The only thing we have to Fear, is Fear itself!

This was the famous quote from Franklin D. Roosevelt during his first inaugural address in 1933. It was during this time that the "Great Depression" had reached it's peak. Yes...and people were scared, no money, no food, and no work.

Tonight's story is about fear. Not the type of fear, that many Americans were suffering during the "Great Depression". The fear I'm talking about is the fear that wrenches down in your gut, and hangs on like an Alabama tick. You can't shake it off, or wish it away, you can't stop thinking about it, all you can do is face it, and live with the consequences.

It was early in the year of 1971. I was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. Our Marine Company, among other things, was in charge of security for our President at the time, Richard M. Nixon. Our President had a beach home in San Clemente, CA., this was located right outside the gate of Camp Pendleton. The beach home itself was covered with controvery. It was located right on San Onofre Beach, which was one of the best surf beaches in southern California. The local surfing community was not a big fan of Nixon at the time. During Nixon's presidency, this part of the beach was closed to surfers. We watched the compound, and patrolled those beaches, 24/7, during his peresidency.

It was early Saturday morning, about six, when we were awakened, and told we had a Company formation in 5 minutes. Most of us were in such a hurry, we fell out for formation, still standing in our skivvys. Our Captain, a two tour Vietnam veteran, walked slowly across the small parade deck, stopped and called all of us to "Attention". He said "You have fifteen minutes to prepare and be back for departure. You will need full riot gear, M-16 Rifle, and all NCO's will carry a sidearm 45". It was by all definition, hustle time. I grab my gear, and my rifle in record time. Quite amazing was, no one was late. They loaded all of us in eight trucks, and headed into town. Those in the truck with me were still not quite awake, but were asking each other where they thought we were going. Finally the truck stopped, it was a grocery store parking lot, in San Clemente. We all jumped out of the trucks, and began a Company formation. This is when things got a little scary.

After calling us to "Attention", our Captain turned it over to the Battalion Colonel. The Colonel immediately gave us an order to fix bayonet's. He said, " Jane Fonda and a group of anti-war protesters were defacing the American Flag in downtown San Clemente. We intend on marching right through this group, and there may be casualties".
I must confess, I was scared to death. While I was still trying to make some sence out of my Vietnam experience. It was one thing to travel 4000 miles abroad to fight an enemy on foreign soil, but now, I was ask to cause casualty to American citizens. I had horrifying thoughts running through my head. Fear......... Fear........ Fear!........Will this madness ever end?

In riot formation, we went just a couple of blocks. The Colonel then told us the protester's heard the Marines were coming, and they dispursed.

Just another day at the office.

Have a good Week
Daniel