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U.S. Marine helicopters will land at the old Eastgate Consumer Mall, Brookside Park and other Indianapolis locations when the city becomes a mock battlefield next week.
About 2,300 Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., will conduct urban warfare training from Wednesday through June 19 in and around Indianapolis.
Most of the troops will be deployed at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and the Raytheon facility on Holt Road, said Debbi Fletcher of the Indianapolis/Marion County Emergency Management Agency.
“We don’t want anyone thinking that there’s an invasion happening or that we declared martial law or something like that,” Fletcher said.
The Marines have been cleared by state, federal and local authorities, Fletcher said. The unit’s commander promised to try to keep noise to a minimum and give neighbors plenty of warning.
“Our aim in Indianapolis is to expose our Marines to realistic scenarios and stresses posed by operating in an actual urban community, thereby increasing their proficiency in built-up areas,” Col. Mark J. Desens, commander of the 26th MEU, said in a statement. “While some of the activity will take place around Camp Atterbury, residents in many areas can expect to see helicopters flying overhead, military vehicles on the roads and Marines patrolling on foot,” Desens said.
The Marines will practice firing weapons, conducting patrols, running vehicle checkpoints, reacting to ambushes and employing nonlethal weapons, according to a statement.
In addition to Eastgate and Brookside Park, Indianapolis offered the Marines 24 other training sites, including Raymond Park Middle School, Ellenberger Park, Christian Park, Southeastway Park, the old Bush Stadium and Douglass Park.
However, not all cities are so open to the training. In February, after first canceling scheduled training, Toledo (Ohio) Mayor Carty Finkbeiner invited the Marines to train in the city, but outside the downtown area. The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Call Star reporter Vic Ryckaert at (317) 444-2761.
Perhaps they should invade Washington, DC and get some of these idiots a wake up call that our National Defense is a joke as it was for the Civil War --
Might scare the illegal immigrants to go back home as well--to which I consider the most deadly sort of invasion of the USA's soil.
Just some thoughts.
Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf
All that I can say is I hope the destroy the old Eastgate Mall. It is nothing but a large crack house and a eye sore. Am supprised that they are not using the site of Fort Harrison. Maybe the army finiance center located there has too many 3inch ordinance rifles there at there disposal.
Raython is located not too far away from the East Gate Mall. That is where the Nordan Bomb site was developed and still developes electronic divices for the Navy.
__________________ Located near Indianapolis, home of Col. Eli Lilly and the Eli Lilly Civil War Museum
One might only hope that they're carrying live rounds.
On to Washington!
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Isn't it sad that we have come to the fact in this country that the city's our troops defend don't welcome them. Reminds me of Rudyard Kipling's poem Tommy.
Beowulf, you can't claim credit. I was a stone conservative long before you got your epiphany. I just don't preach it on a Civil War discussion board.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Isn't it sad that we have come to the fact in this country that the city's our troops defend don't welcome them. Reminds me of Rudyard Kipling's poem Tommy.
PINCKNEY
In this you are somewhat mistaken. Support for troops is fairly high here in the areas around Indianapolis.
Local paper had a story about a nearby mayor (alleged to be the recipient of a bronze star) having been contacted by the jarheads and agreeing to allowing parts of the city to be used.
Local reaction so far seems to be more in the "that's kind of cool" camp than anything.
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USMC Invades Indianapolis, Indiana 
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