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Campus "Unrest" demonstrations and consequences, 1970-1971

1970-05-24 Akron Beacon Journal Article: Kent State: The Search For Understanding Page 5

SPECIAL KENT SECTION 

No Evidence Of Sniper

Continued from Page A-20

and thought to myself that surely they must be shooting blanks to scare the crowd off. Then I saw thee bullets kicking up the dirt in front of me, I just turned and ran."
Dr. Robert I White, president of KSU, told reporters: "I did not know what they (the Guardsmen) were patrolling with loaded rifles."
Why did the Guard fire?
Overwhelming evidence upholds the contentions of Canterbury, and Maj. Harry D. Jones who was acting commander of the 145th and 107th troops on the jill, that there was no order to fire. 
Capt. John Simons, the 107th chaplain who interviewed a number of Guardsmen who fired says, "I think they were angry, they were scared, and that something caused them to fire. What, I don't know."

Importantly, neither of the two commanders of the companies that fired, Capt. John E. Martin of Company A 145th Infantry and Capt Srp of G Troop, believed their lives were in danger. 
"I was right in the middle of it (the Guard information)"
Srp says
Yet, the Guardsmen hot, weary, angered by verbal harassment and rock barrages, vexed at being called from their civilian jobs, some of them angry at student demonstrators, turned and in the space of 13 seconds,, fired what the Guard says were 35 rounds (the actual count, however, may run as high as 60, authoritative sources say) from their M-1 riffles. 

Certainly there were a number of alternatives available to the Guard short of discharging their weapons into the milling students without warning. 
The federal government for example has laid down six escalating "rules of engagement" for federal troops. The  intent of regulations is clear: To avoid death. They are:
SHOW OF FORCE, or the massing of enough troops to demonstrate to a crowd that is overpowered. 
EMPLOYMENT of riot control formations to disperse crowds while allowing the crowd a clear exist as the troops advance. 
USE OF WATER - fire hoses or water cannons
USE OF RIOT CONTROL agents, that is, tear of pepper gas. 
FIRE BY selected marksmen at definite specific targets
FULL FIREPOWER, with the rounds being directed low to wound, and not to kill. Clearly, the Ohio National Guard did not follow some of these rules of engagement. They moved out, for example with only some 100 plus men, and had only about 65 men on the hill when the shooting occurred, even though it is estimated that the students on and around Blanket Hill numbered 2,000 to 3,000 when the Guard moved on them. 
The Guard weapons M-1's are combat weapons and can kill even up to their maximum range of 3,450 yards - almost two miles. 

This, then was the guard at Kent State; ill trained and ill equipped for this particular job possessing no desire to be there. 
Since the incident, guard officials have searched for evidence that they were fired upon by a sniper, nd that this triggered the shooting. 
No evidence of a sniper has yet been found. Neither is there evidence to support the claims of Ohio Sen. Young that a Guard officer "held his arm aloft and then pulled it down as a signal to fire"
The only arm that was raised, films and still photographs show, was that of Maj. Jones who beat on Guardsmen's helmets to make them stop firing. 

Many Guardsmen believe the line of skirmishers of some 65 men went too far: that they should have stopped once they first reached the top of Blanket Hill and the crowd was dispersed. 
Capt. Simons, the chaplain who talked to shooters at a time when some of the Guardsmen cried, just after the killings says : "The only way things like this can change is to have an open congressional type Warren type investigation. I hope they come down ton us hard."

At present, there are at least three full scale investigations underway into the Kent incident one a joint probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the Justice Department, and others by the Inspector General's office of the Ohio National Guard and the Ohio Highway Patrol. 
Ronald Kane, Portage county prosecutor has indicated he will call the Grand Jury. 
Many Guardsmen fear prosecution and many refuse to talk to reporters "All the men have got attorneys" says Maj. Jones, who was acting commander of the 145th Infantry Battalion. 
Would he like to explain what happened then? "I can't " says Maj. Jones "I've got an attorney too."

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SPECIAL KENT SECTION No Evidence Of Sniper Continued from Page A-20 and thought to myself that surely they must be shooting blanks to scare the crowd off. Then I saw thee bullets kicking up the dirt in front of me, I just turned and ran." Dr. Robert I White, president of KSU, told reporters: "I did not know what they (the Guardsmen) were patrolling with loaded rifles." Why did the Guard fire? Overwhelming evidence upholds the contentions of Canterbury, and Maj. Harry D. Jones who was acting commander of the 145th and 107th troops on the jill, that there was no order to fire. Capt. John Simons, the 107th chaplain who interviewed a number of Guardsmen who fired says, "I think they were angry, they were scared, and that something caused them to fire. What, I don't know." Importantly, neither of the two commanders of the companies that fired, Capt. John E. Martin of Company A 145th Infantry and Capt Srp of G Troop, believed their lives were in danger. "I was right in the middle of it (the Guard information)" Srp says Yet, the Guardsmen hot, weary, angered by verbal harassment and rock barrages, vexed at being called from their civilian jobs, some of them angry at student demonstrators, turned and in the space of 13 seconds,, fired what the Guard says were 35 rounds (the actual count, however, may run as high as 60, authoritative sources say) from their M-1 riffles. Certainly there were a number of alternatives available to the Guard short of discharging their weapons into the milling students without warning. The federal government for example has laid down six escalating "rules of engagement" for federal troops. The intent of regulations is clear: To avoid death. They are: SHOW OF FORCE, or the massing of enough troops to demonstrate to a crowd that is overpowered. EMPLOYMENT of riot control formations to disperse crowds while allowing the crowd a clear exist as the troops advance. USE OF WATER - fire hoses or water cannons USE OF RIOT CONTROL agents, that is, tear of pepper gas. FIRE BY selected marksmen at definite specific targets FULL FIREPOWER, with the rounds being directed low to wound, and not to kill. Clearly, the Ohio National Guard did not follow some of these rules of engagement. They moved out, for example with only some 100 plus men, and had only about 65 men on the hill when the shooting occurred, even though it is estimated that the students on and around Blanket Hill numbered 2,000 to 3,000 when the Guard moved on them. The Guard weapons M-1's are combat weapons and can kill even up to their maximum range of 3,450 yards - almost two miles. This, then was the guard at Kent State; ill trained and ill equipped for this particular job possessing no desire to be there. Since the incident, guard officials have searched for evidence that they were fired upon by a sniper, nd that this triggered the shooting. No evidence of a sniper has yet been found. Neither is there evidence to support the claims of Ohio Sen. Young that a Guard officer "held his arm aloft and then pulled it down as a signal to fire" The only arm that was raised, films and still photographs show, was that of Maj. Jones who beat on Guardsmen's helmets to make them stop firing. Many Guardsmen believe the line of skirmishers of some 65 men went too far: that they should have stopped once they first reached the top of Blanket Hill and the crowd was dispersed. Capt. Simons, the chaplain who talked to shooters at a time when some of the Guardsmen cried, just after the killings says : "The only way things like this can change is to have an open congressional type Warren type investigation. I hope they come down ton us hard." At present, there are at least three full scale investigations underway into the Kent incident one a joint probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the Justice Department, and others by the Inspector General's office of the Ohio National Guard and the Ohio Highway Patrol. Ronald Kane, Portage county prosecutor has indicated he will call the Grand Jury. Many Guardsmen fear prosecution and many refuse to talk to reporters "All the men have got attorneys" says Maj. Jones, who was acting commander of the 145th Infantry Battalion. Would he like to explain what happened then? "I can't " says Maj. Jones "I've got an attorney too." TODAY (SUN.) IS A GREAT DAY TO SHOP HALLMARK NEW "TOTAL LOOK" BRIDES ENSEMBLES EVERY OUTFIT INCLUDES APPLIANCES APPLIANCES INCLUDED 3 WITH EVERY PURCHASE OF ANY DELUXE 3 ROOM OUTFIT MATCHLESS GAS RANGE Has lift up top, full size oven, broiler easy to clean. 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Mon- Thurs - FrI - 9 TO 9 Tues-Wed -Sat 9 TO 5 AKRON 1860 E, MARKET ROUTE 8 Phone 733-7993 BARBERTON 490 W.Tuscarawas DOWNTOWN, Phone 745-1146 MEDINA 925 N. Court, Medina Shop., Center, Phone 722-2521 CANTON 1001 30th St. NE at Martindale Rd. Phone 456-7161 YOUNGSTOWN 253 W. Federal DOWNTOWN , Phone, 743-4773 NEW PHILA, 159 E. High St. DOWNTOWN, Phone, 343-4400 RAVENNA, 1036 W. Main ROUTE 5, Phone 297-1428 MANSFIELD, 1438 Lexington Ave. J. Appleseeed Ct. Phone 746-2337 THIS WEEK ONLY ! GIANT SALE BOND SUITS Knockout blow to inflation! Real Solid Savings on a Tremendous Selection of Suberb 2-Trouser Suits with today's top styling! TROPICALS! YEAR ROUNDS! $79.50 Two-Trouser TROPICALS $63 YOU SAVE $16.50 $85 Two-Trouser TROPICALS and YEAR ROUND Suits $68 YOU SAVE $`17 $95 Two-Trouser TROPICALS and YEAR ROUND Suits $76 YOU SAVE $19 Great selection! Wrinkle shedding Dacron polyester/Worsted Tropicals. Or Fine Pure Woolds and Wool Worsted blends in Year Round Suits. 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