Anti-terror officers warn vets' wives of Crip 'hit'

Just in time Christmas threat confronts families of returning war veterans

Lawton, Oklahoma – When the four soldiers from Ft. Sill invaded the home, they left 4 members of the Crips gang shot and two others injured, according to Army anti-terror investigators.

None of the information available in official Army alerts, news articles or a blog for “solo ops” wives specifies exactly what the 4 military suspects were after when they raided the Crips stronghold in this suburban setting bordering the sprawling military base.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Crips is a collection of gangs throughout the U.S. with an estimated membership between 30,000 and 35,000 operating out of 221 cities in 41 states. Their colors are shades of blue.

They sell drugs, among other criminal pursuits, according to lawmen.

The September 20 attack led the Crips to put out a shoot on sight “hit” on any soldier wearing his uniform off post – out to dine, running errands, commuting to the base.

There doesn't seem to be an expiration date on the threat.

As a “precautionary measure,” Lt. Col. Levon E. Cumpton issued a memo which “came out through Army channels” instructing soldiers not to “wear a military uniform out for evening dining, shopping, and other personal matters.” He urged the soldiers to “consider commuting to/from work in civilian clothes – specifically, if they need to make personal stops beetween home and work.”

At least one military wife was quick to post his words on a blog devoted to wives of soldiers and airmen involved in “solo ops.”

Apparently, the alert is still in force as soldiers throughout the affected area of Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas return from the Iraq war just in time for Christmas.

Spokesmen for the Missouri National Guard and Fort Sill declined to elaborate on the incident, saying the investigation is in the hands of the Lawton, Okla., Police Department. Yet as of the time of the September threat, "the alert has not been rescinded," said Maj. Tammy Spicer, the public affairs officer for the Missouri National Guard.