Hellions "Grendel" Becomes Tippmann Featured Player

HELLIONS TEAM CAPTAIN APPEARS IN MOST PAINTBALL TITLES DURING SPRING 2008.

December 20 , 2007 - The Hellions can now be seen in most major paintball magazines beginning with the February 2008 issue of Action Pursuit Games. Team Captain Lonnie "Grendel" Colson was selected by Tippmann Sports to be the new face of their X7 Marker advertisement campaign under the heading "One Team. One Marker. One Thousand Looks." He was approached during the summer by Tippmann's advertising agency expressing interest in using him for future X7 paintball ads after seeing his "Featured Player" submission to the Tippmann web site. Grendel accepted before anyone could change their minds and was gracious enough to shamelessly promote the team in the player commentary section. The Hellions' home field, CPX Sports, was chosen to serve as the back drop.

“My team and I play tactical scenario paintball. It’s not enough just to put on some camouflage in order to play our game. You need a marker that looks as good as it performs. That’s why every one of my Hellions carry an X7 on the field. Now, if we see a group of speedballers heading our way, we can flip the switch to ‘auto’ on our E-Grips and let the paint fly.”

Photos: On the left is a peek behind the scenes of the Tippmann photo shoot on site at CPX Sports back in September. The X7 marker and Empire E'Vents in the picture are the actual ones Grendel uses on the field, although several different X7 set-ups were tested to find the right look. In the end, they liked Grendel's personal favorite--the MP5SD with Commando Air-Thru Stock. The woodsball digi-cam uniform and vest were provided by Special Ops Paintball in lieu of the Hellions' ACUPAT uniform. The third photo is the later "Strength in Numbers" combined ad followed by the recent TPX campaign, which was also shot at CPX Sports during a product field test. The later images are of some of the first magazines to carry the original ad spot.

Photo Shoot at CPX Sports

First Magazine Ad

Update: Grendel made his official Tippmann debut in the form of a two-page layout in the December edition of Paintball News and then became a regular feature in several major paintball publications during the spring. The two-page spot lasted for several months until Tippmann introduced new mods and needed a new ad. Late in 2008, the ad even found its way overseas. In mid-2009, Grendel picked up a copy of Paintball Maxs Magalog in Germany which featured the "Strength in Numbers. Pride in Individuality" ad that used another pose from the CPX Sports photo shoot. The same images have been produced in laminate mats on the counters in many paintball retail stores.

Disclaimer: For more information about their products or the contest, visit their official web site at: WWW.TIPPMANN.COM.

D-DAY Axis Command: Hellions Join 6th Fallschirmjager

WYANDOTTE, OK – September 27, 2007 - For Immediate Release

The Hellions, led by Lonnie "Grendel" Colson have decided to join the 6th Fallschirmjager for 2008. The group is an Elite Tactical Scenario Paintball Team based out of Chicago, IL and organized under the United States Army Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha Team concept. The unit specializes in Direct Action Missions, Special Reconnaissance and Unconventional Warfare and holds many MVT and MVP titles for games in the upper midwest. The team is sponsored by Tippmann, Empire and more recently, Hammerhead.

Three members of the group had made D-Day 2007 playing with the 101st. After experiencing first hand the carnage that the 6th Fallschirmjager created of the Allied Airborne, they had decided to abandon the Allies for a life of Jagermeister, Beer Maidens and brats in the 6th Fallschirmjager-Regiment of the Axis forces.

For 2008, the Team anticipates bringing at least two full Operational Detachements - ODA 133 and ODA 153. These two units, along with two other Chicago based teams will fill out the Regiment's 2nd Battalion. Lonnie has agreed to take overall command of this "Chicago" based Battalion and training along with operational planning has already started.

For more information on joining the 6th Fallschirmjager, log on to DDayAdventurePark.com.

Kevin "00 Buckshot" Buchaniec
Kommandant, 6th Fallschirmjager,
German Special Operations Command Operations Officer

Why did the Hellions decide to leave the Allied side and join the 6th Fallschirmjagers?
Read the incredible story of the unit originally posted by JuFlieger on AxisCommand.org:


The German paratrooper carried out some of the most astonishing feats of arms of any army in any war. In May 1940, they stunned the world by taking the "impregnable fortress" of Eben Emael. They captured 800 Belgians defenders by landing only 78 paratroopers on the roof of the fort.

In May 1941, they rocked the world again in history's first all airborne invasion on the island of Crete. Outnumbered 5:1 and an enemy holding all the high ground, and detailed invasion plans in the hands of the British because of decoding, the Fallschirmjager suffered 50% casualties and still captured the island.

In Russia and Tunisia they won new laurels because of their stubborn defenses in the face of the enemy. In Tunisia, a brigade of Fallschirmjager pulled off one of the most dashing escapes of the war. Trapped far behind enemy lines, alone and on foot in the middle of the worst deserts in the world, rather than surrender they chose the improbable course of breaking out and walking across the desert to German lines. En route, they ambushed a British supply convoy, captured the vehicles and drove back to the Afrika Korps in trucks loaded with food, water, and fuel.

In 1943, they rescued Mussolini from atop Gran Sasso, an operation planned and almost entirely carried out by Fallschirmjager. Winston Churchill addressing the House of Lords stated, " this was the boldest and most daring stroke of the war."

The 5th and 6th Fallschirmjager fought tenaciously in Normandy and in the fall of 1944, the defense of Brest by the 2nd Fallsschirm Division tied up nearly ten times their number of allied troops for months and caused US Corps commander Troy Middleton to state, " during my whole combat service in two world wars, I never met better fighting troops than the Germans has in Brest, especially the men of the 2nd Parachute Division.

Regular GI's felt the same way about the fallschirmjager. Author and Historian Peter Schrijvers wrote," After the African campaign, the German paratroopers became the most admired german soldiers." An officer of the 29th Inf. Div. in action near St. Lo claimed the Fallschirmjager were among the most dangerous fighting men of the war. They were a young tough looking lot and fierce, stubborn, crafty, ingenious warriors. A US tank operator with the 4th Armored Div. looked upon the Fallschirmjagers as dedicated professionals rather than fanatics and grudgingly admitted a kind of respect. A Jewish soldier with the 4th also stated, " he felt ambivalent about beating the enemy for the first and only time during the war when fighting the 5th Falls Division south of Bastogne. The German paratroopers were simply too gallant for a man of any sensitivity to destroy without some twinge of bittersweetness."

Why you might ask. There are many accounts of US and British soldiers who witnessed restaint and professionalism and respect from Fallschirmjager troops when taking prisoners. They didn't shoot unarmed soldiers. And, there are many eye witness accounts of Fallschirmjager medics risking their own lives trying to help allied wounded on the battlefield.

Their repuatation also caused confusion in the ETO. It was rumored that a unit of Fallschirmjager were going to jump behind enemy lines in France and capture General Eisenhower in Dec 1944. Ike was a virtual prisoner in his HQ 200 miles behind the front and was protected by two whole divisions for more than a week.

Most significantly, throughout it all, from the first firefights in Poland to the street fighting in Berlin, German paratroopers fought with unparalled chivalry and honor. As many as 230,000 men served in the Fallschirm Divisions during the war: Not one man among them has ever been accused of a war crime for service in any parachute unit. It is an extraordinary record of battlefield accomplishment and honor unsurpassed in military history, and one which is deserving of remembrance.

I will be proud to take the field on D-Day with this kind of unit history and carry on in the traditions of the great German Fallschirmjager. Let us win this one together and represent the Fallschirmjager with dignity and respect.

A note about the author: He is a part of the Historical Re-enactment Society and a member of the 7./6 FJR re-enactment unit. Since he has been involved in re-enacting, he has done extensive research on the subject and has been very impressed by his findings. He wanted to share with everyone a few of the things that made him "proud, excited, and in awe of these paratroopers of WWII, and what an honor it will be to represent them on the field of battle in June."

Hellions New Celebrity Endorsement

CHICAGO, IL – August 24, 2007 - Hellions Scenario Paintball Team recently received a new surprise celebrity endorsement. Last week, Hellions Unit Commander, Lonnie "Grendel" Colson, announced to the team that he had been approached by an undisclosed marketing agency to appear in a new advirtisement campaign. While the details of the offer have still not been released, the ad agency represents a major paintball marker manufacturer and is looking for someone to appear in printed and electronic ads in the near future.

When Grendel's teammates heard the news, they were naturally excited about the potential exposure for the team. Joe "MasterShake" Scarso commented in the team forums, known as the Hellions Warzone, that it was a dream come true. Ever a comedian, Grendel remarked that it would only be a dream come true if it included Jessica Alba in a bikini on a beach in the Caribbean.

The team's resident graphic design wizard, Don "D-Mac" McClelland wanted to earn some brownie points with his Commanding Officer. He apparently used his extensive connections as the creator of countless sports celebrity custom helmets and masks. Within a matter of hours he was able to produce a photograph of Jessica Alba wearing team apparel in a new celebrity endorsement (see above right). Miss Alba can be seen wearing the new Hellions "Off-Duty Tee" in white ribless cotton and designer brand denim jeans in digital woodland camouflage. For safety reasons, she is holding a non-firing theatrical reproduction M-249 SAW. Miss Alba was nice enough to include a personalized message wishing the team good luck on their upcoming 24-hour scenario game, Wayne Dollack's "Stalingrad III", hosted by CPX Sports.

Jessica Alba has achieved the highest levels of 'smoking-hot' celebrity status by appearing in numerous Hollywood blockbusters such as "Sin City", "Into the Blue" and "Grendel's Dreams". She can be seen in the upcoming romantic comedy "Good Luck Chuck" soon to be released in theaters nationwide. Check local listings for feature show times and locations.

Disclaimer: If it is not already obvious, this news article is solely meant to amuse the reader and does not represent an actual endorsement by Jessica Alba or any other celebrity. The photograph has been digitally manipulated and does not reflect the views of Jessica Alba.

APG Staff Report: Scenario Secrets

Originally printed in ACTION PURSUIT GAMES - AUGUST 2007 - PAGE 47

HELLIONS & CPX: CPX Sports home team, the Hellions, has signed a sponsorship agreement with Tippmann, RPS Marballizer, and Vents. CPX Sports negotiated the new sponsorship deals. Tippmann will outfit the team with the new X7 marker, according to Paul Dagnino, Director of Marketing at CPX Sports. Vents will supply the team the high-end E-Vents goggle systems. RPS Marballizer will be the official paint sponsor of the team. Lonnie Colson is founder and team captain of the Hellions; he said, "We have played many events and shot every brand of paintballs and we have yet to find a better paintball than the RPS Marballizer."

The Hellions, Ground Control, and the Chi-Town Hustlers are the three Platinum level home teams at CPX Sports, Joliet, Illinois. www.hellions.net, www.cpxsports.com

Hellions Team With Local VFW Post

SUMMIT, IL – July 25, 2007 - Hellions Scenario Paintball Team recently agreed to a unique partnership with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Des Plaines Valley Memorial Post 6863 of Summit Argo, Illinois..

"Founded in 1899 after the Spanish-American War, the VFW was founded under the principles of providing medical aid and benefits to members of the armed forces who came home with illness and injuries from the front. Since its inception, the VFW's mission has been to "honor the dead, by helping the living".

With our recognized portrayal of the US Army Special Forces, the Hellions have partnered with VFW Post 6863 of Summit, Illinois, in an effort to honor those who have served and presently serve in our Nation's military. The team hopes to bring greater awareness to the general public of the VFW's mission and endeavors and ultimate vision of bringing about legislation that will provide financial assistance as well as adequate medical facilities to our Nation's Finest

A meeting with Post 6863 General Manager Thomas Mulcahy produced very positive results. Hellions Paintball will act as the Post's on-field representative, demonstrating leadership abilities, sportsmanship, and the fair play they have been known for. A financial donation to the team was generously offered, but it was respectfully turned down by the players. Instead, the team will help the Post financially by promoting the Post's famous catering services.

Hellions Paintball are pleased to participate in this one of a kind partnership and we look forward to a long, successful relationship with the Verterans of Foreign Wars Post 6863."

For the latest news affecting Post 6863, visit them on their official Web site on the Veterans of Foreign Wars Illinois WebCOM Network: http://www.vfwwebcom.org/il/post6863

Kevin "Kevlar" Quinn is the Hellions' Public Affairs Officer. For more information on the team's partnership with Post 6863 or other sponsorships, contact him at Kevlar@Hellions.net.

Hellions Spotlighted in Recon Magazine

Originally printed in RECON MAGAZINE - APRIL 2007.


April 2, 2007 - Recently a member of the Hellions noticed an article about the Special Ops Recon Magazine doing 'spotlights' on teams across the country. We decided to follow up on it and shortly thereafter received a message from the editor, Jordan Hicks, who told us that we would be contacted soon. A few days later, Lonnie "Grendel" Colson got a call from a field writer, Matt "Karpet" West of Team Overkill, who conducted a couple of telephone interviews.

Disclaimer: The above excerpts were taken from the April 2007 issue of Recon Magazine and is reprinted in part here without permission.To subscribe to Recon Magazine, visit the SpecialOpsweb site at: WWW.SPECIALOPS.COM.

Hellions Make Local CBS News

DO NOT ADJUST YOUR DIALS. THE HELLIONS ARE NOW APPEARING ON YOUR LOCAL TELEVISIONS


JOLIET, IL - March 14, 2007 - Local Chicago CBS Channel 2 News dropped by the Hellions' home field of CPX Sports to do a report on the fact that the U.S. Army is sending recruiters to regional paintball events looking for prospective candidates.

The lovely Mai Martínez was gracious enough to interview the Hellions’ own Lonnie "Grendel" Colson to give the players’ reaction to the Army’s presence. As you can see, the Hellions were more than happy to rub elbows with the media.

The full story is available at CBS2Chicago.com.

CPX Sports: Hellions Sign with Tippmann, Empire & PMI/RPS

JOLIET, IL – February 16, 2007 - CPX Sports home team the Hellions has signed a sponsorship agreement with Tippmann, RPS Marballizer, and Vents. CPX Sports negotiated the new sponsorship deals on behalf of their highly valued home team.

Tippmann has agreed to outfit the Hellions with the new X7, the world’s most customizable marker. “The Hellions are an elite tactical scenario paintball team,” said Paul Dagnino, Director of Marketing at CPX Sports. “They are a highly organized team that believes in true Mil-Sim tactics. The team’s current arsenal of markers consists of customized Tippmann A-5’s and 98 Custom’s and we are excited to add the new and widely anticipated X7 ” said Dagnino.

Vents has agreed to supply the team with the high-end E-Vents goggle system from their popular line of products and RPS Marballizer is set to become the official paint sponsor of the Hellions. “We could not be happier to have RPS Marballizer brand paintballs as our official paint sponsor,” said Lonnie Colson, founder and team captain of the Hellions. “We have played many events and shot every brand of paintballs and we have yet to find a better paintball than the RPS Marballizer,” concluded Colson

2007 is the Hellions first year with CPX Sports as an officially sponsored home team. They join Ground Control and the Chi-Town Hustlers as the 3 Platinum level home teams. “The Hellions are one of the most organized scenario teams I have ever seen in the paintball industry. It is our belief that they will use those organizational skills to generate interest and participation in our Scenario and Big Games this year” said Dagnino. “Our home teams do a great job promoting our events and serve as ambassadors of CPX Sports both on and off the field. In return, we do our best to help them with sponsorships from our friends in the paintball industry” concluded Dagnino. “The Hellions are honored to be associated with industry heavyweights like Tippmann and CPX Sports. Tippmann has been making quality durable and reliable markers for over 20 years and the new X7 is the most exciting scenario marker to come along since the A-5. CPX Sports is arguably the best paintball field in the world and their Scenario and Big Game schedule is the best in the Midwest. 2007 is going to be a great year for the Hellions” concluded Lonnie Colson.

Based in the Chicagoland area, the Hellions are one of the most widely recognized scenario paintball teams in the Midwest. They are known for their true Mil-Sim tactics and highly organized brand of scenario paintball. CPX Sports is the premiere paintball facility in the Midwest, and is among the best in the United States. In 2007, CPX Sports renewed its commitment to Scenario and Big Games with the creation of the CPX Home Field Advantage. The Home Field Advantage is loaded with special discounts, privileges, and incentives and is available to teams of 8 or more players. For more information on the Hellions and the CPX Sports Home Field Advantage, log on to www.hellions.net or www.cpxsports.com

Hellions Make First Major Appearance

Originally printed in PAINTBALL 2 XTREMES - FEBRUARY 2007.


January 23, 2007 - The Hellions made their first appearance in a national publication. Here members of the Hellions and Ground Control meet prior to the commencement of hostilities during the General's briefing at CPX's Windy City Classic. They were displayed prominently in several pictures throughout the article. Visible in the photo are: Lonnie "Grendel" Colson, Andrew "Crow" Buslik, Don "D-Mac" McClelland, Eric "Evil" Mains, and John "Scout" Kozlowski..

The Hellions' ACUPAT uniforms and military appearance have been a big hit at the Challenge Park Extreme scenarios. Team members have now appeared in magazines such as the one high-lighted here, as well as internet slideshows and digital video, as in the case of RagTop Video production of "Wayne Dollack's Mad Maxx: Outlaw Bandits" [Clips are available for viewing in the News section of our site]. Nothing is more flattering than being recognized for participating in your favorite recreational pasttime. The only thing that could have made it better? If the Hellions had received written credit in the text of the article.
In the photograph on the left, Charles "Woodchuck" Daclan and John "Scout" Kozlowski take up a defensive position next to the "Challenge Park" mobile van where the Hellions made a defensive stand early in the game. In the bottom photo, Lonnie "Grendel" Colson is stalking up a path looking for enemy ambushes. The team patches and uniforms seem to mesh perfectly with the text in the article as it discusses the importance of 'Specialist Teams' who "like to sneak and peek".

Disclaimer: The above excerpts were taken from the article "What It Takes to Command" by Lawrence "TB" Wright, which appeared in the February 2007 issue of Paintball 2 Xtremes and is reprinted in part here without permission. For more information about their magazine or their authors, visit their official web site at: WWW.PB2X.COM.