When The Chips Are Down (1960s?)

[Music] all right men keep an eye on them now we don't want them getting in our way hey this is Bob ready with your National Guard hope and I want to tell you that the story of today's Army and Air National Guard is something all Americans can be proud of [Music] okay man they're getting too close let them have [Applause] [Music] it look at them run get in our way will he that'll teach [Music] him is the coast clear all right [Music] thank you man thank you hold it hold it man hold it they're not really running away folks they're just moving in a position for some sharp shooting at the rate they're moving they'll be there in no time these M4 42s can move along at 40 mph and that's really hustling for babies this size you know the story of any military organization is found in its men in its machines and in its missions these men are Virginia Army National Guardsmen and that's a radio controlled aerial Target better known to these guys as an AR cat their mission is to shoot it down once this little bird gets Airborne it's up to the arcat controller to keep it flying on its prescribed course you might say he's one pilot who flies with both feet on the ground when these guys open up on that arcat they have the capability of pumping out 120 rounds per minute from each tube or Barrel man that's 240 rounds per minute glad they're on our side incidentally the weapon I've been referring to is the m42 duster its Heyday was a generation ago during World War II when it dusted enemy aircraft from the skies after World War II the the Army gave the entire duster system to the Army National Guard the Guardsman took the weapon trained on it and became professionally competent with it watch them go after this [Applause] Arad see what I mean that's what I call coming in for a soft Landing makes things a little softer in our pocketbooks [Music] too if you've been thinking that Guardsman face a paper enemy in the field on these training exercises don't say it out loud the guard uses its own aggressors right from its own ranks to oppose the good guys on field exercises like this one at Camp gring Michigan coordination is a key factor in any exercise these Guardsmen are checking the lay of the terrain prior to the exercise battle planning strategy is just as important to the bad guys as it is to the heroes these men are jumping off on an attack which will test the reaction and effectiveness of elements of the 107th armored Cavalry Regiment of the Ohio Army National Guard the gorillas have plenty going for them as you can see these scenes are typical of the realistic combat conditions Guardsmen undergo a training sites throughout the United States as well as overseas [Applause] things could get a little hot around here got to hand it to him though he really knows how to use that oversized cigarette lighter I don't know about you but as for me I'm not too sure but what I just assume be on the aggressor side in this battle I'm just kidding it's mighty comforting to know the bad guys are really good guys in this case they're all part of the National Guard team as red white and blue as Old Glory herself now if heavier reinforcements were needed the guard has them too this Honest John Rocket can deliver a mighty punch if needed Manning these powerful Rockets takes a lot of training believe me but these Guardsmen are well trained and well prepared the Army National Guard is composed of many different type units including airborne and Special Forces organizations that demand the best encourage and [Music] stamina these West Virginia Army Guardsmen are preparing to board a West Virginia Air Guard Plane for a challenging night operation because of the nature of their milit responsibilities National Guardsmen don't accept the words professionalism and Readiness as mere slogans that guy reminds me of Crosby trying to get to the bank with all his loot there's no room for the timid at an outfit like this no sir and the important thing to remember is that Guardsmen have accepted their responsibilities readily they're all volunteers men who have stood up ready to be counted of their country needs them by their oath they're pledged irrevocably to safeguard the nation and its in institutions against all enemies foreign and domestic any Guardsman who is worthy of the name accepts this as a fact of service Guardsmen are citizen soldiers and their purpose is the American purpose for more than 300 years now theirs has been an unbroken record of Duty accomplished of lives saved of property secured and of order in the face of potential chaos because of the close ties of the Army and the a National Guard they are working together continuously these Rhode Island Army guardsman for example are practicing an infiltration operation with the help of their Rhode Island Air Guard Buddies the air guard has four of these air Commando units two of which are equipped with this hu16 amphibian aircraft in situations where Commando units require either a land or sea rondevo or both this sturdy flying boat can maneuver about and land almost anywhere with ease Guardsmen are trained to operate under all climactic conditions over all types of terrain because the guard is dispersed in communities throughout the United States you'll find that many men are already are scaled in many of their military assignments before they ever raise their hand to take the oath as a member of the guard and that saves dollars for the taxpayers [Music] natural wild surroundings of the West Yellowstone area set the scene for these Montana Special Forces Guardsmen as they work their way to the top of this Barren outcropping ordinarily this Cliff would be considered a dangerous obstacle but danger is just another word to these guys [Music] they figure that the best way around is over the side some people call this a gung-ho gravitational go mobile let's watch this fellow well now that wasn't bad however if you'd rather take the express route man that's what I'd call [Music] moving these guys are on the move too graceful movement cat-like responses superb balance and control that's what it takes for a ballet like this yet those are the talents of these Montanas that contribute to their capabilities as Guardsmen they're a proud bunch and they've got a right to be now it's pretty nice to get paid for this type of thing but it's training with a purpose they're actually on a mission to Ambush a mythical enemy Outpost once they reach the area of operations a brief planning session is all that's needed to finalize the plan of attack strict silence becomes the order of the day as the Guardsmen close in on their objective they know the Outpost is somewhere close then without warning they spot the enemy just a few yards away because silence is imperative in a situation like this the usual weapons are not employed the quiet deadliness of a swift Arrow does a much better [Music] job don't be alarmed was just a dummy from the deep Snows of Montana to the tropical beauty of Hawaii that gives you some idea of the Guard scope of geographical operations they reach into Alaska and Puerto Rica too these Hawaii Guardsmen are on a routine Patrol in an exercise that will eventually bring aerial support from Mainland Air Guard [Applause] [Music] units a last minute check of plans is made before the troops move out for the objective you know the guard is composed of many veterans of World War II of Korea and even Vietnam their background of knowhow provides a measurement of leadership that should serve as comfort to any parent whose son has joined the guard these veteran Guardsman know the ropes they've had battle experience they've been Leading Men for years and they know their business including the techniques of camouflage see anything we watch you hear a lot about mtor fire in Vietnam well this is what a mortar looks like Guardsmen are trained on them as well as every other fire system with which they're armed here's a grenade launcher it's an accurate Little Weapon just watch Bullseye and if you really want to clobber a Target grab one of these 106 mm recoiless rifles these Guardsmen operate this weapon with [Music] perfection Bullseye again really packs the wallet doesn't it if anyone thinks it's all sunshine and flowers in Hawaii just look at this this is the air guard's radar station at top mount koala nestled in virgin forest and frequently invaded by wild pigs this Outpost 4,000 ft high is shrouded in fog of the time that doesn't bother these Hawaiians however that radar sweeps through that fog and reaches miles in all directions of the Pacific in surveillence against a possible enemy attack nearby other Guardsmen receive and interpret the information collected by the radar at top of the mountain each Guardsman is a specialist and each knows his responsibility like this fell riding backwards on a transparent wall if you want some fun try that sometime this man has located some airG guard a aial tankers and jet fighters who are flying from the mainland they're about 200 M out and the radar shows that they're about to rendevu for the fighter refueling then they will continue to Hawaii where they will take part in exercises with the active Army and with the Army guard the air guard has five air refueling units equipped with a KC 97 aircraft with four reciprocating engines and two jet engines these birds really get out of moving these tankers from the Illinois Ohio and Wisconsin air guard provide the fuel for the jet fighters making the deployment their f84 from the Ohio Air National Guard imagine meeting a couple thousand miles over the ocean to gas up it's a bit different from pulling into the corner service [Music] station this refueling capability within the guard makes it possible for the guard's fighting units to deploy anywhere in the world in a matter of hours these air Guardsmen are operationally ready too and that means that they're ready for combat the minute they get where they're going [Music] [Music] after landing at Hickam Air Force Base the Guardsman prepare to launch a mission to the island of Hawaii they get a thorough briefing on their mission and pinpoint the target areas these are your citizen AR these air Crews meet the same standards as the active Air Force Air Crews do they do not ask nor do they receive any credit for performing their roles as part-time Airman [Music] [Applause] [Music] most of these men are successful businessmen in their home communities and the National Guard believes that it is highly unlikely that a Citizen Soldier or citizen Airman would demonstrate qualities as a soldier or Airman that he does not possess as a citizen this operation was known as Tropic lightning a good example of a support the guard provides to active military service these Fighters were working with army ground troops as a part of their training for combat they participate in operations in which close air support is demonstrated because the air guard is able to support these missions the Air Force can turn its attention to higher priority [Music] missions traying for all combat tactics these fighter pilots carry out air strikes with speed and efficiency [Music] each sorty is planned and coordinated with [Music] [Applause] [Music] Precision the Guard works closely with other services too these RF 84s of the Alabama Air Guard are taking off on a photo reconnaissance mission over Puerto Rico and exercise clove hitch while another plane is just returned with a load of film for immediate processing clove hitch was a massive operation in the Caribbean involving all the services Air Guard jet fighters reconnaissance aircraft and aerial tankers join these Navy men from the aircraft carrier Forest allall proving once again the teamwork among the services provides the background for Effective defense whenever and wherever needed [Music] Marines were participants too they came ashore by sea and air here they are engaging in an air assault after being dispatched from ships and sea to reinforce infantry elements ashore all Guardsmen swear allegiance to the state and to the nation for that reason they train not only for their Federal Mission but for their state Mission as well these Guardsmen are playing the part of riers in this training session in the event police forces are overwhelmed the National Guard is the only Force immediately available to a community for the distasteful assignment of quelling civil disorder [Music] but the guard has had to face the real thing on many occasions lately in most cases folks have recognized the unpleasantness of the duty and they've accepted the guard as a force for the preservation of Law and Order whether you're young or old however facing a shouting mob or a lurking sniper calls for the highest degree of discipline this is what the Guardsman faced in Cicero Illinois when demonstrators marched these are scenes from the Watts Riot where two divisions of Guardsmen were called to duty the usual fire damage and destruction followed us in each Riot while patrolling Guardsman surveyed troubled streets searching for snipers watch closely now this is a spectacular shot of a fireman just as he's hit by sniper fire it's a dangerous frightening duty but Guardsman face up to this responsibility as they face up to all others because of the increased intensity of vience in our cities the guard has accelerated its riot control training this was Detroit the highest level of damage and violence ever experienced in an American city fires and lots of ruined personal property snipers looting and more destruction the protection of personal property always has its problems especially when the trouble spreads like Quicksilver over an area plagued by hidden dangers two Guardsmen were assigned to every fire truck to protect the firemen from sniper fire they were Mighty busy on duty for long hours with little rest as they helped the weary firefighters battle more than 800 fires whenever a flood tornado or other disaster strikes a community the guard is usually there this flood brought out the guard in Kansas where the Guardsman played an important role in rescuing the stranded and protecting property Guardsmen were on the scene immediately aiding those who suffered in the tragedy in whatever way they could ever wonder who fills those sandbags that lie in the shores of an angry river ever wonder how those sandbags get on the riverbank you're looking at the answer to both questions those bags weigh 40 to 50 lbs each every means is used to reach the stricken who need help trucks slowly search out victims guard helicopters do their share to assist in rescuing persons stranded in remote areas few tragedies strike with more Fury than a howling tornado this one leveled half of oakw Illinois 50 lives were lost during this freaking nature Guardsmen were on the job immediately searching debris helping out the wound with assisting firemen fighting fires and restoring power and Communications this school was all but demolished shattered ruins offer mute resistance the presence of patrolling Guardsmen alert to the possibility of looters because the guard plays a vital role in providing medical assistance in these disasters nurses are a necessary part in both the Army and Air National Guard the air guard flies many aeromedical missions for the Air Force and its aeromedical Personnel have comforted many victims of the Vietnam [Applause] War assisted by the medics these nurses fly missions around the world they work around the clock when necess Neary to comfort the sick disabled and wounded this specialist helps the nurse check oxygen equipment aboard this c97 if you really want to find out how terrific these people are just ask some of the boys who've been wounded in Vietnam this is Captain Betty Aken of the Tennessee Air National Guard she's made more than 23 trips to Vietnam here she administers Aid to an air evacuated patient Air Guard nurses receive specialized training so they can meet inlight eer I understand you have a pretty bad back injury have you ever flown before yeah with good-looking nurses like that around who wants to be healthy what they need are more beautiful nurses like me yeah we save your kind for us [Music] taxpayers much has been said and written concerning the tradition and Heritage of the National Guard throughout its long history the guard has always attracted men of the highest caliber many of whom gone on to become great leaders and respected figures of prominence in the world for example George Washington one of our early militia men others make an impressive list here are just a few Abraham Lincoln yes sir old honest da our 16th president he started with the militia in 1832 and became a captain with the fourth regimen of the Illinois volunteers Harry S Truman our 33rd president ser served as a World War I artillery officer commanding battery D of the 135th field artillery Missouri National Guard Charles A Lindberg hero of the aviation world who won Fame by the first solo flight over the Atlantic Ocean in 1927 Lindy's military career began in the 110th observation Squadron Missouri National Guard he was granted leave to make his flight General Earl G wheeler the top military man in the United States as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff began his military service as a member of the District of Columbia Army National Guard general Curtis lame former Chief of Staff of the Air Force he started his illustrious career in the Ohio Army National Guard as an artilleryman Brigadier General Charles W Sween Deputy Chief of Staff for a Massachusetts Air National Guard he piloted the b29 that dropped the second atomic bomb on Japan its Target Nagasaki Brigadier General Joseph J Foss South Dakota Air National Guard former governor of that state a top a who won the Medal of Honor in World War II Captain Larry B Mason a veteran of Vietnam who joined the Michigan Air National Guard awarded the Air Force Cross for Extraordinary heroism in Vietnam while attacking an enemy Target his b57 tactical jet bomber was hit repeatedly with a wounded Navigator aboard one engine shut down the other one on fire approximately 30 square ft of surface area missing from the right wing and most of the electrical system knocked out this young pilot nursed his plane to a safe landing in Friendly territory the guard also numbers prominent figures in the fields of entertainment and sports among those in its ranks here is Bobby ryell popular singing and recording star seen here performing at the kareb Hilton in San Juan Puerto Rica Bobby is a specialist fourth class in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard Bob Lily 6' 5 in 255 lb All Pro defensive tackle of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League Airman in the Texas Air National Guard Bob Hayes teammate of Liles with the Cowboys all pro offensive flank member of the Texas Army National Guard he's known as the world's fastest human and you can see why [Applause] [Music] Gary Anderson lieutenant in the California Army National Guard especially shooting he's the guy who set three new records in winning the world's rifle championship at Cairo in 1962 won two gold medals in the 1963 PanAm games set a new world record and picked up a gold medal in the Olympics at Japan in 1964 and won seven gold medals during 1966 firing an international shooting Union sponsor events Gary by the way is studying for the ministry if you think the sky is a limit for exg Guardsman you're absolutely right and here are some of the men who can prove it Russell L schwart better known as Rusty former member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard and the first Guardsman to be selected for Astronaut training directly from the guard you're watching him at work in a zero gravity situation Hing out bugs so future space flights can be as safe as possible you haven't spotted him yet he's the guy with the red hair Donald K deck Slayton one of the original Seven astronauts at one time in his career was a member of the Minnesota Air National Guard de has taken over the administrative responsibilities pertaining to all astronauts in NASA's program Charles Conrad Jr astronaut who has orbited the Earth on two occasions and is raring to go again he's a former member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard that's just a few there are many others [Music] like the men you've just seen however Guardsman represent a crosssection of the community in reality the guard is the community that's why it's an ARG ization you can count on the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Earl wheeler once characterized the guard by saying from my long association with the National Guard I have arrived at two conclusions first as a military organization that is consistently better than the material with which it is equipped second when the chips are down the guard surmounts whatever obstacles confronted and gets the job done well the guard's been that way for more than 330 years now that's right 330 years its past has been one of glory and accomplishment but like that Saturn rocket it has a long way to go it'll reach higher and higher achievements in the future this then is really not the end it's just a beginning [Music] [Music]