS when I got selected to USCG OCS - the USMS had a hiring freeze.  I had scored very high on their test and did well on my interview.

I liked their missions and their style.

No sweat on the buttons - I was only able to score them when waterbury made an accident and tried to sell several thousane to a re-enactor group who thought they were buying 1840 style USRM buttons.  A friend who is in that group called me when they had to return the 1870-80's buttons and walla - I got a buy some.

It is fun getting further into the history and the wool uniform sure comes inhandy in fall winter and early spring.

I am looking to go back to a SECTOR as either the XO or the response dept Head at a large Sector.

PR

[Willie Dixon]

Good luck with your new billet PR.

I really like the Wool frock coat idea for school!  It's pretty nice out right now, but it dips down below into single digits as a low sometimes up here in Flagstaff, so it'll definitely get its use!

Do you know if the USRCS used basically the same uniform wool frock as the Navy at that time?  I've found tons of info for them.  here's the jacket I was thinking of:


does that look about right to you?

[Pony Racer]

That coat looks like mine.

I ordered the 1864 frock from Quartermastershop.  They are not cheap but you get a well made, ready for shooting and re-enactor wear garment.  they also usually deliver ahead of sthe sked they give you which is nice.

PR

[Willie Dixon]

Thanks PR,

I'll go check out quartermastershop now.  Any chance that you've found pictures of USRCS men?  I remember seeing them all over at TRACEN Cape May... I just can't seem to be finding any in Google.  I'm looking to become an NCOWS Original, so any help in pictures would be great.

[Pitspitr]

Willie,
Glad to see you found your way here, and Congratulations.

If you have the time we'd sure love to have you attend the Grand Muster Next Oct. Next year's GM will have stages based on Medal of Honor winner's exploits, and as you know your Great Uncle was among this group. It's a great time!

Be sure to check out the 2 links below.

http://www.grandarmyofthefrontier.org/GAF%20Muster%20Registartion%202009.pdf

http://www.grandarmyofthefrontier.org/muster08.htm

[Texas Lawdog]

Willie, I attended the Muster in 08 and had a great time and enjoyed meeting the members in person. The facilities were great and the food was great too.

[Willie Dixon]

I'll try to make it, no guarantee though since I may be doing my internship with the USMS by then, school has all of a sudden taken off at flank speed so to speak, went from trying to scrounge up enough money for six units to transferring schools and taking 18!

[Willie Dixon]

I have a question about my application too.  I filled out everything, and then it sent it all to outlook to send it.  I don't use outlook so I just copied and pasted the "to" section and the body of the e-mail in my Yahoo.  This was back around Christmas or so, any chance that the application has gotten to whoever it needs to?

[Eagle Eyes Jefferson]

If you're talking about your GAF Enlistment papers. You have already been processed and an email sent to the one you provided. There is a thread that reads ATTENTION IN THE BARRACKS, on this page. It contains a welcome to all new recruits, which you are one, as well as being listed in the GAF roster on the GAF home page at the top banner. Look under #'s 600-699. Also, send me an email at drum4him@verizon.net so I can compare to see if the address I sent your welcome letter to is correct.

Thanks and welcome to the GAF!!!!

Lt. Col. Eagle Eyes Jefferson
Assistant Adjutant General- Enlistments

[Willie Dixon]

Lt. Col.  thank you so much sir for your quick response.  I'm really excited.  I'm wondering if somehow it ended up accidentally in my spam bin or something... rrrg
I'll write you an e-mail now.