The retired marine and the robbers

American Handgunner, July-August, 2009 by Massad Ayoob

Situation: It wasn't enough for the two armed robbers to take your money--now they're herding you into the back of the restaurant, and telling you to get face down ...

Lessons: Fortunately, the armed citizen has options that go beyond trusting the merciless to be merciful.

When this armed citizen's gunfight was over, almost everyone called him a hero. He had mixed feelings about that. He had retired after two honorable careers, the first as a United States Marine Corps aviator who among other duties had flown two US Presidents, and the second as a commercial airline pilot.

It has been said when you first enter USMC Recruit Training, you might describe yourself as a man or a woman, or even as a boy or a girl. But when you walk back out through those gates, if asked "what are you?" you will answer proudly, "I am a Marine!" This one was, most assuredly, A Marine. He has never talked to the press about his experience, until now. He told me, "I believe it was Andy Warhol circa 1971 who is credited with creating the phrase, 'Everyone gets 15 minutes of fame.' I have no interest in 15 seconds of notoriety. There is already too much on the Internet as it is." He requested I not use his name when I told his story.

I respect that. Accordingly, I will refer to him here simply as, "the Marine."

The Incident

When you are 71 years old and retired twice over, it's okay to eat when you're hungry and sleep when you're tired. You've earned that relaxed schedule.

It is shortly after 11:00 PM on the night of June 27, 2007 in Plantation, Florida. The Marine has gone out for an evening stroll and a little light shopping, topped off with a stop at a Subway sandwich shop for a bite to eat.

He has been licensed to carry a concealed weapon in the state of Florida since September of 1990. His years with the USMC have left him comfortable and confident with the 1911 pistol. In a cheap, nameless cloth holster toward the middle of his back lies a concealed subcompact Para-Ordnance LDA Carry pistol, caliber .45 ACP, fully loaded with six rounds in its short-frame magazine and a seventh in its firing chamber. A spare magazine is in a pouch attached to the holster. The double action only pistol is "on-safe." In his pocket is a tiny backup gun, a five-shot Freedom Arms miniature single action revolver, chambered for .22 Long Rifle and marketed as a "mini-derringer." The .45 is concealed by an un-tucked shirt.

It is a quiet evening, and the Marine is the last customer in the Subway shop. He rises from the table and strides to the waste disposal area to dump the wrappings of the sandwich he has just finished. He's in good shape: he doesn't smoke or drink, and works out daily. And suddenly, he is no longer the only "customer."

The position he has taken to throw away the wrappings has put his back to the door, and he has not seen the two men enter. When he turns to leave, they are simply there.

They are identically disguised. They are wearing black bandannas, pulled up as masks over their faces, and each wears a ball cap pulled down low over the eyes. Each is wearing heavy-framed dark sunglasses. Both of the men are wearing long sleeved garments, and gloves.

And each is holding a weapon.

They announce a stickup. Common sense and military training and experience combine to tell the Marine these men have the upper hand at the moment. Slowly, calmly, he raises his hands high enough for the robbers to believe he is complying. On the other side of the counter, the store manager is complying, too.

The Marine gives up his wallet, with several hundred dollars inside. He doesn't think it's worth killing anyone over, let alone dying for.

But that's not enough. The robbers order him into the back of the shop, into a rest room.

And that changes everything.

Drawing The Line

Every responsible person who carries a gun has given some thought to how and when they would use it. The Marine is no exception. He has given up his money, but long beforehand, he has determined he will not be taken at gunpoint into the back of a robbery premises and proned-out on the floor. He knows that too many times, victims have not gotten up from there.

And now, the nearest robber orders him onto the floor.

Slowly, the Marine pretends to obey. He turns his right side slightly away, so his torso will block the gunman's view of his hand. He pretends to bend down, as if to lower himself to the floor.

And, suddenly, he makes his move.

The Clock Starts

The Para-Ordnance clears the holster in a "cavalry draw" and swings up. In a movement so long practiced he is unaware he is performing it, the Marine's thumb wipes the pistol's safety lever down into the "fire" position as his finger goes to the trigger. The small area erupts into gunfire.

A robber jerks back away from him. The man has been hit three times, once in the leg and once in the center mass area of the torso and once in the head, and he staggers rearward. His back slams into the wall, his arms dropping. He has not yet fallen, the Marine perceives this first antagonist is out of the fight, and he turns his attention to the second threat.