Even tragic, bizarre, unexplainable events have documents behind them. Here are some 1978 DOD docs that I stumbled upon which describe the military’s fast action response to what is now known as the Jonestown Massacre in the jungles of Guyana.
The documents show the military’s role in the aftermath of the “revolutionary suicide” of more than 900 American People’s Temple cult members, who killed themselves by drinking Flavor Aid mixed with cyanide. The cult purported to be socialist, and its members were reported to have been “brainwashed” by its leader Jim Jones. The “revolutionary suicide” was sparked by a fact-finding visit by Californian Congressman Leo Ryan. Ryan and four others were murdered at an airstrip close to Jonestown. Ryan was the first congressman murdered while serving in office.
The military’s role was originally authorized by an “alert order” and then solidified by an executive order. The initial reports “indicate[d] that up to 400 members have committed suicide or have been killed.” More than twice this amount actually died. The initial order stated that soldiers were not permitted to carry weapons “for offensive purposes” but could carry “individual sidearms.” Soldiers were instructed to answer media inquiries “with a, quote, no comment, end quote.” (more…)
