.JPG)
Battle of Diestelhorst Landing and the Sacramento River trail Oct 2009
By Randy Smith, Stream Team Leader
Those not there always wonder what combat was like. They missed the smells, battle scenes, noise, confusion, humor, esprit de corps, grime, and the achievement of victory. They will learn about “Wild Salmon Man” Preston and how he bled for the cause. “Stub” Stubblefield and “Big Metal” Maurer took squads of Simpson Volunteers on a perfect bright morning into inky darkness surrounded by enemy and came out looking for more action. Same was true for Adrian Maurer with “Scout” Williams on the eastern flank. They opened Diestelhorst Landing to views not seen since illness stricken “Tool Crib” Reynolds shot a pheasant there in the 1960s. “Quiet” Poch struggled with farm tire rims so mired into the River bank that a winch will be needed to remove them.
“Generous” Haynes and his paid professional eight mercenaries cleared the banks of the Sacramento River for several hundred yards and then went to find Himalayan blackberry holdouts elsewhere. Meantime, “Splinter” Seamans was with “Reliable” Stewart and Dave Shoffner loading Sky Zaffarono’s BLM chipper until it almost melted. There were extremes. “Sad Sac” Meyer was heard saying “no one knows what is happening here” while “Blue Eyed Wonder” Marlow opined with Stuart Zanni that things were never better organized.
Wyatt was there in sandals to mock orders but he fell in line with “Knife” Criss. Likewise, “Wilderness” Ball and Steve Franco fought on steep hillsides not knowing why “Kevlar” Ryan, “Silent” Morrison, Al Shipman, Tom Gandy never joined them as they were held prisoner. The lost tribe eventually made escape despite an emergency room visit for a lacerated lower eye lid to one of their squad. Volunteer Kris Kristoffersen labored alone with a mighty hedge clipper forging paths so others could follow.
“Hero” Yelverton took his family into an enemy stronghold. Lynn and Rachel took fifty five hits from underground yellow jacket terrorists. Meantime, dust from the McConnell chipper filled the air with a fog to Court Street. Much of this was made by “Stick” Chamberlain and his son Connor. Lynda Burkhalter, Jimmy Galvan and “Dusty” Murphy commanded the California Conservation Corps through willow so thick none of the yellow uniforms wearing blue helmets could be seen. “Patience” Work supported ground operations in Section Two at the Overhill Steps with Judy Smith.
Section Three was commanded by “Techie” Gaston and wife Clare. “Stump” Lascelles, “Saw” Gifford, and “Cutter” Burroughs working his second day on this mission dismembered an entire forest of enemy Ailanthus. “Mr. Clean” Nowak, “Minute Man” Farquhar and wife Joan fed the dead to a Redding Electric Utility chipper. “Happy” Zaharris organized Section Four under Marion Schmitz while husband Steve parked cars like putting sardines in a can. The action here was so furious the fifth donated chipper of “Gus” McEntire did fail.
Like any battle, there were unknown soldiers who fought bravely for the cause. Redding gave up dozens of people who came to be part of this restoration for a place everyone treasures. “Lens” Tam and “Reporter” Mangas captured the event in all four sections. Their still images and action video display an outpouring never experienced in over ten years of Allied Stream Team activity against aggressive non native plant extremists. Thanks go to all especially Kim Niemer, “Stack” Hanson, Officer Bob Brannon and Mari Szynal from Community Services. Nurse Sandy Babcock and her teamates played a vital role in keeping everyone healthy and evacuating casualties.
It is not possible to repair and restore several decades of indifference and neglect. But if you have occasion in coming months to visit the South Sacramento River Trail, you will see change, experience a transformation and have access which is a real credit to those who fought so hard and won an important conquest.