Gangs and the Military Presented at Northwest Gang Investigators Association October 2007 Al Valdez, Ph.D. UCI & Carter F. Smith, APSU

Zoot Suit Riots Hispanic gangs Sailors

Hispanic gangs

Sailors

Gangs and the Military - History (“Pissed Off Bastards of Bloomington”) www.hellsangelssudbury.com/ POBOB

(“Pissed Off Bastards of Bloomington”)

1970s – 1980s Post Vietnam mentality Drafted, to Boot Camp Left military incompatible with gang lifestyle Groups of unit members hanging out Primarily unit members, not criminals Otherwise met contemporary criteria

Post Vietnam mentality

Drafted, to Boot Camp

Left military incompatible with gang lifestyle

Groups of unit members hanging out

Primarily unit members, not criminals

Otherwise met contemporary criteria

1992 Allen King and children (Ft Lewis) Hacked to death by gang members 1 active duty Thought he was a police informant

Allen King and children (Ft Lewis)

Hacked to death by gang members

1 active duty

1995 On December 7, PFC James Burmeister, PFC Malcolm Wright, and SPC Randy Meadows, commit a random murder of a black couple to earn their spider web tattoos. Meadows testified against Burmeister and Wright, who were sentenced to life in prison. Another 19 Fort Bragg paratroopers were discharged for participating in neo-Nazi activities.

On December 7, PFC James Burmeister, PFC Malcolm Wright, and SPC Randy Meadows, commit a random murder of a black couple to earn their spider web tattoos.

Meadows testified against Burmeister and Wright, who were sentenced to life in prison.

Another 19 Fort Bragg paratroopers were discharged for participating in neo-Nazi activities.

Secretary of the Army Task Force SECARMY Togo West

Gangs and the Military