After my return from my second RVN tour, I was stationed at Fort Ord with the G-3 Proficiency Testing Section. All of our NCOs were assigned to the post hospital because they were recovering from wounds. One day the G-3 SGM came to our office and said that he needed enough Sergeants to man six 75 mm howitzers for a salute battery.
Apparently a Chilian Sailing ship was going to be in Carmel Bay and they would fire a 21 gun salute to the U.S. and we were to answer with a 21 gun salute back.
We loaded up six duce and a halfs with NCOs and drove to Carmel. When our convoy reached the intersection of Highway 1 and Carpenter, there was a demonstration of hippies who taunted us with anti-war slogans. One of the demonstrators, who was very vocal and profane, yelled into the 4th 2.5 truck about baby killers.
Big mistake!
SFC Delbert O. Jennings, 1st Cav Medal of Honor holder, was in that truck. Jennings jumped down and took out his pocket knife. He then proceeded to cut the hippies long hair off.
Jennings got back on the truck and we fired our salute.
The next day the M.P.s and the Carmel Police came by with the hippie. We were made to stand in a line-up. The hippie said that he couldn't identify his assailant because we were all dressed alike the previous day in dress greens, bloused boots, infantry blue scarfs and shiny black helmet liners.
