THE VETERAN Vietnam Veterans Against the War 50¢ Volume 36, Number 2 Fall 2006 VVAW Supports All the Troops As veterans who have experienced of the military to refuse illegal justice” after defying orders. We their sacrifices will illuminate the an illegal and immoral war, there orders. also understand that these cases true character of the war and help is little doubt among members Nevertheless, VVAW is may carry more-than-average risk, to bring a swift end to this shame- of Vietnam Veterans Against the fairly sure that our brothers and since they have high profiles and ful chapter of our history. War that the war in Iraq is illegal sisters who refuse those orders political ramifications. Vietnam Veterans Against and immoral. Orders to prosecute will be convicted and will face VVAW respects the courage the War salutes all those in uni- that war are therefore illegal and extensive, strict punishment. of the many service members who form who decide to stand by immoral. As former members of have refused deployment and their principles and follow their The Uniform Code of Mili- the military, we understand the thanks those who have exposed consciences. We appreciate their tary Justice requires all members courage it takes to face “military the atrocities of this war. We hope gallant actions. Agent Orange: A Continuing Legacy of the War David Cline Severe health problems associ- local governments and hospitals. ated with the US military’s use This issue is an ongoing of a chemical defoliant during the and unresolved legacy of the US Vietnam War have long been an war in Vietnam and is something issue of concern for the veterans’ that needs to be addressed and community. Popularly known resolved if we are ever going to as Agent Orange, this herbicide heal the wounds of that period in was heavily contaminated with our nation’s history. tetrachlorodibenzoparadioxin To find out more and to get (TCDD), one of the most deadly involved in the campaign in the carcinogens known to man. United States, contact the Viet- Over many years, Vietnam nam Agent Orange Relief and veterans began to get sick and Responsibility Campaign, PO Box have children with birth defects, 303, Prince Station, New York, and many died. Veterans have NY 10012 or visit the website at struggled to have the VA provide Some of the children being cared for www.vn-agentorange.org. testing, treatment, and compensa- at the Cu Chi hospice run by the Catholic Church tion for those affected. of Vietnam, both NVA/VC and Korea, New Zealand, and Canada, This struggle began in the ARVN soldiers and many times along with support groups from David Cline is a disabled 1970s and went through many more civilians who were trapped France, England, and several other combat veteran who served with twists and turns as the chemical in the war zones. European countries. the 25th Infantry Division in companies who manufactured In 2004, the suffering Viet- After that, we traveled to Ho Vietnam during 1967. Upon his Agent Orange—and the US namese formed the Vietnam Chi Minh City (Saigon), Cu Chi, return, he joined the GI antiwar government, who ordered and Association of Victims of Agent and Hue, where we were hosted movement and helped publish deployed it—tried to deny any Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) and initi- by VAVA chapters, met with vic- the underground Fatigue Press responsibility and even claimed ated a lawsuit in US courts against tims, and visited hospices and at Fort Hood, Texas. In 1970, that it was harmless. the companies who manufactured friendship villages where some of he joined Vietnam Veterans In 1984, the chemical com- the chemical poison. The case is the many thousands of the most Against the War, and he has panies who manufactured Agent scheduled to be heard in a federal seriously deformed Agent Orange been a member ever since. He is Orange agreed to pay $180 million appellate court in New York City children are tended. They are run currently the national president in damages to veterans. In 1991, this fall. by the support of international of Veterans for Peace. Congress passed the Agent Orange In support of the Vietnam- veterans, the Catholic church, or Act, recognizing the negative ese victims, we have formed the Presort health effects of this defoliant and Vietnam Agent Orange Relief Standard Mail acknowledging certain conditions and Responsibility Campaign and Permit #880 for VA medical treatment and dis- are working with them and other Champaign, IL ability compensation. Since that Agent Orange victims throughout time, more conditions have been the world to continue this struggle acknowledged, but many others until all those affected receive PO Box 408594 are still not recognized. Veterans some justice. Chicago, IL 60640 who served in the South Korean, At the end of March, I took a www.vvaw.org Australian, and New Zealand delegation of four other US veter- [email protected] militaries under US command ans who are Agent Orange victims have also brought lawsuits. (Joan Duffy, Ralph Steele, Dan But the largest group of Shea, and Frank Corcoran) to Ha- people affected by Agent Orange noi for an international conference have never received any form on Agent Orange that included of justice. They are the people participants from Australia, South 2 THE VETERAN Fall 2006 From the National Office Barry Romo President Bush and the neocons and moral is not “for nothing.” fight better? Because they have position was there for all to see. said we were going into Iraq to Nothing is an auto-accident. Our spent so much time policing and While the entire world cried out stop torture and to make Iraqi lives suffering is in an evil cause. oppressing Palestinians, most of for a cease fire, the United States better. The Iraqi people are paying If this wasn’t bad enough in whom could not fight back, that was resupplying Israel so that they for these pipe dreams with blood the middle of this war we give they lost their edge as a military could go on bombing as long as and tears. Newest reports show carte blanche to Israel to fight three fighting machine. Good god, He- they wanted . an average of five hundred Iraqis wars.One against Hezbollah, one zbollah even took on their navy; We should really be careful killed a day. against the totally innocent Leba- they hit their ship, killed Israeli about saying that one government It is estimated that 2% of nese government and people, and sailors and kept them away from has the right to attack the citizens the population has been killed finally their continued smashing the shore. Their tank units, the of its neighbor because a third since we invaded that poor coun- of the Palestinians. sons of veterans of the Six Day party not under that’s governments try. Amnesty International says Israel, Hezbollah and Hamas War that defeated armored Arab control attacks the first. that torture is now at a higher have been kidnapping each others divisions, could not penetrate The terrorists from Pakistan level than it was under Saddam people for decades. In fact the Hezbollah territory without heavy have been bombing India for de- Hussein. Iraq is the new Vietnam Israelis have kidnapped over fifty casualties. cades. India has one of the high- only worse. Palestinian civilians, legislators Western pundits seem to be est rates of terrorist incidents in And, as Seymour Hersch not soldiers. During a war captur- saying that Hezbollah merely sur- the world. If Israel gets to attack has said in the New Yorker, they ing soldiers is expected. vived. But Hezbollah fighters with Lebanon, why shouldn’t India get are planning to attack Iran. The Israel’s response to both RPGs, without tanks, helicopters, to attack Pakistan? same people in the Department Hezbollah and Hamas, let alone or a navy were able to fight Israel Recently at the UN, we saw a of Defense who made up the Iraq innocent Lebanon, is completely to a standstill. tiff between the Afghan president Crisis Committee form the Iran out of proportion. Hezbollah fired For every one Israeli citizen and the Pakistani president. The Crisis Committee. WWII Katushkas into Israel. For- that Hezbollah killed, forty Leba- Taliban and al Qaeda fighters are A UN spokesman and an mer Israeli Prime Minister Barak nese civilians died. So who are coming out of Pakistan. Need I atomic energy expert monitor said these caused fifty military the terrorists? Katushkas cause go on? agreed that Iran is not even close deaths and fifty civilian deaths, random deaths, half civilian, half A final word please. - Dur to being able to make a bomb. Of while Israeli forces probably military. The Israelis, with radar, ing the rocket attacks the Israeli 100% capability, they are only at killed two thousand Lebanese smart bombs, pinpoint weapons military and media made a lot out 3%. You would not know this by civilians. and total control of the sky, were of the fact that Hezbollah rocket just paying attention to the “liberal Israel was so out of control either totally incompetent, the attacks hit Jewish and Arab homes press.” that they even bombed Christian three stooges in jet fighters, or they equally. But they don’t get equal We can only hope that there is communities that had been their were deliberately trying to break help from Israel’s government. a change in congressional commit- allies. In fact we saw stunned the back of the civilian govern- Unfortunately for the Arabs they tee chairs. At this point we have to Lebanese Christians asking, “Why ment and the will of the people are getting even less help than the pull out. Each death, each mutila- the hell us?” in Lebanon. Katrina victims. tion, each wound, mental, physical Why didn’t Israeli troops The Bush administration’s continued on page 5 Thanks to Jeff Danziger, Vietnam veteran and political cartoonist, for his generous contributions to this issue. Thanks also to Billy Curmano for Oxy, the Smart Bomb, and to Dan Shea, Ken Nielsen, Marty Webster, Bill Perry, Ward Reilly, Mark Hartford, Ame Meyers, Bill Branson, Claudia Lennhoff, Stanley Campbell, John Zutz, Ben Chitty, Mike Gillen, Mike Newland and others for contributing photos. VVAW Merchandise • VVAW T-Shirt (L, XL, XXL) - $12.00 ______choose color (black, white, sand) • VVAW Hat - $12.00 ______

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Mail order and check to: Ship to: VVAW Merchandise Name ______PO Box 070391 Address ______Milwaukee, WI 53207 City, State, Zip ______Fall 2006 THE VETERAN 3 Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Inc. National Contact List For email addresses, go to our website at www.vvaw.org. If you need a speaker for an event or class visit or someone to interview, please contact the person nearest you. If there is nobody in your area, contact the National Office at (773) 276-4189 or email [email protected]. NATIONAL Central Coast, CA Jackson, MI Cincinnati, OH COORDINATORS Lane Anderson Arnold Stieber Marty Webster Barry Romo [email protected] (734) 475-0740 (513) 349-4413 (773) 276-4189 Brighton, CO Minnesota Columbus, OH Pete Zastrow Charles Elliston Billy Curmano Mark Hartford (847) 864-3975 (303) 654-1754 (507) 864-2716 [email protected] Joe Miller Denver, CO Mpls./St. Paul, MN Kent, OH (217) 328-2444 Terry Leichner John Anderson Brian Slease Bill Davis (303) 935-5360 (651) 485-8019 (330) 676-0074 (708) 386-1413 Tallahassee, FL St. Louis, MO Oklahoma David Cline Tom Baxter David Curry Bill Homans (201) 876-0430 (850) 893-7390 (314) 516-5042 (405) 227-4245 John Zutz Athens, GA New Jersey Waldport, OR (414) 372-0749 Elton Manzione David Cline Ron Betts Dave Kettenhofen (706) 369-0546 (201) 876-0430 (541) 563-3634 (414) 481-4614 Blue Island, IL Jersey Shore, NJ Emmaus, PA Bill Perry Bob Gronko Gerald Gioglio David Shelly (215) 945-3350 (708) 389-7957 [email protected] (610) 967-2066 Chicago, IL Princeton, NJ Levittown, PA NATIONAL STAFF Barry Romo Annie Hirschman Bill Perry (773) 276-4189 (609) 430-0440 (215) 945-3350 Bill Branson Chicago, IL Albuquerque, NM Philadelphia, PA David Curry Ken Nielsen Bob Anderson Jon Bjornson Jeff Machota (312) 492-8652 (505) 858-0882 (215) 438-8883 Hannah Frisch Oak Park, IL Northwest NM Chattanooga, TN Bill Davis Joseph Knight Fritz Efaw MILITARY COUNSELOR (708) 386-1413 (505) 330-7713 (423) 425-4688 Ray Parrish Rockford, IL Las Vegas, NV Austin, TX (773) 561-VVAW Stanley Campbell Rena & John Kopystenski Dave Collins (815) 964-7111 (702) 399-8012 (830) 868-9055 CONTACTS Tuscola, IL New York College Station, TX Northwest AR Paul Wisovaty Ben Chitty Ray "Doc" White Dwayne Knox (217) 253-2157 (212) 726-0557 (979) 218-6729 (870) 428-5597 Champaign-Urbana, IL Hudson Valley, NY San Antonio, TX Cave Creek, AZ Joe Miller Jim Murphy Tom Wetzler Bob Riggle (217) 328-2444 (845) 358-5709 (210) 533-4467 (623) 465-9837 Indianapolis, IN Hudson Valley, NY Virginia Huachuca City, AZ Steven Spurgeon Dayl Wise Leigh Hauter Michael Holzman [email protected] (718) 231-0616 (520) 456-9419 (703) 754-4005 Richmond, IN Hudson Valley, NY Arcata, CA Seattle, WA Chuck Yates Mike Gillen Brian Willson Mike Dedrick (765) 966-3221 (914) 948-8983 [email protected] (206) 328-5477 Baton Rouge, LA Staten Island, NY Southern CA Milwaukee, WI Ward Reilly Ramon Rodriguez Leland Lubinsky Annie Bailey (225) 766-1364 (718) 447-0049 (909) 796-6565 (414) 963-0398 New England Hinsdale, NY Long Beach, CA Milwaukee, WI Jerry Lembcke Barry Miller Horace Coleman Dave Kettenhofen (508) 793-3050 [email protected] (562) 438-2818 (414) 481-4614 Rockville, MD Deer Park, NY Northern CA Northern WI Patrick McCann Thomas Brinson David Ewing Jay Tobin (305) 238-3361 (631) 940-5612 (415) 781-8181 (715) 832-1989 Bunker Hill, WV Bill Czyzewski (304) 229-0692 4 THE VETERAN Fall 2006 Fraggin' Bill Shunas We recently experienced the fifth East. (He never mentioned oil.) vesting classes. For this to happen phisticated now. Instead of lining anniversary of the 9/11 attacks Once again, this deceitful presi- would involve eliminating many people up against the wall, they and all of the television shows and dent tried to exploit the sincere civil and political rights. It would use the law, or presidential sign- speechifying that went along with patriotism of Americans in his mean suppressing the activities of ing statements, or corruption and it. Of course, Bush had to have his anniversary speech. trade unionists, community orga- lobbying of officials, or “family airtime. The timing was perfect: In addition to their renewed nizers, and political, religious, and values.” The process is a little a fifth anniversary speech, two call to patriotism on the eve of the other activists who stood up for slower, but the results are the months before elections in which 2006 elections, Bush and company ordinary folks. Some fascist dicta- same. State power is used to aid Republicans would be in trouble. tried to put a new spin on their tors like Franco in Spain took it to the accumulation of wealth. All In his continual exploitation of talk of safety nets is in the past. people’s patriotism, he used the The Christo-fascists have won. 9/11 speech to try to justify our The object was the suppression While Bush is trying to put a good presence in Iraq and let us know spin on the war, events in Iraq are that we can count on Republicans of wages and quality of life spinning away toward acknowl- to secure our nation. The histori- for the working masses to edged civil war and the eventual cal record shows that in the hours breakup of that country. And don’t immediately after the 9/11 attacks, benefit the investing classes. forget Afghanistan, where the vic- Rumsfeld and others in the White tory is no closer now than it was House wanted to invade Iraq in five years ago. Afghanistan is the retaliation against the alleged per- ineptitude. They started to use a the point of killing a few thousand place where arguably the second petrators. It didn’t happen immedi- different name for the enemy in the of these activists. Franco killed most powerful army in history was ately, because they couldn’t make alleged “war on terrorism.” Now them for what they did, as opposed defeated by the locals back in the the connection. A year and a half they would be called Islamo-fas- to Hitler, who killed millions for eighties. Is this a lesson? later, they got their way. They did it cists, who, like the Nazis, needed who they were. Because of these Lyndon Johnson and Rich- by claiming Saddam had weapons to be defeated if we were to be activities, fascism went out of style ard Nixon kept the Vietnam War of mass destruction (WMD) and secure. They must have figured after World War II. going because neither wanted to was tied to al-Qaeda. Patriotism that their fading support for the It is ironic that Bush and be the first American president to in Americans became deeper war might be rekindled if they company are accusing the ter- lose a war, and many people died and more widespread because of used the right words. rorists of being fascists, because because of it. George W. Bush is 9/11. Because the president made Everybody knows that fas- Bush and company subscribe probably thinking along the same the connections to al-Qaeda and cism is a bad thing. Just look at to neoliberal economic theory, lines, only he’s thinking that he WMD, there was support for the World War II. Hitler executed which is basically the program has the potential to become the invasion of Iraq. millions, so nobody likes fascists. of the European fascist parties of first president to lose two wars. So The only problem was that Actually, Hitler gave fascism a bad seventy years ago. It favors the he’s not going to shut it down, and Bush lied, the CIA fumbled, and name. Before World War II, there investor class—the wealthy. The many more will die while we wait we ended up bogged down in were fascists in the United States wealthy get tax cuts, while money for new leadership. Bush is losing Iraq—which had no connection to as well as in European countries. for Medicaid, schools, veterans’ or has lost popular support for the 9/11. There were no WMD, and They were not nice people, but benefits, and the like get cut. war; thus the return to 9/11 and Saddam was not al-Qaeda. This they were not advocates of mass Wealth gets transferred from the spin doctors, but he isn’t fooling year, on the fifth anniversary of murder. Their program, in general, poor and middle class to the rich. anybody anymore. He won’t do it, 9/11, Bush made a speech that was a form of gonzo capitalism: Wages and life quality fall. It’s but his only chance for victory is went back to the well of patriotism the triumph of the strongest. The exactly what the likes of Franco to declare it and bring the troops to ask for support for that war. This object was the suppression of would have wanted. home. time he said it was to prevent the wages and quality of life for the The methods have changed rise of terrorist states in the Middle working masses to benefit the in- over time. Things are more so- Bill Shunas is a Vietnam veteran, author and VVAW member. Notes from the Boonies Paul Wisovaty I was sitting around the table at the enough spare change on hand after Wouldn’t one expect that even a tribe. I have a sixty-two-year-old Tuscola Kiwanis Club recently, Iraq to do anything about them, moderate media would have put neighbor who works at a sweat- and someone made mention of even if anyone cared), we may this a little closer to page one? shop thirty miles from here. The that ubiquitous “liberal media.” In expect front-page coverage of it. I admit there were some pretty pay is decent, and they offer a great Tuscola, you have to understand, Unless, of course, nothing much important stories between pages benefits package. He also gets a lot “liberalmedia” is one word. As Old is going on worth reporting. That one and nine. A serial killer in of overtime, which translates into Blue Eyes used to croon, you can’t doesn’t appear to be the case. On Massachusetts (wouldn’t you have pretty big bucks. Leaving aside the have one without the other. As page nine—of a ten-page news guessed?) fessed up to some pretty sweatshop part, the downside is luck would have it, I had recently section—there was a short blurb erotic ill-doings, and JonBenet that this place “offers” mandatory picked up a copy of the Decatur on Iraq. The headline was “Insur- Ramsey still made it onto page twelve-hour shifts. None of this Herald, which I have to say has gency Heightens,” and the article five. I was especially interested in “Hey Joe, you wanna work some one of the finer sports sections in went on to mention that a hundred the Brad Pitt-Jennifer Somebody OT today?” Oh no. Four or five east central Illinois. Barry Romo and fifty Iraqis had been killed in story on page three. But “Insur- twelve-hour shifts in a row: take doesn’t know what that means, the last seventy-two hours, most gency Heightens” had to suck it it or hit the road. Joe’s sixty-two, but trust me, it does. of them found bound, tortured, up and settle for the penultimate as I said, so there really ain’t no If we may assume that the and executed in irrigation ditches page. Even relegated to the cheap other road to hit. There is no CEO Iraq war is the most prominent around Baghdad. This doesn’t ap- seats, though, that liberalmedia offer waiting in the wings. issue on the minds of most pear to come under the heading of just keeps stirring up shit. While this has nothing to Americans (forget health care “nothing much going on.” Here’s my second (but not and poverty, because there isn’t Forget “liberal media.” entirely unrelated) soapbox dia- continued on page 5 Fall 2006 THE VETERAN 5 My View John Zutz It’s time to remember the lessons but apparently didn’t. Another important lesson is heavily invested in their wars. of Vietnam. One of the main things we that free-fire zones don’t work. Vietnam went from being LBJ’s Over the past thirty years or in VVAW have learned is that Military force may subdue a war to being Nixon’s. Nobody can so, we’ve all heard people talk normally good boys and girls can population for a while, but killing deny that Iraq is W’s war. Each of about “learning the lessons of do bad things. The Winter Soldier every moving man, woman, child, those presidents has been leery of Vietnam.” There are those who hearings documented hundreds or animal in a given area is not the changing course, fearing it would would have us believe that those of incidents of large and small way to win hearts and minds. make them look weak. lessons concerned how the media atrocities committed by US troops. As a subtext to that lesson, Congress ended the war in and the protesters undermined the A younger John Kerry testified I’ll add that it’s hard to kill the Vietnam by refusing to pay any military’s valiant efforts. before Congress and informed enemy if you can’t identify the more to continue the bombing. Many who interpret the les- them of our findings. target. In a guerilla war, friend And it’s Congress that ultimately sons in that way never set foot There are those who have and enemy are indistinguishable. controls the length of the war in in-country, and many more of tried to discredit the Winter Sol- If you can’t definitely identify a Iraq. The sooner Congress chang- them avoided service altogether. dier revelations, and some have target as an enemy, you shouldn’t es, the sooner the war will end. If It’s time for Vietnam veterans, smeared Kerry as well. But nobody pull the trigger. And for god’s sake, we can’t change their minds, we who have seen, felt, tasted, and can deny the existence of the Tiger look at what’s around the target to need to change their names. Be smelled the war, to set out the Force, as nobody denies My Lai. avoid “collateral damage.” sure to vote. lessons so that others can learn However, those were not isolated Perhaps the most important what we know. I’ll start. This isn’t incidents by rogue GIs. Formerly lesson we need to teach is that meant to be an all-inclusive list; classified Army documents show only Congress can declare war, there isn’t room on this page for they were neither the worst nor and only Congress can end a war. John Zutz is a VVAW national that. It does illustrate a few of the the longest lasting of the string of Both Richard Nixon in the past coordinator and a member of the lessons we should have learned atrocities committed in Vietnam. and George Bush today have been Milwaukee chapter.

Notes from the Boonies It need not be said that Joe’s be that sad after all. I haven’t read continued from page 4 factory has not hooked onto the one word about it in the liberal- do with his predicament, I would about the fact that my friend is union label. But I do recall that— media. note that Joe was a fighter pilot in a legitimate war hero, and I un- Bill Davis will confirm this—in Vietnam, with two tours and two derstand that such status doesn’t 1937, John L. Lewis, head of the Paul Wisovaty is a member of Distinguished Flying Crosses. turn out any more of what this CIO, sat down with US Steel and VVAW. He lives in Tuscola, He also has thirteen air medals, factory produces down on the won the right to the eight-hour Illinois, where he works as a although I have no idea what that floor. But this is a vets’ paper, so day. 1937. Sixty-nine years ago. probation officer. He was in means. I obviously don’t expect it should count for something, at That’s really sad. Vietnam with the US Army 9th his employer to give two shits least among our readers. Come to think of it, it can’t Division in 1968.

From the National Office continued from page 2 Arab casualties were higher because, unlike Jewish homes, their homes had no bomb shelters. When rebuilding, Arab citizens only get 40 % of the compensation that Jewish citizens get. Arab-Israeli citizens suffer other abuses. The Industry and Trade Ministry got around the law requiring use of local construction companies to rebuild the local economy by refusing to authorize most Arab companies eligible for contracts. Environmental Minister Gideron Ezra suggested that Israeli-Arab towns be made ineligible for any aid. Jane Fonda and Barry Romo at October 2006 showing of Sir! No Sir! The only way that there will be peace in the Middle East is if VVAW’s 40th Anniversary Celebration Israel, its neighbors the Palestin- Vietnam Veterans Against the War invites all members, former members, ians and its own citizens are treated supporters and historians to attend VVAW’s 40th Anniversary Celebration in with dignity and respect. The two Chicago next year, the weekend of August 18th, 2007. state solution is the only answer. Back to the 1967 borders. A weekend of interesting speakers and events hosted by the Chicago Chapter of Vietnam Veterans Against the War.

Barry Romo is a VVAW national Save the date! More details to come... coordinator and a member of the Chicago chapter. 6 THE VETERAN Fall 2006 New VVAW Chapter Moving Forward in Cincinnati Marty Webster Marching through the streets ma panels. It was a very emotional “The Local Impact of the War in Center to participate in a press of Cincinnati on the Fourth of evening, and all remembered those Iraq.” Around 200 people attended conference, with all of the major July was an awesome and emo- who had lost their lives because of the event at St. Monica-St. George Cincinnati media, about the Dec- tional experience. We received an nuclear weapons and war. Church in downtown Cincinnati. laration of Peace. overwhelming reception of cheers, Earlier in the week, I vis- Georgine Getty, executive director Briefly, the Declaration of thumbs up, and peace signs. When ited the local CAIR (Council on of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition Peace is a nationwide campaign people saw our banner, they actu- American-Islamic Relations) of- for the Homeless, moderated a inviting people to pledge to declare ally were coming down off of their fice to introduce myself and our panel composed of Ohio District peace by taking action to bring porches and joining others along organization. When they saw a 1 and District 2 congressional all US troops home from Iraq. the parade route to give us standing picture of the banner in the parade, candidates Victoria Wulson and A comprehensive, concrete, and ovations. I have never experienced they asked if we would participate John Cranley. Representatives rapid plan was established for an anything like it in my life. in a candlelight vigil for peace at of congresspersons Schmidt and end to the US war in Iraq, calling At the formation area, we a local mosque with our banner. Chabot were in attendance. for all troops to be home by March met a ‘Nam vet named Paul, who I immediately committed to do- I made a presentation on the 19, 2007. Peace was declared by was part of the peace and justice ing so. And on August 7, VVAW domestic costs of militarism and people engaging in nonviolent contingent. He hadn’t realized we participated in the Candlelight the war in Iraq in relation to the VA action in cities and towns across were still around. I told him we Vigil for a Ceasefire and Peace and the overall effect on veterans’ the United States, leading up to were forming the VVAW Ohio in the Middle East at the Islamic health care needs. Also attending and especially during the week Valley Regional Chapter and Center of Greater Cincinnati in were Peggy and Jerry Logue, who of September 21–28. The VVAW invited him to join. About a third West Chester, Ohio. The candle- are the parents of a Marine who Ohio Valley Regional Chapter is of the way through the parade, light vigil coincided with Amnesty lost his life in Iraq. While he was participating in coordinated, non- he was standing and waiting for International’s other Ceasefire home, he suffered greatly from the violent activities that will continue us. “I belong with you guys,” he Vigils in the United States and in effects of the war. I quickly bonded on a regular basis until the United said. Paul marched the rest of the other countries. Other cosponsor- with these people, and we talked States withdraws from Iraq. parade route with us. He had just ing organizations were CAIR, the at length about PTSD. On September 22, VVAW had a hip replacement, and he National Underground Railroad I mentioned to the Logues participated in a Peace Bell Gath- marched with crutches. He wore Freedom Center, the Intercom- that I had spoken with a police ering vigil in Northern Kentucky. a T-shirt that said: “Every Step for munity Justice and Peace Center, officer a few weeks earlier about On September 23 and 24, we Peace.” Paul has agreed to become Peace Village, and the St. Mon- returning Iraq veterans and the showed the video Sir! No Sir! a member of the VVAW Ohio Val- ica-St. George Parish Newman many problems they are facing, I also gave a presentation com- ley Regional Chapter. Center. including PTSD. He had said paring the war in Vietnam with On June 10, MUSE (Cin- On August 8 at the Cincin- that the police were being called the war in Iraq. These were well cinnati’s women’s choir) hosted nati Public Library atrium, Ohio to bars late at night, and often received. There were many hugs, “peace mom” Cindy Sheehan, Valley VVAW members attended it was an Iraq veteran who had and tears were shed. Three ‘Nam Holly Near, and Muslim Mothers a forum on veterans’ issues with been drinking heavily and getting vets said they were interested in Against Violence for a series of Ohio congressman Sherrod Brown involved in a disturbance. He had joining VVAW and the Ohio Val- workshops and the 23rd Annual and former senator Max Cleland. said that some of the police of- ley Regional Chapter. MUSE Spring Concert at the New Brown led off the evening with a ficers had been talking, and they As soon as the Underground Thought Unity Center. spirited presentation on provid- felt the country was not ready for Railroad Freedom Center in Cin- Earlier in the day, Cindy ing adequate health care for all the impact when they all come cinnati becomes available, we Sheehan was available for a book veterans. home. Think about it: if we are not will be holding a major rally. The signing at Shake It Records. She On September 14, we were here for these guys, who will be? Freedom Center’s mission is to was very warm and welcoming invited to attend a Forum on the It’s sort of like AA (another fine inspire people to speak up in the and expressed heartfelt gratitude Iraq War, sponsored by Democ- group I belong to). Anytime any face of injustice and for the spirit of for the role VVAW was playing racy for Cincinnati, at the Clif- veteran anywhere reaches out for freedom, just as so many people of in the peace movement. A very ton United Methodist Church in help, the extended hand of VVAW all backgrounds did during the era large crowd had arrived to greet Cincinnati. must always be there, and for that of the Underground Railroad. her respectfully. As we observed The Declaration of Peace I am responsible. the proceedings, we were over- Coalition sponsored a town hall I also was invited by the In- taken by the aura of this humble meeting on September 18 entitled tercommunity Justice and Peace continued on next page woman. VVAW joined with thou- sands of MoveOn members from around the country on June 28 for a National Day of Action to demand an “oil-free future.” We met with MoveOn members and others at the Shell and BP gas stations at the intersection of Galbraith and Reading Roads in Reading, Ohio, a small, blue-collar suburb north of Cincinnati. A feisty crowd had an endless chorus of horn response from the passing autos. On August 6, we were invited to participate in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Candlelight Vigil and Meditation Walk at International Marty Webster, Paul Davis & Jerry Smith at the end of the 4th of July parade in Cincinnati. Friendship Park, past the Hiroshi- This is the first time VVAW has had representation in the parade in over 30 years. Fall 2006 THE VETERAN 7 Camp Democracy Takes Aim At the Bush Administration Michael Rinaman Surrounded by the shadows of the September 12. The individuals, 11 was not so lucky. Four Iraq War uranium in weapons. monuments on the Mall in DC, all participants in Camp Democ- veterans and another supporter Each day of the camp has a Camp Democracy claimed its own racy, delivered a letter to Oregon attended the first open house at different theme. While many vet- ground. This year, the camp had an congressman Peter DeFazio’s of- the Pentagon since the attacks, erans have been given the chance impressive itinerary of speeches, fice. It documented the telephone then left pamphlets at the chapel to speak, the camp presents a mul- discussions, and protests sched- numbers of Suzanne Swift’s chain containing information about the tifaceted look at the effects of the uled for its seventeen-day run, of command. effects of depleted uranium on current administration’s policies beginning on September 5. All Swift, who served in Iraq and soldiers. While the arrest cannot and the war in Iraq. of it was aimed at accomplishing was sexually harassed by three of be seen as positive, the arrested peace, democracy, and the rule her commanding officers, has been protesters were able to gain the Michael Rinaman provides of law. attempting to report the incident spotlight in order to denounce the staffing assistance for VVAW in Camp Democracy began last to the proper authorities. Until military’s illegal use of depleted Chicago. year when individuals participat- now, she has been disregarded, ing in Camp Casey ventured from and she even faces court-martial their protest site in Crawford, after suffering a PTSD-induced Texas, and congregated in Wash- breakdown that caused her to go ington DC. The protesters seek to absent without leave. create a dialogue on many issues, The protesters refused to including the war in Iraq, military leave DeFazio’s office until he policy, and immigration. took appropriate actions concern- Participants in the camp were ing Swift’s case. They scored a able to get out their messages victory against sexual harassment using a combination of political in the military when the congress- protest and the distribution of man agreed to meet with Swift’s information. mother and to hold an official press Members of Iraq Veterans conference immediately following Against the War and Veterans for the discussion. Peace participated in a sit-in on A protest held on September VVAW at the Kentucky State Fair Carol Rawert Trainer VVAW was well represented at the For the most part, we were though some families had called well received and informative. Kentucky State Fair from August supported and thanked by the and asked us to display their family Kentucky has many veterans, 17 to 26, 2006. As a Vietnam-era public, including active-duty members’ names. but as far as I know, there is no vet and the wife of a Vietnam vet, military and veterans, but of course, Veterans are a very active organized group of veterans against I participated in the Louisville there were a few disparaging part of the local peace movement the war. I would be interested in Peace Action Community booth, statements. in Louisville. We collected about information to help find or form whose theme was “Support the We displayed the names of 4,000 signatures on our petition such a group. (Contact me at Troops: Stop the War.” On each the fifty-two soldiers who died in to stop the war. Many GIs and [email protected].) day of the fair, our booth had the Iraq War. One wife of a soldier their family members were afraid volunteer veterans working in who was killed took offense and to sign the petition, even though shifts from morning to night. We demanded that her husband’s they supported our efforts. Carol Rawert Trainer is a distributed VVAW and IVAW name be removed. Out of respect, We played DVDs from Vietnam-era vet (USAF, A1C, brochures along with other related we turned over all of the names, Eyes Wide Open and Military 1965–68) and a member of materials. so they could not be viewed, even Families Speak Out, which were VVAW.

New VVAW Chapter continued from previous page Brother Arny Steiber, the this event will be posted on www. VVAW regional contact from vvaw.org when it becomes avail- Michigan, visited Cincinnati able. All are welcome to attend recently and told me that as he and participate. reflected on the center, he began to see a number of parallels be- tween slavery and war. The rich are profiteering, and people are being brutalized. The effects never Marty Webster is the VVAW go away, families are torn apart, Ohio regional contact for laws make it legal, and preachers Cincinnati. He is currently the use the bible to justify it. coordinater of the Ohio Valley Jerry Smith (VVAW), Paul Davis (VFP), the newest regional chapter of VVAW. I cannot think of a better place VVAW Ohio Valley Regional Chapter member, and Marty Webster (VVAW) for a rally. More information on at a showing of Sir! No Sir! in Cincinnati on September 24 8 THE VETERAN Fall 2006 Camouflaged Blues Ray Parrish Thinking of enlisting in the mili- war had nothing to do with protect- tal health problems. And VVAW comes from surviving. It comes tary? ing our country. We were deceived was the only veterans’ group to from killing an innocent civilian I’m the military and veterans’ by our leaders into sacrificing our support the VA worker who blew accidentally or as part of “col- counselor at VVAW. I started do- lives for their personal, political, the whistle on the VA’s Agent lateral damage.” It comes from ing veterans’ counseling in 1976. or economic gain. Now we warn Orange cover-up. The government realizing that killing anyone for My father, my mother, and I were the next generation to beware. knew for years that Agent Orange lies, oil, and politics is a sin and NCOs in the USAF. I’ve also been After a lifetime of military was killing vets and causing birth may be seen by the world as a war a mental health caseworker and training and conditioning and my defects in their children. crime. It comes from being raped an American Legion veterans’ father’s second year in Vietnam, I If you do go, be prepared by a fellow GI. It comes from re- service officer. was a seventeen-year-old warrior to pay a heavy price. You will gretting that you didn’t do more The most important advice wannabe. I became disillusioned bear most of the costs of this war to stop an atrocity. It comes when I can give you is to follow your after the students were killed at personally, and it may take years you realize that “even a cook” conscience. That’s what I tell the Kent State and Jackson State. I for some of the bills to come due. contributes to the bloodshed. It soldiers who call me for help. I’ve realized I was just cannon fodder First, 56% of the 1991 Persian Gulf comes from seeing a future for learned that the veterans with the after heart-to-heart conversations War veterans are already on dis- yourself without an arm or a leg. most disabling post-traumatic with Vietnam vets I met while I ability, and 11% have died. There It comes from being involuntarily stress disorder (PTSD) are the was doing volunteer work at a are a lot of reasons why today’s activated after being out of the ones with guilty consciences. medical-evacuation hospital in wars are causing such widespread military for years. It comes from In order to survive combat, they Japan, where I went to high school. and severe physical and mental being kept on active duty past the were forced to do things that they It wasn’t the horror stories that injuries to the soldiers who fight date on your enlistment contract now think were wrong. You need they told me that hit me. It was them. In addition to dying or being because of “military necessity,” or to listen to these veterans, learn them! They had been changed maimed in combat or accidents, from thinking that the only way from their experience, and avoid from my older schoolmates, who deadly pesticides and chemicals home is in a body bag. It comes a guilty conscience and a lifetime had marched off to war to protect and experimental anti-malarial from not being allowed to use of nightmares. A wiser man once me, into zombies. They were and anti-chemical-weapon drugs your educational benefits because said, “Recovering from war is an guilt-ridden and filled with rage sometimes disable or kill. The your commander thinks you’re ascent from hell.” and violence. They convinced me deadliest killers are DU and PTSD. too busy. It comes from worrying The decision to enlist in the that theirs was a group that I didn’t Second, Bush is selling bonds to about how your family is worrying military is the most important want to belong to! So I joined the finance the war that won’t come about you and suffering because of decision that you will ever make. USAF, got trained in Russian, and due for payment for thirty years. your absence. It comes from not It will determine the course of the worked as an intelligence analyst DU is depleted uranium. being allowed to take care of fam- rest of your life. I wish that you for the National Security Agency. I It’s the still-radioactive remains ily problems because the military had another decade of life experi- served in Turkey during their war of fuel rods from nuclear power “needs you more.” It comes from ences that you could look at, so with Greece over Cyprus and the plants that are no longer hot being denied help by the local that your decision could be better 1973 Arab-Israeli war. enough to boil water. It kills and VA because they can’t find your informed. You don’t, so listen to Even with the GI Bill and free causes birth defects. Armor-pierc- military medical records, or they the veterans. Think about what it tuition, I needed a part-time job to ing shells are coated with it, and can’t figure out what’s causing would be like to have to take orders make it through college, and the it’s used in the armor on American your medical problems, or they’re from everybody with more rank. VA’s work-study program would vehicles. Millions of tons of this just too busy. To have your schedule decided do it. I used my motorcycle to do cancer-causing element have been When you hear some veter- for you twenty-four hours a day. “outreach” to Vietnam vets hiding released into the air. Millions of ans say that we should “stay the To be in situations where you feel from life in the Shawnee National people in Iraq, Afghanistan, and course,” remember that they are a forced to commit evil. Forest, and I taught myself veter- Kosovo have inhaled and ingested minority. Reliable polls show that First of all, President Bush ans’ counseling. Helping combat particles of it, and thousands have 72% of the troops in Iraq say we thinks that everyone who enlists vets, like my new brother-in-law died or become disabled by it. The should get out by the end of 2006, is willing to kill and die at his at that time, was very rewarding, military’s cover-up continues. and the media rarely shows troops command. Are you? Do you but it was also draining. By 1981, Half of all deployed veterans who don’t support the war. really want to be a part of his just as many Vietnam vets had need treatment for combat- or I realize that after you fin- wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, or committed suicide as had been rape-induced PTSD or other ser- ish reading this, there will still his perpetual “global war on ter- killed in the war. Why? Because vice-connected mental disorders. be plenty of reasons to enlist. If ror,” with future attacks on Iran combat-induced post-traumatic Despite expectations of a 25% nothing else, think of your fam- and Venezuela? If so, go! But be stress disorder was only finally increase in new requests for PTSD ily. Your family will have to deal careful, and remember that you can recognized as a disability by the treatment, the VA is budgeting for a with their worries during your always call me if you need help medical establishment that year. 3% increase this year and cutbacks service—and if you don’t survive, of any kind. If current American It would be years before veterans for the next four. The severity the empty chair at the dinner table foreign policy makes you uneasy, (and their children born with birth of the depression or anxiety can will remind them every day. When you should wait for it to change defects) got treatment and com- be disabling. There are veterans I was in basic training, my father before enlisting. pensation for the diseases caused who haven’t had a decent night’s supported my efforts to stay out After listening to thousands by exposure to the herbicide sleep for thirty, forty, or fifty years of Vietnam, but not because he of vets, I know that all veterans Agent Orange, which was used because of the memories. And no longer supported the war. He say that they enlisted to defend in Vietnam. there are many who aren’t around said that his major concern was our freedoms and families and Vets felt abandoned and because they couldn’t stand the not forcing my mother to endure that this is the only cause worth couldn’t get help from anybody nightmares for another day. another year of worrying. killing and dying for. Since the but themselves. While the war was PTSD comes from what was last real world war—sixty years still going on, it was VVAW that done to you and what you did. It Ray Parrish (Sgt., USAF, 72-75) ago—American GIs have been set up veterans’ “rap groups” so comes from enduring the threat is VVAW’s military counselor. discovering that the real reason that vets could deal with PTSD. of death 24/7 for months on end. If you need help, call him at for their particular conflict, “police These later became the VA’s “vet It comes from seeing buddies get 773-561-VVAW or email him at action,” “humanitarian relief,” or centers,” which handled only men- injured or die horrible deaths. It [email protected]. Fall 2006 THE VETERAN 9 Standing With Military War Resisters Ward Reilly Six hundred veterans attending the thrill was doubled when at least Veterans for Peace national con- forty members of Iraq Veterans vention in Seattle, including doz- Against the War (IVAW) followed ens of VVAW members, had the him onstage in an emotional and great honor and pleasure to stand spontaneous show of solidarity. with Lt. Ehren Watada and Sgt. We also had the honor of Ricky Clousing during a four-day standing with Iraq combat vet- weekend of resistance, planning, eran Sgt. Ricky Clousing, who and organizational workshops. had been AWOL for a year and a Watada spoke on Saturday, August half prior to his press conference 12, as did, among others, Dahr at the convention. On August 11, Jamail (outstanding independent Clousing held a press conference journalist), Ray McGovern (CIA to announce that he was turning analyst for twenty-seven years, himself in to military authorities at cofounder of Veteran Intelligence Fort Lewis, Washington. Clousing Professionals for Sanity), and John is a twenty-four-year-old Army Perkins (economist and author of sergeant and interrogator from Confessions of an Economic Hit Seattle who left Fort Bragg, North VVAW members Ward Reilly and Brian Willson, Man). Carolina, in 2005 after returning together in support of Lt. Ehren Watada Lt. Watada is the first West from Iraq. He was with the 82nd Canada. went AWOL. Right now, soldiers Point officer to refuse to be de- Airborne Division. Retired US Army colonel are being raped. It’s an epidemic. ployed to Iraq, and what makes At the press conference, Ann Wright embraced twenty- There are twenty-two task forces his case even more intriguing is Clousing stated, “In Iraq, I oper- two-year-old Iraq veteran-turned- on military sexual assault, yet the that he has challenged the legality ated as an interrogator and was refugee Kyle Snyder at the border. perpetrators go free,” she charged. of the Iraq invasion, also a first. attached to tactical infantry units Of his resistance to the war, Col. “Free my daughter, and stop mili- Watada is not acting as a consci- during daily patrol operations. As Wright said, “It is part of military tary sexual assault now!” an interrogator, I spoke to Iraqis tradition that you can refuse illegal Jane Fonda showed up to sup- each day. This gave me an idea orders,” she said. “They have the port our work, and she attended a of what local civilians thought of courage to stand up and say ... ‘I’m Vets 4 Vets session on Friday the coalition forces. Throughout my not going to have this war on my eleventh. It was nice to meet Ms. training, very appropriate guide- conscience.’” Fonda in person and to see her still lines for the treatment of prisoners Back in Seattle, Sarah Rich, supporting antiwar work. were set. However, I witnessed mother of formerly AWOL, now Some of the VVAW members our baseless incarceration of ci- imprisoned US Army soldier Su- in attendance were: Bill Perry, vilians. I saw civilians physically zanne Swift, blasted the Army for Dave Cline, Mike Hastie, Brian harassed. I saw an innocent Iraqi jailing her daughter at Fort Lewis Willson, Ray Parrish, Billy Kelly, killed before me by US troops. I for refusing orders to return to Iraq. Doug Zachary, Jim Driscoll, Lane saw the abuse of power that goes Speaking to a jam-packed news Anderson, Thomas Brinson, El- without accountability. Being at- conference at the convention, Rich liott Adams, and myself. Many tached to a tactical infantry unit said her daughter was repeatedly others were also there. and being exposed to the brutali- subjected to sexual harassment All in all, it was an incredible Jane Fonda at the Vets 4 Vets meeting ties of war, I began to doubt and by US soldiers during her first weekend of resistance, peace, and reconsider my beliefs.” deployment to Iraq. solidarity against the unjust and entious objector, which is a much On August 13, about 150 “She was arrested, stripped, illegal wars in the Middle East. more common (but not common US military veterans boarded treated like a common criminal, enough) reason to refuse deploy- buses for Peace Arch Park on the while the criminals who assaulted ment to Iraq. US-Canadian border to celebrate her go free,” Rich said. “Suzanne Much to Watada’s surprise, resistance to current and past ag- was my hero when she went to he received a standing ovation gressive US invasions with US Iraq, my hero when she came Ward Reilly is the Southeast before he even spoke, and that troops currently taking refuge in home, and my hero when she national contact for VVAW.

Lt. Ehren Watada, with forty IVAW members behind him, speaking to 600 veterans at the VFP convention in Seattle 10 THE VETERAN Fall 2006 Taking Back Our Schools Jim Murphy “Taking Back Our Schools” was of VVAW and Veterans for Peace geared to networking community in the military, each group made a full-day workshop and teach-in upon request. We focused on how groups, teacher-student teams, a short presentation, telling who centered on community education we tell our story while continually and parents with veterans. We they were, the materials they used, on the issues of counter-recruiting interjecting the improbable truths discussed legal rights, how to and their ideas about how to alter and the presence of the military that are currently discussed by approach high-school admin- our approaches to fighting the cur- in our public schools. It was pre- military recruiters in their schools. istrators to get veterans who rent, well-financed campaign to sented as a two-part event on the Given that we generally work are counter-recruiters in their entice kids to go into the military same day, September 9, 2006, at within forty- to fifty-minute time schools as presenters, and how services. The rest was about eating West Side High School in New periods, we realize that we have to to implement opt-out letters in and schmoozing! York City. The morning session be concise and thorough, all at the the public schools. We purposely For more information, visit was for veterans only, focusing same time. Our favorite presenta- didn’t over-structure this session, New York Veterans Speak Out: on how to present our personal tions are when we debate recruiters hoping for more cross-dialogue www.veteransforpeaceny.org/ stories to high-school students before high school assemblies. between the several groups that vfpnyvso.htm within a classroom or assembly During the past semester, we were present, which included setting. This session was attended reached over 15,000 students in borough and neighborhood groups by twenty-five veterans spanning over sixty high schools. We are (Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, World War II to the Iraq War. A both retired teachers, so we know and Brooklyn), unions, educators training DVD that shows two how to work a classroom and how (NYCORE), veterans, and our Jim Murphy served in Vietnam veterans doing this kind of pre- to keep students’ attention. The friends from Code Pink. After (1968–69) and participated sentation is ready for distribution DVD models specific strategies. discussing our approaches to lead- in the VVAW takeover of the and will be distributed to chapters The afternoon session was ing class discussions on enlisting Statue of Liberty in 1971. Louisiana State University Protests Cheney Visit Ward Reilly Vice President (and chief US war criminal) “Little Dick” Cheney was greeted “warmly” (but only because of the ninety-eight-degree temperature) at Louisiana State University on Friday, May 26, 2006 by angry military veterans, students, citizens, and professors when he showed up in his very well-armored limousine to speak to LSU graduates. Thousands of faculty mem- bers and students refused to stand or applaud during Cheney’s speech, in which he stated that “America is winning the war on terror.” He also mentioned LSU’s national championship in football. (Uh, Dick? That was three years bly Center in support of students, used as the Katrina triage center Ward Reilly is the Southeast ago.) He rambled on and on about who thought that the university after the disaster—another huge national contact for VVAW. what a great job the administration could have found a better speaker, chunk of irony. He was a volunteer infantryman did during Katrina and how the considering the amazingly great Some students showed up serving in the famed 1st & 16th Gulf Coast could count on him to job the administration did during to receive their diplomas while (Rangers) of the First Infantry “be there” for us. Hurricane Katrina here in south wearing hunters’ orange vests, and Division from 1971–74, spending Members of Iraq Veterans Louisiana. I handed out hundreds of pins that a thousand straight days in Against the War, Veterans For With an 18% approval rating, said “Jail Bush and Cheney” and Germany with the Big Red One. Peace, Vietnam Veterans Against we are sure it was really hard to “Make Levees, Not War.” He joined VVAW originally in the War, and several other orga- book “Little Dick” as a speaker. 1972 and re-upped in 2001. nizations attended the demonstra- (Not!) Coincidentally, Cheney tion at the Pete Maravich Assem- spoke in the same building that was

Rep. Karen Yarborough, Veterans Day 2005, Chicago Mark Hartford, Veterans Day 2005, Veterans' Plaza, Coulmbus, Ohio Fall 2006 THE VETERAN 11 Statement on Behalf of Lt. Ehren Watada Francis A. Boyle Since the US Supreme Court’s solicitation, incitement, conspir- installation of George W. Bush as acy, complicity, attempt, aiding president in January 2001, the peo- and abetting, etc. Of course, the ples of the world have witnessed great irony of today’s situation is a government in the United States that six decades ago at Nuremberg, of America that demonstrates little representatives of the US govern- (if any) respect for fundamental ment participated in the prosecu- considerations of international tion, punishment, and execution law, international organizations, of Nazi government officials for and human rights, let alone ap- committing some of the same preciation of the requirements for types of heinous international maintaining international peace crimes that members of the Bush and security. What the world has administration currently inflict watched instead is a comprehen- upon people all around the world. sive and malicious assault upon To be sure, I personally oppose the the integrity of the international imposition of capital punishment legal order by a group of men and upon any person for any reason, women who are thoroughly Ma- no matter how monstrous their chiavellian in their perception of crimes: George W. Bush, Tony international relations and in their Blair, Saddam Hussein, Slobodan conduct of both foreign policy and Milosevic, Vladimir Putin, Ariel domestic affairs. This is not simply Sharon, etc. a question of giving or withhold- Furthermore, according to ing the benefit of the doubt when basic principles of international it comes to complicated matters of criminal law, all high-level civil- foreign affairs and defense poli- ian officials and military officers cies to a US government charged in the US government who either with the security of both its own knew or should have known that citizens and those of its allies in soldiers or civilians under their Europe, the western hemisphere, control committed or were about Lt. Ehren Watada and the Pacific. Rather, the Bush to commit international crimes, administration’s foreign policies and failed to take the measures represent a gross deviation from necessary to stop them, or to pun- life of principled opposition to formulation and undertaking of those basic rules of international ish them, or both, are likewise per- the Nazi terror state, even unto wars of aggression, crimes against deportment and civilized behavior sonally responsible for the com- death. peace, crimes against humanity, that the United States govern- mission of international crimes. Today the peoples of the and war crimes that are legally akin ment had traditionally played the This category of officialdom who world are likewise asking them- to those perpetrated by the former pioneer role in promoting for the actually knew (or at least should selves: Where are the “good” Nazi regime in Germany. entire world community. Even have known) of the commission Americans? Well, there are some As a consequence, American more seriously, in many instances, of such substantive or inchoate good Americans. They are getting citizens and soldiers such as Lieu- specific components of the Bush international crimes under their ju- prosecuted for protesting against tenant Watada possess the basic administration’s foreign poli- risdiction and failed to do anything illegal US military interventions right under international law and cies constitute ongoing criminal about it typically includes the Sec- and war crimes around the world. the United States domestic law, activity under well-recognized retary of Defense, the Secretary First Lieutenant Ehren Watada is including the US Constitution, to principles of both international of State, the Director of Central America’s equivalent to Dietrich engage in acts of civil resistance law and US domestic law, and in Intelligence, the National Security Bonhoeffer, Václav Havel, An- in order to prevent, impede, particular the Nuremberg Charter, Adviser, the Attorney General, drei Sakharov, Wei Jingsheng, thwart, or terminate ongoing the Nuremberg Judgment, and the the Pentagon’s Joint Chiefs of Aung San Suu Kyi, and others. criminal activities perpetrated by Nuremberg Principles. Staff and regional CINCs, and He is the archetypal American US government officials in their Depending upon the substan- the President and Vice-President. hero whom we should be bring- conduct of foreign affairs policies tive issues involved, those interna- These US government officials ing into our schools and teaching and military operations purported tional crimes typically include but and their immediate subordinates, our children to emulate, instead to relate to defense and counter- are not limited to the Nuremberg among others, were personally of those wholesale purveyors of terrorism. offenses of crimes against peace, responsible for the commission gratuitous violence and bloodshed If not so restrained, the Bush crimes against humanity, and war of (or at least complicity in the adulated by the US government, administration could very well crimes, as well as grave breaches commission of) crimes against America’s power elite, and the precipitate a third world war. of the four Geneva Conventions of peace, crimes against humanity, mainstream corporate news media 1949 and the 1907 Hague Regula- and war crimes as specified by and its interlocked entertainment tions on land warfare, torture, dis- the Nuremberg Charter, Judgment, industry. appearances, and assassinations. and Principles—at a minimum. In international legal terms, In addition, various members of One generation ago, the the Bush administration itself Francis Boyle is a professor the Bush administration commit- peoples of the world asked them- should now be viewed as con- of international law at the ted numerous inchoate crimes selves: Where were the “good” stituting an ongoing criminal University of Illinois at Urbana- incidental to these substantive Germans? Well, there were some conspiracy under international Champaign. He has worked on offenses that under the Nuremberg good Germans. The Lutheran criminal law in violation of the many cases of military resisters Charter, Judgment, and Principles theologian and pastor Dietrich Nuremberg Charter, the Nurem- over the years and has long been were international crimes in their Bonhoeffer was the foremost berg Judgment, and the Nurem- a supporter of VVAW. own right: planning, preparation, exemplar of someone who led a berg Principles, because of its 12 THE VETERAN Fall 2006 Memorial Day 2006, Chicago Ken Nielsen

This spring, VVAW’s annual counter-recruitment happening Memorial Day ceremony in Chi- in Chicago-area high schools. A cago was held in Chicago’s new Hyde Park doctor and World War II (disgracefully located) Vietnam veteran, Al Klinger, offered a long Veterans Memorial, of which and engaging diatribe, concluding plenty was said in the last issue of with one of his poems. VVAW the Veteran. Nevertheless, it was member Cesar Ruvalcaba spoke a successful event, with a wide about immigrants’ rights. One of range of speakers and attendees the most emotional and unplanned from diverse backgrounds. We set of speakers was Iraq War vet- were extremely fortunate to have eran Dave Adams and Kosovo War among our presenters Cassie veteran Adam Navarro. Adam and Elliot, an Iraq War veteran who Dave both served in the 101st. served in Iraq for six months with In what has become some- the Marines. Longtime VVAW thing of a tradition, VVAW’s GI member Bill Davis also gave a counselor, Ray Parrish, concluded very emotional speech that was the ceremony with a talk about well received. State representative the state of veterans’ benefits and Karen Yarborough, who spon- about groups organizing around sored the impeachment resolution the issues of returning Iraq War in the Illinois house, appealed to veterans. Ray had these stirring the crowd to support her resolu- final words: “We’ve got to- re Bill Davis of VVAW at Memorial Day, Chicago tion. (Many thanks to Carl Nyberg, member our veterans. That’s what were in that war. So don’t worry. Ken Nielsen served in the US who coordinated the effort to get today’s all about: memories, the It’s working. We are saving our Army from 1991 to 1993 (4th Representative Yarborough to memories we have of our war veterans, one person at a time.” Battalion, 9th Division, 1st attend the ceremony.) Code Pink experiences. Just like Brother Infantry Division). He is a member was represented by Pat Hunt, Klinger got done telling us today, of VVAW and VFP. who provided the crowd with an those are with us forever. The war array of information about the will never end for the veterans who Feeling the Pain (Memorial Day, Chicago) Adam Navarro-Lowery A few things stick out in my and in one piece, and not killed or mind from that hot day in May. I mangled. We stayed next to each remember it being a bit somber as other for the duration of the day. veterans and veterans’ supporters Dave and I always seemed began congregating at the memo- to share the same sentiments. rial site. I arrived not knowing Perhaps it was because we came any event was taking place, but from similar backgrounds, were nonetheless, I showed up wearing from major US cities (Chicago and my BDU top, along with all of my Detroit); or maybe it’s because our badges and regalia that I earned states are blue ones, or possibly during my term of service to our because we both were somewhat country. Other veterans filtered educated (Dave is now a senior at onto the site, wearing the same. SIU, and I am a junior at DePaul We embraced one another, shar- University). Who knows for sure? ing our pain, allowing ourselves But one thing that is most signifi- to be healed by touch and mutual cant now is the fact that we are both understanding of what we had ex- against this senseless war. Both of Dave Adams and Adam Navarro-Lowery at Memorial Day, Chicago perienced while serving our great us have seen the impact firsthand, addressed the crowd of veterans World War II, the Korean War, and nation in the US military. I remem- Dave in Iraq and I in Kosovo. and media, Dave and I were asked other conflicts such as Somalia, ber it clearly. I coincidentally ran We have seen our friends’ names to speak as veterans of the recent Grenada, Lebanon, Bosnia, and into Dave Adams, who served with show up among the dead. We have conflicts and to honor those who Kosovo. They remained standing me at the 101st Airborne Division. seen many come back missing had fallen. I noticed that all the me- with us. Feeling the pain. We were friends there, and we al- limbs, mangled, their lives forever dia outlets like NBC and CBS had ways related to each other on many changed. We have one friend who packed up and left. I was shocked Adam C. Navarro-Lowery served topics—mostly asking ourselves was lost in a series of makeshift by that. It sent a very clear message proudly for over three years why we were there, taking orders field hospitals, which worsened to me. I realized that Americans in the US Army military police from some sergeant who’d barely his injuries and condition before do not want to listen, hear, or see corps, 101st Airborne Division, graduated high school (or did not, they “found” him. His wife left what is going on over there in Iraq deployed to Kosovo for a six- putting it as nicely as I can.) Dave him, saying that she “would not and Afghanistan. They couldn’t month tour, and was honorably and I froze for a moment as we take care of a retard.” Many sad care less. I do not understand this discharged in 2003. He is a looked into each other’s eyes and stories like this have come about country. Why do we not honor senior sales executive for an then immediately embraced each because of the deception that was those who sacrifice themselves? online company headquartered other. We were shocked, mostly used to get the American people The only ones who remained to in Chicago and a full-time from the fact that we were just to somehow support this war. listen to the story were the other economics student at DePaul happy to see we were both alive After Senator Yarborough veterans, veterans of Vietnam, University. Fall 2006 THE VETERAN 13 VVAW Member Visits Iran Stanley Campbell The second Fellowship of Rec- world, instead of trying to acquire onciliation (www.forusa.org) them, should abolish nukes. delegation to Iran met with human- Our peace delegation was rights educators, environmental- well received, and we went to Shi- ists, students, women’s groups, raz, Isfahan, and Qom (the Vatican religious leaders, and veterans. of the Shiites, although it looked Twenty-three American peace more like Vegas). In Natanz, we activists, myself included, landed visited an orphanage and saw a in Tehran for a whirlwind tour: five nuclear facility surrounded by cities in twelve days, in an “Axis antiaircraft artillery. of Evil” country on the verge of Because of the Iranian presi- acquiring nuclear reactors. Three dent’s letter, we were interviewed of us were veterans; I was the only by the BBC, CNN, Reuters, and VVAW member. the Associated Press. (Democracy First, let me say that the Ira- Now ran a clip—thanks, Amy!) nian people send you their love. We met more officials than ex- Their new president just sent a pected; most of them began with letter to Bush outlining grievances religious litanies and exhortations but offering dialogue. This hit the to become Shiite. Those guys news as we arrived in Tehran. are more evangelical than Billy Stanley Campbell and Moksan Maksani Iranians consistently asked, “What Graham! do you think of Bush?” “Will he On the way home, the US sec- In Tehran, we visited the since World War I, and Iraq used read the letter?” and “What do you retary of state said she was going to International Centre for Training chemical weapons. think of our nuclear program?” hire more Farsi-speaking experts. and Treatment of the Victims of Moksan Maksani, one of I apologized for my president, About time! Our government Chemical Warfare. Most of them Iran’s soldiers, threw himself on saying that I doubted he would hasn’t had diplomatic relations had been injured during the ten- the front. He had lost two hands read the letter. I said that nuclear with Iran since 1979, except for year Iran-Iraq war. Iran, led by and was chemically blinded, but power is too expensive and that I trading arms for hostages. I gave fanatical mullahs who didn’t know he sat before us, twenty-three don’t trust governments to keep it my five-CD collection of “Basic military tactics from morning American peace activists who’d safe. We also said that the United Farsi” to Condi. It was the least prayers, sent wave after volunteer just gotten off the plane. Iranian States must stop producing nuclear I could do to get my government wave of young, idealistic cannon weapons and that the rest of the to talk peace. fodder. It was the longest stalemate continued on page 15 VVAW Joins Antiwar Groups on Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young Tour Michael Rinaman This summer, from July 6 to groups in each tour city and “The tour really motivated our growing working alliance.” September 10, Vietnam Veterans the CSNY outreach program’s members. They were pumped In the future, the organizers Against the War joined other leadership. up,” McCann said. “The response of the outreach program would veterans and military families VVAW and IVAW had strong was overwhelmingly positive.” like to work with another tour; for an outreach program on the turnouts at many of the arenas, Not only did the tour stoke the names like Springsteen are being Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young including those in Montreal, ambitions of group members, but thrown into the mix. They hope (CSNY) “Freedom of Speech Denver, Portland, Fresno, it also resulted in numerous people to process the feedback from this ‘06” tour. Concord, Irving, Los Angeles, signing up to volunteer. summer’s work and continue to At concerts in over thirty and Milwaukee. During shows The CSNY tour was the get the message out about the war cities across the United States in these cities, local members first in what McCann hopes and its effects. (and two in Canada) VVAW, turned out to staff a designated to be many similar ventures. Iraq Veterans Against the War table stocked with free literature, “This summer allowed these Michael Rinaman provides (IVAW), Veterans For Peace, buttons, a sign-up sheet, and a organizations to deepen their staffing assistance for VVAW in Military Families Speak Out, and donation bucket. They were also working relationship. It is a Chicago. Gold Star Families for Peace took on hand to discuss veterans’ issues turns distributing information to and antiwar sentiments with the the crowd. crowd throughout the evening. Cooperating with the tour The tour, featuring the music and the band (an idea of Veterans of seventies artists Crosby, Stills, For Peace) allowed for a new Nash, and Young, was the perfect space to debate issues that have venue for the veterans’ groups to recently been pushed to the convey their messages. “That’s our side. “We were on the margins age group. That’s our political base,” of debate at the start of the Iraq said McCann. With thousands of War,” said Washington DC VVAW members of that base on hand contact Patrick McCann, “and for the concert, the volunteers the tour allowed us to be at the were able to share information, center.” McCann, also a member get the attention of a massive of Veterans For Peace, served as group of interested listeners, and Tracey Sperko & John Zutz provide information from the veteran’s table at the the liaison between the veterans’ get people invested in the cause. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young “Freedom of Speech” concert in Milwaukee. 14 THE VETERAN Fall 2006 A Slice of History Dave Kettenhofen (reviewer) Winter Soldier tremely moving experience; there Directed by Michael Lesser is really nothing to add—the testi- (Milliarium Zero and monies tell it all. It’s about inno- Winterfilm, 2005) cence lost. It’s about taking a stand www.wintersoldierfilm.com against what is morally wrong. It is about being a patriot! It’s hard to shake the brutal honesty There are some out there of this film. So many young men (Swift Boat liars and the like) who baring their souls in the hopes that have attacked the Winter Soldier their country would come to its Investigation and its participants senses and stop the murderous war as lacking credibility and being in Vietnam. Originally released in fraudulent. Anyone drawing that 1972, this account of the Winter conclusion after viewing the Soldier Investigation, an inquiry heartfelt testimonies portrayed into American war crimes, is now here is either wearing blinders or available in the DVD format and is a total idiot with no conscience. is an instant classic. This film is truth. The Winter Soldier Inves- The DVD contains many tigation took place in Detroit, bonus features that really make Michigan on January 31 and Feb- it a complete package. There’s a ruary 1 and 2, 1971. More than 100 discussion with the filmmakers veterans testified to war crimes in which they relate their feelings they had committed or witnessed and perceptions while making in Vietnam. Their testimonies at- the film and in the present. The tempted to show the inhumanity testimonies of veterans from the of war, illustrating how they were Americal Division and the First trained to see the enemy as less Marine Division are shown in than human, so that brutalizing separate shorts. Scott Camil is pro- them wouldn’t seem quite so bad. filed, including a recent interview Atrocities were shown not to be with him. “The Winter Soldier pher Sheldon Ramsdell. DVD to your collection. just isolated incidents but the norm Files,” which are several historical I feel that the Winter Soldier in many units. documents, are downloadable on Investigation is an iconic event in This film is mesmerizing DVD-ROM. And what I found to the histories of both VVAW and the and flows naturally. One by one, be best of all was a stills gallery antiwar movement in general. Its Dave Kettenhofen is a Vietnam these veterans relate their personal of many incredible, candid photos stories must be preserved and its veteran (1970–71), a VVAW stories of torture, racism, free-fire from Operation RAW, the Winter message must be passed on. Honor national coordinator, and zones, the burning of hamlets, Soldier Investigation, and Dewey the courage of the veterans who a member of the Milwaukee carpet bombings, etc. It is an ex- Canyon III by VVAW photogra- put it all on the line here. Add this chapter of VVAW. World’s Biggest Litter Box Bob Riggle (reviewer) A Line In The Sand gave you permission to fall down. that eat shit.” I was nothing but a shell filled By Robert Serocki, Jr. Yeah, they seem a bit humorous Robert’s inclusion of letters with death, hate and despair and (One World Press, 2006) now, but they were guaranteed to to and from home really help to was about to be unleashed into the fill a scared young man’s boxers emphasize the urgency, dread, real world.” These were Robert VVAW member Robert Serocki with a decent-sized load. and fear he must have felt. They Serocki’s thoughts and state of grew up and lived his life in the In August 1990, he and his detail daytime temperatures of up mind after returning from the Gulf. same way many of us did: play- unit were one of the first to - ar to 130 degrees, “rats as big as a While this is Robert Serocki’s ing war games with his buddies, rive in (and ultimately one of the man’s foot,” and living through story, I can’t help feel that it could protecting his little sister from very last to leave) Saudi Arabia dysentery and food poisoning also be any one of ours. bullies, and being being bullied in preparation for what would simultaneously. quite often himself. And like us, become Desert Storm. It was a “I had been turned into some- he survived. Upon graduating from land he lovingly came to refer to one else. I was a bloodthirsty killer. Bob Riggle is a VVAW member high school, he did what many of as “the world’s biggest litter box. I have lived with death’s odor.... I and the contact for Cave Creek, us also did. For whatever crazy Nothing but sand, shit, and bugs have given my life for freedom.... Arizona. reasons, he enlisted in the military. Robert Serocki was going to be a Marine! Serocki shares moments of his introduction to the “Marine Corps way” during his time in boot camp. You know, like getting poked in the eye with the rounded end of a coat hanger. Getting punched to the ground by your DI, only to have him yell at you to get the fuck up, ‘cause he never Eyes Wide Open, Ohio Fall 2006 THE VETERAN 15 Mandatory Viewing for Potential Enlistees Dave Kettenhofen (reviewer) Sir! No Sir! friends and the country in general Directed by David Zeiger and to the Vietnamese.” Many re- (Displaced Films, 2006) turning soldiers, like Cline, went www.sirnosir.com on to educate new recruits to the reality of the war. They took part Wow, this film must be subversive! in rap sessions at the coffeehouses How dare anyone challenge the located outside military installa- popular, ongoing efforts to rewrite tions and published underground the history of the Vietnam War? newspapers. Through these and Writer, producer, and director other efforts, the GI resistance David Zeiger does just that. He rapidly expanded to installations has put together a comprehensive, throughout the world. tightly woven look at the GI re- The film touches all the sistance to the war, and one that bases. It covers the prosecution of doesn’t cast the dissenting soldiers those who refused to go to Viet- as traitors. nam, the deserters, the jail inmate Most of those who came to rebellions, fraggings, mutinies, resist the war effort were disillu- GI coffeehouses, underground sioned young people who initially newspapers, Jane Fonda’s FTA felt they were doing the right thing. tours, VVAW’s Winter Soldier Donald Duncan, ex-Green Beret, Investigation and Dewey Canyon sets the tone early on by stating, III, the black soldiers’ solidarity “I was really proud of what I movement, general insubordina- thought I was doing. The problem tion, and more. Various landmark I had was realizing what I was events are highlighted as the war doing was not good. I was doing resistance grows larger and more it right, but I wasn’t doing right.” powerful through the years. Also What many troops experienced or shown is the government’s reac- witnessed forced them to follow tion and often violent response their consciences and take stances to the movement. This history against the war. There were others has been largely ignored. Com- veterans who were part of the is a counter-recruiting video that who came to this realization even menting on the foggy memory of antiwar movement. The editing compares statistical data from the before going to Vietnam. All are many historians for events of this job is wonderful; the film flows Vietnam and Iraq wars, urging us portrayed here. period, Jerry Lembcke says, “This effortlessly and is never boring. to “starve the beast,” with great Dave Cline, after relating a is an important piece we’re talk- Though not stated, this film draws hip-hop accompaniment by the very traumatic combat experience, ing about. How memory about the very obvious parallels to the war Coup. says, “When you just went through war has been rewritten, has been in Iraq and the growing GI and an experience of that nature, and reconstructed. This is gone. This veteran resistance to it. A power- you find out that it’s all lies, and has been erased. This has been ful counter-recruiting tool, this that it’s lying to the American displaced.” movie should be mandatory for people, and your silence means Zeiger’s award-winning anyone considering a venture into Dave Kettenhofen is a Vietnam that you’re part of keeping that lie documentary is a collection of the military ranks. veteran (1970–71), a VVAW going, I couldn’t stop. I mean, I film and photos from Vietnam Also included on this DVD is national coordinator, and couldn’t be silent. You know, I felt and other locales interspersed a largely animated short, the Ruck- a member of the Milwaukee that I had a responsibility to my with present-day interviews of us Society’s Punk Ass Crusade. It chapter of VVAW.

VVAW Member Visits Iran

continued from page 13 dignitaries watched our response. that the Bulls had lost Michael Jor- Moksan spoke softly in self-taught dan. I wish I could bring Moksan English. He was “defending his to America to speak about how country,” but war “had bitter veterans can lead their countries consequences” and there must be away from the battlefield. a better way. “Americans have helped the world,” he said, and he counts as his heroes Jefferson Director of Rockford Urban and Washington. He said that Ministries for the past twenty “Americans support individual years, VVAW member Stanley rights” and “the US should lead Campbell has traveled to the world to peace.” Nicaragua (1985), to Guatemala He spoke as if he were a (1986), with VVAW to Vietnam VVAW member—from the heart. (1987), to occupied Palestine, Stephen Fryburg, veteran and director of the Dayton Peace Museum, Frank Gatti of NJ Vets For Peace, and Stanley Campbell (VVAW) I gave Moksan a VVAW pin and a and to Columbia as a VVAW salute the Iran veterans cemetery and vow no more war. baseball cap with Chicago Bulls rep (both 1988). Campbell also NBA championship insignia. He met with veterans in Sarajevo in mentioned how unfortunate it was 1996. 16 THE VETERAN Fall 2006 Speech to International Agent Orange Conference in Vietnam, March 29, 2006 David Cline First, let me thank the Vietnam connection to dioxin exposure. 1971. After that, they gave their other friends of Vietnam. We are Association of Victims of Agent The next year, 1978, a veteran remaining supplies to the former supporting the international peti- Orange/Dioxin for organizing this named Paul Reutershan, who was army of the Republic of Vietnam, tion drive in support of the VAVA international conference, and the sick with cancer, got on television who continued to use them until lawsuit, and we recently sponsored Agent Orange vets from Korea, and said, “My government killed 1975, when that regime ceased a ten-city speaking tour by four Australia, New Zealand, and me in Vietnam, and I didn’t even to exist. VAVA members. Canada who have traveled here know it.” He began a lawsuit In VVAW, our demand has We are also planning to to participate. The US delegation against the chemical companies always been for testing, treatment, encourage sympathetic represen- I am leading is made up of Agent who manufactured Agent Orange, and compensation for Agent Or- tatives and senators to introduce Orange vets Frank Corcoran, Blue, White, Purple, etc., but he ange victims. We never thought legislation in Congress for the Joan Duffy, Ralph Steele, and never lived to see that lawsuit the lawsuit against the chemical US government to step up to the Dan Shea. completed, because he died within companies was the answer, but plate and provide compensation I was an infantryman with the year. rather a way to continue putting and medical assistance, if not for the 25th Infantry Division in Cu The reason that this lawsuit pressure on the US government. political reasons, then for moral Chi and Tay Ninh in 1967 and was was started was because the VA Finally, progress was made and humanitarian purposes. It is wounded three times, but I do not was denying veterans’ claims for on that front when in 1991, Con- time to really heal the wounds of suffer from dioxin-related health medical treatment and compen- gress passed the Agent Orange that war, not to ignore them or let conditions myself. sation, and according to US law, Act, acknowledging several con- them fade into history. When I came back from the citizens cannot sue the govern- ditions as being dioxin-related for Let me make one last point. war, I had knowledge of the use ment for these types of claims. purposes of medical treatment and This is a struggle to expose and of Agent Orange from having From 1978 to 1984, the lawsuit disability compensation. It also end the use of chemical weapons seen sprayed areas. I knew that continued, and it was eventually established a mechanism for the by all nations, but especially by it destroyed nature, but I had no settled, although many veterans National Academy of Sciences my government. This is not just knowledge of the negative ef- opposed the settlement for mil- Institute of Medicine to review about something that happened fects this defoliant had on human lions of dollars. Sadly, many vet- new studies and make recom- over thirty years ago. Today, the beings. erans got very little of that money, mendations to the secretary of the Bush administration has led our In 1969, a veteran I knew since the army of lawyers who got Department of Veterans Affairs country and the world into another named Jeff Sharlett died of cancer involved got a good portion of it for expanding the recognized invasion and occupation, this time at age twenty-seven in the Mi- in legal fees. conditions. in Iraq, and is now used depleted ami, Florida, veterans’ hospital, I have been a member of Currently, there are thirteen uranium that will, in time, poison and I remember thinking it was Vietnam Veterans Against the War conditions acknowledged by the US troops and Iraqi citizens. They strange that someone so young since 1970, and that organization VA, including two conditions have also used white phosphorous had cancer. played a critical role in launch- among veterans’ children. But bombs against whole cities, like Over the years, other friends ing the movement for justice for over twenty-seven conditions Fallujah. of mine got sick or had deformed Agent Orange vets, supporting have been rejected, since the Insti- It is time for humanity to de- children, or sometimes died. Mike Maude DeVictor, who became tute of Medicine found insufficient mand an end to these weapons as Keegan and John Miffin, who died, the godmother of the movement, scientific research to indicate a part of our efforts to abolish war. and John and Rena Kopystenski, recruiting veterans to join the connection to dioxin exposure. That is what Veterans for Peace who had several children with lawsuit, and raising general public So many veterans are still is pledged to work for. That will birth defects, are among them. So awareness of this issue. not being treated with any fair- only come through the determined this issue has always been personal But we always believed that, ness. And how does someone give efforts of all of us, throughout the for me. while the chemical companies had justice to all those who have died? world. In 1977, a woman named responsibility and should be held The hidden casualties of the Viet- The great American aboli- Maude DeVictor, who worked as liable, the primary responsibil- nam War continue to grow, but the tionist Frederick Douglass said, a claims representative at the Vet- ity lay with the US government, struggle continues as well. “If there is no struggle there is erans Administration in Chicago, which ordered and continued to And today we need to talk no progress. Those who profess was the first person to really put use these poisons after they were about the other side of the coin: to favor freedom and yet depre- two and two together when she becoming aware of the negative not just American, Korean, Aus- cate agitation, are men who want witnessed the VA higher-ups deny- effects on people. Instead of tralian, New Zealand, and Cana- crops without plowing up the ing veterans’ claims and covering changing course, they covered up dian veterans, but the people of ground, they want rain without up their health problems and the the facts and kept using them until Vietnam as well. Remember also thunder and lightning. They want that these chemicals were also the ocean without the awful roar used in parts of Cambodia and of its many waters. This struggle Laos, as well as along the DMZ may be a moral one, or it may be in Korea and in Panama. a physical one, and it may be both In the United States, we be- moral and physical, but it must be a gan the Vietnam Agent Orange Re- struggle. Power concedes nothing lief and Responsibility Campaign without a demand. It never did and to support the efforts of VAVA and it never will.” to join with concerned veterans With that as our watchword, and people in other countries to let’s make this conference a call to demand Justice for all Agent Or- all the people of the world. Justice ange victims. for all Agent Orange victims! While the campaign is spon- sored by Veterans for Peace, it is made up of war veterans, David Cline is a national Dave Cline, Ralph Steele, Joan Duffy, Frank Corcoran, and Dan Shea behind Mrs. Vietnam 2005, Doan Thi Kim Hong, Vietnamese Americans, peace coordiantor of Vietnam Veterans performing songs for children at a hospice near Cu Chi activists, environmentalists, and Aganst the War. Fall 2006 THE VETERAN 17 VVAW in Action

Ben Chitty and Dayl Wise joined a contingent of about sixty members of VVAW, Marty Webster VVAW & Jerry Smith VVAW met with a high school Veterans For Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Military Families Speak Students Against the War group in Cincinnati in August Out at a march and rally at the United Nations to protest the president’s speech on September 19, 2006. For more info about VVAW activities in the New York metro area, leave a message for Ben Chitty at (212) 726-0557

Ray Parrish at Air & Water Show, Chicago

VVAW member Jerry Smith and Cindy Sheehan at a book signing in Cincinnati on June 10th

Mike Newland, Eyes Wide Open, Columbus, Ohio

Barry Romo, Memorial Day 2006, Chicago David Cline at recent press conference 18 THE VETERAN Fall 2006 Iraq Veterans Against the War: New Board, New Projects Hannah Frisch

At the Veterans For Peace con- vention in August, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) replaced its temporary board (made up half of Iraq veterans and half of older vets) and elected a nine-member board, including Kelly Dougherty, president; Jose Vasquez, vice- president; Patrick Resta, secretary; Joe Hatcher, treasurer; and direc- tors Joshua Castel, Tim Goodrich, Tomas Young, Charlie Anderson, and Garrett Reppenhagen. The board will have its first meeting on September 24 in Philadelphia. They plan to hire a full-time ex- ecutive director from among the IVAW membership. This August, IVAW again As the Veteran goes to press, the one done by VVAW during the tables, speak onstage, and sell participated in Camp Casey in IVAW members are participating Vietnam War. merchandise. Crawford, Texas, outside Bush’s in Camp Democracy in Washing- Board member Joe Hatcher Thanks to IVAW members ranch. They count it as a success ton DC. is working on getting an IVAW Charlie Anderson and Kelly that Camp Casey kept Bush from IVAW members participated bus or van to tour with different Dougherty for contributing infor- having his normal five-week in a team that went to New Orleans bands and do outreach to veter- mation for this story. vacation there. IVAW members to help rebuild after the damage ans. A counter-recruitment tour also traveled to nearby Fort from Hurricane Katrina. More of several bands is already in Hood, where they held antiwar members will go throughout the progress (in addition to the sum- Hannah Frisch has been an demonstrations and reached out fall, including a November group mer tour of Crosby, Stills, Nash, activist since the civil rights and to the active-duty soldiers on the in which Iraq veterans will be and Young), and three bands have Vietnam eras. She began working base. When they leafleted soldiers paired with inner-city youth from expressed interest in having IVAW with VVAW in 2001 and is now there, they got positive responses Los Angeles. There are plans to tour with them, set up information part of VVAW’s national staff. 80–90% of the time. They handed hold a retreat that will include out hundreds of cards with the GI both veterans’ peer counseling and Rights Hotline number and did an work on rebuilding New Orleans. We have started placing ads for our military counseling program and intensive sticker campaign. It was IVAW is seeking financial support for Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) into college and alternative impossible to buy gas, order food, to enable members to travel to New press newspapers. We are starting with San Francisco and Colorado or use a public washroom in the Orleans. (Send checks to IVAW, Springs, because these are cities with active IVAW chapters; this town without seeing the sticker PO Box 8296, Philadelphia, PA way the ads will be as useful as possible in connecting antiwar Iraq with the GI Rights Hotline phone 19101.) vets with IVAW. If the ads seem to be successful, we will expand to number. The hotline has reported Members have also started other cities. an upsurge in calls from Fort Hood a political action committee, Iraq as a result. IVAW is making plans Veterans for Progress, that will The following is the text of the ads: to do more long-term outreach at support antiwar candidates in the Fort Hood. November elections. Candidates Outside Fort Hood, IVAW must favor starting an immediate showed Sir! No Sir!, the new withdrawal of troops from Iraq, to documentary about the GI resis- be completed within six months, VETERANS: tance during the Vietnam War. The and they must favor mandatory showing was attended by some ac- funding for the VA. The PAC will PROBLEMS WITH STRESS, VA BENEFITS, BAD tive-duty personnel from the base. not send money directly to the DISCHARGE, ETC.? At Camp Casey, antiwar soldier candidates but will use money Contact Vietnam Veterans Against the War Military Mark Wilkerson publicly turned collected to send Iraq veterans to Counseling Project himself in after being AWOL for work on the campaigns. Races in 773-561-VVAW or [email protected] eighteen months. IVAW is sup- California and Iowa are the first www.vvaw.org porting Mark, Sgt. Rick Clousing, races that the PAC will support. Lt. Ehren Watada, Spc. Agustin IVAW is supporting the “Ap- OPPOSE THE WAR? Aguayo (who refused to deploy peal for Redress,” a signature cam- Call Iraq Veterans Against the War to Iraq from Germany), and Susan paign for active-duty, reserve, and [local phone] or [local email] Swift (who went AWOL as a result National Guard members calling www.ivaw.net of sexual assault). on Congress to support a speedy In August, six female IVAW withdrawal from Iraq. They are Other Resources: members went to the Code Pink also planning a return of medals. GI Rights Hotline 800-394-9544 retreat in Austin, Texas. They were Events may include returning one Military Law Task Force www.nlg.org/mltf able to get to know the Code Pink medal to congressional represen- members and discuss common tatives and a medal-throwing like issues. Fall 2006 THE VETERAN 19 Depleted Uranium Situation Worsens Doug Rokke The delivery of at least one hun- or Armor which Contain Depleted Mass.; Jefferson Proving Grounds, release, or potential release, into dred GBU-28 “bunker buster” Uranium” (Department of the Indiana; and Schofield Barracks, the environment of radioactive bombs containing depleted-urani- Army, July 1996). Specifically, Hawaii. Therefore, medical care material in sufficient quantity to um warheads by the United States Section 2-4 of United States Army must be provided by the United warrant consideration of protec- to Israel for use against targets in Regulation 700-48 (dated Septem- States Department of Defense tive actions. Use of an RDD or IND Lebanon will result in additional ber 16, 2002) requires that: to all individuals affected by the is an act of terror that produces a radioactive and chemical toxic manufacturing, testing, or use of radiological incident.” Thus, the contamination, with consequent (1) Military personnel identify, uranium munitions. Thorough use of uranium munitions is an adverse health and environmen- segregate, isolate, secure, and environmental remediation also “act or terror,” as defined by DHS. tal effects throughout the Middle label all RCE (radiologically must be completed without further Finally, continued compliance East. Israeli tank gunners are contaminated equipment), delay. with the infamous March 1991 also using depleted-uranium tank I am amazed that fifteen years Los Alamos memorandum that rounds, as photographs verify. (2) Procedures to minimize the after was I asked to clean up the was issued to ensure continued Today, US, British, and spread of radioactivity will be im- initial DU mess from Gulf War I, use of uranium munitions cannot now Israeli military personnel plemented as soon as possible, and over ten years since I finished be justified. are using illegal uranium muni- the depleted-uranium project, US In conclusion, the president tions—America and the United (3) Radioactive material and waste Department of Defense officials of the United States, the prime Kingdom’s own “dirty bombs”— will not be locally disposed of and others still attempt to justify minister of the United Kingdom, while US Army, US Department through burial, submersion, in- the use of uranium munitions and the prime minister of Israel of Energy, US Department of cineration, destruction in place, while ignoring mandatory require- must acknowledge and accept Defense (DOD), and UK Ministry or abandonment, and ments. I am dismayed that DOD responsibility for the willful use of of Defence officials deny that there and Department of Energy offi- illegal uranium munitions—their are any adverse health or environ- (4) All equipment, to include cials and representatives continue own “dirty bombs”—resulting in mental effects as a consequence of captured or combat RCE, will be making personal attacks aimed to adverse health and environmental the manufacture, testing, or use of surveyed, packaged, retrograded, silence or discredit those of us who effects. uranium munitions, so that they decontaminated and released. are demanding that medical care President Bush, Prime Min- may avoid liability for the willful be provided to all DU casualties ister Blair, and Prime Minister and illegal dispersal of a radio- The previous and current use and that environmental remedia- Olmert should order medical care active toxic material—depleted of uranium weapons, the release tion is completed in compliance for all casualties and thorough uranium (DU). of radioactive components in with US Army Regulation 700-48. environmental remediation, and The use of uranium weapons destroyed US and foreign mili- But beyond the ignored manda- stop the illegal use of depleted- is absolutely unacceptable and a tary equipment, and releases of tory actions, the willful dispersal uranium munitions. crime against humanity. Conse- industrial, medical, and research- of tons of solid radioactive and quently, the citizens of the world facility radioactive materials have chemically toxic waste in the form and all governments must force resulted in unacceptable expo- of uranium munitions is illegal the cessation of uranium weapons sures. Therefore, decontamination and does not even pass the test of Doug Rokke is a Vietnam veteran use. I must demand that Israel now must be completed as required common sense. and the former director of the provide medical care to all DU by US Army Regulation 700-48 According to the US De- US Army Depleted Uranium casualties in Lebanon and clean and should include releases of all partment of Homeland Security Project. He has a PhD in health up all DU contamination. radioactive materials resulting (DHS), DU is a “dirty bomb.” The physics and was originally American and British of- from military operations. department issued “dirty bomb” trained as a forensic scientist. ficials have arrogantly refused to The extent of the adverse response guidelines on January When the Gulf War started in comply with their own regulations, health and environmental effects 3, 2006 for incidents within the 1991, he was assigned to prepare orders, and directives that require of uranium weapons contami- United States, ignoring DOD use soldiers to respond to nuclear, DOD officials to provide prompt nation is not limited to combat of uranium weapons and existing biological, and chemical and effective medical care to all zones but includes facilities and DOD regulations. These guide- warfare, and was sent to the exposed individuals (“Medical sites where uranium weapons lines specifically state that “a Gulf. What he experienced has Management of Unusual Depleted were manufactured or tested, radiological incident is defined as made him a passionate voice for Uranium Casualties,” DOD, including Vieques; Puerto Rico; an event or series of events, delib- peace, traveling the country to Pentagon, 10/14/93; “Medical Colonie, New York; Concord, erate or accidental, leading to the speak out. Management of Army Personnel Exposed to Depleted Uranium (DU),” US Army Medical Com- mand, 4/29/04; Section 2-5 of US Army Regulation 700-48). They also refuse to clean up dispersed radioactive contamina- tion, as required by Army Regu- lation 700-48, “Management of Equipment Contaminated With Depleted Uranium or Radioac- tive Commodities” (Department of the Army, September 2002) and US Army Technical Bulletin 9-1300-278, “Guidelines for Safe Response to Handling, Storage, and Transportation Accidents Involving Army Tank Munitions 20 THE VETERAN Fall 2006 Five Years After 9/11: Now What? Horace Coleman

The fifth anniversary of 9/11 fell in Iraq. “I’m from the old school. their soothing words, their pleas- should have. After all, the last I on a Monday in 2006. TV, news- Certain people walk on water. The ant personality, or their nice smile. heard of Santa Claus, he was sup- papers, radio, and magazines were president of the United States is Not even your mama—she might posedly headed for Iran. full of stories about it. The Sunday one of them.” be lying about that bicycle for The current regime is peo- newspaper supplement Parade Sekzer describes his reaction, Christmas. pled by theorists more interested was published on September 10 when he heard Bush say there was There’s no draft, and it’s in political ideology than reality this year. In it was an “as-told-to” no evidence linking Saddam Hus- hard to get enough people to en- and practicality. The majority of story about a guy named Wilton sein to 9/11, this way: “I almost list. No Iraqi oil is paying for the the electorate seems to have a “let’s Sekzer. jumped out of my chair. I said, war there. No tax increase here is you and him go fight while I go Sekzer, a Vietnam veteran, ‘What is he talking about? What helping to pay for this side trip. shopping” attitude. Collectively, had a son named Jason. Who the hell did we go in there for? If Instead, there’s a ballooning trade it has bad judgment, less sense, worked at the World Trade Center. Saddam didn’t have anything to deficit, mounting national debt, an no reliable information, and little In Building One, on the 105th do with 9/11, then why did we go economy that’s slip-sliding, invol- foresight. Our “leadership” seems floor. Where Cantor Fitzgerald, in there?’ ” untary extensions in the war zone, to be worse—when it does any- the firm that lost more than 600 Good questions. Unfortu- and redeployments there. thing other than bringing home employees on 9/11, had offices. nately, not enough people have the Troops suffer while the the bacon, featherbedding, and Wilton Sekzer describes him- sense or courage to ask them. A military industrial complex that log rolling. self as “a retired New York City smug fog of refusing to make that President (and former soldier) Winston Churchill suppos- cop. I mean, who am I?” To me, realization, ducking the burden, Eisenhower warned us about edly said, “Democracy is the worst Sekzer comes off as a (formerly) and jingoism covers the country. grows obese on excessively lucra- form of government—except for true-believing, 100% red-blooded Sekzer is blunt: “I feel that the tive contracts and subcontracts. all the others.” Makes you go patriot—and no fool. “I volun- government exploited my feelings Civilians proudly “support our hmm. Cynicism is no substitute teered for Vietnam in July 1965,” of patriotism. But I was so insane troops” by patting themselves on for reasonable and responsible he says. “I grew up knowing that with wanting to get even, I was the back for staying the wrong action, however; neither is passing you were expected to answer willing to believe anything.” course. the buck or doing nothing. And if when your country made the call. You see a green guy run out Of course, some people do we’re flattening the globe into a There was no such thing as ‘Well, of your house, carrying your DVD walk on water. For about two steps. piratical corporatocracy, where’s I wonder if my country’s right? Is player and dropping your silver- Don’t let them take you down with my share of the loot? Where’s anybody lying to me about this?’ ware. You can’t catch him, so you them. All lifesavers learn that. yours? You grew up saying, ‘If the bugle beat up the purple guy standing To quote Wilton Sekzer calls, you go.’ ” on the corner three blocks away, again, “It’s a terrible thing if Saddened and angered by because you know he’s a thief and someone like me can’t trust his his son’s death, Sekzer wanted you never liked him anyway. president. I began to wonder what The old school I attended the hell’s with the whole system.” revenge. He believed Bush and Horace Coleman is a veteran, taught me to not believe anyone It is terrible. But you’re better off if the party line. He emailed mili- poet and writer. He is also a without reservations. Not because you wonder and then act to satisfy tary branches, asking to have his VVAW contact in California. son’s name put on ordnance used of your relationship with them, the curiosity and skepticism you Fall 2006 THE VETERAN 21 Agent Orange Updates

compiled by John Zutz

Agent Orange Illnesses b. Dermatofibrosacoma protu- only the nervous system outside Covered birth defects include, but That Effect Veterans berans, the brain and spinal cord. are not limited to, the following c. Malignant fibrous histicytoma 11. Diabetes mellitus: Often re- conditions: [Source: NAUS Weekly Update d. Liposarcoma, ferred to as Type 2 diabetes: - a for 22 AUG 03 & POVA VSO msg e. Leiomyosarcoma, condition characterized by high 1) achondroplasia, 28 JUL 04] f. Malignant granular cell tumor, blood sugar levels resulting from 2) cleft lip and cleft palate, g. Alveolar soft part sarcoma, the body’s inability to respond 3) congenital heart disease, The following health conditions h. Rhabdomysarcoma, properly to the hormone insulin. 4) congenital talipes equinovarus are presumed to be caused by i. Ectomesenchymoma, (clubfoot), Agent Orange. Vietnam vets do j. Malignant glomus tumor, 12. Chronic lymphocytic leu- 5) esophageal and intestinal not have to prove that the illness k. Malignant hemangiopericy- kemia (Final rule and regulations atresia, is related to their military service, toma, pending). 6) Hallerman-Streiff syndrome, and may be able to get disability l. Malignant Schwannoma, 7) hip dysplasia, compensation. m. Malignant mesenchymoma, Occasionally the VA sees combat 8) Hirschprung’s disease (con- n. Epithelioid sarcoma, veterans with multiple unexplained genital megacolon), 1. Chloracne (must occur within o. Extraskeletal Ewing’s sar- symptoms or difficult-to-diagnose 9) hydrocephalus due to aqueduc- 1 year of exposure to Agent Or- coma, illnesses that can cause signifi- tal stenosis, ange) - a skin condition that looks p. Congenital and infantile fibro- cant disability. Two VA centers 10) hypospadias, like common forms of acne seen sarcoma, offer specialized evaluations for 11) imperforate anus, in teenagers. The first sign may q. Malignant ganglioneuroma, combat veterans with disabilities 12) neural tube defects, be excessive oiliness of the skin. r. Epitheloid Leiomysarcoma related to these difficult-to-diag- 13) Poland syndrome, This is accompanied or followed (malignant meiomyblastoma), nose illnesses. The War Related 14) pyloric stenosis, by numerous blackheads. In mild s. Angiosarcoma (hemangiosar- Illness and Injury Study Centers 15) syndactyly (fused digits), cases, the blackheads may be lim- coma and lymphagiosarcoma), - WRIISCs (pronounced “risks”) 16) tracheoesophageal fistula, ited to the areas around the eyes t. Proliferating (systemic) angio- are at the VA Medical Centers in 17) undescended testicle, and extending to the temples. In more endotheliomatosis, Washington, DC, and East Orange, 18) Williams syndrome. severe cases, blackheads may ap- u. Clear cell sarcoma of tendons NJ. Veterans who were deployed pear in many places, especially and aponeuroses, to combat zones, served in areas ** Not covered are conditions over the cheekbone and other v. Synovial sarcoma (malignant where hostilities occurred, or were that are congenital malignant neo- facial areas, behind the ears, and synovioma), exposed to environmental hazards plasms, chromosomal disorders, along the arms. w. Malignant giant cell tumor of while on duty may be eligible for or developmental disorders. In tendon sheath. services. addition, conditions that do not 2. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma result in permanent physical or - a group of malignant tumors 6. Porphyria cutanea tarda (must Agent Orange Illnesses that mental disability are not covered (cancers) that affect the lymph occur within 1 year of exposure.) effect Veteran’s Kids birth defects. All birth defects glands and other lymphatic tis- - a disorder characterized by liver that are not excluded under the sue. These tumors are relatively dysfunction and by thinning and [Source: Extracted from Agent language above are covered birth rare compared to other types of blistering of the skin in sun-ex- Orange Review, Vol. 19, No 2, defects cancer, and although survival rates posed areas. Dated July 2003] have improved during the past two decades, these diseases tend 7. Multiple myeloma - cancer of The following health conditions to be fatal. specific bone marrow cells that are presumed to be caused by is characterized by bone marrow Agent Orange. Vietnam veteran’s 3. Hodgkin’s disease - a malignant tumors in various bones of the children do not have to prove lymphoma characterized by pro- body. that their illness is related to gressive enlargement of the lymph their parent’s military service, nodes, liver, and spleen, and by 8. Respiratory cancers, includ- and may be able to get disability progressive anemia. ing cancers of the lung, larynx, compensation. trachea, and bronchus. (Previ- 4. Kaposi’s sarcoma or mesothe- ously these conditions must have 1. Spina bifida (except spina bifida lioma manifested within 30 years of the occulta): A neural tube birth defect veteran’s departure from Vietnam that results from the failure of the 5. Soft tissue sarcoma other than to qualify but this 30 year time bony portion of the spine to close osteosarcoma and chondrosar- limit has now been eliminated. properly in the developing fetus coma - a group of different types during early pregnancy. of malignant tumors (cancers) 9. Prostate cancer - one of the most that arise from body tissues such common cancers among men. 2. Other birth defects identified as muscle, fat, blood and lymph by VA as being associated with vessels, and connective tissues 10. Peripheral neuropathy (tran- the service of women Vietnam (not in hard tissue such as bone sient acute or subacute - must veterans, and that has resulted, or or cartilage). These cancers are in appear within 1 year of exposure may result, in permanent physical the soft tissue that occurs within and resolve within 2-years of or mental disability. However, the and between organs. The follow- date of onset) - a nervous system term does not include a condition ing conditions fall under the term condition that causes numbness, due to a familial (this is, inherited) created by Robert Spicher “soft-tissue sarcoma): tingling, and muscle weakness. disorder; birth-related injury; or This condition affects only the fetal or neonatal infirmity with a. Adult fibrosarcoma, peripheral nervous system, that is, other well-established causes. 22 THE VETERAN Fall 2006 A World in the Afterword

Jan Curry (reviewer)

World Trade Center horror, the fear, and the inability to scarcity—at least to those of us have put on his uniform for the Directed by Oliver Stone communicate with their husbands. who are committed to tracing ac- search, so dedicated to military (Paramount Pictures, 2006) This in turn deepens the emotional curately the global impact and im- service that when asked by a fel- connections, both between the plications of 9/11. Among these, low rescuer for a shorter name New Yorker critic David Denby spouses separated by the disaster, three stand out. Just after the tow- for quicker communication, he applauds Oliver Stone’s World and between the two men, for a ers are hit, we are shown splices answers, “Sergeant Karns.” Ex- Trade Center, not only as a pow- key to their own developing bond of half a dozen places around the treme or not, he is validated in erful celebration of courage and is the ways in which they talk to world in which people are being that he is the key human link for strength, but also as a personal each other about their wives. At drawn to their televisions to see the trapped officers, the very dif- “coming home” for “warrior” one point, Sergeant McLoughlin the unbelievable. At the remove ference between their lives and Stone after the odyssey from (though a man of few words) says of five years after the event, this their deaths. In the Douglas piece, Salvador through Platoon to Born to Officer Jimeno, “I have the right segment can almost remind one of when asked about this Marine on the Fourth of July. Stone, in an wife”; coming as it does amid the how much the global community character’s statement that the at- interview with Edward Douglas full spectrum of his images of the shared the shock and sadness, tacks were “an act of war,” Stone for ComingSoon.net, says that it is marriage—from banality to the later overshadowed by the regret answers that the film “is accurate neither a documentary nor cinema touchingly nagging to rock-solid for subsequent US foreign policy. to every single person that was in verité, but instead a building up, solidarity to admissions of losing Later in the film, there is a simple it, and their emotions are naked, from a “chain of evidence”—con- touch—definitely resonated with on-screen statement that the Trade sometimes with things we don’t sultation with the characters’ real me (a veteran of a twenty-one- Center victims included represen- like, but we gotta live with,” and counterparts, their families, and year-old relationship to a Vietnam tatives from eighty-seven coun- that if we consider where we the transcripts of Chuck Serieka veteran). McLoughlin is the last of tries—a possible caution against were on 9/12 and where we are and Dave Karns—to present “the the two to be rescued, and he fights the hunkered-down, xenophobic, now, “you have to wonder that tightly connected emotions of four with all the remaining strength he “with us or against us” jingoism, something went wrong.” Nicholas characters.” These include Port can call up to bring out each word which, as the current intelligence Cage, who played McLoughlin, Authority police sergeant John to Donna as he is being wheeled committee reports state, did more answered that to “attach” politics McLoughlin and Officer Will into surgery: “You ... kept ... me ... to encourage than discourage to the film would “take away” Jimeno, who are trapped beneath alive”. The younger couple, Will similar attacks in our future. from the true meaning of the film. layers of the first tower’s rubble; and Allison, upon their reunion, The lightning strike, how- We might ask of Stone: Why not and their wives, Donna and Al- go back and forth innumerable ever, is the disclosure in the film’s include a real character’s view lison, who are home, trying to times, each insisting that their afterword, however true to the that any connections between make sense of the news and their soon-to-be-born daughter receive real character’s story, that one of 9/11 and al-Qaeda to Iraq were husbands’ conditions. the name the other had preferred. the key rescuers went on to enlist entirely fabricated to further the The screenplay was writ- In short, the classic Stone tech- for two tours in Iraq. This is the murderous oil agenda? But what ten by Andrea Berloff and the nique of unfolding a giant event character Dave Karns, an ex- we ask of Stone is not as important producer was Debra Hill, and as experienced through a Jungian Marine who, upon hearing of the as what we ask of ourselves and the portrayals of the wives were family-sized group is revisited in 9/11 attack, immediately travels the people we elect. far more multidimensional and this 9/11 portrayal. from Connecticut to “Ground complex than the usual Stone fe- Moving beyond this micro- Zero,” heads out into the rubble male archetypes, as Denby rightly dimension, there are precious few after the official search had been points out. The two women have to references to those outside the called off for the night, and is the Janet Curry is a member of struggle against significant males foursome and their families, and one who actually locates Jimeno VVAW and a teacher at Clayton in their families to carve out how those that are presented take on and McLoughlin. He is a paragon High School in Clayton, it is that they can respond to the enormous weight through their of determination, so driven as to Missouri. The Covered Wagon Members of the Covered Wagon Anti-War GI Coffee House from Mountain Home, Idaho are planning a reunion. Some of us got together in July to see Victor Pacania who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We would like to have a big reunion soon.

For info, contact:

Tom Spalding - [email protected]

Susan Holtz Franceski - [email protected] The Covered Wagon crew at a Vigil, 1972

The Covered Wagon, 1972 June 2006 Covered Wagon reunion Fall 2006 THE VETERAN 23 Slim Strikes Another Hit Bob Riggle (reviewer)

Watermelon Slim and the various tunes. All songs, with the Slim’s voice and a Dobro. “Fold- Bob Riggle is a VVAW member Workers exception of Big Joe Williams’s ing Money Blues” is a good little and the contact for Cave Creek, Watermelon Slim and the “Baby, Please Don’t Go” were piece, but I was wanting more. I Arizona. Workers written by Homans. Percussionist guess “less is more.” (Northern Blues, 2006) Michael Newberry did the song The best road-trip tune has www.watermelonslim.com arrangements. got to be “Juke Joint Woman.” The hauntingly eerie slide- Add a bunch of horns to the ar- It’s clear from the gritty, bare- guitar work on “Devil’s Cadillac” rangement, and Big Bad Voodoo bones blues of the first song may not send a chill up or down Daddy would be itching to do a (“Hard Times”) straight through your spine, but it sure grabs your cover version of it. to the distinctive bayou country attention. And if you just like to Bill Homans is a 2004 W.C. sound of “Eau De Bone” that Bill hear some good harp work, then Handy Blues Award nominee, a “Watermelon Slim” Homans has “Check Writing Woman” or, even VVAW contact in Oklahoma, and another hit. better, “Possum Hand” are for you. probably still on tour somewhere. Homans and his crew of Or even the straight-ahead boogie For more info or tour schedules, Workers prove to be a fine group of “Mack Truck.” contact Southern Artist Manage- of craftsmen, providing a tight I’ve gotta be honest with ment, (405) 447-4329. sound that seems to be effortless you. I like the sound of a Dobro, as they ply their craft through the and I like the mix of Watermelon Back to Iraq Ken Nielsen (reviewer) Nice Bombs bi’s mother smuggled her family personal journey back to Iraq, but ing desire to figure a way out of the Directed by Usama Alshaibi out of Iraq, during the Iraq-Iran it is also a time capsule of a period mess that arrogant Americans have (Artvamp and Benzfilm Group, war in the seventies, to Jordan in history that depicts the hope of created. However, by the end of 2006) and finally to the United States. a country recently released from the documentary, even Alshaibi’s www.nicebombs.com In 2003, Alshaibi returned to the stranglehold of over twenty previously hopeful uncle (a main Iraq to make peace with the past years of dictatorship. At the time figure throughout the film), when and to understand the present. of Alshaibi’s visit in 2003, US sol- interviewed via telephone in 2006, Usama Alshaibi is an American. With support from his employer, diers were still largely considered has serious doubts about Iraq’s Alshaibi traveled to Iraq in 2003, Studs Terkel (with whom Alshaibi liberators by the Iraqi people and future and sadly fears that the but he is not a soldier. Alshaibi is worked as a sound engineer for ten were not yet the targets of mass only way to end the violence is to a recently naturalized US citizen years, producing over 7,000 hours frustration resulting from failed reinstate another dictator. from Iraq, and he lives in Chicago. of recordings), Alshaibi and his and ill-conceived policy. It is through this unique back- wife, with a digital video recorder, Predominantly filmed in ground that the film Nice Bombs made the long trip to Jordan to Baghdad, Alshaibi’s Nice Bombs is able to present the viewer with reconnect with his father. From provides a perspective into the Ken Nielsen served in the US an original and personal account Jordan, they traveled to Baghdad lives of Iraqis living under war and Army from 1991 to 1993 (4th of Iraq. to revisit his birthplace and recon- occupation in the Middle Eastern Battalion, 9th Division, 1st After he spent his first ten nect with relatives. metropolis. Often surprising, the Infantry Division). He is a member years growing up in Iraq, Alshai- Nice Bombs is essentially a film filled me with the overwhelm- of VVAW and VFP. Our Stolen Youth

Our youth was tested Time has become entangled all those many years ago In the oppressive barbed wire silence. when the boys we were Stilled by the need for penance, faced the mortality It tortures the heart and spirit... of the men we were to be. Wanting only the peaceful refuge Of holy absolution. In the chaos that lurked just beyond the wire, Let our sorrows and tears the mayhem of wretched torment Fall upon their granite names, waited in ambush, Those many faces that we knew. calling for us by name, Friends made... beckoning for our very souls. Friends lost. God Shed His Grace on Thee. Deaths’ Black Angel Would pass in a rush of cold, This was our stolen youth Its icy fingers reaching for the Those many years ago. Warmth of life itself. When the men we were Our youthful spirits forever wounded Walked with death and insanity By the vulgar stench of war On the fine line of madness.

—Rich Raitano Ken Nielsen, Memorial Day 2006, Chicago 24 THE VETERAN Fall 2006

What the Fuss Is All About

One wonders what the fuss is all about. They say the flag is blowing in the wind. They say the wind is blowing up a storm. They say the moon is blue, the lies are true, the bogeyman is here, we must believe whatever we are told. So all for one and one for all the money he can get his sticky fingers on, him and all his sticky-fingered friends. So what’s new? Just the other day, K Street three-piece-suit walks into a bar and orders a beer. Sorry, sir, the barkeep says, we don’t serve sleaze in here; FBI man overhears, calls the IRS: barkeep’s doing time in Lewisburg. Let that be a lesson to us all: Miller Lite can change your life. Super Size me, praise the Lord, and give me purple mountains’ majesty, Hollywood commandos, and a gas-guzzling SUV with GPS and Power Everything. Burn, baby, burn, some angry Black man said, but I say what’s the hurry? Soon enough we’ll burn the whole damned planet down, choke it, strip it, starve it, melt it, pave it over, blow it up, and bury it in empty bottled water bottles, Pampers diapers, plastic grocery bags, and last year’s cellphones. Then we’ll see which way the wind is blowing, whose flags are blowing in the wind, whose lies are worth a big rat’s ass, who’s rich enough to buy a one-way ticket out of Hell, whose God is on whose side, and who’s left to wonder what the fuss was all about.

—W. D. Ehrhart

Ex-Marine W. D. Ehrhart’s latest collection of poems is Sleeping with the Dead, published earlier this year by Adastra Press. Fall 2006 THE VETERAN 25

Story ideas and fan/hate mail: [email protected] Sheldon Ramsdell Archive I have set up an archive for Shel- (McGovern collection, McCarthy can raise some money to begin a to obtain information on sending don “Shelly” Ramsdell at Cornell collection, Northern California nonprofit book project based on his materials to Cornell. Cornell will University. I am requesting that LGBT Historical Society, etc.). photography, with any proceeds reimburse you for any shipping- anyone with Ramsdell-related I am also working with his fam- going to support organizations like related expenses. items consider sending them on to ily regarding securing potential VVAW, the Alexander Hamilton Cornell when it is convenient. archival holdings that they may and Bob Basker American Legion Thanks, Shelly's archives are have. Posts, and the AIDS education far-flung. My goals for this- ef Overall, I am trying to cre- organizations. Linda Alband fort are twofold: (1) to gather as ate a comprehensive picture of Please contact me directly Executor much as possible at Cornell, and his work through this collection with any questions or suggestions Sheldon H. Ramsdell Estate (2) to put the Cornell archivist in “network.” At some point, if I am of people I should contact regard- [email protected] touch with other extant collections able to find key pieces, perhaps I ing Ramsdell archival materials, or (503) 408-6828

Letter to the Editor I would like to contact any vets now clearing bombs in Laos, and who were at a VVAW press con- perhaps speak to them further. ference/seminar chaired by Ted I am in contact with Fred Kennedy at Faneuil Hall in Boston Branfman, who spoke at this on 7 September 1971. seminar, but I have no names of I have seen news footage any vets who spoke there. Please of this conference, and the vets contact me. Thank you. made some very eloquent and moving comments. I would like Yours sincerely, to include some of the comments in a documentary film I am mak- Sylvia Wilczynski ing about former soldiers who are [email protected]

Vietnam Air Force nurse Joan Duffy addresses the international conference in Hanoi 26 THE VETERAN Fall 2006 The Korean DMZ War (1966-69) Mark Hartford This Veterans Day, November “spider holes” that had been made in-country for only seventeen DMZ from 1968 and later were 11, 2006, at 10:30 AM, former by twisting the overgrown rice and days. I found out recently that he often exposed to Agent Orange soldiers who served in Korea after other vegetation into a compact, was posthumously awarded the and have suffered the same medi- 1953 will gather at the Korean insulated, and nearly invisible hid- Silver Star for valor. cal problems as those exposed to War Memorial to place a tempo- ing place for NKA infiltrators. We When I first arrived in Korea, it in Vietnam. It is just recently rary plaque that recognizes the “cleared” old bunkers and other all of the units that operated in the that veterans from Korea have sacrifices of those soldiers that artifacts left from the Korean War DMZ were undermanned. This been accepted to be assessed for served, fought, and sometimes throughout the DMZ, expecting to resulted in us patrolling night after compensation for the ill effects of were wounded or killed in combat die each time we threw ourselves night, after night shift to day patrol, Agent Orange. with the North Korean Army. The into them. We walked through de- and then immediately leaving for These are the soldiers I know majority of those who were killed cayed villages and cemeteries left a four-day stint on GP Dort, with about who were killed along the or wounded after 1953 died during by families forced to move when little or no downtime. We would DMZ during my tour: the “DMZ War,” which occurred the DMZ was first designated as patrol with as few as four or five between 1966 and 1969. Senate part of the armistice agreement men to a squad authorized for nine Hensley, Sgt. James: 23rd Rgt., bill S2914 has been introduced by (the “temporary” halt of hostilities men. Often it was just myself as 2nd ID, d. 11/02/66 Senator Mike DeWine from Ohio; most people associated with the the squad leader, two KATUSAs, Benton, Pfc. John: 23rd Rgt., 2nd it calls for placing a permanent end of the Korean War). and one other US soldier. ID, d. 11/02/66 plaque on or near the Korean War We would spend three to four Our equipment was not the Burrell, Pfc. Robert: 23rd Rgt., Memorial honoring the sacrifice days rotating up onto guard posts newest—by then, M-16s were 2nd ID, d. 11/02/66 of these men. (ours was “GP Dort”) set up in the in use in Vietnam, but ours were Fisher, Pvt. Morris: 23rd Rgt., 2nd Members of VVAW and their DMZ to watch for any movement still the older, heavier M-14 ID, d. 11/02/66 supporters in or near Washington of forces by the North into or closer rifles. Okay, that was a benefit, Hasty, Pvt. Les: 23rd Rgt., 2nd DC are invited to attend this me- to the DMZ. We lived on stale wa- given the reports from the field ID, d. 11/02/66 morial service to show support for ter and C rations. And of course, in Vietnam that the M-16 had a Reynolds, Pvt. Ernie: 23rd Rgt., these forgotten veterans and their there was the NKA speaker sys- tendency to jam. The M-14 was 2nd ID, d. 11/02/66 unknown war. You are also asked tem, each big as a house, blaring a solid weapon. If kept clean, it Tyler, SP4 Press Jr.: 23rd Rgt., to contact your congressional everything from rock and roll to would work anytime you called 2nd ID, d. 02/12/67 representatives and senators to Korean folk music, day and night, on it—accuracy was up to the Mueller, SP4 Carl R.: 23rd Rgt., support the passage of this bill. to harass us and provide cover for shooter. 2nd ID, d. 05/22/67 I served in Korea at the start the infiltrators moving north and Our radios were not of the Smith, Pvt. Baron J.: 23rd Rgt., of this war. Here is part of the south through the zone. latest generation either, and this 2nd ID, d. 05/22/67 story. I experienced the tedium of was a real problem. They often Ashforth, SP4 Leonard: 23rd Rgt., Forty years ago, in June long nights, fighting off fatigue, did not work at all, leaving us in 2nd ID, d. 07/16/67 1966, I stepped off the back of a waiting in the dark for opportuni- the zone without a way to call Boyd, Pfc. Tommy D.: 23rd Rgt., two-and-a-half-ton truck to start a ties to kill the enemy, then the sud- for backup if we needed it. It was 2nd ID, d. 07/16/67 thirteen-month tour of duty with den terrifying moment when the quite a boon when the first PRC- Gibbs, Pfc. John L.: 23rd Rgt., Company B 1/23rd, 2nd Infantry night would split open with loud 25 radios came into use. Then we 2nd ID, d. 07/16/67 Division, in the demilitarized explosions and flashes of tracer had much better communication zone (DMZ) separating North and rounds as sudden movement in in the field, and they were lighter I honor and remember them South Korea. I became part of a the dark unleashed the firepower and more compact in size. every day. contingent of American soldiers of our waiting force. I saw for the Sometimes we would be- When it came time to re- who were tasked with defending a first time a dead NKA soldier, an come frustrated by our inability turn to “the world,” I rode out to nineteen-mile stretch of the DMZ infiltrator, killed in the heat of to strike back after our soldiers the replacement center with the from infiltration, sabotage, and the fight—killed within inches were killed and wounded. Like other two soldiers with whom assaults from North Korean Army of releasing a grenade meant to soldiers everywhere, we would I had arrived in-country. We (NKA) forces. kill our forces. I felt the loss of look for ways to retaliate. It was boarded a plane full of soldiers Before my tour of duty was my own comrades, ROK and US this attitude that led to my per- going home. I finally ended my complete, I would walk endless soldiers killed by ambush, blown sonal incursion into North Korea trip many hours later in the Los miles of rice paddies (swampy up in their barracks at night as they to attack the huge speaker system Angeles airport. At that moment, in the summer, frozen over in the slept, all sent home to a country that blared propaganda at us every I was transformed from a stressed, winter), around (and sometimes totally unaware of their death and night, and hopefully to kill those well-tested infantry soldier back through) minefields placed when our small war in faraway northeast protecting it. Our action had the into a nineteen-year-old kid. I was the DMZ was first created, and up Asia. objective of retaliation for the am- too young to vote, buy beer, or get and down the sides of steep hills We won this low-inten- bush of our soldiers on November married, but I was a veteran of a grown back to their natural state, sity guerilla war, which had been 2, 1966. foreign war. covered with brush and trees, in started by North Korea. It officially Before the DMZ War was search of the enemy. I carried started on November 2, 1966, over in 1969, over fifty of our a “basic load”: M-14 rifle, 100 when a unit of US soldiers and one soldiers were killed by hostile fire rounds of ammunition in five clips KATUSA (“Korean Augmenting or other actions (half the casualties (one locked and loaded, the other The United States Army”) were since 1953 to the present), and over Mark Hartford, US Army, four in pouches), four grenades, ambushed by an NKA squad, a hundred more were wounded. RA19875883 - 1/66-12/69 a bayonet, a flak vest, a helmet, killing all but one American, who Near the middle of the war, the Korea DMZ Vet 1966- a canteen of water, and usually was badly wounded. The wounded Army finally caught up with real- 1967 Co. B, 1/23rd Inf. 2nd a poncho. Occasionally, I would soldier was seventeen years old ity and began paying hazardous- Infantry Division. California trade my M-14 for a shotgun or at the time. Private Reynolds, the duty pay to those operating in the Coordinator, VVAW, 1971 . an M-79 grenade launcher. only American who was able to DMZ. After I left, Agent Orange Participated in Dewey Canyon On constant alert for any sud- fight back after the first assault, was used to defoliate both sides III. Helped organize 30+ den noise or movement that might died where he fought. He was of the fence. chapters in CA. VVAW Contact, pose a threat, we would search nineteen years old and had been Soldiers who served in the Columbus, OH - present. Fall 2006 THE VETERAN 27 Semper Fidelis? P. Stewall Semper Fidelis - Always Faith- taught and I heartily agree. Well, low Americans home? And again, pretends to be a Superman. He lied ful. If you ever spent 3 months maybe not heartily, hell maybe I why? The Golden Rule? Because (though not nearly as much as our in either the Paris Island or the don’t agree at all. Ollie North, one something was learned from the current administration did to get San Diego Marine Corps Recruit of the (in)famous Marines of my Nuremburg trials? our faithful young Americans into Depot (boot camp) you already generation would say it’s loyalty I proudly say “Semper the current quagmire) not for you know what this means. Or do to the Corps. But who was, or is, fidelis!” to those who refuse to or me, he lied for the scoundrels you? I thought I did for the many he really loyal to? His Commander be murderers and torturers of profiting from war. No, Ollie & years since the glorious day of my in Chief? His fellow Marines? His innocent civilians. These are the his ilk do not deserve loyalty but discharge. But over the past few Country? Truth, Justice and the true heroes who have the courage shame. Forever. years I have been wondering what American Way? Well, there can to risk prison and ostracism to do So let me clarify what I mean it really means to say that to my be differing answers. what is right. Soldiers, sailors, when I say, “Semper Fidelis,” fellow Marines, as we do almost Who is more loyal to his airmen, and civilian friends in for I will not be forever loyal, robotically at the discovery of fellow marines? One who would the peacemaking community are definitely not, to those who act our common pasts at one of those blindly follow orders without re- all certainly worthy of our loyalty criminally. I will always be faith- infamous boot camps. gard to morality? One who would forever. These are America’s pa- ful to my fellow advocates for Always - forever. cover up crimes to protect his supe- triots, supermen and superwomen peace-even if they never went to Faithful - loyal. riors? And why? For greed? Out of who fight for Truth, Justice and boot camp. Semper Fidelis! And Forever loyal to what, or to cowardice? Or, one who refuses to the American Way. peace to all. whom? Well, there can be differ- follow the orders to participate in As for Ollie North? To ing answers. torturing innocents and murdering paraphrase Lloyd Benston, I have Many will say it’s loyalty civilians? One who would fight to met true American heroes and Mr. P. Stewall is a Chicago area to the Corps. That’s what we’re end an unjust war and bring his fel- North isn’t my hero, even if he member of VVAW and a Marine.

The Music of Jim Walktendonk

cds now available www.booneytunes.net 28 THE VETERAN Fall 2006 Open Letter to Chancellor Peterson

October 7, 2006 Professor Churchill for decades. crimes against American Indi- leftist cult justified their attack on Not only is he an important schol- ans have without question been the American Indian Movement Chancellor G. P. “Bud” Peterson ar, but of special importance to us genocidal. for that organization’s failure to University of Colorado is his role as a Vietnam veteran Why hasn’t the University recognize the superiority of Eu- 17 CCB Regent 301 who has gone on to serve his na- of Colorado afforded Professor ropean Marxist interpretations Boulder, CO 80309 tion in other ways. We believe his Churchill the rights of free speech of world history. We feel that works are scholarly and reflect an and intellectual expression that the University of Colorado has Dear Chancellor Peterson: accurate interpretation of world you provide for the other profes- joined the ranks of those who ac- conditions. As a Native American sors at the university? cept only cultural and intellectual We members of Vietnam Veterans scholar, Professor Churchill is a Professor Churchill has re- ideas based in European versions Against the War ask you to in- rare treasure for students all over ceived condemnation from both of history. tervene against your university’s this country. He is a resource for the ultra-right and the ultra-left. In We proudly support Profes- handling of the case of Professor other scholars and widely read addition to the current criticism by sor Churchill. Ward Churchill. We condemn the laypersons. the right, Churchill and the entire treatment of Professor Churchill We feel that the action of American Indian Movement were Barry Romo as anti-democratic and anti-aca- dismissing Professor Churchill is attacked by the Stalinist cult called and seventeen other VVAW mem- demic. an act of racism against a people the Revolutionary Communist bers (not listed here) We have known and admired already grievously wronged. The Party in the early eighties. The Buffalo Boy and Geronimo Jerry Lembcke (reviewer)

Buffalo Boy and Geronimo to learn about the people he had By James Janko. opposed thirty years earlier as a (Curbstone Press, 2006) U.S. Army medic. Janko’s introduction of I hesitated when a friend recom- Conchola in the second chapter mended Buffalo Boy and Geroni- gives Buffalo Boy and Geronimo mo because I don’t read much fic- the structure it needs to make this a tion except as sources for my own truly outstanding piece of writing, research and writing. But I took a one that like the best of the novel- chance and I’m glad I did. form tells the reader as much It was the promise of a good about the Self as the Other. Those coming-of-age story that I gleaned familiar with David Maraniss’s from the first few pages that drew They Marched into Sunlight will me in—Hai, a Vietnamese boy, see resemblance in Janko’s work struggling with his emergent to the parallelism Maraniss created masculinity in the context of the by writing the history of the 1st war. It’s 1970 and Hai will soon Infantry Division’s Black Lions have to decide whether to join the Battalion getting butchered in ARVN forces of the Republican October 1967, while side-by-side government or go into the tunnels with it, recounting the story of the of Cu Chi with the Viet Cong. For anti-war movement that brought the time being, though, his daily the University of Wisconsin to a routine of tending Great Joy, his standstill during those same days. water buffalo, fishing the Sai Gon Taking the technique to another river for his family’s dinner, and level, however, Janko develops imagining how to impress Thien, Hai and Conchola as parallel char- the village’s pubescent “water acters (for his parallel stories). girl,” keeps his mind and emotions Conchola is a Mexican- entangled with the boundaries of American medic in the 25th the events that gives the book its Infantry who spent time in the Cu man and nature, child and adult- Infantry that is working in the tension—the 25th and the villag- Chi area during the run-up to the hood, whimsy and reality. neighborhood of Hai’s village. ers are on a collision course—but Cambodian invasion might find it Left at that, this would be Like Hai, his anxiety about man- the author’s deftness avoids the a fascinating look over the cultural a story worth reading for what it hood has generated an emotional clichés and keeps us reading. With fence at what they were, and were tells us about life as it was lived jumble that mixes fantasies of riffs that will have you thinking not, up against. by rural Vietnamese people during his own animal-prowess as a Cacciato, Janko takes us to the the war, a side of the story seldom fighter with his detachment from end—which turns out to be, well, told to Americans about life where military discipline and, eventually, we’re still not sure what (or where) the mundane—the daily provision his disregard for his unit’s mis- that is, even when we get there. Jerry Lembcke is the author of food and shelter—intersected sion. The Hai and Conchola that I can imagine Buffalo Boy of The Spitting Image: Myth, with the deadly—the intermit- Janko gives us are enough alike and Geronimo being a good addi- Memory, and the Legacy of ting military operations, of both to force their comparison—does tion to the reading lists for many Vietnam. He is an associate sides, that cut through the land Great Joy function the same way literature courses as well as some professor of sociology at Holy and community year after year. in Hai’s imagination as el tigre history and social science syllabi Cross College in Worcester, To tell the story, James Janko, in Conchola’s? Of course, it’s with a focus on Vietnam during Massachusetts and a New returned to Vietnam as a writer their oppositional alignment in the war years. Veterans of the 25th England VVAW contact. Fall 2006 THE VETERAN 29 9/11: Five Years Later David Cline I remember the morning of Sep- of people on the ground being tortured in gross violation of the as the dead. It reminds me of the tember 11, 2001 like it was yester- crushed by falling bodies, and of Geneva Conventions and basic hu- treatment that Vietnam veterans day. I was still sleeping when my firemen, police, and emergency man rights, and increased imperial who were poisoned by Agent phone rang just after nine in the service workers repeatedly going meddling and bullying throughout Orange received when we came morning. It was my friend Jaime back inside to lead people out, only Latin America, Africa, Asia, and home from Southeast Asia, and Vazquez, a Vietnam Marine vet . to have the buildings collapse on Europe. of the treatment of Desert Storm He yelled into the phone, “A plane them. Even writing these words These military conflicts and Iraq War vets today who have just hit the Trade Center! Turn on still brings me pain and tears. abroad have inevitably led to more been exposed to depleted uranium your TV!” As the minutes and hours suffering and loss of freedom here and other toxins. I turned it on and went to my rolled on, we learned that a third at home. Social uplift programs, Recently, there has devel- front window. I live in the Jersey plane had slammed into the Pen- including those to assist veterans, oped what is called the “9/11 City Heights, across the Hudson tagon, and yet another aircraft have been slashed and face new truth” movement. Many theories River from Lower Manhattan, crashed in Pennsylvania after the threats with each new federal have been advanced about what and I had a clear view of the twin passengers heroically attempted to budget. Jobs continue to disap- happened. The federal 9/11 Com- towers from my apartment. I could fight back against the hijackers. pear through “free-trade agree- mission left so many unanswered see heavy black smoke billowing But what happened next has ments” and globalization, while questions that, much like the War- out of Building One. I went to see much to do with the dire state we many elected representatives, ren Commission investigating the what they were saying on televi- find our nation in today. Every- both Democrat and Republican, assassination of President John F sion just as the second aircraft hit one understood that in response treat civil liberties and rights like Kennedy, speculation and con- Building Two. I could not believe to these attacks, action had to be quaint relics of the past. When spiracy theories have found fertile what was happening. taken to hold accountable those natural disasters like Hurricane soil in some people’s minds. I knew that the World Trade responsible and bring them to Katrina strike, the message from I think that all questions and Center (WTC) had long been a justice. the White House is: “The people possibilities need to be examined, target for terrorist attacks. I used An air assault and ground be damned.” and I believe that we should not to work for the Port Authority, invasion of Afghanistan followed This year marked the fifth trust a government that has lied who ran the WTC, and for eight within weeks, and the Taliban anniversary of the September 11 so many times in the past. But I years, I was an officer for my union regime was overthrown. In the attacks, and memorial services also think that we need to focus local. During that time, I spent fighting that followed, many of were held at Ground Zero, the our primary efforts on what is many hours there in negotiations the main leaders of the al-Qaeda Pennsylvania field, and the Penta- happening now and how the 9/11 with labor relations, representing organization that had planned, gon, as well as in many cities and attacks were used as a justification cafeteria and observation deck financed, and organized these towns throughout the nation. In for unjustifiable war. workers who were members of attacks were able to escape cap- New York City, family members of Over the five years since our union. ture. those lost read the 2,997 names and that day, I have worked with an In 1993, I was scheduled to US troops have remained held a solemn remembrance. organization called September 11 be at the WTC for contract nego- there since and are now caught Bush used the occasion to ad- Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. tiations on the day it was bombed in a growing insurgence against dress the nation and again justify I have met many strong, honest, the first time. At the last minute, foreign occupation, much like the “staying the course” in the Iraq and caring people who will not the local president reassigned me resistance that developed in the quagmire. allow the loss of their loved ones to another facility to represent an 1980s against the Soviet military At Ground Zero, a memorial to be used as propaganda props for employee in a disciplinary hear- invasion of that country. to the dead still has not been built, aggression abroad or repression ing, but the rest of our executive But the Bush administration and some big rollers and politi- at home. As they and all the 9/11 board was there when the explo- had bigger plans. In a strategic pa- cians have proposed designs that families remember and mourn sion happened. They had to flee per titled “Rebuilding America’s many family members oppose as their losses, we join with them in down almost eighty floors, along Defenses,” the Project for the trivializing the sacred memory of solemn reflection on this crime with thousands of others, to escape New American Century (PNAC), those lost on that day. committed against our people. the destruction. a right-wing think tank, had In the five years since then, But we must also reflect on why The perpetrators were cap- argued for aggressively expand- hundreds if not thousands of the these terrorists would attack us, tured, tried, and convicted, but ing American imperial influence rescue workers who so selflessly what policies our government is it was understood that they were abroad. One of the main obstacles risked their lives have become pursuing that have so antagonized part of a larger network and that they identified was the reluctance sick, and some have already died people in the Muslim world, who there was a good possibility that of the American people to re- from various respiratory illnesses benefits from these policies, and they would try to attack the twin militarize, and PNAC advocated caused by the toxic stew of asbes- what we can do to get our country towers again. incremental escalation of their tos and other hazardous materials on track as part of a world commu- On September 11, 2001, it program unless there was “another that filled the air after the towers nity that promotes human rights, happened and was much more Pearl Harbor.” collapsed. At that time, the city justice, peace, and freedom. horrible than anyone had imag- Dick Cheney, Donald Rums- government and the Environmen- This is the legacy of Septem- ined. Over the hours, days, and feld, Karl Rove, and other top dogs tal Protection Agency had assured ber 11, 2001 to which I am com- weeks after the attacks, people in the Bush administration were the rescue workers that air quality mitted. If Americans understand throughout the area, country, and architects of this neocon (-artist) was safe, and appropriate protec- this and do something about it, world rallied to rescue people, do thinking, and now they had what tive gear was not issued. we may be able to fundamentally relief work, and help their fellow they had dreamed about. Today, many of these sick change course and prevent worse human beings in whatever ways George W. Bush used the rescue workers are still struggling disasters from happening. If not, they could. September 11 attack to declare his with a city and federal govern- I am afraid to think of what will I have talked to friends and “war on terror,” which has since ment that is stonewalling their happen in the future. strangers who were there and told meant the illegal invasion of Iraq, claims and denying them the me of leading office workers to support for and encouragement of treatment and compensation they David Cline is the New Jersey safety, of couples holding hands Israeli aggression against Leba- need. When we talk about what contact for VVAW and a and jumping to their deaths to non and long-suffering Palestine, happened, we must insist that the national coordinator. escape the burning hell inside, people being “disappeared” and living receive justice just as surely 30 THE VETERAN Fall 2006 The *%&%#@# War Story of All

continued from page 32 some men write for pistols, and police arrive, pin back her arms, some men write for liquor, and she goes quiet. In high school, some men who have given up on I watched him become an inert going home do not write at all. human puddle. Yet I need them I tear out the coupon from a to help me. Help. page of Popular Mechanics. Be- neath the black-and-white photo- It’s been three weeks. Why haven’t graph, the advertisement screams you answered my letter? Here’s its headline in boldface letters: another coupon. Just send the ARMY SURPLUS KNIFE knife. Just send the fuckin’’ knife. AND GENUINE LEATHER Your son, the medic. SCABBARD $4.95 + SHIPPING 1/7 Cav medic on QRF, Phuc Vinh, 1970 (photo by Marc Levy) AND HANDLING. SUPPLIES Each day, as we march and LIMITED. THIS OFFER WILL hunt for humans, I learn to Increase Later, I will take a hand-forged roars as he sits at the Thanksgiving NOT BE REPEATED. Which, of My Word Power. Solve Brain machete off an NVA, strap it to my dinner table. We have finished the course, it is. Every month. Like Teasers. Join the Rosicrucians. I pack, use it at night. And later still, meal, and I have told the story. clockwork. So I clip the coupon, receive the cover art of The Last I will sleep with a loaded .25 auto- Uncle roars. He roars great gales of write a letter. Unicorn and a handwritten note matic; my college roommates will laughter. Salty tears tumble down from an editor that says: “Yes, it say I’m disturbed. In Brooklyn, his gravy face. It’s the stupidest, Dear Mom and Dad, Today the was Gervasio Gallardo. You are a New York, I will visit Chinatown, funniest, most absurd war story of captain gave each medic in the very observant reader.” I receive a purchase a block-blade Chinese all fuckin’’ time. Yet Mother and company a Bronze Star. He said typed answer on official stationary meat cleaver, and for six years, Father sit, quite perplexed. Why we did good. He said we’re gonna regarding the process of processed keep it beneath my pillow. If there is he laughing? Uncle wipes his win this war and that we are good cheese. At long last, the lieutenant is noise, I will rise up and walk the mouth, his face, his weary brow, soldiers. I need a favor. Pay these hands me a letter. perimeter of each room, ready to tells them what I must tell myself people. Send me the knife. I’ll pay cut, slash, stab. And twenty-two in order to survive this tale, which you back. Do it now. It’s important. Everyone here is fine. The weather years later, in Guatemala, I will I do not often tell. Love. is wonderful. Your Uncle Bill says buy a peasant’s machete, carry it hello. We’ve thought about the through Mexico, spirit it through But they didn’t. I know knife and don’t think it’s a good customs, tuck it beneath my New they’re crazy. I know that. When I idea. You might hurt yourself. England mattress, the exposed was ten years old, she had her first Write to us soon. X X X X X Mom black handle within arm’s reach. Marc Levy served with D 1/7 nervous breakdown. I watched it and Dad. But for now, it’s my turn to quietly Cav in Vietnam and Cambodia happen. In broad daylight, she hate, hate, hate them. (1970) as an infantry medic. He is is screaming, running, until the Now it’s my turn to go crazy. Winter: I’m home and Uncle a member of VVAW. Michael Pahios, Rest in Peace Jim Dingman Mike Pahios, a Vietnam Marine vador as part of a Veterans Peace veteran, longtime member of Action Team. Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Mike was an admirer of and a founding member and first Evans Carlson, the founder of president of Veterans for Peace the Marine Raiders in World War NYC Chapter 34, passed away II, and he was a historian for the in his sleep on August 8, 2006 United States Marine Raider As- from an undiagnosed congenital sociation. He was able to com- heart defect. municate with people who did not Mike worked for many years see eye-to-eye with him politically for NBC television in their video and still remain friends. department and had retired less Michael served in Vietnam than a year ago. He worked with with the Second Battalion, Fifth the first seasons of the original Marines. His unit was the first Saturday Night Live, and for major Marine outfit that was sent a time he shared an apartment to Hue during the 1968 Tet Of- with the comedian and actor Dan fensive after NLF/PAVN forces Akroyd. seized the city. He was active over the last He enjoyed life, food, and ten years with the Borden Avenue cigars and relished his relation- Veterans Residence community ships with all people, especially action patrol. During the eighties, the opposite sex. He loved to party, he was an active opponent of the hang out, and explore everything Reagan wars in Central America. around him. His good nature and He traveled to Nicaragua several sense of humor touched many of times as part of a VVAW delega- us. He will be greatly missed. tion and with the Veterans’ Peace Michael Pahios: Presente! Convoy. He also went to El Sal- Mike Pahios on prison farm near Managua, Nicaragua, April 1986. Fall 2006 THE VETERAN 31 Where We Came from,Who We Are,Who Can Join Vietnam Veterans Against the VVAW also took up the Agent Orange victims. did not end when we were dis- War, Inc. (VVAW) is a national struggle for the rights and needs Today our government still charged. We remain committed veterans' organization that was of veterans. In 1970, we began finances and arms undemocratic to the struggle for peace and for founded in New York City in 1967 the first rap groups to deal with and repressive regimes around social and economic justice for all after six Vietnam vets marched traumatic aftereffects of war, the world in the name of “democ- people. We will continue to oppose together in a peace demonstra- setting the example for readjust- racy.” American troops have again senseless military adventures and tion. It was organized to voice the ment counseling at vet centers been sent into open battle in the to teach the real lessons of the growing opposition among return- today. We exposed the shameful Middle East and covert actions Vietnam War. We will do all we ing servicemen and women to the neglect of many disabled vets in Latin America, for many of can to prevent future generations still-raging war in Indochina, and in VA hospitals and helped draft the same misguided reasons that from being put through a similar grew rapidly to a membership of legislation to improve educational were used to send us to Southeast tragedy, and we will continue to over 30,000 throughout the United benefits and create job programs. Asia. Meanwhile, many veter- demand dignity and respect for States, including active duty GIs VVAW fought for amnesty for ans from all eras are still denied veterans of all eras. This is real stationed in Vietnam. Through war resisters, including vets with justice—facing unemployment, patriotism and we remain true to ongoing actions and grassroots bad discharges. We helped make discrimination, homelessness, our mission. Anyone who sup- organization, VVAW exposed the known the negative health effects post-traumatic stress disorder ports this overall effort, whether ugly truth about US involvement of exposure to chemical defoliants and other health problems, while Vietnam veteran or not, veteran or in Southeast Asia and our first- and the VA's attempts to cover up already inadequate services are not, may join us in this long-term hand experiences helped many these conditions as well as their cut back or eliminated. struggle. JOIN US! other Americans to see the unjust continued refusal to provide treat- We believe that service to nature of that war. ment and compensation for many our country and communities

SUPPORT VVAW! DONATE OR JOIN TODAY! Insignia of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Inc. VVAW Membership Vietnam Veterans P.O. Box 2065, Station A Against the War Champaign, IL 61825-2065

We took the MACV patch as our own, replacing the sword with the upside-down rifle with helmet, the international Membership Application symbol of soldiers killed in action. This was done to expose the lies and hypocrisy of US aggression in Vietnam as well as its cost in Name ______human lives. The original MACV insignia also put forward lies. The Address______City______State______Zip______US military was not protecting (the sword) the Vietnamese from Phone______invasion from the People's Republic of China (the China Gates), Email address______but was instead trying to "save" Vietnam from itself. Branch ______Our insignia has come to represent veterans fighting against new Dates of Service (if applicable)______"adventures" like the Vietnam War, while at the same time fighting Unit______Military Occupation______for a decent way of life for veterans and their families. Rank______Our insignia is more than 30 years old. It belongs to VVAW, Overseas Duty______and no other organization or group may use it for any reason with- Dates______out permission. Yes, add me to the VVAW email list. I do not wish to join, but wish to make a donation to the work of VVAW. Sign me up for a lifetime membership in VVAW. $250 is enclosed.

Membership in VVAW is open to ALL people who want to build a veterans' move- ment that fights for peace and justice. Most of our members are veterans of the Beware of VVAW AI Vietnam era, but we welcome veterans of all eras, as well as family members and friends to our ranks. The annual membership fee is $25.00 (not required of home- This notice is to alert you to a handful of individuals calling them- less, unemployed or incarcerated vets). selves the “Vietnam Veterans Against the War Anti-Imperialist” (VVAW-AI). VVAW-AI is actually the creation of an obscure ultraleft VVAW is a democratic organization. Chapters decide on local programs and projects under the general guidelines of the national program. Chapters elect local sect, designed to confuse people in order to associate themselves leadership and representatives to annual national meetings where major organiza- with VVAW’s many years of activism and struggle. They are not tional decisions are made and national coordinators elected. These coordinators a faction, caucus or part of VVAW, Inc. and are not affiliated with are responsible for the day-to-day organizational leadership of VVAW and issuing us in any way. We urge all people and organizations to beware of national publications. this bogus outfit. Signature ______

Date ______

Total Amount Enclosed ______

Make checks payable to VVAW. Contributions are tax-deductible. RECOLLEC The *%&%#@# War StoryTIONS of All Marc Levy

Every third day is log day. lieutenant says. dairy product, which I enjoy im- The shapely all-American Hueys—jammed with cardboard What remains in the red sack mensely when I am not otherwise blonde is smiling, freckle-faced; crates of C-rats, ammo in wood or are books and magazines donated engaged. she has inviting, sexy legs; she has metal boxes, precious mail, rubber by publishers. We pilfer the bag for perfectly pouting lips. As she leans barrels of water slung beneath their Time, Popular Science, Popular There is time to write to my forward, her full, round breasts bellies—spot our popped smoke, Mechanics, Reader’s Digest, a parents. I’m stupid. Still seeking spill from the page. dip down, swoop in, and franti- trove of paperbacks on various the impossible. “Whatever you say, Doc,” cally unload, then they are gone. topics. I grab two glossy maga- the captain replies. He grabs the Our mail is stuffed in a red nylon zines. I grab a book written by Jan Dear Folks, Today we killed five. handset from the RTO. Calls in sack tied shut with thick cotton Yoors, who has lived with gypsies. Actually, they were dead before our grid coordinates. Our casual- rope. The lieutenant unties the Check my watch. In an hour, we’ll we killed them. They had walked ties. Our body count. “Whatever bag, reaches in, carefully hands move out, march through jungle. into our booby trap. They scream you say.” out letters that bear names, rank, Set up an NDP. Send out patrols. a lot. Then they are dead. The It’s my fourth month. Pa- serial numbers. Set up an ambush. I reach into lieutenant says I’m doing a good trols, jungle, ambush, monsoon. Abbott receives a Dear John, my pack, snare the blue-lined Red job. The others do the killing. I’m We live like dogs, and we know it. goes quietly berserk. Cleland Cross writing pad and a cracked the medic, remember? So far, I’ve Letters from home, holiday cheer, is ordered home on emergency Bic pen, and write to the company patched up six of my guys. We’re so the glossy escape into fantasy, leave. Jack’s wife sends bad news. that makes our salt tablets. I’ve lucky. We’re killing them more than these are the things that mock “Shit,” he says, putting the letter written many letters of inquiry; it they kill us. No one understands the clockwork of killing time and down. helps pass the time. why they don’t bleed. Oh well. I’ll killing people: they blunt our fear Ernie opens a small, flat par- be sending you something I took of dying. cel; he reads the hand-printed note Dear Sir or Madam, Did the art- from a dead man. Put it in a safe There are not enough ma- accompanying the cassette. “Train ist Gervasio Gallardo draw the place. Love. chetes in third platoon. At night, Station Sounds. Train Entering cover art for Peter S. Beagles’ we take turns clearing patches of Station. Train Departing,” he says. latest book? It’s very beautiful. I After an hour, we stop, set up brush. Each man cuts, rips, stabs “Always love my choo-choos. intend to read the story. Your reply the perimeter. String the trips and the earth, then hunkers down ‘til Can’t live without ‘em.” Jim re- is most appreciated. claymores. Dig foxholes. Then the guard. Soon, men write home for ceives an Easter basket filled with skin mags come out. machetes, survival knives. “K- artificial grass and soggy yellow Dear Sir or Madam, I would like to “Captain, isn’t she beauti- bars,” the Marines call them. And eggs of marzipan. He offers them know what is meant by “processed ful?” I say, tearing the centerfold up; we eat them. cheese.” This term appears on from its stapled spine. “I mean, “Nothing for you, Doc,” the the list of ingredients of your fine isn’t she fuckin’ gorgeous?” continued on page 30