Illinois Militia – 1984

In 1984, Cath and I were back home in Ottawa for her 10-year high school reunion. I was waiting in line for a drink when a guy approached me. “Hey, aren’t you Max Hall? Didn’t you go to West Point?” I answered, “I am and I did. Why do you ask?” “I’m Joe xxx. We would love to have you come talk with our local militia.” What?

I was a Captain in the Army at the time and had recently returned from four and a half years in Germany with 3ID and VII Corps. Cath and I were stationed in Ohio and returned to Ottawa for the weekend of the reunion.

Me: “Sure. Where’s the National Guard meeting these days, and what kind of unit is it?”

Joe: “Oh no. We aren’t with the National Guard. We started a private group as a militia. We fire our guns on weekends and do some tactical training. We want to be ready to fight the communists.”

Me:

Joe: “It would be great if you came out to meet with us and give us a talk. I think you could provide some real inspiration!”

Me: “Really?! Where do you all meet?”

He gives me a location south of town in the country.

Me: “Hmmmm. That’s great, but rather than meet there, I think we should meet on LaSalle Street, not far from Bianchi’s Pizza.”

Joe: “Really? Why there?”

Me: “We could go the Army recruiter’s office on LaSalle Street and get you guys signed up. We are always looking for a few good men!”

Joe: “What?!”

Me: “We could meet at the Army recruiter’s office. We are always looking for a few good men to enlist. If you really want to fight the communists, we could use you. I’ll be deploying back to Germany in a year. We could probably even work it out for you to join my unit!”

Joe:

Me: “That’s what I thought. See you later and quit bothering me… Bartender – I’ll have a gin and tonic please.”

Yep. Those militia toy-soldiers who always say they are going to defend our country were around 40 years ago as well. They are still eager to play soldier these days, as long as they don’t have to do anything to, you know, actually defend our country as a soldier.

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Addendum:

• I don’t recall Joe’s actual name. I just remember that he was in Cathy’s class and I knew him some from high school.