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malthaussen

(18,342 posts)

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

Thu Nov 27, 2025, 12:49 PM

Nov 27

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 Nov 26 OP

I never disobeyed an order when I was on active duty EYESORE 9001 Nov 26 #1

It's amazing what people (soldiers) will do if they've been told the "others" are the enemy. erronis Nov 26 #3

Trump needs to lie to the soldiers and sailors popsdenver Nov 26 #21

You can be a lot proud of that one. TheRickles Nov 26 #2

Please accept my gratitude, sir! lastlib Nov 26 #4

Thank you lastlib Capperdan Nov 26 #9

And you should be proud, MarineCombatEngineer Nov 26 #5

And back at you MCE Capperdan Nov 26 #10

The closest I came was in the USAF in 1969. MineralMan Nov 26 #6

My hat off to you, MM. That takes guts and a true sense of what's right. erronis Nov 26 #23

Or, I'm a smartass. MineralMan Nov 26 #24

I think you were a smart smartass. 3catwoman3 Nov 26 #25

I had a similar experience LogDog75 Nov 26 #34

Yes, exactly. MineralMan Nov 27 #36

We were breaking down our NDP (night defensive position), and The Wizard Nov 26 #7

Yup, brave. Joinfortmill Nov 26 #8

more info? NJCher Nov 26 #11

LOL! Great gifs FakeNoose Nov 26 #20

You should be proud. Nt Figarosmom Nov 26 #12

Love that you did this, and that blue_jay Nov 26 #13

And you should be mountain grammy Nov 26 #14

A little proud? llmart Nov 26 #15

Good on you. 3catwoman3 Nov 26 #16

Im sure it would have Capperdan Nov 26 #27

Thank you Capperdan! Clouds Passing Nov 26 #17

I salute your service, honor and integrity, Capperdan Grim Chieftain Nov 26 #18

Well thanks, GC Capperdan Nov 26 #28

Had a friend in the Army refuse an order in Vietnam surfered Nov 26 #19

thank you for your honorable service. cab67 Nov 26 #22

My father refused Bmoboy Nov 26 #26

Thank you KT2000 Nov 26 #29

Thank you. I'm proud of you too. Ohioboy Nov 26 #30

Precisely the Correct Action Nictuku Nov 26 #31

On the other hand . . . Aussie105 Nov 26 #32

If that happened, no one would consider charging the coerced soldier. TomSlick Nov 26 #33

My late brother, who flew BlueMTexpat Nov 27 #35

This message was self-deleted by its author sarchasm Nov 27 #37

I was in 6-years. I NEVER got an illegal order. Grins Nov 27 #38

At Kent State the students tricked a gung ho commander into following them. GreenWave Nov 27 #39

Those were crazy times to be 20 years old Capperdan Nov 27 #41

My ROTC Ranger group committed mass mutiny one time... malthaussen Nov 27 #40

On the other hand (and only tangentially related) malthaussen Nov 27 #42

I am thankful I never had to face a situation in which I would have to refuse an order. mucholderthandirt Nov 27 #43