In 1993, as a young LCpl in the Marine Corps, stationed at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, I was a part of the Camp Guard there as a quota from my unit. Being the NFG, well, I was sacrificed lol...so off I go to Camp Guard duty for 8 months.
1st Bn, 1st Marine's was there on UDP (Unit Deployment Program) and they had the primary obligation to staff the billets. These guys were ALL Marine Infantry guys, some of the Cpl's and Sgt's Gulf War Veterans.
As part of position, you had to be qualified in a number of things such as qualification with the Baretta M9 9mm, police baton, advanced hand-to-hand combat techniques, and the definition of deadly force and the implications contained. Read: I got beaten like a seal for a month gaining the qualifications to stand post.
At this time, before the rape of the young girl at a local beach area, the relations between us and the Okinawan's was pretty good. Usually, the biggest infraction was drunk Marine's, fights, or getting underage girls on base. Not a biggie. Most of the young Marine's didn't have personal vehicles, as it's expensive and with the "Y" license plates, makes you a target to be exploited by the Okinawan's.
At gate one, adjacant to Kin Cho (Kin Village), was the portal to all the bars/nightclubs/eateries available. Basically, if you were at the pedestrian side gate, you had to verify that they had their ID's etc. and were in proper civilian attire, not unduly incapacitated, or fleeing the Japanese Police coming into the base.
One night, a car came in the gate around 0200 or so...I walked out to do a ID check and smell for alcohol, and got a very strong scent or alcohol. This Marine was a LCpl, and I had him shut down his vehicle and get out of the car to come inside the "shack" to call PMO so they could do their thing.
Inside the hut, the Marine was anxious at the thought of what would happen to him. Like a complete IDIOT I turned my back on him to use the phone....when I turned to see what he was doing, he was reaching down to his lifter pants-leg to grab a diving knife. I immediately put as much distance between me and the Marine as possing, while pulling my 9mm out and leveling at his chest. I still remember this screwed up, evil laugh he made towards me...ultimately he figured that I would pull the trigger if he came at me and would probably be fatal. I ordered him to drop the knife, kick it in my direction, and get face-down on the deck awaiting the MP's at gunpoint.
PMO pretty much tore me down, rightfully so, in putting myself in danger with him. I was pretty shaken up...knowing that I almost had to injure/kill one of my own in the performance of my duties. In hindsight, I learned a very valuable lesson that I will not forget. I no longer believe in the benevolence of man...just lucky that I didn't have to pull the trigger even though I would have been vindicated by the video inside and outside.