I gotta disagree. During the 80s, while I was stationed at Ft Devens, I saw all kinds of hostility from the locals to the soldiers... and during that time, most of the major cities of Mass. declared themselves "nuclear-free zones".
There was one state court judge who used to take great pleasure in throwing soldiers and sailors in jail for trivial motor vehicle offenses (i.e., inspection sticker expired) where a civilian would have just had a ticket or even a verbal warning. A coterie of cops and DAs knew about this guy and would steer cases to him to get their little laugh.
In the early nineties, the principal combat unit tenant at Devens moved to Colorado, which was almost 2,000 miles further from its potential wartime area of responsibility. A major factor in that move was the citizen hostility to the troops displayed by Bay Staters of every class and social standing, particularly including the state's politicians. This led to the closing of the base in the first BRAC.
You should have heard all those liberals who lived by gouging the troops scream.
One interesting effect was the collapse of the large bookstore in the town of Ayer, just off the base. Apparently liberals don't read much. Not enough to keep the shop alive after the soldiers left.
There is a minority in Massachusetts that supports the troops -- no more than forty percent. A majority or large plurality hate and disrespect the troops and are not shy about showing it.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
I was stationed in boston in the second half of the 80's, as a coastie. I had interaction with the NAVY guys on occasion, over in Charlestown, both the regulars and the guys on the Constitution.
I was always treated well by civilians, and many of the bar owners gave us discounts when we presented ID's, etc. Coasties & navy got cheaper haircuts in the Nrth End, too.
Only hint of anything negative I saw was when the invasion of of some crummy country. There were about a hlaf dozenleftover hippies hanging around outside the main gate. Never said anything to us, though.
I got leg go on several speeding tickets, too. L0cal and state cops.
I guess you & I had vastly different experiences in the same territory. I wonder why?