I knew the pilots of the Marine helo, the HAC was Charles Pittman, the H2P was Whimpey Whimler.
They launched with a rifle squad in the back and pretty much ignoring Posse Comitatus. On landing, the base CO was there with a charge sheet for all the regs they had broken. Word of this got out to the public and an uproar ensued, they dropped the charges and gave them medals.
Pittman had an amazing career, I went through flight school in the early 80’s, late one Friday afternoon I went to Trader Jons a famous bar/strip joint/museum, there sitting at a table by himself was Col (Gen select) Pittman drinking a Bud. This was before tail hook when one could still have fun. He was in charge of the helps at Desert one and retired as DCS Air as a three star.
Whimpey got his name because he knew what they were doing was shakey. He was a short guy and was famous for standing on his head on the bar at the O club and chugging beer. He retired as a LCOL.
Amazing men from another time.
That was helos at Desert one.
The Posse Comitatus Act is directly applicable only to units of the Army and Air force. The Navy and Marine Corps are guided by Naval REGULATIONS, which does not have the same legal import has statute law, but does have the same practical effect.
Good on those gyrenes for doing the right thing though. They saw their primary duty has protecting the American people.