Bay Of Pigs
Hello longshot and skyhorse,
Unfortunately guys I missed the Bay of Pigs by 2 years. The Bay of Pigs took place in the spring of 1961 we relieved the Marines on the fence in 1963. I really don't know much about the BOP's, but what I have heard is as follows.
The main invasion was to be 1500 Cuban exiles who had been trained the previous year by the CIA and landed at a swampy area called the Bay Of Pigs on April 17th and by April 20th many were dead and the rest had been captured.
As with most of our "intelligence/secrecy" by the time the 1500 Cuban exiles reached inland Fidel Castro with 20 tanks and 20,000 soldiers were waiting for them. As I understand it the Marines never left the aircraft carrier USS Essex, by order of Gen David M Shoup. He was, IMHO a brilliant man and most likely saved untold thousands of lives with his decision. Any time a covert agency gets involved with military strategies there is going to be a problem. This goes on further with the fact that no air support was planned for the attack, again politics and agencies not military.
skyhorse, Thank you again for the kind words! As far as Ye Olde Hunter is concerned yep they were in barrels on the showroom floor. 17's, 14's, rolling blocks, mausers, martini's, police shotguns etc etc.... Most of the nicer "choice" pieces were squirreled away in back, but once in a while you found a treasure in those barrels!!!!
Have to run we are heading to town....Take care and God bless. cordell