Don Wildman

Around 3,000 people are loosely assembled today here on the campus of Kent State University in Ohio.

A few hundred are actively protesting the U.S.

military's involvement in Vietnam and President Nixon's recent expansion of that war to neighboring Cambodia.

Many more have just stopped by to demonstrate their support or because they're curious.

Some are simply moving between classes.

It is a typical scene repeated on campuses across the country for years now.

Students chanting, shouting, waving hand-scrawled placards.

Many more merely standing around.

But something feels different today.

Across the commons, a group of soldiers, members of the Ohio National Guard, have formed a skirmish line.

Bayonets fixed onto the barrels of their M1 rifles.

Some are wearing masks to protect against the tear gas now deployed.

The acrid, stinging smoke spreads low and fast across the ground.

Some of the students scatter in fear.

A few others pick up the gas canisters and toss them back towards the troops.

Rocks are hurled.

A noisy tension builds.

But for the moment, matters seem contained.

That is, until the line of guardsmen halt, level their rifles at the students, and fire.

It is American History Hit, and I'm your host, Don Wildman.