CS-20 was born in 1960 as the “Can-Do” Squadron. In ‘62, cadet Sq/CCs Mike Christy and Bill Adern (‘63) decided the squadron needed a mascot and brainstormed with their cadets. They wanted something fun, strong, and alliterative. Ideas like “tigers” and “tramps” floated but floundered. At this same time, the 2 Degs were converting a dorm into a cadet hangout space. They dubbed it the “Troll Hole,” and eureka, CS-20 became the Tough Twenty Trolls, naming their mascot Ted after the AOC Capt Ted Jensen, even using his name in their sq newsletter, “Terrible Ted’s Tough Twenty Trolls.” The Trolls fully invested in this new identity, writing their own song for intramurals, The Troll Song, sung to the tune of A Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech. Doolies also sang this as their rally song during recognition. The rest of the wing quickly came to know their squadron area as Troll-Land or The Troll Hole. A decade went by before their patch changed to reflect their mascot. By then, they had gained their own fantasy-like culture. The AOC became known as the Chieftain and the 4 classes known as nobles of the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd order and the Peasants of Dool. The Trolls often led off base “rituals” which usually consisted of beers and debauchery. Ted the troll made it onto the new patch in ‘72, his image inspired by the Incredible Hulk (also created in ‘62). He is surrounded by the class colors, symbolizing trolls of all classes. “Tough Twenty Trolls,” was one of the earliest cadet squadron identities chosen and developed by the cadets. Their culture was imbued with not only imagination and spirit, but toil and sacrifice. Most of the first trolls served in SE Asia. 6 of the earliest Trolls were KIA in Vietnam and 1 served 1,915 harrowing days in captivity as a POW. Each cadet and grad added to this collective story. In the end their laughs, tears, and blood shed, from cadet to grad, gave this special identity meaning and legacy. The “Tough Twenty Trolls” saw their last days in 2024, CS-20 was renamed the “Red Tails.” It is somewhat poetic that the identity started in ‘62 lasted ‘62 years and ended the same way it started. Hats off to the Trolls of the Old Zoo! 🎩