When I interviewed Bethany Braley with the “National Day of the Cowboy” she talked about a group of soldiers in Iraq called the “Desert Cowboys.” They’re headed by Russell Anderson. Knowing that any cowboy would be interested in the Old West, we sent them some copies of Chronicle of the Old West.

Dakota: We received the following email from Russell. Obviously, we were correct. We’re sending him another shipment of Chronicle of the Old West, along with CD’s of Old West stories.

"Hello Dakota:

I was glad to hear that the "Chronicle of the Old West" was heading our way. It was a great change from the "Stars and Stripes" newspaper that we read around here. I have updated our website (www.CowboyCrew.com) and included a link back to your website, look under: Desert Cowboys Earn War Patch. Dakota I also added a Thank You note on it.

Our guys really were excited to see them, I don't think less than 4 people read each one of those papers, we also had other Cowboys not with us come by and ask if they could have one. A lot of them were comparing notes on some of the older stories and making up stories of there own about robbing the train and going back in time and knowing what we know now. I think the Desert Cowboys could have been bandits.

Living in Cochise County, Arizona, I think was the greatest experience of my life so I know how it is for you living down there. I cannot wait to get back down there and continue my work. I managed The Thomas Ranch for 10 years. They are located between Tombstone (the Town Too Tough to Die) and Bisbee, Arizona. So to see you guys from our own area starting to support us was extra special to me personally.

Thanks again Dakota.

Sincerely,
Russell J. Anderson"