During the 1980s, the rapid spread of illegal drug trafficking across major American cities fueled a sharp rise in gang activity and street violence. While substance abuse remains a serious challenge in the United States today—especially with the ongoing opioid crisis—the drug epidemic of the 1980s and ’90s brought a level of instability that many urban communities had never experienced on such a scale.
One striking example unfolded in Tacoma, where members of the United States Army Rangers became unexpectedly involved in a tense confrontation with local gang members. The incident underscored how deeply the drug trade had embedded itself into everyday life in some neighborhoods, where violence could erupt with little warning and pull even unexpected groups into dangerous and unpredictable situations.
Staff Sgt. William Foulk bought a house in a rough neighborhood
Staff Sgt. William “Bill” Foulk of the 2nd Ranger Battalion at Fort Lewis took a calculated gamble when he purchased a home in Hilltop, a Tacoma neighborhood then widely associated with gang violence and rising crime. He paid just $10,000 for the property, believing the area might eventually recover and that the investment could prove worthwhile over time.
What Foulk did not expect was the intensity of day-to-day life in Hilltop. Drug dealing and armed gang activity often unfolded openly in the streets, creating an atmosphere many residents described as lawless and unpredictable. The neighborhood earned the nickname “the Wild West,” shaped by frequent gunfire, visible street-level narcotics trafficking, and the constant sense that violence could erupt without warning.
With the Tacoma Police Department stretched thin and struggling to contain the unrest, many residents felt they had little choice but to rely on themselves for protection. For Foulk, that meant drawing not only on his military training but also on the support of fellow Rangers—circumstances that would soon contribute to one of the most unusual civilian-military confrontations in modern American history.
Houses along the block saw serious gang activity
Staff Sgt. Foulk grew concerned that people living in a home on nearby Ash Street were involved in drug dealing.
To gather evidence of what was taking place, he set up a camera in one of his windows to film activity outside. The individuals he suspected quickly noticed the camera and tried to knock it out of operation by pelting it with rotten fruit. After that failed, they resorted to shooting at it.
Foulk eventually approached the group himself and demanded that they stop shooting at his camera and cease the illegal activity in the neighborhood. They reacted with hostility, telling the Army Ranger to keep out of their business, but Foulk stood his ground.
The Ash Street shootout of 1989
After a tense encounter with local gang members, Staff Sgt. Foulk grew concerned that they might come after him. To prepare, he sent his wife away for safety and invited his fellow Army Rangers over for a barbecue. Between 10 and 15 Rangers showed up—armed and ready. That decision turned out to be a smart one, because on September 23, 1989, Foulk’s home was attacked.
The gang likely didn’t expect such a strong response. The Rangers quickly took defensive positions and returned fire. The gunfight lasted somewhere between 10 and 30 minutes before police arrived and broke it up. While most of the gang members got away, two were caught and charged with assault and weapons violations.
The Rangers were not charged with any crimes, although their weapons were taken by authorities.
Aftermath of the shootout
The most amazing thing about the Ash Street shootout was that no one was killed or hurt, despite over 100 rounds being fired. Maj. Clyde Newman of the 2nd Ranger Battalion said of the incident, “From everything I am told by the city police, the Rangers were right. They were having a party, and they were attacked.”
Sam Thrall, a police sergeant, noted, “I think what happens now is we go up to Ash Street and clean them out… We have a real concentration of bad guys there and the neighborhood has finally clashed with them face to face. The fact that nobody got hurt – it is kind of amazing.”
The incident was a turning point for Tacoma, as it drew attention to the rampant crime in the city. Residents became involved in policing their own neighborhoods and created a safe spaces program that remains in place to this day. City officials also adjusted their budget to ensure additional police officers could be hired.
The Hilltop neighborhood completely changed
The shootout on Ash Street was wild and chaotic, but, eventually, Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood became one of the city’s safest. As for Staff Sgt. Foulk, his investment became an incredible success. According to RedFin, the house he purchased for $10,000 is now worth well over what he paid – between $330,000 and $450,000!