Welcome to the site! My brothers are leery of disclosing information about the 'Dragon of the Sole' tattoo, as it is supposed to be kept secret. Since the Airborne Ranger Cobbler Task Force (ARC-TF) unit is now obsolete, I don't think we are violating OPSEC by cluing you in....especially, since you are 'close' to one of its former members.
The ARC-TF unit was attached to the Ranger Bats and along with the typical Rangering skills, these men were trained in Field Cobblery, meaning they could repair footgear in a combat environment.
This unit wore a distinctive patch on the left breast pocket, which depicted a dragon. Below the dragon was a banner which read "Dragon of the Sole." In actual combat deployments, the patches were not worn, due to a 'bounty' which enemy soldiers often placed on the capture/ death of these brave cobblers.
It was common to see the dragon tattoos on these warriors, which were usually placed in hidden areas (the thigh or armpit) to avoid easy identification. When a soldier left the ARC-TF, it was an unwritten rule that his unit tattoo must be surgically removed or covered up, so as not to disclose his association with the unit.
I hope that this answers your question and I apologize for the hesitancy of my brethren to give you an honest response. I'm sure you can see it their way.
Again, welcome to the site.
RLTW
EP
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Moderator: Site Admin
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Spartan
Was that mission the one you always hear about, but no one will admit to that failed as a result of the dreaded Tire Tread Sandal scandal?Doc wrote:Ranger EP,
Can you share any insight as to when the "official" cover changed from the dragon to the Tazmanian Devil? Any truth to the rumor that it had to do with the unit's botched mission at Botany Bay?
Check Six,
Doc
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Saltbitch
That's the one. The sandal scandel of Botany Bay. I still walk with a limp when I think about that incident.Spartan wrote:Was that mission the one you always hear about, but no one will admit to that failed as a result of the dreaded Tire Tread Sandal scandal?Doc wrote:Ranger EP,
Can you share any insight as to when the "official" cover changed from the dragon to the Tazmanian Devil? Any truth to the rumor that it had to do with the unit's botched mission at Botany Bay?
Check Six,
Doc
I still sing the unit song, when I get real drunk. Remember, it went to the tune of "Ballad of the Green Berets." I still recall the first verse:
Fighting sooooldiers and their shoes....
They will fiiiiight and never lose....
Resoling juuuump boots every day....
They cobble shooooes and lead the way....
Damn! I'm getting all teary-eyed....
RLTW
EP
Last edited by Earthpig on June 8th, 2004, 2:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Always remember: BROS BEFORE HOES.
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Saltbitch
I still sing that cadence on my morning runs! It gives me that extra 'bounce' in my stride every time! Glad to see you still remember it, too, Sobersides.sobersides wrote:Oh well, what's done is done. While you're at it, why don't you go ahead and tell her the ARC-TF cadence:
Your boot's worn out and you're a hobbler
Got to see an Army Cobbler!
Mending soles and fixing shoes
Cobbling is the path I choose
See that man in the brown beret
Cobbling's how he earns his pay
I can mend and fix your shoe
Cause I have a dragon tatoo!
RLTW
EP
Always remember: BROS BEFORE HOES.
Holy shit! I think I know that dude! Was the dragon tat on his upper chest? Right about where your shirt collar would button? If that guy had a scar that ran vertically from the corner of his mouth to his eybrow, then it's him for sure!
Shoehorn McFadden! He was a bad son-of-gun and quick with an awl! I'd heard he went by the wayside, mentally. The poor bastard sewed more shoes under fire than anyone else in the history of that MOS!
I heard that he switched out the entire steel shank in some Leg General's jungle boot, down in Rio Hato while the General's men were getting pounded by mortars! Shoehorn earned the CSB (Combat Shoe Badge) that night.
It's a crying shame that he's turned into such a scarred warrior. And to think that he wouldn't remove his own tattered boots......shame.
RLTW
EP
Shoehorn McFadden! He was a bad son-of-gun and quick with an awl! I'd heard he went by the wayside, mentally. The poor bastard sewed more shoes under fire than anyone else in the history of that MOS!
I heard that he switched out the entire steel shank in some Leg General's jungle boot, down in Rio Hato while the General's men were getting pounded by mortars! Shoehorn earned the CSB (Combat Shoe Badge) that night.
It's a crying shame that he's turned into such a scarred warrior. And to think that he wouldn't remove his own tattered boots......shame.
RLTW
EP
Always remember: BROS BEFORE HOES.
