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malthaussen

(18,338 posts)

42. On the other hand (and only tangentially related)

Thu Nov 27, 2025, 12:49 PM

Thursday

A friend of mine was a corporal in the light company of the American Royal Welch Battalion, which was (and is) an organization of American Revolution reenactors, representing the (British) 23rd Regiment of Foot, the Royal Welch Fusiliers. They were doing a show in DC during some period of unrest or other, and the President at the time (think it was Ford) was planning on reviewing them, but the Secret Service was afraid that the crowds might get a bit disruptive. Anyway, some spook or other went up to the colonel of the regiment and basically asked them if they would "defend your President" if things got ugly. The Colonel immediately turned and ordered the regiment (about 20 or 30 strong, these are reenactors, after all) "Fix your bayonets."

Nothing came of it, which is kind of a shame in a way, as it would have made great TV to see a bunch of Redcoats in 18th-century uniforms defending the President of the United states with Brown Bess muskets and bayonets.

-- Mal

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I refused orders once... [View all] Capperdan Wednesday OP

I never disobeyed an order when I was on active duty EYESORE 9001 Wednesday #1

It's amazing what people (soldiers) will do if they've been told the "others" are the enemy. erronis Wednesday #3

Trump needs to lie to the soldiers and sailors popsdenver Wednesday #21

You can be a lot proud of that one. TheRickles Wednesday #2

Please accept my gratitude, sir! lastlib Wednesday #4

Thank you lastlib Capperdan Wednesday #9

And you should be proud, MarineCombatEngineer Wednesday #5

And back at you MCE Capperdan Wednesday #10

The closest I came was in the USAF in 1969. MineralMan Wednesday #6

My hat off to you, MM. That takes guts and a true sense of what's right. erronis Wednesday #23

Or, I'm a smartass. MineralMan Wednesday #24

I think you were a smart smartass. 3catwoman3 Wednesday #25

I had a similar experience LogDog75 Wednesday #34

Yes, exactly. MineralMan Thursday #36

We were breaking down our NDP (night defensive position), and The Wizard Wednesday #7

Yup, brave. Joinfortmill Wednesday #8

more info? NJCher Wednesday #11

LOL! Great gifs FakeNoose Wednesday #20

You should be proud. Nt Figarosmom Wednesday #12

Love that you did this, and that blue_jay Wednesday #13

And you should be mountain grammy Wednesday #14

A little proud? llmart Wednesday #15

Good on you. 3catwoman3 Wednesday #16

Im sure it would have Capperdan Wednesday #27

Thank you Capperdan! Clouds Passing Wednesday #17

I salute your service, honor and integrity, Capperdan Grim Chieftain Wednesday #18

Well thanks, GC Capperdan Wednesday #28

Had a friend in the Army refuse an order in Vietnam surfered Wednesday #19

thank you for your honorable service. cab67 Wednesday #22

My father refused Bmoboy Wednesday #26

Thank you KT2000 Wednesday #29

Thank you. I'm proud of you too. Ohioboy Wednesday #30

Precisely the Correct Action Nictuku Wednesday #31

On the other hand . . . Aussie105 Wednesday #32

If that happened, no one would consider charging the coerced soldier. TomSlick Wednesday #33

My late brother, who flew BlueMTexpat Thursday #35

This message was self-deleted by its author sarchasm Thursday #37

I was in 6-years. I NEVER got an illegal order. Grins Thursday #38

At Kent State the students tricked a gung ho commander into following them. GreenWave Thursday #39

Those were crazy times to be 20 years old Capperdan Thursday #41

My ROTC Ranger group committed mass mutiny one time... malthaussen Thursday #40

On the other hand (and only tangentially related) malthaussen Thursday #42

I am thankful I never had to face a situation in which I would have to refuse an order. mucholderthandirt Thursday #43