Reserve units in that era were a comedy. If it were regular Army, it wouldn't have happened.
In the 1960's, regular Army units were practicing riot control. We drilled with several types of formations with fixed bayonets. We were told there were seven levels of escalating use of force. Shooting bullets was the last. If we were sent into the streets, I doubt they would have issue more than four rounds apiece.
This was the era of racial strife and commie war protests. No one ever polled if we would have fired upon Americans. I'm guessing it would have went down the same way as the Army led by Douglas MacArthur broke up the Veterans "Bonus Army" protest in Washington DC. The regular Army is going to obey orders. Count on it.
Bush the First ordered Army and Marines into Los Angeles during the 1992 Rodney King riots. Once the troops arrived the riots stopped. Count on it.
Keep in mind these two uses of US military were not against citizens standing up for basic freedoms. In both cases, the military was used against mobs. Citizens organized to defend basic constitutional freedoms presents a different moral dilemma for our soldiers. What they will choose is a guessing game. What the military leaders would choose too is a guessing game.
Thank you for your service, and for your wise, calm words in this insanity over a unsubstaniatity story.
Isn’t it intersting to consider how so many who claim to support the military can be railing against them here?
Thanks again, from a fellow Army vet.