ABOUT FACE! THE US. SERVICEMEN'S FUND NEWSLETTER

ISSUE NUMBER ONE MAY 1971

THE U.S.S.F. SHOW: 'ABOUT FACE'...

We are pleased to introduce the first issue of ABOUT FACE; The USSF Newsletter, which will become a regular publication for USSF sup­ porters. In this way we hope to keep you informed of major new developments in USSF programs and policies (see this page) as well as activities of the GI newspapers and projects which USSF supports

In the past two years since USSF began to function, the number of "coffeehouse" projects providing services for military personnel which recieve USSF support has grown from three to thirteen. At these places servicemen and women can congregate in an atmosphere free from military coercion or commercial exploitation. The pro­ grams supported by USSF at these places include films, libraries, 'a positive alternative' mere entertainment event that threw discussion of current social issues the military hierarchy into a frantic and entertainers (including the USSF attempt to keep it's new "liberal" ON MARCH 13th AND 14th AT THE Show, this page). Since USSF was public relations image untarnished, founded the number of GI newspapers Haymarket Square Coffeehouse, in and at the same time make sure Fayetteville, North Carolina, the written and published by and for that the performance of a satirical members of the military has grown USSF Show was presented to over review didn't get anywhere near GIs. 1, 500 servicemen and women. The from less than ten to well over a A liberal Army will suppress and hundred. USSF has given financial show, with Jane Fonda, Dick Gregory, repress liberally. Barbara Dane, Don Sutherland, Gary support to about half of these papers . Goodrow, Peter Boyle, and the For two months USSF fought to get rock group, Swamp Dogg, was the permission to have the show per­ Perhaps the best testimony to the first in a series of shows that have formed on the Ft. Bragg instillation, effectiveness of these projects and become a permanent part of the to insure all those who wanted to see newspapers in .serving the real needs USSF program of service to young the show the opportunity to do so. of GIs is the vehement effort by the men and women in the military... We filed suits, congressmen and military and its local police allies women interveened, and most imp­ to close them. Over a year ago, the ortant, in a two week period, over UFO, the first GI coffeehouse, was Mrs. Nixon: Oh Dick, Dick, there 1, 700 GIs stationed at Ft. Bragg closed by the state of South Carolina are thousands of signed a petition demanding the and its staff sentenced to six years people marching on show be brought on base. However, in prison for "operating a public the White House! the Army had already decided that nuisance". This case is still being They want you to pull the show was "detrimental to the appealed. At the same time the all of the troops out morale of the troops", and it became military's attempt to place the Shel­ of Vietnam right now. very clear, very soon that there ter Har coiieehouse in Tacoma, Oh Dick, what are we was no chance of ever performing Wash, "ofi. limits" was successfully going to do ? ? ? the show on Ft. Bragg. rebuffed by the concerted efforts of GIs at Fort Lewis, and many of THE PRES. Dont worry your silly Although we were dissapointed that you who wrote letters to your Con­ little head Pat, all we were not allowed on base, several gressmen prodding them into and we have to do is call GIs took a different p -bide. One the Pentagon out of action. the 82nd Airborne Marine, stationed ât v_.c • TH Lejune, and they'll stop those near Ft. Bragg, was asked if he Bums. thought the show was fit for a mili- Physical harassment followed by fi­ tary base, and he said "Wow! is nancial harassment has also forced the closing of several projects. Most Mrs. Nixon: But Dick, IdonHthink anything 'fit' for a military base?" you understand, it is Take that John Wayne. recently, the project in Clarksville the 82nd Airborne was fire-bombed and then threatened that's marching! ! ! After being turned down by the base, with eviction because they couldn't we tried to get the municipal audi­ keep their insurance. Here, as else­ torium in Fayetteville. Here we where, the ability of a project to survive and continue to serve local The USSF Show put much needed light found a military-civilian alliance blocking us. GIs depends on the availability of on the "liberalization" policies of funds fron USSF and hence from you. the New Action Army. It was a (Continued on Page 4) ARTICLES AND STORIES FROM SPEAKING OUT t THE GI PROJECTS AND PAPERS GX SPRINGOFFENSIVE Last spring, with the great wave of soldiers, airmen, and sailors will WHOSE protests over the invasion of Cam­ be marching at their local bases on bodia, GIs at over 30 bases demon­ "Armed Forces Day" , protesting strated in massive numbers on May the widening and continuation of the 16th, closing23 of those bases. This war in Indochina and the use of GIs TMew Action year there will again be such demon­ as strikebreakers and riot police strations. Over a hundred thousand here at home. Army'?

At first, I was not sure whether this New Modern Army was really for the good of tha GIs*-- now I know.

Yes, Ithoughtthere were no changes that would really affect things. But much to my surprise, my platoon leader decided to have a ' bitch session" in which his men could freely voice their opinion. At first, I was leary, but then I saw the light. Yes, something was fin­ ally being done — our platoon 'across the country' leader was going to take action on all of our problems« One problem The May 15th actions will reach to Camp^PendletonandSanDiego Nav­ brought up was about parking around every major military base across al Station. Ca. ; last May^ a frigh­ the shop, anal sure enough, he took the country. Here is a partial list tened military restricte'd every action. Now, despite ample room, of those places : GI at Pendleton to the" base, for only E-5's (upper grade enlisted fear they all would demonstrate. men) and above can park less than At Fort Lewis, Wash, (and nearby This year the USSF Show will be 200 feet from the shop. That sounds McChord Air Base and Bremerton there as part of their activities. fair, doesn't it? Naval Yards) and at Newport Naval Base in Rhode Island, GIs will Fort Knox. Ky; basic training cen­ participate in community coordin­ Another problem he solved was a ated actions on May 1st, announced ters like Knox are usually the most brutal of assignments, however complaint about numerous "GI as a national day of support for the parties" that we had had ( a GI People's Peace Treaty: At these GIs are marching in the face of it. bases and others, GI groups organ­ party is a half-nite clean-up ses­ ized support for the Treaty and have Fort Bliss. Texas; local right- sion, no sleep allowed )in the past been using it in building for their wingers in El Paso recently cal­ few weeks. To make us realize actions. Also at the Washington led a pro-war rally near the base how lucky we were, he was willing bases, a general sick call hes been expecting "10, 000 to 15, 000" par­ to supervise yet another all-nite planned on base in protest of the ticipants. Instead, 700 people came, GI party "like the ones in basic" war and base medical and living over 400 of which were "GIs for How generous ! conditions. Peace" from Fort Bliss.

rl DON'T -THINE y-m*T utou-D Heu? Other bases participating include Yes, our leader was willing to Great Lakes Naval Base, D.I.; Ft. help usinmany ways; from now on Dix. N. J. ; Ft. Campbell. Ky; when a friend wants to talk to us Carson, Colo. Selfridge Air he is not welcome in our shop and Force Base. Ohio; Ft. Ord, Ca.; we have to go outside, unless, of Wright-Patters on AFB, Mich. ; Ft. course, he is an E-5 or above, Jackson. S.C. ; and Portsmouth then he is worthy to enter. Naval Base in New Hampshire.

And then, for our benefit, to be used on overnight problems in the feild, we got to fix up an old van. ««U It might take many hours of work but it wouldfinally be completed- at last a break for us EMs. But luckily our leaders realized thatt such a nice thing could be ruined by careless E-4's and below, so again for our own good it is to be used only by E-5's and above. At the following bases there will be Yes, I have seen the light, I know demonstrations on the 15th: what this Army is all about. It is about E-5's and above, and I think Fort Hood. Texas; last year at Ft. that is a very good idea. I believe Hood, a Vietnam returnee center, that E-5's and above who agree over 1,500 GIs braved the threats with this way of things and the of local, pro-war groups to demon­ Army deserve each other. strate. This year local sentiment KÉÊP VouP [AAIR-. is much more in their favor. II(Fro m 'Left Face'; Ft. McClellan, Ala)1 ftUg LlFfc / The farmworkers union, The United Farmworkers Organizing Committee GI'S SPEARHEAD (UFWOC) has organized a national boy­ cott of Antle lettuce. The Defense De­ partment, which has many multi-million dollar deals with big corporations, is }EDUCEBCMJOTT buying up Antle lettuce and serving it to GIs to help Antle break the strike and the boycott. The Pentagon is buying The following articles are from more (3 times more ! ) than ever and is P.O. W., a GI newspaper from Ft, paying a higher price. Ord, Calif.; and from C.A. M. P. News, published by the Chicago Without DoD buying Antle»s lettuce, he Area Military Project. would have to settle with the farmwork­ ers or go broke. We GIs are being used as strikebreakers. It is all a very neat, The National Lettuce Boycott continues : profitable and deadly game. It turns out The farmworkers have appealed to GIs big money for the non-union growers for help. We are all up against a common LIFERS and at the same time we are used to enemy - the military - and we feel it Is control the farmworkers here and the important for us all to understand this people of Asia. We can get together and bond of brotherhood. The same kind of help the farmworkers by forcing scab people who are sending us to Vietnam to EAT lettuce out of-the messhalls. Solidarity kill peasants and get ourselves killed, is all important. If enough of us GIs get are the same people who also exploit together and leaflet, picket, and chal­ and control the farmworkers. lenge the military's control over our lives the Army will be forced to stop LETTUCE buying scab lettuce. The last thing the Here are the facts... Most of the lettuce brass can handle is more dissent in the in the messhalls is bought by the Penta­ ranks. And at the same time the last gon from Bud Antle, Inc., a large grow­ thing GIs and the farmworkers of Cal­ er in the Salinas Valley, the scene of the ifornia can handle is more exploitation I strike. Antle is the leading corporate Together we can win ! ! grower who refuses to negotiate with the farmworkers about a contract for decent working conditions, a living wage, and Gl's SUPPORT THE BOYCOTT ! ! ! I control over the pesticides that poison At more and more bases, support for the lettuce and the workers in the fields . the national lettuce boycott is growing among GIs. Here are a few pieces of what's happening all over the country:

B At Fort Lewis, Wash., the GI Alliance, iSimply VfeAU Away a group of soldiersfromLewis, and air­ Another lost his life They can't use my now, men and sailors from surrounding bases I came back from Asia, is fighting hard to get non-union lettuce Sick underweight, For scaling a fence thank God. Trying to get home And I'd surely choose never out of all the messhaUsp and commisar- Red dirt still clung to my fingers, ies. Stickers declaring, lifers eat My right leg shot to ribbons, to his pregnant wife, to walk again, Shot in the back Than to give my time to Lettuce" are seen all over the base. They told me I might not get At a meeting on base called by the GIA, a purple heart! Leaving a hole in his chest thier sickness. That a waded T-shirt Now I need only to put up with over 150 GIs discussed the boycott and thier harassment actions they could take. Out of it has I came back from Asia couldn't fill. come messhall strikes by several units In a different frame of mind, Leaving an eighteen year old Until I am released from the hospital, and a constant picket line outside the No longer fooled man dead, base. Into thinking I had something That a young wife would Where I was denied to protect. never see again. the privledge When my leg was healed They thought I'd learned To spend Christmas day with At Selfridge Air Force Base in Michigan, They said I'd go back to duty, my lesson my wife and friends representatives from the UFWOC and Here in Peaceful America. So they let me go... At a home off post airmen petitioned the base for several Why didn 't they send me back back to duty. Because my hair was too long. days. When lettuce sales in the comm- to the Nam? I'd learned my lesson, I can only wonder why isary went down 2, 300 head, the base At least there you can dodge the all right. they need my hair, was forced to start buying unicn lettuce. bullets. I'd learned with every drop Or my pride, now that they But here you can never dodge the of precious blood, already got my legs. harassment, That I'd seen spilled At Ft. Bragg, N.C, and in Fayetteville, Shot down every day. for greed and power. Oh Lord, what more can I give the local town, picket lines have been The Army taught me for what I beleive in? set up at every store and commisary Your pride and self-respect well enough selling "Bud" lettuce. At one store, I didn't get a Purple Heart riddled to shreds, To know I'd never be where an adamant owner declared he this time, either, By men gone ruthlessly mad, a soldier. would never buy the union lettuce, over But I did get a wound With power. 60 Gl's and many community people So I simply walked away. to be proud of. dormed a continuous line, talking to At least I got this one doing Your conscience aching wtfh Only to be captured shoppers about the strike. something I believe in. the wounds, Only to escape At least in this war, I knew Of knowing you are part of the Only to be captured again At Great Lakes Naval Station, a small who the enemy was, sickness. Only to escape, and this time scale riot erupted in one messhall after And the enemy knew me. So I simply walked away. not so easy, several men passing out leaflets enter­ And as long as they exist, Looking for rest and peace Chased through the woods, ed the hall. In response, other sailors they'11 know me of mind, Running in the dark, overturned their salad bowls. When an In each and every man and time to Running blindly, and scared officer ordered the men to stop and to who simply walked away. Think. Off the edge eat the lettuce, the men's retort was But walking away seeking solitude Of a two hunderd, fifty foot to return the salad to the serving coun­ Is called desertion. cliff. Charles 'Butch' Olmstead is still ter by air ! ! The men also informed in the hospital at Ft. Lewis. For the officer that none would eat any more Six months at hard labor Busting my skull the last four months they have lettuce. They now have union lettuce. Was the price for freedom. Breaking my arm held him thier without any news Disneyland, Fort Ord style, Breaking my back about his discharge or when he At bases in Southern California, close Power was the central will be released. Daily his frustra­ to the scene of the strike, pressure from attraction. Paralyzed for the rest of tion mounts. He can be written the union and GIs has been continuous. One man lost his upper lip. my life at Ward 1 IB, Madigan General UFWOC lettuce is now in the Presidio Courtesy of the guards But now I am happy, Hospital, Tacoma, Wash (S.F. ), San Diego Naval Base, Moffet for eating razor blades. Now I am finally free. Field, and many other bases.

This poem was written by a GI from Fort Lewis, Wash, and is reprinted from 'FED-UP', the Ft. Lewis paper. USS.F. SHOW (Continued from Page 1) world, to destroy that individual The USO's Slogan is, "When he says Time was getting short and cultural identity we all prize, goodbve, USO says hello". That's we had to decide; so while we went in a barrage of authoritarianism ne- ;r been fully explained; what it through the motions of trying to get and regimented environments. means is when a citizen says good the municipal auditorium, we made bye to his or her freedom and civil plans to hold the show in the USSF Dehumanizing militarism and cul­ rights, and becomes a soldier, the supported coffeehouse in Fayetteville tural isotation have long been a USO says hello to war, death and the Haymarket Square» source of constant frustration for brutality. The USO, which gets so the young, socially aware service7" much of its money from the local At each of the shows about 500 man or woman. While the Army Pied Feather, and United Fund cam­ servicemen and women, from all brass reserves the exclusive night* paigns, and has Richard Nixon as branches of the military, roared club atmosphere of the officers mess its honorary chaiman, has always their enthusiastic response to satire on military life and the insanity of the war. The jokes brought out a unanimous spirit in the audience. Half way through the show there was an exercise in democracy, it went like this : THE PRES: (to the Audience) All those in favor of pulling all forces out of Vietnam, say 'out now' The audience (a roar of 'out now' is heard) THE PRES: All those in favor of my policies in Viet­ nam say 'O. K. Dick The audience (dead silence) THE PRES: Great ! ! The Silent Majority wins ! ! !

This was a show for the majority of the people in the military It reflected their ideas and beliefs. for themselves, the average GI is served the Pentagon and the whole As one GI said. left to fare for himself in the exploi­ military hierarchy and never paid tive unsympathetic "Army Town". much attemtion to the needs and "When I enlisted I was really strack To find their way out of the grip of desires of the average man or woman (gung-ho)I pressed my field jacket the O.D. (Olive Drab)Green Monster, in the military. did spit shines on my boots, every­ many young servicemen have resor­ thing, I thought this was going to be ted to dangerous drugs, blanking The Bob Hopes, and Martha Rayes my life; that was seven months ago, out their minds and emotions. of the USO entertainment team, I feel I'm about 100 years old now." have espoused the line of the mili­ USSF has always sought to counter tary brass, and that is why they A Vietnam returnee, "Yeah, we're this isolation and deprivation by were booed off the stage in Vietnam. Vietnam returnees, 173rd Airborne sponsoring coffeehouses, bookstores It has been, and will continue to be Brigade; yeah we're privates. Oily newspapers, films, singers, speak­ USSF which provides the citizen- reason a lot of them(new GIs )put up ers, and now the USSF Show. soldier of today with the assistance with this s is they dont know programs and cultural events they their rights. I'd say 90% of the desire to help build a world at peace. returnees feel this way. Man, we The USSF Show will continue. In are mad. You know 45% of our out­ the next month it will be performed fit is in the stockade right now ! ! ? at three military bases on the west The USSF Show will soon be avail- coast. Besides the large production able as a record, releasd by Flying The performers didn't have to we will also be sponsoring a tour Dutchman Records. In addition, a propagandize, they just used their of various smaller troupes of ent­ feature length color film of the USSF skills to reflect the beliefs and ertainers and cultural workers, who Show is now in preparation. The film concerns that todays servicemen have expressed an interest in going is being produced for USSF by Mr. and women all share. to different bases and performing Joseph Strick, recent winner of an for people in the military. One such Academy Award for his documentary The military consistently tries to troup, The C. I. A. (Comedy In Action) on interviews with U.S. veterans of strip the citizen-soldier of his ties played the usual USO circuit, until My Lai. with the changes and movements they were booted off for their anti­ that are happening in the civilian war material.

U.S.S.F vs. Senator Eastland For almost a year now USSF has ther than any legislative purposes been engaged in a court battle with and that the committee has not Senator Eastland's Internal Security demonstrated any valid legislative Subcommittee of the Senate Comm­ purpose for this suponea. At a ittee on the Judiciary. Last Spring, deposition taken by the USSF at­ the Eastland Committee served a torneys, Mr. Sourwine, the coun­ suponea on our bank, demanding the sel for the Subcommittee, refused production of all records dealing to answer some fifty questions with deposits and expenditures in which sought to establish whether the USSF account. USSF moved for there existed a legitimate foun­ an order in the Federal District dation for Eastland's interest in Court for the District of Columbia USSF. At the moment the judge has enjoining Eastland from enforcing before him a motion made by USSF the suponeas for punitive rather which would compel Sourwine to than legislative purposes and the answer these questions. So far as bank from honoring it. In it's we know, this case has already brief, USSF maintains that the established significant new prece­ Eastland Committee has a history dents regarding the rights of indi­ of engaging in investigations and viduals to resist unwarranted in­ issuing suponeas for punitive ra­ vestigation by congressional com­ mittees.

P"\ W' ABOUT FACE! -® THE U. S. SERVICEMEN'S FUND NEWSLETTER VOL. 2 NO. 1 FEBRUARY 1972

AFR 35-15, AR 381-135 and Department of Defense Directive 1325.6 say: THIS NEWSPAPER IS YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY AND CANNOT LEGALLY BE TAKEN FROM YOU.

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Fairborn, Ohio, January 8th: Over 250 people, half of them active duty airmen and women or veterans, gathered in WAR PROTESTS AT AIR BASES Fairborn's Central Park to hear speakers and to march to the base. The speakers included George E. Smith, a Green Beret POW in South Vietnam from 1963-1965 who was released in response to the self-immolation of Norman Morrison, and who is the author of the On Christmas Day, 1971, in Vietnam, massive and Mt. Home Air Force Base, Mt. Home, Idaho: A total book P.O.W.; Mrs. Virginia Warner whose son, a indiscriminate bombing of North Vietnam was dras­ of approximately 125 active-duty air men and women Marine Captain, is at present a POW in the North; tically escalated. and their civilian supporters participated in a "Vigil Charles Wells, an Air Force Security policeman who It has been no secret to either the Vietnamese or For Peace" Saturday, January 1 at a local post office. refused to carry an M16 in Vietnam and is awaiting a American people that the present U.S. war strategy The demonstration was in response to the escalation dishonorable discharge; Dr. Brian Bouton, a Major at means a heavy reliance on the power of the Air of the air war. On January 8th another demonstration Wright-Patterson who has applied for discharge as a Force. was held, this time on base at the cafeteria during Conscientious Objector; and Dr. Bruce Ashley, a In response to this policy active duty airmen and lunch hour, where they were most visible to the most Lieutenant at Wright-Patterson who has been denied a women across the country began a more intensified GIs. People coming on base for the demonstration discharge as a CO and is presently involved in a drive to mobilize opposition to the war. Nationally were questioned and asked for identification, an federal court suit seeking his release. After the rally coordinated demonstrations occurred on January 8th unusual procedure for Mt. Home, which is an open the group marched through the streets of Fairborn to at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton,Ohio; base. The demonstration also marked the beginning the gates of the base where there was guerrilla theater Mountain Home A.F.B., in Mountain Home, Idaho; of the petition campaign at Mt. Home Air Force Base. and chanting. At one point the gates to the base were and at Travis A.F.B., in Suisun City, California. What Mt. Home is a Tactical Air Command Base housing closed. The rally was held at the bus stop by the gate follows are reports from those U.S.S.F. supported fighter units and NATO-committed squadrons. which is Air Force property. projects. Wright-Patterson is an Air Force Logistics Com­ In addition to the January 8th demonstrations a mand base. It also houses Strategic Air Command nationally coordinated signature collection campaign heavy bomber and tanker operations, and more than is being conducted to gather names on a statement V V 150 other Department of Defense activities and calling for an immediate end to the U.S. involvement government agencies. in Indochina. The signatures will be presented in a public forum sometime in the near future.

Travis Air Force Base, Suison City, California, Janu­ General, your tank is a mighty vehicle. ary 8th: 100 active-duty airmen and women sup­ It smashes down forests and crushes 100 men. ported by 100 dependents and community people But it has one defect: participated in a 24-hour vigil in protest over the It needs a driver. escalation of the air war in Vietnam. Miss Delia Alvarez, sister of the longest held POW in Vietnam, General, your bomber is powerful. spoke to the demonstraters. The demonstration was It flies faster than a storm and it carries more than an the first time the community had supported active elephant. duty men and women in a public protest. During the But it has one defect: demonstration the city sent a surveying team to the It needs a mechanic. site to determine if the vigil was taking place on Air Force property. After three hours the team left General, a man is very useful. concluding that the site was on city property and He can fly; he can kill. therefore legal. But he has one defect: Travis, part of the Strategic Air Command, is He can think. presently the largest and busiest military aerial port in Bertold Brecht the U.S. It is the base where Vietnam war dead are returned. PROTECTIVE REACTION AN OPEN LETTER TO TYRRELL'S

FROM THE G I MOVEMENT

Dear Sirs, We, the undersigned representatives of the local Tyrrell's boycott committees, met today at a National GI conference. Discussion centered around the local boycotts and negotiations with local Tyrrell's staffs, and the progress toward national negotiations. All of us agreed that Tyrrell's has failed to meet the national boycott demands. Therefore, it was decided that ongoing local boycotts be intensified, and that boycotts that had been stopped be resumed in an all-out national Tyrrell's boycott. According to a representative of the United States Gl NAT! BOYCOTT Servicemen's Fund, your office had contacted them through a lawyer, requesting national boycott nego­ On May 15th of last year, in Ft. Hood/Killeen, Texas, mittees from San Diego, Ft. Hood, Ft. Dix, Ft. tiations. However, according to this representative, no during an Armed Forces Day Anti-War demonstra­ Jackson, Ft. Bragg, Great Lakes, Long Beach and Bay word has been heard on the matter since early tion, Gl's called for an organized boycott against the Area SOS. October. local Tyrrell's Jewelry store and outlined four The national office of Tyrrell's has been given the It was the decision of the meeting that you should demands they would ma he to Tyrrell's. Tyrrell's is a following national demands: be contacted to see if you were still interested in nationwide chain located exclusively in military 1. An end to sidewalk soliciting and high-pressure meeting with representatives of the local boycott towns. During the summer the boycott spread to II salesmanship. committees to discuss the national demands. other bases around the country. We have reprinted 2. An end to the exploitation of servicemen's Unless word is received from your office, the from "C.A.M.P. News" a progress report on the homesickness. national boycott will be resumed on December 15. Tyrrell's Boycott. 3. An end to the use of "buddy books" and the Sincerely yours, Vietnam Honor Roll (the Vietnam Honor Roll is a At a national conference of GI projects over posted list of Tyrrell's customers who have been Thanksgiving week in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, a killed in Vietnam). Michael Irving national committee was formed to conduct national 4. An end to the use of the military as a bill Ft. Hood United Front/Ft. Hood, Texas negotiations with Tyrrell's. Local negotiations, which collector. began at Ft. Hood and have spread to many other 5. Amnesty for all those arrested in the Tyrrell Bob Beattie bases, have seriously hurt the rip-off jewelry chain in boycotts. Ft. Dix Project/Ft. Dix, New Jersey many places, and the Tyrrell's in Newport, Rhode Tyrrell's has been given until December 15 to agree in Island has been closed down. writing over the signature of the president of the FTA In October the New York office of USSF was company, to all of the demands. If they don't, Louisville, Ky./ Ft. Knox approached by Tyrrell's asking for national negotia­ ongoing local boycotts will be intensified, boycotts tions. The committee which will take on the job is which have stopped will be resumed, and new ones Bruce Hartford made up of representatives from local boycott com­ will begin. Bay Area Support Our Soldiers

Peter Brown Columbia Military Draft Information Columbia, South Carolina/Ft. Jackson GI HOT SPOTS.... Scott Madison Great Lakes Naval Training Center/North Chicago In the past couple of months GIs and their movement that the purpose of the People's House is to ovej- centers have been the targets of various forms of throw the government and to subvert the Army. The George Johnson intimidation, brutality and vigilant ism. The reports Army has been subverted—and indeed nearly des­ Long Beach Naval Station/Long Beach, Calif. from Mtn. Home, Ft. Campbell (Clarkesville, Tenn.) troyed—by the Vietnam war itself. Now the American and Ft. M cC le I Ian (Ann ist on, Ala.) give y'a 11 an idea servicemen who have had to bear the greatest burden Skip Morgan of the kinds of situations GIs and their civilian of this war have begun to speak out against it, and San Diego Naval Station/San Diego, Calif. supporters continuously face. against the profoundly undemocratic nature of the Army. The purpose of the People's House, like Dennis Miller Mt. Home, Idaho: The Covered Wagon coffeehouse at dozens of similar servicemen's projects at bases Clarksville Tenn./Ft. Campbell Mt. Home Air Force Base, Idaho was gutted by fire throughout the country and overseas, is to support on the night of November 21. Folks of the Covered these men. We believe that these servicemen are Wagon are convinced that the fire was the work of acting in the best traditions of American democracy. vigilantes. The coffeehouse and its contents were "The Committee has been holding such smear TYRRELL'S BOYCOTT BLUES completely destroyed. Staff members were not hearings for more than thirty years, during which (to the tune of Alice's Restaurant) allowed to be present when the fire department and time not one single piece of useful legislation has police searched the remains; anything that might have been produced. Any Committee with so dismal a You can get ripped off for sure, at Tyrrell's Jewelry survived the fire has disappeared. The Covered Wagon record to show for its use of taxpayers' money is Store has requested that the Governor of Idaho conduct an itself more in need of investigation than are the You can get ripped off for sure, at Tyrrell's Jewelry investigation, since they are not convinced that local antiwar civilians and servicemen at the People's Store officials will be terribly interested in discovering who House. People's House, 456 N. 2nd St., Clarksville, Don't go in, it's a sure-fire burn, taking all the money set the fire. Tenn. that you earn Among the materials lost at the Covered Wagon You can get ripped off for sure, at Tyrrell's Jewelry are kitchen supplies, records, a stereo system, all their Fort McClellan, Anniston, Alabama, November 15, Store. literature, their furniture, mimeo machine, a piano Monday: 139 Black WACs and GIs at Fort McClellan and violin, any money they had invested in utilities were beaten and arrested today while on their way to Hey there, buddy, where you from? Well I'm from deposits, and all their stationery and office supplies a meeting with Col. McKean, the Commanding there too (repeat) and files. The fire also cancelled out hundreds of Officer. They were charged with AWOL, resisting Hey now buddy, come over here, don't you love your dollars worth of improvements the Covered Wagon arrest and other serious charges. Two days earlier, mother dear? people had made on the roof, the plumbing, wiring, Black WACs and GIs, returning from the EM & EW Hey there buddy, where you from? Well I'm from doors, windows, and walls. Club on base, were apparently deliberately hit by a there too. The Covered Wagon staff has informed us that a car (later identified as driven by an off-duty MP) new coffeehouse will open January 19 at a new site. injuring seven; one was hospitalized. Sunday, Novem­ Look at this expensive ring, it'll make your girlfriend ber 14, Col. McKean excused the WACs and GIs from sing, (repeat) Fort Campbell, Clarksville, Tenn.: The People's duty and agreed to meet with them at the base Buy it for your girlfriend or your wife; you'll be House, the local GI movement project, is under Football Stadium on Monday to discuss the matter. making payments for the rest of your life investigation by the House Internal Security Com­ Waiting for the men and women at the Stadium were Look at this expensive ring, it'll make your girlfriend mittee for "anti-war and anti-military activities taking MPs and State troopers. sing. place in the coffeehouses and whether these activities The word came and the MPs and troopers moved were backed by radical, black militant or Communist in with an incredible dragnet arresting and beating We ain't worried if you ain't got cash, we know your organizations." HISC subpoenaed local law inforce­ every black in sight, shouting "get the niggers." From credit's good (repeat) ment agents and did background checks on the staff the MP station many were taken to the city and If you don't pay up your dough, You gonna get in of the People's House, but would not allow the staff county jails in Anniston. Others were sent to stock­ trouble with your CO. to testify on their own behalf. ades at other Army bases. We ain't worried if you ain't got cash, we know your There are several possible results of a HISC By the last of November or early December most credit's good. hearing: the project can be discredited in the com­ of the WACs and GIs had been released, some given munity in which it lives; individual staff members discharges, some being transferred to other bases. As Started this boycott at Ft. Hood, now it's nationwide may be harassed, fired from their jobs, and followed of this writing, seven are still being held pending trial (repeat) around; and sometime in the future, the files HISC is either in the stockade or on post restriction. People gettin' together just as sure as you please, building may show up in grand jury or other gonna rid the country of pigs like these Congressional investigations. FLASH: Pvt. Leroy Jenkins, one of the seven still Started this boycott at Ft. Hood, now it's nation­ The following are excerpts from a press release awaiting disposition of his case, won his court martial wide. issued by the Peopled House in response to the HISC case. He was charged with resisting arrest and failure investigation: to repair, not reporting to duty (Uniform Code of Repeat first verse! "Several witnesses before the Committee asserted Military Justice Article 86). (From the sisters and brothers at San Diego)

Faculty Press, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y. ;,"S£ä»..'>» DiaCMB oRSjvgi coiucnon SPEAK OUT! Voices From The G.I. Movement COUNSELLING:

Military counselling work within the past year has expanded by leaps and bounds. Active-duty service­ men and women are forced under the control of military law through the Uniform Code of Military NEWSPAPERS: Justice (UCMJ). Because the military has always attempted to keep servicemen and women confused and alienation from each other. From "99th Bummer": Westover A.F.B., Chicopee, and ignorant about what their rights are, military They also use other, more subtle, but very Mass. counselors serve a vital function. ingenious ways of keeping us apart. They're called Military counselors have to be familiar with an Recently a group of active-duty men and women racism, sexism and discrimination. immense body of legal material when dealing with the It is obvious that not only does the military got together to discuss our problems and oppression branches of the Armed Forces. Not only is there the condone racists in its ranks, the military promotes at Westover. UCMJ, which is applicable to all the branches of the racism. Pitting the Black against the white, the white We talked about individual cases of repression and service but each service has its own set of against the yellow, the brown against the Black—and harassment brought down on us. Much of this regulations, i.e. Army Regulations (A.R.s) and Air on and on and on. harassment was obviously directed at people who are Force Regulations (A.F.R.s). In addition, each base Women are looked upon as bodies, as sex objects active politically in such groups as the Westover or military installation has its own set of regula­ for men, as evident by the great numbers of "sex" Action Project and the Black Discussion Group. Also, tions. magazines in the PX and the photos seen everyday in several people who are currently applying for Con­ Military counselling has often provided the thread military newspapers and journals. The sexist military scientious Objector discharges have felt the heavy that tied people in the service together. Article 138, machine treats women with total disregard for their hand of military repression. described below, has been used by groups of GIs to independent desires and needs. Women get all the It was obvious from all of the people that the prevent or stop specific acts of abuse or intimidation. stereotyped "feminine" jobs, like clerks and typists, military uses outright, blatant harassment to "keep Recently at Ft. Hood, a Commanding Officer ripped and are never considered for jobs that they might the 'lower ranks' in line." The Air Force has built a a political poster off the door of a Gl's wall locker. want to do and are certainly capable of doing.. .. class structure, with us, the working enlisted class, at The GI along with fifteen other GIs filed an Article But, all of these things serve their intended the bottom. Because of the class structure, the 138 against the CO. for his intemperate act. The purpose—and that is to keep us from uniting as GIs, "upper class (ranks)" have to have some form of result? There are now political posters on the doors as brothers and sisters. control over our lives so that we won't take control of 16 wall lockers in that company. ourselves. They must keep us from getting together in We talked at the meeting about these things and In the past year U.S.S.F. has responded to the order to protect their "good thing." we realized that there was an overwhelming need for need for military counselors by providing special They do this through several means. The most the unity of GIs. We realized that it was time we got funding for counselling and legal centers, such as the prevalent in the military is fear. Fear of reprisals and together. We needed a union. Ft. Dix Legal Center, The Ft. Ord Military Law punishment if we "step out of line." But what is A union seems like a strange thing. But, if you Project and, at Travis A.F.B., the Gateway Counsel­ "stepping out of line"? Does that mean asking for our take a look at what has been happening in this ling Program. freedoms and rights as free individuals and citizens? country, you will see that unions are the working Does that mean asking for control of our own lives? peoples only way of fighting their oppression.. . . Does that mean having a say in the running of our It is not time to turn our heads to the ground and jobs? say only two more years and I am free. What are we Article 138: GIs Weapon against the brass YES! Asking, or demanding those things is step­ going to do in those two years? Live partial, half-full Article 138 of the UCMJ is the strongest com­ ping out of line. And if we do step out of line, they lives in order to get through? Or are we going to rise plaint procedure for use by GIs against the Brass come down hard, i.e. Article 15s, letters of repri­ up strong and demand what is rightfully ours! because it is a statutory right which the Brass must mand, details, court-martials, etc. But what happens now? Where do we go from follow. No base regulation may deny your right to Another way they keep us down is with constant here? These were questions we asked ourselves. file an Article 138. harassment. Having to keep your hair cut, shoes The logical answer was to form a union. To bring When can you use Article 138? These are a few shined, face shaved; having to shovel snow, pick up GIs together as brothers and sisters to fight for our instances: cigarette butts, cut grass; having to say "yes sir" and rights. Not getting a pass when you're entitled to it. "no sir," salute, stand at attention, take orders- No one at the meeting tried to set any rules. No Racial or religious discrimination. should I even go on? We all know what harassment is, one tried to build and structure. What we are offering Being beaten or harassed. we deal with it every day. And we all know where is our views and presenting our needs. We need you as Illegal imposition of extra duties. and who it comes from. And we all know it is to keep we feel you need us. Illegal seizure of property. us down. To keep us worrying so much about our Together, and only together, can we fight the "Any member of the Armed Forces who believes own necks that it is nearly impossible to worry about oppression. We must strive for equality. We must himself wronged by his Commanding Officer, and someone else's. They are keeping us apart. Making us fight for our lives. We must come together and build a who upon due application to that Commanding compete with each other and thus causing resentment strong union of GI men and women! Officer is refused redress, may complain to any superior Commissioned Officer who will forward the complaint to the officer exercising general court martial jurisdiction over the officer against whom it is made. The officer exercising- general court martial Map of the United States jurisdiction shall examine the complaint and make proper measures for redressing the wrong complained pinpoints locations of projects of; and he shall, as soon as possible, send to the supported by USSF. Secretary of the particular branch of the service a PROJECTS: true statement of the complaint, with the proceedings thereon." (Article 138, UCMJ) Since 1968, centers have been established at nearly enforced mainly against Black GIs, that prohibited every major military installation in the U.S. and at congregating outside barracks in groups of more than How to File an Article 138 several overseas. Coffeehouses were the first form ten. In addition, nowhere on a military base could 1. Ask your Commanding Officer for redress of used to provide a place where active-duty servicemen active duty people see the films, read the books and grievance (correction of the wrong done to you). If and women could congregate in a military town newspapers, and hear the speakers and entertainers he refuses: without having that old gnawing feeling that you who addressed themselves to the viewpoint of the 2. Write down your complaint. were being ripped off for your money. When public rank and file enlisted person. For example, the 3. Hand it to any superior officer (not your CO.). attention was first focused on the new attitudes military brass hasn't made available the classic film He must forward it to an officer exercising general among service people, and the developing struggle "Salt of the Earth," a suppressed documentary court martial jurisdiction over the officer against against the war within the military, coffeehouses were depicting a strike of Chicano zinc miners and the whom you are complaining: struggles of the women in the community both often pointed to as the visible symbol of that 4. Mail or give copies of your complaint to: against the mine owners and the backward ideas of movement. The Base Commander their husbands and brothers. In the past four years people have learned that Legal Officer many different forms of centers can serve the purpose As the GI movement spread and developed, the The Secretary of the branch of service that you of providing the kind of location necessary to aid in centers had to grow. Counselling programs were are a member of. the development of a GI movement. For example, in created either utilizing space within an existing Newport, Rhode Island, adjacent to the 1st Naval location or obtaining an additional site. GIs needed From "OUT NOW": Long Beach M.D.M. District and the Naval War College, the Potemkin office space to write and lay out the newspapers they Bookstore was opened in the summer of 1970. In were publishing. Bookstores and libraries were Clarkesville, Tennessee, near Ft. Campbell, home of created to meet the demands of a growing number of the 101st and the 173rd Airborne units, the People's GIs who wanted alternatives to the usual diet of House, a three-story frame house on the main reading material found on U.S. bases and in military IF"'*! highway, has been functioning since the late fall of towns. 1970. In 1969 USSF was created to support the six lb *m These centers developed from the realization that projects then in existence. Now there are over thirty. there is usually no place on base where more than Each month About Face will do a short sketch of four or five people can gather at one time without one of these projects and try to give you, our running the risk of being harassed by the military supporters and theirs, a greater sense of the depth and authorities. At Ft. Hood there was a regulation, vitality of the activities we aid. JL.iSuJ USSF: PAST PRESENT FUTURE

Well, friends and neighbors, since the first issue of POWs: Ft. Leavenworth Style always has, through the kinds of songs represented in About Face came out in May of 1971, we figured it her album (see below), aided in bringing a spirit and was about time we stopped being so lax in informing Fort Leavenworth is the main prison of the Army sense of history to GIs across the country. all of you about developments in the activities we and Air Force. When servicemen are sentenced for In November we provided partial funding for the support. For many of you this will be the first time periods of over a year, they are sent to this huge San Francisco Mime Troupe to tour four GI centers you have received much news from USSF; others of installation in mid-Kansas. For the past several in Fayetteville, N.C, Clarkesville, Tenn., Anniston, you have been steady supporters of the Servicemen's months groups and individuals have been receiving Ala., and Louisville, Ky. The Mime Troupe recently Fund for several years and know what we do. reports of increased intimidation and harassment of completed a full-length play entitled "The Dragon During the last few months, our most visible work prisoners, primarily Black, on racial, religious (there Lady's Revenge," which links the heroin trade with has been with the FTA show, the anti-war review are no religious services for Buddhists or Muslims) American foreign policy and dramatizes the problem starring Jane Fonda, Dick Gregory, Donald Suther­ and political grounds. The first week in January, we of addiction to heroin among GIs. land and others. During the summer and fall, the funded Mr. Haywood Burns, of the National Confer­ These are just two examples of the kinds of show played at San Diego; Monterrey; Tacoma; ence of Black Lawyers, to travel to Leavenworth and cultural events we feel are important to bring to the Mountain Home, Idaho; Killeen, Texas; and San investigate the situation. He reported that there are isolated areas where servicemen and women are Antonio to large and enthusiastic audiences of GIs. In 20 GIs who have been placed in solitary confinement stationed. November, as you probably know, it performed at Ft. for no apparent or stated reason. We are now Dix and in a benefit at Philharmonic Hall in New considering funding a legal action that would secure USSF: Perspective York, before taking off for a tour of military towns the release of these GIs. in Asia. USSF has provided most of the substantial With the broadening of the air war on Southeast funds needed to present this show, without charge, to Asia, Air Force projects have taken on new impor­ thousands of GIs. tance (see page 1). Since the spring, four new Air While the FTA show has received a good deal of Force projects aided by USSF have begun: at publicity, the major work of USSF has been in Westover AFB, Mountain Home AFB, Wright-Patter­ support of the on-going GI anti-war movement. We son AFB, and Travis AFB. A number of existing have, in the last few months, been helping over 50 GI coffeehouses, like the Shelter Half, in Tacoma, Wash., newspapers and some 32 projects (coffeehouses, have made efforts to extend their services to military counselling centers, bookstores, etc.). This represents personnel at nearby Air Force installations. In addi­ a very significant and financially taxing expansion of tion, USSF has begun providing some support to USSF support functions. coffeehouses and counseling projects in the Far East. People often have asked us what we mean when At the same time, the withdrawal of ground we speak of ourselves as a "support organization" for combat troops from Vietnam to domestic bases like today's concerned servicemen and women. Some of Ft. Hood and Ft. Campbell has occasioned the you know that USSF gives monthly stipends to GI expansion of USSF-supported coffeehouses and pro­ newspapers and projects. However, because of the jects near these camps. On Veteran's Day, active-duty situations that people in the military and their civilian GIs, many just returned from Vietnam, led significant supporters often confront, USSF must respond in OKI OK! Your lousy morale has made the general anti-war demonstrations at a number of such bases. ways other than simply sending out monthly sti­ cry and I hope you're proud of yourselves." pends. Probably the best examples are provided by You and the Servicemen's Fund recent events at Mountain Home and Ft. Leaven­ Navy Times are changin' Great Lakes, Illinois worth. As today's servicemen and women struggle for change and decency, we must support them. We hope Covered Wagon Rolls Again Cultural Events Sponsored by USSF this issue of About Face gives you some idea of the kinds of activities and thinking that people in the On November 21st the GI Movement center for While the FTA show tour of GI centers in the U.S. military are engaged in. We must be able to match airmen and women at Mountain Home Air Force and Asia is the best known cultural event USSF ha; their determination with a commitment to continue Base, the Covered Wagon, was destroyed by fire (see sponsored, we have for the past three years provided and expand the work of USSF. For this we need your page 2). When USSF makes a commitment to support support for many entertainers to perform for service­ support. This will be a difficult year for us all. For a project we must be prepared for crises like this. men and women. In the last fall we provided funds to servicemen and women it can mean a continuation of Two weeks after the vigilante attack, USSF provided help Barbara Dane, a member of the USSF board, and the present brutality and frustration. But with your help it can also be a year of strength for those the $2,000 necessary—because nobody would rent to Pablo Menendez make a tour of five GI centers in the desiring a world at Peace. the coffeehouse—to buy a site for the new location of U.S. and another seven centers in Asia. We hope to the Covered Wagon. The new coffeehouse is presently have a report from Barbara on her tour for the next being rebuilt and decorated and is scheduled to be issue of About Face. Barbara has been a continuous Please Remember that All Contributions to USSF reopened January 19. participant in the GI movement since 1968 and she Are Deductible for Income Tax Purposes.

AVAILABLE FROM USSF FTA! SONGS OF THE GI RESISTANCE sung Exclusive G.I. Movement sketch, created for U.S.S.F. by BARBARA DANE with active-duty GIs. Recorded by Mr. David Levine. This sketch is available in a at GI coffee houses and movement centers at Fort limited edition o± 100, signed by the artist; also Hood, Texas, Fort Benning, Georgia, and Fort Bragg, available in a 17X22 poster, and a 5X6 Greeting card. North Carolina. Incl. songs composed by the GIs themselves. I Am A GI Rebel, Insubordination, Resistance Hymn, Last Drink With Don, etc. Accompanying illustrated booklet includes complete song texts and other material on the GI movement. Edited by Irwin Silber.

G.I. Movement Calendar for 1972. On 14X20 sheets, with pictures and historic dates noted, this calendar focuses on the struggle ENCLOSED PLEASE FIND MY PAYMENT OF $ FOR: of G.I.'s over the last 5 years. Copies of F.T.A.: Songs of G.I. Resistance @$5.00 ea.

1972 David Levine Posters, Signed, 11X14, @$15 ea. (limited ed.) t§Gi David Levine Posters, unsigned, 17X22, @$2 ea. MOVEMENT _ Dozen U.S.S.F. Note Cards @ $1.50 per doz.(With envelopes)

G.I. Movement 1972 Calendar @ $2 ea.

Make checks payable to U.S.S.F. - Enclose this coupon CALENDER in the return envelope. Include full name and address. ABOUT FACE! THE U. S. SERVICEMEN'S FUND NEWSLETTER

AFR 35-15, AR 381-135 and Department of Defense Directive 1325.6 say: USSF 44 Greenwich Avenue THIS NEWSPAPER IS YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY AND CANNOT LEGALLY BE TAKEN FROM YOU. New York N.Y. 10011 212-924-8032 VOL. 2 NO. 2 MARCH 1972 SUS FROM THE CORAL SEA

While President Nixon speaks of peace in Vietnam men jumped ship. SOS received messages of support and announces troop withdrawals, intensive bombing from Gl's and civilians all over the world, including by U.S. aircraft continues over all of Southeast Asia. anti-war groups on other aircraft carriers. Many of these planes are based on aircraft carriers Upon its return to Vietnam, the Coral Sea resumed cruising off the coast of Vietnam. Speaking before its air attacks in Southeast Asia and is heavily the Joint Senate-House Armed Forces Committee in involved in the recent intensive bombing of North April 1970 on the role of these ships in the war, Chief Vietnam. During this time protest against the war has of Naval Operations Admiral Moorer stated, "Almost continued on the ship. half of all combat sorties (missions) into Vietnam On January 15, Secretary of the Navy John were flown from carriers," thus indicating their Chaffee visited the Coral Sea off Vietnam. Men of the indispensabte part in the air war. SOS movement held a demonstration on board and In view of this, the growing movement against the presented the Navy Secretary with a petition which war among crewmen aboard these attack aircraft 36 of them had signed. The petition included carriers takes on real significance. demands for immediate U.S. withdrawal from Protest actions among ship personnel was Southeast Asia, acceptance of the DRV's 7-point highlighted last year by a campaign in San Diego to peace plan in order to gain release of American oppose the sailing of the U.S.S. Constellation to POW's, amnesty for deserters and draft resisters, and Vietnam. 54,000 people, many of them active-duty freedom for all political prisoners in the U.S. The anuary 4, 1972 sailors, participated in a referendum held in the city. petition concluded with these words: "The violence Brothers! The vast majority voted for the ship not to return to and oppression aimed at the people of Southeast Asia Vietnam. When the ship sailed, nine Constellation is too often felt by individuals in the military who .. . But—I've got to start following my head cause sailors sought sanctuary in a San Diego Church. dare to oppose current policies. Despite this very real last night while distributing the Bulkheads around Although they were arrested and initially flown back hazard, we the undersigned implore proper zeros' country we ran across two reporters from the to the ship, eight were subsequently given honorable consideration be given this statement" New York Times. Whoop—Ah! Well they leapt at the discharges. chance tn rap on some obviously radical enlisted men Protest spread to the U.S.S. Coral Sea stationed (I had a row of machine gun bullets a la Mexican off the shore in Oakland, California. As the date for On January 4, 1972, two reporters from the N.Y. revolutionary, peace symbols stenciled on my flight her return to Vietnam approached, men on the ship Times visited the Coral Sea stationed off the coast of deck jersey—for freaking pilots—and flowered head formed the organization Stop Our Ship (SOS) and Vietnam. While on board, the two reporters talked band.) We set up an interview for eleven the next drew up a petition to members of Congress calling both with the crewmen as well as with the officer morning, and I proceeded to boogie all over upon them to raise their voices against the Vietnam pilots responsible for the bombing missions. What the ship notifying the brothers of the impending trip. War and against the return of the Coral Sea to happened during their visit is described below in a Next day at eleven about a hundred anti-war sailors Southeast Asia. This petition was signed by 1500 letter written by a man working on the Coral Sea who and marines overwhelmed the fantail passageway by seamen, 33% of the crew, despite harassment and is a member of the SOS movement What the New the ASE shop, the prescribed meeting spot. The disciplinary measures already taken against some of York Times finally printed is something else. crowd was beautiful! Headbands, POW stencils on the crew by military officials. Although the news media claim to be objective their T shirts, peace symbols, clenched fists! Wow, I The City Council of Berkeley took the and to give "All the news that's fit to print," the didn't even know half of the brothers there. What a unprecedented step of passing a resolution offering article below provides just one more example of why grapevine! Chicanos, blacks (though not in large shelter for men refusing military service and ordering the slogan might better be "All the news that fits, we numbers) and straights. its policemen not to arrest any of these men. A print." The group was militant and quickly acted when number of civilian demonstrations were held in suggestions were made, or songs started to be sung. support of SOS. NOTE: We have just received news that The lifers freaked and the pigs were powerless. The The ship sailed early last November, minus many approximately 10 Gl's who were involved with the new CMAA, Satchell (a real fascist) blew his first day of its sailors and 3 of its officers, and when the carrier Times interview have been sent back to California. It on the job fcr sure! docked in Honolulu en route to Vietnam, 53 more is expected that the men will be discharged. The Times people were delayed almost an hour. In the meantime the pigs began harrassing the crowd by handing out speeding tickets for hair, beards, etc. I was escorted up to the MAA shack and written up for Carrier Pilots Off Vietnam desecration of the amerikan flag. Someone ripped up "All the News a flag and, though I wasn't in on that aspect of the trip, somehow I got busted for it. Much booing, etc. Still Eager for Action That Fits we Print" Five brothers stepped up to defend me and were apprehended also for having "SOS"'and "POW" on JANUARY 9.1972 their T shirts. When we returned the crowd cheered. By the chants of "1-2-3-4, We don't want your BY WER PETERSON "Whatever our feelings about At Least 4 Jets Lost fucking war!" and "Free the Press!" were being ïpsdil to The New York Tim« the war, we're still out here That policy was underscored screamed at full throat. ABOARD U.S.S. CORAL SEA, and we're still dropping our during the five days after The tension was building and still no reporters, it in the South China Sea, Jan. 7, bombs—and we enjoy it," said Christmas, when Navy and Air —The Indochina war and its Lieut. Gg) D. L. Mendenhall, a Force jets flew raid after raid was about 12 o'clock. (There were still 40-50 people 24-year-old bombardier-naviga- against North Vietnamese air­ there—lunch hour being what it is, an hour.) Someone complexities seem far away fields, antiaircraft sites and tor on'an F-4 Phantom. frpm this thousand-foot-long supply depots. The raids cost suggested storming the zero's ward room to free the floating air base. What matters The pilots of this carrier and at least four American jets, press, we didn't have time to think twice before to the hundred or so pilots the two other flattops of the one from the Coral Sea. Only about twenty people started pouring down the aboard is not the policies of United States Seventh Fleet and one of the eight pilots who went down was rescued. ladder. As soon as we burst into the wardroom we Washington and Hanoi but those at air bases in Thailand almost collided with the two reporters on their way and South Vietnam are the last Few of the fliers on this years of training for and mas­ ship want to go through such up. A great cheer! Whoop—Ah!! The interview was, real fighters of the dwindling culine pride in a dangerous raids again. of course, chaos but the point was made: the SOS or and exacting profession. American force in Indochina. "It was sheer insanity," said From indications here and in resistance call it what you may (the press called it It all comes together at the • Phantom navigator who did Washington, they will play an not" want to give his name. SOS), was very much alive on the Coral Sea and quite moment of unimaginable power increasingly important and The clouds were so solid we vocal in their anti-war, anti-rip-off-living conditions and speed when a jet plane is dangerous role, for Presidont couldn't see the ground, but sentiments. catapulted off the deck and Nixon has repeatedly declared the SAM'S could still see us." streaks westward toward the that American air power will Other pilots reflected^ the The point got across that we didn't want Nixon's coast 60 miles away with more continue to be used to protect widely held view that" the war, and were tired of the pig's harrassment on board. bombing was not successful-be­ than two tons of bombs and tha remaining United States cause of poor timing and bad Everything you can think of was brought up in the rockets slung under its wings Forces as well as the program weather. "It was a farce," one interview. (The crowd rose in numbers to about 70, for targets on the Ho Chi Minh of turning the burden of the of them remarked. now.) Everyone adding their two cents worth to a trail and sometimes for North fighting over to the South chorus of "Right-on." Vietnam. Vietnamese. Continued on Page 2 Brother FT. HOOD PEOPLE'S JUSTICE COMMITTEE FIGHTS AGAINST FRAME-UP OF BLACK GI

LITARY Pvt. Wesley Williams, a Vietnam veteran, was yet another victim of racism within the military. He was active in the GI movement at Ft. Hood, speaking on nousnr behalf of Harvey and Priest, two Gl's who had been Leavenworth Update singled out after a stockade riot in December, 1970, and working in the People's Justice Committee, a In the last issue we described briefly some efforts group of about 50 Black Gl's, almost all of them of USSF to deal with military injustice at the Vietnam Vets. Wes' real trouble began at the time he Disciplinary Barracks (military prison) at Ft. was making arrangements for Congressman Stokes to Leavenworth. Recent developments are encouraging. visit Ft. Hood to listen to EM's talk about their About twenty men, almost all black, had been experiences of racism at the Fort. placed in the "hole" after one prisoner from an On Nov. 12, 1971, three days before the outside work detail was accused of rape. Under threat Congressman's visit, Wes and two other Gl's went to a of habeus corpus action initiated by USSF, the basketball game on base. During the half-time, the military has—at this writing—released back into the brothers went out to get some air and drink coke. An regular prison routine all but one of the Gl's being MP car rode by, stopped, backed up about 50 feet, held in segregation. and two MP's got out. Wes went to meet them to see In addition, the American Civil Liberties Union's what was wrong. He asked one of them if they had Prisoners' Rights project is now working with USSF stopped to harass the Blacks there. Then Wes and the to institute an affirmative action suit on behalf of other brothers went to the basketball game. After the men held in military prisons like the Disciplinary game, as the brothers were leaving the gym, Wes was Barracks. The suit will attack lack of due process told by one of the MP's that he was under arrest. Wes (men are put into segregation without real hearings asked what he was being charged with and the MP and with no chance to appeal), censorship (magazines refused to answer the question. When Wes called a ranging from Black World to Playboy and, needless to friend to witness that he was being railroaded to jail, say, all GI and movement papers are banned), and the MP unsnapped his holster and walked Wes to the lack of religious freedom (Muslims and Buddhists MP car. cannot practice their religions, are forced to eat pork, etc.), among other abuses. Billy Dean Smith We expect that similar efforts to change conditions at stockades and brigs will also be instituted. PVT BILLY DEAN SMITH

On March 15, 1971, a fragmentation grenade exploded in an officers' barracks in an Army artillery unit in Vietnam, killing two lieutenants and wounding a third. Capt. Rigby and 1st Sgt. Willie, who were to have slept in those barracks, arrived on the scene and decided they were the real intended victims. Billy Dean Smith, a black private from Watts, Calif., has been charged with the fraggings (murders) and attempted murders of Rigby and Willie, and is being held in solitary confinement at Fort Ord, California. Pvt. Smith was drafted into the army in 1969. He underwent training at Ft. Ord and Ft. Sill, and was then sent to Vietnam in October, 1970, where he was assigned to the command of Capt. Rigby. Pvt. Smith's lack of enthusiasm for the war, the Army, his CO, and his 1st Sgt. were obvious to those who knew him. He often talked to those around him about the racism At the MP station, Sgt. Stilwell threw brother Wes he'd experienced and how much he hated it. This around, trying to get him to defend himself so that "lack of enthusiasm" caused Pvt. Smith to be given they could charge him with assault. After this failed, three Article 15's (see page 3) by Capt. Rigby within they accused Wes of dropping a bag of marijuana as a few months; in addition, he was being processed for he was being taken to the car. The only problem was a "212" discharge for unsuitability and unfitness. the MP's didn't have any marijuana for evidence. The After interviews with scores of witnesses, after original charge sheet read, "Suspicion of Possession of hundreds of leading questions and answers, the entire Suspected Marijuana." Later, of course they had to case against Billy Dean Smith rests in the following change this to just "Possession of marijuana." Despite list of direct and circumstantial evidence: the fact that brother Wes has ten witnesses saying The only direct evidence the Army has is a that he did not have any,marijuana, the MP's have single grenade pin found in Pvt. Smith's pocket claimed that they have two witnesses against brother during an illegal search. Photographs of the pin Wes. The trial, first set tor Dec. 8, had received a MCCCOMC TO found in his pocket and the grenade spoon series of continuances until January 17. found near the explosion clearly show that the Brother Wes was offered a seat on the Enlisted 7>//5 is yôue. two have no connection. There is nothing Men's Council at Ft. Hood, or he could have taken a unusual about a GI in Vietnam having a grenade discharge with the promise that he leave the state of "ye'i/t «m» 4 **r or rmr Ate* pin in his pocket. Texas. If he capitulated to either of these offers, all The circumstantial "evidence" appears even charges would have been dropped. Brother Wes M» THM AMC POS«« " shakier. It shows basically that Billy Dean refused both demands. Smith hated the war, hated the Army, hated his A Special Court Martial Board found Pvt. Wesley CO. and First Sgt., that he had stated that they Williams not guilty of possession of marijuana after were all racist and that he would "get even" deliberating five minutes. The three MP's who with them, that "fragging" was a good way to arrested Wes gave completely contradictory stories, do it, and that he had access to a fragmentation with one MP testifying that they had picked Wes up grenade. because they "didn't like his attitude." A second The Army seems to have overlooked the fact that charge-that of being AWOL from KP-had to be with this kind of evidence, about 90% of the Gl's in dropped when the head cook testified that he had Vietnam could get convicted of some crime. given Wes permission to leave KP. The Gl's of Ft. ^ccoicome. rt> Ant POVLOB eecs Nevertheless, Billy Dean Smith faces a firing squad Hood ensured Wes of a fair trial by leafleting, printing £ueey 4*m*n, 9x.*mMiHMt* or' &»/.©«, /* r*> 8« -7WOKJ» tfpMLty. based solely on the above evidence. articles in the GI paper, and by coming to the trial en Compare Pvt. Smith's treatment with that of Lt. masse. Calley. Lt. Calley, convicted of murdering 22 Vietnamese civilians, has such privileges as a private The New York Times Continued from Page 1 apartment, frequent visits by his girl friend, full Despite the dangers they he .continued. "Yeah. Do we officer's pay, etc. He will probably spend less than 6 still face over the less heavily burn a few trucks. Yeah. But iefended Ho Chi Minh Trail, it won't make any difference years in prison. On the other hand, Billy Smith has the pilots comnete fiercely for been in solitary confinement in the Ft. Ord Stockade i chance to fly. Asked why after we've left." Another pilot commented: without bail since his return to the U.S. What is the they are so eager, they explain that it is fun to fly and that "I think history will show that difference? Lt. Calley is a white officer while Smith is flying is what they were train­ we should never have been over -y©t> «*r THAT a black GI. Calley killed Vietnamese villagers, Smith ed for. here. I would rather be in San is accused of the murder of two white American "We fly because we like it," Diego in a state ot readiness for a war that might in some officers. Calley went along with the war, Smith defied said Lieut Merril York, 26, the pilot of an A-7 bomber. "It's way be justified." it. exciting and challenging, and Then with a rush of pride, he Military Justice? that's what we're trained to said: "But we're doing a damn do." good job of the- dirty job we've "It borders on an ego trip got to do." most of the time," Lieutenant Several of the crewmen Palmer, the Phantom pilot, said. acknowledged that they had to "You've got.to be an aggres­ juggle doubts about the effec­ FREE sive, confident guy to do this tiveness of the bombing and BILLySSffi job." their role in the war With their Commander Souder asked, affection for the Navy and for U£. "Does it do any good?" He flying. The conflict does not answered himself: "Nah!" seem to be quite resolved one to 'Do we drop some bombs?" way or the other. DlfCA9D «WAPTMMOO? *ÎACf coufcnoM - ... „ .-VWt*-'"'** «MWft (MA COUNSELLING:

SPEAK OUT! ARTICLE 15: NONJUDICIAL PUNISHMENT The most frequently used weapon in the Army's disciplinary arsenal is Article 15 of the UCMJ Voices From The G.I. Movement (Uniform Code of Military Justice). It authorizes any commanding officer, no matter how small his unit, to impose punishment on the men in his command without having to prove his case before a FROM "BARRAGE": FT. SILL, LAWTON, OKLAHOMA court-martial. His powers are considerable; in some NEWSPAPERS- instances punishments imposed under Article 15 may exceed those of a summary court-martial. This is a confession to the CID (Criminal The evening was best summed up by a Spec/4 in The soldier usually has forty-eight hours to decide Investigation Division) and local authorities about the B-40 who happened to be in the area when I was whether to accept an Article 15. If he does accept it, great newspaper chase on Jan. 8. It was consumated captured. He kept asking the OIC at the barracks why a commanding officer of less than field grade (Major at B-40 (4th Batallion 31st Infantry) at 8:30 p.m. he couldn't keep the paper I gave him. He kept or higher) can legally impose a maximum punishment Four of the Barrage staff left the office that saying, "But sir, isn't this what I fought in Vietnam of seven days' forfeiture of pay, reduction in rank evening hoping to distribute Barrage on Fort Sill in for?" one grade, extra duties up to fourteen days, order (to paraphrase Mr. Ellsberg) "to show the restriction to Company Area for up to fourteen days, people that the troops have the right to know." / THAT'S TrtE ©ENERAL \ and brig or stockade up to seven days. If a field-grade The four of us were one of several raiding 5AOULD SEE TM» \ officer imposes the Article 15, punishments can be parties—in other words the CID doesn't know how V LI6// UNDERGROUND more severe, depending on the rank of the officer. many of us distributed. PAPER. IT SAYS, / / The smallest Article 15 punishment given is a Our raiding team was made up of a Cameron GENERAL SLEEPS / \ I ^s^"^ "reprimand" which is listed on the soldier's record. College student, an ambulance driver, an active duty WHILE MEN ~y h V *#/JÉi$ After acceptance of an Article 15, the GI can GI, and a member of Vietnam Veterans Against the ÄAve" /"prj ••.-•••••s. "appeal to the next higher authority," who in some War. (jLfW -pi i-rjf"-^ '^•'S cases may, and in others must, forward the appeal to Initially we hoped to make a lightning strike on fc-»/i^$ r~* the JAG (Judge Advocate General) for his the 3400 building area and move on to the ATC area recommendation; but he is not required to follow the from there. We expected to take some casualties as êm&iJF'i J AG's advice. If the soldier refuses an Article 15 and we were operating in the heart of lifer country. (lî^r^ the Army wishes to continue with the charges, he Our car was dropped off at the snack bar and three A may face a summary court martial, which he may also of us slipped off individually into the darkness. Then, WELL, FRANKLY, refuse, thereby subjecting himself to the possibilities 15 minutes later I returned to the car to find that two I TXINK/HE of a special court martial. of us, "C.A." and Leon, the ambulance driver, had DOES-WORK been captured. THEM TOO Here's how CAMP NEWS (a GI newspaper) describes So Bob and I careened through the rest of the HARP Article 15's and how to fight them: 3400 in his GTO, stopping long enough to drop me off to deliver Barrages. I dashed into day rooms, surprising Gl's and lifers alike. Why Do They Give Article 15s? By this time the MPs had CA and Leon. Leon told 1 ) To maintain discipline, as they call it. the MPs what kind of car we were using. 2) To stifle dissent. Next delivery point was the ATC area. Here the 3) To dole out punishment under false pretenses Barrage Bombers struck repeatedly in revenge for our to people who know their rights and demand captured comrades. them. We decided to hit the hospital complex next. 4) To intimidate people and make them more From there we moved on to the 4th Bn. 30th Inf. We submissive. •BUT X \ didn't realize that most of the lifers, Judasesand the 5) To maintain their own power over our lives and WOULDN'T WAtfE minds. roving patrol were all looking for the car distributing HIM TO TELL HIM Barrage. ABOUT IT How Can We Fight Article 15? Several units on post offered a 6-day pass to 1) Refuse them. (You don't have to "ask" for a anyone who could capture a member of the Barrage court martial. Just say "no" to the Art. 15. Let staff. A Spec/4 in B-40 decided he wanted to go them worry about the rest.) home for six days and got me with a flying tackle as I 2) Refuse them together. If one person refuses an tried to get out of the barracks. Art. 15, they can mess that one person over The rest of the evening was uneventful though quietly. If thirty people refuse on the same day, those of us who were civilians had to go to the they don't have enough lawyers or court rooms Comanche County jail for the night after being to deal with it. processed by the CID. 3) Be aware of your rights. a. To demand trial. b. To refuse both Art. 15 and Summary court THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, FORT CAMPBELL, CLARKSVILLE, TENNEESSEE martial. PROJECTS: 4) Know exactly what requirement they must At the People's House Gl's can find: meet. (Ask to read Ch. XXVI of the Manual for —Military counselling for those who are having Courts-Martial the next time they "offer" you legal hassles with the Army or who are trying an Art. 15. Also ask to see all the regs. that deal to get a discharge. Most Gl's do not know with Art. 15 for your base and branch of the their rights or even that they have any. service. Don't rely on us or your lawyer to do Counselling guides them through the red tape it. Complain to your Congressman or file an and enables them to get the full benefit of the Art. 138 if they don't let you read the law.) law. 5) Ask for a lawyer every time you are offered an —GI meetings held every Tuesday night to Art. 15 and make him earn his pay. (Try to get begin building a GI organization on post that a civilian lawyer from a local military can fight against the brass, racism and the war. counseling or legal aid group; also get a JAG These meetings enable Gl's to see that they lawyer.) are not alone in their frustrations and hassles 6) If you are found "guilty," appeal to the next and that united actions can win where highest authority (MCM, paragraph 135) within individual action would fail. 15 days: —The People's Press, a monthly newspaper put a. Appeal to dismiss charges, (you were out by Ft. Campbell Gl's. framed) —A library containing newspapers and books on b. Appeal for mitigation (the charges were true, the war, the GI movement on other posts, but the punishment is going to be too severe black and brown liberation, women's for different reasons): liberation, and everything else that people are 1. personal or family hardship. &%i* doing to win their freedom all around the 2. punishment is not in proportion to the country. offense. —Free movies almost every Wednesday night. NOTE: One of the Catch 22s of art. 15 is that Fort Campbell is located on the state line between Some are just for fun and entertainment, some they can carry out the sentence while you are Kentucky and Tennessee. Most of the 15,000 Gl's are more serious and educational. appealing it. stationed there, members of either the 101st or 173rd —A food coop where people get together and 7) IF YOU ARE IN THE ARMY, ASK TO Airborne, recently returned from Vietnam. The base order foods they'll need for the week. By RESIGN IN LIEU OF ART. 15. (AR 635-200, also houses a small infantry basic training unit buying wholesale in Nashville, people can save Ch. 9, says that you can be allowed to resign intended to be "battle ready. " money and are not at the mercy of the local instead of taking an Art. 15. They don't have to "rip-off" food stores. let you do it, but what's the harm in trying?) The People's House was opened in January, 1971 Despite the HISC investigation of the People's 8) Unite with buddies and everybody else to fight by a group of Ft. Campbell Gl's, ex-GI's, and civilians House (See last issue of About Face) and Brass rumors Art. 15s. Ask your lawyer to bring your friends who felt that the Gl's stationed at Ft. Campbell of its being off-limits and a drug center (illegal drugs to your Art. 15 hearing as witnesses, character needed a place to get together to begin dealing with are not allowed in or near the house), Gl's of Ft. witnesses. Join with your friends to refuse Art. the Army, with the war, and with the day-to-day Campbell still support the People's House and regard 15s. Bring outsiders to see military justice at its problems they all faced. it as theirs. best. Print programs. Sell tickets. PEACE Navy & Air Force Projects aided by USSF *'7X (Next month the list of Army and Marine Corps Projects) NOT NAVY AIR FORCE The Destroyer (Naval Yard) Bay Area GI Counselling Center/The Only Edition (McDill HOPE 104 S. 13th Street 2904 Concordia Ave. Philadelphia, Pa. 19107 Tampa, Fla. 33609 When the Bob Hope show played in Vietnam 215-922-7902 813-839-0150 recently, it was greeted with a banner held up by Gl's in the audience. It read: "Where's Jane Fonda?/We Center for Servicemen's Rights The Coalition (Mather) Want Peace, Not Hope." The Bob Hope show was 3178 National Ave. P.O. Box 2733 San Diego, Cal. 92101 Sacramento, Cal. 95812 met by similar responses throughout his Asian tour 714-239-2119 by Gl's tired of his pro-war message and "look but Covered Wagon/Helping Hand (Mt. Home) m don't touch" sexist show. Yet, Hope receives support Enlisted People's Place/ Up From the Bottom P.O. Box 729 $? «from the military as well as from the USO, which 4844 Voltaire St. Mountain Home, Idaho 83647 208-587-7474 2 ^means that he gets free military transportation and San Diego, Cal. 92107 714-225-8349 0 „expenses-and then he sells films of the show to Free Fire Zone (Hanscom) „ |commercial TV! The FTA Show? Well, it was Great Lakes MDM/ Navy Times Are Changing (Great Lakes) 66 Hall Rd. i « considered "unsuitable," as the Pentagon's P.O. Box 164 Chelmsford, Mass. 01824 ' *?entertainment man wrote to USSF. N.Chicago, III. 60064 617-256-8270 312-689-1861 f USSF has no beneficiaries like the Pentagon and Getting Together (Lowry) £ the Chrysler Corporation. Unlike the USO, we don't Long Beach MDM/Out Now (Long Beach) P.O. Box 31016 f. receive any aid from Advertising Councils, local 1812 East Anaheim Aurora, Colo. 80010 "" Community Chests or United Fund appeals. The Long Beach, Cal. 90813 money we need-whether to send the FTA Show to 213-599-7718 Hair (Misawa) 2-4-9 Chou-cho Asia or to provide counselling materials for Gl's at Potemkin Bookstore/All Hands Abandon Ship (Newport) Misawa-shi Fort Campbell—comes from the relatively small 126 Broadway Amori-ken, Japan number of you who receive About Face. Newport, R.I. 02840 But we'd like to try an experiment. It's this: some 401-846-6793 or 846-2735 Off the Brass (Pease) of you may wish to approach your local United Fund P.O. Box 401 Portsmouth, N.H. 03801 or Community Chest to ask if USSF can receive a portion of the collection. We'll provide whatever Off The Runway/99th Bummer (Westover) information you need to present—where our money P.O. Box 382 goes (mostly to support 32 GI projects and some 50 Chicopee, Mass. 01021 413-732-8321 newspapers), for what (coffeehouses, counselling services, cultural events, bookstores), and how much Special Weapons (Kirtland) (up to $15,000/month). Maybe some vitally-needed help !!! 1003 Forrester, N.W. funds can be diverted from Hope to Peace. Albuquerque, N.M. 87102 We aren't especially hopeful about receiving a Dayton Military Counselling Center/ share of that apple pie. It's one thing to send Bob USSF NEEDS VOLUNTEERS! The Star-Spangled Bummer (Wright-Patterson) Hope with his pro-war patter and his chorus line to P.O. Box 1625 play to the troops, another thing to offer Gl's If you can help regularly or on an occasional basis Dayton, Ohio 45401 513-278-6271 entertainment and aid that fits their own preferences please drop us a note or give us a call (USSF, 44 and needs. Greenwich Avenue, N.Y., N.Y. 10011 Tailfeather (Lackland) That's why we depend so heavily on our 212-924-8032). 151 Reefridge Place friends—on you. For money, first of all—because the San Antonio, Texas 78242 monthly budget of USSF climbs, happily, as new In particular we need people who will do: Gateway/Travisty (Travis) projects get started. But also to take on efforts like carpentry (we need bookcases and supply shelves) P.O. Box 487 this one of approaching Community Chests. The typing Suisun City, Cal. 94585 •* USSF staff in Cambridge and New York totals seven, envelope stuffing 707-425-4955 plus our friends, who come by to stuff envelopes and writing to write articles, to do radio programs, to raise money filing The Whig (Clark) through houseparties and letters, to take on the many P.O. Box 80 We also need people who will: Makati Commercial Center tasks and projects we couldn't even begin. Without give fund-raising parties (in and out of New York) Santiago Village, Makati your funds and your labor, we wouldn't exist—nor suggest ways in which they would like to help Rizal, Philippines would the work in the field. But we need a good deal USSF Yokosuka David more help. And so we'd like to invite all of you (see help out with our occasional transportation the box) to think both about contributing and joining Ishii Building 6-44 Kagurazaka problems (use of a car or truck or motorcycle or Shinjuku-ku us in the ongoing work of USSF. anything with wheels with or without a driver) Tokyo, Japan

AVAILABLE FROM USSF

Exclusive G.I. Movement sketch, created for FTA! SONGS OF THE GI RESISTANCE U.S.S.F. by Mr. David Levine. This sketch is sung by BARBARA DANE with active-duty available in a limited edition of 100, signed by Gl's. Recorded at GI coffee houses and the artist; also available in a 17X22 poster, movement centers at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort and a 5 X 6 Greeting card. Benning, Georgia; and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Incl. songs composed by the Gl's themselves: I Am AGI Rebel, Insubordination, Resistance Hymn, Last Drink With Don, etc. Accompanying illustrated booklet includes complete song texts and other material on the GI movement. Edited by Irwin Silber.

ENCLOSED PLEASE FIND MY PAYMENT OF $ FOR:

Copies of FTA: Songs of GI Resistance @ $5 ea. G.I. Movement Calendar for 1972. On 14 X 20 sheets, with pictures and historic dates noted, this calendar David Levine Posters, Signed, 11 X 14, @ $15 ea. (limited ed.) focuses on the struggle of G.l.'s over the last 5 years. David Levine Posters, unsigned, 17 X 22, @ $2 ea. 1972 Dozen David Levine Note Cards @ $1.50 per doz. (with envelopes) 4§GÎ GI Movement 1972 Calendar @ $2 ea. MOVEMENT Contribution to USSF

Please send me copies of About Face to distribute to my friends.

Name.

Address Telephone.

CALENDER Make checks payable to USSF, 44 Greenwich Avenue, New York, New York 10011.

Faculty Press, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y.

AFR 35-15, AR 381-135 and Department of Defense Directive 1325.6 say: USSF 44 Greenwich Avenue THIS NEWSPAPER IS YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY AND CANNOT LEGALLY BE TAKEN FROM YOU. New York N.Y. 10011 212-924-8032 VOL. 2 NO. 3 APRIL/MAY 1972

Correctipn Nicholas von Hoffman's Poster column of April 19 erroneously stated that money for the Ad Hoc Com­ mittee could be sent to the boards of social concern of the United Methodist or Presbyterian churches. Money for Project Air War may be sent to them. Con­ »Ci tributions for the Ad Hoc Committee should be sent to the U.S. Servicemen's Fund, 44 Greenwich Ave., New STYLE A** / York City, N.Y. 10011. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1972 Bl

An Ad Hoc Committee to Keep Tabs on the Military Poster

A Commentary Winthrop St., Cambridge, Mass. Their espionage equip­ whose specialty is intelligence, "but finally we made tenance personnel sent to Vietnam; Hickman Field, ment consists of a set of telephones through which they the grade the other day as 'sophisticated Washington Hawaii, reports eight men from the 619th Support By Nicholas von Hoffman reach anti-war servicemen all over the world who call observers.' " Group have left for Thailand with an additional 300 men from this unit on alert; Mather Air Force Base, The other night the phone rang. A woman identi­ collect to 617-492-5570 to say what's going on at their Nevertheless, if the committee says that the attack base or installation. Worried wives and parents who Calif., reports the B52s and KC-135s in its 320th Bomb fying herself as a member of the Ad Hoc Military carrier Kitty Hawk steamed out of the Subie Bay Wing are on alert; the 3d-Marine Air Wing, the 62d Buildup Committee was calling to say that Haiphong want to find out where their serviceman's unit is should naval base on April 2 on such short notice it left 300 pay for their own calls. Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, the 334th, 5th, and would be subject to a B52 attack within 24 hours. She of its crew behind; or, if it says the destroyer escort 6th Air Force Squadrons, the 33d Communications gave a list of the specific targets which, she said, would The committee, which is only as old as the new USS Roard (DE 1053) left the same port on emergency buildup in the fighting, has already run up a $10,000 Squadron, on alert, in the air, on the way. be distributed to the bomber pilots. She provided the orders for Vietnam, both ships probably did. Likewise, Sounds almost Homeric, the recital of the military name of the unit that had drawn up the list of targets phone bill, and, not having access to the public purse as when the committee passes on a bulletin board notice does the CIA, is grievously short of money. Contribu­ units bound again for war, and it's epic in the death and made the maps. She knew the commanding offi­ from Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines saying, they do, and will (do. Those clumsy, blind, inaccurate cer's name. tions may be sent via the boards of social concern of "Everyone is on alert. This includes the Phase, the the United Methodist or Presbyterian churches. B52s flying by night at high altitude, letting go on a She and her buddies have sheets and sheets of other flight line, recovery teams and supervisors. Super­ city of 300,000. Ah, Dresden, Coventry, Hamburg and Doubtless some of the info it gives out is gaf alixed up, visors will accompany all flights and teams. Everyone Information concerning the war. She can tell you, for but these are the errors of people inexperienced in Tokyo. Six of those bombers can kill and flatten any­ instance, that the USS Nitro, an appropriately named should make arrangements for dependents before going thing in a territory three miles long and half a mile collecting intelligence data, as opposed to Melvin Laird's TOY." ammunition ship, will sail from Quonset, R.I., today lies. Since our government withholds and distorts in­ wide. for the Earl Ammunition Depot in New Jersey where formation as a matter of policy, the committee is about Riffling through the committee dispatches from around This act of terror against a city's civilian population is it is supposed to take on its cargo and proceed to an all we've got. the world gives you an idea of the magnitude and too much to react to. The details tell us more. The new as-yet-unknown destination. There have been a couple of stories about it in the variety of the American power converging on Vietnam, plastic, antipersonnel bomb discovered by Project Air The Nitro, the committee will tell you, is "normally Boston papers, and the wire services have done one or that overly liberated, overly defended land: Iwakuni, War, another nest of spies for peace, there's a reveal­ associated with the aircraft carrier Saratoga." The two shorties, but its work is still generally unknown to Japan, reports the arrival of more than 100 C-141 cargo ing device. Plastic shrapnel doesn't show up on an X-ray Saratoga recently set sail out of Florida for Indochina, the public. "Most of the papers have referred to us as planes, probably from Travis Field, Calif.; Yokota machine, you see, so they will have to probe for every so you know where the Nitro is going. "persistent rumors'," says Sam Butterfield, a committee Air Force Base, Japan, reports two squadrons of F-4 bit and splinter. The committee is about 10 people working out of 67 member who is also the daughter of a career Navy man Phantoms and A-6s with 250 crew members and main­ Yes, and babies, too.

The Pentagon has issued a series of optimistic New(P) Voluteer(P) statements about the "success" of its new recruit­ ment drive since it began on July 1, 1971. Enlist­ ments were up in six months — from 69,000 in 1970 ArmyO) to 75,200 — and more of those signing were high school graduates. The Army was particularly proud of In recent months, the Army has allocated $20 Continued on Page 2 million to a new recruitment drive, added 500 new recruiting stations, doubled to 6,000 the number of 'It's tho Bost Recruifing Poster soldiers assigned to recruiting, and launched a massive campaign to induce young men and women to sign on We've Got!' to the "New Volunteer Army." The core of this drive has been an effort to change the conditions of GI life — or, at least, to change the way those conditions are presented to potential recruits. Under the um­ brella of the VOLAR (Volunteer Army) program, beer has been allowed in the barracks of some training posts, KP has been pushed off onto civilian "help." recruits have been able to accumulate "merit cards" (honest truth!) to be exchanged for privileges, and make-work projects — from picking up butts to white-washing stones — have been eliminated. Or so Pentagon news releases claim. Also, pay has been raised to just over the national poverty level: $228/month, and heading for $300, from $134 a year ago. How successful has this campaign been? Are the reforms real? And effective? And what does this "new volunteer" (or "elite mercenary" — depending on how you look at it) army portend for U.S. foreign policy and militarism in this country? We don't pretend to have answers to all these questions (as a matter of fact, USSF is organizing a research program Ck.Ot* Am-T to help us get some clearer answers). But we do have some preliminary responses — and a number of ques­ ARMY TIMES J«nu«ry 24, I »72 "Here come our replacements." tions of our own. , HOUSING: " ...an army of cockroaches..."

As large numbers of ground troops are returned They also researched the existing housing laws, and from Vietnam to stateside bases, these GIs are found that the only existing legislation had been confronted with the kind of substandard housing passed in March of 1969 and enforced standards only which is common in Army towns. Recently struggles on houses built after that date. Since the housing for better housing have erupted at Fort Lewis, which GIs and their families can afford is old housing, Washington. there exists no housing code whatever to protect At Fort Hood United Front has begun a campaign them. As a result the Fort Hood United Front drew to demand uniform housing codes in the towns of up a'petition to be presented to the Fort Hood Area Killeen and Simmonsville. Thousands of GIs from Board of Realtors. The petition demands: Fort Hood, many with families, are forced to rent (1) Institute an adequate pest control pro­ housing which lacks adequate heating, sanitation, and gram. minimal safety measures. The following story of a GI (2) Make needed repairs, especially of elec­ family living in Simmonsville appeared in the Feb­ trical, plumbing, heating, and sewage systems. ruary '72 issue of the Fort Hood FATIGUE PRESS: (3) Repair structural defects which cause un- "I'd like to tell you about the house we used to neccessarily high heating and cooling bills. live in. The address is 518 46th Street in Simmons­ (4) Freeze rents - ensure that there are no ville, and the landlord is Mrs. Clark, who is the owner rent increases in already overpriced housing. of Clark apartments. She is on the official military "The kitchen had a refrigerator that was from the (5) End discriminatory rentals which push approved list as supposedly renting decent housing. 50's and a stove with an oven door that wouldn't Blacks and Chicanos into the most run-down "The outside of the house (if that's what you'd close. All the wood around the sink was rotted and areas like Simmonsville. call it) is white chipped paint, painted over old termite-infested, and the sink was all filthy with At the same time the GI Alliance at Fort Lewis has rotten wood. The inside consists of one 'living' room grease and dirt. The faucet leaked and we asked the begun to fight for decent housing standards in the and one bedroom. The kitchen is between these two manager to fix it, so a week and a half later he sent a base, town of Tillicum, Washington. The FORT rooms. There was also a toilet, I think it was the repairman in and the repairman told us that it needed LEWIS FREE PRESS recently printed a list of all only one of its kind, you see it was possible to take a a washer; he didn't fix it, just told us what was wrong landlords renting houses in Tillicum and described the shit and a shower at the same time. There was also a with it. rents they charge and the kinds of repairs they hole in the floor under the toilet. If you took a "The house also came equipped with an army of provide. Most of the landlords charge very high rents shower you had to be out in three and a half minutes cockroaches and a squad of mice." and provide virtually no upkeep or repairs. unless you didn't mind a freezing cold shower. The Such housing exists despite promises by the Army In addition, the GI Alliance recently organized a paint was peeling real bad because the rainwater had and local authorities to improve housing conditions. group of 25 GIs and their families in a march on the seeped through the old rotten wood. The same issue of the FATIGUE PRESS reports: home of one of the worst landlords in Tillicum. They "The bedroom was no better, there was a big "A while back — around last October — there was demanded immediate repairs on unsafe conditions in water cooler in the window that didn't work and the a lot of talk about how General Seneff and his staff their homes. Confronted by this unity among his floors were like the rolling hills of North Carolina. were devoting 'many hours and much thought' to the tenants, the landlord soon made the repairs. The living room was in shambles, there were panes of housing problem. The Armored Sentinel (the official These actions reflect the kind of resistance that glass missing all over the place, and the couch was base paper) told us that 'the problem is currently GIs and their families are putting up against the way shredded. Even the wooden table was rotten and being tackled by the Fort Hood Area Realtors Board, the Army abuses lower ranking EMs. Despite the dirty. the Commanding General's Advisory Board, and the public relations claims that a "Volunteer Army" will Area Chamber of Commerce." On November 10 the be a "groovy army," GIs and their families know Board of Realtors set up a committee to 'spearhead a better. drive to eliminate unsanitary, unsafe, and unsound rental units in Killeen.' The Army encouraged enlist­ ed men to bring complaints about housing to the Off Post Housing Referral Office — where presumably some action would be taken on them. "Three months later, NOTHING has been done. Not a single substandard housing unit has been improved. No pest control program. No improved sanitation. Killeen doesn't even have a housing code to set minimum standards. That means that the landlords are responsible to no-one for keeping their houses up. The law doesn't even touch them. "The realtors won't help; the city won't help; the Army won't help — so what's left? Us — the people. If we really want to improve our housing we got to do it ourselves." FOR RENT: 2 bdrm house, air conditioned, The Fort Hood United Front then did extensive backyard and porch $115. door-to-door surveys on tenant conditions in Killeen and Simmonsville and compiled a Isit of grievances. Gl's and civilians unite at Ft. Lewis

New (?) Volunteer (?) Army (!) fact of unemployment. The cartoon on this page, seem remote and sophisticated. And ease out poten­ brutal as what it acknowledges may be, still vastly tial dissenters or "malcontents" with a minimum of the jump in enlistments into "combat" units — understates the reality: up to 20% of unemployment fuss. Which, on the whole, is precisely how the Army infantry, armor, artillery — up 765%, the Army among young whites of draft age, and up to 40% and is beginning to deal with sources of trouble in its crowed, from 3,106 in all 1970 to 26,874 in 1971. 50% among blacks. It may well be, therefore, that the ranks: a recruit, the Pentagon says, must demonstrate But those figures and the forces that have produced rise in recruitment can be attributed less to the that he is "qualified" for promotion after the first 16 them must be looked at with some care. Army's cosmetics than to the brutal facts of unem­ weeks of training or out he goes. The same after a In the first place, according to the Boston Globe ployment of young Americans. year. No courts-martial, no agitation — up or out. of February 24, even with the jump in enlistments, It may be, too, that the cosmetics are getting thin. Seen in this light, the New Volunteer Army isn't the Army has been unable to fulfill its 5,000/month USSF has had reports from projects that VOLAR quite the simple salvation from the draft it has quota for those combat units. "Even in January, the reforms at a number of bases, though not all, are sometimes appeared. It presents the dangerous poten­ best recruiting month," the Globe quotes Maj. Gen. being cut back. Perhaps the Army has decided that tial of elite units, bound together by group pressures, Albert H. Smith, "with an all-out recruiting effort, after all economics will produce more manpower than purged of possible dissidents, and essentially isolated with the new pay scale and choice of geographic barracks beer and that, as one officer put it, a "more from civilianizing forces, ready to go off at an instant assignment, we fell 1327 men short of our goal." In Spartan environment" is desirable to mold young to Lebanon, the Dominican Republic, or Chile or other months the Army has been more than 3,000 men into the military. Again, all the evidence is not Mozambique. To be sure, even without the draft, men under its goal. To be sure, the assessment in the in, and it may be that we're seeing the results of in such units may still be pressured into them by Globe, much more gloomy than wildly optimistic disharmony among the brass; but it is certainly clear economic conditions and thus harbor the seeds of stories in U.S. News in January and March, had that the "New Mod Army" isn't where it's at at Fort resistance to military control. But those conditions something to do with the fact that the Army was Dix, Fort Ord, or Fort Sill. In any case, as U.S. work both ways: better $300/month being bored at then pushing for Defense Secretary Laird to begin Representative Les Aspin (Wise), a member of the Fort Jackson than $0 on a streetcorner of Patterson. using a $3,000 combat bonus already authorized by Armed Services Committee, said recently, "I don't These reflections suggest, we think, how im­ Congress as an attraction to potential recruits. see how the hell that painting the barracks is going to perative it is to maintain programs of support, More important, perhaps, in the same period that make a guy feel good if he thinks he's fighting an counseling and organizing at Army and Marine Corps regular Army recruiting has picked up somewhat, immoral war." bases. We hear a great deal about the air war and the National Guard strength has plummetted. In six increasing resistance to it within the Navy and the Air months the California Guard, the Wall Street Journal II Force; and no one should underestimate the impor­ reported, has lost 17% of its troops and is looking The issue of how and why the Army gets its men tance of what sailors and airmen and women are around desperately to cajole men into its ranks — also bears strongly on how and for what they will be doing, nor of the support they need. But with the without much success. Guard units are in equal used. A more fundamental change in the Army than withdrawal of the bulk of the ground combat troops trouble across the country. Indeed recruiters now the VOLAR reforms is its reorganization into smaller, from Vietnam and the consequent reduction of U.S. say they will have to turn to black and third world more elite, and specialized units. U.S. News quotes casualties, and the ending of draft calls for many students — against whom mainly white Guard units Brig. Gen. Robert M. Montague, deputy assistant months, the most overt symbols of the U.S. military have been used in the past - to fill in the ranks. chief of staff for the Modern Volunteer Army (!): "In foreign policy in action have been removed from the That's a fine irony, because up to now the Guard has modern war, it is man and machine against another consciousness of many people. It is thus easy to lose been a favored haven for whites trying to avoid the man and machine, and we need a kind of self- sight of a new instrument for new Vietnams in the draft. discipline for men operating in small groups." Trans­ new Army. While young men andwomen are being But the fundamental fact about the Army's lation: build the Army on small units, with lots of shaped into such instruments, we can not afford to be recruitment statistics, talked about only in the most pressure to maintain small-group loyalty, lots of forgetful of their needs, their real desires, and their guarded ways by military manpower specialists, is the heavy fire-power and electronic gear to make killing resistance. f

7 f From Navy Times Are Changing, Great Lakes MDM But the local anti-war groups are used to this kind moving talk. He said that he had talked to many of harassment. college students, but that he was really thrilled that May 15 is Armed Farces Day. To us this is not a When Jane Fonda and her friends came down in Gl's were turning against the war. day to show off a lot of weapons and to impress March for the USSF show, the Haymarket Square He said that words distort our moral perspective people with a nice, clean, efficient military, it is a day staff tried to reserve Cumberland Memorial Audi­ and urged civil disobedience as a way of showing the for showing unity in our stand against an oppressive torium. But the manager illegally refused. truth of things. military. This does not mean merely oppression By the time a court injunction had been obtained Larry Street talked about how Vietnam veterans against the members of the armed forces but also the it was too late to transfer the show and instead it had were finding no jobs and poor medical attention upon way the military opporesses the people in Amerika to be split into three separate shows at the their return home, and Deborah Rossman gave a and other countries. Haymarket Coffeehouse which has a small seating touching account of her talks with Indochinese The awareness of this oppression brings about the capacity. women. following resolutions: civilians and members of the But back to May 15. Alyce Forster talked about what it is like to be a military machine must unite in a struggle to get the The truly inspiring move was the march of 500 GI wife (see the special spring issue of Bragg Briefs). U.S. out of Southeast Asia, to obtain freedom for all Gl's and supporters through downtown Fayetteville. Other speakers included local high school students political prisoners, to grant GIs constitutional rights Right up Hay Street. and a representative of labor. that civilians are supposed to have and to end the use A year and a half ago the Fayetteville Police had The rally was about over. of GIs as riot police, strike breakers and the unwilling denied Gl's United a street permit. But the march was Bob Laroy, the Third World Band, and Bill consumers of boycotted products (like scab lettuce). held anyway. Carmichael had helped out immensely with music. Armed Farces Day is a nationwide Gl-civilian This time the police did not try that tactic. When they found themselves without microphones, movement. The GI movement is calling for a Permission was granted and relations with the Police they just strummed harder and sang louder. shutdown of all military bases to show that GIs are Department remained better than with the rest of the Somehow things hung together in spite of the rain aware of their rights and their ability to obtain them city hierarchy. and in spite of the city fathers. All that was left was by solidarity in mass action. As a function of this All along Hay Street Gl's were coming out of to watch on tv that night the evidence that all across same movement, Great Lakes MDM and area civilians stores to join the four mile march to Clark Park. the country Gl's and WACs and airmen and sailors (CAMP and Chicago Veterans Coalition) join in About one o'clock the rally began. were telling the machine that the people caught in the calling for Great Lakes Naval Base to be shut down. A soldier from the 28th Civil Affairs Company machine don't like the war and maybe don't like the The May program starts with civilian civil spoke for Gl's United. He said: "We believe that the machine either. disobedience for the first two weeks of May. There first priority is to end the war in Indochina. But we are also plans for the military bases around the know now that when the war ends, our job does not. Continued From-Tatigue Press, Page 3 country to parallel this with legal on-base action. The war has grown out of the political and economic attendance shouted their approval of the decision and Great Lakes too is participating in this action so keep institutions of this country. And unless we change the meeting was adjourned; no discussion had been your eyes and ears open for the Plan of the Week and these institutions, there will be another Vietnam and permitted. The only other avenue open to the march other news and I iterature on specifics. another Vietnamafter that." committee was to take the issue to court. A Rick Ford, a captain at Pope, spoke for COM. He The focal point for this action is, of course, prominent constitutional lawyer, Warren Burnett of told Gl's that officers support their demands for an May 15. There will be a protest march around base Odessa, Texas, indicated interest in the case and filed end to the officer caste privileges. and a rally in Foss Park that will include speakers, suit at the Belton courthouse on Friday morning. bands, food and guerrilla theatre. In the event the One of the highlights of the rally came when Bob Accompanying the suit were affidavits from local base should remain open, we are prepared with a tour Rix, an expert on military law, from Washington, businessmen, Ft. Hood GIs, and Vietnam veterans of our own and then the rally at the park. Off-baser D.C. talked about the political implications of the which asked that the march be allowed to be held in housing will be provided for those wishing it. 'New Volunteer Army.' the street. Judge Messer, who heard the suit, ruled the He said that it really amounts to trying to buy the city ordinance unconstitutional and suggested that Gl's off with a bottle of beer in the barracks and an the affected parties meet together and decide on a extra quarter inch of hair. He predicted it wouldn't parade route. After three hours of discussion and From Braggs Briefs, Ft. Bragg, N.C. work. debate, a march route was agreed upon. Rix stayed in Fayetteville for four days to help May 15, 1971. train local GI organizers in military law. The Brass Reacts! It must have been a confusing day for some Just before Howard Zinn, the main speaker, was to people. begin, the rains came. Everyone had to hurry down to Now it became clear to the brass at Hood that the Not only had the annual war show at Ft. Bragg the Haymarket Square Coffeehouse. march was going to occur, and that many GIs would spawned a counter armed forces day. But this year The coffeehouse was packed and in high spirits as be participating. The brass also realized that the true the counter armed forces day had provoked a Zinn, a professor from Boston University began a counter-counter armed forces day rally. sentiments of "our boys in Vietnam" would be Then all three programs were washed down in revealed by a mass anti-war demonstration full of thunderstorms that hit Fayetteville that Saturday Vietnam vets. Accordingly, the brass reached down afternoon. deep into their bag of tricks to limit GI participation But behind this facade was the story of how local in the march. Their first move was to put all MP officials will collaborate in ways that sometimes are companies on Saturday alert, despite the fact that illegal and sometimes are just sneaky to hassle the 150 out-of-town cops had already been called to anti-war groups. police the demonstration. Several riot control units, such as the 53rd Engineers, were also placed on two When Gl's United went to get permission to use hour alert for the march. Battalion and company Rowan Park (a spacious park a short walk from the commanders began systematically threatening their downtown) for this year's rally, they were told that men, hoping to intimidate GIs from attending the the park was already reserved by the Fayetteville march. Some officers even went so far as to tell their Cumberland County Youth Group for an ecology men that Killeen was "off-limits" on Saturday-a day. blatantly illegal and untruthful statement. Many GIs But when May 15th rolled around, it was clear were threatened with courts-martial if they partici­ that what was happening in Rowan Park was a ploy pated. However, as hard as the brass tried to prevent to draw people from our rally. 777e Fayetteville it, thousands of GIs came to Killeen on Saturday and Observer called it a "counter-counter armed forces many of them marched. As one demonstrator put it day rally." And that's what it was. It turned out to be later: "They couldn't stop us then and they can't the biggest flop of the day drawing only a scattering stop us now. We're going to win!" of people. Instead of Rowan Park the city officials offered Clark Park—a beautiful but obscure park which has It's Started! no water supply, no electricity, and no latrines of any sort. It is also four miles from downtown. There is Despite army harrassment, despite 200 counter- not even a sign on U.S. 401 that says this is the way demonstrating "goat-ropers," despite the lies printed to Clark Park. When some Gl's tried to tack a sign to the next day by the straight press, everyone who a telephone pole marking the park, a policeman said participated in the march felt it to be a rousing take it down. The policeman made it clear he was success. Something significant had occurred at Fort only following instructions. Hood: the GI movement had begun to pick up steam. The Pentagon is preparing for its domestic show of Last year MDM had to go to court before they military might on May 20, Armed Forces Day. The obtained a permit for the use of the park. GI movement is preparing, too. At Westover Air The rally of the Fort Hood United Front in Force Base (in Chicopee, Mass.) a SAC base from Killeen, Texas, is being organized around two slogans: which B-52's were recently sent to Vietnam, airmen Stop the War, and Fight the Uniform Code of and women are planning to make Armed Forces Day Military Justice. For the past two years rallies at Ft. a "Peoples' Holiday." Last year on May 15, they had Hood have drawn up to 1,000 Gl's, many of them a march and picnic. From these events came the Vietnam Veterans, from a base of about 40,000, group that put out the first issue of The 99th many of whom are prevented from attending by the Bummer, the base's GI newspaper, and opened Off brass through restrictions, exercises, and riot control The Runway, a combination coffeehouse, bookstore duty. The actions on Armed Farces day have been and meeting place for Gl's. key to building a mass movement of Gl's in Killeen. Gl's who issue Fragging Action, the paper at the In San Diego, the sailors' newspaper, Up From the Fort Dix/McGuire AFB (New Jersey) project are Bottom, is forming a Joint Armed Farces Day building toward a major demonstration on Armed Committee with local civilian anti-war groups, the Farces Day, 1972. The action will be a culmination of Convention Coalition, and the locai Veteran's Union. a Spring offensive, which has included base picketting A number of other GI organizations around the and leafletting, increased film showing and counsel­ country have also informed USSF of their plans for ing, as well as other activities. Large numbers of local activities on May 20. Among these groups are civilians from the New York and Philadelphia areas the GI Union at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; The are expected to join the May 20 activities. Paper at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, Last year in Tampa, Florida, a rally held in a park North Carolina; Service People for Peace and Justice adjacent to McDill AFB turned out 150 people, and at Pease AFB and Portsmouth Naval Base, New the Brass, afraid the multitudes would storm the base, Hampshire; the GI Union at Fort Campbell, ordered large numbers of airmen to riot control duty! Kentucky, and Special Weapons at Kirkland AFB, This year, Together, the base's GI paper, expects the New Mexico. Others include Travisty, the GI paper at brass to fret even more over a larger rally. Travis AFB, from which large numbers of troop Great Lakes Movement for a Democratic Military transports and cargo planes supplied the recent 1 (MDM) has been joined by many movement groups in escalation of the air war; Helping Hand at Mountain the Chicago area in organizing, leafletting, and Home Air Force Base in Idaho, where sustained vigils supporting their May 20 demonstration. Armed have been held since April 8; The Star-Spangled 9 Farces Day activities for the last two years have had Bummer at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio, at which widespread support, and expectations are that this about 150 people were arrested for blocking the base 7 year's event will be large and very successful. The gates on April 20. The list is by no means complete, demonstration will be held in a park near the Great for almost every day USSF hears of more places that Lakes Naval Training Station, but probably not plan to make 1972 Armed Farces Day a day of 2 without a fight from the North Chicago Park District. action.

People's Response To Escalation Of The War

April 7: April 15: •Westover AFB (Massachusetts)-rally called on •Hanscom Air Base (Massachusetts)—Rally and one day's notice brings out 250 people led by 45 march to gates of base; coordinated with VVAW and active-duty airmen. Gl.s from Ft. Devens. Tapes of Winter Soldier Report *Hickam Field (Hawaii)—continued action and played over loud speakers. vigil by Liberated Barracks. •Wright-Patterson AFB (Ohio)—active-duty air­ *Fort Bliss (Texas)—weekly demonstration at Air men, veterans, and civilians demonstrate at base gates Force recruitment center. for 14th straight week. •Travis AFB (California)—Vigil held across from April 8: main gate; speaker from carrier Coral Sea Stop Our •Mountain Home AFB (Idaho)—Vigil begins Ship movement. 11 p.m. with 75-100 active-duty airmen and women. •Ft. Devens (Massachusetts)—brief hunger strike in Two airmen beaten by non-coms. Vigil continued stockade by 25 Gl's. following weekend. •Ft. Sam Houston (Texas)—About 300 active-duty Gl's attend concert for GI conscientious objectors, April 10: then join candlelight march and vigil to support 10 *Kirkland AFB (New Mexico)-Active-duty air­ main GI organizers arrested day before. men join demonstration at recruiting center in Albuquerque. April 20: *Alameda Naval Air Station (California)—Carrier •Wright-Patterson AFB (Ohio)-500, including Midway leaves for Southeast Asia; so many sailors active-duty airmen and many college students absent that Navy forced to make local radio station demonstrate at base; 150 arrested for blocking gates. call for volunteers. Anti-war sailor greeted at Berkeley church "sanctuary" by Berkeley mayor. April 21: •Westover AFB (Massachusetts)—125 arrested during civil disobedience demonstration at base; April 13: "Ninon couldn't get you guys out, so he's sending airmen leap over fence to join demonstrators. *McGuire AFB, Fort Dix (New Jersey)—Picketing you company." ^^^^^^^ at gates of McGuire and Dix; 100 Gl's in one night sign petition protesting air war. Continued leafleting April 21-22: SIGNING THIS IS WITHIN YOUR RIGHTS!!! IT and distribution of Fragging Action since. •Plattsburgh AFB (New York)-Vietnam teach-in WILL BE SENT, ALONG WITH MANY MORE, TO coordinated with VVAW; apeakers, panels, etc. THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. April 14: •Newport Naval Station (Rhode Island)—Vietnam *Pease AFB (New Hampshire)—work slowdown teach-in; showing of NARMIC slide show on TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES: including sick calls, talks with chaplain about war. "electronic battlefield," films, speakers; statewide •Newport Naval Station (Rhode ls- meeting. I am an active duty member of the armed forces of land)-Leafletting of base. the United States presently stationed at Fort Dix/McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. I want to state my opposition to the increased war being waged by the United States against the people of Vietnam. The increased bombing and troop movements, the sending of war ships to the Gulf of Tonkin and the possibility of U.S. troop reinforce­ ments are proof that Nixon lies when he says he is winding down the war. The American policy of genocide in Indochina must be stopped now. The Vietnamese must have their freedom. As an active-duty member of the armed forces, I object to the state of alert in existence at most U.S. military bases and the troop, plane, ship and supply m® movements as responses to the offensive now being WS* 1ÈÊ W fought by the Vietnamese liberation fighters. There is only one just solution to the war in Indochina: The United States must immediately withdraw all military units from Indochina, close all Indochinese bases, and stop financial support to the dictatorships of Thieu in South Vietnam, Souvanna Phouma in Laos, and Lon Nol in Cambodia. Signed,

'PEACE NAVY' THWARTED: Antiwar demonstrators in canoes trying to delay the loading of ship at Earle Ammunitions Depot, off Leonardo, N. 3. ti* New TO* Times/wiiiiam E. sum» Name, Rank & Unit f 7 0 When President Eisenhower declared the third Fort Bragg, North Carolina: GIs held a rally of From Fatigue Press, Ft. Hood, Texas Saturday in May Armed Forces Day there wasn't over 3000 people, about 750 of them GIs. Following much organized protest among GIs. The Cold War the rally people moved onto the base and leafletted. On Saturday, May 16, a thousand people marched was at its height. But in 1970 GIs were organized. As Speeches by Mark Lane, Jane Fonda, Rennie Davis, through the streets of Killeen to protest the war. In the Brass planned their "celebrations" GIs planned and GIs. this march, the first of its kind for Ft. Hood, the anti-war actions and coordinated them nationally. It Fort Meade, Maryland: GIs held a march and rally following demands were raised: U.S. Out of was a big victory for the GI movement. Perhaps the towards the base. 500-600 people, with about 100 Southeast Asia Now!; Free Bobby Seale and all best way to look back at Armed Farces Day, as the GIs present. There were speeches by Abbie Hoffman, Political Prisoners; and Avenge the Dead of Kent GI movement called its actions, is to read what GIs Sue Schnall, a Black Panther, GIs and revolutionaries State, Jackson State, and Augusta. Despite moves by were saying, so we're reprinting four articles from GI from Spain. the brass and the city of Killeen to sabotage the newspapers. The first two are about May 16th, 1970 Fort Benning, Georgia: GIs put the military on march, some 800-1,000 demonstrators marched in and the other two about May 15th, 1971. trial, heard testimony from the audience, and found the streets and a nearly equal number of supporters it guilty of war crimes, genocide, etc. About 500 followed the parade on the sidewalks. At least 80% of the demonstrators were GIs, many of whom were From A Four Year Bummer, Chanute AFB, Illinois people, with 150 GIs. First anti-war action in the history of Columbus, Georgia. Vietnam vets. The signs and banners carried by the Armed Forces Day, May 16: All across the U.S. Fort Riley, Kansas: John Froines and an editor of marchers proclaimed the three official demands of the paranoia of the Brass was so great that the threat the AWOL Press (local GI paper) spoke to a rally of the demonstration, as well as other demands such as of GI demonstrations (real or imagined) was enough 1300 people, 400 of them GIs. First action of this "Free Richard Chase," and "End Riot Control." to cause the Brass to cancel their regularly scheduled sort. Throughout the march GIs chanted militant slogans and called to those on the sidewalk to join them. The Armed Forces Day "celebrations" at the following Fort Lewis, Washington: GIs held an all day march had started at the Oleo Strut with about 400 bases: festival-picnic-workshop. About 200 people came, people, but by -the time it turned the corner at the Ft. Ord, California with about 50 or 60 G Is. Arcade, the number in the parade had nearly Grissom AFB, Indiana Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota: GIs doubled! The march route covered 15 blocks of the Ft. Benning, Georgia and GI Wives for Peace held Friday, May 15, downtown area and terminated at the rally site in a Ft. Jackson, South Carolina workshops with Dave Dellinger, John Froines, and nearby park. Speakers at that rally included Dave Ft. Meade, Maryland Phil Ochs. Saturday, about 1000 people demon­ Cline, a Vietnam vet who works at the Oleo Strut; Ft. Bragg, North Carolina strated in an anti-ABM action at Nekoma, N.D. John Korsodal, an active-duty GI organizer; and Tom Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota Fort Hood, Texas: 800-900 people marched Gregory and Steve Pressley, black GIs active in Key West, Florida through Kileen to a rally, almost all of them GIs. building a movement at Ft. Hood. The speeches Sacramento, California Another 500 followed on the sidewalks. talked of the growing GI movement at"Hood and of Goldsboro, North Carolina Fort Carson, Colorado: Gls held a festival of life In the possibilities of future actions in Killeen and on Ft. Polk, Louisiana Colorado Springs, attended by about 500 people, post. The demonstrators responded to the speeches Quantico, Virginia about 30 of them GIs. with loud cheering and raised fists, a spirit of Andrews AFB, Virginia Fort Ord, California: The Brass freaked out. GIs militancy that characterized the entire day. Everyone McDill AFB, Florida held a march and rally. 3000-4000 people, with about understood that May 16 was the firs time GIs at Fort Phoenix City, Alabama 100 GIs. Most GIs were assigned to their barracks, Hood had stood together and that a process had been Great Lakes Naval TC, Illinois riot control training or make-work details. set in motion which could well prove to be U.S. Army Aviation Systems Center, Trenches were dug along the edge of the Post unstoppable. St. Louis, Missouri fronting on Route 1, and miles of sharpened U.S. Army Tank Center, Detroit, concertina wire had been rolled out in case the Michigan marchers charged. Why March;-The May 16 March Committee Charleston Naval Base, South Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana: GIs held a Carolina festival of life and workshops. 600-700 came for the As soon as Nixon had announced the extension of Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland afternoon, with 150-175 GIs. Speakers included a U.S. aggression into Cambodia, it seemed as if the Ft. Rucker, Alabama WW I veteran. whole nation might explode! All over the country, Pickitanny Army Base, New Jersey Fort Bliss, Texas: It was People's Armed Forces people responded with anger and protest. Sutdents Ft. Dix, New Jersey Day at Ft. Bliss, as GIs held a folk and rock music moved first, protesting the unjust imprisonment of Altus AFB, Oklahoma festival, with about 1000 GIs. Black Panther Party Chairman Bobby Seale, as well as Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Chicago the invasion of Cambodia. In schools, in factories, in Bunker Hill, Indiana Illinois: Over 500 demonstrators rallied and heard homes millions of people began to consider what they Pope AFB, North Carolina speeches May 16. The Armed Forces Day displays could do. Representatives from the GI movement met Cairns Army Air Field, Alabama were cancelled due to what Rear Admiral H.S. to discuss ways in which GIs could move to stop So far as we have been able to ascertain, GIs held Ronkin called the threat of "dissident elements." Nixon from throwing more lives away. It was decided actions on the following bases the weekend of May that May 16 would be the date for a national GI 16: action. Locally, the impetus was picked up by the Fort Dix, New Jersey: 3000 people attempted a M-16 March Committee, a coalition of representatives repeat of last October's successful march onto the from the Fatigue Press, the EM paper at Hood; the base. Marchers were gassed. Few GIs were present at V/E CHANUTE Oleo Strut, an anti-war GI coffee house in Killeen; the rally, as they had been ordered restricted to the and other Gl-related groups. Together they made the base. call for a march and began to distribute leaflets. Fort Devens, Massachusetts: GIs and civilians held a picnic and some 70-80 civilians leafletted the base. The Permit Fight-We Win! First issue of a bi-weekly newspaper, Morning Report, distributed to j^fiSo\ f « WrXR, H - * On May 11, as directed by city ordinance, the May Fort McClellan, Alabama: GIs led the way, holding 16 March Committee met with the police chief of the first anti-war demonstration ever in Anniston. Killeen to apply for a parade permit. Police Chief Grissom AFB, Indiana: GIs leafletted the post *&r * ver* ~+ Cannon told them that the city council, which was May 16. A May 17 rally was disrupted by meeting that night, was the only authority able to right-wingers, with no chance for GIs to speak. approve the application. He also said that a discussion Camp Pendleton, California: Marines were restric­ of the application would be given a place on the ted to the base. Army guys held a rally and march. council agenda. What actually occurred that night, About 5000 people, 200 GIs, heard Tom Hayden, a however, was an entirely different story. The council Black Panther, and others. meeting was packed with local businessmen whose attendance had been recruited earlier in the day by a Platoons assigned to riot control received for the Chanute AFB, III. Armed Farces Day. first time orders to shoot to kill in case of Junior Chamber of Commerce-organized telephone disturbances on the base. Units known to be campaign. Immediately after the reading of the sympathetic were put on riot control but were not And, of course, Chanute .... application, a councilman moved that the request be given ammunition ... denied. Mayor Lindley, chairman of the council, then Charleston Naval Base, South Carolina: GIs held a called for a verbal vote and the permit was rally, their first anti-war demonstration. About 1000 unanimously rejected. The "concerned citizens" in attended, with about 200 GIs. Rennie Davis was among the speakers. Continued on Page 4 freeing (or creating) pows? The Nixon Administration has mounted a major disrespect to an officer. The men were placed in campaign whose objective, it claims, is to free confinement, ten in one cell built for two; two were American prisoners of war. That campaign has used later put in a mental ward before transfer to the Ft. POW's freed by the Vietnamese, families of pilots Hood stockade. Three days later, the Brass, shot down over Vietnam, as well as organizations like confronted by both the growing protests of Ft. Sam the American Red Cross (whose subway poster Gl's and the enquiries of the press, backed down. echoes the administration's line of calling for Realizing that if they proceeded with the case, they inspection of POW camps—and identification of their risked exposing the true nature and purpose of the sites, while refusing to adhere to the Geneva military legal system, they worked through the night Convention Agreements when dealing with DRV to discharge all ten of the Gl's from the army. POW's). Similarly, the house in Lawton, Oklahoma, from It is hardly necessary to say, however, that the which a GI newspaper Barrage, for Ft. Sill is put out latest escalation of the air war, the bombing of has been subject to tear-gas attack three times in the population centers in North Vietnam, has increased last two weeks, and one staff member has been shot by perhaps as much as 10% the number of United at in his car. States POW's. At the same time, the widescale raids These and other evidences of repression of GI are jeopardizing the lives of Americans under them, dissent aren't surprising. As the air war was escalated, since bombs obviously don't discriminate between Gl's initially uncovered the extent of the U.S. the Vietnamese civilians they are killing and the build-up and got that information out to the Americans who may be there too. Past experience has American public (see New York Post article in this again and again demonstrated that while U.S. planes issue). And then active-duty men and women turned may officially attack only "military targets," in fact to protest at posts across this country. they bomb everything—from Russian ships to These protests have been mounting; they will Catholic churches; but most of all, people. continue to accelerate as we near May 20. And as More fundamentally, however, all Gl's are they do, the demands made upon USSF also x WmrPRAWAL ' prisoners of the war—some quite directly so. At Fort increase—for help in obtaining speakers and enter­ Sam Houston, in San Antonio, Texas, the brass has tainers, films, magazines, counseling and legal aid for OVERALL SUMMARY, ALL SERVICES, jailed ten of the leaders of the GI anti-war movement. Gl's who speak and act on the issues that directly MILITARY BUILDUP. Seven of the ten had applied for conscientious affect their lives—and ours. And, of course, new objector discharges; all are active with the GI projects and new papers here and overseas spring up LEFT FOR INDOCHINA: Storefront, a project USSF helps support, and Your as the movement gains momentum. To be brief about 650 planes (390 on aircraft carriers); 37 ships Military Left, a GI paper we also aid. The Storefront it, USSF and the active-duty men and women we aid (including 5 aircraft carriers), 33,900+ men. had planned a concert to support the GI conscien­ need your help. Now more than ever. tious objectors; the day before it was to happen, ON ALERT, STANDBY, or FREEZE FOR POSSI­ April 14, many of those organizing it were arrested. the small society BLE TRANSFER TO INDOCHINA The ten were first given contradictory orders on their rJgVfel? IM1rl& 10 planes, 1 cruiser, 27,770 men. way to a work detail, then told they could sit down His&tefoFTUe while they waited for a truck, then arrested by MP's UtoKLP |We-so TRANSFERRED TO/ARRIVED AT LOGISTICAL who suddenly appeared on the scene. At first they F&WLot^&p SUPPORT AREAS FOR INDOCHINA: were threatened with mutiny charges (shades of the 138 planes; 1060 men. Presidio), even though they had decided, when they «OMANY saw they were to be busted, to cooperate fully. Later, GRAND TOTALS, INVOLVEMENT IN INDO­ after publicity about the case got out, the charges tV*»,„ CHINA MILITARY BUILDUP, ALL SERVICES were reduced to refusing an order from an NCO and VftttHMM* 793 planes, 37 ships, 62,730+ men

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FTA! SONGS OF THE GI RESISTANCE sung by BARBARA DANE with active-duty P. o.w. Gl's. Recorded at GI coffee houses and movement centers at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort TWO YEARS WITH THE VIETCONG Benning, Georgia; and Fort Bragg, North By George Smith Carolina. Incl. songs composed by the Gl's themselves: I Am AGI Rebel, Insubordination, Resistance Hymn, Last Drink With Don, etc. An account of Smith's two years spent as a VC-POW, Accompanying illustrated booklet includes his growth from Green Beret "arrogance" to respect complete song texts and other material on the FTA Buttons (exact size) and understanding of his captors. GI movement. Edited by Irwin Silber.

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G.I. Movement Calendar for 1972. On 14 X 20 sheets, Copies of FTA: Songs of GI Resistance @ $5 ea. with pictures and historic dates noted, this calendar GI Movement 1972 Calendar© $2 ea. focuses on the struggle of G.l.'s over the last 5 years. David Levine Posters, Signed, 11 X 14, @ $15 ea. (limited ed.) David Levine Posters, unsigned, 17 X 22, @ $2 ea. 1972 Dozen David Levine Note Cards @ $1.50 per doz. (with envelopes) FTA Buttons @ 50tf ea. P.O.W. copies @ $4.00 ea. MOVEMENT Contribution to USSF Please send me copies of About Face to distribute to my friends.

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Highlights of Armed Farces Day, 1972 (you won't read in most local papers): Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station (North it Carolina): One of the few posts not to cancel official 7 Seamen Jump the "Death Ship Armed Forces Day activities: 3,000 anti war leaflets On April 19, 1972, the USS Nitro sailed into the slightly injured when he jumped in front of an announcing counter—Armed Farces Day rally show Earle Naval Ammunitions Depot in New Jersey to ammunition train. Meanwhile, at least five sailors had ered down on spectators and the brass' reviewing load up with bombs and shells and sail for an attempted to file applications for c.o. discharges- stand from the parachute of a Marine jumper in one "unknown destination." Usually assigned to the most had been given run-arounds; and 47 of less than of the official displays. Middle East with the carrier Saratoga, the Nitro had 200 men had signed a petition protesting unsafe Great Lakes Naval Training Station/Glenview left Newport, R.I., amidst a rally protesting the conditions on the ship—which had aboard enough Naval Air Station (Illinois): Over 3,000 people Vietnam escalation and rumors that it was being ammunition to blow up everythin g for 20 miles representing a broad coalition under GI leadership reassigned with the Saratoga to the war zone. around. The meetings continued, often through the participated in a rally across from the main gate to The arrival of what many of the sailors call the night—the men saw the powerful NARMIC slide show Great Lakes. "death ship" in New Jersey is not unusual; what was on the automated battlefield; they talked with Sister Fort Campbell (Kentucky): 150-200 active-duty unusual was the greeting awaiting it. Warned of the Elizabeth McAllister; they discussed again and again Vietnam veterans from the 101st Airborne and the Nitro's mission by the Ad Hoc Military Build-up among themselves what they could do. 173rd Airborne marched, rallied, and heard another Committee (a group formed by the GI movement to Continued on Page 4 long-term Vietnam vet, Dave Dellinger, as well as inform the public of the war build-up—see About active-duty Gl's speak. Face, April-May), the Movement for a Democratic Fort Dix/McGuire Air Force Base (New Jersey): Society, a Philadelphia-based Quaker anti-war group, 750 marchers who braved record rain storms found met and delayed the ship's « docking with a small that even military dependents' quarters had been flotilla of canoes and a skiff. Reaction from the penned up by rolls of barbed concertina wire around sailors on the Nitro was strong and positive: fists and their "private" quarters. peace signs were flashed from the deck, lined solidly Fort Ord (Monterey, California): Display booths, a with sailors. One of the men later said, "I was really rally, and a march of 400, mainly active-duty Gl's down before we pulled in, but when I saw you guys and Vietnam Vets from all over California, ending at out there, it was like the answer to a dream." MDS the Monterey Presidio, where vets turned in their made contact with the men on board and, with medals, burned discharge papers, and threw a coffin people from the Philadelphia Resistance, the Military over the fence. Legal Project at Ft. Dix/McGuire AFB, other lawyers Mountain Home Air Force Base (Idaho): Despite and counselors continued meeting with a group of intense harassment by the brass, people from the them until the ship was scheduled to leave. Covered Wagon Coffeehouse and the GI paper On April 23, sailors from the Nitro in civilian Helping Hand led 200 active-duty Gl's and 300 clothing joined in the demonstrations trying to block civilians on a ten-mile march to the base gates; they the pier from which ammunition was being loaded. In Continued on Page 3 the course of that action one demonstrator was From Newport To Haiphong... The following dispatch was prepared by the GI which ignited gasoline fumes in a forward motor WORKING FOLKS LIKE OURSELVES? (AND AS newspaper ALL HANDS ABANDON SHIP (AHAS). room. LONG AS YOU GOT THE FBI DOWN HERE FOR About 10 P.M. Saturday night, an AHAS US, DEAR GOVERNMENT, WHY DON'T YOU NEWPORT, R.I.'; MAY 20-On Saturday morning, staffmember discovered in the AHAS office, a second SEND THEM OVER TO CHECK OUT THE SAFETY Newporters awoke to find their harbor "mined" with communication from the "NLF," apparently slipped CONDITIONS ON THAT BARGE? IF THE what appeared to be red and black round objects. under the door. A cover note said: "POLING" HAD BEEN FILLED WITH GASOLINE Three newspaper offices, The Providence Journal, FUMES INSTEAD OF JUST GASOLINE, ALL The Newport Daily News, and us, All Hands Abandon DEAR AHAS, THOSE GUYS WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. AS Ship, received identical notes, apparently slipped PLEASE SEE THAT THIS GETS OUT TO AS IT WAS, TWO MEN WERE INJURED. WHO'S under the doors, signed by the "NLF"—Newport MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. RESPONSIBLE FOR IT? SOMEBODY'S MAKING Liberation Front. The note read: THANKS, MONEY OFF THAT BARGE-WHO'S CHECKING THE NLF UP ON THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY PROVIDE Dear Citizens of Newport, SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS? SEEMS TO BE A Good Morning (How are ya', anyway?) This P.S.: KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK-YOU'RE LOPSIDED SENSE OF PRIORITIES HERE. ..) is to inform you that, quite early today, your REACHING EVEN MORE PEOPLE THAN BUT, ANYWAY, THERE WE WERE FOR A FEW harbor was mined. The mines, which are of the YOU THINK. HOURS WITH EVERYBODY THINKING THAT common "red and black" variety, are timed to MAYBE THE HARBOR REALLY WAS MINED, activate in three days. The mines will not AND A SHIP WAS JUST BLOWN UP. PRETTY activate if the following conditions are met: The Communication read: SCARY, HUH? BUT GOD, PEOPLE, STOP AND (1) STOP THE WAR IN VIETNAM. MAY 20 THINK A MINUTE-THAT'S THE WAY A LOT OF (2) GET THE NAVY OUT OF NEW­ EVENING VIETNAMESE HAVE BEEN FEELING FOR A PORT. DEAR CITIZENS OF NEWPORT, WEEK NOW, EVER SINCE NIXON ORDERED (3) RELEASE ALL PRISONERS OF HI. THIS IS US AGAIN. WELL, THIS HAS BEEN HAIPHONG AND OTHER SEAPORT TOWNS TO WAR (NEWPORT SAILORS AN INTERESTING DAY, HASN'T IT? THE BE MINED. THEY'RE JUST LIKE US-JUST SECOND CLASS AND BELOW). HARBORMASTER, THE NEWPORT POLICE, THE PEOPLE, THEY GET UP IN THE MORNING, THEY If these conditions are met, there can be an NAVY UNDERWATER DEMOLITION TEAM, THE GO TO WORK, THEY WORRY ABOUT THEIR immediate ceasefire and the implementation of NEW YORK TIMES, THE FBI, THE COAST KIDS, THEY MAKE LOVE, MAYBE DRINK SOME the following two-point peace plan: GUARD ... EVEN THE NEWPORT DAILY WINE, AND ALL THEY WANT IS FOR US (1) Withdraw all American forces from SNOOZE. AMAZING, THE AMOUNT OF STIR A AMERICANS TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THEIR Southeast Asia. FEW BALLOONS CAN MAKE. COUNTRY SO THEY CAN KICK OUT THIEU AND (2) An internationally supervised plebi­ MAYBE YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS-LIKE, KY AND START BINDING UP THEIR WOUNDS. scite to insure free elections in the WHO ARE WE? ARE WE DANGEROUS? WHY'D BUT WE WON'T LET THEM DO THAT, BECAUSE United States. WE PULL A STUNT LIKE THAT? THEY'RE COMMUNISTS, AND THAT'S BAD, SO HAPPY ARMED FARCES DAY! FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE NOT AN ORGANIZA­ WE BOMB THEIR CITIES AND HOSPITALS AND TION ("NLF" JUST HAD A NICE RING TO IT.) KIDS, CREATE 400,000 REFUGEES, AND THE NLF WE'RE JUST A GROUP OF FRIENDS, WHO ARE 21,000,000 BOMB CRATERS IN SOUTHERN (NEWPORT LIBERATION FRONT) REALLY SICK OF THIS WAR. SOME OF US HAVE VIETNAM, SPLIT UP A COUNTRY IN TWO THAT FOUGHT IN IT, SOME OF US ARE IN THE NAVY WAS TEMPORARILY DIVIDED IN 1954 TILL P.S. You will note that the mines are secured AND MIGHT HAVE TO. (ALL OF US WORK, BY THEY COULD HOLD FREE ELECTIONS WHICH with line strong enough to hold them in THE WAY.) WE (THROUGH DIEM) PREVENTED, AND THEN place, yet light enough so as not to be RISK WORLD WAR III BY MINING THEIR WE'RE NOT VIOLENT-AT LEAST, NOT dangerous to a motor of a fishing boat or HARBORS. ("BUT THEY WANT US TO DO AGAINST OTHER PEOPLE WHO, LIKE US, JUST pleasure craft. (The main aim of the THAT-ASK GENERAL THIEU!") WANT TO LIVE LIKE HUMAN BEINGS. NIXON- mines is to keep out the French and WELI THE REASON WHY WE LAID THE SO A BUNCH OF US GOT REALLY MAD AND English freighters)." "MINES" WAS JUST TO TRY TO GIVE PEOPLE LAID SOME TOY BALLOONS ACROSS NEWPORT Some AHAS staffmembers went down to check it AROUND HERE A SMALL FEELING OF WHAT HARBOR TO MAYBE MAKE OUR FELLOW (AND out and observed between 25 and 30 red and black THE PEOPLE IN SEAPORT CITIES IN VIETNAM SISTER) CITIZENS THINK ABOUT WHAT IT balloons strung across the Newport Harbor half-mile FELT LIKE WHEN THEY WOKE UP ONE FEELS LIKE TO BE A VIETNAMESE. WE PICKED ""entrance between~Goat Island and Forf Adams. MORNING TO FTND IHEIK HARBCrRS"MlNETX TVTÄY^U BECAUSE—I HA I 'S ARMED HURLES At 12:05, an explosion occurred aboard a 280 SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO TRY TO GET INSIDE DAY, THE DAY THE MILITARY CELEBRATES foot barge, carrying a cargo of 900,000 gallons of OTHER PEOPLE'S MINDS AND LIVES TO SEE ITS MILITARISM EACH YEAR, AND THE DAY gasoline, the Chester A. Poling out of New York on THAT THEY'RE JUST LIKE US, NOT ANONY­ THOUSANDS OF GI'S AND SAILORS AROUND its way to Providence, accordin g to the Providence MOUS "GOOKS"-LOTTA RACISM IN THIS WAR. THE WORLD ARE PROTESTING THAT MILI­ Journal. AND THEN THAT BARGE BLEW UP. LORDY, TARISM AND THAT WAR (AND THAT TIME When police were notified of the "mines," they YOU THINK YOU WERE SURPRISED! WE WERE LEFT IN THE "SERVICE.") THERE WERE removed two, only to find them harmless In the JUST ABOUT READY TO TURN IN OUR DEMONSTRATIONS ALL ACROSS THE COUN­ meantime, two divers from the Explosive Ordinance GUERRILLA BADGES AND RETIRE TO TOLEDO. TRY TODAY, AND SO WE PICKED TODAY FOR Disposal Team at the Quonset Point Naval Air Station ("HEY, WHERE'D YOU GET THOSE BALLOONS, OUR ACTION. WE'RE SORRY IF WE CAUSED were summoned by the Coast Guard to check and ANYWAY?") EVERYBODY THOUGHT THAT THE ANYONE ANY INCONVENIENCE, BUT, YOU remove the "mines," v/hiie the Coavt Guard and the "POLING" HAD HIT ONE OF THE MINES AND KNOW, THERE'S A WAR ON. PLEASE THINK Newport Harbormaster kept all craft away from the EXPLODED. WELL, COME TO FIND OUT A FEW ABOUT IT. "mined" area. Search of the area turned up about 30 HOURS LATER, THAT THE EXPLOSION HAD OUR LOVE, medium-sized red and black toy balloons anchored to NOTHING TO DO WITH US-IT WAS JUST THE NLF. the bottom with bricks and string. FAULTY EQUIPMENT ON THE SHIP. WHY The Coast Guard reported that the explosion WOULD WE HAVE DONE SOMETHING THAT (Thanks to the Providence Journal for some of the apparently was caused by an electrical malfunction ENDANGERED A BUNCH OF SAILORS, JUST information in this article.)

Feiffer T\\e earn viermnese hme Wk\l6 rArWd — NJ€RlCNO$ 6ßrTAT P&6R6SS IJJIU Be ^ TiW ARcT muü iiNDirvet? demù? TrrcT TbeQe AT eaAjr cf me AU-.AUP eATtie. wo THAT IS Vue CAM McXO G66 m VtV.. TO ^OU roUôHT. ®WZ Mfc ^§7t^22- (>-H lex u$ ew m (jülU MOT me TO us ew IT /o Fl&ttT SOCti A WAV A6A(rJ THAT W tf (!0SôHr5 BR0TO2S AW OTHrJß ÏOUÇOF me VIETNAM BRAvr5 Mdtô AT S0H6 U)ttô WM6 Tine ito FOUGHT.. 7H6f F0TORÖ. Dist. Puhlishers-Hall Syndirate ^. ARMED FARCES DAY CONT. also organized to send seven McGovern-peace In Killeen, Texas, Gl's from Fort Hood and the delegates to the Democratic national convention from Oleo Strut coffeehouse obtained a federal court order Idaho. permitting them to rally at a downtown parking lot. Travis Air Force Base (California): 400 people The demonstration this year focussed both on the slowed traffic into the base, leafletting with a new U.S. escalation of the Indo-China war an'd on the issue of Travisty, forcing cancellation of official Uniform Code of Military Justice. In Albuquerque, events, and receiving a warm reception from airmen, representatives of the National Indian Council, local who were mostly restricted to base. Afterwards, at Chicano and women's groups, joined active-duty Gl's their center, Jane Fonda put on a slide show and Len from Kirtland AFB, Sandia and Manzawa Army Chandler sang for a packed audience of Gl 's. Bases, despite threats that Gl's participating in the march there would be shipped off to Vietnam. In Orange County, California, about 500 people joined in a march on a Helicopter station. But at Long Beach and San Diego, two of the major naval stations on the Pacific coast, demonstrations were smaller than had been originally anticipated. That was no surprise, however, since so many sailors recently At Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, stationed at these bases have been shipped out to Ohio, about 350 airmen, Vietnam veterans, and Vietnam, and many of those remaining were sent out civilians forced a last-minute cancellation of the on overnight shakedown cruises the very weekend of official program. Instead, the base commander Armed Forces Day! Nevertheless, Vietnam Vets assigned 500 Gl's to riot duty, cancelled all leaves, appeared in the official San Diego AFD parade as the reinforced security, and gathered much of his staff San Marcos Drum and Bugle Corps, much to the around him to "protect" the main gate. Two of the consternation of parade organizers and the amuse­ speakers at the Dayton rally, George Smith, author of ment of spectators. POW, and Bill Marshall, a quadraplegic and Michigan All in all, these and other activities indicated the coordinator of VVAW, tried to enter the base but continuing vitality, ingenuity, and spirit of the GI were stopped and presented with elaborate "security" movement—and its broad, locally-based character. run-downs on them, evidently prepared by Military Almost all of these events were organized and shaped Intelligence! by active-duty servicemen and women, and while many Gl's were restricted to base, given riot-control duty, sent on maneuvers or otherwise prevented from participating, reports from the field tell that rapport "TOGETHER between Gl's—even those stuck carrying M-16's to 59 "fend off" demonstrators-and the anti-war civilians ACTION who came out to support them was never better. On April 22, 1972, Gl's from every major base in These are just a few of the highlights from the Japan held a joint press conference in Tokyo. This 25-30 Armed Farces Day actions, large and small, was the first time such unified action by Gl's in Japan that occurred on or around May 20. Most of what has taken place; there have been strong GI happened, at remote posts like Cherry Point, movements at each of the bases (Iwakuni, Yokota, Mountain Home, Clarksville, and Monterey, didn't Yokosuka, and Misawa), but the joint press make a big splash in the national press—which conference and meeting which followed gives new apparently measures protests in units of 100,000 or dimensions to the anti-war, anti overseas-U.S. military more bodies, bloodied heads or arrests. But for the base movement. active-duty Gl's and their supporters, Armed Farces The nine men and women who gathered in Tokyo Day 1972 meant a good and firm step forward in read statements which had been drawn up at their their efforts. respective bases and represented many more GI s who In the east, very heavy rain storms practically could not attend-the-conference either becauseaLlhe- drowned participants in activities from Portsmouth great distance or because of restriction by the (New Hampshire) Naval Air Station and Pease AFB; military. The statements each voiced strong opposi­ Westover AFB (Massachusetts); Fort Devens and tion to the continuation and escalation of the Hanscom Airfield (Massachusetts); McGuire AFB and Indochina war effort by the United States. Because Fort Dix; and at Andrews AFB (Maryland). At each U.S. base in Japan plays a special role in the war Devens, where the base was open for the official effort strong criticism was made of the deployment "Professionals for Peace" day, 30 people were of men, materials, and planes to Southeast Asia, often arrested for participating in or cheering on guerrilla in violation of the United States' own treaty. theatre skits. Speakers during the three days of events Since the time of the conference was planned to included Dr. Howard Levy; professors Noam Chom coincide with that of other such meetings in Saigon sky and Howard Zinn; Pat Litchfield, a Gold Star and the U.S. as well, statements of solidarity were mother; and Nguyen Hoi-Chan, a south Vietnamese made. Simultaneously in Yokosuka a group of Gl's June student. In Portsmouth, the brass tried to keep Gl's and Japanese workers met to demonstrate mutual G.I. Movement Calendar away from Armed Farces Day events with weekend opposition to the war. Junel, 1971: Ft. Hood, Tex. Ft. Hood United passes to go home and with free steak and beer feasts. After the press conference, to which about 20 Front leads a boycott of Tyrell's Nevertheless, demonstrators held a mock trial of pressmen went, a planning and strategy meeting was Jewelry, a national chain of stores, General ' Waste-more-land" and of President Nixon, held to plan coordinated efforts on all bases in Japan. demanding an end to high pressure and marched the guilty parties in stocks through the Multiple-signature letters will be circulating around sales tactics and other types of streets of that New England city. each base to protest that base's role in the war effort. "ripping off" of Gl's money. The During the same week-long period, Gl's at each base boycott spreads to San Diego, Great will be requesting appointments with base com Lakes, Fayetteville, Long Beach and manders to ask "What are you doing to end the war?" Newport. And on Armed Farces Day, May 20, many activities June 3, 1967: Ft. Jackson, S.C. Capt. Howard Levy are planned; there will be rock festivals and rejects the use of medicine as a counter-military rallies (demonstrations in a foreign military tool and is court-martialed country are illegal), and arm bands and T-shirts with for refusing to train Vietnam-bound anti-military slogans will be made and worn. Other Green Beret Medics. activities will be planned and communicated between June 5, 1969: Ft. Dix, N.J. Ft. Dix 38. 300 Gl's the GI groups in Japan. revolt and burn stockade. Brass Said one person after the meeting, "I felt like we charges 38 with "inciting to riot." really got things done. For the first time we all felt June 10, 1970: Ft. Lewis, Wash. Sp/5 Bill Thomp­ really together." The repression that is sure to follow son, a Black Vietnam veteran, is as the military becomes more threatened will never be sentenced to 2 years for refusing to able to squelch such "together action" in the go to Vietnam a second time. movement for peace and justice. June 14, 1968: Ft. Jackson, S.C. 150 stockade prisoners rebel, protesting inhuman conditions. June 22,1969: Ft. Riley, Kan. Gl's in stockade rebel At Fort Bragg, North Carolina, two battalions of over poor living conditions. the 82nd Airborne were sent on maneuvers from June 26, 1970: Ft. Lewis, Wash. Ft. Lewis 6. Six Operation Exotic Dancer, and the others offered free Gl's refuse to go to Vietnam. bus rides by the brass to Myrtle Beach. Nevertheless June 29, 1971: Wash., D.C. The U.S. Court of 150 Gl's joined in a very spirited series of activities. Military Appeals, the country's high­ Many Gl's were angered by the military's cancellation est military court, rules that it is of pending discharges scheduled under the "Early- illegal for a GI and an officer to out" program; apparently the Army miscalculated "fraternize." about the number of Gl's who would seek discharges June 30, 1966: Ft. Hood, Tex. Ft. Hood 3. Three or the number who would enlist, or it felt the need to Gl's were the first to refuse order to beef up forces for the escalation. Whatever the ship to Vietnam. explanation, Gl's expecting to leave between May 18 1971: Ft. Lewis, Wash. Six Gl'x busted for and June 30 found themselves with 90-day extensions distributing "subversive literature," of their terms. GIs hold press conference 4/22/72, Tokyo, Japan the Declaration of Independence. /

"Death Ship" Continued sentenced to 30 days in the brig, fined $100 and movement still lives on those ships, with sailors reduced in rank. Desertion charges against the others printing underground papers like We Are Everywhere On April 24, as the Nitro was beginning to pull were reduced to unauthorized absence, disobeying a with shipboard equipment. Elsewhere, campaigns out, the anti-war civilians again set out in canoes to lawful order and conspiracy. The remaining six, still against the sailing of ships like the USS Rush and the prevent or at least delay its departure. As they aboard, will be given special courts-martial when the USS Glennon have focussed on safety conditions. The struggled against the grappling hooks and prop-wash ship arrives in Subie Bay, the Philippines, sometime Glennon, for example, had been declared "unsafe for of Coast Guard cutters, seven sailors shouting around May 25. One sailor, a letter also reports, "is combat," had been drydocked but not substantially "Peace" leaped from the Nitro's deck into Sandy also being charged with Article 134, the General improved, and then had been rushed off to combat Hook Bay. "We finally reached the breaking point," Article (a sort of Catch-22 which covers anything with, according to sailors on it, a leaky hull, one of them later wrote. "We had to show the public they couldn't think of at the time)." malfunctioning equipment, and guns that are no how seven sailors felt about the war. . . . There were match for North Vietnamese shore batteries. The Nitro case illustrates more dramatically a others who attempted to jump but were repelled. . . . Underlying concern with the "fitness" of such ships, quietly-growing resistance movement in the Navy. The crew reports to us that their reaction to what we however, is opposition to the war, and the feeling Many Americans know of the Stop Our Ship did was enthusiastic to say the least." among sailors that they, along with airmen, are being campaigns, directed against the sailing of carriers like The crewmen were pulled from the water by the substituted for Gl's on the firing line of a war they the Constellation, Coral Sea, and Kitty Hawk to the Coast Guard and returned to the Nitro. "Soon as we want ended. A letter received by USSF from a sailor war zone (see About Face, March issue); the SOS got on the ship," a sailor's letter said, "we were put in stationed off Vietnam reports his personal observa­ the brig and informed we were charged with violating tion of four ships hit by gunfire, of a number of men Article 85 (Desertion) and 86 (AWOL)" of the killed and others wounded in exchanges with shore Uniform Code of Military Justice. batteries. Enroute to Hawaii the sailors' charges against Back stateside, we seldom hear of naval casualties, unsafe conditions on the ship were borne out: a small let alone of the resistance movement in the Navy. As fire broke out forward and a big hole in the fire-hose a matter of fact, sailors stationed off Vietnam aren't was found; the ship's engines stopped one day and it even counted in the Administration's total of military lay dead in the water. Many of the men felt that their personnel located in southeast Asia. But the reality is lives, and those of anyone near them, were being that they are there, more all the time—seven carriers jeopardized in order to rush more huge quantities of off Vietnam, apart from cruisers, destroyers, and ammunition to rain on Vietnam. other ships, and more on the way. The question we Arriving in Hawaii, the Nitro was rushed through hear passed among sailors is how long it will be before refueling at Pearl Harbor in under two days. One of a malfunctioning ship with a couple of hundred the seven accepted a summary court-martial and was r„^^s«=.- • sailors on it is hit and sunk. Military Projects aided by U.S.S.F

ARMY People's House/GI Union/People's Press (Ft. Campbell) The Whig (Clark) 456 N. 2nd Street P.O. Box 80 Barrage (Ft. Sill) Clarksville, Tenn. 37040 Makati Commercial Center P.O. Box 303 615-647-7844 Santiago Village, Makati Lawton.Okla. 73501 Rizal, Philippines 415-353-0542 The Shelter Half/Fed-Up (Ft. Lewis) P.O. Box 244 Yokosuka David Common Sense Books/Morning Report (Ft. Devens) Tacoma, Wash. 98409 Ishii Building 6-44 Kagurazaka 116 W.Main St. 206-272-5227 Shinjuku-ku Ayer, Mass. 01432 Tokyo, Japan 617-772-0084 Short Times (Ft. Jackson) 2301 Lee St. Forward Columbia, S.C. 29205 803-256-0196 1 Berlin 45 MARINE CORPS Postfach 163, W. Germany Where Are We? (Ft. Huachuca) Chessman II (MCAS Beaufort) Military Legal Center/Fragging Action (Ft. Dix) P.O. Box 451 c/o Del Vohringer P.O. Box 681 Sierra Vista, Ariz. 85635 P.O. Box 5401 Wrightstown, N.J. 08562 Burton. S.C. 29902 609-723-4470 Voice of the Lumpen 6 Frankfurt A/M Demand for Freedom Freedom Rings Adalbertstr. 6, W. Germany Box 447 Ishii Building, 6-44 Kagurazaka Koza, Okinawa Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan Inland People's Coalition (MCB 29 Palms) FTA (Ft. Knox) AIR FORCE P.O. Box 5154 P.O. Box 336 San Bernadino, Cal. 92408 Louisville, Ky. 40401 Bay Area GI Counselling Center/The Only Edition (McDill) 714-888-2527 502-637-2425 2904 Concordia Ave. Tampa, Fla. 33609 Orange County MDM/Payback (MCAS El Toro, Santa Ana) FTA With Pride 813-839-0150 P.O. Box 11 354 69 Heidelberg Santa Ana, Cal. 92711 Schiffgasse 3, W. Germany The Coalition (Mather) P.O. Box 2733 The Paper (MCAS Cherry Point) GI Alliance/Lewis-McChord Free Press (Ft. Lewis/McChord AFB) Sacramento, Cal. 95812 109 N.7th Street P.O. Box 421 Morehead City, N.C. 28557 Tacoma, Wash. 98401 Covered Wagon/Helping Hand (Mt. Home) 206-582-9741 P.O. Box 729 Semper Fi (MCAS Iwakuni) Mountain Home, Idaho 83647 P.O. Box 49 Gl's for Peace/Gigline (Ft. Bliss) 208-587-7474 Iwakuni-shi P.O. Box 31094 Yamaguchi-Ken, Japan Summit Heights Station Free Fire Zone (Hanscom) El Paso, Texas 79931 66 Hall Rd. United We Stand Book Store/Rage (Camp Lejeune) 915-532-9880 Chelmsford, Mass. 01824 P.O. Box 1163 617-256-8270 Jacksonville, N.C. 28540 GI S to re front/Y our Military Left (Ft. Sam Houston) 919-346-9534 P.O. Box 8559 Getting Together (Lowry) San Antonio, Tex. 78208 P.O. Box 31016 512-223-3371 Aurora, Colo. 80010

Haymarket Square/GI Union/Bragg Briefs (Ft. Bragg) Hair (Misawa) NAVY P.O. Box 437 2-4-9 Chou-cho Spring Lake, N.C. 28390 Misawa-shi The Destroyer (Naval Yard) 919-485-5725 Amori-ken, Japan 104 S. 13th Street Philadelphia, Pa. 19107 Korea Free Press Off the Brass (Pease) 215-922-7902 P.O. Box 94 P.O. Box 401 Elmhurst, III. 60126 Portsmouth, N.H. 03801 Center for Servicemen's Rights Last Harass (Ft. Gordon) Off The Runway/99th Bummer (Westover) 31 78 National Ave. P.O. Box 2994 P.O. Box 382 San Diego, Cal. 92101 Hill Station Chicopee.Mass. 01021 714-239-2119 Augusta, Ga. 30904 413-732-8321 i Enlisted People's Place/ Up From the Bottom Left Face (Ft. McClellan) Special Weapons (Kirtland) 4844 Voltaire St. P.O. Box 1595 1003 Forrester, N.W. San Diego, Cal. 92107 Anniston, Ala. 36201 Albuquerque, N.M. 87102 714-225-8349

Liberated Barracks Dayton Military Counselling Center/The Star-Spangled Bummer Great Lakes MDM/ Navy Times Are Changing (Great Lakes) 404 Piikoi St. (Wright-Patterson) P.O. Box 164 Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 P.O. Box 1625 N.Chicago, III. 60064 808-537-9458 Dayton, Ohio 45401 312-689-1861 513-278-6271 Military Law Project/POW (Ft. Ord) Long Beach MDM/Out Now (Long Beach) P.O. Box 1501 Tailfeather (Lackland) 1812 East Anaheim Monterey, Cal. 93940 151 Reefridge Place Long Beach, Cal. 90813 408-373-2729 San Antonio, Texas 78242 213-599-7718

The Oleo Strut/Ft. Hood United Front/Fatigue Press (Ft. Hood) Gateway/Travisty (Travis) Potemkin Bookstore/All Hands Abandon Ship (Newport) P.O.Box 1265 P.O. Box 487 1 26 Broadway Killeen, Texas 76541 Suisun City, Cal. 94585 Newport, R.I. 02840 817-634-9405 707-425-4955 401-846-6793 or 846-2735 SPEAK Voices From The G.I. Movement COUNSELLING: DO YOU KNOW YOUR RIGHTS?

Many people in the military service today have NEWSPAPERS: From Braggs Briefs, Ft. Bragg, N.C. been convinced that they do not have the basic human rights guaranteed by the United States EDITORIAL Constitution. They are probably correct; many Bragg Briefs is written and produced by Gl's don't exist in isolation from the rest of private citizens have come to the same conclusion. active-duty Gl's at Ft. Bragg. It has been published America either. There are more unemployed people But many enlisted men, women and officers believe for over four years. It began as a mimeographed sheet in this country today than there have ever been. erroneously that they can not voice their own of a few hundred copies and has grown to an Working people are being forced to work longer and opinions, petition authorities, participate in demon­ eight-page paper with a printing of 6000 copies at faster, just to live, while inflation continues and strations, or own and read literature critical of each issue. Naturally, over this period of time many profits rise faster than ever. Unions and the right of government and military policies. It is an interesting Gl's have come and gone on the staff, but new people workers to strike are under attack by Nixon's comment on American freedom that these attitudes have always picked up and carried on. Government and the giant corporations behind him. are accepted as easily as they are. Why do we do it? We do it because we reject the People on welfare are reduced to starvation and The repressive atmosphere and minor regulations Army's definition of the American GI. This definition squalor and threatened with forced labor. Blacks, that the person in the military must face are is one of men and women who think only when they Chicanos and Puerto Ricans are forced to live in the responsible for much of this paranoia. ... If one are told to think and act only on orders from above. ghettoes of a segregated society. The struggle of Gl's would look closely at current regulations and actual We believe that Gl's and WACs do not lose their for justice and better conditions is a part of a larger practice, however, it is evident that people in the rights as citizens because they join or are drafted into struggle of the American people to control the military have both the legal right and ability to escape the military machine. These include the rights of country they have built, and which is presently under some types of oppression. The regulations that are freedom of speech, press and assembly. We know the the rule of the giant corporations, the military and used by military authorities to repress personal Army does not want us to practice these rights, but the likes of Nixon and Johnson. freedom and thought need to be understood and used we will. Gl's on Bragg Briefs do not agree about in the positive sense (what they do allow) by the We know that despite all the publicity about "The everything. What we write is our own and we invite people to win their small freedoms. New Army" and MVA that the Green Machine has Gl's and WACs to join us. Send news of your units This article can not review all the regulations and not changed its true colors. Every GI sees it every and hassles, opinions about anything from dope to laws that apply to personal freedoms. But there are a day: illegal harassment by lifers, restrictions and nuts to politics. Letters and stories can be sent to few situations and regulations that repeatedly pre-trial confinement, living and working conditions Bragg Briefs, Box 437, Spring Lake, N.C, 28390 or intimidate people in the military and keep them from that are an insult to human beings, racism and the dropped off at the GI Center, HON. Main St., Spring acting. exploitation of women and families. Every GI who Lake. A person in the Air Force can petition public says "FTA" is aware of these things. But sitting on "The Spirit of the People is greater than the Man's officials with grievances (AFR 30-1, AFR 30-15), but our bunks mumbling "FTA" accomplishes nothing. Technology." We believe that Unity is the answer. not circulate a petition while on duty, on base, in The brass wouldn't mind at all if we said "I'll just do Unity among Gl's against the Green Machine, and uniform or in a foreign country. . . . The letter of my time, then everything will be OK when I get out," Unity of Gl's, workers, and poor people against the grievance does not have to go through the chain of and kept getting drunk or stoned so we wouldn't bigger machine. command or be reviewed by any other authority. remember how much we hated it. Frequently commanders or NCO's will state or leave We can't allow our minds to be shut off for a few the impression that correspondence to congressmen, years with sweet dreams of tomorrow. mofiMiieK city officials, the President or his staff must be We do not exist alone. The 360,000 dead or "approved" or read by military superiors. This is false wounded GfTTrom Vietnam and the millions ot "and mayTre justifiably arret legally refused: Vietnamese killed or injured by America's war in You may possess and read any written or printed Indochina won't let us believe that. You know it publication that a civilian may possess if you are in could have been you or it might be you tomorrow. the Air Force (AFR 35-15). You may carry on the The voice of Gl's against the criminal war in Vietnam base, keep in your barracks and read, in uniform or has been heard all across the country and in Vietnam. out, your personal copy of any publication like Free We must continue to speak out and act until all U.S. Fire Zone. No one can legally prohibit your troops, bombers and death machines have been possession of alternative or "underground" papers or withdrawn from Indochina. CA3 Ö* Continued on page 6

Killeen Kelly Soys Always Drive Carefully KILLEEN DAILY HERALD VOL 20 NO. 109 KILLEEN, TEXAS 76541 ' WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1972 20e SUNDAY * 10e DAIJ.Y Killeen Lawmen Tell House Panel Of Oleo Strut Activities WASHINGTON (UPI) -Two Coffee House has solicited the The Oleo Strut Inc. is a cen­ strations held on Armed Forc­ march on Veterans Day in 1971 police officers from Killeen, aid of any left-wing radical ter of operations by the Ft. es Day in 1970 and 1971, and it was denied. Shelton said. The Tex., testified today an anti­ groups available to them." Hood United Front, a political said most of the participants resuit was the arrest of 118 war organization backed by Persons associated with the activist group. The Front is were out - of - uniform mili­ demonstrators who marched "Left-wing radical groups" had coffee house, the two police of­ now planning a May 20 anti­ tary personnel. anyway. Of these, Shelton said, succeeded in winning the sup­ ficers said, constantly urge mil­ war march in Killeen, and the Both parades were conducted all but 6 were military person­ port of hundreds of soldiers at itary personnel to help seek City Council has given the with permits issued by the city, nel. nearby Ft. Hood. withdrawal of U.S. forces from Front permission for a parade Shelton said, but the police had Shelton said the Oleo Strut, Asst. Police Chief Homer E. Southeast Asia, to agitate over a specific route, but has beea forced to intervene be­ now managed by a John Mit­ (Rip) Shelton and detective Lt. against local landlords and bus­ denied the Front_ use of city cause of disturbances created chell, was reported to get finan­ when local people dressed in cial help from entertainers such Cordus Jackson Jr., testifying inessmen, and to "strike back public property for a political rally. cowboy clothing and carrying as Jane Fonda and Pete Se'eger before the House Internal Se­ at the brass controlling the Ar­ my." The House committee is "in­ American flags demanded the but this had not been verified curity Committee, also accus­ demonstrators teave a city park even though both had visit­ "In this respect it appears vestigating coffee houses near ed the Army of doing little to military bases that participate where thev tried to hold a ral­ ed and performed at the Oleo that they have been able to ly. Strut. help local police deal with dem­ reach hundreds of military per­ in leafleting," and who make The second Armed Forces Shelton said the police had onstrations organized by the sonnel at Ft. Hood to some "efforts to lower the morale of Day march, Shelton said, was never seen a soldier in uniform anti - war group. degree, and to elicit their sup­ the soldier," Lewis h,as been larger than the first but the marching in the demonstrations port in demonstrations and pa­ quoted as saying. Killeen Police Chief. Charlie demonstrators were denied use but that it was "very simple to rades," Shelton said. "Perhaps An estimated dozen law en­ Mitchell said Wednesday morn­ of the park because of damage detect those individuals who are some of these individuals have forcement and military officials ing he wished to make no of­ caused the year before. He said military by their dress, appear­ departed to other parts of the will appear before the commit­ ficial statement concerning the the city obtained use of a pri­ ance and general manner." country upon their discharge tee of nine representatives dur­ appearance by Shelton and vately "owned lot for the 1971 with very radical ideas of how ing Tuesday's and Wednesday's The police officer said the job Jackson before the committee. demonstration. of controlling demonstrations the Army and the government hearings, reports indicate. Wed­ Shelton said the anti-war ac­ had been made more difficult should be changed." nesday's hearings were open to Shelton testified that about tivity was centered in the Oleo half of the demonstrators in the because the Army no longer Strut coffee house located in The House committee's activ­ the public Tut Tuesday's hear­ provides estimates of how many ings were closed. 1970 march were military per­ downtown Killeen. ities have been private hear­ sonnel but that in the larger Ft. Hood personnel participate. Most of the subpoenaed wit­ "It is our conclusion ... that ings on coffee houses across the 1971 march — numbering about "It is difficult for local police the sole purpose of the Oleo nesses before the committee 450 demonstrators — as many to understand why at this time nation, particularly the more are from Texas and Ohio, Strut Coffee House in Killeen is extreme coffee house groups on as 80 per cent were from Ft. the Army does not appear to be to propagandize those^ individ­ Lewis said. willing to gather information of the West Coast and in Ten­ Hood or other nearby military uals, officers and enlisted men During questioning by com­ bases. those personnel who engaged in nessee, according to the com­ at Ft. Hood," Shelton said. mittee counsel, the two police When the Oleo Strut these activities," Shelton said. "In doing this the Oleo Strut mittee spokesman, John Lewis. officers described demonstra- sought a second permit to COUNSELLING Continued from page 5

Introduction to USSF books. Furthermore, you can write for and participate in the production of any publication you USSF. And in a number of places, USSF helps Since this post-Armed "Farces" Day issue of wish as long as you do it on your own time. support attorneys whose practices have been entirely About Face is going to many people unfamiliar with A person in the military, much as any other absorbed by the needs of Gl's. The United States Servicemen's Fund (USSF), we citizen, may participate in "demonstrations" and Just as the first GI coffeehouse, named the UFO, thought we might take the opportunity to introduce other forms of assembly and redress (First Amend­ was partly an answer to the outmoded, run-down and ourselves. ment, AFR 35-10, AFR 30-1). What you can't do is often pro-war services available to Gl's, so USSF has The United States Servicemen's Fund (USSF) has wear your uniform while you participate. You can helped provide speakers and entertainers responsive grown because the GI movement has grown—and as a identify yourself as a member of the military with to the mood and culture of today's young people in response to the determination of Gl's themselves. signs or words. .. . the military. USSF has sponsored appearances by In 1968, the first GI coffeehouse and the first The Air Force and "lifers" will lie to you, Pete Seeger, Country Joe McDonald, Barbara Dane, "underground" GI newspaper began. In two years personally try to harass you, and threaten you. You and Mable Hillary, among others; by theatre groups there were over a dozen such coffeehouses and some might find that your efficiency report declines, if that like the San Francisco Mime Troupe and the FTA fifty papers organized by servicemen and women really matters, because you try to stand up for part of show; and by speakers like Dr. Howard Levy, former demanding rights for Gl's and an end to the Vietnam the basic rights a citizen should have. Perhaps you Lt. Susan Schnall, George Smith, Fred Branfman, and war. These projects, and the active-duty servicemen have to be brave, but I wouldn't call it that. To others. and women who risked (and continue to risk) the exercise the few rights you are allowed, you have to stockade, orders to Vietnam, courts-martial, and In many respects, the day to day, week by week have self-respect—enough respect for yourself to not many other forms of harassment to work in them and support work done by USSF is unspectacular. It is be pushed around. If a slave will agree to being spit to distribute GI newspapers, needed an organization lots easier to explain to people why activities like the on, he might not be whipped, but he will never be to help support their work. That organization was Ad Hoc Military Build-up Committee, direct actions free.. .. like those of the men on the Nitro, events like those USSF. If you have any questions about what you can or of Armed Farces Day need to be financially USSF is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization can not do, call one of the organizations on the back supported. But in fact none of these would have entirely supported by voluntary contributions. It page of Free Fire Zone. Remember that regulations occurred without the GI movement. And that receives no financial aid, nor any other assistance are written in a very negative manner; they are movement needs to be sustained not just on May 20, from the U.S. government. Quite the contrary. The intended to prevent or stifle action and freedom. But but on June 20, July 20, August 20, when the Internal Revenue Service has tried, unsuccessfully so h\ careful reading and accurate interpretation, these memories of the big events decline but the urgency of far, to take away USSF's tax exemption. Senator tools of oppression can be used against the oppressor the GI resistance continues and builds. Eastland's Internal Security Committee has tried to to win some freedoms and small victories. subpoena its files. The Pentagon has prevented We therefore hope that those of you receiving USSF-sponsored entertainers, like the FTA Show, About Face for the first time will choose to become From Free Fire Zone, Hanscom Field, Mass. from playing on bases, despite the strong desire of the regular contributors to USSF, to receive the monthly Gl's themselves to see such shows; and it has newsletter About Face and, where it's possible, to attempted to have coffeehouses supported by USSF begin relating directly to the projects and papers placed off limits. (listed elsewhere in this issue) which constitute the In spite of such federal harassment, the Service­ backbone of the GI movement. men's Fund has continued to provide monthly stipends to GI newspapers, coffeehouses, counseling centers, bookstores, and other projects designed to support servicemen and women struggling to retain personal independence and to develop collective strength. USSF also helps provide civilian legal counsel to Gl's persecuted by the military's system of "justice." Military Law Panels in a number of locations have "It does frighten one. lt is been established and partly financed by the efforts of the special file on dissenters."

AwiïilARtf FROM USSF Contributions to the United States Servicemen's Fund are deductible for tax purposes.

FTA Buttons (exact size) TWO YEARS WITH THE VIETCONG By George Smith SONGS OF THEQ RESSTANCE SurgtyBabaa Dane with acöveduty GIs ROW GEORGE E. SMITH

/Vit J .'.K,

FTA! SONGS OF THE GI RESISTANCE sung by BARBARA DANE with active-duty Gl's. Recorded at GI coffee houses and "In the end I regretted not knowing more about our movement centers at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort captors," writes George Smith, who spent two years Benning, Georgia; and Fort Bragg, North as a prisoner of the Viet Cong, and already knows Carolina. Incl. songs composed by the Gl's them better than any other American. His decision to Exclusive G.I. Movement sketch, created for themselves: I Am AGI Rebel, Insubordination, "join the peace movement" after his release earned U.S.S.F. by Mr. David Levine. This sketch is Resistance Hymn, Last Drink With Don, etc. him another six months captivity-at the hands of the available in a limited edition of 100, signed by Accompanying illustrated booklet includes U.S. Army. P.O.W. is a story of developing the artist; also available in a 17X22 poster, complete song texts and other material on the commitment, told with humor and directness. and a 5 X 6 Greeting card. GI movement. Edited by Irwin Silber.

ENCLOSED PLEASE FIND MY PAYMENT OF $ FOR:

Copies of FTA: Songs of GI Resistance @ $5 ea.

1972 GI Movement 1972 Calendar @ $2 ea. ëG\ David Levine Posters, Signed, 11 X 14, @ $15 ea. (limited ed.) MOVEMENT David Levine Posters, unsigned, 17 X 22, & $2 ea. Dozen David Levine Note Cards @ $1.50 per doz. (with envelopes) FTA Buttons @ 50^ ea. P.O.W. copies @ $4.00 ea. Contribution to USSF Please send me copies of About Face to distribute to my friends. CALENDER Name

G.I. Movement Calendar for 1972. On 14 X 20 sheets, Address Telephone. with pictures and historic dates noted, this calendar focuses on the struggle of Gl's over the last 5 years. Make checks payable to USSF, 44 Greenwich Avenue, New York, New York 10011.

Typeset by O.B.U. Typesetters, Inc., 339 Lafayette St., Faculty Press, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y. Cifg£i$j<» N.Y., N.Y. 10012. (212)673-6632. ABOUT FACE! THE U. S. SERVICEMEN'S FUND NEWSLETTER

AFR 35-15, AR 381-135 and Department of Defense Directive 1325.6 say: USSF 44 Greenwich Avenue THIS NEWSPAPER IS YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY AND CANNOT LEGALLY BE TAKEN FROM YOU. New York N.Y. 10011 212-924-8032 VOL.2 NO.5 AUG.-SEPT. 1972

Some of the original GI organizers of the Hobbit Coffee House at Iwakuni Brass Rules Coffeehouse 'Off Limits'

On June 22nd, the Hobbit Coffeehouse, a GI organizing and legal center at Iwakuni, Japan, was ordered placed "off limits" to American military GI'S FILE CHARGES personnel. Col. Heil L. Van Campen, the commanding officer of the Iwakuni Marine Corp. Air Station, declared that "the presence of Armed Forces personnel at the i AGAINST GEN. LAVELLE establishment of the Hobbit, deleteriously affects the By now, most Americans know the name John D. the commander-in-chief, lied about his actions in welfare of such personnel and is inimical to the Lavelle. He's the Air Force General who ordered official documents, and may be guilty of murder as security of this command, its tenant units, and the unauthorized raids, disguised as "protective reac­ well?" United States of America...." His legal officer, tion," on North Vietnam. And who, as a result (or a The unsung hero of the Lavelle case, however, is Major Granger, went on to say that " there has been reward, depending on how you look at it) was retired the enlisted man who reported Lavelle's deception to no hearing. There will be none. There has been no on the pay of a full general, some $2,250 a month. his Congressman. As a matter of fact, in the days statement of the reasons for this designation. There Court-martial proceedings against Gen. Lavelle following Lavelle's exposure—which revealed that will be none because the reasons are classified." have now been instituted, not by the Air Force, "protective reaction" was widely regarded as a kind What does it mean that the Hobbit be declared off which tried to hush up his indiscretion, but by other, of grim joke to cover whatever the Air Force decided limits? How important is it? lower ranking active-duty Air Force personnel. First to attack—it was primarily enlisted men who provided In Iwakuni it will mean that Gl's writing material Lieut. Delbert R. Terrill, a 1970 Air Force Academy reporters like Seymour Hirsch of the New York and laying out for their paper Semper Fi will be graduate, swore out court martial charges accusing Times with most of their information. Many of these deprived of the security and materials available at the Lavelle of wilfully disobeying a lawful order—that is, men work, or worked, in Air Force units concerned Hobbit; that marines seeking legal advice and aid will not to bomb North Vietnam-and falsifying official with photo reconnaissance, targetting, or similar no longer be able to turn to the lawyers and documents—that is, covering up the illegal bombing matters. And even those who have been discharged counsellors in the Hobbit for this help; that the raids he ordered. And at Mountain Home Air Force may be legally bound not to discuss classified relationship and interaction between Gl's and the Base, fourteen airmen and sergeants, most of whom information to which they had access during their Japanese peace movement, developed through joint relate to the Covered Wagon coffeehouse, filed charge military terms. In blowing the whistle on Lavelle and work at the coffeehouse, will have to be re-estab­ sheets stating that Gen. Lavelle had violated articles the other Air Force brass who have used the lished and maintained under much more difficult 92 and 107 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Orwellian term "protective reaction" to cover their circumstances. In all it will mean, at least for a time, a and calling upon President Nixon to convene a Court attacks, these men may be leaving themselves open victory for the Brass at Iwakuni and for those who of Inquiry under Article 135 of the UCMJ to for possible prosecution. But as Lt. Terrill put it, "I support the war in Southeast Asia. determine "if any pilots or other human beings were just feel that any oath of allegiance requires that I at There is, however, a larger concern involved. It is killed as a result of the illegal orders issued by last speak out." the danger of allowing a precedent to stand that General Lavelle." The men also proferred charges would allow the army the power to declare all against Gen. John D. Ryan, Chief of Staff of the Air coffeehouses, bookstores, counselling centers, paper Force as an accessory after the fact. offices, and gathering places "off limits to military Mark Lane, a staff worker at the Covered Wagon »**• personnel." This, for a movement already forced to and legal counsel for the 14,commented that a "GI at operate within the limits of a strict and arbitrary legal Mountain Home AFB was court-martialled for system (distribution of a GI newspaper can bring six missing one hour of work. Another is about to be months in the stockade), could well be a blow serious court-martialled for allegedly having a hair cut that enough to set back the GI movement months, or even was 1/8 of an inch too long. Is it possible for the years, in its efforts to set up structures to reach out military to be so concerned about such details and to new soldiers and those untouched by the organized yet'unwilling to prosecute a general who deliberately, resistance of the last few years. Continued on Page 3 over a period of months, disobeyed a direct order of RECRUITMENT

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Wllpayyon Well pay you $288 a month to | $288 a month to \ learn a skil 3*^1 MM. « 5&

Todays Army wants to join yon. n" Töday% Army wants to iota yon...... -.'•

MJK^ M Credit: Syracuse folks

The entire process is based on false and distorted recruitment, this unjust system is being expanded (This is the first of a three-part series con­ without change. cerning military recruitment. These articles images of service life designed to exploit the vulnerability of youth. Utilizing special access An integral part of recruitment is advertising. In are written by David Cortright. Dave was information such as lists of those ordered for FY 1972 the four services are spending $48 million an active-duty organizer and participant in pre-induction physicals or of graduating high school on paid public advertising, much of it in the news Gl's for Peace at Ft. Bliss, Texas, and now seniors, many recruiters employ questionable high print media and on billboards. In the spring of 1971, works with the Institute for Policy Studies pressure methods. A recent example of such tactics a special television advertising blitz during prime time in Washington, D.C.) was exposed by Congressman John J. Rooney of New cost the Army over $10 million. In addition to these York in February. Rooney complained to the Federal paid advertisements, the Pentagon takes ample Trade Commission of "huckstering and double talk" advantage of the FCC's public service regulations to from recruiters who sent letters to young men in his obtain free broadcasting time. Hundreds of television The current trend to an all-volunteer armed force district deceiving them into thinking they had and radio stations daily broadcast without charge has been caused in part by an unprecedented level of mandatory appointments at the recruitment office. tapes provided by the services. The current estimated military resistance in recent years. Widespread Many recruiters make alluring promises they have no annual value of these "public service" ads amounts to opposition to the draft and serious unrest within the authority to make, a practice which San Francisco over $32 million. Thus the armed services are ranks have caused grave manpower problems which attorney Lloyd McMurray has described as fraud. providing $80 million worth of advertising a year, an the Pentagon hopes to avoid with a reduced volunteer Once they are in the service, young people have no amount which ranks them among the nation's largest force. Although this policy shift demonstrates the means of legal redress against false promises; the corporate advertisers. (By contrast, General Motors strength of popular anti-militarism, it does not seem enlistment contract, DD Form 4, and various spent $65 million on advertising last year.) As if this to represent any substantial reduction in the threat 'statements of understanding' which recruits must were not enough, Secretary of the Army Froehlke to peace. In fact, the kind of large, professionally sign contain numerous loopholes. Furthermore, recently wrote to the television networks requesting a motivated Army envisioned by the Defense Depart­ Article 83 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice five-fold increase in donated air time. So far the ment would in many ways be more dangerous than makes the" remarkable assertion that the enlistment networks have refused, but the clear trend is toward the previous conscript force. To truly impose popular contract is binding on the soldier but not on the increased military pressure on the young people of control over the military, this new volunteer armed service. Despite the new attention being given to the country. (Continued Next Issue) force, like all offensive military forces, must be met with continued vigorous opposition. The most serious obstacle to the volunteer plan, and the area where resistance action could be most effective, is the problem of recruiting a sufficient number of willing enlistees. With declining pressure from the draft, the task of recruiting is becoming essential, and the recruitment establishment is consequently becoming all-important. This article will critically examine the new emphasis being placed on recruitment and SPEAK OUT! explore the socioeconomic conditions which compel young people to enlist. Hopefully greater under­ standing of the recruitment system will allow activists Voices From The G.I. Movement to increase popular pressure against military service. With the shift to an all volunteer force, the huge draft calls of recent years are being replaced with an TRAVIS GI CENTER WINS! plus the right to show films and speakers. immense military recruitment apparatus reaching out from T ravi sty After the suit was filed, each person being sued to ever larger numbers of young people and widening The Power of the People has won another victory. was served with a summons. Everyone accepted their the military's influence in society. Since last year On June 13, 1972, a judgement was filed in U.S. summons, except Colonel Blake, who hid behind his recruitment forces have been vastly increased. During District Court in Sacramento. It declared that the rank. A JAG lawyer speaking for him insisted that FY 1972 the total number of military recruiters attempt made by Col. Blake (Base Commander Blake could never be sued as an individual citizen, increased by 5,800 to a total of over 19,000. The TAFB) and the Fairfield City Council to stop the because he can only act as an officer of the USAF. largest gain has been for the Army, which added 600 Liberation Hangar (formerly, Travis Books and What kind of justice is it if a Colonel cannot be new offices, 'increased its total number of recruiters Counseling) from having free movies and speakers was held responsible for writing a slanderous statement on from 3,500 to 6,100, and authorized special pay unconstitutional and illegal. It ordered the city to pay US Air Force stationery, in a deliberate attempt to privileges for these recruiters such as $50 per month $1,500 to the GI Center. deprive civilians and Gl's of their constitutional proficiency pay and liberal monthly allowances for On May 2, the Fairfield City Council denied the rights? If a GI pulled stunt like that, the JAG office pocket expenses and leased sedans. Total recruiting Liberation Hangar's request for a use permit, because would cort-martial him, not defend him. costs for all services jumped from $141 million in the Base Commander felt anti-war movies and After several weeks of thinking things over, Col. FY 1970 to an estimated $276.7 million for speakers are "immoral." Blake and the City Council realized they very well FY 1972. The average cost of recruiting one Army Ignoring the city's unconstitutional decision, 35 might lose, and agreed to settle out of court. They enlisted man has risen from $276 to $753 during the Gl's and civilians went down to the center that same gave the GI Center a permit to show movies, and also same period. Despite rapidly declining force levels, night and watched a slide show and speech by Fred $1,500.00. The city attorney concluded, "We these increases in the recruitment establishment are Branfman, who lived in Laos for four years. A week couldn't have won this anyway." scheduled to continue, with another addition of later, the movie Grapes of Wrath was shown, despite This victory could never have been won without 2,000 recruiters requested by the Pentagon for the city's decision. the active support of Gl's and community people. FY 1973. Apparently the services are not counting on On May 15, a suit was filed against Col. Blake and Many people came to the three city hearings related young people to volunteer very willingly. the Fairfield City Council, charging them with to the case, and hundreds of people signed petitions The expansion of recruitment is spreading a conspiracy to violate the First Amendment rights of supporting the Liberation Hangar. The council knew system which is thoroughly corrupt and deceptive. Gl's and civilians. It asked for $250,000 in damages, that the people did not support their decision. fmcr\m cwASWiMOcs nAd coiucnow eyj . M«*flHt 9fHM»., us.»

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pie, a Communist uprising in Naples, Italy—or in It is on the shoulders of the individual paratrooper long-range planning within the continental United and his small unit leaders that the main burden of the States. task falls. Missions in Detroit and Washington were The 82nd Airborne is a key unit in this Army accomplished in a magnificent manner—should strategy. It was used in Santo Domingo to crush the another occasion arise, the 82nd Airborne Division independent government of Juan Bosch; it was used remains ready to perform it "ALL THE WAY." (U.S in Vietnam. Now it is being made into the main Army publication, Control of Civil Disorders- domestic counter-insurgency unit for the North­ Guidelines for small-unit Commanders and Troops) eastern United States. The "riot control" training programs resemble more and more the training for On July 1st three thousand soldiers from the 82nd Green Berets used in Vietnam and Latin America. Airborne Division were transferred from Ft. Bragg, Middleton quotes Col. James Ewing, a Pentagon North Carolina, to Homestead Air Force Base in specialist: " 'The basic techniques in which the Florida as a major part of the Army's preparation for Regular Army is trained apply to civil disturbance riot control duty at the Democratic and Republican control as much as to fighting in a major war.' " conventions. The 82nd, already extensively trained in Although the use of federal troops is theoretically riot control operations, were told to be ready for regarded, according to the Army's manual, as a last anything from minor skirmishes to major warfare. resort, regular Army units have, in fact, increasingly Right up to July 1st it was thought that the 101st Ernest Frederick Guy Smith been deployed before any "trouble" occurs and Airborne Division from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, was before it is evident that local police are not sufficient. headed for Miami. Gl's from the 101st and project For example, the 1968 Democratic convention in organizers from the Peoples' House near Ft. Campbell Chicago marked the first time that federal troops had been making their own preparations. The Army's were stationed before any difficulties arose. Army sudden change caught the Gl's of the 82nd Airborne "Should a disorder take the form of a "race riot," units were used in the same way in 1970 in New and the Fort Bragg project unprepared. But as the Negro troopers can be expected to be asked leading Haven during the Black Panther trials, in 1971 during signs welcoming the 82nd to Miami were going up questions on their stand on civil rights. Their answer the American Legion convention at Portland, and over the July 4th holiday, they began the new task. should be something along the order of, "I am proud now in Miami. Gl's and civilians at the project quickly wrote up and to be an 82nd trooper, and I follow the instructions In the past, the military was able to successfully began distributing their own "GI Movement Riot of my superior officers." defeat strikers and other dissidents, in part because Control Handbook," containing information about (U.S. Army Publication, "Control there was little awareness among soldiers that they the convention, the demonstrations being planned— of Civil Disorders") were being used by the government to suppress their especially those of the Vietnam Veterans Against the own people and against their own interests. Thus, in War—a section on why the Army is being used for riot 1932 when thousands of starving World War I control, a summary of GI rights in a demonstration, veterans marched in Washington to demand bonuses, and a history of the Fort Hood 43-black Gl's who, they were driven out by federal troops led by in 1968, had refused to go to Chicago for riot control Eisenhower and MacArthur. assignments. But since the beginning of the Vietnam war, Gl's The long history of the use of federal troops to have become increasingly conscious of the nature of suppress labor strikes, prison uprisings, ghetto such wars and of how they are used by the military at rebellions and demonstrations is not widely known. home as well as abroad. The Gl's who opposed (A NARMIC pamphlet called "Soldiers and Strikers," fighting in Vietnam have also refused to be set against available from the American Friends Service Com­ their brothers and sisters in the United States. The mittee, tells something of that story.) From the refusal of riot duty in 1968 by the Fort Hood 43, railroad strike of 1877, through the miners strike of many of whom were Vietnam vets, helped produce -T9T5—(which culminated in the infamous Lttd+ow widespreatfoppositioir in their unit; partly as a result, Massacre), to the mail strike of 1970, Guardsmen and many of the troops in Chicago were kept in military regular Army troops have, in fact, often played installations instead of being used against demon­ decisive roles in putting down domestic dissent. But strators. In 1970, in Washington, D.C, Gl's of the now, more than ever before, the U.S. military is 82nd Airborne would not participate in the concerned with "civil disturbances." In a July 30 government's efforts to evict the Vietnam Veterans article titled "Urban Guerrillas Studied in West," New Against the War at "Dewey Canyon III." And now, in York Times reporter Drew Middleton examined some 1972, a growing resistance is reported among Gl's of of the Pentagon's thinking. Middleton writes: the 82nd assigned to riot control duty in Miami. In the United States, the Army has not yet been Ernest Bess Albert Henry It remains to be seen whether the military's involved with true urban guerrilla warfare. strategy of developing units like the Airborne for Contingency training and planning relates to such SOME OF THE "FORT HOOD 43"—GI'S COURT- domestic as well as foreign campaigns will withstand warfare abroad in countries where there is a firm the new awareness of today's Gl's. American commitment for assistance—for exam- MARTIALED BY THE ARMY FOR ORGANIZING AGAINST RIOT-CONTROL DUTY FOR CHICAGO CONVENTION IN 1968.

The statement goes on to say: "We want it this racism. hobbit•• off limits understood that this order will in no way suppress In a statement made by PFC Kenneth Allison, a our beliefs and actions ... nor will it prevent the black marine from Chicago, Allison argues that the f$ publishing of our newspaper. Hobbit is one of the few establishments in Iwakuni ^Mfm r* "Now we state that: The presence of Armed which does not practice racial discrimination and the Forces personnel at the establishment of the Marine only place where black and white marines can relax Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan deleteriously and mix casually. He says that "such action against affects the welfare of such personnel, the welfare of the one establishment (the Hobbit) which actively the people of Japan, and the welfare of the people of seeks solutions to racism, contradicts the Armed Vietnam. Effective immediately we declare Marine Forces stated position of attacking racial problems Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, "off limits" to all human within the military." Why Iwakuni? beings." What is being done? Gl's organizing against the war at Iwakuni are Since the "brig riots" of July 4, 1970, Iwakuni has Legal action has been initiated in support of the particularly vulnerable to the repressive apparatus of had a history of continuous GI resistance. The growing resistance by Gl's against this action. A suit the military. Powers granted to overseas commanders Semper Fi has been coming out regularly for over 21/2 was filed by the Lawyers Guild on behalf of nine Gl's are similar to those in the war zone. It seems likely years, in spite of repeated efforts by the brass to from the rank of PFC to Sergeant against the Marine that the Brass see the combination of Iwakuni's suppress it by transferring or discharging the editors Corps for violating the constitutional rights of Gl's isolation, its history of repression and racism, and the (between November 1 and December 30, 1971, for stationed overseas. The suit declares that the off extent of these special overseas laws as the right example, 13 consecutive editors of Semper Fi were limits designation is in violation of the 1st, 5th and formula for such a precedent setting offensive. Such shipped out, most of them with less than 24 hours 6th Amendment rights of the Gl's who utilize the an attack against the Shelter Half (one of the first GI notice). facilities offered by the Hobbit, interfering with their coffeehouses located near Ft. Lewis, Wash.) in 1968, In November the entire Semper Fi staff was right to legal counsel, to free association and was defeated by the combination of heavy GI arrested for allegedly aiding in the exposure of the assembly, and freedom of the press. resistance and civilian outcry. presence of nuclear weapons on Iwakuni. This still The suit is now in front of the U.S. Court of Appeals. A press statement made by marines at Iwakuni remains a hot issue on the Japanese political scene USSF is drawing up an amicus brief and has enlisted said: "We believe that the Hobbit was placed off since the presence of such weapons violates the other interested groups in submitting additional limits because the GI movement is growing in Japanese-American Security Treaty. In the face of briefs. strength and unity. The brass is afraid of us because joint GI and Japanese protest, charges were later This is only the beginning of what may prove to be we know what the U.S. is doing in Vietnam is dropped, and the staff ordered out of Iwakuni and a long, hard struggle in the courts, in the ranks of the genocide. The Hobbit is a popular gathering place for shipped elsewhere. Iwakuni is located about twenty military, and throughout the GI movement. Help Gl's and is also the base of operations for the Semper- miles from Hiroshima. from all fronts is going to be needed. But to reiterate Fi, our GI newspaper which protests the Vietnam war Iwakuni has a history of serious racial problems the words of the Marines at Iwakuni, "We want it and the oppressive conditions on this base. The base (30% of brig prisoners are black, while only 8% of the understood that this order will in no way suppress is trying to stop us from publishing the Semper Fi." base personnel are); the Hobbit has tried to combat our beliefs or our actions." SAN DIIOO

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"Largest And Old«*» Weekly Military Newspaper On The West Coast" JULY 21, 1972 Ten Inch Bolt In Done By Crewman Reduction Gear Does $250,000 Damage USS Ranger Sabotage Fails To I * Damage aboard the attack carrier USS Ranger • from sabotage reported earlier this week has not Prevent Normal Operations prevented operations, according to the Navy. | While getting underway from Alameda, her homeport, last week the ship had difficulties with one propulsion unit, which turned out to be ; a sabotaged reduction gear. A loose ten-inch bolt had been placed in the unit. The Ranger had just completed a year's Additional items in- overbaul in the ship- vestigated have included yard. a salt water valve open- Naval Investigative ed into the fresh water Service agents have not system, however, it was made public their re- pointed out that things port. News reports said like this can easily hap- that the damage done was pen through stupidity by Navy crewmen at- instead of sabotage. Se- tempting to disable the veral hoses were found carrier, which is pre- to have ice pick holes. paring for deployment Ranger was flag- to Southeast Asia in the ship for 1st Fleet change fall. of command ceremonies last Monday and has been at sea this last week for routine sea exercises.

/tw/tlLAoLt FROM USSF Contributions to the United States Servicemen's Fund are deductible for tax purposes.

FTA Buttons (exact size) TWO YEARS WITH THE VIETCONG By George Smith POW GtORGE I. SMITH

& * :

FTA! SONGS OF THE GI RESISTANCE sung by BARBARA DANE with active-duty Gl's. Recorded at GI coffee houses and "In the end I regretted not knowing more about our movement centers at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort captors," writes George Smith, who spent two years Benning, Georgia; and Fort Bragg, North as a prisoner of the Viet Cong, and already knows Carolina. Incl. songs composed by the Gl's them better than any other American. His decision to Exclusive G.I. Movement sketch, created for themselves: I Am AGI Rebel, Insubordination, "join the peace movement" after his release earned U.S.S.F. by Mr. David Levine. This sketch is Resistance Hymn, Last Drink With Don, etc. him another six months captivity at the hands of the available in a limited edition of 100, signed by Accompanying illustrated booklet includes U.S. Army. P.O.W. is a story of developing the artist; also available in a 17 X 22 poster, complete song texts and other material on the commitment, told with humor and directness. and a 5 X 6 Greeting card. GI movement. Edited by Irwin Silber.

ENCLOSED PLEASE FIND MY PAYMENT OF $ FOR:

Copies of FTA: Songs of GI Resistance (q> $5 ea,

1972 GI Movement 1972 Calendar & $2 ea. David Levine Posters, Signed, 11 X 14, @ $15 ea. (limited ed.) MOVEMENT David Levine Posters, unsigned, 17 X 22, ' $2 ea. Dozen David Levine Note Cards @ $1.50 per doz. (with envelopes) FTA Buttons @ 504 ea. P.O.W. copies & $4.00 ea. Contribution to USSF Please send me copies of About lace to distribute to my friends. CALENDER Name

G.I. Movement Calendar for 1972. On 14 X 20 sheets, Address Telephone with pictures and historic dates noted, this calendar focuses on the struggle of G.l.'s over the last 5 years. Make checks payable to USSF, 44 Greenwich Avenue, New York, New York 10011.

Typeset by O.B.U. Typesetters, Inc., 339 Lafayette St. Faculty Press, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y. ..•S^aç,.. i» N.Y., N.Y. 10012. (212)673-6632. INT. IN iTITUUT ABOUT FACE! THE U. S. SERVICEMEN'S FUND NEWSLETTER

AFR 35-1 5, AR 381-1 35 and Department of Defense Directive 1 325.6 say: USSF 44 Greenwich Avenue THIS NEWSPAPER IS YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY AND CANNOT LEGALLY BE TAKEN FROM YOU. New York N.Y. 10011 212-924-8032 VOL.2 NO. 6 NOVEMBER 1972

Billy Dean Smith Goes On Trial After 16 months of preparing their case, the army attempt to frame and hang your brother. I know that Heavy mortar rounds crash into the hills in the has been able to produce a grenade pin they claim to when my vindication comes, it shall be through the distance reverberating in the quiet courtroom in have found on Billy. When tested this pin in no way power of massive awareness of social justice and not Building 2117 at Ft. Ord, California. matched the remains of the grenade used in the by means of military injustice." Rookie training companies march nearby singing fragging. They have produced as evidence a "sus­ The trial goes on. Each morning Private Billy Dean lustily the songs encouraged by Smokey-the-Bear- picious" pair of black'leather gloves, army issue, but Smith is taken from his cell and driven by armed hatted drill sergeants—until a bailiff goes out to tell have in no way tried to connect them to anything. convoy to his military courtroom. If Billy is ever to them to knock it off. The judge is disturbed. They have produced a witness who testified to walk away from that room, that cell, that uniform, A fat men's platoon perspires through jogging trips hearing Billy say, months before the incident, that he and that unjust system, a free man, we must all rally in a row of barracks nearby, sagging stomachs hated the war, the army, and his CO., and that he in his support. jouncing over newly issued web belts. would get even. Statements from hundreds of Viet "Today's Army"-Lhe slogan says—"Wants to Join Nam veterans have shown that Billy was clearly one You!" of the majority of enlisted men who held these In the courtroom, Private Billy Dean Smith, a feelings. And finally they produced a witness, a black anti-war enlisted man, sits before seven army former EM in Billy's battalion in Viet Nam, who FREE BILLY DEAN SMITH! officers who will decide his fate in an Army he did testified that he saw a black man running across a not want to join, nor to have join him. The same street a minute or two after the explosion. On authorities who have picked his jury accuse him of cross-examination he went on to say that he would the "fragging" of two white officers while in Viet certainly have recognized the man if he had in fact Nam. been Billy Dean Smith. At this point the army tried Who is Private Billy Smith? What evidence has the to impeach its own witness. Because of the Army's ufisubstantiated claim that, military been able to produce to justify his confine­ this pin and the remains of the grenade match, the ment in a 5' by 9' solitary confinement cell for 23 This hardly seems to be sufficient evidence to defense has been forced to put experts in the field toi hours a day during the last 16 months? Why did the convict a man let alone send him to prison for the make extensive tests to refute this allegation. The military ask for Billy's execution at the opening of rest of his life, but within the curious system of Uniform Code of Military Justice makes clear the the trial and now that the Supreme Court of the military justice, which denied Billy Smith a jury of responsibility of the Army to pay the costs for such United States has denied them that, why do they ask his peers, which has no provisions for bail, which has tests and witnesses. The Army has, despite the that he be confined in a federal military prison for already kept him in solitary confinement for 16 regulations, refused to do so and the defense has had the rest of his natural life? months, Billy's chances of a fair trial and an acquittal to assume the additional $7,500 in costs. USSF is are slim. As Billy Smith has said, "I want the whole Bill is 23, tenth in a family of twelve children. attempting to help out by raising as much of this world to realize the state of my conditions. It is Raised in Watts, he was drafted into the Army in money as we can. Contributions for this are desper- essential that the whole world be aware of the Army's 1969. He was opposed to the war, but his parents ately needed and can be sent to USSF. talked him out of resisting induction because of their feelings that a black draft résister would never be able to find a decent job. Billy was sent to Vietnam in October of 1970 and the more he saw of the war, the THE PHILIPPINES more he spoke out against it. He declared the war to be unjust and racially motivated, and stated his hatred for all who conducted the butchery of the THE NEXT VIETNAM Vietnamese people. Because of his outspoken stance, around to the rest of us. The cartoon was a map of Billy Dean was being processed for a "21 2" discharge (The following article was written for USSF by the Philippines. Across the main island of Luzon was for unfitness and unsuitability. His Commanding Bart Lu bow. Bart was one of three American GI a thick black line, labelled DMZ. Off the coast of the Officer, Capt. Rigby, stated that Billy would never be movement activists arrested and imprisoned in the a good soldier because of his "lack of enthusiasm Philippines after the declaration of martial law several island were American aircraft carriers. And on the about closing with the enemy." weeks ago. All three men have just arrived back in bottom was the inscription: The Philippines—the next On March 15, 1971 at 12:45 A.M. a grenade this country after being released and deported from a Vietnam! Three of us, Gene Parker, Doug Sorensen (an exploded in an officers' barracks in Bien Hoa-killing detention camp near Manila. Bart is a former civilian attorney) and myself were recently arrested an; two officers and wounding a third. Billy's CO., Capt. staff member and legal counselor at the Ft. Dix imprisoned for two weeks in the Philippines while Rigby, and 1st Sgt. Willis decided almost immediately Military Law Project.) working with the GI movement there. We were that they had been the intended victims and that staffing two GI centers in the towns where Subie and Billy was the guilty party. They ordered Billy Smith About one week after President Ferdinand Marcos Clark Air Force Base are located, providing legal and arrested for two counts of murder and two of of the Philippines had declared martial law, a group counseling services to GIs and helping in organizing attempted murder. Despite the fact that no evidence of sailors at Subie Bay Naval Station were having a GI their anti-war, anti-military movement. GIs at both existed to support their accusations against Billy, no movement meeting in the barracks on base. One GI, bases published underground newspapers and actively attempt to look for other suspects was ever carried who was at his first meeting of the group, took a protested the war in Indochina. Resistance to the war out. The army had chosen its victim, that was cartoon he had drawn from his pocket and passed it (Continued on page 4) enough. NOVEMBER GI MOVEMENT CALENDAR CASUALTIES OF Nov. 1,1971: Chicopee, Mass. City officials order Recruitment GI organizing center, Off The Run­ way, closed because of "health vio­ WAR? lations." "Volunteer Nov. 6,1965: El Paso, Tx. Lt. Henry Howe, off duty and out of uniform, is arrested Casualties mounted in the Indochina war over a For Vietnam!" for participating in an anti-war two-week period ending October 30th, with 26 men march. Sentenced to 2 years hard dead and 89 wounded on three American ships labor. operating off the coast of Viet Nam. The worst toll 1971: S.F., Calif. 300 sailors from Stop was on the cruiser Newport News, where 19 enlisted Our Ship movement aboard the men were killed and 40 more were wounded by an attack carrier Coral Sea led 25,000 exploding American bomb. One week later, 4 men people in an anti-war march. died and 18 were injured when an American fighter Nov. 9, 1969: 1,365 GIs sign an advertisement bomber crashed onto the deck of the carrier USS urging civilians to take part in Enterprise. Still another three young sailors were upcoming anti-war demonstrations. reported burned to death aboard the American Nov. 10, 1970: Iwakuni MCAS, Okinawa. 200 aircraft carrier, Saratoga, as fires erupted from faulty mm tm Black marines meet in a gym to equipment. *UfM MM u as n discuss grievances. Fighting erupts There seems to be a critical word, common to each TOM • am «n« when they are ordered by the Brass of the above "accidents"—American. Both the killers, to leave the building. and the dead bear this label. It symptomizes a variety *nrai Mm i MT. Nov. 12, 1969: Ft. Bragg, N.C. GIs United sues of warfare, occurring in the waters off Viet Nam, that IIMIlltl M LUTSt PUB army in federal court for the right is as unique as it is terrifying. This is a war in which •kmrm ara «nu MI to distribute their paper Bragg four ton shells are lobbed randomly into an unpro­ Briefs on post. Suit is delayed in tected populace, killing and maiming men, women, courts. and children indiscriminately. It is also a war in which '•mm

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(This is the second of a three-part series con­ cerning military recruitment. These articles are writ­ ten by David Cortright. Dave was an active-duty organizer and participant in Gl's for Peace at Ft. Bliss, Texas, and now works with the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C.)

There are several reasons why young men and women enlist in the Armed Forces. Many of the men are "draft-inspired," that is, feel that the draft for them is inevitable, and so join to gain certain benefits. They are "guaranteed" in recruitment promises that, by enlisting, they will be able to choose where and when they serve. A 1964 Defense Department survey found that Sailors from the Coral Sea lead anti-war march. See Nov. 6 -among the so-called "true" volunteers, nearly 27% joined 'to learn a trade' while 19% gave as their Nov. 13,1967: Presidio, Calif. Pvt. Ron Lockman American sailors aboard the floating runways and reason 'to become more mature.' A U.S. Census refuses orders to go to Viet Nam gun-platforms are being slaughtered by these same Bureau study of reasons for choice of occupation and is court-martialed. death-dealing products of American technology. among 16-19 year olds showed that nearly 70% listed Nov. 14,1969: Chu Lai, Viet Nam. GIs on patrol These men are victims in a struggle that is often the following factors as most important: steady and wear black armbands in support of concealed from the public. There are two sides to this interesting work, and training. The propensity to the Moratorium. struggle. One represents the organized protest of enlist in the military is highest among non-college Wash., D.C. 82nd Airborne ordered enlisted men aboard the ships, against the continua­ youth from lower socioeconomic backgrounds for here for riot-control duty during tion of the war, and the criminally unsafe conditions whom the most important factors of occupational anti-war demonstrations. that exist on board their vessels. On the other side are choice are 'chances for training' and 'steady work.' Nov. 15, 1971: Ft. McClellan, Ala. 65 Black WACs the politicians and Admirals who seem determined to Enlistment is more a matter of basic survival than a refuse to report to classes and begin increase their budgets and further their careers by preference for military life. marching around base to protest grabbing on to as much of the action as they can in The most important factor affecting enlistment Army racism and recuiter's prom­ the Viet Nam war. However senseless this may be, levels is the rate of civilian unemployment. According ised training. 139 Black WACs and and whatever the cost in human lives, does not seem to former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Man­ GIs are arrested. to matter. power and Reserve Affairs, Harold Wool, "studies of Nov. 16,1969: Wash., D.C. 100 GIs from the Sol- If we now examine the resistance aboard one ship, enlistment trends have shown . .. that enlistment diets Liberation Front at Ft. Dix, the attack carrier Enterprise, and keep in mind that a rates . .. have been positively correlated with fluctua­ demonstrate outside the Military short while ago men lay bleeding and dying aboard its tions in youth unemployment." One such Defense Court of Appeals building protest­ flight deck, we can begin to see the stakes involved. Department contract study by economists S.H. ing military "justice." The Enterprise left Alameda Naval Air Station in Altman and A.E. Fechter found that "a given Nov. 21,1971: Mt. Home, Idaho. The Covered Northern California, on September 12. Just moments percentage change in the unemployment rate for male Wagon, a coffeehouse run by air­ before her departure, 5 sailors from the crew were youth was associated with a similar percentage change men and women from Mt. Home escorted off the ship under armed guard. All 5 were in the Army enlistment rate." Indeed many Pentagon AFB, is destroyed by arson. considered by Naval authorities to be "leaders" of a planners share the apprehension of Army Deputy Nov. 24, 1969: Pleiku, Viet Nam. 200 GIs of the growing SOS (Stop Our Ship) movement, on board Chief of Staff for Personnel, Lt. Gen. Walter Kerwin 71st Evac. Hospital hold a Thanks­ the carrier. The name of this movement symbolizes that "an upswing in economic conditions will most giving Day Fast to protest the war. its goal, to stop the deployment of U.S. warships to likely result in reducing the number of those who Nov. 29, 1968: Ft. Jackson, S.C. 68 basic trainees Indochina, and to let people know the true feelings of want to stay in the Army." All of this was neatly send letter to Pres. Johnson de­ the men on board regarding the war. This movement summed up in a recent Army Times cartoon depicting manding an end to the war. has grown throughout the Navy. On the Enterprise, it smiling recruiters opposite a forlorn young man gave birth to an anti-war newspaper which was representing the 6.1% unemployment rate; the cap­ prepared, distributed, and read throughout the ship tion reads: "It's the best recruiting poster we've got!" despite attempts by the Captain and the Navy to root The armed services very consciously exploit these it out. Petitions were prepared and signed, demanding economic factors. Recruitment posters and enlist­ a date for withdrawal of American forces from ment slogans are specifically aimed at the occupa­ Indochina, and demanding the recognition of Viet tional needs of high school age people: learn a Nam's right to self-determination. As the Enterprise trade?-We'll Pay You $288 a Month to Learn a New pulled out of her berth and moved towards the open Skill; interesting work?—If Your Job Puts You to sea, sailors lined the decks and cheered the attempts Sleep, Try One of Ours; steady work?—We've Got of small boats, manned by anti-war civilians, to block Over 300 Good, Steady Jobs; etc. The period from the passage of the ship. Even on the sea, thousands of early summer through the fall is the most active for miles from land, over 150 sailors met to protest the recruiters, for this is the time they seek to enlist the war and to plan new tactics of resistance. It is these large number of recent high school graduates. Em­ men and their friends who died on October 27, under phasizing the uncertainties of the civilian economy the wreckage of an American plane. and the supposed employment value of military duty, The responsibility for these deaths lies squarely on recruiters hope to persuade young people to join. the shoulders of the men, both civilian and military, Technically this is called volunteering. Although the who give the orders. Their criminal lack of concern overt compulsion of the draft may be absent, and past irresponsibility, have placed both the task of is it truly 'voluntary' for 18-20 year olds, facing a ending the war and preventing needless deaths on the near 20% unemployment rate, to reluctantly succumb sailors who man the ships, and the American people 'We regret to inform you your ton wot among | to intensive enlistment pressures? the lowatr casualty count in recent montht' at large. SPEAK OUT! Voices From The G.I. Movement COUNSELLING

(In the March issue of About Face, we talked from SEASICK, Philippines NEWSPAPERS: about Article 15s in our Counselling Column, and ran an excerpt from CAMP NEWS describing Article 15s We, the Enlisted Men For Justice, are a group of BAY, and then armed with an understanding of the and how to fight them. Unfortunately, it is still one active duty servicemen fighting military injustice. We military code of injustice—demand that all rights be of the most effectively used tools of repression by the feel the present guidelines of the UCMJ often gives returned to their rightful owner—you! brass, and there is a great need to organize and fight less than a "fair shake" in regard to justice and Above and beyond the struggle for our democratic to change it.) legality. rights, we recognize that the Vietnam War and the Legal matters are almost everything that happens general U.S. policy in Asia are important problems of Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice to you. From a senseless hassle by some ate-up lifer the day which we must deal with. Our involvement in (UCMJ) is the most frequently used disciplinary to counselling people on hardship or conscientious the struggle of the Buckley 3 is one way we have to weapon by the military. It gives commanding officers objector discharges to actual court-martial cases. fight against the war. We realize that our country is the power to impose punishment on the men in their We feel the necessary legal information that should having great economic and social problems. We command without ever having to prove the case be easily available to everyone is often withheld in an cannot be blind to this, but must study these before a court-martial. In other words, a c.o. is given attempt to keep people at the mercy of the UCMJ, or problems and fight to change where necessary, and almost complete and arbitrary control over the is it the Secret Code of Military Toughness?? improve where possible, our country and society. enlisted men. We understand that many charges and court- If we are to have a democracy in our country we Gl's at Ft. Lewis, Washington have recently martials arise out of prejudice and racism. It is easy to cannot be afraid to open our mouths and express our formed a GI Defense Group, and are conducting a see why a military that is waging a war against third feelings and disagreements with what is wrong with campaign against Article 15s and other forms of world people in Asia would carry a racist attitude the military or our country. Those who refuse to sign repression in the military. Members of the group have into the so-called "halls of justice." The military petitions or become involved because they are afraid circulated on base several hundred copies of a mind treats non-whites as a personal threat and has they will get in trouble, should realize that by such petition to Congress demanding that Congress com­ never hesitated to put them behind bars. refusal they are actually giving up the democratic pletely change Article 15 of the UCMJ. We support these and all people in their struggle rights they say they believe in. against an unjust system. We demand that all service­ Now is not the time to hide your beliefs. Many of men be able to stand up against this corrupt system us share similar thoughts and feelings. The Enlisted TO: Members of the Congress of the United States and assert their democratic rights. We have lawyers' Men For Justice is an organization where we can services available free of charge and also have experi­ unite in our common beliefs and not be afraid to We the undersigned GIs of Fort Lewis, Wash, enced military counsellors. Give yourself a fair struggle for what we think is right. demand that Congress completely change Article 15, chance, learn of your legal rights before you are UCMJ; taking the power to impose punishment out Remember, IN OUR UNITY IS OUR STRENGTH. forced to. Come out to the Enlisted Men's OPEN of the hands of Commanding Officers and putting it into the hands of the Enlisted Men and Women. 3) We will fight to make the military serve the We propose that a board be established, composed GI Movement interests of the American working people and not of five EM, grades E1 through E6, who would be the monopolist corporations and their corrupt elected every ninety days in company-wide elections. Program politicians. That board would decide on all cases that are now decided by the Commanding Officers. JThat board "would heaTboth sides of a case and allow the accused (ji movements in opposition to the" U.S. Armed Going into other countries such as Vietnam, plus to defend himself before making its decision. Forces have risen wherever and whenever U.S. troops scabbing on workers' strikes like the 1970 Post Office have been engaged in unjust wars of economic and Strike, breaking up demonstrations of youth and Article 15 is now used to intimidate GIs. It political expansion. Today, the rapidly growing GI students like at Jackson State and Kent State, serves violates the Constitution of the United States by Movement is part of a broad mass American move­ only the interests of big corporations trying to denying GIs due process of law. It is used in a racist ment against the war, and in response to the maintain their wealth and power. We demand that the way against third-world GIs. It gives company com­ manders absolute power to punish EM under their deteriorating conditions within the U.S. A movement U.S. military truly serve the interests of the mass command whom they do not like. which includes workers, Blacks, Chicanos, Indians, majority of Americans, the working people, Chicanos, Asians, women, and students. The GI Movement has Blacks, Indians, Asians, women and students. These A democratically elected board would change the chapters at almost every important base in the U.S. are the people who day in and day out work to present system of intimidation and harassment to one and Asia, including Iwakuni, Misawa, Yokota, produce the great wealth of the U.S. which is being of fairness and justice. Yokuska, Okinawa, and in the Philippines at Clark ripped off by the big businessmen. and Subie. AR 600-20: No person may restrict any member of an armed We have been asked many times, "Just what are 4) We will educate outselves to struggle against racism force from communication with a member of Con­ the goals and purposes of the GI Movement?" This is and discrimination against women. gress, unless communication is unlawful or violates a an important question. To clarify our goals and lay regulation necessary to the security of the United out a strategy, the Clark chapter and the Subie We will struggle for the complete liberation of all States. chapter of the GI Movement held a joint meeting to oppressed minorities and women. draw up a program. This is the first draft of the PROGRAM FOR THE GI MOVEMENT IN THE 5) We demand an end to suppression of groups and Name Unit Telephone PHILIPPINES. individuals who are struggling for the creation of a more just and democratic society. 1) We will fight to end U.S. economic, political, social and particularly military domination in the 6) The GI Movement is part of the movement of the world. American people. We unite with and support all the peoples of the world who share our common Many times over the last 100 years the U.S. goals. corporations have intervened in other countries' GI DEFENSE GROUP c/o the Shelter Half affairs. Examples are Indochina, the Philippines, (Stick this up on your locker, wall, or door) Box 9098 BR2-5227 Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guatemala, the Congo, THINK ABOUT IT! TALK ABOUT IT! Tacoma, Wash. 98409 the Dominican Republic, Micronesia and other na­ tions or territories. These corporations have seized control of the rich mineral resources and growing markets of these countries. In order to protect these MlftWS (ABUS kÄATrW SO? THISTSHV'WiaPlWrWltt. economic interests, the U.S. Government has exer­ VtUCWMô SIR ^ ' V cised political, social and military control over these vtmum, countries. We want all troops, supplies, equipment, «wet;? and advisors out of Indochina and the Philippines. mit

2) We will fight for full democratic rights for the people serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The lower ranking enlisted men and women IM mmt&ifëfteso®£ serving in the Armed Forces are subject to bullshit m cue -m zipoo TROOPS. wem «i^-woTWWwf-flur harassment and unjust punishment from ranking mux- tÇOCO T&oPS 6 UfflW- OF IKE Ä» m tamxmu& iénfitet>eeueetmi. vmwNû.mtmv officers and ate-up lifers. Though certain rights are &.000 OM MY OWM. SIR. UtnURALO' supposedly guaranteed us by the very Constitution TROOPS- s~^l temé: WAR? we are supposed to fight to defend, in practice true democratic rights are denied by the whims and prejudices of those officers and lifers who exercise virtual life and death control over lower ranking working people in the military. Continued from page 1 the villages for the hungry peasants to eat. With of the country and the establishment of a government THE PHILIPPINES--THE NEXT VIETNAM typical callousness, many of the bundles were truly reflective of the needs of the Filipino people. by GIs in the Philippines has continued to increase dropped from helicopters onto peasant homes, des­ The declaration of martial law, and the subsequent and has created many problems for the brass. troying their shelters and, in many cases, injuring arrest of anyone threatening to U.S.-Marcos interests GIs in the Philippines have also become very people. are but an attempt to suppress these nationalistic concerned about what is happening in that country, Corruption is also rampant in the Philippines. The aspirations of the people. as the cartoon just described shows. Another example first thing I saw upon arrival in Manila was the The parallels between what is happening in the of GI concern for the situation in the Philippines is international airport terminal, completely burned Philippines now and what happened in Vietnam in the flood relief work which servicemen did, on their out. My taxi driver explained that the fire was set by the early 60's are too important to be overlooked. off-duty hours, with Filipino activists during the airport officials who had stolen hundreds of thou- U.S. involvement in the country is great. 50% of the recent disaster. Most GIs could easily see the extreme sands of dollars meant for airport construction and total economic assets of the Philippines are American poverty characteristic of the country and could not owned, representing over $2 billion in private invest­ see how martial law was going to do anything to ment. Militarily, the U.S. has over 20 bases there, the relieve these conditions. They also understood that most important of which are Subie and Clark, these conditions were a direct result of American well-known for their key role in the genocide of control of the country. Our arrest and subsequent Vietnam. These interests are too important to the deportation were the joint effort of the Philippine U.S. government to allow the nationalist goals of the authorities and U.S. military intelligence, both of movement to be realized. Already, U.S. advisors have whom wanted to suppress theGI movement, particu­ been used in military operations in the province of larly since it was actively exposing the conditions in Isabela in northern Luzon. U.S. fighter jets, piloted the Philippines and the relationship of these condi­ by Filipinos, but taking off from Clark, have dropped tions to U.S. policies in the country. Filipino students protesting President napalm on Isabela for months now. Recently, the It is difficult in a short article to adequately Marcos' repressive regime. All such government has begun a program of forced reloca­ communicate our impressions of the Philippines. In demons trat ions are now strictly illegal- tion, like that seen in Vietnam, whereby thousands of many ways, the conditions are just too overwhelming renovationand who were trying to destroy all peasants are forced from their villages into govern­ to be expressed in words. Poverty is visible all around. evidence that would show that no work had ever been ment controlled areas. And "Philippine-ization"—the In the cities, huge slums, often called squatters' done. He said such incidents were common and were Philippine counterpart of Nixon's racist policy of settlements, define the lives of the people. Their tiny particularly characteristic of the president, Marcos. arming Asians to fight Asians for Americans—has houses (huts) were of patchwork construction, built Wherever we went, people would speak of Marcos in already begun, with increases in the Armed Forces of of any spare materials the people could find to shelter the worst of ways, calling him a dictator, a fascist and the Philippines and their weaponry coming from the themselves. Many of these people are unemployed a puppet of the U.S. government. Filipinos would Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group which, in effect, and day-to-day survival is their major concern. Others cynically describe Marcos' great wealth, while com­ controls the military forces of the country. work in American-owned factories for pitifully low paring it with how poor the country had grown All indications make it clear that the Philippines wages. during the seven years of his presidency. will be another Vietnam. The people are resolved to a Traveling in the countryside we could see the We met many Filipino people who have responded long, hard struggle for their liberation. Those arrested semi-feudal nature of the society. On the land, to the poverty and corruption in their country and and faced with torture and death were firmly peasants work the rice fields, only to have to pay a have begun to fight back. Many of these people we committed to the principles for which they are wealthy landlord 50 or 60% of their crop in rent. In met in the prison camps in which we were held. They fighting and have complete faith that millions of the rural barrios (villages), huts built of bamboo and were arrested as a consequence of martial law, which other Filipino people will continue that fight, despite coconut leaves, perhaps twenty feet square, house in one breath transformed them from student, worker Marcos' and the United States' plans. peasant families of 6, 7 or 8 persons. The recent and peasant organizers into so-called outlaws, and And we have faith that, despite the efforts of the floods have brought famine to many of these areas, as which makes them likely to face firing squads in the U.S. government and the Filipino authorities who do crops were wiped out. Marcos' solution was to drop near future. They are part of the rapidly growing their bidding, the GI movement in the Philippines will packages of "nutribuns" (small buns which sup­ movement for national democracy in the Philippines, continue to grow and will do its job in developing posedly provide all the nutrition needed to exist) into a movement aimed at ending U.S. imperialist control support for the Filipino people.

AVAIL AR LE FROM USSF Contributions to the United States Servicemen's Fund are deductible for tax purposes.

FTA Buttons (exact size) TWO YEARS WITH THE VIETCONG By George Smith POW GEORGE E. SMITH

FTA! SONGS OF THE GI RESISTANCE sung by BARBARA DANE with active-duty Gl's. Recorded at GI coffee houses and "In the end I regretted not knowing more about our movement centers at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort captors," writer George Smith, who spent two years Benning, Georgia; and Fort Bragg, North as a prisoner of the Viet Cong, and already knows Carolina. Incl. songs composed by the Gl's them better than any other American. His decision to Exclusive G.I. Movement sketch, created for themselves: I Am AGI Rebel, Insubordination, "join the peace movement" after his release earned U.S.S.F. by Mr. David Levine. This sketch is Resistance Hymn, Last Drink With Don, etc. him another six months captivity - at the hands of the available in a limited edition of 100, signed by Accompanying illustrated booklet includes U.S. Army. P.O.W. is a story of developing the artist, also available in a 17 X 22 poster, complete song texts and other material on the commitment, told with humor and directness. and a 5 X 6 Greeting card. GI movement. Edited by Irwin Silber.

ENCLOSED PLEASE FIND MY PAYMENT OF $_ FOR: WlMMMfi- HEVMS /MMDS

MtrrVtw by VS*r*M*tV«(c Copies of FTA: Songs of GI Resistance & $5 ea. Copies of Winning Hearts and Minds @ $2.25 ea. David Levine Posters, Signed, 11 X 14, @ $15 ea. (limited ed.) David Levine Posters, unsigned, 17 X 22, (^ $2 ea. Dozen David Levine Note Cards @ $1.50 per doz. (with envelopes) FT'A Buttons @ 504 ea. P.O.W. copies @ $4.00 ea. Contribution to USSF Winning Hearts and Minds is an illustrated collection of poetry arranged in a series of shifting scenes Please send me copies of About Face to distribute to my friends. describing in rough chronological order a tour of combat duty in Vietnam. The poems, which span a Name. period of the last ten years, chronicle the GI's growing emotional and moral involvement with the people Telephone and the country. (Price of $2.25 includes postage and Address handling costs.) Make checks payable to USSF, 44 Greenwich Avenue, New York, New York 10011.

Faculty Press, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y. ..•£$».. '" Typeset by O.B.U. Typesetters, Inc., 339 Lafayette St., N.Y., N.Y. 10012. (212)673-6632. . INT. INSTITUAT >OC. G.. ,;:, IF ABOUT FACE! THE U. S. SERVICEMEN'S FUND NEWSLETTER

AFR 35-15, AR 381-135 and Department of Defense Directive 1325.6 say: USSF 44 Greenwich Avenue THIS NEWSPAPER IS YOl \Q p">cnNAL PROPERTY AND CANNOT LEGALLY BE TAKEN FROM YOU. New York N.Y. 10011 212-924-8032 VOL.2 NO.7 DECEMBER 1972 BILLY SMITH FREED On November 14 a jury of seven officers found Pvt. Billy Dean Smith innocent on six counts, including two charges of murder and two of attempted murder. In what seemed like a last spiteful blow, the same jury found Billy guilty of assault for spitting at the officer who had arrested him and sentenced him to a dishonorable discharge and forfeiture of all back pay. Now that the trial is over it seems incredible that such a farce was allowed to be played out for the twenty months that Billy Smith has spent in solitary confinement. The army's case when viewed in total was at its best a grim comedy of errors and at its worst the blatant and groundless persecution of an innocent man. The prosecution's own witnesses played a large role in acquitting Billy, admitting on the witness stand to having been intimidated by their superiors into making false statements designed to incriminate him. The mainstay of the prosecution's case, a pin they claimed to have matched with a fragmentation grenade used in the fragging incident, was torn to shreds by testimony from L.B. Miller, a former police expert in the field and an employee of the Institute of Forensic Sciences. He testified, "I can take two njns pulled apart at random, taken from two parts of the world and make a better match than you have here. In fact I have." His testimony was corroborated by a senior research engineer from the Apollo Space SAILORS FIGHT NAVY RACISM programs who specializes in testing metal wear and damage. On October 12, as the Kitty Hawk sailed toward transferred back to the States from West Pac (off One witness for the army turned out to have been North Vietnam, a Naval investigating officer was Vietnam) and Subie Bay, spoke out to the press at undesirably discharged from the military three times questioning crewmembers about a heated fight that the Center for Servicemen's Rights in San Diego. under different names, had passed some $20,000 had taken place the night before in Subie Bay in the They told of the intolerable conditions on board worth of bad checks and was awaiting trial for Phillipines. The fight had resulted in the arrest of five many ships of the Seventh Fleet—hot, overcrowded stabbing someone in the back. blacks and four whites; the only sailors called in for ships, 18-20 hour work shifts for EM, 30-45 days at a questioning were black. Angry with this kind of time in the war zone, and harassment and After the prosecution had rested its case it seemed discrimination, the blacks who had been questioned intimidation from the officers. almost redundant for defense witnesses to take the later gathered on the deck with other black The tension on ship is great. In part it arises from stand. But when they did, Henry McClay finished off the last remnant of the army's "case" when he crewmembers to rap about it, and, nervously the unsafe conditions of a good number of the ships. testified "I was in a bunker smoking dope with Billy overreacting, the brass called in a marine riot squad to Crewmembers of the USS Bordelon petitioned Smith when we heard the explosion." break it up. Fights then broke out all over the ship Congress to try to prevent the ship's departure for involving over 100 white and black sailors. Twenty- Vietnam, fearing for their own safety because of Angela Davis, meeting with Billy after his five blacks-and no whites-were charged with faulty equipment and a weak hull. The USS Krauss "assault and rioting." (In a similar but little- and USS Cone are in even worse shape, and the crew Navy racism was highlighted by the mass resistance of the USS Glennon call it a "death Ship." In July of sailors of the USS Constellation. The brass, under the Kitty Hawk, with a 17' crack in its No. 4 main pressure to get rid of a number of the crew because of engine, limped into Subie Bay, joining the USS the overcrowded condition of the ship, was Oriskany, there for structural repairs. In October attempting nearly exclusively to discharge blacks. alone, there was a fire aboard the submarine rescue Challenging this, on November 3, 80 blacks gathered ship Florikan; three men died in a fire on the on deck demanding an audience with the Captain. Saratoga; four men were killed when a A-6 fighter When he refused to meet with them, other bomber crashed on the deck of the carrier Midway; crewmembers joined them and they all staged a and 19 sailors were killed in a gun turret explosion on sit-down demonstration that lasted through the night the Newport News as that ship was conducting a and into the next day. At one point, there were over naval bombardment on Quangtri province in South 300 sailors, including whites, sitting in protest. Vietnam. The ship beat a hasty path back to San Diego, and And then, of course, there is the racism of the the captain had 132 "trouble-makers,"—all but a navy. The Constellation rebellion dramatized the handful black-put ashore at North Island Naval more menial jobs, greater punishments, discrimina­ Station. tory rating systems, and less chance of rank When the Connie returned for them on November advancement that is the lot of blacks in the Navy, 9, all 132 men refused to re-board their ship. They long the most lily-white branch of the service to begin insisted on having negotiations with the brass to settle with. Blacks make up only 5.8% of the enlisted men their grievances first. The Navy was forced to leave and 0.7% of the officers in the Navy. (But all the them ashore, but they were splil up and all faced prisoners in the maximum security brig at Subie Bay disciplinary Captain's Masts. are black or brown.) The racism is so bad (or so public) as to force Chief of Naval Operations Adm. While the public media played up these incidents, Elmo Zumwalt to berate his top ranking officers there is a deeper background to them that has been about it. Still, with all the carefully publicized talk of almost completely ignored by the press. reform, the Navy still intends to prosecute the 25 brothers of the Kitty Hawk. Racism, combat danger, unsafe ships, petty Just as the Army was torn by GI resistance "I am glad to be free, but I can't really feel free harassment-all make for an incredibly tense situa­ during the 1967-68 height of the ground war, now until the war in South East Asia is over. The blood of tion. But for a large, and growing, number of sailors it the Navy is coming under increasing attack from the six million Vietnamese has soaked the soil in that is their participation in the Vietnam war that is a crews of its ships on the line. land."-Billy Dean Smith. It's easy enough to see why. On October 31, GIs principle source of unrest, and the reason unrest has Continued on Page 2 representing over 200 "dissident" sailors that were grown into a Movement. useful in penetrating the myths of recruiters. A serious cause of needless waste for enlisted people is BILLY DEAN SMITH (Con't from pg. 1) what is termed "underutilization," the performance court-martial drew an analogy between her own trial Recruitment of jobs for which a person is not trained. The and Billy Smith's. "In both cases," she said, "the Comptroller General reported to Congress in a recent official plan turned out a dismal failure because of study that 10.4% of enlisted personnel at bases in the the outpouring of popular support for the defend­ United States were assigned to duties other than ants. And in both cases, the prosecution had failed to those for which they were qualified. The same report come up with any significant evidence of guilt." She stated that misutilization was even higher overseas, also donated $1000, from the Dimltrov Prize she nearly 21% in Korea. Besides often being assigned to recently received in Bulgaria, towards the costs of the wrong jobs, servicemen also must spend much of Billy's defense. their time performing oppressive non-occupational (The news of Billy Dean Smith's acquittal came duties, what is referred to as "mickey mouse." shortly after the last issue of About Face went to the Although information on this subject is scanty, the printer and hence could not be included. This is one few studies available give a startling indication of the of the drawbacks of a monthly newsletter but we're extent of the problem. A 1958 study of missile still sorry about it.) crewmen quoted by Wool gave the average work week as: 22 hours in actual missile maintenance, 16 hours U.S.S.F. is still trying to raise money to help with for guard duty and 32 hours in such duties are area the debts incurred by the defense, particularly $7,500 cleanup, KP, inspections, etc. Another 1961 study of for the tests around the grenade. All contributions Navy electronics technicians showed that "time sent to USSF for this purpose will of course be devoted to duties entirely outside the area of gratefully received. electronics accounted for about half the workday for personnel at the apprentice level and about one-fourth the work time of most senior tech­ nicians." Under chaotic conditions such as these, it is ludicrous to claim that military service can provide worthwhile occupational training. SABOTAGE UP TO $10,000 BONUS BUYS A LOT OF CHRISTMAS CHEER" To counter the rapid growth of this immense recruitment network, activists must increase their efforts to talk with potential recruits. This is TRIALS REUP ARMY particularly important in working class neighbor­ (This is the last of a three-part series concerning hoods where the propensity to enlist is strongest. military recruitment, written by David Cortwright. Young people should have the opportunity to hear The Navy's troubles with sabotage have come to Dave was an active-duty organizer and member of GIs the other side of the story: the fraud and deceit of an all-time high. The problem is so bad that Adm. for Peace at Ft. Bliss, Texas. He now works with the recruiters, the useless and wasteful nature of military Charles Duncan interrupted his retirement ceremony Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C.) duty, and the exploitation of working and lower class October 31 to complain of "those few with mental people for the sake of upper class interests. Future aberrations," the "activist, anti-social, anti-military" Ill anti-military actions should concentrate on the group of seamen "who may cause sabotage." community. For example, in Oakland the Black And just as the Army tried to make an example of As we have seen, one of the images that most Panther Party has been successful in limiting the Billy Dean Smith to clamp down on fraggings, so the attracts a young person to the ranks is the notion that access of recruiters to high schools. Also during the Navy seems determined to find its own scapegoats for military service will help him learn a trade. This view, recent April and May antiwar upsurge, many local the numerous instances of sabotage. although widely held in America, is shown by the groups directed actions against down town recruit­ The railroading of Seaman Jeffrey G. Allison has Pentagon's own data to be false. Detailed studies by ment offices. These and other actions against military already begun. A court-martial began November 27 in former Manpower Secretary Wool described a marked service should be continued and expanded. Norfolk, Virginia, to prosecute him on sabotage charges stemming from a fire aboard the aircraft contrast between the type of jobs in the military and Resistance to military service is necessary because carrier Forrestal which caused $10 million worth of those in the civilian economy. In Wool's technical it strikes at the weakest link in the Pentagon's chain damage. There is no evidence to indicate arson, and language: the "frequency of various specific occupa­ of power: people. Over the last five years we have none to link Allison with the fire. But if convicted, he tions within the military job structure differs sharply seen a dramatic weakening in the status of the armed faces a possible 350 year sentence. Fireman Patrick from that of similar occupations in the civilian forces. The cumulative effects of years of draft Chenoweth looks like the real target of Navy economy." 13.4% of enlisted jobs (i.e. combat) have resistance, anti-military demonstrations, dissent with­ vengeance. Last July, the No. 4 main engine of his no civilian counterpart; 38% of enlisted jobs (i.e. in the ranks and other acts of opposition have led to ship, the carrier USS Ranger, was sabotaged with a weapons and ship mechanics, etc.) account for only reduced force levels, declining enlistment rates and a 1.5% of civilian jobs; while 29% of servicemen's jobs serious reduction in the reliability and effectiveness account for another 9.6% of civilian occupations. At of offensive forces. Continued action is essential to the same time, 43% of frequently occuring civilian further these trends and restore popular control over jobs account for only 7% of enlisted positions. Wool military policy. There is no more effective means to further points out that the divergence is even greater, limit the life-menacing power of the Pentagon. because, although some skills have "broad functional similarity . . . the skills and knowledge required may DECEMBER GI MOVEMENT CALENDAR differ markedly." For example, electronics tech­ nicians for missile guidance cannot really be Dec. 4, 1971: Killeen, Tex. The Ft. Hood United compared with civilian radio and television repair­ Front holds a march demanding-an men. Overall, 80% of military jobs are in areas which end to the Indochina war and account for only 10% of civilian jobs. freedom for all political prisoners. Survey data on the usefulness of military training Dec. 12, 1969: Ft. Riley, Kan. SPD GIs rebeil for civilian employment corroborate these findings. extensive damage to buildings. In the 1964 NORC survey cited above, veterans were Dec. 14, 1969: Seaside, Ca. 1,000 marines from asked to evaluate their military training. Only 9.4% Camp Pendleton march against the said it had been of 'considerable use,' 23.4% termed it Indochina war. of 'some use,' while 67% said their training had been Dec. 15, 1971 : Ft. Lewis, Wash. Hundreds of Black of 'no use.' Another study of a group of 3,000 GIs from the 3rd Cav. walk out of airmen produced similar results. Even among highly riot control training. technical specialties, less than half of those who Dec. 20, 1969: Ft. Hood, Tex. Pvt. Richard Chase well-placed paint scraper and a couple fo 12" bolts. attempted were able to find post-service employment is sentenced to 2 years hard labor The ship was delayed for nearly four months before in jobs related to their military training. A closer for refusing to participate in riot being able to return to Vietnam. Chenoweth, in examination of these findings reveals that the enlisted control training. confinement at Treasure Island Naval Station, Cal., men whose jobs are the least relevant for civilian 1970: Ft. Hood, Tex. Stockade prisoners has been charged with Sec. 21/53 of Title 18, employment are precisely those most prone to join rebel. Pvts. Kevin Harvey and John USC: "sabotage in time of war," making this the first the service for economic reasons. In the group which Priest, are charged with leading the case of its kind since WWII. responded that military service had been of rebellion but charges are dropped Curiously the Navy admits the Ranger has suffered 'considerable use' were 22% of the former electronics after mass protest on base. dozens of other acts of sabotage since Chenoweth's repairmen interviewed, 15.8% of the ex-officers, but Dec. 25, 1945: Manila, Philippines. Back Home arrest, which would seem to considerably weaken its only 4% of those who had held combat positions. Yet Movement 4,000 GIs march on the case, a very circumstantial one to begin with. But approximately 75% of the men in the least relevant 21st Replacement Depot demand­ there are indications the Navy may try to portray jobs—infantry, artillery, food service, armored vehicle ing ships to take them home. Chenoweth as part of the "underground . . . group crews, etc.—have disadvantaged socioeconomic back­ Dec. 27, 1969: Columbia, S.C. A federal judge called Stop Our Ships," characterized by one member grounds. Clearly many of those who join the military rules that GIs don't have the of the brass as "hippie types trying to entice to learn a trade are victims of a cruel hoax. Constitutio'nal rights of free speech servicemen into rebelling" (according to the L.A. A few other facts about military duty can be and freedom of the press. Times), thus linking Chenoweth with SOS, and linking SOS with sabotage. It would be a coup for the Navy if it could pull it off, but it's pretty clear at this point, after the militancy of the Constellation brothers and the wide support given by sailors to the SOS Movement, that sailors aren't ready to stand for too much more intimidation and harassment from the brass. As About Face goes to print the news has just arrived that Jeffrey Allison has been convicted on charges of sabotage and sentenced to five years imprisonment. The defense is appealing this verdict. SPEAK OUT! mcon Voices From The G.I. Movement tern

teiiuce NEWSPAPERS'' NAVY TIMES ARE CHANGIN'- Great Lakes

Angeles bought 49,320 lbs. of lettuce from Antle at accident rate 300% higher; and deaths of over 800 a $5.54 a crate—it was $3.50 a crate (at most) for year from pesticide poisoning. civilians. Two days after the strike was resumed, the DoD DoD is an experienced strike-breaker. When the sent representatives to meet with lettuce growers in farmworkers table-grape boycott began, DoD's grape Salinas, California. consumption went up 350%. Still the grape pickers Ceasar Chavez, sent a telegram to Senator Robert won union recognition. Dole, chairman of the Republican National Commit­ When the lettuce workers started a similar boycott tee. It read in part: in 1970, the government, via the DoD, tried trucking "Senator Dole, citizens of our country who serve in scab lettuce. At Ft. Lewis, the truckers were in the armed forces are young men and women confronted by a picket line of GIs asking them to themselves from the poor and minority groups. They honor the strike. Those who refused wound up do not want to feast on lettuce or even see it in their watching in disbelief as the GIs overturned their mess halls when they know that thousands of farm Sailors at Great Lakes have been checking out the trucks and scattered the lettuce on the ground. A workers and their families are prevented by rich galleys to see if non-union lettuce is being served. statue of a U.S. infantryman at the base gate was growers from receiving a just wage and decent They have been refused permission at Galley 535 to found one morning knee-deep in ruined heads of working conditions." look at the crates for black eagle stamps (which is the lettuce. Ft. Lewis was only one place among many. The Administration's response was to try to get union symbol as seen on the top of this page). They Until the boycott was temporarily called off in 1971, the National Labor Relations Board, which normally demand to know if they are being forced into being GIs everywhere kept up the pressure and the Brass at refuses to hear farmworkers' cases (agricultural involuntary strike-breakers at every meal. They aren't over 30 bases were forced to buy union lettuce. workers are specifically exempted from the National alone in their concern. The boycott was suspended in 1971 when the Labor Relations Act, minimum wage legislation, or There is an international boycott of non-union lettuce workers got union contracts from 12% of the any other laws that are supposed to protect workers), lettuce on. The Brass and Department of Defense growers. The rest agreed to negotiate. THEY WERE to hold hearings and declare boycotts illegal. But the (DoD) have lined up on the side of the huge LYING! They spent their time instead trying to push NLRB retreated after getting one million letters of corporate farmers of California against the striking legislation through state legislatures that outlawed protest. farmworkers who harvest the lettuce and the working boycotts. Such legislation is pending in 30 states, We can register our protest at Great Lakes by not people all over America who support them. DoD not especially concerning harvest time boycotts. Three eating the lettuce until they stop shipping in Eady only has been paying inflated prices for lettuce, but it states (Arizona, Idaho, and Arkansas) have such laws lettuce. We should also remember, that, though there has been buying up to 60% of the lettuce from the on the books. are at present no other boycotts of non-union fruits largest non-union producer—Bud Antle, an affiliate of On May 3, 1972, the lettuce boycott was on again. and vegetables, that salad you're served is full of Dow Chemical (the napalm people). Before the strike Nothing had changed. Workers are still paid about non-union tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, etc. DoD bought 15.8% from Antle. On December 15, $2400/yr. for a family of four; have an infant We have 4" x 4" stickers:/'LIFERS EAT 1970,—the -Defease _ Subsistence -Cammand in J-os_ -mortality rate-120% above the national average; an -LETTUCE-" They stick real good.

INFORMATION NEEDED TO FILE Legal is paid to investigate for you. The person's immediate commander informs-them • Every manual for Court Martial has forms for the of the charges. The papers are sent around to the information you need when filing charges under a people in authority over the person you accused. The punitive article. You will find them on pages A6-4 to charges have to be investigated. The information they A6-26 of the Manual for Court Martials. The military find in addition to your statement and witnesses' has a special word for the information: they call it statements is what is used in their decision on how to "specifications." deal with the charges. Here is a sample of specificiations: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PERSON CHARGED? ARTICLE 121 COUNSELLING: There aren't a whole lot of these charges that have 90. In that _did (at) (on board) been filed so far, so there isn't a lot of info on what on or about 19 steal .of they do to people. Here is one encouarging ex­ FILING CHARGES UNDER THE UNIFORM CODE value of (about) $ the property of ample: Two sailors .stationed in the Philippines were OF MILITARY JUSTICE 91. In that .did (at) (on board) _ illegally sent back to the U.S. so that they could not on or about 19 wrongfully appropriate hold a press conference exposing their Naval Bases' of a value of (about) $ the property role in the Indochina war (unclassified info). They There are articles of the UCMJ that are called of filed charges under five Articles of the UCMJ against "punitive" articles. They are Articles 77 to 134, four officers in the Philippines, as soon as they found in the UCMJ. Officers and NCOs are not the An Article will have more than one specification if reached the states. Although none of the officers only people who can file charges on someone. it is covering more than one crime. In the example were court-martialed, three were relieved of com­ Anyone in the military including E-1s can file charges above article 121 has 2 specifications-90 is for mand. One of the sailors received an early honorable on anyone who violates a punitive article of the larceny and 91 is for wrongful appropriation. discharge, and the other separated on- his normal day UCMJ. That means an E-1 could file charges against a Try and figure out which specification fits the of separation honorably, with no harassment. General. crime you are charging. Read the Punitive Articles Other people have experienced an increase in petty carefully. If you have access to a Manual for YOU CAN FILE CHARGES AGAINST ANY NCO harassment after filing charges. This is more likely to Courtmartials, check the discussion of punitive OR OFFICER IF: happen if you file by yourself and have support from Articles on pgs. 28-3 to 28-81, which will explain the friends in your unit or civilians off base. One easy 1. He does something in violation of the Punitive specifications in greater depth. (A Manual for way to show the brass you aren't a lone duck is to Articles of the UCMJ to YOU. Courtmartials is available at the Reference Library on have other GIs file statements as witnesses, or file example: Your first Sgt. steals your personal base, Bldg. 50. We also have a copy at Liberation charges of their own along with you. If you want help copy of a Travisty—file charges under Hanger. with filing charges or deciding whether or not you Article 121 for theft. You should write up a statement of your own to have a case, you can get in touch with a counselor at 2. He does something in violation of the Punitive get the basic info down, explaining what happened in Liberation Hanger, 658 Parker Road, or call Articles to someone else. your own words. Be sure and tell them how you want 437-3636, Mon through Sat, 4 to 9 pm. example: If a friend of yours was given an the specifications to read. unlawful order, but she was discharged before she could file charges, anyone HOW TO FILE Excerpted from TRAVISTY, Travis AFB else who is still in the service can file charges under Article 92 of the UCMJ. When you have all your information for the 3. You have knowledge of any incident where an specifications together and your own statement officer or NCO has violated an article of the written up, you go to the legal office. If your charges UCMJ. It doesn't have to be something that are real and they are a violation of the article you say, happened to an individual. the legal office has to accept your information and example: Your CO rips off $500 worth of U.S. write up the charges on legal forms. paper clips. File charges under Art. As long as you know your charge is true, and you 108 for Misappropriation of Govern­ have information to back you up, no one can stop ment property. you. You don't have to have investigated it at all. COAST GUARD P.O.W. a word from ussf Tom Meurlott, of Portland, Oregon, enlisted in the Coast Guard rather than serve in a branch of the For over three years now U.S.S.F. has supported We believe that Qls are capable of identifying service involved in war he could not support. He the independent activities of servicemen and women. these problems and dealing with them in realistic and viewed the Coast Guard as a benevolent institution, During this period the character and tactics of concrete ways. GIs will never be able to match the like the Post Office. Coast Guardsmen service these activities have been constantly changing as GIs material resources of the Pentagon—but they lighthouses, tend buoys, and rescue fishermen. respond to and confront Pentagon maneuvers like the understand that the task of building is made of They also guide bombers over Vietnam. New Volunteer Army and the changing nature of the different material then the task of destroying—that it Tom was sent to LORAN school. LORAN (Long Viet Nam war. We at the Servicemen's Fund are is built on truth, and faith, and the collective strength Range Aid to Navigation) is a system of signals trying to keep pace with and understand these trends of the million enlisted men and women who make up emitted from Coast Guard stations around the world. so that we can continue to give help where it is the United States military. Any plane or ship equippped with a LORAN receiver needed most. The last three years have demonstrated that these can use the signals to locate and guide itself. Tom GIs have defined their movement as two are resources GIs and the GI movement have in received orders for Thailand. pronged—the first to work for an end to the Viet quantity. The ongoing task of U.S.S.F. is furnishing He began to feel uneasy about his assignment after Nam war and assure that there be no more Viet the necessary materials so that servicemen and talking to returnees from Thailand. "This one guy Nams; the second to eradicate the indoctrination and women can continue to speak out and can continue told me that once someone from the Army called in oppression that they see so clearly every day. turning their ideas into realities. and said "Hey, there's something wrong with signals The primary work of ending the war continues but We feel U.S.S.F. is located in the center of a circle from your box. We dropped our bombs on the wrong GIs understand that the role of the military does not surrounded by both GIs and civilian supporters target." Tom had been trained to adjust that "box" begin or end in Indochina. They are building and united around common goals. and synchronize those signals. preparing the longer fight that they have to wage if We ask for your continued support to expand this After he was assigned to Thailand, Tom Meurlott both the causes and the tools that bring about such circle and to move toward those goals. filed an application to be released from the Coast wars are to be rooted out and eliminated. Guard as a conscientious objector. His CO application was turned down and he was reassigned to a LORAN station in the mid-Pacific. Tom refused this assignment, for which he was sentenced to thirty days confinement. During this time he filed a second CO application. Tom's lawyer won him a hearing for this application, on the grounds that it was substantially different from the previous one. But the Coast Guard once again gave Tom orders for the Pacific, and this time they immediately hustled him off to the airport. He escaped however, and later turned himself in at the time of the scheduled hearing. That hearing never took place. Charged with disobeying a direct order and unauthorized absence, Tom Meurlott is now awaiting court-martial on Governor's Island in New York.

AVAILABLE FROM USSF Contributions to the United States Servicemen's Fund are deductible for tax purposes.

FTA Buttons (exact size) TWO YEARS WITH THE VIETCONG By George Smith

FTA! SONGS OF THE GI RESISTANCE sung by BARBARA DANE with active-duty Gl's. Recorded at GI coffee houses and "In the end I regretted not knowing more about our movement centers at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort captors," writes George Smith, who spent two years Benning, Georgia; • and Fort Bragg, North as a prisoner of the Viet Cong, and already knows Carolina. Incl. songs composed by the Gl's themselves: 1 Am AGI Rebel, Insubordination, them better than any other American. His decision to Exclusive G.I. Movement sketch, created for Resistance Hymn, Last Drink With Don, etc. "join the peace movement" after his release earned U.S.S.F. by Mr. David Levine. This sketch is Accompanying illustrated booklet includes him another six months captivity-at the hands of the available in a limited edition of 100, signed by complete song texts and other material on the U.S. Army. P.O.W. is a story of developing the artist; also available in a 17X22 poster, GI movement. Edited by Irwin Silber. commitment, told with humor and directness. and a 5 X 6 Greeting card.

ENCLOSED PLEASE FIND MY PAYMENT OF $. FOR: WIHMIN6 H&MS/rtMVflf

Copies of FTA: Songs of GI Resistance & $5 ea. Copies of Winning Hearts and Minds @ $2.25 ea.

David Levine Posters, Signed, 11 X 14, @ $15 ea. (limited ed.) David Levine Posters, unsigned, 17 X 22, & $2 ea. Dozen David Levine Note Cards @ $1.50 per doz. (with envelopes) FTA Buttons @ 504 ea. P.O.W. copies @ $4.00 ea. Contribution to USSF Winning Hearts and Minds is an illustrated collection of poetry arranged in a series of shifting scenes Please send me copies of About Face to distribute to my friends. describing in rough chronological order a tour of combat duty in Vietnam. The poems, which span a Name. period of the last ten years, chronicle the Gl's growing emotional and moral involvement with the people Telephone and the country. (Price of $2.25 includes postage and Address handling costs.) Make checks payable to USSF, 44 Greenwich Avenue, New York, New York 10011.

Faculty Press, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y. ..^Bfa».."» Typeset by O.B.U. Typesetters, Inc., 339 Lafayette St., N.Y., N.Y. 10012. (212)673-6632. ABOUT FACE! THE U. S. SERVICEMEN'S FUND NEWSLETTER

AFR 35-15, AR 381-135 and Department of Defense Directive 1 325.6 say: USSF 44 Greenwich Avenue THIS NEWSPAPER IS YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY AND CANNOT LEGALLY BE TAKEN FROM YOU. New York N.Y. 10011 212-924-8032

VOL. 3 NO. 1 JANUARY. 1973

THE JUDGES OF CONSCIENCE. Pentagon Cancel's CO Status Jeff Allison the provisions of this directive shall be forwarded to the Assistant Secretary of Convicted NUMBER 1300.6 Defense (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) OSD AGC (M, RA, H & E) within 90 days of the issuance of this Directive. Jeffrey Allison will spend the next five years of his DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DIRECTIVE life breaking rocks in a Naval brig. This sentence may CO. DIRECTIVE almost seem light when compared to the brutal SUBJECT Conscientious Objectors sentence of 350 years demanded at the outset of his I. CANCELLATION A few days before Christmas U.S.S.F. received a courtmartial by the Navy, but it is still a very large call from the Chicago Area Military Project (CAMP). part of the life of this nineteen year old sailor from Department of Defense Directive 1300.6, subject They had obtained information from a reliable source Oakland, California. as above, dated August 20, 1971, is hereby that the Department of Defense (DOD) had issued a Allison was charged with starting the fire that superseded andcancelled as of January 1, 1973. secret directive cancelling all provisions and regula­ destroyed the War Room, Combat Information tions allowing military personnel to apply for Center, Computer Room, Carrier Air Control Center II. APPLICABILITY AND SCOPE conscientious objector discharges from the Armed and the living quarters of Rear Admiral J.P. Morrer, Forces. on board the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal. The provisions of this Directive apply to the Despite our experience both within the military Despite the swift conclusion of the trial-two military departments and govern personnel of the and with U.S.S.F.'s work, we found it hard to believe weeks from start to finish-and the apparent Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and all that this information could be based on hard fact. It satisfaction of the Navy brass, the case has left a large Reserve components thereof. seemed incredible that the New Navy or the Modern number of sailors at the Norfolk Naval Base angry Volunteer Army with their slick P.R. image of change and unsatisfied. One sailor typified this feeling when III. POLICY and reform would or could arbitrarily end provisions he said after trial, "I'm not a subversive or anything so basic to the rights of individual conscience and but what would happen if everybody on the base just Conscientious objection by persons in military freedom. sat down 'till they let Allison go?" service to participation in war in any form or to The above copy of DOD Directive 1300.6, The Navy had produced no witnesses to this the bearing of arms or to service in the armed supplied to us by friends, is the document in alleged sabotage. Their case was based on the claim of forces by reason of religious training and belief a Navy intelligence agent that Allison had, after three or by reason of any other consideration shall not question. days of interrogation, made a verbal confession of his be a basis for separation. However,as a normal In remarks included with it, the Pentagon states guilt. Jeff Allison denied making any such confession. incident of personnel management, requests for that it "finds the present judicial climate insuffer­ Sailors working with the Jeffrey Allison Defense assignment to non-combatant duties may be able" and that it views Conscientious Objection as Committee felt that the general opinion of the considered. Such requests will be processed having been a "discretionary act of grace" on its part enlisted men and women in Norfolk and the through command channels in the same manner rather than the right of those servicemen morally or surrounding area was that Jeff was the Navy's as other individual personnel actions. The best religiously opposed to war. scapegoat. With all the problems the Navy has had interests of the Government shall be the sole The following are the goals DOD sec this directive and all the bad publicity in recent weeks, the Navy basis for decision. The nature of the duties to achieving: had to find somebody to pin the blame on, and which assigned in instances in which the granting 1. Eliminate altogether conscientious objection as a Jeffrey Allison was the man they chose. of such requests serves the interests of the ground for in-service separation. The Defense Committee, composed of sailors, vets, Government and the duration of such assignment 2. Provide for assignment to noncombatant duties as navy wives, and military counselors, is remaining shall be matters of command prerogative. an act of grace -when the interests of the active as it gathers support for Allison's appeal. While Government will best be served. The key here is that the errors, harrassment, and lack of evidence by the the interest of the individual applicant will be IV. EFFECTIVE DATE AND IMPLEMENTATION Navy would seem to be sufficient to gain a reversal. subsidiary to that of the Government. Jeff feels that he may have to attempt to get the facts 3. Convert the decision making procedure from a A. The provisions of this Directive shall become of the case into Federal court to receive a fair review quasi-judicial process to a routine personnel adminis- effective on January 1,1973. of his case. B. Two copies of implementing regulations with Continued on Page 2 JAN Federal Court Orders Navy: G.I. Movement Calendar

Jan 1 1781 Six regiments of the Pennsylvania line Relax Chenoweth Custody mutinied after Washington refused to honor the end of their 3-year enlistment In what could be an unprecedented move, a contracts and allow them to go home. A federal court has intervened in the area of pre-trial captain was killed in the first verified confinement in the military. US District Federal fragging. Most of them were discharged Court Judge Robert F. Peckham ordered the Navy on and allowed to return home. November 21 to "consider relaxing the confinement" 1972 Mountain Home, AFB, Idaho. In re­ of Firemen Patrick D. Chenoweth, 21, who has been sponse to Nixon's renewed escalation of held in the brig since August 2 at Treasure Island. He the air war on Indochina, 125 airmen had been charged with willful destruction of and women and civilian supporters hold government property and sabotage in time of war. a "vigil for peace" demanding an end to Chenoweth is accused of inserting a paint scraper and the bombing. two bolts into the # 4 main reduction gears of the 3 1970 Vietnam, Sp/5 Robert Lawrence, Armed USS RANGER aircraft carrier, causing $800,000 Forces Vietnam newscaster, broadcasts damage and delaying the ship's return to Vietnam for his protest of Army censorship in news 3V2 months. The incident occured in late July just programming. The Brass retaliates by days before the RANGER was due to leave. sending him to the boonies. Chenoweth faces a 35 year sentence if convicted. 7 1946 Back Home Movement. 20,0.00 GIs demonstrate in Phillipines, 3,500 in Guam, 3,000 in France. Thousands more One of the judge's primary considerations was that march in Japan, Korea, Hawaii, Alaska, the Navy had lied and said that Chenoweth had been England and Germany, demanding troop convicted at age 14 of malicious destruction. They ships home. had argued that this conviction was partial grounds for keeping him in pre-trial confinement. In fact there was no such conviction. The Navy has been given 10 days to relax Chenoweth's confinement. ,Jfe~gp •Sir. I don't think flogging is quite the answer.

Peckham's order also states that the Navy should similar statements themselves. Furthermore, two of refrain from reading Chenoweth's mail and should the three witnesses testified they thought Chenoweth guarantee him â private room, without eavesdroppers was joking when the alledged statements were made. for consultations with counsel. Seitz added that there were no witnesses to the actual act, no physical evidence linking Chenoweth to the In separate proceedings, Chenoweth's General crime, and no evidence to indicate when within a Court Martial at Treasure Island began in early possible 8-day period the act occurred. There is November. It is currently in pretrial motion stages evidence that hundreds of sailors had access to the 1972 Travis AFB, Cal. 100 dependents and and is expected to last several weeks. One of the gear in question. community residents join 100 Travis aspects of the case the defense will challenge is the 30 airmen and women in a 24-hour vigil year "sabotage in time of war" charge. The The sabotage incident Chenoweth is being charged outside base gates to protect escalation courtroom may well be turned into a forum on the with was only one out of over two dozen incidents of the air war. Similar vigil is held at legality of the Vietnam war in the dual context of aboard the RANGER since last May. Fire hoses were Mather AFB, Cal. how it has been declared (or not declared) and how it cut, the ship's drinking water was contaminated has been fought. twice, small fires were started, oil pressure gauges and 8 1972 Fairborn, Ohio. 250 airmen and women, oil pumps were damaged, the generators were vets, and civilians march to the gates of damaged, and several times bomb threats and rumors Wright-Patterson AFB. In the last court session Eric Seitz, Chenoweth's of mass desertion spread the ship. Capt. H.P. civilian lawyer, inquired about the rumor that the Glindemann Jr., the RANGER'S commanding officer, 10 1972 Camp Lejuene, N.C. 15 brig prisoners are case may be moved to Subie Bay, the Philippines, due picked Pat as the scapegoat and lesson to all future picked as "leaders" and busted as to "economic reasons." Mr. 4>eitz fears that as the saboteurs. prisoners stage a sit-down strike over brig Navy's case is shaky, they might be tempted to make conditions. A sheet with clenched fist the move, making it very difficult to rally political In fact the opposite seems to have happened. Since and word "Revolution" is hung out support in the states and also putting the defense Pat Chenoweth's arrest the sabotage on the ship has window by prisoners. team in real phsyical danger since the Philippines are continued and political activity has increased. There under martial law. (See About Face Vol. II #6). 15 1970 El Paso, Tex. 80 Ft. Bliss GIs picket have been three sabotage-related malfunctions in the speaking engagement of Westmoreland. engines, though none of them major, in October The Navy's case is based almost solely on alone. Also antiwar stickers have begun to appear on 1971 Vietnam, In roservance of Martin Luther testimony from three sailors who claim they the damaged equipment. A few weeks ago an King's birth., 40 Black GIs march in overheard Chenoweth confess to friends of his. Seitz Indochina slide show was smuggled aboard and shown Saigon. said that he had found 20 men who overheard similar in the carpenter's shack. More and more sailors are admissions all over the ship and who admit to making identifying with the Stop Our Ship movement. 1972 Hickaifl AFB, Hawaii, Liberated Bar racks GIs stage a mock air war, "Thirty Continued from page 1 seconds over Hickam," as the first action in the Stop the Air War Campaign. CO Status Canceled 16 1970 Ft. Gordon, Ga. GIs form "War Crimes Commission", 4 arrested for "arousing disloyalty and disaffection." trative action. The theory here is that the courts will The sole desenting military opinion seems to be presumably be much less likely to interfere in the that of Colonel William B. Carne, Chief of the Judge 17 1969 Sp/4 Jim Bingham, who had joined the field of personnel administration—a strictly internal Advocate Generals litigation division, who responded NLF and fought with them against the matter—than in a proceeding that has assumed the to DOD with advice as to the "lack of wisdom" in US for a few months, dies at Walter character of a judicial determination. such'an action. Reed Army Hospital after mysterious Carne argued that the directive is in violation of brain surgery. both 1 st and 5th amendment rights and that it invited both congressional and judicial intervention. 21 1781 The New Jersey Line regiments mutinied He points out that there is substantial risk that over the same issues as the Pennsylvania groups concerned with the rights and liberties of regiment. Washington surrounded their service men and women will "paint this as a repressive camp with troops loyal to him armed measure in the news media and will picture the armed with cannon. He then went in and services as seeking to return to an era when there was picked out the 3 leaders of the mutiny less concern about the rights of the individual and put them against a wall. He then soldier." picked the 12 next most active muti­ Colonel Carne's latter prediction is already proving neers, formed them into a firing squad, correct. Press conferences have already been held by and had them execute their comrades. such groups and by GIs in Chicago, Rochester, San Francisco and Boston. Direct actions are being 1970 Tacoma, Wash. People's Trial of the planned around the country to demand the DOD Army. A jury of 12 GIs and 1 WAC find desist in its attempt to implement this directive. the Brass guilty of "crimes against We of USSF, also question the legality of such an humanity" and sentence them to death. act and stand prepared to aid and support whatever judicial actions are taken by GIs in this matter. 29 1919 Ft. Leavenworth, Kan. 2,300 GIs held in We have copies of both the Directive and the DOD stockade refuse to work until prison remarks and we will send these to anyone who conditions are improved. requests them. SPEAK OUT! Voices From The G.I. Movement FRGM NEWSPAPERS' "BRAGG BRIEFS". FT- BRAGG, COUNSELLING: THE G.I. WIFE

It's moving into a little apartment which is in sad GI** need of repair and trying to make it a home. It's FIGHTING Article 15 knowing that the landlord doesn't care about the oof , &*£- broken window, or springs busting out of the couch of J (Friedberg, West Germany) In Friedberg, GIs have because he can always rent the place to another been fighting the Army's harrassment. In our equally desperate couple should you threaten to batallion, HHC 1/36 Infantry, harrassment has been move out. It's the subsequent depression of knowing building up within the company. It came to a peak you're stuck in that particular apartment for six for two of us when we were framed on an AWOL months because you signed the lease out of charge. One afternoon after an alert we were told to desparation. It's wanting to fix the place up but not turn in our weapons. When we got back to duty the having the money, time, know how or tools and officer in charge said that we had been AWOL for knowing you'll probably be stuck there until you half an hour! He brought us to our commanding finally ETS. officer who said that we were going to get punished It's sitting in your trailer, feeling desperately by an Art. 15, which is just an arbitrary way COs can homesick regardless of whether this is the first time frame GIs for just about anything. COs intimidate GIs you have been away or the fiftieth. It's feeling foolish into accepting Art. 15s by threatening a Court Martial for feeling homesick. It's feeling lonely, isolated, if they turn it down. insecure, useless, worthless and stranded. It's not We were fed up and decided it was time to stand knowing any other women in Fayetteville for weeks up and fight! We refused the Art. 15 and went or possibly months after moving in. It's feeling like together to the Inspector General (IG). The IG is there isn't another interested or interesting person supposed to be the Macy's complaint Dept. The brass within miles. 104 degrees temperature and waiting 2 hours for a tells us that the IG benefits the low ranking EM, but It's walking down muddy little streets with no doctor. It's getting pregnant, waiting for your we found OTHERWISE. The following day we went sidewalks and no streetlights and being honked at, appointment at OB-GYN for birth control pills and to see our supposed Savior. It was clear from the start whistled at, shouted at, oogled at, and in general then being rudely asked "Why weren't you on the pill that this Colonel was not on our side. We told him being treated like a piece of meat. It's having half a if you didn't want to get pregnant?" what had happened and demanded some action be dozen dogs snap and bark at you everywhere you go. It's not getting your allotment check and having taken against the officer. He realized we were your husband's CO say "If we want you to have a It's feeling there is nowhere to go, nothing to do, prepared to fight, so he was forced to drop the wife we would have issued you one." It's trying to no one who cares, no one who shares your interests, charges. This victory wasn't because of any kindness feed your family on six dollars a month because of a no jobs, no decent public transportation, no honest or fairness on his behalf; it was because we stood up. reasonable merchants. mistake someone made in finance. It's having to pawn He wanted to stop at that but we wanted It's sitting home alone waiting for your husband to everything to make it through the month. something done about the officer who brought the get home from work hearing footsteps outside your It's being ripped off of your on-post housing and false charges. The IG tried to get us to sign statements window. It's either scrubbing your floors all day long forced to live off base, like it or not, when your which, under military "in"-justice we couldn't prove or else sitting and watching the serials and thinking husband gets sent overseas. but the officer could have prosecuted US for those that you should be cleaning. It's having your husband Women, you've not only heard it, you've LIVED charges. We were completely disgusted at this come-rtormrarrd yell at you because he can't yell air it. You can't fight alone, so let's get togathar. Evefy- character claiming to help us, but really trying to his First Sgt. Tuesday and Thursday between 1-4 there will be screw us! This whole thing opened our eyes to the It's going to Womack and getting the same old run other women with the same situation at the GI fact that the whole Army system is stacked against around. It's taking your baby out to Emergency with Center. We can help each other. us. CHARLESTON G.I. OFFICE, CHARLESTON NAVAL BASE, S.C. They had us pegged as trouble makers at that PROJECTS: point. The charges were dropped, but their next move was to separate us and transfer us to different units. In Charleston, S.C, a prominent citizen explained merchants. And when the USS BORDELON sailed We discovered that most Article 15'scan be beaten if recently, "The military doesn't really run the for Nam, a week-long series of actions (vigils, press Gl's fight them. Don't be intimidated by a town—but we tolerate them." Perhaps so, but it's a releases & TV shows, a symbolic blockade, fast-talking CO. We're in different companies now, tolerance founded on economic necessity. Under the leafletting) reminded people that the War was but we're still fighting the harassment that all Gl's late Mendel Rivers the military captured the continuing and strengthened contact between anti­ face. Now we know that together we can fight and Charleston economy. The Charleston Navy Base is the war sailors. win!!! second largest on the East Coast, with 17,000 sailors 2. MILITARY COUNSELING-information and ad­ (From FTA WITH PRIDE, Postfach 9687, (6202) manning the cruisers, destroyers, diesel subs, vice about discharges, GI rights, vets benefits, and Wiesbaden-Bierbrich, GERMANY) mine-sweepers, and all the associated schools and courts-martial. The Office sponsors workshops on support facilities. In addition, 17 nuclear submarines military law and counseling for servicepeople with missiles homeport here, and 11,000 civilians run throughout the South. YOUR RIGHTS UNDER ARTICLE 15 the extensive shipyard. Nearby, more than 6,000 3. COMMUNICATION & SELF-EDUCATION- airmen keep the giant C-5A's and C-141's flying to Servicemen and their friends publish and distribute a The following is a mini-manual of GIs' rights under Vietnam with weapons and supplies brought in newspaper (Fat Albert's Death Ship Times). Study non-judicial punishment: through the Naval Base. Of course, the city fathers groups meet regularly to discuss literature to be 1) Refusal (don't ask for a court-martial; just refuse try to keep the GIs out of sight (it's bad for the distributed by the Office. the Article 15. If they offer a summary, refuse that, tourist business) by keeping them on base or in the 4. INVESTIGATION & PUBLICIZING OF COM­ too, if you have a good case). North Charleston ghetto. For a time, this worked— PLAINTS good contact with congressmen and local 2) Get others to refuse them. Charleston maintained its Gone with the Wind image, media help GIs to put pressure on the military. The 3) Your rights include: a right to refuse both Article with stately mansions, cadets in traditional uniform Office has arranged more than a dozen TV 15 and summary; a right to trial; and 5th Amendment from the Citadel (the South's military academy), and appearances; discussing issues including unsafe con­ rights under Article 31 of the UCMJ. black domestics watching their white charges in the ditions on 3 ships ordered to Nam; illegal harassment 4) Read the regulations on Article 15, and Chapter parks. of servicemen involved in anti-war protests; beatings 26 of the MANUAL FOR COURTS-MARTIAL. You But now, look! A demonstration by Navy wives and threats received by black recruits at nearby Parris have the right to read unclassified regs. File a protesting a destroyer's cruise to Vietnam as Admiral Island; and illegal confinement resulting from the complaint under Article 138 or write a congressman Zumwalt addresses a luncheon! Security Policemen courts-martial where defense attorneys were not if they refuse to let you read them. from the Air Base standing in front of those allowed. 5) Ask for a lawyer every time you get an Art. 15. If mansions, talking about the atrocities they witnessed 5. SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS-active you decide to take it, demand to call witnesses, etc. in 'Nam! And, oh my God!, a flotilla of canoes duty GIs, vets, and dependents have formed chapters 6) Appeal a "guilty" verdict (MCM, para. 135). preventing the sailing of a ship for S.E. Asia while the of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Another Either ask to dismiss charges (you were framed), or sailors cheer and help the arrestors evade the firehoses, Mother for Peace (which sponsored a community for mitigation (the punishment will cause a family frogmen, and lassoes. How could all this happen here? peace fair, and a Women's Health Committee which is hardship and you'll have to file for discharge, etc.). The Charleston G.I. Office, formed in May of last preparing a Women's health conference and investi­ Appeal any correctional custody you receive (or year, has served as a catalyst for sailors, airmen, and gating complaints about the Naval hospital. confinement for a summary) on the basis of the fact their dependents. The goal is to help these people For the future? Despite occasional harassment that you were denied a lawyer and/or due process of form groups which attack their own problems—to from the Navy, the landlord, the Ku Klux Klan, and law. empower them, so they can confront the military's the S.C. Bar Association (strange how those 4 work 7) "Resign" in lieu of Art. 15. (In the Army, AR brutality and oppression. Specifically, the GI Office together, isn't it?), the Charleston G.I. Office has 635-200, Ch. 9, says that you can offer to resign helps with: strong support from the local community. Among the rather than take an Art. 15. They don't have to let 1. EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS-economic re­ sailors a Charleston resistance to the war and the you, but you can try.) search done by Navy personnel showed how the oppression of the military continues to grow. The 8) Organize. Bring friends to your Article 15; call military had a stranglehold on the local economy and Charleston G.I. Office, then, will be around for a long witnesses, petition; print programs; see how many how the enlisted people and on base civilian workers while, helping the channel that support and that people you can get to refuse their Article 15s. were exploited by the military and the local resistance into creative, constructive action. THE CHEERLEADERS by Harrison Köhler

John Wayne Leads A charge of leathernecks agains the japs or the jerries, He's tough and not afraid to die.

Géorgie Jessel Is Lean and mean in his tailored American Legion uniform, Grizzled veteran of hellish vaudeville campaigns.

Martha Raye Has Her green beret and combat infantryman's badge, She goes where the action is.

*-T^ r- Bob Hope Travels All over the world WHAT KIND OF WAR? To entertain "our boys." ....these poems are excerpted from Ask what kind of war it is War where you can be pinned down those found in "Winning Hearts and Is all day in a muddy rice paddy A paunchy worn out movie hero while your buddies are being shot Minds"... a book of poetry written A tired old man and a close-support Phantom jet A menopaused hag who has been napalming the enemy by veterans of the Vietnam war.... A grotesque comedian wraps itself around a tree and explodes Parading and you cheer inside? Patriotic Larry Rottmann Obscenities.

AVAIL A3 LE FROM USSF Contributions to the United States Servicemen's Fund are deductible for tax purposes.

WlMMNft H&M&/MMbf

TWO YEARS WITH THE VIETCONG By George Smith SONGS OF THEGIRESSTANŒ Sing by Barbara Dane w*ti acäve-duty GIs ROW GEORGE E. SMITH

Winning Hearts and Minds is an illustrated collection of poetry arranged in a series of shifting scenes describing in rough chronological order a tour of 'J* I 'g, combat duty in Vietnam. The poems, which span a period of the last ten years, chronicle the Gl's growing emotional and moral involvement with the people and the country. (Price of $2.25 includes postage and FTA! SONGS OF THE GI RESISTANCE handling costs.. sung by BARBARA DANE with active-duty Gl's. Recorded at GI coffee houses and "In the end I regretted not knowing more about our movement centers at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort captors," writes George Smith, who spent two years Benning, Georgia; and Fort Bragg, North as a prisoner of the Viet Cong, and already knows Carolina. Incl. songs composed by the Gl's them better than any other American. His decision to themselves: I Am AGI Rebel, Insubordination, "join the peace movement" after his release earned Resistance Hymn, Last Drink With Don, etc. him another six months captivity-at the hands of the Accompanying illustrated booklet includes U.S. Army. P.O.W. is a story of developing complete song texts and other material on the commitment, told with humor and directness. GI movement. Edited by Irwin Silber.

Exclusive G.I. Movement sketch, created for U.S.S.F. by Mr. David Levine. This sketch is available in a limited edition of 100, signed by ENCLOSED PLEASE FIND MY PAYMENT OF $ FOR: the artist; also available in a 17X22 poster, and a 5 X 6 Greeting card. ^^ Copies of FTA: Songs of GI Resistance (s> $5 ea. 1973 Copies of Winning Hearts and Minds @ $2.25 ea. David Levine Posters, Signed, 11 X 14, @ $15 ea. (limited ed.) #1 David Levine Posters, unsigned, 17 X 22, & $2 ea. MOVEMENT Dozen Da,vid Levine Note Cards @ $1.50 per doz. (with envelopes) GI Movement 1973 Calendar @ $2 ea. P.O.W. copies & $4.00 ea. Contribution to USSF Please send me copies of About face to distribute to my friends.

CALENDER Name

G.I. Movement Calendar for 197 3 On 14 X 20 sheets, Address Telephone. with pictures and historic dates noted, this calendar focuses on the struggle of G.l.'s over the last 5 years. Make checks payable to USSF, 44 Greenwich Avenue, New York, New York 10011.

Typeset by O.B.U. Typesetters, Inc., 339 Lafayette St., Faculty Press, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y. ..•!$»»..•'»• N.Y., N.Y. 10012. (212)673-6632. INT INSTITUUT SOC. Gc i in DENIS ABOUT FACE! THE U. S. SERVICEMEN'S FUND NEWSLETTER

AFR 35-15, AR 381-135 and Department of Defense Directive 1325.6 say: USSF 44 Greenwich Avenue THIS NEWSPAPER IS YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY AND CANNOT LEGALLY BE TAKEN FROM YOU. New York N.Y. 10011 212-924-8032 VOL.3 NO. 2 MARCH 1973 USSF UNDER ATTACK BY 1RS On February 7th, the Servicemen's Fund received notification from the Internal Revenue Service that its status as a tax-exempt organization had been revoked since its inception in 1969. The loss of tax-exemption has made us liable for over three years' back taxes and effectively cuts us off from donations of both foundations and a number of individual contributors. The government's motive in this act seems clear. It is designed to cripple and perhaps destroy the Fund's ability to raise sufficient money to continue its support of the activities of active duty servicemen and women. This action represents the most recent and most serious blow in an almost three-year campaign by the government to shut USSF down. In that time we have faced many forms of harassment. Our records have been stolen, our contributors intimidated, and USSF has born the brunt of witch hunting investigations by the House Internal Security Committee (formerly HUAC) and its Senate sibling, Senator Eastland's Sub-committee on Internal Security. It is apparent that the administration hopes that this latest action will succeed where their scare tactics of the past have failed. The timing and nature of this attack may, however, have a significance far beyond the work of USSF or the GI movement. It follows closely on the heels of the ceasefire, at a time when the THE NEXTSTEP? administration is turning its attention back to a divided America, and seeking to remold this country in its own image. This attack may mark both a precedent for and a beginning of wholesale attacks on any and all organizations that advance and protect WHAT DOES IT MEAN individual human rights or progressive social change. The government, faced with public outcry at its for the GI MOVEMENT? abuses of grand jury and conspiracy laws, may be CEASE-FIRE seeking to achieve its ends with this new tactic. Its continue to resist the misuse of the military machine undramatic, behind-the-scenes, legally obscure quality ARTICLE 4 THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT CONTINUE ITS for wars like Vietnam, riot control, or to enforce U.S. make it a reliable and dangerous weapon for policy abroad. And second, perhaps even more basic, repression. MILITARY INVOLVEMENT OR INTERVENE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF SOUTH VIETNAM is the struggle for fundamental human rights. We have This revocation of our tax-exempt status is the come to understand that the dehumanizing and climax of litigation initiated by the 1RS in the spring This critical part of the Paris cease fire agreement oppressive conditions of the military have a purpose. of 1970. At that time, they charged us with signifies an end to the killing and dying for American They are designed to cut us off from our roots and to supporting "that segment of the military establish­ servicemen in the land, sea, and air that is Vietnam. remodel us into instruments to be manipulated by the ment who oppose the Vietnam war and the use of No segment of American society feels more relief and brass. They exist to divide us both from the civilian conscription to wage war." They stated their belief joy then the enlisted men and women of the armed world and from each other. We refuse to accept this that "GI coffeehouses and newspapers cultivate forces. situation and are determined to fight against all dissent within the military against the Vietnam war Now, for the thousands of us in the service who aspects of it from the institutional racism of the and disaffection with America's foreign and domestic have worked toward this end and for those who have service to the inequities of military justice. social, economic, and psychological programs." supported our fight, comes a time for examination The brass expects to be able to use this period to Our reply is the same today as it was then. The and decision. reshape and rebuild the military. With the end of the Servicemen's Fund supplies only a forum; it is the One essential question must be—what is to be the draft and the concept of the new volunteer services men and women of the military who control and purpose and the future of the millions of Americans they are trying to eradicate the last vestige of the determine the point of view. If they voice dissent and who still wear the uniform of this country's armed citizen soldier and to replace it with the concept of disaffection, we ask that the administration look to services. To answer this we must examine the policies the professional. With the raw material of men, and itself for the causes. Perhaps what they hear is the and the power held by the military at the beginning increasingly women, forced into the military by voice of America. of this post-Vietnam era. At the same time we must unemployment, poverty, and the slick PR work of Nixon's administration obviously views a demo­ look at the roots and the history of the GI recruiters, the generals and politicians hope to cratic movement among enlisted members of the movement. We must decide whether the end of U.S. produce soldiers whose only loyalties are to their Armed Forces as a threat and an obstacle. The involvement in South East Asia eliminates the reasons units and superior officers. They wish to create Servicemen's Fund, long a supporter of that or legitimacy of our struggle. American servicemen who can be trusted to carry out movement, forms part of that obstacle and hence Historically the end of a war has brought with it any mission, anywhere in the nation or the world, remains a target of government repression. demobilization for the vast majority of those in without thought as to its political or moral We have no intention of packing up and quitting in uniform. This is not to be the case for the almost one significance. We stand between them and that goal. It the face of this attack. USSF is preparing a legal suit million GIs presently stationed on foreign soil or for is our refusal to be modeled into their image that will to contest the revocation. In the meantime, our the V/i million garrisoned in the U.S. Our brothers defeat them. lawyers have gone to federal court seeking a stay stationed in the Philippines are already seeing We occupy a position in this society that allows us against the action until such time as the courts make parallels between that country and the Vietnam of to see around the rhetoric of military and government a final determination on the merits of the 1RS the early sixties. One major difference, though, is our policy. We are going to continue to speak out and decision. ability to recognize the nature of America's role in organize around all issues that contribute to a more Nevertheless, whether we win in court or not, the such a situation. It is because of this understanding just America. government has succeeded in hurting us by this move. that we can not wait for another 'Nam to emerge and The cease-fire is in part our victory. We must see it We have had to make cut-backs in our funding to GI engulf us. We must educate ourselves and others and as evidence of the power we have when we work in centers and activities. We are attempting to minimize organize in an effort to avert such a possibility. unity and apply this strength to the problems that this damage by keeping administrative expenses to an GI resistance to the Vietnam war has not been an still lie before us. absolute minimum and tightening up all our methods isolated issue ... it has not been built in a vacuum. (This article was submitted by an Continued on Page 2 We fight on two fronts. We have resisted and must active-duty GI from Ft. Polk, La.) DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY Gl ACTIVISTS 156th MAINTENANCE COMPANY, 71st MAINTENANCE AND SUPPLY BATTALION SHIPPED OUT AETSSC-MB-156 12 Jan 73 SUBJ ECT: Known and/or Suspected Drug Abusers In a sudden and coordinated attack on GI dissidents in the 7th Army, the U.S. Army command To: in Germany has transferred at least five GIs—active in the GI Movement there-back to the States, and there 1. You have been identified as (a known or suspected drug abuser) (an associate of a known or suspected is widespread speculation among GIs still there that as drug abuser). As a result, the following actions are now taken: many as forty others will follow. On January 19, Sp4 Andy Berman of the 582 a. You will remove the door from your room and take it to the Supply Room. Tranportation Co. in Mannheim was handed transfer orders, giving him 24 hours notice that he was being b. Effective this date you are denied and lose all pass privileges. In other words, you will not leave the shipped back to the U.S. The Army had already physical limits of Pinder Barracks except to perform authorized or detailed military duties. closed his bank account and done all the other necessary paperwork before notifying him. That same c. Your civilian and military drivers license are suspended and the green USAREUR license plates will be weekend, four other Gls-Dave Gersh from Nurem- immediately removed from your POV. Your drivers licenses and green plates will be delivered to the burg, Terry Botts from Weisbaden, John Parks from Orderly Room for safekeeping. Stuttgart, and a fourth, as yet unidentified, G I—were given similar orders, with barely 48 hours notice of d. Everything will be removed from your room except for your bed, bedding, wall locker, military transfer. All were sent to Ft. Dix, New Jersey, where clothing, toilet articles, and other essentials. All electronic items, tables, chairs, rugs, carpets, other they received their new assignments. (Sp5 Terry furnishings, and all items on walls will be turned in to the Supply Room for Safekeeping. In other words, Botts, the one married GI, won a legal fight to stay you will live in a bare room and have only a wall locker and bed. his orders for two weeks; during that time, he filed an Article 138 against Gen. Michael Davison, e. You will not wear civilian clothing under any circumstances. Your civilian clothing will be inventoried CINCUSAREUR, for having denied his first amend­ and turned in to the Supply Room for safekeeping. ment rights by punitively transferring him because of his political beliefs.) f. You will go to the community drug and alcohol assistance center (CDAAC) for counseling. All of these men were directly involved with either Fight Back!, printed in Heidelberg, or FTA with g. You will undergo urine testing at least three times a week. Pride, from Weisbaden-Mainz, two of Germany's Gl-produced papers (and both of which receive h. If you are married and live off post, you will be required to move into the barracks and follow the financial support from USSF). The sudden wholesale orders in this letter. transfer of these GI activists is an indication of the effectivenss of their work in USAREUR-the U.S. i. You will live and sleep in your own room and you will not accept, buy, or take anything from another Army in Europe. As the military has increased its person. repression in the drug-racked 7th Army (see related article in this issue), the "underground" GI papers The above instructions and procedures are lawful orders and violations are punishable in accordance with had become a rallying point and organizing focus for the Uniform Code of Military Justice. GIs fighting for their individual and collective rights. The phenomenal growth of Fight Back! and FTA THEODORE P. MOHLER with Pride, as well as of unit papers such as the Wiley CPT, OrdC Word from Wiley Barracks near Neu Ulm, is a clear Commanding threat to the ability of the USAREUR command to get away with the excessive authoritarianism and I have received a copy of this letter and understand its contents completely. disregard for enlisted people's rights that has characterized their official policy in the last several months. Signature. .Date. Punitive transfer are a familiar and powerful weapon for the brass to use to break up organizing directives, have obatined legal representation from work among GIs. These transfers were different only This directive was made available to U.S.S.F. by a attorneys Robert Rivkin and Howard De Nike, who in that they clearly came straight from the top, from group of concerned enlisted men stationed in West staff the Heidelberg office of the Lawyers Military General Davison himself, and that the five were Germany. They have requested that it be made Defense Committee. Not one of the six is facing any shipped back to the U.S. rather than being sent to public. We do so in the hope that it will give you criminal charges for sale, possession, or use of drugs, other bases in Germany. (The Stateside base some insight into thetirutal harrassment that enlisted but all have been disciplined in the manner outlined assignments were at least partly chosen for their men and women can and often are subjected to by in the Nelligen doctrine. absence of GI political activity in recent years. the military authorities. Rivkin and De Nike believe that General Berman, who was sent to Ft. Polk, Louisiana-an While the army brass may offer this as an Daskevich's "movement has unleashed local com­ especially isolated post-was told by the officer who "enlightened" approach to solving the problem of manders to exercise the harassing tactics of their met him at Ft. Dix, "I had a hard time picking an wide spread drug use in the service, we see it rather as choice against any and all men in their command and assignment for you.") The 7th Army command is an excellent example of the root causes of enlisted that this gives authorization and encouragement to obviously attempting to pick off "leaders" in the drug use. this kind of illegal punishment without trial." resistance to their new "discipline" crackdown; the Punishments "a." thru "I." are being applied transfers were not based on any charges of military The attorneys point out that the orders in the without any semblance of due process, without either directive itself are not legal and therefore should not law violations, but simply on one of the Army's hearing or trial. It is not even necessary that the convenient catch-all regulations, AR 614-30, which have to be obeyed. They cite the case of U.S. vs victim be a "suspected drug abuser" but only that he Adams—where the soldier's right to privacy is gives commanders discretionary powers to curtail the is believed to be an associate of someone his overseas tour of "an individual involved in circum­ described in this way—"Generally a military person's commanding officer suspects of using drugs. abode is the place where he bunks and keeps his few stances which have resulted or may result in discredit The fashion in which this directive is being or embarrassment to the United States." private possessions. His home is the particular place implemented is exemplified by the case of one GI where the necessities of the service force him to live. The Army undoubtedly is embarrassed at having who was yanked from his bed at two in the morning This may be a barracks, a tent, even a foxhole. its harassment and repression of GIs publicly after his commanding officer and club-wielding 1st Whatever the name of his place of abode, it is his exposed, but, more importantly, it feels an immediate Sgt. kicked in his door. sanctuary against unlawful intrusion. It is his castle." threat to its power when GIs begin to organize to What is the source of this policy? Upon As is obvious, the Army has blatantly ignored this protect their own interests. The elimination of five investigation we find that Captain Mohler is not decision by the civil courts—that once again it has GIs will not stop that; indeed, the word we've simply an unbalanced megalomaniac living out some decided to operate as a power unto itself and at the received is that in the face of these politically- Orwellian fantasy but that he is complying with expense of the individual rights of enlisted personnel. motivated transfers, other GIs are twice as angry and suggestions outlined in a document titled "The GIs in Germany have not yielded to these Gestapo twice as determined to continue to work for an end Nelligen Anti-Drug Movement", which was prepared tactics. They are determined to expose them, to the oppressive conditions that they're living and under the direction of Brigadier General Anthony R. organize against them and defeat them. We hope they working under. On January 22 and 23, a couple of Daskevich. The Daskevich approach to drug abuse has will succeed before more young soldiers turn to hundred GIs marched through Berlin's McNair spread rapidly and is now in effect in virtually all heroin to escape lives made unbearable by the Barracks protesting their loss of basic privacy rights; American bases in West Germany. military's intrusion and disruption of their private Stars and Stripes, the Army's own European Six soldiers from military units affected by the lives. newspaper, has received dozens of letters-to-the editor from enlisted GIs complaining about the same thing (and arguing their point of view on other issues IrVO AltcIC K Continued from Page 1 as well); Fight Back! printed an "Extra" edition supporters' shared belief in the value of this work. We immediately after the transfers, and both it and FTA of operation. New efforts are being made in intend to continue our support of the GI movement with Pride are stronger than ever. fund-raising to try and compensate for the sources no in as vigorous a manner as possible. Meanwhile, the five brothers who were transferred longer open to us—and to meet new costs arising from We need your help if we are to weather this critical out—at least the four we know of—are all going to non-exempt status (everything from liability for back period. We are asking our friends to write letters stateside bases eager to continue their organizing taxes to tripled postal expenses). protesting this act to their congressmen or women, work. As Andy Berman, who wrote for Fight Back!, Our lawyers inform us that contributors need not and to the head of 1RS, John N. Walters. Over and said, "The transfers were designed to stop the worry that any past contributions to USSF used as above that, we need your financial support: it has publication of the two papers, but it won't work. The tax deductions will be held retroactively taxable— never been more necessary than at this time or more action caused a lot of anger, and will only increase perhaps a consolation for many of you. Tax- important for the future of USSF's work. the GIs' resentment of the military. More and more exemption has been a valuable tool in raising funds We will keep you informed of developments in GIs are joining us to stand up for their rights. Fight for our work. We are now completely dependent on upcoming issues of About Face. Back! won't be stopped." contributions that are given solely out of our Support theGI Movement. But after four years of fighting they weren't scared of MP's. The next day, 2500 men marched to the commanding general's headquarters, where a demon­ stration was held demanding troop ships home. Back in Europe, on January 7, over 2000 GIs held a pretest meeting at Camp Boston, France. On January 8, there were more demonstrations at SPEAK OUT! more bases than anybody could keep track of. At a rally on Saipan, 6000 GIs sent telegrams to Washington demanding to be sent home. On Guam, Voices From The Gl Movement 3500 GIs held a hunger strike. The next day, Janaury 9, 18,000 men joined the protest on Guam; 1000 GIs marched in Paris; 1800 GIs put their names on a telegram from London from Up FromThe Bottom, San Diego demanding to be sent home; 5000 marched in newspapers: Frankfurt; 5000 marched in Calcutta; 15,000 Some T.V. news commentators reporting the self-determination without coercion from the Army, i marched in Hawaii; and there were smaller demon­ situation on the Constellation called the mass action The GIs, realizing that the US government was strations in Yokohama, Japan and Rheims, France. by the brothers, "unprecedented in the history of the scrambling to establish itself as the dominant The brass was frantic. They censored all GI US military." But whatever Walter Cronkite wants to worldwide power and had no intention of sending newspapers and punitively transferred two staffers believe, demonstrations by enlisted men and women them home soon began to fight back. from Stars and Stripes when they protested the to protest unpopular orders and decisions by lifers They hung signs out the train windows reading, censorship. and high-ranking officers have happened many, many "Shanghaied for the Pacific." They wrote to An order went out ordering any soldier who times before. newspapers and their families protesting the transfers. demonstrated for demobilization to be subject to Actions to let the outside world know that the Senators and Congressmen were bombarded with court martial. On January 17, General Eisenhower troops don't go along with the program have letters and telegrams demanding that the GIs be' called the "Back Home Movement" hysteria and happened this past year on ships like the Coral Sea, brought home. ordered a ban on public demonstrations. Newport News and Kitty Hawk. They've happened in In December of 1945, the GIs in Asia decided that But it was too late. In the Philippines, GIs held Vietnam at Hamburger Hill, at Firebase Pace, and at the time had come to take action. On Christmas Day, meetings in their units and elected representatives to other firebases near the Cambodian border. 4000 men marched through Manila carrying banners a "Soldier's Committee." A total of 139,000 GIs This article is about a movement that sprang up at that read, "We Want Ships." On January 6, two more elected 156 representatives. bases and troop camps all over the world at the end marches were held in Manila. The Army, thinking it A similar committee was formed in France. On of World War II that came to be called the "Back could scare the soldiers, ordered MP's to attack the January 13, 1946, that committee met in Paris and Home Movement." marchers. drafted a document which they called, "The Enlisted Millions of GIs, including probably a lot of our Man's Magna Carta." fathers, after fighting a lot of battles to kick the The "Magana Carta" was ratified at a meeting of Japanese fascists out of the islands of the Pacific, and 500 GIs. Among its demands were 1) that all officers the German and Italian fascists out of the countries in serve as enlisted men for one year during time of war; Europe and Africa that didn't belong to them, 2) that officers clubs, officers messes and all other suddenly found themselves on "occupation duty"— extra privileges be eliminated; 3) that court martial playing the same role as the armies they had boards include enlisted men; 4) that Secretary of War fought against. Patterson be replaced; 5) and that the "Magna Carta" On Okinawa, Guam and throughout the Pacific, be acted on by a Senate investigating team that was US infantrymen read in the paper that the war was due in Paris. The group established a "GI Liberation over, but were told by their commanders that more Committee" to fight for the demands of the "Magna battles might have to be fought—against the armies of Carta." Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, and Mao Tse Tung in China. Faced with this kind of open rebellion, the Meanwhile, GIs who had fought their way across military command gave up. They ordered troop ships Europe were being loaded in trains—not for the into Asia, canceled all plans for an invasion of China, states, but for occupation duty in Asia. and sent the GIs home. From a high of 8 million, the That night a mass meeting of between 12,000 and Army was down to VA million by the middle of 20,000 GIs was held. Speakers demanded the right to 1946. • go home and supported the Asian people's right to The GIs had won! And they will win again!

Project Profile: Columbia GI Office, Ft. Jackson,S.C. for two years there has been little sustained civilian 1)The GI Office will put emphasis on giving to In January, agrant of $5,000 was made to establish support activity in the Ft. Jackson/Shaw AFB area. GIs themselves the knowledge and experience to the Columbia G.I. Office in Columbia, S.C. The staff FT. JACKSON TODA Y AND TOMORROW provide counseling help to others, both on post and of the Office here describe the conditions they face It is clear that things have changed in the three at their permanent duty stations once they leave Ft. and what they hope to accomplish: years since the demise of the UFO. Ft. Jackson has Jackson. Counseling skills can provide a way for GIs BACKGROUND been affected, of course, by the Army-wide changes to reach out to one another, and to break down the Ft. Jackson is one of the largest training bases in introduced under the Volunteer Army program. A feelings of powerlessness which military training is the U.S. Army, and the principal infantry facility in trainee now receives $288 a month, which for this designed to create. the Third Army area. There are normally 27,000 region of the country is a very competitive wage, soldiers on active duty, most of them undergoing 2) The GI Office will be the only institution in particularly for the young, unskilled men whom the two-month courses in Basic Combat Training and Columbia dedicated to the interests of enlisted Army hopes to attract. Advanced Individual Training as infantrymen. personnel rather than to the brass. In the function of The intent of these changes is to make possible the During the late 1960's, Ft. Jackson's principal a GI advocate or ombudsman, the Office can development of a "volunteer" standing army of function was the production of thousands of publicize problems through local and national media, soldiers who identify themselves and their futures infantrymen each month for shipment to Vietnam. contact Congressmen and/or established national with the military rather than with the civilian As the war and the fort's role in it expanded, so did organizations, and so on. communities from which they come. Such an Army, dissent and resistance among Ft. Jackson personnel; 3) The GI Office will provide a forum in which it is hoped, will prove a more docile and "motivated" and with the growth of dissent came swift military important issues can be discussed free from military fighting force than the draftee-based Army which repression. In 1967 Capt. Howard Levy was control. The staff will arrange films, invite speakers, came so close to disintegration in Vietnam. The courtmartialled and imprisoned for disobeying a maintain a selection of GI papers, and develop a essential ingredient of the program's "success" is not contrived order to train Green Beret medics at the Ft. library of books on the military, Indochina, racism, the much-publicized reforms, but the increased pay. Jackson hospital. Later that year a small group of etc. The basic trainees who will come through the At times of high unemployment the military offers a civilians opened the nation's first "GI coffeehouse," office will be undergoing an intensive dose of Army relatively high and secure income to young men the UFO. And early 1968 saw the formation of the propagandizing, and it is important that they have the without special skills or training. Thus the new first large servicemen's antiwar organization, Ft. opportunity to compare the Army's world view with "volunteers" can in large measure be thought of as Jackson GIs United Against the War. As this group opposing viewpoints. economic draftees. The typical low-ranking enlisted grew rapidly, the post's commanding general 4) Finally, we hope to contribute to the man appears just as alienated from the military life attempted to courtmartial eight leading members, the development among the area's military personnel of a style as his predecessor, but is more likely to feel "Ft. Jackson 8," but was forced to back down in the community and culture which is democratic in spirit bound to the military by his lack of options in face of public protest and strong legal opposition. and free from military allegiance. This goal can best civilian life. With the decline in the Army's share of the be defined as a response to the doctrine of the THE WORK OF THE COLUMBIA GI OFFICE fighting in Indochina, the attention of the post's Volunteer Armed Services; we believe this doctrine to commanders has shifted from Vietnam and repression It is in this context that civilian support projects be dangerous and antidemocratic, and we feel that it to efforts to create a new image for the post-Vietnam such as the Columbia GI Office will be working in the can best be opposed within the Armed Forces by Army. years to come. We expect that the vast bulk of our helping to strengthen soldiers' loyalties to themselves, The city of Columbia has an economy heavily fed day-to-day work will be helping individual GIs their communities, and to their own origins and by military installations; in return for the military's navigate "the military's administrative and legal values. labyrinths. Our counseling work will include such massive patronage, political leaders in Columbia have The struggle of resistance to militarization will be things as help for c.o.'s, courtmartial defense, advice sought to maintain an environment cordial to military an unending one, and it is a struggle that must be led for AWOLs, information about non-judicial punish­ interests and policies. These efforts were dramatically by GIs themselves. We'll try to lend our support and ment, and information about GI rights and highlighted in 1970 when the operators of the UFO encouragement to those projects or struggles within procedures for bringing formal complaints against coffeehouse were arrested on vague and unsubstanti­ the military that tend to break down the isolation superior officers. ated charges of creating a "public nuisance," and and elitism of a professional armed service, and that subsequently sentenced to six years imprisonment. But we don't view our function as merely that of bring out the common interests and the common Although the sentences were later suspended, the providing free services. There are several other humanity which soldiers share with each other, with UFO was effectively disrupted and suppressed, and functions the GI Office can fulfill as well. the American people, and with people everywhere. / set-back for Chenoweth Defense efforts to obtain justice and a fair trial for Lawyers Guild Military Law Office in the Philippines Fireman Patrick D. Chenoweth took a turn for the where he defended GIs. Other members who had worse with a series of startling and unprecedented worked in the Philippines NLG office were arrested rulings by the military judge. In rapid succession, last October under the provisions of martial law. Seitz Captain James Keys ruled 1)that the remainder of has been informed by these people, who were the proceedings will be held at Subie Bay Naval recently deported, that he also would be arrested HEbPl Station in the Philippine Islands, a change in venue were he to return to Subie Bay to continue his which had been sought by the government; 2) that defense of Chenoweth. despite no declaration by Congress the war in Speaking in a courtroom filled to overflow by Vietnam was a legal war; 3) that the government need Chenoweth's supporters, attorney Seitz accused the not prove that Chenoweth intended to interfere with Navy of deliberately plotting to have him removed the national defense in order to convict him on that from the case. "First they attempted to dispose of charge. the case quietly last summer before Chenoweth could 21 year-old Chenoweth, of Puyallup, Washington, even obtain civilian counsel. Then, when I first is charged in connection with damage to the aircraft entered the case, they refused to delay the carrier USS Ranger last July. A paint scraper and two proceedings in order for me to participate and be large bolts were placed in the reduction gears of the prepared. Now they move the trial to the one place in ship's number four main engine resulting in over the world I cannot go—the Philippine Islands." $800,000.00 damage to the gears and delaying the Calling the venue shift "shocking and astounding," Ranger's departure for Vietnam for over three Seitz went on to say that it represents an effort to months. return military legal proceedings to "a closed club The Navy based its motion for change of venue on affair." the cost of flying witnesses back from Asia. They "The defense, prosecution and judge, all working claimed it would be cheaper for the government to in the same office and sharing the same facilities, will relocate the trial, because the majority of witnesses convict Patrick Chenoweth in the morning and then were on the Ranger, which is presently in the Gulf of retire to the officer's club in the afternoon to sip Tonkin. The defense argued that such a motion by mint juleps in their clean white uniforms. Everything the government was unprecedented, that the will be clean and proper with no civilian lawyers to defendant has a right to public trial which cannot object and no press or public to observe and protest. occur under the present conditions of martial law in The ends of discipline will be achieved; there will be the Philippines, that the government has no power to no more illusions of justice." try a defendant in a foreign country for a crime If the Court of Military Appeals turns down Seitz's allegedly committed here. Furthermore, they con­ request to hear the case immediately or if it rules in SUPPORT tinued, civilian witnesses cannot be compelled to give favor of the government, Seitz will take the case into testimony abroad and civilian attorney, Eric A. Seitz the federal courts. Should the Federal Courts reject cannot safely try the case in the Philippines because the appeal, Pat Chenoweth will be shipped out to the the of the strong possibility that he would be arrested if Philippines to face a general court martial without the he were to go there, thereby denying Chenoweth his counsel of his choice, thousands of miles away, to be GI MOVEMENT right to be represented by counsel of his choice. convicted where we can neither see nor do anything Seitz was formerly associated with the National about it. AVAILABLE FROM USSF

WiNMMft HlAKTtt MMat

TWO YEARS WITH THE VIETCONG By George Smith

Winning Hearts and Minds is an illustrated collection of poetry arranged in a series of shifting scenes describing in rough chronological order a tour of combat duty in Vietnam. The poems, which span a period of the last ten years, chronicle the Gl's growing emotional and moral involvement with the people and the country. (Price of $2.25 includes postage and FTA! SONGS OF THE GI RESISTANCE handling costs.! sung by BARBARA DANE with active-duty Gl's. Recorded at GI coffee houses and "In the end I regretted not knowing more about our movement centers at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort captors," writes George Smith, who spent two years Benning, Georgia;' and Fort Bragg, North as a prisoner of the Viet Cong, and already knows Carolina. Incl. songs composed by the Gl's them better than any other American. His decision to themselves: I Am AGI Rebel, Insubordination, "join the peace movement" after his release earned Resistance Hymn, Last Drink With Don, etc. him another six months captivity-at the hands of the Accompanying illustrated booklet includes U.S. Army. P.O.W. is a story of developing complete song texts and other material on the commitment, told with humor and directness. GI movement. Edited by Irwin Silber.

Exclusive G.I. Movement sketch, created for U.S.S.F. by Mr. David Levine. This sketch is available in a limited edition of 100, signed by ENCLOSED PLEASE FIND MY PAYMENT OF $ FOR: the artist, also available in a 17 X 22 poster, and a 5 X 6 Greeting card. Copies of FTA: Songs of GI Resistance (s> $5 ea. 1973 Copies of Winning Hearts and Minds @ $2.25 ea. David Levine Posters, Signed, 11 X 14, & $15 ea. (limited ed.) S_GI David Levine Posters, unsigned, 1 7 X 22, & $2 ea. MOVEMENT Dozen David Levine Note Cards & $1.50 per doz. (with envelopes) GI Movement 1973 Calendar @ $2 ea. P.O.W. copies & $4.00 ea. Contribution to USSF Please send me___copies of About face to distribute to my friends.

CALENDAR Name

G.I. Movement Calendar for 197 3 On 14 X 20 sheets, Address Telephone with pictures and historic dates noted, this calendar focuses on the struggle of G.l.'s over the last 5 years. Make checks payable to USSF, 44 Greenwich Avenue, New York, New York 10011.

Typeset by O.B.U. Typesetters, Inc., 339 Lataycttc St., Faculty Press, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y. ..••?».;m N.Y., N.Y. 10012. (212)673-6632. INT. IN STITUUI SOC. GZ' HII >ENI3 I ABOUT FACE! THE U. S. SERVICEMEN'S FUND NEWSLETTER

AFR 35-1 5, AR 381-1 35 and Department of Defense Directive 1 325.6 say: USSF 44 Greenwich Avenue THIS NEWSPAPER IS YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY AND CANNOT LEGALLY BE TAKEN FROM YOU. New York N.Y. 10011 212-924-8032 VOL. 3 NO. 3 APRIL 1973 BLACK GIs Some POWs Still In Captivity

Not all of the returned POWs are coming back to ON TRIAL the U.S. with praises of Nixon and the war. And many may be in danger of military reprisal because of "YOU CAN BE BLACK AND NAVY TOO," the it. recruiting posters say. Yet racial discrimination on Uncertain futures face a number of POWs who are the part of the Navy has lately been under constant against the war. Long after most of the POWs are attack by the GI Movement and the public at large, freed by the military, these men are still being held especially since 132 sailors refused to reboard the incommunicado, most of them under "hospital care" USS Constellation last November, demanding an end for "classic Vietnam POW syndrome." to the discrimination against blacks on board. One group of eight GIs, known as "The Peace At the same time, resistance to this racism has Committee," are being held in isolation at Fitz- brought many black GIs under attack by the military; simmons Army Hospital, Denver, Col. These men— and three different defense campaigns have recently Sp4 Michael Branch, Staff Sgt. John Young, Staff sprung up in Okinawa, San Diego, and Virginia to Sgt. Robert Chcnoworth, Staff Sgt. James Daly, Jr., build support for a number of marines and sailors Pvt. Frederick Elbert, Jr., Sgt. Abel Kavanaugh, Staff now facing courts-martial for their resistance. Sgt. King Rayford, and Staff Sgt. Alfonso Riate-all In San Diego, members of the Black Servicemen's participated in anti-war broadcasts, tapings or Caucus and the Center for Servicemen's Rights have writings while in prison (as did most POWs), and been picketting the San Diego Naval Base to publicize some refused to obey orders from officers. No one the Navy's railroad of the "Kitty Hawk 21." These has been allowed to see them or talk to them. black crewmembers of the USS Kitty Hawk face Army Pvt. Ferdinand Rodriguez, listed as AWOL various charges stemming from a rebellion that at the time of his capture, refused to get off the plane occurred on the ship on October 12-13, a rebellion at Travis AFB, saying he was ill. He is still confined at precipitated when a biased commander ordered a Valley Forge Army Hospital, though the Army has meeting of blacks forcefully broken up. Although dropped its plans to court-martial him for desertion. over 100 black and white sailors were involved in the Army Sp4 Richard Springman, now confined to melee that followed, only blacks were arrested and Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco, got off Dissident POW Richard Springman charged. (Sec December About Face.) the plane at Travis wearing a large peace symbol; he These men have been shifted from one racist broke away from the brass and tried to speak to the Claude McClure were released from a POW camp by situation to another, from the ship to the brig to the civilian crowd. When he was pulled back by MPs, he the NLF. When they were returned to American trials. Nearly all of them have been imprisoned smiled and gave a clenched fist salute. Doctors at forces, they demonstrated gratitude to the peace awaiting court-martial, even those charged with light Letterman say he has "classic POW symptoms" but is movement and sympathy for their captors. The Army offenses. Thus, even those acquitted have spent "responding well to treatment." Springman's grand­ then "detained" them on Okinawa for six months, several months in the brig already. Some even face mother, Mrs. Caroll Daggett, gave an interview in while threatening to court-martial them for "aiding additional charges because of it; Seaman Nelson which she criticized the Army for telling her to keep the enemy." Only public pressure forced their release Mouton, for example, had his original "rioting" quiet and said of her grandson, "He served his 11 from Pentagon control. charges dropped, but was convicted on two charges months until he became so sick of the blood­ Learning from this incident, many antiwar groups stemming from his brig time anyway. letting. . .he couldn't go on with it." are now working in support of The Peace Committee At this writing, eighteen of the Kitty Hawk Notably, all of these GIs are enlisted men, grunts, and 16 other detained POWs, demanding that the defendants have been tried, and eleven of them the ones who did the actual fighting and dying, who government stop trying to silence them, and use them convicted. These figures reflect the significance of slogged through one dirty battle after another. Unlike as a chilling example to silence the POWs who have public support on the trials, since the eleven who their more privileged flier-officers, these men have no been released. USSF joins with other groups to were convicted were among the first twelve tried. stake in hailing Nixon and defending the war. demand that these detained men be released and That is, as the Center for Servicemen's Rights and the Back in 1965, Green Berets George E. Smith and returned to their homes. Black Servicemen's Caucus began to mobilize a

whitewashed congressional inquiry, and a scries of maximum security, and denied access to the press and harsh sentences. Interestingly, the harshest sentence the Defense Committee (a group of Norfolk GI was given to a sailor who made a courtroom deal to Movement activists). plead guilty for a reduced sentence-he got 90 days Things only got worse for the prisoners after that, confinement, 45 at hard labor, a fine of $918, and to such an extent that two of the accused inmates reduction to the lowest rank. finally filed a class action suit against the Navy to GI Movement activists in San Diego will continue force an end to the beatings by the guards, their campaign against the racist use of military harassment, racist remarks, and electronic bugging of "justice" through the last of the trials of the Kitty the rooms where the men meet with their civilian Hawk 21. counsel. The story of the Camp Allen Brothers has origins The Navy would like to keep this incident as similar to that of the Kitty Hawk 21, but it begins in hidden as possible. Article 32 hearings (similar to prison. Early last November, 20 black inmates of the grand jury investigations) were held in the brig itself Norfolk Navel Correctional Center at Camp Allen, rather than the normally-used Legal Center. Three of Va., met with Capt. Anders, the commanding officer, the Camp Allen Brothers have already been tried and to discuss their complaints about discriminatory convicted, netting each of them pay losses, 2-4 treatment and guard harassment. Anders later months confinement with hard labor, and Bad admitted that most of the complaints were valid, but Conduct Discharges. he never did anything about them On November 26, The Navy is trying to portray this spontaneous a number of blacks were thrown into solitary uprising against intolerable conditions as an organized confinement when they resisted what they considered race riot. The Defense Committee has talked with another act of harassment and discrimination by the former white inmates who make it clear they were Marine guards. Later in the day, when a friend tried never threatened. The Committee is demanding a full, to speak to one of these brothers, he was beaten to open investigation by the Congressional Black the ground by a guard. Caucus, and petitioning for an end to the prisoners' Other inmates, angered by these events, set their mistreatment. support campaign, and picketting, leafletting, rallies, mattresses on lire, and when their doors were opened A third defense campaign for black GIs facing and courtroom attendance picked up, the chances of to let them out, they took over the block and then charges for seeking an end to discrimination is taking the men on trial improved considerably. the Control Office, chasing off guards. This rebellion place on Okinawa. It involves three marines from the It was nevertheless an uphill fight. The defen­ was ended when 50 armed Marines forced the black USS Sumter. In September, one of the men, PFC dants—who were never allowed to press their own inmates back to their cells. Alexander Jenkins, a ship-board disc jockey, was charges against individual assailants or the ship's The next day, the Navy hastily concluded that all ordered by Capt. J.S. Krueger not to play "The Last command-continually faced the court's obvious blame for the incident rested on 27 black inmates, Poets," a black recording group. When 64 of the 65 Continued on Page 2 favoritism towards the prosecution, negative press, a and none on the guards. The 27 were confined to ON TRIAL Continued from Page 1 BRITISH COMMANDOS blacks aboard signed a petition in protest of the Omega Press, Box 447, Koza-shi, Okinawa-ken, order, Jenkins, CPL Blackwell, and PFC Barnwell Japan. TRAINED BY U.S. tried to present it to Krueger, who refused to see The United States may be pulling out of Vietnam them. They were likewise frustrated in their attempt In a related development, the Ft. Lewis, by way of Northern Ireland. During March and April to carry it up the chain of command. Washington, chapter of VVAW, comprised of Green Beret officers trained 800 British Commandos Feelings were high among the black crewmembers, active-duty GIs, led a demonstration in front of the in counter-insurgency tactics, at Camp Lejeune, and in the following days, provocations brought on a Takoma office of Congressman Floyd Hicks on Feb. North Carolina. The eight hundred are part of the couple of minor and scattered fights. On the basis of 3rd. Hicks headed an all-white subcommittee which 40th Commando, Royal Marines, a unit presently such flimsy grounds, the "Sumter Three"-Jenkins, investigated the Constellation and Kitty Hawk doing occupation duty in Ireland. Barnwell, and Blackwell-were slapped with charges incidents (and which barred the Congressional Black Despite denials by the Defense Department, which of "assault and mutiny". Caucus from participating in the hearings). GI claimed it was simply a coincidence and that the After the National Lawyers Guild had provided a speakers called the subcommittee's report "a training had nothing to do with the struggle in civilian attorney for the Three, the mutiny charges whitewash" and denounced the racism of the report's Northern Ireland, the British Embassy confirmed that were, not surprisingly, dropped. But they still face conclusions. The report lays the blame for the both bomb disposal and street fighting techniques, court-martial proceedings. In spite of numerous deals incidents on the Navy's "permissiveness," and says were involved in the training. offered by the military, the Sumter Three are the Kitty Hawk "riot" was provoked by "very few This training program seems to fit in with a larger determined to fight their case through, to publicize men, most of whom were below average mental U.S. aid policy started earlier this year. To date, this the nature of military racism. Jenkins and Blackwell capacity . . . and all of whom were black." Disgusted has included the replacement of British NATO troops are at Camp Hansen, Okinawa; Barnwell is in the brig with the report's claim that there was no in Western Europe by American GIs to free British at Camp McTureous, after being singled out and "discrimination on the part of the Navy toward any units for duty in Ireland and the airlifting of some beaten by MPs in Kin village on January 7th. group of persons," the Ft. Lewis GIs used the 7,000 British soldiers into Ireland in March, courtesy The Kitty Hawk trials have shown the importance military's own statistics to show that black GIs get of the United States Air Force. of public support in counteracting one-sided military two to three times more punitive discharges than Included in the training operation, was partici­ "justice." The Camp Allen Brothers and the Sumter whites, that the Uniform Code of Military Justice is pation in Operation Rum Punch—a mock invasion of Three need that same support. To find out how you more often used against black and brown GIs, and Puerto Rico by the 82nd Airborne Division. This can let the brass know you're watching, write The that minority GIs make up a disproportionate part of exercise and the commandos' participation in it drew Defense Committee, Box 1492, Norfolk, Va 23501 or stockade populations. heavy criticism from Senator Edward Kennedy and Rep. Benjamin Rosenthal. Kennedy demanded to know what the training program was all about and accused the Department of Defense of involving itself in Great Britain's war against the people of Northern Ireland. Marines at Lejeune report that the British soldiers were being trained in something else: M.P. duty. The civilian police of Jacksonville, the base town, invited the commandos to patrol the city with them and to participate in numerous drug arrests. The British troops netted several roach clips and collection of cigarette papers before taking off for Puerto Rico. While GI movement activists spread the word of this situation in their paper, RAGE one local veteran took a more direct route. He followed the British into the Jacksonville bars, where they were hanging out in their spare time, and used a pocket full of dimes in the juke box playing "Give Ireland Back to the Irish." He said he just wanted to make the commandos feel at home.

The Sumter Three: Jenkins, Barnwell, and Blackwell in Camp Hansen, Okinawa, courtroom operation homecoming Our excitement at the return of U.S POWs has is a pretty hypocritical homecoming party. been greatly diminished by the uses to which they Nixon's "phase two" for justification of the war have been put by the government. Displays of depends now on the horror stories of some of the patriotism, support for U.S. intervention in Southeast POWs for a retroactive defense of our role in Asia, and "God Bless President Nixon" platitudes Southeast Asia. The POWs are portrayed as innocent have been presented in a well-orchestrated scenario, victims of a heinous villainy—as if the Vietnamese had as "Operation Homecoming" plays itself out with the kidnapped them from a golf course in Kansas City on same scripted lines and canned applause that was a Sunday morning (as George Smith, himself an demonstrated in last year's Republican Convention. ex-POW, once said). Images of their "heroism" in the While a couple of dozen carefully chosen POW face of the "barbaric enemy" are meant to wipe clean MILITARY JUSTICE "spokesmen"-all of them high ranking officers facing the My Lai's, the defoliations, the bombing of civilian lucrative military futures—monopolize the headlines, populations, the Bach Mai's and the napalming of more than 550 other ex-POWs are forgotten or children. STRIKES AGAIN ignored by the press or public. These are the ones The warmakers are trying to use the POWs to who have not taken part in the press conferences, Dr. Bruce Ashley, a First Lieutenant at Wright- rewrite history, to somehow show that because these Patterson AFB, Ohio, was sentenced to 18 months in "Peace with Honor" rallies, and self-congratulatory men are brave, the war was right. The spectacle of Pentagon promotion ceremonies. jail, fined $25,000 and dismissed from the service 20-30 career officers' stories of torture while POWs is after being found guilty in a court martial of willful Many of these men, with no governmental fanfare, designed only to cloud the real issues of the war and failure to obey orders. have come forward with their own testimonies. AF the peace. Major Hubert Flesher has said that the U.S. had no The fact that Ashley refused orders to take part in business being in Vietnam. Navy flier William Wilbur a drug abuse testing program, and to carry out his has denied reports of torture, and he and CPT L.E. military duty was never contested. Instead, Ashley Guenther have said their anti-war statements while in based his defense solely on his objections to military captivity were voluntarily made. Army CWO Daniel service, citing his Quaker beliefs and the tenets of Maslowski told the Chicago Tribune of his reaction to that faith as justification. Ashley's applications for the radio broadcasts of anti-war demonstrations in discharge as a CO, which began in 1970, have the U.S.: "From the broadcasts it seemed like the repeatedly been denied despite his membership in the anti-war movement was getting stronger and I was Society of Friends. really happy the American people were trying to put In cross-examination, the prosecution attempted an end to the war. It didn't hurt my morale at all." to discredit Ashley's beliefs, in part by pointing out how often he had compromised his beliefs in the past All during the war, most veterans have come home two years (he was assigned to the medical records to find unemployment lines, poor VA medical care, library while his CO pended), and by entering in government efforts to decrease their VA benefits, and evidence surveillance photographs of Ashley made other problems. Wounded and disabled veterans are during an anti-war demonstration in April 1972. They neglected while POWs are showered with cars, also offered copies of the "Star-Spangled Bummer," a parades, and promotions. Some POWs have been used base oriented GI newspaper (funded by USSF), for to reinforce Nixon's own hard stand against amnesty which Ashley had written several articles and drawn a for other victims of the war, draft resisters and 'I hope someone just offers cartoon, all critical of the military. deserters, for whom no return is in sight. All in all, it me a job when Iget out' Ashley has been freed pending appeal. SPEAK OUT!

Voices From The G.I. Movement CAMP NEWS COUNSELLING: CHICAGO As many service people stationed both in the US and abroad know, random urine testing is being used by the military to detect "drug users." The military NEWSPAPERS: HIGH WAX 13 Ft. Meade, Md. says that this testing is legal because drug use is a "medical" problem and the testing then falls into the same areas as vaccination, confinement in a hospital In a recent interview first published in the $1.00. In contrast, the public cafeteria where GIs and for illness, etc. It is interesting that for purposes of WASHINGTON-STAR NEWS after his re-election civilian personnel eat, a corned beef sandwich is discharge and disability payments, drug use is President Nixon spoke of planned cutbacks in the offered for $1.20. First class treatment doesn't stop specifically exempted from being a "medical" federal budget. First on his list are Health, Education, at the Pentagon gates either. A visit to the generals' problem, so that GIs who became addicts in Nam and Welfare allocations as well as those for Housing compound at Fort Meyer (a short helicopter ride cannot get disability payments. The legality of and Transportation. He also hinted that large from the Pentagon) reveals red brick mansions with urinalysis has not yet been tested, but there is a numbers of federal employees are going to get the beautifully landscaped lawns. Inside, you might find, marine in California awaiting court-martial for axe. as in one case, a kitchen with two of everything: refusing the test, who will probably be the first legal However, in one area, Nixon saw little possibility stoves, refrigerators, etc. because "when you're challenge to the program. for reduced spending: "When I speak of Defense, in broiling a dozen steaks, one stove just isn't enough." Inside all these homes, the cooking, washing, The military is testing, supposedly, all service terms of the hardware for Defense, the cuts that can people and all dependents living in on-base housing be made are minimal." flower-arranging, and serving is done by GI servants-most especially groomed to fill these roles. overseas. People stationed in "high-risk" areas like One GI was trained to do ice-sculptured centerpieces Asia are being tested several times a year, but all for his general's dinner parties. And the general service people are supposed to be tested once a year. brought a deep freeze—at taxpayers' expense—to That is, ALMOST all service people. Anyone over preserve them. the age of 29 is exempted on the grounds that the This life style isn't limited to Pentagon brass early testing showed "virtually no drug use in the either. A recent report of the General Accounting 29-and-over age group." Urinalysis does not detect Office (watchdog on Federal spending) revealed that alcoholism. GIs were being used as servants at the Alaskan GIs are fighting random urinalysis, though. In Chateau and Health Club, Elmendorf Air Force Base Boston, the GI newspaper UNDERTOW printed a in Anchorage. self-defense and legal rights form for GIs who are being tested. The main points that UNDERTOW About $179,000 a year was used to pay 24 GIs to suggests for GIs who want to resist testing are: staff the place as cooks, waiters, room attendants and other service jobs. At the Chateau, rooms were 1) Refusal (though at present this is a violation of the available for $2. to $3. a night. Only ranks of UCMJ and GIs should get legal help before refusing.) 2) Insist on receiving IN WRITING a direct specific GENERALS LIVE HIGH Lieutenant Colonel and higher, and some high ranking civilians, were allowed at the club. charge to you personally by the officer in charge before submitting to the test. Tell them you feel the Criticism of the billions of dollars pumped into At least one Senator picked up on the GAO test violates your rights against illegal search and obsolete and excessive "hardware" is well known. report. Senator Proxmire (D. Wis) demanded that the seizure, equal protection under the law (no one over However, information recently made public, which practice be ended, saying it "makes a mockery of the 29 has to take it), and that you may want to press documents the military's luxury expenditures, also Pentagon's constant cry that cutting their budget charges. casts doubt on Nixon's assessment. A long article by would harm our national security." 3) Demand to be read Art. 31 rights before testing. Washington columnist Jack Anderson runs down the 4) Request the commanding oîfîcëTTb excuse you large sums of taxpayers' money being spent to because you feel the program is illegal. provide high ranking military personnel with the 5) Demand a copy of authorization for testing before "good life." submitting. The article, which first appeared in PARADE 6) Protest the test in writing, (see below). Send copies magazine on November 12, 1972, describes the 48 of the protest to a Congressman and to the GI foot luxury launch which sails 40 generals four miles organization at your base. down the Potomac from Boiling AFB to the 7) Write up exactly what took place for possible legal Pentagon. Limousines and helicopters also provide action. generals with easy transportation to and from work and to the Army-Navy Country Club. For civilian SAMPLE PROTEST workers at the Pentagon, some 10,000 of whom drive I wish to protest this test on the grounds that it is to work each day, a traffic jam is the usual morning a violation of my constitutional rights protecting me waker-upper. from unreasonable search and seizure and being a At the Pentagon, where generals seem to witness against myself (4th and 5th amendments). outnumber everyone else, nothing is spared to keep Because this testing is being performed on only a them happy. In the private dining room, gourmet segment of the military population (those under the meals, which include choices of salmon croquettes age of 29), I also feel it is depriving me of equal with bernaise sauce, braised ribs of beef, asparagus ENLISTED MEN DON'T treatment under the laws as guaranteed by the 14th spears, and sherry among others are available for Amendment. Because the government of the US is involved in the drug traffic in SE Asia via the support of those U.S. ARMY people who grow the opium and the political PROJECTS: hierarchy of Southeast Asia who traffic in the drugs MILITARY RESERVATION reaching our troops, I feel that it is gross hypocrisy to HIGHWA Y 13 is a newspaper produced by a group attempt to attack the drug problem at this end with of GIs and veterans from all over the Baltimore- FORT GEORGE G. MEADE means that I consider ineffective and designed more Washington area. It was originally put out by the Si/aUiSjudin 1911 for show than to help the addicts. Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) Balti­ HEADQUARTERS ^ FIRST ARMY more chapter. It is currently the voice of the DOtf* MILITARY LAW PROJECT: FT. MEADE, and is put out from our office directly across from the base on and sexism in order to divide and separate GIs and Route 175. keep dissent down. These tactics have often been Some of the people who work on HIGHWA Y 13 used to divert attention from the real source of many have put out another newspaper, OPEN SIGHTS, people's disaffection—the war in Vietnam. An which was published by the Washington Area Military example of this is the recent riot on the Kitty Hawk. and Draft Law Panel. By combining the efforts of the The MILITARY LAW PROJECT exists to provide two groups, we hope to make HIGHWA Y 13 a better support for GIs fighting for their human and newspaper. constitutional rights. We can provide counseling and One of the purposes of the MILITARY LAW legal assistance for anyone having hassles with the PROJECT and HIGHWA Y 13 is to help GIs fight for military system. We can also help out with the democratic rights to which they are entitled and administrative hassles that are so common at Fort to actively question the policies of the military- Meade. We have a large number of paperbacks and industrial complex. The MIC has made the military an literature in the office that you're welcome to read. army, not of the American people, but working in the HIGHWA Y 13 hopes to become a valuable asset to interests of the huge American corporations. We GIs at Fort Meade. To do that, we need your help. oppose the use of the Reserves and National Guard as We invite you to stop by our office at 1590 scab labor to break strikes (e.g. the Postal strike) and Annapolis Road (Route 175) in Odenton any time to as riot cops in our cities to intimidate and isolate the get help, offer advice, or just rap. If you've got Black community. We also support complete amnesty something that you think other people should know for exiled and imprisoned deserters and draft resisters about, write about it. If you want to get involved in who took action against an illegal and immoral war. the newspaper, stop by on Wednesday when the staff We feel that the military consciously fosters racism gets together. EVERYONE'S WELCOME! JtlGHTS will allow servicemen and women to publicize and MORE NEWS FROM USSF'- down, not dead attack racism, militarism, and their own lack of basic rights. Money to fuel a Movement. Your support has been very encouraging to us in In our last issue we reported on the 1RS revocation providing GIs with tools and information to which the last few months, and has contributed greatly to of our tax-exempt status. Our own legal challenges to they normally have no access. This program was an our spirit. We hope that you and USSF will continue 1RS are proceeding, but without tangible results so early casualty to our loss of income due to the to cooperate to help the GI Movement. far. The effectiveness of this government action in revocation of our tax-exempt status. suppressing our activities has become clearer with There have been other casualties. USSF has always each passing week. While those of you who have been a small organization, since our primary job is contributed constantly to our ongoing-work—the real funnelling money and materials to others. We have not done ... backbone of our support—have rallied to our side in now been forced not only to cut our paid staff by "It is improper for a woman to wear items of this time of crisis with donations, letters of protest to half, but to drop whole areas of work because of the military insignia as jewelry. You will see it done, but 1RS and your congress people, and phone calls with limits of time and personnel. it is actually prohibited by law. offers of material help, we nevertheless have received A realistic assessment of our capabilities has "Wearing a soldier's hat is very cute in a beer joint a severe setback. In order to provide for the needs of brought on these steps. But we have no intention of but is more in character for a floozie than a lady. over 50 GI newspapers, counseling centers, flopping over and playing dead to please the "A gal who is really in the know militarily will be active-duty organizations, entertainment and meeting government. We only want to cut down our own careful not to get her hands on metal insignia or centers, and defense campaigns, we have always relied costs as much as possible to insure that the most ornaments. If she happens to be associating with on two other sources of money largely dependent on money possible is actually spent to defend and some soldiers who take some pride in their tax-exemption: very sizeable individual contributions advance GI rights, and to fight the conditions that appearance, she will leave finger marks which they and foundation grants. The 1RS action has almost lead to war. will have to take some pains to remove. Captains' and completely eliminated these important resources for Perhaps USSF's most important role has been in us. lieutenants' bars on the shoulder are particularly gaining civilian support for the GI Movement, and vulnerable at dances. For a long time, we had been planning to institute that includes dollars and cents. When we ask for "Use our head about mixing officers and enlisted an ambitious and multi-sided resource program for money, we are not talking about money to pay our men at social functions. There are many times when the GI Movement; among other things this plan phone bills and typewriter ribbons. We are talking this is completely proper—such as when family involved setting up a film and literature library to be about money that will allow a group of Ft. Bragg GIs relationships or old friendships are involved. How­ shared by GI organizations, giving GIs the means to to put out another issue of their newspaper; money ever, remember that it is 'not done' as a matter of produce their own organizing materials, producing that will allow an isolated group of GIs in Louisiana general practice." useful kits and packets on such things as fund-raising, to buy a second-hand mimeograph; money that will publicity, printing papers, the history of the GI allow 7th Fleet sailors to mount a defense campaign —from Military Customs and Traditions, by Maj. Movement, and so on. AH of this was aimed at for brothers facing unjust court-martial; money that Mark M. Boatner III

^-~l

^—^M R. O. Blechman AVAILABLE FROM USSF

TWO YEARS WITH THE VIETCONG By George Smith nil SONGS OF THE QRE3STANŒ I In! SuTQbyBarterdDfrewimactKe-dLityGte "In the end I regretted not knowing more about our captors," writes George Smith, who spent two years as a prisoner of the Viet Cong, and already knows them better than any other American. His decision to "join the peace movement" after his release earned ROW » --» v him another six months captivity at the hands of the _4«~*V~ U.S. Army. P.O.W. is a story of developing GEORGE E. SMITH commitment, told with humor and directness.

The twenty-three writers in Free Fire Zone T,rffc" I '• offer a collective insight into the price paid by » f» *• y both peoples when one culture attempts to FTA! SONGS OF THE GI RESISTANCE strip another of its dignity and destroy its gods. sung by BARBARA DANE with active-duty WIMM/N6 HtAmjMiHDS The emphasis of each writer varies, but their Gl's. Recorded at GI coffee houses and fcferA»«M ty V«r«v

Winning Hearts and Minds is an illustrated collection Exclusive G.I. Movement sketch, created for of poetry arranged in a series of shifting scenes U.S.S.F. by Mr. David Levine. This sketch is describing in rough chronological order a tour of available in a limited edition of 100, signed by combat duty in Vietnam. The poems, which span a the artist, also available in a 17 X 22 poster, period of the last ten years, chronicle the Gl's growing and a 5 X 6 Greeting card. emotional and moral involvement with the people and the country. (Price of $2.25 includes postage and ENCLOSED PLEASE FIND MY PAYMENT OF $. FOR: handling costs.) Copies of FTA: Songs of GI Resistance <&> $5 ea. Copies of Winning Hearts and Minds @ $2.25 ea. 1973 Copies of Free Fire Zone @ $3.25 ea. 4Ü David Levine Posters, Signed, 11 X 14, U $15 ea. (limited ed.) David Levine Posters, unsigned, 17 X 22, & $2 ea. MOVEMENT Dozen David Levine Note Cards @ $1.50 per doz. (with envelopes) GI Movement 1973 Calendar 6> $2 ea. P.O.W. copies & $4.00 ea. FTA Buttons @ 50c" ea. GIU Buttons C^ 504 ea. CALENDAR Contribution to USSF Please send me copies of About Tate Name to distribute to my friends. G.I. Movement Calendar for 1973 On 14 X 20 sheets, with pictures and historic dates noted, this calendar Address Telephone focuses on the struggle of Gl's over the last 5 years. Make checks payable to USSF, 44 Greenwich Avenue, New York, New York 10011.

Typeset by O.B.U. Typesetters, Inc., 339 Lafayette St., Faculty Press, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y. .,«e£:aB_. N.Y, N.Y. 10012. (212)673-6632. I INT. INSTITUUT -c IIS I ABOUT FACE! THE U. S. SERVICEMEN'S FUND NEWSLETTER

AFR 35-15, AR 381-135 and Department of Delense Directive 1325.6 say: USSF 44 Greenwich Avenue THIS NEWSPAPER IS YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY AND CANNOT LEGALLY BE TAKEN FROM YOU. New York N.Y. 10011 212-924-8032 VOL. 3 NO. 4 MAy 1973 Chenoweth Philippines

wins minor

victory

From the Pat Chenoweth Defense Committee, San Francisco Expenses The sabotage trial of sailor Pat Chenoweth took a slight turn for the better on March 30 when a federal The Navy claims they are not trying to deprive judge ordered the Navy to guarantee assurances of Chenoweth of his right to a fair and public trial, but safety and transportation to the Philippines for are simply trying to save the taxpayers the expense of Chenoweth's civilian attorney, when the court-martial transporting the approximately 20 witnesses from the is moved there. Ranger to California, it would be cheaper, they However, District Court Judge Spencer Williams reason, to conduct the trial closer to the Ranger, in upheld a recent Court of Military Appeals ruling in the Philippines. the case that moving the trial to the Philippines was They fail to mention, however, that moving the Assurances not illegal, and that the right to be tried in the place trial to the Philippines, will necessitate the trans­ where an alleged crime occurs does not apply to porting of two military defense lawyers, two military Federal Judge Williams' ruling, while not dealing servicemen. prosecutors, the judge, nine members of the with the constitutional public trial issue, makes things After Judge Williams' ruling Chenoweth applied court-martial board, aproximately 3-8 military considerably easier for Seitz. Because of his previous for a stay pending appellate review, but his request personnel currently in California, the defendant defense work in the Philippines and his association was turned down with no comment by both the himself, and, with Judge Williams' ruling—lawyer Eric with the National Lawyers Guild, Seitz feared that he Court of Appeals and Supreme Court Justice William would be arrested in the Philippines, as were Guild 0. Douglas. Seitz-approximately 21 persons in all. In other words, the taxpayers will be shelling out just as much colleagues of his last October. With the Judge's order, Chenoweth, 21, of Puyallup, Washington, is to conduct the trial in the Philippines as here. however, Seitz feels that he has little to fear from charged with wartime sabotage in connection with Marcos' government or the Navy as long as he stays damage to the aircraft carrier USS Ranger last July. A The whole problem could have been avoided if the on Naval property. paint scraper and two large bolts were placed in the Navy had accepted Chenoweth's recent offer to waive reduction gears of the ship's number four main his speedy trial rights and wait in jail until the Ranger Meanwhile, the court-martial proceedings have engine, resulting in over $800,000 damage and returns in late June and be tried here. Military Judge been postponed until early May because of the delaying its departure for Vietnam by three months. Captain James Keys turned down this offer without sudden illness of the military judge. A new judge is If convicted he can get up to 30 years in military elaboration. being flown in from Hawaii and the next stage of the prison. Chenoweth's defense committee regards this trial, voir-dire of the court-martial board members, is incident as virtual proof—if any more were unofficially scheduled to begin May 7th. After the Chenoweth has been confined without bail in the board is selected, Pat Chenoweth et al will be on their brig at Treasure Island since early August. Pretrial needed—that the Navy's motivation for moving this way to the tropics to decide the sailor's fate. proceedings in his case began at Treasure Island in trial is purely political. late October and were terminated abruptly the first week in January when the military judge granted a government motion for a change of venue to Subie Bay Naval Station, the Philippines, over strenuous ***NEWS BULLETIN*** defense objections. Chenoweth's lawyers then peti­ tioned the Court of Military Appeals (COMA), in The United We Stand Bookstore, a GI Movement Washington, D.C, for an order prohibiting any shift center in Jacksonville, N.C, was rocked by a bomb in location of the trial. explosion during the night of Wednesday, May 2. The panel of three civilian judges denied the The explosion, which knocked out the back walls petition on the following grounds: the right to be and all the windows of the center, occurred only tried where the crime arises as discussed in Article 3 minutes after staff member Ed Kinchley had locked and the 6th Amendment of the constitution, is up for the night and gone home. intrinsically connected with the right to trial by jury The bookstore, in its second year of operation, has of one's peers. Since the latter is patently not a part been used by marines from Camp Lejeune to lay out of the system of military justice, the court reasoned, their newspaper RAGE, and for organizing and neither is the former. counseling meetings. As a result, the ruling continued, the prosecution 0 The prime suspects in the bombing are members of has the right to move for a change of venue, a white-supremacist paramilitary group known as something unheard of in civilian courts. o "Rights for White People." The leader of this group The ruling paves the way for the military's had been thrown out of the bookstore a few weeks transferring controversial cases out of this country to earlier after threatening the staff there and stealing places were they can better control the press and copies of a petition RAGE marines had written local political response, any time they wish, simply condemning "Rights For White People" as a racist by claiming it is convenient for them to do so. And, organization. During the two evenings prior to the as Chenoweth's civilian lawyer Eric Seitz puts it, explosion, a representative of the National Black "... the true extent of anti-war and anti-racist Draft Counselors had held meetings at the center expression within the ranks can be covered up." attended by 15-20 black marines each night. This seems likely to have been the immediate "reason" for In the words of John Hansen, an ACLU attorney the bombing. The State Bureau of Investigation of also working on the case, "The efforts by the Navy North Carolina and the FBI are investigating the smack of 'Star Chambers' proceedings which our entire constitutional concept of public trials was incident. designed to avoid. It was precisely to get away from USSF learned of the bombing just as About Face these kind of secret trials that people fled from went into print, so we'll follow up with more details Europe to this country in the 18th century." next month. 134 Unconstitutional; Levy Wins Reversal

It appears that the courts are finally recognizing what GIs have known all along—a lot of the Uniform Code of Military Justice is simply unconstitutional. The military was taken by surprise on March 20 when the U.S. Court of Appeals declared Article 134 of the UCMJ "unconstitutionally vague and over­ broad." The decision was rendered against the Navy in the case of former Marine PFC Mark Avrech, who was convicted under Article 134 in Da Nang, Vietnam, in 1969 for "attempting to publish a statement disloyal to the United States," i.e., criticizing American involvement in Vietnam. Article 134 has been the military's favorite Catch-22, since it "makes punishable all acts not specifically proscribed in any other article of the Code," according to the Manual for Courts-Martial. The article covers anything commanding officers might wish to construe as being "to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces," and 'The Drug Raiders were here while yotrwere out. " was thus a powerful tool for attacking GI Movement activists, among others. Its demise is expected to have an effect on a great many courts martial, past, present, and future. One example of this effect is in the case of former GIs Organize Against Captain Howard Levy. The Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in April overturned Levy's 1967 9 conviction for refusing to train Vietnam-bound Green Beret medics. Levy's refusal was one of the first Army 'Drug Crusade widely publicized cases of GI resistance to the Vietnam war, and was an inspiration to many other The "Anti-Drug Crusade" of the 7th Army in tions, which in their opinion amount to an GI activists. Levy was convicted under Article 90 Germany is continuing, and so are the wholesale outright attack on their individuality, punish­ (refusing to obey direct orders), Article 133 violations of GI rights. Rather than attempt to deal ment without due process of law, infringement ("conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman"), with the causes of drug abuse, the military has only of their constitutional right to privacy and a and Article 134. aggravated the problem by the most repressive violation of their enlistment contracts. The court, citing the Avrech case, affirmed the "control" tactics imaginable. {See About Face, March "The Committee intends to circulate peti­ unconstitutionality of the catch-all 134. It also 1973.) tions directed to congresspeople protesting the declared Article 133 to be likewise "unconstitution­ From Heidelberg, the Lawyers Military Defense anti-drug crusade. They may also bring a ally vague." The conviction under Article 90 was Committee (LMDC), which is already handling the lawsuit in federal court to enjoin the Army discharged because of the prejudicial influence of the cases of several soldiers who feel they have been from going ahead with its 'program of 133 and 134 charges. victimized by the Army "crackdown," reports: unjustified oppression.' " The end of Article 134 is of benefit to all GIs because it eliminates one more tool of arbitrary "Every day new accounts come into our Howard DeNike and Robert Rivkin of the LMDC military power. Such a precedent should serve to office ... a Colonel at Tompkins Barracks rips will coordinate the suit. encourage GI activists who are mounting attacks on a Gl's black light off his wall and smashes it at other similarly unjust UCMJ articles. One campaign the feet of the barefooted soldier; Gl's return On another front, FTA with Pride also relates the currently being conducted is aimed at Article 15, a from the field to find their walls stripped of continued harassment aimed at Terry Bott, one of particularly infamous anti-GI weapon. their posters under regulations prohibiting five GIs the Army tried to transfer out of Germany in 'anything political, pro-drug, or likely to offend January for their political activity. While the others Article 15 (called Captain's Mast in the Navy and another person'; a GI was shot by a drug were sent to Fort Dix, NJ, Terry, the only married GI Office Hours in the Marines) is non-judicial hunting CID agent on a raid at the Gl's among them, managed to legally block his transfer. punishment; that is, it is punishment for any of a apartment when the GI answered the door with (Again, see March About Face.) multitude of "infractions" without provision for due his hand in his bathrobe pocket; Gl's are told process of law. Any unit commander can bring an that they will be held responsible if their "Last month SPSTerry Bott, 563rd Ord Co, Article 15 against anyone under his or her authority. roommates are caught with any drug involve­ one of the "Ft. Dixed" Gl's, had been granted a That same commander then conducts a "hearing," ment and are thus advised that to be on the safe 2 week extension on his transfer. Now, there's a and imposes punishment. Article 15 is by far the side they should search their roommates each full investigation going on and Terry can't find most often used UCMJ article against lower ranking time they enter the room ..." out a damn thing! enlisted people because it's so easy and convenient But one hopeful sign is that GIs are organizing to "Terry used the 2 weeks that were for the brass to use in intimidation or reprisal. The defend themselves. The February issue of the GI "granted" to file a Letter for Redress of Center for Servicemen's Rights in San Diego writes in paper FTA with Pride (Weisbaden) tells this story: Grievance with GEN Davison, CINCUSAREUR, its anti-Article 15 "Stop the Railroad" pamphlet: stating that the transfer was illegal because the "... these kangaroo court sessions are regularly "More than 50 American soldiers and their AR they used to transfer him was being conducted with assembly line speed ... The com­ civilian and military attorneys met in a cafe in misused—his tour could only be curtailed by 3 mand writes up the offense, decides and carries out Butzbach, Germany on February 10 to protest months, NOT 7! He also stated that he felt the punishment. . . with no rights given to you." invasions of their privacy rights by Army reason for his transfer was because of his Despite recent Pentagon "liberalizations" of commanders in Europe. political activities, that several other soldiers in Article 15, petitions calling for its abolition are being "Sp/4 Ted Strickland from Jackson, Mississ­ his unit who are politically active were not spread and signed by GIs throughout the country, ippi, and Sp/4 Steven Sands, from Moline, being transferred and that he felt he was being from Travis AFB in California to the Camp Lejeune Illinois, both stationed at Butzbach, announced punished for lawfully exercising his First marine base in North Carolina. The campaign is the formation of a new organization, the Amendment rights. particularly strong in southern California, among Committee for GI Rights. The Committee will "The Army temporarily cancelled Terry's sailors of the 7th Fleet. Sailors on a ship at sea are the attempt to eliminate the drastic measures Army port call and started an investigation of the only GIs that cannot refuse an Article 15 to opt for a Commanders have taken as part of the circumstances. BUT the Brass won't tell him court-martial, and are still liable to confinement on recently-launched anti-drug campaign, which anything and from what he's found out, they're bread and water. the servicemen feel is really an "anti-GI investigating against him instead of for him! campaign." Military Intelligence has interrogated Terry's "The Gl's feel that many of the crusade's co-workers and friends about his personal life, measures, taken against "associates of known or duty performance, dependability, and, most suspected drug users," are oppressive and ridiculous of all, they asked if he had ever illegal. sabotaged any equipment while working in his "Among these measures, which have varied MOS! from unit to unit throughout Germany, are: "Terry feels that the Army is violating his placing the selected soldier on restriction; personal rights by refusing to keep him removal of all civilian clothing and all personal informed and, through, his LMDC lawyer, items; and mandatory and frequent urinalysis. Howard De Nike, has filed a letter with GEN "In one case, a commanding officer ordered Davison requesting an investigative hearing. No soldiers under his command not to "accept, reply has been received yet. buy or take anything from another person." "The Brass brag constantly about their "Several of the enlisted men at the Butzbach "fair" and "impartial" judicial system, claiming meeting expressed the idea that rather than that any GI who appeals properly for justice eliminating the Army's drug problem, these will get it. Terry and the other 4 Gl's (who punitive measures will actually lead to increased were successfully "Ft. Dixed") HA VE appealed drug usage since they deprive the GI of all sense properly for justice and HA VE NOT gotten it. of personal dignity. The servicemen feel that What they HA VE gotten is harrassment and the campaign is being waged not against drugs, intimidation! The Army is its own best witness but against them, as Gl's. to the fairness and impartiality of its judicial •*_fi*tovt "The group hopes to publicize the depriva­ system!!!!" SPEAK OUT! Voices From The G.I. Movement COUNSELLING:

From New England Military News, Boston, Mass. NEWSPAPERS: Liberated Barracks, Hawaii Every low-ranking enlisted man or woman who has ever faced a court martial knows about the farce in the UCMJ that allows a request that at least 1/3 of Do you say the corps is really bad? Do you say the members of the jury be enlisted persons. Such that you are caught up in a big green machine and can would pile up in a couple of days, or maybe a couple requests result in a jury of lifers who are likely to be do nothing? Or do you say that your commanding of weeks? Can you see that if nobody signed the meal even more gung-ho than the average junior officer. officer is really bad? Did you ever think that maybe roster the mess hall wouldn't get any more food? On Dec. 21, 1972, two civilian lawyers success­ you have been bullied into a useless fear that only Then can you imagine what would happen if one day fully challenged this unfair system. At the court serves to benefit the corps? Do you ever ask what can 20 people demanded their food and there wasn't any? martial of SP4 Homer Shoup, held at Ft. Devens, be done? Did you ever think of organization? Would that psych out a mess sergeant and maybe a attorneys Robert Doyle and Mark Schreiber asked the Did you ever hear of the old saying of "GI CO? judge to dismiss the jury because of the way it was ingenuity"? Did you ever stop to think that it was the What if 100 or 200 snuffies all of a sudden selected. Military judge Edward Colby ordered snuffies who brought about that reputation for the complained of stiff joints and stiff necks and nausea, testimony concerning the methods of jury selection. U.S.M.C? Who is smart, where are the brains? Who is and thought they might have spinal meningitis? Can An administrative clerk in the Staff Judge the back bone of the corps? Could it be snuffies? Can you imagine 200 people on sick call? Could you Advocate's office testified that he called on only the snuffies organize? Do they want to organize? Do imagine the effect of a letter to a congressman saying E-6's and E-7's for juries when enlisted members were they want to organize, and if so, what can they do? that they wouldn't let you go on sick call? Can you requested, and that some categories of personnel were Do you say that you have a bad CO, and a lot of imagine 200 such letters? Would that be a mind a/ways excluded, such as MPs, WACs, the band, and useless harassment? Did you ever think of harassing blower? the demolition squad. The clerk claimed that he was the CO? Like for instance, you have a U.S. Savings You say you don't like the idea of all this saluting? following base regulations or common practice. Bond; did they tell you to sign for one in basic; did What if a snuffie saluted a snuffie? Is there a After seeing how the selection of juries prejudiced you know that you don't have to have one? Did you regulation saying that a snuffie can't salute a snuffie? the cases of low ranking persons, the judge dismissed know that any harassment by the CO or First Sgt. for What if all enlisted men saluted each other in a the panel that had been chosen. He then indicated not having one is illegal? Did you know that the CO friendly manner? If everybody did then it wouldn't that he was drawing up an order recommending that gets a nasty letter from the higher-ups if his company mean much, would it? Would that be taking the all future panels where 1/3 enlisted personnel are doesn't have close to 100% participation in the bond officers' thing away? If a snuffie saluted a snuffie, requested be drawn from lists of all enlisted men and program? Can you imagine the nasty letter he would would that be a silent way of saying "We're all the women of equal or greater rank than the accused. All get, if all of a sudden the participation dropped to same, baby!"? What if everybody addressed each groups not reasonably excused would have to be 0%? Did you know that all you have to do to cancel other as "sir", would that blow a mind or two? Can considered for jury duty. your bond is tell your company clerk to do it, and you think of other possibilities? Where is the old "GI As far as we know, only twice previously has any that any action to prevent your request is illegal? Can ingenuity" nowadays? Can you organize? Can you military judge accepted a similar challenge to the you imagine the effect it would have on the CO to write letters to Congress? Can you do things in standard procedures for jury selections where EM are have 100 or more cancellations in one day? Like it numbers? Can you sign petitions? Can you resist? Are requested. In November 1971, civilian attorney Joe might blow his mind, wouldn't it? you brainwashed? Remcho persuaded a judge at a court martial in Long Do you say the harassment is really bad? Well, Do you notice that everything in this article is Binh, Vietnam, to randomly select all jury members what if around payday everybody ate in the snack written as a question? A question doesn't rally say to from a list containing names of all personnel bar? Did you ever think of striking the mess hall? do anything, does it? Like, whoever wrote this bunch available, both officer and enlisted. The result was a Like If everybody did it, could you imagine three" of questions cannot be convicted of conspiring a panel of 2 Sp4's, I Sp5, and 2 SgT's. No officers were meals a day for 200 people, just how much garbage mutiny, can he? DIG? chosen by the computer, and the senior member of the jury was only 23 years old. This jury acquitted Sp4 Henry Rollins of the charges. In March 1972, Joe Remcho again succeeded in PROJECTS: Iwakuni VVAW, Japan using this tactic to defend Pvt. Cecil Turner at a General Court Martial at Ft. Gordon, Ga. Although fighting for a trial by jury of equally low ranking "peers" has succeeded in only three cases, it offers hope for future gains for men and women at the bottom of the heap. Three civilian lawyers in these cases have shown how an aggressive defense on the principles of basic constitutional rights can win. Enlisted people who face courts martial ought to consider talking over this tactic with their defense counsels. Obviously, a GI who can get a civilian lawyer with guts stands a better chance than one who sticks with a counsel detailed and paid for by the military.

city. And when the Hobbit was placed off-limits, the staff invented the Hobbit Mobile Bookstore, a newstand built on a two-wheel cart that can be pushed through the streets to distribute literature, counseling advice, and Semper Fi to GIs. Since the marines can't go to the Hobbit, the Hobbit goes to them. The ranks of the Iwakuni VVAW chapter were GIs from Iwakuni MCAS relax with Japanese friends seriously depleted near the end of 1972 by punitive after "peace tour" of Memorial Park in Hiroshima. transfers, undesirable discharges, base restriction for petty offenses, and scare tactics by the CID and NIS The GI Movement remains strong among GIs existence of Semper Fi. In the last two months of (military versions of the FBI). Nevertheless, when the stationed at the Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station, 1971, thirteen consecutive GI editors of the paper terror-bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong began in late Japan. A major sign of their strength is that their were shipped out by the brass; in November of that December, the Fi marines mobilized a large number paper, Semper Fi is now in its fourth year of year, the entire staff was arrested after exposing U.S. of GIs to cover the walls of Iwakuni with posters publication and still comes out every two weeks on violations of the Japanese-American Security Treaty. condemning the bombing, mass distribute an EXTRA payday. The Fi regularly reaches hundreds of GIs at The Hobbit Coffeehouse, where GIs used to go for edition of the Fi, and gather petition signatures Iwakuni itself and is mailed to dozens more in legal help, to relax with friends, and to write and lay demanding Congress end the war. Thailand, especially in the recently built-up base an out the Fi was declared "off-limits" by the The Iwakuni marines who comprise the VVAW Nam Phong, which marines grimly refer to as commander of Iwakuni MCAS in June of 1972 as chapter have been an important voice. They have "Rosegarden." "inimical to the security of this command." brought American GIs and the Japanese peace Paper staffers report that "conditions at Rose- But marines there have continued to organize movement together. They have defended and garden are still terrible. Discontent is very high ... themselves, and several months ago they formed an publicized the rights of GIs under very repressive There is a heavy case load of trials, stemming from active-duty chapter of Vietnam Veterans Against the conditions. Most importantly they have fought hard the oppression there. About 80% of the inmates of War. They have time after time countered the for an end to U.S. aggression in Southeast Asia. These the Iwakuni brig are from Rosegarden." The military opposition they face. For instance, since it is men, as they do their Rosegarden tours and watch the oppressiveness of Nam Phong, an isolated jungle base, illegal for GIs stationed overseas to engage in bombers on their daily Cambodian runs, know that can be measured by the incredibly high proportion of demonstrations, the Iwakuni VVAW chapter con­ the war is not over and the troops are not home. GIs who return from it as either herion addicts or brig ducted a "peace tour" of the A-Bomb Memorial prisoners. Iwakuni VVAW and Semper Fi are now spreading a Peace Park in nearby Hiroshima last August, joining new demand among GIs in Southeast Asia, raising a In Iwakuni itself, GI activists have faced an with the Japanese peace movement in commemo­ new slogan for the GI Movement there: "All of Us, enormous amount of repression in the four year rating the anniversary of the U.S. destruction of that All the Way Home!" NEW HOME FOR THE MIDWAY

New York Times, December 16, 1973—"The The following article on the MIDWA Y is taken from why the Midway is being homeported there. Now Pentagon announced today that the carrier MIDWAY the GI newspaper Up From the Bottom, San Diego: that Nixon is supposed to be withdrawing from would be based at Yokosuka, Japan, starting next Indochina, peace is supposed to be at hand, and Asia spring. This is believed to be the first time a United "The USS Midway, a carrier homeported in is supposed to take care of its own problems, why is States carrier has been assigned a home port Alameda, is scheduled to change home ports in May the Navy increasing its strength in Japan?" overseas." or June, moving to Yokosuka, Japan. American Gl's The significance of overseas homeporting is in Japan and the Japanese peace movement have underrated and under reported. In its new post- started a campaign to protest homeporting the Vietnam role, the U.S. 7th Fleet needs to maximize Midway there. We, the crew... its carrier presence in the Pacific as its "evidence of "The GI movement in Yokosuka feels that power." Carriers are the embodiment of the Navy homeporting the Midway in Japan is just a part of operating under the Nixon doctrine, a primary means Nixon's policies in Asia. They feel that he is trying to Sailors from the MIDWA Y have been circulating a of political influence and pressure. Overseas home- maintain a strong military presence in Asia—to put petition protesting the homeporting of their ship in porting is expansion under the name of "readiness," a pressure on the Vietnamese, and to remind other Japan. Over 150 signatures were collected in the first commitment which can go almost unnoticed, a Asian countries to "keep in line." The Japanese peace week. The petition reads: commitment which circumvents the problems of movement is protesting the Japanese government's Congressional approval. Homeporting also represents cooperation with Nixon—they feel the Japanese "We, the crew and families of the USS Midway, do a powerful political commitment towards any government (which was supposed to be "demilitar­ hereby exercise our rights as citizens of the U.S. to country where the ships are stationed. Presently plans ized" after WWII) has no business helping the US to petition Congress on the following issue. We object to for homeporting ships in Guam, the Philippines, strengthen its position in Asia. the homeporting in Yokosuka, Japan, of the USS Australia, and Singapore are either being imple­ "The crew of the Midway, once it's homeported in Midway for the following reasons: mented or discussed and debated within the Navy, Yokosuka, is supposed to be all volunteer. That "(1) We are freely opposed to the excessive (from NAVY: STRATEGY FOR THE 70's by Tom means the Navy is counting on all its tales about expansion and imposition of United States military Englehardt) Japan (Geisha girls, cheap shopping, friendly natives, forces overseas. Homeporting the Midway in Yoko­ : and so on) to make Yokosuka appealing to seamen! suka is another attempt by the U.S. to permanently The GI movement in Yokosuka writes: 'Since the establish its military presence in Asia. Midway has not visited Yokosuka since at least "(2) We object to the false statements made by October of 1971, and probably not Sasebo either, the military that there is an all volunteer crew to this means that many of the newer crewmembers still deploy to Yokosuka. have the popular lifer image of 'Geisha' Japan. If they "(3) We disapprove of the government's lack of Irjp only had visited here for a few days and been ripped preparations in providing housing and other living "*1 I"**' -• - ^*«jSr$ 5*5ï! off for a Y500 to 1000 (that's $1.90 to $3.80) accommodations to support our full complement of 'hostess' drink, they would soon have changed their crew and families. ; •** ~w -£ jüf.****" opinions.' "(4) It is the right of all military personnel as ^-UirfSr'P' «9* "The folks in Yokosuka want to warn the crew of citizen-soldiers of the U.S. to practice individually or the Midway about what Yokosuka's really like—any collectively their rights as citizens, namely, (a) the i * other port town, where sailors get ripped off and right of free speech, (b) the right to peacefully local people resent their presence. More important, assemble, (c) freedom of the press, and (d) the right though, they are asking us to think over the reasons to petition Congress." AVAILABLE FROM USSF

TWO YEARS WITH THE VIETCONG By George Smith

"In the end I regretted not knowing more about our captors," writes George Smith, who spent two years as a prisoner of the Viet Cong, and already knows them better than any other American. His decision to "join the peace movement" after his release earned him another six months captivity - at the hands of the U.S. Army. P.O.W. is a story of developing commitment, told with humor and directness.

The twenty-three writers in Free Fire Zone offer a collective insight into the price paid by 1 both peoples when one culture attempts to FTA SONGS OF THE GI RESISTANCE strip another of its dignity and destroy its gods. sung by BARBARA DANE with active-duty WIHMN6 HtAHTttMMOt The emphasis of each writer varies, but their Gl's. Recorded at GI coffee houses and WtrrV». ty Vi.fW. Mt insight is cumulative. Free Fire Zone explores movement centers at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort America's attempt to shape an ancient Asian Benning, Georgia; and Fort Bragg, North culture into an image that reflects our own Carolina. Incl. songs composed by the Gl's physical and psychological needs. themselves: I Am AGI Rebel, Insubordination, Resistance Hymn, Last Drink With Don, etc. Accompanying illustrated booklet includes complete song texts and other material on the GI movement. Edited by Irwin Silber.

Winning Hearts and Minds is an illustrated collection Exclusive G.I. Movement sketch, created for of poetry arranged in a series of shifting scenes U.S.S.F. by Mr. David Levine. This sketch is describing in rough chronological order a tour of available in a limited edition of 100, signed by combat duty in Vietnam. The poems, which span a the artist; also available in a 17 X 22 poster, period of the last ten years, chronicle the Gl's growing and a 5 X 6 Greeting card. emotional and moral involvement with the people and the country. (Price of $2.25 includes postage and ENCLOSED PLEASE FIND MY PAYMENT OF $. FOR: handling costs.) Copies of FTA: Songs of GI Resistance CP $5 ea. Copies of Winning Hearts and Minds @ $2.25 ea. 1973 Copies of Free Fire Zone @ $3.25 ea. ÉfGI David Levine Posters, Signed, 11 X14, @ $15 ea. (limited ed.) MOVEMENT David Levine Posters, unsigned, 1 7 X 22, & $2 ea. Dozen David Levine Note Cards & $1.50 per doz. (with envelopes) GI Movement 1973 Calendar & $2 ea. P.O.W. copies & $4.00 ea. FTA Buttons & 50«/ ea. GIU Buttons @ 504 ea. CALENDAR Contribution to USSF Please send me copies of About lace Name. to distribute to my friends. G.I. Movement Calendar for 1973 On 14 X 20 sheets, with pictures and historic dates noted, this calendar Address Telephone focuses on the struggle of G.l.'s over the last 5 years. Make checks payable to USSF, 44 Greenwich Avenue, New York, New York 10011.

Typeset by O.B.U. Typesetters, Inc., 339 Lafayette St. Faculty Press, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y. „pg&as... N.Y, N.Y. 10012. (212)673-6632. . ^OC. GESCHIEDENlS AM^Tri ABOUT FACE! -® THE U. S. SERVICEMEN'S FUND NEWSLETTER

Af-R 35-15, AR 381-135 and Department of Defense Directive 1325.6 say: USSF 44 Greenwich Avenue THIS NEWSPAPER IS YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY ANDCANNOT LEGALLY BE TAKEN FROM YOU. New York N.Y. 10011 212-924-8032 VOL. 3 NO. 5 JUNE 1973 p FACTS Chenoweth Raytord o TO Daly Branch w CONSIDER Guy f Young Riate

S FIRST Elbert Kavanaugh

The issue of the war-and GI opposition to it-may a necessary military move, since American ground pilots, the elite levels of the Air Forces men who, for return to the public spotlight if the Pentagon troops were demonstrating—by desertions, fraggings, the most part, took a hawkish pride in their role. institutes court-martial proceedings against eight shammings, refusals of orders, open rebellions, (While the grunts were going all-out to avoid battle, enlisted ex-POWs for "misconduct" while in a North sabotage, c.o. applications, antiwar rallies—that they many of these B-52 pilots were actually falsifying Vietnamese prison camp. could no longer be used as an effective tool for papers so they could go out and do more bombing. Charges of misconduct have been filed by Air waging war against the Vietnamese people. In one of There were over 200 Air Force men involved in the Force Colonel Theodore W. Guy, who was the senior Nixon's classic make-losing-look-like-winning ma­ Lavelle affair.) These officers were technological ranking officer of the camp, known to its inhabitants neuvers, "troop withdrawals" were suddenly an­ professionals, never seeing "the enemy" except as as the "Plantation." Guy spent AVi years in the camp nounced. Thousands of those GIs who came home grid coordinates. It might be that, had Guy long been after being shot from the skies while bombing Laos. were the backbone of subsequent massive antiwar over Laos, he was in on the absolute destruction The eight men charged are all enlisted men, all demonstrations in this country. For many of those in wreaked on the once-populous Plain of Jars; now that Army or Marine ground troops, and were collectively captivity, genuine antiwar feelings ran equally high. was a professional job. It is such men, Guy in the known as the "Peace Committee" in camp because of Staff Sgt. John Young told ABC News of his own forefront of them, who have been central to the their opposition to the war. They have been figures of change from being a gung-ho grunt on his arrival in Nixon-Pentagon POW propagranda campaign (another controversy to the military even prior to their release, Vietnam to finally feeling utter revulsion at the make-losing-look-like-winning ploy). Scrubbed, pa­ triotic, pro-war, God-fearing "heroes." and that seems to have ensured their prolonged enormous destruction wreaked on that country by detainment under "hospital care" until just recently the U.S. His attitudes were still changing even after It's not too hard to see why the "Peace (see About Face, April 1973). GI Movement activists his capture: some of his saddest views of the Vietnam Committee" didn't get along too well with their have been speculating for months that these eight holocaust came as he was moved from village to "superior officer." The eight GIs were moved to the men might receive some form of military harassment. village while changing camps. Plantation in 1970. There, Col. Guy had attempted to Back in March, the New York Times quoted "an Colonel Guy comes from as distinct a milieu as the establish a rigid command structure (with him on official" who said of the eight, "None of them are eight enlisted POWs. It's a milieu of high-ranking, top), and tried to demand of the eight their complete officers and some of them are black, so the club is highly-motivated, well-paid career officers and B-52 Continued on Page 4 going after them." The "Peace Committee" members are: Sp4 Michael Branch, 26, of Kentucky, captured May 1968; Staff Sgt. Robert Chenoweth, 25, from Portland, Oregon, captured February 1968; Staff Sgt. DIAL A B-52 John Young, 27, of Illinois, captured January 1968; Staff Sgt. King Rayford, Jr., 27, from Chicago, Opposition to the bombing of Cambodia—now captured July 1967; Staff Sgt. James Daly, Jr., 25, official positions of both the Senate and the House of Brooklyn, NY, captured January 1968. These five Representatives-has been building among the B-52 men are in the Army, and all have been charged with crews actually involved in the raids. "conspiracy to undermine discipline and loyalty," Several U.S. Senators have received letters and "aiding the enemy," and disobeying orders. Branch is petitions calling for an end to the Indochina also charged with "disrespect towards a superior bombing, primarily from Air Force personnel based officer." The three Marines are: Sgt. Abel Kavanaugh, on Guam, from which air strikes are launched. 24, of Colorado, captured April 1969; Staff Sgt. Senator Fulbright has read several of the letters into What will we tell our children?" Alfonso Riate, 28, from California, captured 1967 the Congressional Record, as an "eloquent indictment Many wives of these Air Force men are organizing (but listed as killed in action until he wrote his of U.S. military activities in Indochina." One of the here in the States to stop the bombing. Women from mother in 1971); PvL Frederick Elbert, 25, from letters, from a B-52 co-pilot, denounced "our present Griffin AFB in Rome, NY, and from Westover, a SAC Long Island, NY, captured August 1968 (though the policies of 'dial a B-52 strike whenever and wherever base in Massachusetts, have been contacting lawyers Marines listed him as a deserter and made threats of you want'," and added: "This plea is not a one-man and members of Congress to put pressure on the court-martial charges upon his release for a time). show. The majority of the crew force presently Administration to end the warfare. One of the wives, These three face the same charges as the Army men, engaged in these operations are tired and fed up with Susan Cowan, has said: "We live from day to day with Riate additionally charged with "assault." Most the entire affair. . . ." with uncertainty and fear knowing our husbands are of the men have acquired civilian attorneys to One navigator protested to Sen. Kennedy that "we carrying out bombing missions in a war that is represent them. Mark Amsterdam of the Center for are no more than a mercenary army fighting solely on supposed to be over. Constitutional Rights, counsel for Sgt Kavanaugh, the discretion of our President." "But it seems to be an endless war that the told USSF he thought the charges were attempts to (Under Congressional pressure, the Defense De­ Administration is trying to shove under the rug, while silence the eight and other POWs, to keep them from partment has released 1973 bombing statistics for the American people are paying for it through the breaking the Nixon-created image of the pro-war Cambodia and Laos. From January 27—the official nose." Ms. Cowan says the morale of their husbands POW "hero." cease-fire date-to April 30, there were 12,136 sorties is "unbelievably low," and that they've begun calling themselves POGs-Prisoners of Guam. In fact, the nature of the charges, the context of and 82,837 tons of bombs dropped on Cambodia. the charges, and the backgrounds of the accuser and For the same period in Laos, there were 8985 raids Three of the husbands of the Griffin and Westover wives have joined their names to a suit filed by Rep. the accused are all well worth considering. and 63,082 tons of bombs dropped, including 1038 Elizabeth Holtzman (D-Brooklyn) in a U.S. District The eight enlisted men were taken captive at a tons since the February 22 Laos "cease-fire" was Court. The suit asks the court to declare such time when ground-troop disenchantment with the declared. Those raids cost the taxpayer well over 258 bombing without Congressional consent to be illegal. war, with superior officers, with official body-count million dollars. There is no way to estimate how The three B-52 crewmen who have joined the suit are lies, and with makeshift justifications for the war's many Cambodians and Laotians have paid with their lives.) Capt. Michael Flügger, a co-pilot, Capt. James Strain, continuance was at its highest peak. So dissatisfied a navigator, and Lt. Arthur Watson. All are presently were GIs that they were an entirely unmotivated and One letter received by Fulbright said: "Every day stationed in Southeast Asia. "unreliable" fighting force. "Vietnamization" became of bombing splashes blood in the face of America. A Vet Raps to a POW

I didn't sit out the war Trial Begins being protected many years by so-called "gooks" who, somehow, managed to give me bowls of their rice, bits of bread The site for the trial of Seaman Patrick Chenoweth and sometimes morsels of meat and slivers of fish, has been moved back to the U.S., which is a victory wash and treat my wounds for the defense. Previously, District Court Judge garb me in their garments Spencer Williams had upheld a Court of Military and forgive my waste of their land, Appeals ruling that it was not illegal to move the trial their lives, their culture, their sovereignty. to the Philippines. These rulings were reached after No, I didn't ride high encased in metal * the case judge, Capt. James Keys, had denied the and glass and white clouds, motion for a stateside trial. and propelled by racism, derring-do, But recently Judge Keys was taken off the case, push-button fame and flight pay. partly due to his chronic alcoholism. The new case Yes, I slushed it out in the jungle, judge, Capt. Maitland Freed, made the decision May 9 often defoliated by you to hold the trial at Treasure Island after all. Pat Chenoweth. and I slugged it out with the so-called "gooks" face to face. Ironically, the whole problem could have been scraper and two bolts into the reduction gears of the avoided if the Navy had accepted Chenoweth's offer Your blundering B-52s often dropped bombs number four main engine, causing over $800 on my barracks and there were booby traps in my bed. to waive his right to a speedy trial and to wait in jail thousand damage and delaying departure for Vietnam until the ship he was attached to, the Ranger, returns On orders, I flamed the hootches of the by three months. He has been held in the Treasure so-called "gooks" in late June. Military Judge Keys had turned down Island brig since last August. If convicted he can get this offer without elaboration. and I saw them flee in terror up to 30 years in prison. and I heard their wails and screams The decision to hold the trial at Treasure Island A member of KPFA interviewed Pat at the brig piercing my tattered conscience. was a victory for the defense and the hundreds of just after the decision to hold the trial here was made. I saw their faces and bodies people who have supported Pat through petitions, He said: "I've waited a long time for this decision!" gutted and made ghastly by napalm. letters, and resolutions. When the reporter asked a guard what he thought I scratched the caked blood It means a precedent won't be established for about the issue, the guard pulled a "FREE PAT from my buddy's face and flipped a tear from my eye moving a trial to a repressive place like the CHENOWETH" button out of his pocket! as I placed his broken body in a plastic bag. Philippines, which the government had hoped to do The war was under my feet, over my head, to guarantee a conviction. Sgt. Gregory A. Lassonde stabbing my eyes, raping my ears, choking my throat Meanwhile, the USS Ranger will be returning in 60 ABGp, TAFB and ripping my stomach- early June it turns out. Jury selection for the trial but when I returned, nobody rolled out began May 29 and the trial itself started June 4. a red carpet for me Chenoweth is accused of having thrown a paint from TRAVISTY - Travis AFB, California and no bubble-bellied, war-waxed general kissed me—anywhere. No horde of prompted and primped cheerleaders panted in heat for me at the airport. Nobody offered me a house or car or suits of clothes or spots on TV shows— not even a job with my number-coded discharge. Marines End First Amendment Now, you can find me languishing, ashamedly and angrily in those long VA welfare lines that America's darling POW Kin, Okinawa, Japan; May 28,1973. Acting on the being held. The MP's refused to allow Sorensen to is not likely to know as you bank your bags authority of a new regulation issued by the Marine copy down the relevant language of the regulation, Corps' Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet, MP's ripping it out of his hand, and then, on orders from of blood money. have begun arresting off-duty Marines, off-base, in the Staff Judge Advocate, forcibly removed him from But if I have nothing else, I still have civilian clothes, for handing out "underground" the Office, and from the Base. The next day, both some army-trained skills that I'm holding in reserve newspapers, and for soliciting signatures on a petition Sorensen and William Schaap, another civilian lawyer, and I warn you, precious and proud POW brother, to Congress-a petition protesting the regulation. were present when Brown and Botsford were that you, in your free Madison Ave. suit and stuffed briefcase may soon by mugged On Friday, May 25, 1973, PFC Michael Scantlen arrested, and the MP's refused to allow them to gently but expertly by a tough dude was arrested handing out copies of the Han-sen Free" accompany their clients when the latter were taken with tarnished dog tags. Press, a G.I. newspaper, published at the nearby on base. They were physically barred access to the United Front G.I. center. On Saturday, Lance guard shack where Brown was being interrogated. A -Umoja Kwaguvu Corporal William Brown and PFC John C. Botsford reporter from the Pacific Stars & Stripes was also were both arrested for soliciting signatures on a present when all this occurred. petition addressed to Congress, protesting the new The lawyers and other civilian activists at the GI regulation. All three Marines are assigned to Camp projects on Okinawa-in addition to the United Front Hansen, the home of the Fourth Regiment of the in Kin, there are the Womejfs House and the People's Third Marine Division. The arrests all took place on House in Koza—have contacted numerous Senators the main street of Kin, in sight of the Camp Hansen and Congressmen, particularly those on the Armed main gate. They were all off-duty and in civilian Services Committees, and have stated that a Federal clothes. The arrests, supervised by Gunnery Sergeant lawsuit is in preparation. Proctor, of the Camp Hansen MP's, were apparently on orders from higher-ups, including the Staff Judge Advocate of the Third Marine Division, Colonel P. F. Henderson, and the Commander of the Division, Major General M. P. Ryan. All three apprehended Marines were informed that they were charged with disobedience of a lawful BLACK AIRMAN FRAMED general regulation, and presumably will face courts- martial. The charge carries a maximum penalty of Airman Basic Fredrick Stubbs, a 20-year-old Black two years in prison and a bad conduct discharge. man and a member of the 3320th Retraining Group security policemen out the door where a truck was Scantlen and Brown are presently restricted to the at Lowry AFB, Colo, is yet another victim of the US waiting to take Paden away. base; Botsford is further restricted to his company military's racist policies towards its Black enlisted "Meanwhile a group of 6-10 Black G.l.'s began to area. people. form around the commotion. Another SP, recog­ The orders in question are, technically, While in training at Chanute AFB, Illinois, Stubbs nizing that most of the Black airmen standing around ALPACFLT 059/73, and THIRD MARDIV NO5370, was involved in a fight with a white airman. Being were from the retraining group, radioed headquarters dated May 22, and May 23, 1973, respectively. They charged with "aggravated assault" he was subsequent­ and called for support. Moments later a police van include the following language: "No member of this ly court-martialed and sentenced. He has been serving pulled up to the scene loaded with well armed riot command will engage or participate in picketing, his time at the 3320 Retraining Group at Lowry, a police and German shepard dogs. At this time Stubbs demonstrations, sit-ins, political speeches, and similar "behavior modification" group in which sentenced was engaged in an argument with a SP about his right activity ... anywhere in a foreign country regardless airmen are given the chance to "work off" their to be there. Stubbs was not physically inhibiting the of uniform or duty status, unless prior command sentence through "behavior changes." arrest of Paden." approval is obtained." According to the Denver Workers Voice: "On the As a result of this "interference", Stubbs was Civilian attorneys representing military defendants night of February 28th at about 11:30 P.M., several savagely beaten by a number of armed SPs outside on Okinawa have stated that the regulation appears to security policemen were on their normal watchdog the bowling alley. This attack left him severely be an attempt by the Marines to cancel the First patrol of the base bowling alley. This is one of the bruised, battered and bound in a plaster cast for six Amendment. They also noted that the arrests of only places that members of the retraining group are weeks. He is presently in a security cell awaiting trial Brown and Botsford may be the first time ever that allowed to go for entertainment. They spotted a by General Court-Martial carrying a maximum Americans have been arrested by American authori­ Black airman by the name of Paden with a bottle of punishment of a dishonorable discharge, confinement ties for soliciting signatures on a petition to Congress, liquor concealed in his pants. (This is a crime at hard labor for 4+ years and total forfeiture of a right guaranteed by the Constitution, and according to Lowry laws because prisoners are not allowances and benefits. specifically safeguarded for servicepeople by a allowed to have alcoholic beverages.) The security The attitude of authorities everywhere is that Federal statute. They said that the regulation appears policemen apprehended him in the bowling alley prisoners are considered to be subhumans and to be a well-planned and deliberate attempt to stifle which attracted the attention of several other Black therefore do not merit human treatment. Their dissent-being aimed directly at GI underground airmen. While all of this was going on, Brother Stubbs mistreatment can be easily justified because they are newspapers and anti-war activists. walked up and told Paden that he would be his seen as being defective human beings. The fact that The civilian attorneys, never treated very kindly witness at headquarters if he wished. The security 70 percent of the men in the 3320 retraining group by the military legal officers, have been particularly police told Stubbs rather harshly that the arrest was are of third world origin (black, brown, red and harassed in this matter. When Scantlen was arrested, none of his business. They informed him that he had yellow) undoubtedly encouraged the reasoning his civilian attorney, Douglas Sorensen, accompanied no right to be there and implied that he had no right needed to implement the repressive policies and racist him to the Provost Marshal's Office, where he was to speak. Stubbs insisted otherwise and followed the attitudes seen at Lowry. dOIN THE 7th FLEET MAW

V0.Hu.Hft AND SPEAK OUT! REPORT A BOTTLE OF BEER TI—— r

Voices From The G.I. Movement The USS Ogden and the USS Duluth, both homeported in San Diego, are "sister ships" in more than one way. Not only are they the same type of ship (LPD Helicopter Landing Ships) and share the NEWSPAPERS^ from Travisty, Travis AFB, Cal. same tour of duty (WESPAC cruises), but they are both excellent examples of misappropriation of funds in the Navy (building newer and bigger ships while leaving the older ships in total disrepair even while on cruises), and the growing awareness of sailors assigned BRING OUR BROTHERS HOME to such ships that their lives depend on the safety of the ships and that the "brass" is not concerned with Although our troops are finally out of Indochina, such problems. thousands of America's young men still remain Conditions on board the Duluth, which left for SE prisoners of the Vietnam conflict. That war, Asia the 4th of June, were so bad approximately 13 especially during the last few years, drove these men men, including a Chief went UA (Unauthorized to resist the draft and the military. An estimated Absence) rather than sail. The Captain at that time 70,000 men have been forced into foreign exile, most was so wrapped up in getting the ship out "on time" in Canada and Sweden; another 10,000 are on (a plus for his personnel record) that he overloaded probation, facing trial, or presently in U.S. prisons; the work on the men. Up From The Bottom, the San and there are tens and probably hundreds of Diego GI paper, writes, "He's decided that the crew thousands living underground here in the U.S. Nixon had to work six on and six off, standing general has called these men "criminals" who must now "pay quarters when they were off, so they couldn't get the price for refusing to obey the laws of their much sleep, even when they weren't working. country, as those who fought paid the price of "This all-work-and-no-sleep policy led a lot of guys defending the country." into speed, just so they could stay- awake when they The lost lives and limbs are a source of deep were working. The command has been using urine "Amnesty for war resisters indeed! sorrow for this country. And many who came back tests to deal with this 'drug-abuse.' healthy are paying with the guilt they suffer for their Everyone is always trying to make "One guy was ordered to do a lot of work in a part in this unjust war. But while their losses are us look bad!" short period of time. His division officer knew he was mourned, our judgment of those losses must include eating speed to stay awake the extra hours it took to the purpose for them as well—in this case, against a campuses, causing them to resist prior to induction, do the work. After the job was over, the division war raged by the Vietnamese people for freedom, while for working class people, unable to attend officer had him busted for the speed! independence, and the right to self-determination, college, it was only after first hand experience of the "If all this wasn't enough, the officers on the ship rights which the American people take for granted military that they realized the ends (or lack of them) have shown their own incompetence. For example, themselves. That the American Veterans of Vietnam for which they were fighting. And many resisters and the Duluth hit a sailboat coming into the harbor and have suffered a great deal for a cause does not change deserters, though they could not be qualified as knocked its mast off! In a real crisis decision, a junior the nature of that cause, nor does it justify punishing conscientious objectors under the law (it's almost officer managed to foul up the boilers with salt water. those who refused to share in the American impossible to qualify unless you completely deny the "This kind of 'leadership' by the command has led government's role in that war. right to defend yourself) still could not participate in some of the Chiefs, who were observers for refresher this immoral war. To subject any of these men to the training, to say that even they were afraid to sail with judgments of government boards to rule on their MEN WITHOUT A COUNTRY the ship. motives would waste time, money, and personnel, 'The Captain's low opinion of people other than would prove to be as prejudiced as Conscientious Even ignoring thesejfactors^ to imply that those, hjmself comes out in other ways. There's _a_ Navy Objectorboards, and would ignore the fact that the who resisted have had an advantage, have not paid a regulation, number 1121.1 that requires contamina­ men were correct in their analysis of the war. price as well, denies the realities of living in exile, ted oil to be dumped 50 miles offshore. The Duluth prison, or underground. The loneliness of separation dumped part of a 17,000 gallon tank of contaminated from family and friends is a hardship in itself, one POLITICAL DISCHARGES oil while at the pier at 32nd St. One guy was told to well understood by Vets. Since Canada is no longer pour some soap overboard, and turn a hose on it, to cut the oil. Finally, when all the water around the accepting applications for immigrant status, many We should also remember that there are more than ship turned black, they stopped dumping the oil. war resisters are now "trapped" either in Canada or 50,000 men who have been less-than-honorably the U.S., while in Europe, high unemployment rates discharged from the U.S. artned forces since President "All these things piled up on each other, and men also make return to the U.S. a matter of basic Kennedy began sending regular soldiers into Vietnam on the Duluth decided to fight back. survival. The hardships of those in prison are obvious, in 1963. GIs are discharged for many reasons, and "When a Chief went UA, one guy was harassed and for those living underground there is the constant many who were discharged this way may have because it was said that he knew where the Chief was. fear of discovery, making them unable to apply for supported the war. But the huge figures involved So 20 other guys in the division signed a petition many jobs, and aware that any involvement with the indicate that there were many discharges related to saying they'd all seen the UA Chief while he was law might result in prosecution for draft evasion or anti-war sentiments among GIs. Many of these men gone. desertion. were thrown out because they actively opposed "At the end of April, a newspaper appeared on the Several bills have been introduced in Congress to Vietnam war duty. Others simply refused to ship called the Free Duluth. The paper points out deal with bringing the men home. Of them, only the cooperate. And these men will be feeling the effects what's happening on the ship, and shows some ways one presented by Congressperson Bella Abzug calls of less-than-honorable discharges for the rest of their to fight back against the conditions that exist on the for a complete and unconditional amnesty for all lives from lack of GI benefits, "unavailable" jobs, and ship." draft resisters (those who refused to register and in some cases, reduced civil rights. Of the men who went UA, one is facing a special those who refused induction) and deserters, whether The publicity given the returning POWs has court-martial, the rest -are facing summary courts- underground, in exile, or in prison. dwarfed the sacrifices of the Vietnam vets. At the martial. Others have proposed alternative service (a stint in same time, the government is trying to reduce the The Duluth is now blessed with a new Captain the Peace Corps/Vista, etc. and considered by the benefits for Vietnam era vets ranging from the GI Bill who is obviously intending to smash any and all resisters as a form of "punishment" which they find to medical benefits to pensions. Yet when the dissent on board ship, by threatening that "if a copy intolerable for making a sound moral decision). A question of amnesty arises, the vet is the first of Free Duluth drops out of anyone's pocket to the third approach offers amnesty for draft evaders, argument brought forth by the government. He is deck, that sailor will be busted for distributing whose motives are supposedly more easily identified, being used like everyone else for the benefit of Uncle unauthorized material." but more careful consideration or none at all for Sam, and shoved aside and forgotten when he is no On March 30 of this year, 23 people on the USS deserters, who came to their moral awareness after longer useful. Many vets, having been through the war Ogden, at the time involved in minesweeping entering the service. Abzug recognizes these proposals and seen its futility, are for amnesty—complete operations off Vietnam, refused to go to work. They as discriminatory against less well educated and less amnesty. presented the Commanding Officer with a petition articulate people (usually working class people who To face an enemy in a just war to defend your charging that the ship was unsafe to operate, that have not had the educational opportunities of middle country takes great courage. To face the disapproval communication had broken down between officers class Americans.) In fact many of those in of friends, neighbors, and country during an unjust and enlisted men, and that the officers had self-imposed exile and in prisons were unable to war to defend your beliefs takes fully as much if not disregarded requests for improvement of the situ­ convince their draft boards or the military of their more courage. The energies of many of our most ation. The commanding officer refused to discuss the sincerity as conscientious objectors, but were courageous young men are lost to us as long as we grievances with the men as a group and ordered all 23 unwilling to compromise their beliefs. Many middle refuse to recognize their courage. Only through to return to work. Thirteen men refused to do so and class men had access to information about the war amnesty, complete and all-inclusive, can we regain were transferred to the Naval Base at Subie Bay in the from student anti-war organization on college those energies. Philippines. The present situation of the men is as follows: 12 sailors are to have special courts-martial (one has already been found guilty and sentenced to WE .WÜST .MAINTAIN oun VITAL ITV. Oust. serve time in the brig, a drop in rank, and loss of pay) ne.ACNeSA ouiz and one sailor, designated as the "ring-leader," is COURAGE awaiting a general court-martial the consequences of which could be time served in the brig and a dishonorable discharge. What must be remembered is that the Ogden and the Duluth are not exceptions to the rule, but are standard examples of the conditions on board all too many of the Navy's ships. POWs Continued from Page 1 BOMB MISSES discipline and loyalty. The New York Times of May 30 seems to understate the case when they quote HEbPJ "civilian sources" who "noted that the command BLACK GIs system depended entirely upon rank and suggested that it was understandable that the enlisted men, who were reportedly kept mostly segregated from the (Jacksonville, N.C.) Two days after a bomb officers in the camp, should choose to develop their explosion ripped through the United We Stand own command and disciplinary structure." There was Bookstore—a GI Movement center for Camp Lejeune clearly a lack of "respect" for Guy's authority, but as marines—the "national president" of the white- a prisoner, there was very little he could do about it. supremacist Rights for White People was arrested for Now they are all home, and once again Guy is a the act. Leroy Gibson has been charged with Colonel and they are lowly grunts, and he is "damaging by explosives a building in which an act of definitely out to get them. interstate commerce took place." Gibson is an ex-marine and is presently an insurance dealer in The quality of many of the charges—"promoting Jacksonville. He was released from jail after putting disloyalty," "undermining discipline," "failure to up the $50,000 bond in cash and sureties. obey a lawful order," "disrespect towards a superior Rights for White People is a notorious local officer"—serves to reinforce the impression of paramilitary racist organization; in the past, armed personal pique evident in Col. Guy's public members have been sent by Gibson to Wilmington, statements about the accused eight. A couple of N.C, during black rebellions there to foment trouble. months ago, Guy was reportedly thinking of bringing Gibson has personally threatened the lives of two of charges against nearly 20 POWs, including some the white bookstore staff members. officers. Cooler heads must have prevailed somewhere along the line; but the eight remaining targets of Lewis Abrams, an organizer for the National Black Guy's dislike must thus be especially high on his Draft Counselors in Chicago, had been meeting with "wanted" list. He has announced that he is "going to 15-20 black marines from Lejeune each of two nights do everything in my power to weed these people out prior to the bombing. They discussed racism at the of the system." base, organizing problems, and future plans. Abrams came away impressed with the solidarity and spirit of The GI Movement has faced dozens of Colonel the brothers. The feeling is widespread that Gibson SUPPORT Guys, determined to crush antiwar sentiment and and his group anticipated a third night of meetings, opposition to their own authority. Since it is up to and wanted to put a stop to the growing black unity the Pentagon to actually institute court-martial that was developing. Abrams flatly states, "They were the proceedings against the "Peace Committee," and trying to kill us." The Jacksonville police have said since, like all else relating to POWs, that decision will that anyone in the bookstore at the time of the probably be based on their politics of self-redemption explosion would have been killed. GI MOVEMENT and justification of the war, a vocal public opposition to such trials may halt them before they begin. The United We Stand Bookstore needs funds to From the editors: Due to the time lag—2 to 3 (There is already a certain amount of Pentagon rebuild the center and to continue their work, which weeks—from the date of the writing of the stories to nervousness about the issues of the case.) includes publishing the GI paper, RAGE. Contribu­ the delivery of About Face, specific facts in some tions and requests for further information should go stories may become dated. If at any time, you wish to To demand justice for the "Peace Committee" to United We Stand, PO Box 1163, Jacksonville, NC have up to date information on any of our articles, write the Departments of the Army and Navy, the 28540. please feel free to call our office-(212) 924-8032. convening authorities. USSF has the home addresses of the eight GIs and will be happy to forward letters of support and encouragement to any of them. Let us not forget that the real heroes of the war were those AVAILABLE FROM USSF who fought to stop it.

TWO YEARS WITH THE VIETCONG By George Smith

"In the end I regretted not knowing more about our captors," writes George Smith, who spent two years as a prisoner of the Vict Cong, and already knows Buttons them better than any other American. His decision to "join the peace movement" after his release earned ROW him another six months captivity-at the hands of the U.S. Army. P.O.W. is a story of developing GEORGE E. SWTH commitment, told with humor and directness. 'Wtt ^ttMir The twenty-three writers in Free Fire Zone offer a collective insight into the price paid by ,'r l ; both peoples when one culture attempts to FTA! SONGS OF THE GI RESISTANCE strip another of its dignity and destroy its gods. sung by BARBARA DANE with active-duty wiMMfM« ntAmi nuira The emphasis of each writer varies, but their Gl's. Recorded at GI coffee houses and H»rH*m »y Vi*T~vV4, insight is cumulative. Free Fire Zone explores movement centers at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort America's attempt to shape an ancient Asian Benning, Georgia; and Fort Bragg, North culture into an image that reflects our own Carolina. Incl. songs composed by the Gl's physical and psychological needs. themselves: I Am AGI Rebel, Insubordination, Resistance Hymn, Last Drink With Don, etc. Accompanying illustrated booklet includes complete song texts and other material on the GI movement. Edited by Irwin Silber.

Winning Hearts and Minds is an illustrated collection Exclusive G.I. Movement sketch, created for of poetry arranged in a series of shifting scenes U.S.S.F. by Mr. David Levine. This sketch is describing in rough chronological order a tour of available in a limited edition of 100, signed by combat duty in Vietnam. The poems, which span a the artist; also available in a 17X22 poster, period of the last ten years, chronicle the Gl's growing and a 5 X 6 Greeting card. emotional and moral involvement with the people and the country. (Price of $2.25 includes postage and ENCLOSED PLEASE FIND MY PAYMENT OF $. FOR: handling costs.) Copies of FTA: Songs of GI Resistance (

Typeset by O.B.U. Typesetters, Inc., 339 Lafayette St., Faculty Press, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y. ,"i$as,„ N.Y., N.Y. 10012. (212)673-6632.