Talk:Battle of Athens (1946)

Reagan not a vet

Ronald Reagan never served in WW II, making a lie of the article's contention that EVERY president from '52 to '92 served. And Johnson only "served" on a technicality. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.248.214.103 (talk) 14:32, 25 February 2018 (UTC)

I agree. The statement in the article is overreach in analyzing the results of this incident. Of all of them only Kennedy and GHW Bush were in combat. --23.119.204.117 (talk) 05:00, 9 April 2018 (UTC)

Reagan was a WWII veteran, but did not serve in combat.

Ronald Wilson Reagan enrolled in a series of home-study Army Extension Courses on 18 March 1935. After completing 14 of the courses, he enlisted in the Army Enlisted Reserve on 29 April 1937, as a Private assigned to Troop B, 322nd Cavalry at Des Moines, Iowa. He was appointed Second Lieutenant in the Officers Reserve Corps of the Cavalry on 25 May 1937. On June 18 of that year Reagan, who had just moved to Los Angeles to begin his film career, accepted his Officer's Commission and was assigned to the 323rd Cavalry.

Lieutenant Reagan was ordered to active duty on 19 April 1942. Due to eyesight difficulties, he was classified for limited service only, which excluded him from serving overseas. His first assignment was at the San Francisco Port of Embarkation at Fort Mason, California, as liaison officer of the Port and Transportation Office. Upon the request of the Army Air Forces (AAF), he applied for a transfer from the Cavalry to the AAF on 15 May 1942; the transfer was approved on 9 June 1942. He was assigned to AAF Public Relations and subsequently to the 1st Motion Picture Unit in Culver City, California. Reagan was promoted to First Lieutenant on 14 January 1943 and was sent to the Provisional Task Force Show Unit of This Is The Army at Burbank, California. Following this duty, he returned to the 1st Motion Picture Unit, and on 22 July 1943 was promoted to Captain.

In January 1944, Captain Reagan was ordered to temporary duty in New York City to participate in the opening of the sixth War Loan Drive. He was assigned to the 18th AAF Base Unit, Culver City, California on 14 November 1944, where he remained until the end of the war. He was recommended for promotion to Major on 2 February 1945, but this recommendation was disapproved on July 17 of that year. On 8 September 1945, he was ordered to report to Fort MacArthur, California, where he was separated from active duty on 9 December 1945. (from https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sreference/military-service-of-ronald-reagan ) 79.186.246.113 (talk) 11:38, 14 November 2018 (UTC)

Scant accounts

There are few accounts of this action and in true typical fashion, The folks that both witnessed and participated in this unpleasant requirement for freedom were not very eager to speak about it.

 The ONE book that I've been able to find, that documents this part of Tennessee
History deals with 1st hand accounts by a native of McMinn county and is an excellent read.
"The battle of Athens" by C. Stephen Byrum, gives account from both points of view
and so far as I've read, proves the adage that "you cannot rule a free man, nor chain him. 
the best you can do is kill him".  

— Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.41.255.195 (talk) 12:12, 27 March 2012 (UTC)

The Battle of Athens received a great deal of press at the time, as did Southeast Tennessee political violence 1946-1951. Most of the coverage was critical or very critical.

From the early 50s to 1976 there is next to nothing to be found, then there was mention of the Battle of Athens in Joseph Goulden's "The Best Years 1945-1950" (pgs 228-229). Then nothing until the responsibly written American Heritage article of 1985, which seems to have sparked a lot of interest from the gun rights movement. Since that artcle there have been a plethora of articles of varying quality, often simply plagiarizing the American Heritage article. Few cite sources beyond each other.

C. Stephen Byram, historian of McMinn County, wrote a 1987 book "The Battle of Athens in 1987. I have seen it advertised for about $70 used or $133 new. The book was re-issued in 1996 in shorter version (280 pgs vs 301) as "August 1, 1946. The Battle of Athens." That will set you back $95 used, $318 new. Dr. Byram grew up in McMinn county, graduated from Tennessee Weslyan College in Athens, has a Masters of Divinity from Southern Seminary, and has a Doctor of Philosophy degree from University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He has written or co-authored many books specializing (but not constrained too) books on religion and for young adults. I have not read his books on the battle and have found no professional reviews. I cannot vouch for them. His history of McMinn County is available free if you want to check it out. It is a responsible work of history. See references.

One of the persons who interviewed GI "fighting band" leader Bill White for the UT Knoxville oral history program, Brandi Wilson, grew up and attended school in Athens yet was not aware of the battle until the time of the interview. (Bill White Interview for Veteran's Oral History Project, see references)

A few years back the McMinn County Historical Society initiated a "Battle of Athens Project" and issued a map of the battle in 2014 (copy of map & legend in my possession). A check in early April 2016 of McMinn County Historical Society shows no record of their Battle of Athens Project and no explanation as to why it disappeared.

There was a made for TV movie in 1993, which bears only slight relationship to events in Athens, and was set in Texas, not Tennessee. There was a specious novel of 1996 sometimes cited as a source (some folks don't know or can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality). Both are connected in time with the Militia movement of the 1990s, which blew up (literally) in Oklahoma City. The timing of the TV show may be entirely coincidental.

Mark Lincoln (talk) 20:00, 6 April 2016 (UTC)

What is puzzling is the apparent silence of both the Crump machine and the GI Non-Partisan sides following the aftermath. --Naaman Brown (talk) 13:24, 9 November 2018 (UTC)

Edit request

Template:American conflicts (i.e. {{American conflicts}} ) is missing from this article. As it is protected, I cannot add it at this time. -- 155.95.90.241 (talk) 19:15, 6 February 2019 (UTC)

Done Good idea IP! You should think about creating an account so you can help add to articles. Happy editing!-- Captain Eek ^{Edits Ho Cap'n!} 19:52, 6 February 2019 (UTC)

I'm not sure this template is appropriate as no actual US military forces were apparently involved, only law enforcement and veterans.--Mox La Push (talk) 08:28, 13 February 2019 (UTC)

Hmmmm you have a valid point there. I had just added it as it was already listed in the template, but now I realize the template is likely in error. Feel free to remove the template from the page, or even remove Battle of Athens from the template. Captain Eek ^{Edits Ho Cap'n!} 08:39, 13 February 2019 (UTC)