Project Nancy
Contents |
Forward
The perspectives that surround this event are fully topped by sour emotions, both good and bad memories, and a sense of gloom that hung over everyone’s head for a period of more than four months. The veins of mistrust are apparent even today, more than three years later after this situation knocked the very wind out of the 3rd Infantry Division.
The Project
Project Nancy began in May of 2004 after a long-standing series of Command Staff disapprovals on an array of many ideas. Created by Hunkeler, members of the 3rd Infantry Division from every rank were sworn to secrecy and invited to join the society. His selection of individuals was a pseudo-random procedure. The chance of being selected depended on Hunkeler’s interpretation of that person’s level of conservatism, and the truly random aspect came into play when looking at the individual’s rank. Hunkeler took precautionary steps during the infancy of the project, stating to his followers (in lieu of possibly being caught), “We come from all levels of the 3rd ID, they can’t kick us all out, right?”
The statement was more than a superficial remark. Originally the project centralized on possible restructure changes that could have potentially overthrown even the Captain of the unit, and a very large (selective) percentage of the Command Staff. The project did not get off the ground until late May into early June. A secret forum was created on a separate hosting service (dodfrontline.com), far out of the reach of any non-member, completely hidden. All day to day operations took place on this forum, which housed many ideas, concepts, and concerns from its members. Eventually the mood of the project changed from a mutiny (after a long discussion with its members) to a bloated list of things that needed to happen in order to fix the 3rd Infantry Division.
Concepts and ideas created by its members were moved from a draft container into a final draft container to await usage. Internally, Project Nancy was nothing more than a group a people that enjoyed figuring out ways to make the unit better. There were no fights concerning power, and when an idea was shot down, or “Shit-Canned” a new idea took its place. The internal working environment of the project was very relaxed in order to allow a greater flow of ideas. The members were reminded constantly about the risk of leaking the information to the rest of the 3rd ID, and the secret was kept very well.
Donovan, a leader in the project invited Williams to view what the team had done with the project, and to add insight on possible issues. The intention, as explained later by Donovan was to add a biased member to the mix, in an attempt to balance out any drafts that were “too one-sided”. Williams left the project almost immediately after joining stating that he did not want anything to do with it. At this point, Project Nancy was coming out of the mutiny stage of its infancy, and old documents pertaining to the subject were still accessible (but clearly Shit-Canned). However, despite his different view on the subject matter, Williams kept his agreement with Donovan not to leak the project.
It was the belief of the project members as a whole that training of new recruits in the 3rd ID required a much needed overhaul. This is where the concept of bringing Briggs, an original founding member of the unit, back into the training curriculum. Originally when the unit was still playing Day of Defeat, training was conducted by Briggs who at the time was the rank of Master Sergeant.
At the end of June the project saw a major decrease in activity, and by mid-July it had been deemed dead. It was at the sole-discretion of Hunkeler at the end of July to follow through with the sudden-implementation tactic of the project (upon completion) that the members had discussed during its beginning. During a training session of new recruits Briggs was asked by Hunkeler to attend, and ordered put on his Master Sergeant rank, and unit tag. On Teamspeak, partly through the drill Williams stated very angrily, “This is not happening!” He knew that the unauthorized Project Nancy was attempting to go into effect. At the same time Donovan concurrently issued a statement to the men of the unit (also on Teamspeak) explaining what was going on to the best of his ability. By the end of the training session, the Teamspeak server was full of confused unit members.
Williams and Hunkeler, who both disagreed with each other’s views on the project (and its implementation) both engaged in a heated screaming match that lasted the good half an evening. Afterward, rumors that started from some of the confused members began to spread across the unit, and friendships were lost over the course of a single day. The actions taken by Hunkeler were of the worst kind, and as a leader of so many men should have caught himself before he nearly took the entire unit down in flames.
Perspectives
Williams
It was the spring of 2004. I had been unhappy with the way things were going with the unit at the time. After ranting with Donovan he asked me if I could keep a secret, I told him that I could. He directed me to the Operation Nancy forums.
I could see right away that this was something I felt wasn’t right. It was much too clandestine for me. But I also knew that these people wanted what was best for the unit, the same as I did, so I decided to give it a chance. The others were reluctant about my presence, but Donovan said they needed a Devil’s Advocate in the group. I assured them that I would not break my silence.
As I continued to read, I continued to grow uncomfortable. I could see things that I knew the Boss (My knickname for Higgins) was against. The main one that sticks out to me was the return of Briggs. This subject had been debated more than once in the past, with the conclusion that we would not be bringing Briggs back.
I went out to dinner than night with my wife and told her about Operation Nancy and my concerns. She said “you’d better tell Higgins about that.” I told her that I couldn’t because I had given my word to Donovan. She knows I am a man of my word so the conversation ended there. My concerns would not end there, however.
Later that night I joined a voice chat with some others from Operation Nancy. The topic was when to implement the changes that were being discussed. The plan was to do it when Cpt Higgins left for a summer trip back to Fla. People were getting more comfortable with me being around. Some felt that my presence would help assure that the Cpt would give in once he returned from Fla. Hunkeler said, “What is he going to do, kick all of us out?” and my comfort level continued to decline.
In my opinion, I was witnessing the birth of a mutiny. Before I went to bed that night I posted in the Nancy forum that I wanted no part of their group or its ideas and that I would not be returning. I also assured them that I would not break my promise of silence. Instead, I hoped that they would see the door that they were opening and not walk through it. I sent PM’s to a few involved that I thought I might be able to get through to and told them “Think hard about the road you are on.”
I heard no more about Operation Nancy, nor did I ask.
Fast forward to summer. Higgins has just left and is in Fla. I fire up the All Seeing Eye to go to Drills and I see MSgt. Briggs [3rd ID] in the server. It would seem that Operation Nancy was in full swing. Higgins hadn’t been gone a week and they were already doing exactly what they said they would do. I entered the server and informed them “This is not going to happen.” and I left.
The fireworks began after drills as I entered the TS server. Hunkeler and I had a nice screaming match at each other in front of everyone. This was when I threw Operation Nancy at him. Since it was being implemented I figured it wasn’t a secret anymore so I didn’t care that other were present. He denied that was the reason. This began a string of forum posts in the Command Staff forum where very ugly words were traded back and forth between Turner, Hunkeler, Young, and myself.
Higgins was called on the telephone and was not pleased. Briggs did not return. Many were understandably upset about a secret sub group planning things and they were not invited to the party. Turner and I posted our resignations. We were asked by Cpt Higgins to reconsider. I did, Turner did not.
This was really the turning point for me, as far as the 3rd ID. Nothing was ever done concerning what I felt was a flat out intention of mutiny and an event that could have potentially brought an end to the entire unit. My time in the group was never the same after that. Too much had been said and done, and not done. I remained in the unit for another 5 or 6 months to help the unit recover, but was unhappy, partly for other reasons, partly because of time and 56k constraints, but largely over the events concerning Nancy. I resigned on Jan 1, 2005.
Operation Nancy should serve as a valuable lesson on many levels. I know that I take lessons from it concerning my own actions. I should have told Cpt Higgins about the whole thing immediately and suffered the consequences of being labeled a “rat”. By giving me the title of an Officer in his group, he placed trust in me to do what was best for the unit. By accepting the title and wearing the [3rd ID] I made a promise to him to do that. By keeping my promise to Donovan, I broke my promise to Higgins. Staying quiet was not best for the unit, it was what was best for my own reputation.
Everyone needs to remember that, from Lt's to Pvt's. Don't wear those blue and white colors, those ranks, and those ribbons and think its just some internet game that doesn't really matter. Its an issue of trust and brotherhood the same as any other team. Don't take it lightly. Cherish it and nurture it, and you will find it one of the most rewarding experiences in your life.
Hopefully others have learned their own lessons from it. I am glad that it is being remembered.
Higgins
I personally remember the situation well.
I remember getting the phone call while on vacation in Florida, and immediately locating a computer and checking up on the forums to find out what the hell was going on. And I remember the very long phone conversation between Joe and I regarding the situation. Let's just say, it was an extremely dark and surreal time in my life where the internet unit and the real life friendships suddenly clashed together and I was faced with an extremely difficult command decision.
It had seemed to me that the powers I had instilled into 1Lt. Hunkeler had gone straight to his head, and he and the "Nancy" team immediately tried to implement a bunch of controversial ideas as quickly as possible. I lost the trust I placed in my XO and members of my command staff... It was extremely difficult for me as a commander and a friend to many of these men.
I know Williams was one person who was very unhappy with the lack of punishment following the Project Nancy debacle... one of many, I remember. 1Lt. Hunkeler and I had ended our conversation that night on the phone on a very somber note, and it looked like the bright and shining young officer I asked to join the unit back on that June day was about to turn in his resignation from the unit.
I asked him to reconsider.
Strange, isn't it? The man had basically led what I felt was a revolution against my way of operating, and I asked him to return. It was at this point that I realized that while the people behind Project Nancy picked a really ridiculous way to implement their ideas... the ideas themselves weren't actually all that bad. And I also realized that at their core, the men involved with Project Nancy were trying to do what they felt was the best for the unit, which was in a very stagnant moment in our history where command decisions took forever to materialize and democracy in the command staff only seemed to slow down the process more.
I know alot of our men wanted blood from Project Nancy members.
They wanted someone to take the fall for what alot of the excluded members felt was a mutiny and a stab in the back of the units trust in one another... But I also realized that Nancy had already done it's damage, and kicked the units trust and brotherhood in the coinpurse. Why further the problem by removing these long time members, which had other members ready to resign with them if they were to leave. Why kick the unit while it's down?
The best way to sum up my final opinion on the people involved with Nancy and the entire aftermath can be summed up in a couple quotes I heard by this guy, who did alot of amazing work over over in the middle east.
They went something like this:
"He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone." "Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more."
Two years later, Hunkeler is back with the 3rd Infantry Division as our newest Master Sergeant, Briggs is still around playfully busting our chops, and we are still running strong with a rich and deep history that has effected the gameplay style and personal lives of hundreds of people in and out of this community for over 5 years.
I guess that guy from the middle east was onto something...
Kenkel
Private Message sent to Captain Higgins
While I do realize you are getting mass mailed PMs at the moment, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read not only mine, but everyone else's in this division. I'm not quite sure why I am writing you this message, but something tells me that somewhere in all this, I can get peace of mind from it.
Realism, a funny word, and style of play when you think about it. A group of boys, men, young adults, whatever you would like to call them, getting together in a common bond that is Call of Duty to play a simple video game together, to re-enact a war that touched so many people in so many ways. This style of play, for myself, appeals solely to the amazing amount of teamwork that is put forth in achieving a simple objective. That's all it meant to me.
I, like many others, compare this Division to that of a Band of Brother episode. The easiest way for me to relate. The men that were portrayed bonded together so closely, one cannot put into words how they felt. Most surprisingly was, to me at least, Winters. The way the men looked up to him was incredible, something I never dreamed of feeling. However today, upon reading your simple post, I can honestly say I was touched in such a way that I never have before. I cannot put into words exactly how I felt, but just seeing your name on that post list made things just seem to clear up, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Looking from the outside in, whenever you were on the server in the day of defeat days, the tide of battle seemed to be unstoppable. Leading my own men in the 3.PG was damn near impossible against you. I don't know what it was, but you just seemed to have it. Something that more and more every day I am beginning to slowly understand. Something that I hope to continue to understand fully and completely.
In light of the recent events, as a Private in this Division, I can honestly say that I have absolutely no idea what is going on. 3rd Platoon has been left out in the cold more often than not, a feeling none of us like. I, personally, do not know where to turn. I am utterly and totally confused as to who to go to. I have no idea who I should ask, who I can trust, or who I can even hold a conversation with. It seems like all of those that were involved in this project have been promoted ahead, but none of us seem to know why. Worse still, is that our drill instructor is not currently with us, and will be replaced by his assistant (whom I have all confidence in) but just adds to the mass confusion and dismay.
I never thought one man could hold so many people together. Something that I looked up to, something that seemed so solid, has been taken from me. I'm not quiet sure what I'm trying to say here, I'm having such a hard time with all that is going on, I don't know who to turn to anymore for guidance in this division. I'm feeling a bit alienated, I suppose, taken advantage of and left out to dry. I now realize that all the men in this unit need you around for both stability and leadership. Something that your very presence can accomplish.
I hope that you can make sense of this rambling, I apologize but I just wrote things as they came to me. I'm looking very much looking forward to your return, Sir.
Salutes
Private David Kenkel 3rd Platoon, K Company, 2nd Battalion, 15th Regiment
