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Operation Longhorn was the Jade Helm of the 1950’s

July 14, 2015 by info@3QuartersToday.com

So many people were up in arms about Jade Helm in 2015, but have you  ever heard about Operation Longhorn? Watch YouTube or many of the alternative media outlets and according to some, the military was preparing to take over cities across the United States and enact martial law.

Military invades Texas Jade Helm Style
Texas Newspaper Article on Military Invasion

“Little Lampasas tonight waited for a green clad enemy to take it over- to test Army military government and to show what happens when you lose your everyday liberties”

“…it took us about a month to convince some people that this ” play” war wasn’t going to mean they were going to be pulled out of their beds at midnight”

Ok, take a deep breath and calm down. This was written in In April of 1952 when over 115,000 military men and women of the Army and Air Force invaded Lampasas Texas and occupied an area of 1,800 sq miles. This was before the age of social media and I imagine few outside of Texas knew about the 18 day operation.

First let me tell you I am NOT a conspiracy theorists, I am a realist and realize that the possibility of keeping a secret between more than a dozen citizens, or thousands of military members and hundreds of journalists just is impossible. I do not believe in the 911 conspiracies, death squads, death camps, or the gloom and doom some are predicting about Jade Helm. Entire books have been written about Jade Helm and I’ll be interested to see how many conspiracy theories are debunked and end up being false.

Debunked!: Conspiracy Theories, Urban Legends, and Evil Plots of the 21st CenturyWhat Is The Jade Helm 15 Project?:  Is it Martial law?Jade Helm Prophecy: A Revelation From Rev. David SteeleJade Helm 15: The Patriot Report (The Strategic Incremental steps towards martial law in America)

Largest Civilian Military Exercise in the United States

There have been several military training exercises that use public land and use civilians to role-play casualties. If you live near an Army National Guard base you see trucks, tanks, and other military equipment, you get used to maneuvers and understand the relationship with the local military and the citizens of the area. However, if you aren’t used to military protocols, or operations the name Jade Helm might scare you to death.

Military Agressors and Government to Run Town
Military Agressors and Government to Run Town

Military operations on public land, or using civilians to play act as participants (as wounded etc) is nothing new, we just haven’t done this in a large massive scale in a few generations.

The largest domestic military exercise in the United States involved the Army and the United States Air Force where the goal was to invade a town of 20,000 people in Lampasas Texas. My Dad was one of the paratroopers that landed northwest of Austin Texas as a member of the 508th division of the 82nd Airborne.

Facts About The Texas Invasion

  • Operation lasted for 18 days
  • Military invaders wore German styled caps
  • Flyers distributed outlined the following:
    • A 6pm curfew on the town
    • Theatres closed until “Centralist” entertainment films arrive
    • Churches closed
    • Men will be posted outside school classrooms to “check” on teachings
    • Private vehicles confiscated
  • However the working day was shortened to only 22 hours (isn’t that nice)
  • Over 20,000 people watched the maneuvers including many “foreign observers”

This mythical war happened just a few years after the end of World War II, and memories of Nazi invasion was still fresh in the minds of many people.

Mock War Down in Texas Is No Laughing Matter

Mock War in Texas- newspaper article from 1952
Mock War in Texas- newspaper article from 1952

Although this was a training exercise, a mock war, it was no “laughing matter”. Many from the 82nd Airborne lost their lives when they tangled in chute rigging, or their chutes failed to open. A total of 10 men died during Operation Longhorn. Planning took months, and it was a “paper operation”, but when the cocky parachute infantrymen hit the lazy Lampasas, you couldn’t tell it from the real thing”

These few newspaper clippings represent the little I know about my Father and his military career. Many of the articles sound as if  they could have been written today. The biggest difference is the lack of social media. The frenzy was isolated to the geographic region, not the entire country. Life Magazine did cover the “event” and considering their influence at the time they were the social media of the day, yet did not “spin the news” to martial law.

Invasion of Texas and the closing of Churches in Operation Longhorn
Invasion of Texas and the closing of Churches in Operation Longhorn

No matter how much we don’t trust or government, we should trust the men and women of our military. They are citizens of the United States and have taken an oath to protect and serve the United States. Just like in Operation Longhorn, the communities participating in Jade Helm have been briefed, consulted, and are fully cooperating with the military.

Accounts of Operation Longhorn

 

82nd Airborne 508th before leaving for Operation Longhorn, much like Jade Helm
Texas 1952 (April) – Before jump at “Operation Longhorn”. 3rd Platoon, K Co., 508th RCT, 82nd Airborne Division (photo credit to John G Hopkins Family)

Operation Longhorn– G503 Military Forum Photos, Photographer: John Dominis

Soldier Recalls Invasion of Lampasas County in Operation Longhorn, Lampasas Dispatch, Oct 26, 2010

Actual Military Video Footage of Operation Longhorn, Shutterstock.com

Grandmas Ranch and Operation Longhorn, Tyler Morning Telegraph 2/15/2015

Photos and flyers from the Agressors, The Circle Trigonists

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Information About Jade Helm

Texans brace for Jade Helm 15, massive federal military exercise

Even the governor is encouraging state troops to monitor Jade Helm, which is largely subject to a media blackout. Conspiracy theories about the goals of Jade Helm 15 include imposition of martial law.

Local fears swell as Jade Helm brings troops to Camp Bullis

SAN ANTONIO — Hundreds of U.S. military troops are coming through San Antonio as part of an 8-week training program shrouded in secrecy. The operation, called Jade Helm, begins on the 15th and involves 1200 troops across a number of Southern states.

Jade Helm 15, the military exercise that begat a thousand …

It begins. The geographically sweeping military training exercise, known as Jade Helm 15 is upon us. Special forces and troops arrive in  Texas and other states where they will train.

Texans Just Responded To Jade Helm In This EPIC Way …

The Houston Chronicle reported Friday that several hundred people started Operation Counter Jade Helm. The aim is not to stop the operation, but to practice their own skills.

Jade Helm 15: One nation under siege? — RT Op-Edge

Jade Helm 15 is the largest domestic military exercise ever held on US soil. Over 1000 members from the nation’s elite forces, including Green Berets, Special Ops from the Navy and seige in Texas.

 Military Books on Code of Conduct and Secret Operations

Between Threats and War: U.S. Discrete Military Operations in the Post-Cold War World (A Council on Foreign Relations)Code of Conduct, an inspiration story of self-healing by an ex-POWLincoln’s Code: The Laws of War in American HistoryCode of Conduct, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Training (Army Regulations Series)

Filed Under: Family, Military Pride Tagged With: 82nd airborne, air force, armed forces, army, conspiracy theories, jade helm, military, military history, politics, soldiers, texas

Patriotic Video: America, I Love You

May 22, 2013 by info@3QuartersToday.com

This patriotic video might just make you forget the recent government scandals so prevalent right now. Although it seems patriotism and confidence in the United States is waning or lacking. I don’t think it’s true. Yes, if you listen to talk radio, or watch CNN or other news channels you might be depressed and discouraged. But I tell you, there are good people all across this country doing good things, helping out neighbors, serving in the military because they love where they live.

Keep Us Safe because Freedome is Not Free
Korean War Memorial: Washington DC on Memorial Day

When American citizens are left alone, without government intervention we help each other out and stand side by side during tragedies such as the recent Oklahoma tornadoes.

In this week leading up to Memorial Day, I want to remind people the greatness of the American people outside the Washington Beltway. Memorial Day is not only a day to remember our veterans and those who died serving our country but to gather together as families worship and celebrate life, and remember those who have died and left an impact on our lives.

America I love YouMarine Corps Graduation, San Diego CA I’ve wanted to create a patriotic video that includes the many photographs I’ve taken over the years that have a military theme, or veterans theme, but didn’t have the appropriate music. This song “America, I Love You” was written by my friend Steve Raybine, a jazz musician in Omaha, Nebraska. I first heard it last fall and fell in love with it and he graciously allowed me to use it for the video.

Veterans of all our wars deserve our thanks for making the sacrifice and serving their country. This includes not only the modern wars in Afghanistan and Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom, Desert Shield, and Storm but the often forgotten Vietnam and Korean Veterans, along with those veterans from WWII and WWI.

It is the men and women of the Marine Corps, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and our National Guard that spend days away from family and friends, whether abroad or stationed in the United States, that serve to protect our freedom. We owe them our thanks for volunteering for a job many would never consider.The Flag Still Stands For Freedom

As you participate in Memorial Day celebrations, parades and picnics, stop by a cemetery and read the inscriptions on the War Memorials of soldiers from the French Indian War and even the Civil War. If you are lucky enough to live in New England search out the Revolutionary War cemeteries. Those soldiers truly fought for our freedom and Independence. They are the reason we celebrate the 4th of July.

If you recognize some of the photos it’s because they are some of my favorites from my Washington DC trip when my kids marched in the Memorial Day Parade and include the World War II Memorial, United States Marine Corps Memorial, Veterans Memorial, Korean War Memorial and other images of freedom and sacrifice.

I was really quite surprised I had so many photographs of the American Flag and color guards taken at various parades. It never fails to give me a chill when the American Legion leads a parade with the flags and people stand to applaud, salute or put their hand over their heart.
My goal is to create a national sensation with this song. Patriotic pride needs to once again resonate through the land. So reblog this post, tweet it, post it to your Facebook page and PIN it on PINTEREST, let’s see how far this video and song can spread.

So post this for Memorial Day, Flag Day, 4th of July, Veterans Day and all other patriotic holidays.

Thank you and God Bless.

Filed Under: Military Pride, Small Town Living Tagged With: America, celebration, flag Day, Holidays, Marine Corps War Memorial, memorial day, military, music, Nebraska, Omaha, patriotic, patriotic video, patriotism, politics, soldiers, United States, USMC, veterans, video, washington dc, YouTube

Where Poppies Grow, In Flanders Field

November 11, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

I could make it to the Elmwood-Murdock Veterans Day program this year, so I’m posting last years tribute from the high school choir. It’s my favorite  and never fails to give me chills.

Thank you to all our veterans who have served and who are now serving in the United States Marines, Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Filed Under: Military Pride, Project 365, Small Town Living Tagged With: army, choir, choral, Elmwood-Murdock, Marine Corps, marines, memories, military, music, navy, project365, singing, soldiers, thanks, tradition, troops, veterans day, video, videos

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