The 143rd SOG was first formed on January 20, 2007 by Mike Amundson, Leon Raquinio, Patrick Amundson and Carl Corbett. After many friendly games with and against the membership, the team was formed. Carl and Mike came up with the idea of paintball as an outlet of getting co-workers together to release some steam, build up friendships and of course shoot a manager or two in 2005.
The first game was hosted at Portland Paintball and was fun but was soon realized during the second game that speedball was not our thing. With most of 
us former military personal we decided to move the games to the woods ball and scenario format. We whittled the group down to a small core of players who shared the same ideas and the company of each other. From this group the idea of the paintball team was conceived and the eventual first team was born. Our original team had three pillars as our mantra:
1. A small highly motivated well armed, mobile, independent and disciplined tactical paintball team can have great impact and change the course of a large scenario game through guise, tactics and force of will.
2. To uphold personal and unit honor above all else and in all things we do, even in the face of defeat on the field of play. At no time should any member ever bring shame upon them selves or the team through the actions of unsportsmanlike like conduct.
3. The bonds of friendship that bind us, in that no seed of distrust or malice should ever be sewn, all members must vote on the admittance of new members and large changes to the team, one vote against will close the process.
The teams name originated from two places, the numerical portion is from the street, 143rd, where our first home field was and the impound year of our one time mutual employment as tow truck drivers. The second portion (SOG) is the U.S. Military Unit the team wanted to honor, emulate and pay homage too. You will also see the letter “A” or “B” on their team logo patches, these denote which unit a player belongs too. In July of 2007 the team lost two of their original members when Mike and Patrick, his son, moved to North Dakota. Eventually starting their own team and thus making the first branch off team for the 143rd.
Now in the current year the team is sponsored by Norseman Tire & Service and watchyourbackproductions.com (the makers of the re-usable Annihilator paintball grenade). The team plays large scenario and small woods ball games all over the Pacific Northwest. Paintball aside, this is a tightly knit group and they meet up off the field for BBQ’s and once a year they have a ceremony game as their historic old stomping grounds where they promote those whom have earned it and patch those who have made it.
You can find and contact the 143rd at:
http://www.myspace.com/143rd_sog_paintball_team
http://www.facebook.com/143rdSOG
Photo/Logo credits for the 143rd go to their webmaster/teammate Katie Rowe.
