12 Oct 2020 Garand Picture of the Day - Little Rock Nine

[Mark in Rochester]

When integration began in September 4, 1957, the Arkansas National Guard was called in to "preserve the peace". Originally at orders of the governor, they were meant to prevent the black students from entering due to claims that there was "imminent danger of tumult, riot and breach of peace" at the integration. However, President Eisenhower issued Executive order 10730, which federalized the Arkansas National Guard and ordered them to support the integration on September 23 of that year, after which they protected the African American students

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[browningautorifle]

Nothin' like a buttstroke between the shoulder blades to keep your focus...

[fjruple]

Jim-- Never so true! Been there done that!

[Ovidio]

Me too ;-D

[Ovidio]

But it was not funny...it was in Italy.
As I said earlier, that is nothing soldiers should be called to do.

[browningautorifle]

it was not funny.

I remember all of us discussing...Bear, you, me, couple others. Aid to the civil power, civil insurrection. We may be looking at it again sooner rather than later.

[Ovidio]

Yep...seems plausible at this point. Unfortunately. Maybe not over here (yet), but things may change quickly enough due to the current situation.

[fjruple]

I have been retired from the military since 2005. It seems that at least with the US Army Guard has lost it focus of civil disturbance training. Probably as a result of the increased focus of the integration of the National Guard into Regular Army Command and Control structure. Looking at a number of videos of the recent incidents involving the call up of the National Guard, it seems that there are no troop deployment plans, riot control formations or training. It like they stand around a building looking like a bunch of troopers trying to figure out what to do next. The one thing I notice is the lack of bayonets. The lack of bayonets reduces the options available to the guardsmen. What do you do shoot? A prick of the bayonet or "soft buttstroke" of a rifle butt helps people rethink their ideas of not obeying orders to move along.

[browningautorifle]

The one thing I notice is the lack of bayonets.

Bayonets was always the visual of the perceived threat. People doubt you'll shoot, but no one wants poked with that "Thing"...

[Bob Womack]

Bayonets was always the visual of the perceived threat. People doubt you'll shoot, but no one wants poked with that "Thing"...

Yeah, I remember a discussion of the British army in the Revolutionary period. The idea of a battalion of British Regulars in full regalia marching down upon the Colonial Minutemen. The Brits would have their drummers banging the cadence and would stomp their feet on the right step. When carried at port arms, the Brown Bess placed the tip of the gleaming bayonet at approximately seven feet! Imagine that bearing down on you.

Bob