Joint Exercise Desert Strike
D Company, 1st Battalion
May 1964

Joint Exercise Desert Strike was more commonly known to the troopers who participated in it as the "Long, Hot Walk."
Both the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 506th Airborne Infantry began moving on the 10th of May 1964, from Campbell
Army Airfield aboard C-135 jets and C-130's en route to El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in California. Upon their
arrival at El Toro, the 506th was taken by bus to Camp Pendleton Marine Base and marshaled at the Las Pulgas area
of the Camp until the 21st of May.

During the marshaling period, the training consisted primarily of forced tactical marches, individual infantry training, cliff
repelling, and desert orientation classes in the morning and organized athletics in the afternoon. However, after-duty
entertainment opportunities, such as passes to San Diego and Los Angeles, a Battalion trip to Disneyland, a USO show,
and a staff NCO club were also provided.

On May 14 both Battalions began more stringent preparations for the tactical phases of the operation, including two
separate missions, both involving air-land operations to block possible enemy armor threats.

(Front): Lloyd "Rocky" Madson, 2nd generation Norwe-
gian from Aztec, NM; and (Back): Killian, from Alabama

The circle trigon patches (white with green triangle) sewn
to their fatigues indicated that these D Co, 1st Battalion
Currahees were the "aggressors" in this desert exercise.