The 101st Airborne Division has always been a first serve/ first strike unit. The division remains at a high state of readiness. It also has a unique skill set for rapid deployment. Sometimes these features have been called upon within our own borders.
The 101st Division was sent to Little Rock Arkansas in September of 1957, to maintain the federal segregation initiatives at Little Rock Central High School. Ten years later, I was told to never travel through Little Rock in uniform. The patch was still not welcome in Little Rock; the patch was infamously remembered a decade later.
Trouble broke out in the Hough community, of Cleveland Ohio, in July 1966. The 101st was called again at this turbulent time. My unit was put on full alert. The planes began flying to Cleveland. I was assigned to the next plane out. Anticipating riot duty, we were disappointed when informed that sufficient troops were already on the ground. We were placed on standby. I never pulled riot duty. The deployed returned saying it was easy duty. The riot was quickly forgotten.
I went home on leave. Returning through New York, I was having trouble hitching a ride. Finally, a gentleman stopped to say he could get me to central Ohio. Well, that was the worst stretch and good news to me! It was obligatory to provide small talk to drivers for the ride. I soon learned that he was involved in the Cleveland riot.
My driver was a good ole boy. His ride didn’t look like much, but it was sure getting me down the road fast. He said, “I debated about picking you up, being annoyed with anything military right now. But, I was bored and needed somebody to keep me awake.”
Needing this ride real bad, I slowly began to utilize my best diplomatic skills. I encouraged him to tell me of his plight. He said he was running a full load of contraband whiskey, Cleveland was under marshal law. He was stopped at a road check just shy of his destination. The military (probably national guard) confiscated his booze!
I cautiously asked him, “How did you get out of jail so quickly?” He grinned and said they emptied the car and told him to get lost. I kind of chuckled and remarked, “They wanted to drink that liquor. They couldn’t turn you in and keep the booze!”
My good ole boy and I laughed for a bit. That was the closest I ever got to riot duty. Those that wait, also serve.
