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@sneakypete
What did I miss? Lots of actions with National Guard troops. But not seeing any regular active duty US military units. Maybe I am missing something.
@Hoodat Well,the 101st went to Alabama in the early 60's for the school desegregation party,and either they or the 82nd went to Detroit and Chicago in the late 60's,and the 82nd went to DC during the 68 election.
I am sure there were others,but I can't remember them now.
I remember the 82nd going to DC during what,IIRC,was called "The Days of Rage" in 68 VERY well because I happened to be at Bragg between Asian tours at that time,and I remember being given strict orders to NOT participate in the training/evaluation exercise they conducted before sending the 82nd and a SF group to DC.
Some numbnuts decided it would be a good idea to use "Green Berets" for riot control duty,so they set up an exercise with Poohbahs from DC as judges. They designated one SF Group to be the rioters,and another SF Group to be the Riot Control soldiers.
What could Possibly go wrong with a plan like that,right?
I remember this well because I was given strict orders to NOT participate for some reason,so I just wore civilian clothes and wandered around to watch the fun.
Before the first day ended,two SF Officers went to the basic training area where the trainees were on lock-down in their barracks,and gave anti-war speeches and lecturers. Being SF officers,they came well-prepared,with projectors and news film footage.
The end result is at least one basic training company rioted,and by the end of the day there were barracks and overturned MP cars burning.
I remember seeing SF troops in "riot wedge" formations,designed to drive protesters off and break them up,with Sergeant-Majors behind the wedge giving orders. Most of all,I remember the SF "rioters" doing stuff like throwing dog turds in their faces,one of which hit a SGM in the face,and seeing him break through the wedge and trying to chase down the guy that threw it with,and stick him with the unsheathed bayonet on his M-16.
It was said that by noon Womack Army Hospital was overflowing with wounded patients,and sending soldiers out to civilian hospitals for treatment.
Pretty much everybody involved in that training mission had a ball,except for the geniuses that came up with that brain fart. Using SF troops for riot control was never even suggested again,never mind tried.
I am STILL a little pissed about those two SF officers being forced to resign over starting the riot,though. If you don't want realistic training,don't suggest to professionals that you want it realistic.
I miss being young.
