In the early eighty's the 126th was called to state active duty in support of law enforcement operations, directed at the marijuana growers in California. The State Dept of Justice was the coordinating agency. They brought local law enforcement officers from all over the state. A number of Federal agencies were also involved such as the U.S. Customs, Marshals service, ATF and Forest Service. Together they would form a muti-jurisdictional task, that could operate anywhere in the state.

The 126th's job was to provide an airmobile insertion capability for the raiding teams and provide sling load operations to remove the marijuana. Also we would provide Med-Evac for any officer that was injured. The aircraft were equiped with a rescue hoist and necessary medical equipment. The flight medic would accompany the raiding team on the ground, coordinating sling load operations and provide medical care. Each air crewmember was issued sidearms and ammunition on this operation. Also personal body armor (second chance vest) were provide by the Justice Dept. The Crew Chief and Flight Medic were issued an additional vest to sit on. No one wanted to go home with "the door gunners wound". The pilots were in armored seats and did not have worry about that area of their body.

The Flight Medics would put their skills to work a number of times on this operation. We had several broken legs, heat exhaustions and a couple of insect stings. In my operational area we had no officers injured by hostile activity. We were lucky because on several occasions we were fired upon. I don't think anyone was really trying to hit us as no personnel or aircraft were hit. I think they just wanted to let us know they were upset. It did get the point across. On a number of occasions we did encounter bobie traps but we managed to avoid setting any off. Many were right out of the Viet Nam text book, including punji pits.Once again I was glad about the wealth of experience in our unit. My pilots and crew chief were all Viet Nam veterans and they sat down and taught me every thing they knew about finding avoiding these traps. I got good at spotting them. On a couple of occasions I had to disarm them as the only way out, their lessons we effective as I am still here.

I should point out that I do not support the nations war on drugs policy. I feel we have torn apart our constitution for little result. Though I do not support the drug policy I did agree something had to be done in the California hills as drug growers were threatening honest citizens and placing dangerous traps injuring innocent people. I also support the use of national guard personnel to support law enforcement operations. The Guard has the resources and skill to do this job well weather it is drug operations or guarding the border. One added befit of the Guard's involved in law enforcement operations is that a cross section of the community becomes involved and enhances the national debate on these operations.