Kent State Shootings: 44 years ago...anybody remember it?

[gunsmith]

May 4, 1970 Anybody remember it? I was a Senior in High School...Draft number 285, no chance I was going to Vietnam.

This was a dark day. Thus began 'The 70's Worst-Decade-In-American-History.



I'm guessing this is a head / neck wound from the amount of blood....this image was rarely shown.



This one is seen more often:



61 shots...not full auto I guess.



The guys were probably just there to 'pick up chicks' not to overthrow the government.



You had to be there....people were depressed and stoned. Obama will be gone in 900 days....the 70's were worse....ask anyone who was there....or watch a movie from the 70's...cynical and depressed.

Ronald Reagan needs to be the 5th head on Mt. Rushmore

[xd ED]

I was a senior in high school- a month from graduation.

I was only 17 (youngest kid in my graduating class, as my birthday is late August) ultimately my draft # would be 182...pretty safe #

Ah yes, the peace movement:

http://mn70s.tumblr.com/post/58471544759/old-federal-building-minneapolis-1970s-a-bomb

My dad worked in the suspected target- the Army Recruiting Office, he had given up his reserved parking spot to a pregnant co-worker, whose car was damaged by the nearby blast.

[ttousi]

out of high school...........draft # 31........joined the Navy instead, probably already on board ship on that day

[jgalt]

Thus began 'The 70's Worst-Decade-In-American-History.

Pretty sure folks who were alive in the 1930s would disagree...

Also pretty sure the 1860s & 1770s were no cake-walk either...

[OldmanFCSA]

Draft number 16.
Failed U.S.A.F. physical.
Failed U.S..Army physical.
Stayed home, went to funerals for all my high school buddies.
Got yelled at by most of their mothers for avoiding the draft.
If they only knew how I later went and served my country.

[LS3Miata]

I was a sophomore in HS. My draft number was 52, but Nixon had just ended the draft.

[gunsmith]

Thus began 'The 70's Worst-Decade-In-American-History.

Pretty sure folks who were alive in the 1930s would disagree...

Also pretty sure the 1860s & 1770s were no cake-walk either...

That's exactly my point....in the 30's the 'American Dream' was still alive. In the 70's Detroit hadn't fallen the way it has in 2014...but America felt defeated, exhausted, betrayed. The President was being impeached, and his replacement was Casper Milquetoast who is remembered for Charred Helicopters in a distant desert. Grocery Prices which were stamped on the cans in blue ink went up weekly, inflation was close to 10%

We were more than a decade away from:

MR. GORBACHEV....TEAR DOWN THIS WALL.

[chopper]

Was also a senior also draft number was 196 oldest brother was in navy went to nam three times shelling the coast had a cousin in marines was shot two times came home in a wheelchair died a few years later from his wounds. I had a couple of friends that came home in a box, I remember all the protests including kent state and how our boys were treated when they came home.

[Lumpy]

I was too young for Kent State to be anything but something they were talking about on the news. But in hindsight, yeah the early '70s were a grim time. Arch-conservative Nixon was president, FBI infiltration of dissidents was not paranoia, the war was (illegally) expanding to Cambodia and Laos, and now protesters were being shot, not merely tear gassed, beaten and arrested. People on the Left worried we were descending into an actual fascist police state.

[george]

YEP, It Was The Lottery Few Wanted To Win!!!
For Memory Sake, Here Are Some Of The Winning Numbers. I Was In This Time Frame Also.

http://www.landscaper.net/draft70-72.htm#Lottery%20Held%20February%202,%201972

It's jest one of the reasons I think it's misleading to think, if the military were told to take up arms against
the people they wouldn't. They have and will.

[ZardozCZ]

4 Dead in Ohio. It was a sad day to see Americans gunned down by the military who's duty it was to defend. Note to self- this hasn't changed, they're still ready to gun us down.

[gunsmith]

An oft-repeated phrase in the 70's was 'I would have fought in WWII but not this war'

I was in college 1971 and one of my assignments was to 'Interview a Vet'

This was a memorable and sad experience...He was older. and had been wounded, was on pain meds (maybe psych meds?)
Chain smoker. His unit (40 some guys )was ambushed in a rice paddy and all were killed except him. The VC went around and gave head shots to those still alive....his survival was due to the fact he was underneath some dead guys.

I doubt this guy had a successful life. He was rescued and spent hospital time recovering...when a high ranking officer came to award him his medals he threw them at him and told him to get the eff out of here. I think they realized he had been pushed too far. Post Trauma Stress Disorder....I think they could have written a chapter on this guy.

THAT was the 70's

On the other hand in WWII my dad and 4 of his brothers served overseas. on my mom's side 3 in uniform 2 in defense plants (making C rations and Liberty ships) My dad said his wartime experience was some of the best years of his life...he and all his brothers returned without a scratch and bought houses with white picket fences ....America had defeated the Devil and they were proud of it.

In the 70's "something was wrong" and nobody could do anything about it.

[MarkL]

I was in eighth grade and remember the events well and that it was nothing to look forward to. I would join the Air Force several years later after graduating.

[Tomh]

Born in 65. Remember the nightly news closed with the names of the KiA scrolling across the screen. Even at 5 and 6 nobody had to tell me those were sons, brothers, uncles. Remember the time dad pulled over to pick up a GI thumbing a ride along the freeway. (Dad's a Korea Vet). Mom had a $4/t and us four kids just sat in awe while we all drove along.
As soon as I was able I joined. Served 23 years in the guard. Wish I could shake the hand of each and every vet, they are very special to me. May God hold a special place for the peacemakers!


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[IDPA Shooter]

I knew Allison Krause, one of the 4 dead in Ohio. Lottery # 241, tried to volunteer for the USMC PLC. Docs said you will never be able to squat in a rice paddy with that knee, maybe the AF, not but us.

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