This Story and description is written by my Dad.
A Peacetime Soldier's Tale
In the early 80's, before Grenada, Paratroopers of Charlie Company 2/504th ABN INF spent their days training hard non stop, staying on the ready. When they weren't training though, instead of resting or relaxing they were forced to endure multitudes of "Dog and Pony" shows. Some of you may remember they even jumped as part of President Reagan's inauguration.
Anyways, after turning the 1st shovels of sand for the future Sinai Base in Egypt and watching the Egyptian army get lost in their own desert while training with the paratroopers, said paratroopers returned to Ft. Bragg.
A bit disgruntled to see even more parades and demonstrations scheduled, a few decided they had to somehow voice their frustrations.
At the time, the Army was handing out green bumper stickers with the words ARMY on top and BE ALL YOU CAN BE below it and the words were fluorescent. The soldiers cut up one sticker to use the cuttings to spell CIVILIAN over the word ARMY.
At first they put them on their own vehicles and around the barracks, and they were quite happy with themselves, having voiced their frustrations.
Within days soldiers were clamoring for them. Whether on base or off they would be asked where they got it and where could those asking get one. The soldiers started making more and more bumper stickers and more and more wanted them.
The party went on for only a few weeks. They couldn't make them fast enough. The stickers were the talk on and off base, and just when they were about to start paying to make the bumper stickers, because up until then they were still using the free ones Uncle Sam was handing out and selling them for $5.00, an order came down from the General of the base to remove every single bumper sticker from base and that any soldier caught with one would be court martialed.
There was a brief investigation into the origins of the altered bumper stickers, with threats galore, but it was halted due to the unwanted negative attention the whole matter was getting.
The soldiers that created the bumper sticker became local heroes that day, and the army got rid of those bumper stickers soon after to prevent it from happening again. They also cut down on the dog and pony shows, but then Grenada happened and the dog and pony shows went away completely.
When things ain't right there are those that speak up and those that don't. There's always a way for those who dare!