User:Alpha Battery 2-2 FAR

2nd Field Artillery Mascots

Big Deuce and Short round are the Mascots and living representation of the historic mission of the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment. 2-2 FA calls calls fort Sill home located in the city of Lawton, Oklahoma. Within fort Sill, Big Deuce (Donkey) and Short Round (Goat) live and train at Sanders Stables. Currently, Big Deuce VII and Short Round VI represent Fort Sill and the Fires Center of Excellence at military ceremonies and Community Outreach events throughout the State.

 Big Deuce

Big Deuce is a living symbol of the battalion’s history as mountain of pack Artillery. The mule was used to haul its guns, move ammunition, and carry Soldiers from the Philippine islands to the jungles of Panama. As technology made an improvement there wasn’t a need for pack animals anymore, so the Battalion adopted a mascot to ensure our history wouldn’t be for gotten. Big Deuce I joined the battalion in 1950 and served until 1964. Big Deuce II took charge from 1964 to June 1971. Big Deuce III was mustered into the battalion’s ranks on 29 June 1971; serving dutifully until 1981. Big Deuce IV served from 1982 until he retired to a farm in Cache, OK with his faithful sidekick Short Round II in August, 1991. Big Deuce V swore in 18 December, 1991 and served until he passed away on 9 March 1995. Big Deuce VI joined the ranks in March of 1995. Big Deuce VI retired to Elgin. Then Big Deuce VII took over in 2015. All the Big Deuce mascots that have passed on are buried in the Big Deuce cemetery at the 214Th Brigade picnic area.

Big Deuce VII

Big Deuce VII was born on 27 March 2015 on a humble ranch in Marlin, Texas to a single mother and a ranch manager, Robert C. Young SR. At the humble age of 4 months, Big Deuce VII chose to leave his herd and enlist in the Army. He met with his local recruiter, signed his contract on 16 July 2015 and shipped out the next day to Mule Soldier basic at Fort Sill, OK. After four long months of mule basic he was assigned to 2-2 FAR.. Due to his outstanding performance during Mule Soldier basic and training with 2-2 FAR he was promoted to sergeant on 31 July 2015 by LTC Adam Cobb and took over the 2-2 FAR Mule Soldier from MSG Big Deuce VI. In 2016, Big Deuce had achieved the rank of SSG. However, on 01 November 2017 during an inspection of his well-being, SSG Big Deuce assaulted his senior NCO, CSM David Cutshall. He received an article 15 and was demoted to the rank of SGT. Concluding a long year of anger management courses and good behavior at ceremonies and the Army v. OU game, SGT Big Deuce earned a promotion to SSG. SGT Big Deuce VII was also the Distinguished Honor Graduate of his Advanced Leadership Course.

Short Round VI 

Short Round VI was born on 12 May 2018 on a humble ranch in Duncan, Oklahoma to a loving herd and a ranch manager, Robert C. Young SR. At the humble age of 9 months, Short Round VI chose to leave her herd and enlist in the Army. She met with her local recruiter, signed her contract on 22 February 2018 and shipped out the next day to Mule Soldier basic at Fort Sill, OK. After four long months of mule basic she was assigned to 2-2 FAR. Due to her outstanding performance during Mule Soldier basic and training with 2-2 FAR she was promoted to Private First Class on 22 February 2018 by LTC James Dayhoff and took over the 2-2 FAR Mule Soldier from Corporal Short Round V. Unlike SGT Big Deuce VII, PFC Short Round VI has had no misconduct during her service. Concluding a long year of hard work and good behavior at ceremonies and the Army v. OU game, PFC Short Round VI is being promoted to SPC. PFC Short Round also was one of the first Mule Soldiers to complete the ACFT.

SANDERS STABLES

Sanders Stables broke ground in June, 2013, and was dedicated in December 2014, in honor of the facility’s namesake, SGM John L. Sanders. SGM Sanders was born in July 1928, and enlisted into the United States Army Air Corps in 1945 at the age of 17. He served for two years, and re-enlisted into the United States Army in 1947 as part of the 82nd Airborne. SGM Sanders has served in Korea; where he earned his Korean Service Medal and Bronze Star, Germany; where he witnessed the construction of the Berlin Wall, Fort Stewart as part of the 73rd Field Artillery, and of course Fort Sill as the Sergeant Major of 2nd Battalion 2nd Field Artillery. SGM Sanders served 2-2 FA proudly from 1956-1959, in which he helped procure and introduce the first Big Deuce into the unit. The purpose of enlisting a mule into the ranks was to help boost morale while 2-2 simultaneously reproduced the Unit Crest to what it is today; a mule with a pack-howitzer. The facility is located here, at the junction of Hunt, Babcock, and Burrill Roads. Its function is to house the current, and future Big Deuce Mascots of the 2nd Battalion 2nd Field Artillery Regiment, as well as his technical advisor and close friend, Short Round.