Organized Locally. Recognized Nationally.

President’s Message e sometimes loose sight of the beauty of our mission and division in the Anti-Vietnam and Civil Rights movements. Wstatement. The part I am thinking of now is “all members They did the same to the labor movement. On the Gulf Coast after are trusted to act in the best interests of the group for the larger Katrina I kept hearing blacks saying they weren’t getting help be- purpose of world peace.” In this time of ideologues and polariza- cause they were black and whites saying they weren’t getting help tion, this statement stands out and makes us different from the because they were white. Without this nurtured racism everyone current culture. It acknowledges that we are not a could have marched on Washington together – all monolithic group, but that we are bound together victims, all races, all religions -- and together by our dedication to create peace through our demanded and gotten what they needed. Let us veteran’s voice. not do the work of the powerholders, let us not I have heard people say they must leave VFP divide ourselves. because of what someone else did; I have heard We get to choose day by day, hour by hour, people say good riddance to those who talk of will we put our effort into building the campaign leaving. I disagree with both. We all, including we believe in or will we spend that energy criti- both sides of every argument, need everyone. cizing others for working on a different cam- The group of people, and vets in particular, who paign, even though both campaigns are aimed at are dedicated to ending war is small. We cannot abolishing war? afford to casually let anyone go over some small It can be seen empirically and demonstrated frustrations or differences. As our statement of statistically that a movement’s success is directly purpose says, we can each work on campaigns related to size of the movement (what portion of that we believe will end war, knowing full well others in the the overall population is supportive) and diversity of the move- organization believe different campaigns will end war. And we, ment (how broad a cross-section of society involved). This is not as a group, have more strength because of the diversity of our ap- about compromising our principles, it is about having tolerance proaches to creating peace and abolishing war. and empathy for others working to the same ends. The work we We waste critical energy in arguments, criticisms, bullying, and do is important, for that matter it is fair to say abolishing war is even threats over different ways to abolish war. Sharing ideas is a life or death matter. We in VFP have a critical role in achieving critical for our growth. But sometimes in our dedication we lose those ends. And we will be more effective if we can keep our anger sight of the line between sharing ideas and attacking each other and energy directed outside VFP at the supports of the war culture verbally. rather than at our comrades-in-arms. Stop and think for a moment, who does it serve to have us put Elliott Adams our energy into fighting among ourselves about the best strategy to abolish war? Who wants us to do that instead of working to abolish war? The very warmongers who profit from having $10 billion a Contents month for war extracted from the working people. Looking back, Fall 2011 remember CoIntelPro? They spent millions on developing distrust Departments Features

Total Cost of Wars to U.S Taxpayers 6 Chapter Reports 3 UN Report October 7, 2001— September 25, 2011 10 Book Reviews 4 Report from Hebron $1,254,569,105,855 14 Poetry 10 Convention Report Source: costs of war.org Interim Director’s Report Board Of Directors Members, Supporters, Comrades: Elliott Adams News from the national office. Two important President items are moving ahead…never quite fast enough, but moving indeed. Leah Bolger (1) Hiring a Development Director Vice-President Earlier this year, President Elliott Adams proposed the Board’s top priority should be to get a develop- ment (fundraising) professional on board. They agreed Nate Goldshlag and Veep Leah Bolger heads up the search committee. Treasurer Her committee has refined the job description, advertised widely, and got back a crop of top-notch resumes. Those were narrowed to the best Gene Marx six and phone interviews should be completed by the time you get this issue. Next is to hold Secretary in-person interviews with the top two or three candidates, make the choice and get to work! (2) Redesigning the VFP Web site William Collins Some may wonder if this badly-needed improvement would ever happen, but it’s now un- der way! Shelly Rockett (with two “t’s,” please!) heads up that work and if you’ve ever been involved in a webpage redesign, you know how much work it is. Virginia Druhe has com- Cherie Eichholz pleted a new page for the VFP Store and the rest of the site is taking shape behind the scenes. If you would like to be on a list to test the “beta” version, let Shelly know. The beta gang will go through it and offer last-minute suggestions before we unveil it to the world. Will Hopkins VFP Finances: With three quarters down, it looks like budget projections will hold true for a year-end Joey King deficit – smaller than we thought at the beginning of the year, but still a deficit. Our expenses are less than we budgeted, reducing the expected deficit to about $20,000. But even the math- challenged among us know that by itself, reducing expenses is not a good way to sustainably Adrienne Kinne balance a budget. And deficits, even smaller than expected, deplete our modest reserves. Clearly, what’s needed is to boost revenues, thus the priority on getting a development director.(*) But no matter how good our development director is, every potential donor wants Michael McPherson to know their gift is being well spent. Our members have sustained VFP to a much greater degree than the typical non-profit’s Dan Shea membership base. That’s both good news and not so good…good, because it allows us to sus- tain a level of activity regardless of how far south the economy or the stock market goes…not so good, because there are many things we could be doing to move up the day when we “… Matt Southworth abolish war as an instrument of national policy,” but those things require money beyond what Director’s Report continued on page 16

Our Staff From the Editor It’s been a pleasure being the editor of the newsletter for the past few issues and getting to INTERIM EXECUTIVE know members of the organization and what they want to see in the newsletter. My thanks to DIRECTOR Michael Uhl for his help and for making the transition go easily. In this issue we feature a few Mike Ferner longer pieces that I have found especially compelling. One by Bill Ehrhart on his return to Vietnam and one by Vince Stavrino and Will Thomas on their fact-finding trip to Hebron on the West Bank. Let me know whether you like the longer features and would like to see more of them. It’s interesting how many members are such good writers. I’ve have had no shortage Chrissie Brooks of material to work with. However, one area that has been problematic is the chapter reports. Several people have Virginia Druhe told me that they have not received my e-mail notices about deadlines for the reports. If you are a chapter contact and have not received the notices, please get in touch with me by e-mail at [email protected]. I’ll make sure you get added to the list of chapter contacts for the newsletter. Deadline for reports for the Winter issue is Thursday, January 5, 2012. I look Shelly Rockett forward to hearing from you. Chuck Rossi - 2 - Peace is a Prerequisite for a Sustainable Future VFP Report from United Nations NGO Conference

Bonn, Germany, was the host city for the United Nations NGO of sustainable agriculture and healthy environmental stewardship. Conference on Sustainable Societies, Responsive Citizens, and Climate change – make radical changes to energy production Veterans For Peace was in the house. Gerry Condon and Helen Jac- and consumption. card from Seattle volunteered to represent VFP at the September 3-5 conference, with over 1400 delegates from around the world in Poverty; Income / Asset Inequality; Food, water, energy insecu- attendance rity – tax financial transactions, stop stealing cropland for biofuel production, provide food locally first rather than for export. Stop “Sustainable Societies” refers to sustainable governance, devel- privatization of water. Decentralize energy production. opment and living in all aspects, including production and con- sumption, especially agriculture, water and energy. “Responsive Loss of Biodiversity – change the way we grow food – stop us- Citizens” refers to volunteering, holding governments accountable ing genetically modified crops that depend on fertilizers and weed for their policies and commitments, telling government what we killers; change from huge monoculture plantations to multiple need, transforming our culture from consumerism to having active crops with crop rotation; farm organically. civil communities, and empowering women and youth. Production and Consumption patterns – including drilling and Vandana Shiva, renowned Indian physicist and global justice ac- mining. In the developed countries - consume less and different tivist, inspired the international gathering with her strong keynote items; in the developing countries development should not make speech. the same mistakes as Western societies; nor should the desire to be “In order to have freedom we now need to recognize where we Peace Prerequisite continued on page 16 are losing our freedoms. We have government by the corporations, of the corporations, and for the corporations. We must choose between a world where everything is a commodity for sale, or we must say, ‘Our World is Not for Sale,’ like we did at the WTO protests in Seattle in 1999.” “Enough is enough,” added Thierno Kane from Senegal, repre- senting the Open Society Initiative for West Africa. “When are we allowed to participate and when is it time to take action? You can have representatives, but if they are absconding, we need to take the power back. “Sustainable societies equal societies of solidarity,” said Thi- erno Kane. He then shared a Senegalese saying, “You sharpen your knife. You sleep with it. You wait for the dawn.” Mr. Kane added that this did not imply violence, but was instead a call to nonvio- lent action. Vandana Shiva and Thierno Kane were among only a few speakers who directly named the corporate-dominated power struc- ture that is responsible for so many of the unsustainable practices Vandana Shiva challenged corporate control. that are bringing our planet to the edge of irreversible destruction. Many other panels and workshops focused on the practical aspects Newsletter Charles Rossi: Editor Dan Ellis: Layout

Contributing Editors John Grant Will Shapira

Editor-At-Large W. D. Ehrhart

(c) Copyright 2011, Veterans For Peace VFP National Office, 216 S. Meramec Ave. St. Louis, MO 63105, Tel. (314) 725-6005 e-mail [email protected] Helen Jaccard and Gerry Condon with Tierno Kane of Senegal. - 3 - Report from Hebron: Hell on Earth for Palestinians We saw the colorful painted words on the wall (with white doves above them) in front of a school in Hebron: “FREE PALES- TINE.” On closer examination, we noticed that someone had tried to paint-over those words, but the message still is visible. This was our welcome to the largest Palestinian city in the Occupied Pales- tinian Territories. Both of us were part of a 12-day sojourn to and Palestine, sponsored by Interfaith Peace-Builders whose mis- sion is “to give U.S. citizens the opportunity to see and understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict firsthand and to empower these citizens to educate their local communities and advocate for better US foreign policy when they return to the US.” As we walked through Hebron, we encountered numerous Israeli military checkpoints with young soldiers, part of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). This once beautiful old city is now a walled- In Hebron: Israeli Defense Forces soldier with kids. in-fortress, dying economically, and a virtual “ghost city?” One has to relate the actions of a Jew from Brooklyn, Baruch Goldstein, the Israeli military imposed a curfew in Hebron and immediately who had emigrated to Israel (called “aliyah,” the right of any Jew set up numerous checkpoints, including the one that is vital to pro- to return to their “homeland”). The Israeli state, on the other hand, viding access to the heart of Palestinian commerce and trade. It is has long rejected UN Resolution 194 (1948) which calls for the called Shuhada Street but Palestinians call it “Apartheid Street.” In right of return for Palestinians who were driven from their homes, addition to the checkpoints, the Israelis have placed large concrete villages, and cities in 1947-48. Yet, Goldstein, as so many other barriers blocking auto traffic and even 10-foot high barbed-wire immigrant Jews, received financial assistance to move to a new fences which cordon off smaller side streets. About 600 very fa- Israeli settlement adjacent to Hebron. According to the Interna- natical ideological Jews are settled within the heart of Hebron and tional World Court, the UN, and the Geneva Conventions, such it is here (and in the areas around nearby Israeli settlements) that settlements are illegal as they steal land that rightfully belongs to violence against Palestinians is, arguably, the most heinous in the Palestinians. occupied Palestinian territories (the proper term used by the UN This Jewish doctor from Brooklyn, Goldstein, decided in 1994 for West Bank lands). to go Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque and visit the Tomb of the Patri- Issa explained that these 600 Jewish settlers who are protected archs where it is alleged that Abraham, Isaac, Rebecca, and Sarah by Israeli police and IDF, dictate how some 35,000 Palestinians are all buried within a cave below. Apparently, Mr. Goldstein had may live, move, conduct business, and how they are forced to only decided that the Palestinians whom he saw as “dirty, filthy, uncivi- walk on designated streets. Having to traverse such routes means lized non-humans,” (“Arabs”) must be taught a lesson. So, he went they often have to leave 30 or more minutes early to arrive on time into the mosque with a high-powered rifle and killed 29 Muslims, at their schools, clinics, houses, or to visit family members and while wounding over 200. And he, in turn, was killed by Palestin- friends. Downtown Hebron is nearly dead, economically. Walking ians who rushed into the mosque while this extremist settler was the often deserted, littered streets, we saw only a few local youths reloading. Today, he is revered by many as a martyr and his grave and numerous heavily armed, bored-looking young IDF conscripts is visited by many Jews who acknowledge him as one of Israel’s at checkpoints and riding about in jeeps. We did, however, bring true heroes. a small measure of joy to some young Palestinian children by Our Palestinian guide, Issa, told us that following the massacre, distributing five soccer balls purchased in Hebron. The youngsters were so very happy to receive such highly prized items! And, yet, despite the Israeli settlers’ verbal and physical attacks against Palestinians, which are well-documented via photos and film, one Muslim Hebron resident told us: “My dream is to live in peace with all people, including Jews, in a democratic, single state.” We learned that the Arab residents of Hebron, mostly Muslim, have used and still employ techniques of non-violent resistance to the now 44-year long military occupation that has resulted in creating a near ghost town -- Hebron. We discovered that our guide Issa was arrested several years ago and fined 2000 shekels for trying to prevent the closing of some shops in the old market. While Issa is one of the leaders of “Youth Against Settlements,” we found him to be a studious young man, reserved, knowledgeable, and soft-spoken though he walked with a cane due to a beating by the IDF. We saw with our own eyes how the IDF have literally welded shut many of the shops’ latches In Hebron: protest at Shuhada Street. Report from Hebron continued on page 19 - 4 - 2011 VFP National Convention Debrief

After long months of planning, mingled with us for the whole it was gratifying to see life breathed weekend. into the convention’s programs, such I am pleased to report that our as Thursday night’s public event. convention got widespread press Jeff Paterson volunteered to serve as attention, largely thanks to a story Master of Ceremonies that evening, written by Mike Francis, military and expanded a tight schedule to reporter for The Oregonian. It was encompass a critical update on the Mike Ferner who discovered the war resistance movement in addition story had been picked up by AP to pre-scheduled speakers Blase and appeared in at least eighteen Bonpane and Will Hopkins and publications across the country, performers Emma’s Revolution, all including all of the armed forces of whom were top notch! I loved the newspapers. Francis framed his bell-ringing demo given by Chapter story around an interview with 27 members in advance of Armi- Brian Willson, after Mike Hastie stice Day (11:11 on 11/11/11), and, More powerful than a locomotive: Brian Willson addresses the called on the reporter in person thanks to presenter Chris Knight, convention. (Photo by Mike Hastie) and gave him a copy of Brian’s Chapter 72’s media awards ceremo- book along with a convention ny was another bright star of the evening. Zachary’s fundraising pitch, which netted program booklet. “I only regret that I well over $20,000 in pledges! didn’t hand him a cold beer with the sweat Chapter 72 stalwart Bob Goss, in his running down the bottle,” quipped Hastie. professional capacity as Production Co- Unfortunately, I missed the business meeting, although I did catch wind of the According to Willson, it was his boyhood ordinator for Portland State University’s admiration for Stan Musial and the St. Lincoln Performance Hall, where the bulk resolution calling for the impeachment of President Obama while sitting at my Louis Cardinals that resonated with Francis of the convention took place, oversaw banquet table. Whether or not you think the and got him to pick up the phone. (Read the many technical details. Our volunteer list resolution, which passed, was a good idea, article online at http://bit.ly/vfpfrancis) is way too long to print here, but I would I think everyone would agree it was a great A number of radio and TV interviews like to acknowledge core committee folks conversation starter. were also generated, both before and after by name: Marion Ward, Dan Shea, Mike the convention, including one with Chapter Hastie, Chris Knight, Rico Vicino, Barbara I especially want to acknowledge all the luminaries who graced our convention— 72 president Grant Remington on KOIN, Gurwell, Grant Remington, Sandie Hen- Portland’s CBS television affiliate. Our lo- son, Harvey Thorstad, Malcolm Chaddock, including Kathy Kelly, Col. Ann Wright, Dr. Ed Tick, Brian Willson, Robert Jensen, cal chapter’s membership and participation Sarah Hobbs, Jenika, Joe Dunn and Bob Michael McPhearson, and Jessica Good- was boosted as a side benefit of our hosting Goss. Special thanks also to Northwest ell—for their ongoing work as well as their the convention, evidenced by a handful of veterans Larry Kerschner from Centralia, inspiring words, which equally fed people’s new faces at our August chapter meeting. Gene Marx from Bellingham, Leah Bolger heads and hearts. Most of these folks One of our WWII veterans, Will Pool, was from Corvallis, and Barry Jones convinced that the convention had from Portland for stepping up to a medicinal effect on his pulse MC different plenary sessions, and rate—more proof that involvement to Col. Ann Wright and Cherie with Veterans For Peace is good Eicholz for helping with the Satur- therapy for PTSD sufferers. day afternoon film screening. This report wouldn’t be com- Additionally, I’d like to give plete without some acknowledge- a shout out to Paul Cox, MC for ment of what didn’t go so smooth- our Saturday night banquet, and to ly. Based on feedback we received, as well as my own experience, a the Seattle Peace Chorus mem- few details that could have made bers who traveled from Seattle to this year’s convention that much perform for us (with Love!) for better include: free, as well as to Doug Mackey, who managed to arrange a live • confirming details with all audio connection to Afghanistan, scheduled presenters before the adding great ambience to Kathy event, including the leader of the Kelly’s inspiring address. I’m sure radical walking tour I thought was secured months ago VFP Treasurer Nate Goldschlag • assigning the “convention would agree that any mention of Charles Powell reading during the Wednesday evening poetry the banquet should include Doug reading. (Photo by Mike Hastie) Convention continued on page 11 - 5 - Chapter Reports spoke about the said some things that just needed to be said. military as the In August Chapter 21 and Bergen County world’s biggest chapter of Military Families Speak Out had polluter. About the 6 year anniversary of their weekly vigil 35 people were at at the Teaneck Armory. the main gate. Our chapter Peace Walker, Jules Orkin, Chapter 1 has spent the summer in the U.K., France been tabling and and Sweden walking with, among others, handing out liter- Footprints for Peace. Jules unfurled the ature at a number VFP flag as he walked along the Loire Val- of events across ley where there are nuclear power plants. the state recently. Traveling almost to the Arctic Circle, Jules We spent the day joined Ofog (mischief) the Swedish anti- of August 6th at nuke group to demonstrate outside NEAT, the PeaceWorks Peace Fair on the North European Aerospace Testrange. Left to right, Dud Hendrick, Maine Senator Olympia Snowe and Bruce Mall in Bruns- Utilized by the U.S., NATO and others, Gagnon at Old Hallowell Days. wick. We were as well as arms manufacturers, NEAT, at Chapter 1, Portland, ME at the Common 24,000 square kilometers of “neutral Swe- den” is Europe’s largest overland military Members of Chapter 1 joined over 25 Ground Fair along with the Campaign to test range. The wonderful Puffin Founda- people as part of the contingent hoisting the Bring Our War $$ Home on September tion named Jules a Puffin Peace Fellow and Bring Our War $$ Home banner demon- 23-25. helped with travel costs. strating against our outrageous military Some of our members headed to Free- spending. They carried a large puppet dom Plaza in D.C. to join others beginning Nancy Nygard created by Jamilla El-Shafei and garnered October 6th for the non-violent resistance second prize for most creative float entry to the war in Afghanistan and corpo- in the Old Hallowell Days Parade in July. rate takeover of our government. Senator Olympia Snowe talked with outgo- Clarence “Smitty” Smith ing chapter president Dud Hendrick and member Bruce Gagnon but remains in sup- Chapter 21, New Jersey port of endless war funding. Bruce thought Chapter 21 participated in the that Snowe’s “defense” of the war in annual July 4th parade in Teaneck, Afghanistan was “weak” and pretty much NJ where we were greeted with pro forma. cheers, peace signs, clapping and Members of Chapter 1 were joined by thank you’s. Five chapter members other peace activists to protest the Blue attended the VFP Convention in Angels appearance at the former Brunswick Portland, Oregon. Chapter member Naval Station on August 27th. The featured Jim Fallon, agent orange cancer speaker, Beth Adams from , survivor and DAV Service Officer took part in work- shops on Recent work on the transom of the Golden Rule ketch. both topics as well as the Chapter 22, Garberville, CA Medic/Corps- man Caucus. Jim Chapter 22 is working to re-open the was a medic in Jim Demulling Memorial Veterans Grove, Vietnam. (affectionately known locally as the Vets Peace Park). Plans for proper restrooms Chapter have been submitted, donors found, and a member Michael team is cleaning, planting, watering, and McPhearson putting the park back into shape for our gave a rousing community. speech during the banquet dinner The VFP Golden Rule Project is mov- on the clos- ing along with its plans to restore and sail Members of Chapter 1 and others at gathering outside the old Brunswick ing night of the the famous anti-nuke ship. The project is Naval Air Station for Blue Angels protest. convention. He attracting youth, energy, and new mem- - 6 - bers to the chapter. Two members of the and concluded by point- chapter attended the National Convention ing out that the nuclear in Portland. weapons in the hands of the major powers today Fredy Champagne are actually a thousand Chapter 25, Madison, WI times as powerful as the On July 15 and 16 (the 66th anniver- ones dropped on sary of Operation Trinity) Clarence Kailin and also by describ- Chapter 25 sponsored an exhibit consisting ing, in some detail, the of more than forty posters as a reminder nightmare of (so-called) of the danger which nuclear weapons still depleted uranium. constitute. For you old-timers, the posters Richard Chamberlain were from the exhibit which was originally Chapter 27, presented at the VFP national conference Minnesota at Columbia, Missouri in 1996. The panels have, for some time, been resting in Peter Once again, Veterans Shaw’s garage in State College, Pennsyl- for Peace Chapter 27 vania, and Peter and Sandy Kelson deserve is asking churches and much gratitude for transporting them to other groups to join with Wisconsin for the occasion. us and ring the bells on or around Armistice Day, The exhibit was held in the Main Hall of November 11, 2011. The Madison’s Capitol Lakes Retirement Cen- Armistice of 1918 ended ter, who graciously hosted the event. The the terrible slaughter facility is located just three blocks from of World War I. The the Wisconsin state capitol and there was a U.S.experienced the very good public attendance. That this was The Chapter 31 contingent at the Gay Pride Parade. death of over 116,000 a success is attributed to by the visitors’ men, plus many who were physically and on Mary Catholic, Minnetonka many comments; for instance, one of them mentally disabled, severely needing ongo- said, “Thank you so much for this display ! • Good Shepherd Lutheran of Marshall ing care. For one moment at the 11th hour It has given me very much to think about.” Steve McKeown of the 11th day on the 11th month, 11 a.m. The event opened on Friday morning on November 11, 1918 , the World agreed Chapter 31, Philadelphia, PA with an address by Lincoln Grahlfs. After that World War I, must be the War to End The chapter participated in the Phila- making clear that the sponsors of this ex- All Wars. There was exuberant joy every- delphia Gay Pride Parade this Summer and hibit insisted that it was not about why nu- where and many churches rang their bells, for the third year in a row won the award clear weapons were used in 1945, or even some 11 times, to mark the signing of the for “Best Public Statement.” Mike Felker whether they should have been used, but armistice. spoke at a program sponsored by the New was presented as a precaution against the Veterans For Peace local chapter 27 will York City Chapter of Veterans for Peace horror that could result if they ever were to hold its annual bell ringing ceremony on on “The Things We Leave Behind: The be used again. He then briefly explained the Armistice/Veterans Day at the First Shot Long-term Effects of War on Countries and mission and principles of VFP, talked about Memorial on Minnesota’s Capitol grounds, Their Populations.” The program focused his own experiences as an Atomic Veteran, Friday, November, 11 at 11 a.m. Members on depleted uranium, agent orange, post- and supporters will gath- traumatic stress syndrome, and land mines. er at 10:30 to participate Mike gave a presentation on landmines in the ceremony. and clusterbombs. Mike also prepared The following informational material entitled “Weapons churches and organiza- of Individual Destruction: Landmines, tions are ringing bells Clusterbombs, and Explosive Remnants of and committing to work- War,” which was sent to all Pennsylvania ing for peace on or about State and National representatives. The Armistice Day Novem- third, and final, film in the Chapter Film ber 11th, the anniversary Series, In the Valley of Elah, is scheduled of the end of World War for October 26. The series has been suc- I “the war to end all cessful and might be continued into the Fall wars” when bells were and Winter. Frank Corcoran and John Grant joyously rung around the attended the Annual Convention in Portland world. Oregon. Several members of the chapter • First Lutheran of are planning to attend the demonstration in Alexandria Washington on October 6. Lincoln Grahlfs points to the tugboat he was on following atomic bomb detonation at Bikini Atoll in 1946. • Immaculate Heart Chuck Rossi - 7 - AO from their The HVI program is almost entirely an parent’s service, all-volunteer, veterans helping veterans and help for Viet operation, with dozens of volunteers in- Namese-Ameri- volved. More information is available at the can victims. See: website www.neverhomeless.org vn-agentorange. Planning is now underway for our org for all specif- third annual Armistice Day ceremony in ics. the rotunda of Milwaukee City Hall on Among November 11, which attempts to reclaim numerous other the day first designated as a day to celebrate things, the San peace, not a day of flag-waving and support Mike Felker (left) and Gene Cleaver (right) at the Philadelphia Gay Pride Francisco chapter Parade. for wars, as Veterans Day has become in did: book tour many communities. A program with music, Chapter 41, Cape Cod, MA events for Brian Willson; sponsored a ma- poetry, speakers and commemoration of jor meeting of Viet Unity, a local progres- Cpl Jeffrey M. Lucey Chapter Wisconsin’s war dead is being planned. sive, youth-oriented Viet Namese-Ameri- Summer 2011 saw the chapter in- can group; did Bradley Manning outreach Bill Christofferson volved in two local events. On July 4th we at Gay Pride Day parade and other events; Chapter 115, Red Wing, MN marched in Hyannis at Cape Cod’s largest established a Veterans Resource Center in parade with a coalition of peace and justice the SF Veterans Memorial Building; voted Chapter 115 sponsored its 9th annual activists. As usual, we got a warm reception against the national convention’s resolution 2011 Peacestock conference and retreat often complete with the ‘peace-sign’ or a to Impeach Obama; and got the chapter on at the beautiful Windbeam Farm, home salute. FaceBook. of Paul and Trudi Schaefer on July 9th. A humid day, with alternating sun, clouds, A few days later we participated in a co- Nadya Williams sponsored event featuring Amy Goodman and occasional light sprinkle, the greetings and Jimmy Tingle (a local political com- Chapter 102, Milwaukee, WI of goats, and an occasional visit by a tabby median). Amy focused on the crucial role The Homeless Veterans Initiative (HVI) cat, was highlighted with talks by Daniel of truthful reporting in a democracy and sponsored by our chapter continues to Ellsberg, Ray McGovern, and Cynthia related some of her ‘adventures in journal- expand. It now includes a food pantry, McKinney, all of whom wowed, enter- ism’ around the world. a weekly breakfast, and a free furniture pro- tained, and educated the audience. Local peacemaker and activist, Jack Nelson-Pall- Attending the event were Jeffrey Lu- gram for homeless or low-income veterans. mayer presented his proposal on how the cey’s parents Joyce and Kevin who now The weekly pantry and breakfast are at costs of war affect state and local govern- serve as ‘godparents’ and inspirational St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran church, ments and how we, as peacemakers, must members of our chapter. The turnout was located near the VA hospital, in a neighbor- respond. A panel featuring Cynthia and great and we got to reemphasize our “Hid- hood where many veterans live. The pantry Michael Orange, Chante Wolf, and Layne den Costs of War” theme. provides food to more than 200 people a Beckman shared their stories about the lies This Fall, we look forward to our usual week, and the breakfast, after the first two and realities of military recruitment and activities like Veterans Day action but also weeks, was feeding 50 people and growing service. A finish to the day included music hope to build on our momentum from the each week. and a dinner of burritos, chips and salsa, first six months of 2011 to expand the scope Through the generosity of a local furni- watermelon and dessert. Approximately of our “Costs of War” focus and to increase ture dealer and other donors, we have been 175 people attended Peacestock. our membership and our efforts for peace. able to furnish Duke Ellis half of the 52 apartments in Chapter 69, , CA a new Veterans The most important project that Chap- Manor facility, ter 69 has worked on came to fruition this the first perma- summer with the introduction to Congress nent supportive in Washington, DC of the “Victims of housing project Agent Orange Relief Act of 2011” – House for veterans in Resolution 2634. This resolution needs the the city. Veter- support of all citizens and veterans of con- ans Manor was science, to: educate and organize the pub- recently opened lic, get media coverage, and above all urge by Center for each chapter’s House of Representatives Veterans Issues member to co-sponsor the bill. H.R. 2634 (CVI), a non- calls for funding of agent orange victims in profit begun by Viet Nam, clean up of the “hot spots” there the National (former US bases), aid for the progeny Association of of US vets who have been sickened by Black Veterans. Homeless Veterans Initiative: Signing in. - 8 - Chapter 115 has committed to take asked for help but part in Jack Nelson-Pallmayer’s initiative, did not receive it. known as the Minnesota Alternative Arms In his last Spending Project (mnasap.org). MN ASAP days, despite two is a non-partisan citizen-based initiative suicide attempts, using a simple resolution process to build he was officially political support to shift federal spending declared a “low” priorities from war to meeting essential suicide risk. needs. The goal is to build sufficient politi- Hours before his cal power and influence statewide from rep- death, he was resentatives at all levels of government and mocked as a from non-governmental organizations and “coward” by his civic groups to demand effectively a shift superiors. He has in priorities from war spending to meeting been denied a essential needs. Chapter 115 will present military memo- the resolution and ideas behind it to both rial service. Elliott Adams addressing members of 161 during the ceremony creating elected bodies and the general public. Chapter 163 Soldiers on the Selected chapter members will present panel told of dealing with haunting combat cating for peace with our elected officials the picture book, NO!, by David McPhail, memories of their own, as well as moral and established regular contact with mem- to Red Wing middle school students upon disillusionment with fighting wars based on bers and staff, including Senators Grassley clearance by the Red Wing curriculum false premises. and Harkin and Congressman Dave Loeb- committee. The book relates bullying to A persistent trend apparent from these sack. Highlights of the first year include violence in general and the choice of saying discussions is that healing from military a veterans picnic in Iowa City where VFP no to both. trauma comes through repudiation of the President Elliott Adams and Physicians for Emma Onawa atrocities and the lies justifying war, inva- Social Responsibility Board President John Rachow spoke, splitting our original chap- Chapter 134, Tacoma, WA sion, and occupation. ter to form Chapter 163 in Des Moines, The discussion also called upon those On August 13, steps away from Ft. visiting elementary schools to discuss present to remember that the suffering of Lewis-McChord, a capacity audience at- militarism, and appearance at a variety of war is not limited to the combatants. Two tended a public forum at Coffee Strong on venues to witness for peace. These include serious studies estimate that over a million the issue of military suicides. the Iowa State Fair, RAGBRAI (which is Iraqis have perished because of the Ameri- a 10,000 participant bicycle ride across A panel discussed the circumstances that can invasion. And untold living civilians Iowa), and a wide range of vigils, parade led to the death of Sgt. Derrick Kirkland now suffer from PTSD. at Lewis-McChord in 2010. On the panel appearances and other events. In addition, were Sgt. Kirkland’s mother and several John Bartley members of Chapter 161 participated in the combat veterans who served with him. Chapter 160 Hoa Binh, Vietnam Rally for Bradley Manning when Man- Also speaking was Ashley Hagemann, the The only overseas chapter of Veterans ning was transferred to Fort Leavenworth, widow of Staff Sergeant Jared Hagemann, for Peace now has a Web site. Please come Kansas. A small delegation attended the who took his own life at Ft. Lewis-Mc- to the site and check it out. We’re at http:// national convention. Overall, it was a busy Chord in July. vfp-vn.ning.com/ year, and we are just getting started! The testimony of panel members re- Chuck Palazzo Paul Deaton vvv counted the months that ended in tragedy: Chapter 161, Derrick Kirkland, once a sunny personal- Iowa City, IA ity with a natural sense of humor, returned Chapter from his first combat deployment with trou- 161 is nearing bling obsessions. Diagnosed with PTSD, completion of and facing a third deployment, Kirkland the first year since receiving VFP Wooden Dove our charter and it Roughly 8” by 4 1/2” has been a busy in size time of recruit- $20.00 ing members, fund raising and quite a number of actions to raise awareness of the true costs of war. Chapter members Made in Vietnam by have had a busy Demonstration at the Des Moines Federal Building by Chapters 161 and Agent Orange survivors schedule of advo- 163 the day Chapter 163 charter was awarded - 9 - If There Were Peace

If there were peace, this river would be Our journey began, however, not in Vietnam, but in Japan. Ken a peaceful place. spent the first fifteen years of his life in the city of Yatsushiro, — John Balaban, “Mau Than” Kyushu, where he was raised by his maternal grandparents. Having The weapon that got Ken Takenaga and me was an RPG, a seen where I grew up in Perkasie, Pennsylvania, Ken wanted to rocket-propelled grenade. You’ve seen RPGs in news footage of show us his own roots. We stood on the walls of the ruined feudal castle where Ken had climbed and played as a child. We saw Afghan mujahedeen or Taliban fighters. The launcher is a long the local jail where Ken’s grandfather had once been locked up thin tube the gunner rests for “overspending” on election day (long before Ken was born). on his shoulder like a Though the house Ken grew up in has been replaced by a newer bazooka, and the projectile structure, just across the street is Kangyo-ji, the Buddhist temple sticks out the front of the where his grandparents’ graves are, and where his will be some tube like a bulbous cone- day. shaped piece of nastiness. We didn’t call them RPGs We spent eight days in Japan, walking across the famous five- back then. We called them arch Kintai Bridge at Iwakuni (near where I had been stationed B-40s. But a rose by any post-Vietnam in 1969), touring magnificent Kumamoto Castle, other name still has thorns, luxuriating in a private onsen (hot springs spa) at Tsuetate, making and whatever you called rice paper art at Shirakawa Spring, enjoying a Shinto wedding it, one B-40 can screw up Bill (left) and Ken filling sandbags for we happened upon at Aso Shrine, being decked out in traditional your whole day. It cer- their combination fighting hole/sleep- kimonos by a dressmaker and her two teenaged daughters (the ing quarters/fortified bunker, Quang Tri, tainly screwed up ours. process takes nearly an hour), dolphin-watching in Hayasaki Strait, October 1967. (photo: W. D. Ehrhart). walking amidst the awesome aftermath of the 1990 volcanic erup- Ken got the worst of it: tion of Fugendake. a huge gash in his scalp and a shattered right arm. He was evacu- ated immediately, first to Da Nang, then to Hawaii. I got some Among the coolest things Ken and I did together was a talk small shrapnel wounds a doctor cleaned out, slept for a few hours, about the and its aftermath to the congregants of then went back to the war, stone-deaf but otherwise reasonably Toko-ji Zen Temple in Amakusa. Five years ago, at the request of functional. This was Hue City during the Tet Offensive. If you Morinobu Okabe, 31st priest of the temple, Ken and I had trans- could walk, see, and shoot, you kept fighting. There were guys a lated and adapted a poem by the late Shinmin Sakamura, which lot worse off than me. Okabe-san makes available free for visiting English speakers. A good 50 people showed up for the talk, listening attentively for an It took me 32 years to hour, and then we all had a multicourse feast washed down with find Kenny again. I didn’t beer, sake, and shochu. even know his real first name Then it was on to Vietnam. After a night in Saigon—where the (Kazunori) or which country street scene can only be described as “motor-scooter madness”— he lived in (Japanese-born, he we flew to central Vietnam, the area between Hoi An and the 17th was still a Japanese citizen in Parallel, where Ken and I had been stationed. We drove over the 1968). He’d come to the U.S. Hai Van Pass, a spectacular ride that had been charged with danger in the midst of the Vietnam the first time we’d taken it in 1967. We climbed Marble Mountain, War, as a permanent alien where throughout the war the Viet Cong had maintained a field resident was subject to the hospital right under the noses of the Americans at Da Nang. We draft, got drafted, and chose drove over the bridge that had once connected the rest of Hieu LCpl. Takenaga and Cpl. Ehrhart, 1/1 to join the Marines instead, Nhon District to the small fishing village of Phuoc Trac, displaced CP, Hoi An, July 1967 (photo: W. D. thinking he was joining the now by a string of luxury beach resorts. Ehrhart). navy. When he got to Parris Island, he asked the drill instructors, “Where are the ships?” But In Hue City, the old Imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty, we that’s another story. visited the Citadel, made famous by the Tet Offensive of 1968, and the Holy Lady Pagoda, where we saw the actual Austin automobile I finally tracked him down in 2000 (yet another story), and since Thich Quang Duc rode to Saigon in before immolating himself in then we’ve renewed our friendship as if no time at all had passed. protest of Ngo Dinh Diem’s suppression of Buddhists in 1963. We These days, he shuttles between Japan and New York, so we get drove up to the old DMZ and descended into the tunnels of Vinh together several times a year. Ken has spent his entire adult life in Moc, where an entire village of 70 families had lived underground the travel and tourism industry, and when he suggested we make a for six years to escape U.S. bombardment. trip back to Vietnam, he didn’t have to ask twice. But the most amazing thing of all was finding the very build- This was not my first trip back to postwar Vietnam. But this trip ing Ken and I had been in when we were wounded. During the was special for two reasons: I’d be able to take my wife Anne with war, it had been some bigwig’s mansion—the mayor or provincial me this time, to share with her a place she had only—but endless- governor—a two-and-a-half story house surrounded by a yard and ly—heard about during our thirty years of marriage. And I’d be a wall. The bigwig had skipped town when the shooting started, traveling with a comrade who’d literally been where I’d been and knew what I knew and needed no explanations. If There Were Piece continued on page 15 - 10 - Convention Joe Anybody put together a great little Human Costs of War: Continued from page 5 “Art & Music” slideshow and posted it Summer 2011 on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ hotline” phone-answering task to an watch?v=CbdujbvBRLc) DoD Press Release August 11, 2011 enthusiastic gadget user who isn’t hard of hearing (i.e. not me) Extra copies the Portland chapter’s The Army released suicide data today souvenir broadsides — three versions of for the month of July. Among active-duty • ensuring that the designated entrance letterpress posters featuring quotes by soldiers, there were 22 potential suicides: for wheelchair users was actually open Howard Zinn and printed on Combat Paper every day three have been confirmed as suicide and — are available for sale at $5 apiece plus 19 remain under investigation. For June • collaborating earlier and more closely shipping on the VFP72.org website. Click 2011, the Army reported nine potential sui- with IVAW and MFSO and finding ways on the 2011 convention tab to see samples cides among active-duty soldiers. Since the to build more and better bridges of com- and ordering info. release of that report, three cases have been munication between all of our organiza- Of course the program at best stirs confirmed as suicide, and six cases remain tions meaningful conversation that can help lead under investigation. • including an “In Memorium” section in us further down our individual and collec- During July 2011, among reserve the program booklet or on a display tive paths toward peace. To that end, some of us in Portland Chapter 72 are already component soldiers who were not on active • working toward increased cultural diver- plotting a way to get ourselves to the 2012 duty, there were 10 potential suicides: none sity in programming convention in Biscayne Bay, Miami. have been confirmed as suicide and 10 • arranging for professional-level videog- vvv remain under investigation. For June 2011, raphy to ensure higher quality, and more the Army reported five potential suicides complete streaming and archive produc- Becky Luening has been an associate among not-on-active-duty soldiers. Since tions member of Veterans For Peace since about the release of that report, one case has been • making a point of viewing the art show 1997. She also serves as a board member of added for a total of six cases. Four cases that fellow chapter member Dan Shea Vietnam Friendship Village Project USA. have been confirmed as suicide, and two worked so hard to arrange—which, NOTE: Additional photographs of the cases remain under investigation. according to all reports, was a big hit convention taken and posted online by Al- vvv (luckily for me, local video producer len Hallmark of Rogue Valley Chapter 156, Grants Pass, Oregon, may be viewed via this link: http://www.bit. ly/vfp2012 Water Project Update vvv

Last spring VFP Iraq Water Project took a body blow. After receiving a string of credible death threats, two of Doug Zachary casts his our three-man Iraqi installation team spell at the Saturday night banquet. (Photo by left the country and the remaining Mike Hastie) engineer got out of Baghdad. For quite a while we had no communication from anybody, and did not know what had become of them. We are since informed that the two expats went to Belgium to apply for asylum, and we wish them all possible luck. I don’t want to take up a lot of news space with this item; there will be a posting on iraqwaterproject. org with more information. It’s all part of working in a vicious war zone. Other Ed Tick looks on as western aid organizations are reportedly Marine Corps veteran receiving the same threats and the situ- Jessica Goodell talks ation is getting worse. IWP has made or about her personal experience with PTSD renewed alternative partner alignments after serving in the and the work will go on. Thanks to all Corps’ first official who have helped this project over the Mortuary Affairs unit in last decade. The book’s final chapter has Iraq in 2004. (Photo by Mike Hastie) not gone to the printer quite yet. Art Dorland, Project Chair

- 11 - BOOK REVIEWS return home and to heal from war.” written documentary films, and is host and You will be drawn into this book’s co-writer of Global Spirit on Link TV. He contributors’ stories of wrongs that have collaborated with Association for Global occurred in their lives and the solutions that New Thought and the Gandhi King Chavez became part of their healing. Through their Season for Nonviolence and others to cre- stories we are able to feel how powerful ate a Wisdom of Atonement Study Course; is the shift from retaliation and revenge to see http://reflectionsonatonement.com/re- that of forgiveness and atonement. A few sources/ The book was inspired by Richard examples: J. Meyer, Southern California businessman, and founder of The Atonement Project. Arun Gandhi (grandson of Mohandas Gandhi) tells stories of his grandfather’s Nancy Delaney River, Associate Member childhood that give insight into Gandhi’s of San Francisco VfP, Chapter 69 non-violence. One, where Gandhi, at ap- vvv prox. age 12, after sneaking and stealing for a year to obtain meat – not available in his vegetarian family – because he believed it would give him a more muscular stat- ure, confesses. His father’s response, after Gandhi presented to him his acts in writing, was to break into tears and embrace his son. Pause. After reading Gandhi’s child- hood stories one cannot help but reflect on beyond forgiveness: Reflections on the impact of punishment vs. the possibility Atonement for empowerment, as in incarcerations – Edited by Phil Cousineau and war. Josey-Bass, San Francisco, CA 2011 226 pp Azim Khamisa (president of the Tariq ‘beyond forgiveness: Reflections on Khamisa Foundation) writes that after the Atonement is an anthology of stories and murder of his son by a 14-year-old he chose insights into the common theme of forgive- forgiveness and created a foundation whose ness and atonement. The book’s purpose is work is speaking nationally and interna- to explore, promote, and create inspiring di- tionally to keep other young people from alogue around the practice of atonement as making the same mistake. Mr. Khamisa, an integral step in the process of reconcilia- formerly an investment banker, collabo- tion and healing and offering resources for rated with the grandfather of his son’s mur- personal action and transformation, looking derer in the foundation work and formed at universal means to “end the vicious cycle his new life’s purpose – “…opposing forces Blood on the Tracks: The Life and Times of war.” that collide to create a monumental shift in of S. Brian Willson Atonement – making amends, going order to help rebalance the world. We are S. Brian Willson with a foreword by beyond forgiveness to repair damage done. teaching non-violence, peacemaking, em- Daniel Ellsberg Mr. Cousineau summarizes “…to make pathy, forgiveness, and atonement. If I had PM Press, August 2011, 500 pp amends for, but also carries connotations gone the other way, where would I be?” He’s most known for the horrific 1987 of, being ‘at one with, in harmony’.” “In This book is life-changing. Each story train assault during a peaceful, ongo- every situation that calls for reconciliation reinforces the power of forgiveness and ing protest on the tracks of a California all of us, regardless of political or religious atonement. It certainly left this long-time weapons base that cut off both his legs just orientation, can move forward through bold (and many times angry) activist wanting to below the knees. But Viet Nam war veteran acts of forgiveness and atone. If we can, to- put on a Gandhian cloak before I step out Brian Willson logged many, many years gether we will heal the world.” As regards my door desiring it to permeate my every war, Dr. Edward Tick: “When we go to of anti-war activism both before and after action. For personal transformation and war we declare that we are not and cannot that infamous incident. Thus the title of his resources read the book, see the websites – be at one with the other…We no longer just-released book Blood on the Tracks: www.beyondforgiveness.org / http://reflec- cooperate or try to get along…We believe The Life and Times of S. Brian Willson, tionsonatonement.com, and the companion the other has become a threat [such that] we plus its shocking cover photo taken sec- projects. must resort to violence…and make our- onds after the amputation and attempted selves safe again… War destroys Oneness Phil Cousineau, writer, filmmaker, edi- murder, sets the focus for his gripping in every aspect of our existence. Atonement tor and lecturer, and TV host, has published life’s story. is necessary for soldiers and nations to twenty-six “soulful” nonfiction books, It must be a very long journey indeed to - 12 - BOOK REVIEWS come from a family background in upstate Anger and sadness wash over me as I read without his brother, a fellow Marine who New York of conservative, blindly patri- co-author Vietnam Veteran, history profes- was killed in the battle in which Adrian was otic Christian Republicans to becoming an sor and peacemaker Robert Topmiller left wounded, a failed reconnaissance mission absolutely unstoppable “upright human be- this earth before the final publication of this in which other Marines and Iraqi women ing in a world of violence and lies,” as one book. His words pierce my heart and cut to and children were also killed. He returns reviewer called him. Perhaps the review the core of all war veterans who truly are to post-traumatic stress disorder, a feeling by William Blum, author of Killing Hope: left with the human costs of war. Doc said of sexual inadequacy and a fractured love U.S. Military and CIA Interventions Since once,”I have dreaded ...others discover- relationship, to guilt, and finally a legal trial World War II, sums it up best, “The 1960s ing the depth of my trepidation.” All of us in which the responsibility of a nation is to the 1980s…for progressive activists in need to be available to listen, connect and tried in the person of one returning broken the United States there perhaps was never a understand the utter personal destruction Marine. period quite like it – Viet Nam to of post traumatic stress disorder. The book The novel is an examination of the to , one long protest against advises us to “remain open to each other... troubled relationship of father and sons, of the barbarity of American imperialism. S. extend ourselves to those who close their the physical and emotional relationship of Brian Willson was there, here and every- doors...” addressing the isolation of those a couple radically changed by war and loss, where, devoting his life, sacrificing his legs with PTSD. of the relationship of brother and brother, to a munitions train. A marvelous ‘journey,’ History is rife with examples of denial, and the relationship of a former military he calls it, for the boy who was ‘convinced misdiagnosis, mistreatment and underfund- member to his government and those who that the United States could do no wrong,’ ing for veterans programs from Daniel sent him to war. The relationship of Adrian a loyal anti-communist, who served in Viet Shays, the WWI Bonus March, and a reluc- and his father, a stern, distant, harshly Nam, then travelled the length of Latin tant passage of the Veterans Readjustment judgmental former Marine who pushed America to oppose U.S. foreign policy and Act by FDR (known as the G.I Bill.) The and bullied his sons to join the military and support the numerous victims of that policy. VA didn’t recognize PTSD until 1980, and who berates Adrian when he returns alone, Sadly, that policy continues, but Willson’s has stone-walled the investigation Agent is especially well done in the book. The memoir can well serve as a guide and inspi- Orange for decades, to say nothing of Gulf sad reality facing the returning “hero” from ration to a new generation of progressive War Syndrome. Recent funding of the VA our latest and most problematic adventure activists. We’ve learned a lot.” has improved slightly, but depending on the in nation-building at the point of a gun in a Orders can be placed with PM (Printed current climate of anti-government public distant and culturally foreign land provides Material) Press: www.pmpress.org opinon and political rhetoric; these gains a background for the author’s serious ex- Nadya Williams, Chapter 69 San Fran- are fragile at best. amination of the pathologies of the modern American way of war. cisco Read this book. Get involved in veter- vvv ans issues. Become a veterans advocate. There is some very good writing in this Above all establish social networks with all book, and the story, though complicated Binding Their Wounds: America’s veterans whether anti-war or not. Work for and multidimensional, is told with an Assault on Its Veterans peace, stand and march for peace, and as economy and a taut structure that builds to Robert Topmiller and T Kerby Neill Gandhi says,”Become the change you want the resolution of the mystery story that is Paradigm Publishers to see in the world.” at the novel’s center. Adrian Wheeler finds April 2011, 224 pp himself at the center of the most impor- Aaron M. Davis As a student of history, veteran of the tant court-martial of the Iraq war, and the vvv Marine Corps and Army, and veterans verdict reveals much about the individual activist and advocate, reviewing this great man, the military, and the country. It is the The Trials of Adrian Wheeler book by fellow VFP members Robert novel, rather than the factual reports from By Steve Shear Topmiller and T. Kerby Neill was a natural the ground, that will likely reveal to us this L&L Dreamspell Publishers fit for me. war and its effects in all their complexity. Lldreamspell.com My favorite chapter is the last chapter 332 pp, paperback Adrian Wheeler is a fine, fully drawn titled, “Help us doc, to avoid the next war. character, large enough to carry the weight In this first novel by poet, painter, and We urgently need skilled peacemakers and of the many aspects of this book. Steve sculptor Steve Shear (an associate member negotiators in our polarized legislatures and Shear has created a fine representative of of Veterans for Peace), the “trials” refer government service...based on caring and our troubled time. A screenplay of the to the physical, mental, social, and legal partnerships. Working for peace is the only book has been written, and plans to do a tribulations that face a young ex-Marine alternative. Peace is the public health for film version of the book are in the works. who returns from the war in Iraq bereft in veterans and for us all.” body, mind, and spirit. Adrian Wheeler Chuck Rossi These words resonate deeply in my soul returns from Iraq with a twisted knee vvv as many emotions flow back and forth. and without his left arm; he also returns - 13 - P O E T R Y

Two poems by James Wright

(HQ Co. 15th Med Bn, 1st Air Cav (AM) Phuoch Vinh 1970-71):

Nameless Hootchmaid of the Goat Shed (Phouc Vinh, RVN, 1970)

The face that holds these eyes is not a face for me-- faceless, nameless, tissue-scarred, her’s is a mask Golden Women burned and pushed aside. the women with golden baubles in their ears Only the eyes remain and golden trim around their teeth to remind us as she comes look with peace-filled eyes inquiringly each morning to shine our boots as to whether I am an honest man: that someone else— as honest as they are people my countryman no doubt, who scrape, bow, shine shoes, had burnt her dreams clean rooms and hang around speaking: cauterized her thoughts “tenkyoo hancho, tenkyoo.” to the deepest recess of her mind.

Yet she shows us in her eyes she will still look out for the friendly glance the honest face, and finding it she peers up and grins. The sun glows on her golden teeth.

Chu Lai (For Robert Lee Hennel)

After missions He could wash choppers out But not memory.

Michael Gillen From: Wild Geese Returning: Haiku and Photographs

- 14 - If There Were Peace One evening in Hue, we went for a boat ride on the River of Continued from page 10 Perfumes, accompanied by eight singers and musicians in tradi- tional dress performing traditional folk music. One can hardly imagine, let alone describe, the beauty, the profound tranquility, of such an experience, especially for two ex-Marines who had nearly died next to that river so many years ago. Later that night, Ken and I stood on a hotel balcony overlooking Hue. We could see the university that had been used as a refugee center, the roof of the building we’d been in, now dwarfed by the hotel built around it, the roofs of what had been the MACV com- pound. But the streets were crowded with noisy, jostling, energetic people. The river flowed with colorful tour boats. The bridge glowed yellow, then green, then blue. We did not speak. There was nothing to say. This is what we had come to see. A country. Not a war. Bill Ehrhart, a member of VFP Chapter 31, teaches at the Hav- erford School in suburban Philadelphia. Ken and Bill giving a talk on the Vietnam War to the congregants A longer version of the article, with additional photos, is acces- of Toko-ji Zen Buddhist Temple, Amakusa, June 2011. (photo by sible at http://www.wdehrhart.com/kbea-pages/introduction.html. Sachiko Akama) Temple Poem and we Marines were using it as a battalion command post. We’d Amakusa, Japan spent several days trying to dislodge some North Vietnamese from the houses across the street, and were just marking time that morn- The sun comes up each morning in silence; ing, waiting for flame tanks to come and burn the block down. Ken the moon disappears, but nobody sees. and I were posted in a second-story bedroom. I was making a cup Flowers dance by the roadside unnoticed; of C-ration coffee and Ken was cleaning his rifle when a North birds twitter sweetly, but nobody hears. Vietnamese soldier put an RPG through the window. People don’t stop to consider what matters. It took some work to find the building—a lot can and does People work hard all their lives to achieve change in 43 years—but we found it. Completely renovated and refurbished, the house is now the business offices for the four-star, a dream of success that will make them happy: six-story Duy Tan Hotel. The yard is now a tiled driveway and position or power, fortune or fame— parking area for the hotel with a motor-scooter rental operation and until they are old and they realize too late an outdoor coffee shop. Only the configuration of the windows, and that the beauty of living has passed them by the location of the house itself, allowed me to be certain we had the right place. while the river travels alone to the ocean, Indeed, aside from the ubiquitous cemeteries for the war dead the wind sings alone in the tops of the trees. and the occasional monument or statue, one has to look hard to From the original Japanese by Shinmin Sakamura, translated find any evidence of the American War (as the Vietnamese call it). by Kazunori Takenaga and adapted by W. D. Ehrhart at the request The population, double what it was in 1975, is young, dynamic, of Morinobu Okabe, 31st priest of the Zen Buddhist Temple of and ambitious. There is new construction everywhere. Roads, Toko-ji. bridges, in the cities, in the countryside, 20-story office buildings, vvv single-family homes. Grass-thatched roofs have been replaced by ceramic tile. Most farmers plow their paddy fields with motorized if primitive tractors. Roads are paved, cars are commonplace, and motor-scooters and cellphones abound. The beaches up and down the entire coast of Vietnam are lined with resort hotels. VietBank and PetroVietnam are juxtaposed with Hyundai and Sheraton. The gap-toothed bridge over the River of Perfumes that the Viet Cong blew up during Tet has been rebuilt, and is lit nightly with an array of colored floodlights that makes the lighting on Philadelphia’s Ben Franklin Bridge look anemic. Anne, Ken, and I, together with photographer Sachiko Akama, who traveled with us, visited a fish farm and an aquarium on Hon Mieu, the Cham-built Hindu temples of Po Nagar (the oldest dating back to the 8th century), the summer palace of Emperor Tu Duc, and the tomb of emperor Khai Dinh. We went swimming in the tur- quoise waters of Nha Thang Bay, took a sunset cruise on the Song Cai, and ate a barbeque of fresh prawns, squid, beef, tomatoes, and Ken and Bill in Hue City. In the rear is the building where they were cucumber on Hon Mun. wounded. (photo by Sachiko Akama) - 15 - Director’s Report Peace Prerequisite Continued from page 2 continued from page 3 we can expect from our membership. mass consumers be passed on. The program Values can provide motivation – Family and community; clean air, water and soil, community self-sufficiency in energy, water, Attracting donors requires a solid, clear program. And not and food. coincidentally, a solid, clear program will give us a greater sense of purpose and direction. Youth need to be involved – The past few generations have given us the greed-driven problems and we need youth with new If you attended the convention, you may recall that my re- ideas to move us forward. port during the Saturday business meeting included mention of a Volunteers are key – Volunteerism on a large scale is key to locally-based organizing campaign, organized by VFP chapters expanding the good work of Non-Governmental Organizations and and active members who want to participate, on the key issue of holding governments accountable. the war economy and how it’s killing us in so many different ways. Not every family and community has had to welcome back a coffin Measure growth differently than GDP – combine with sustain- or a wounded member, but every single community has suffered able development goals and social development – measuring cutbacks in libraries, schools, health care and the dignity that only the production gives a distorted picture and doesn’t take into comes with having decent public services. account the depletion and pollution of resources – we make and spend money but we also spend resources to do so. Some of our chapters and active members are already organiz- ing around these issues, building local coalitions with growing RIO+20: The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Devel- political power. But we can always do it better, more methodically, opment will take place in Rio de Janeiro, on June 4-6, 2012. more purposefully. At the convention I said I’ll be seeking funding Commonly referred to as “Rio+20,” it takes place twenty years for this kind of organizing campaign, but I’m not waiting for it to after a similar conference, also held in Rio, that called for drastic get started. action to save the planet. It will also mark the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johan- As I’m writing this, tomorrow I’ll be on the road to Asheville, nesburg. Rio+20 is seen by many as perhaps the last chance for the NC, where Chapter 99 is heading up a couple days for VFP mem- planet, or at least for the survival of our species along with a lot bers and others in the Asheville area to take a break from activism, of other species. The UN conference will take place alongside the see what this kind of organizing might mean for them and how to World Social Forum in nearby Porto Alegre, Brazil, the site of the go about it. I have great expectations! One is to initiate a pilot proj- first World Social Forum in 2001. ect with partners who can help design and refine a program that The Bonn NGO conference passed a 16-page declaration of will move forward VFP’s mission, provide purpose and direction goals to take to Rio as our input to their declaration. Due to the for the organization, and attract serious donors. And you know the participation of several peace activists at the conference, the word- old saying, “So goes Asheville, so goes the nation!” ing for peace was made stronger and moved toward the beginning Onward! of the declaration to RIO+20. Mike VFP member Helen Jaccard spoke to the entire assembly to make the point that efforts to build a sustainable future must (*) One element of any good development plan is “Planned include stopping war, since control of scarce resources is a major Giving.” If you’ve not made arrangements to make a bequest to cause of war, and war is a major destroyer of the environment as VFP, please consider doing so. I’ve been going to do that for years well as entire societies of people. Several other delegates made and finally did…it’s actually painless. similar remarks, including Alfred Marder, a VFP member from vvv New Haven, Connecticut who is president of the International As- sociation of Peace Messenger Cities. As a direct result of these interventions, Lines 68-70 (of a 595- VFP Logo Peace Bronze Pendant line document) read as follows: Recognizing that peace is a precondition for sustainable devel- opment and that high expenditures are being allocated in warfare, and that military activities, in particular the use of nuclear weap- 1” x 1.25” pendant ons, represent a serious threat to the planet contains approximately You can download the declaration here: http://www.un.org/ 4 grams of Peace wcm/content/site/ngoconference/resources/final Bronze, on a 20” black Many delegates at the conference were receptive to an antiwar waxed cord with a perspective, but that was not on the agenda of the NGO’s they magnetic clasp represented, so they could not promote it themselves. Groups like Veterans For Peace can help assure that concerns about war and $20.00 peace are included in all appropriate venues. Peace needs champi- www.vfpstore.org ons, in the environmental community, as everywhere. Helen Jaccard vvv - 16 - Or order on line at www.vfpstore.org - 17 - Or order on line at www.vfpstore.org - 18 - Report from Hebron ported that two of the CPT staff were assaulted while attempting to Continued from page 4 video record an attack on Palestinian shepherds by Israeli settlers. Moreover, we learned from Issa that Anna, a German national, was so that it is now physically impossible for Palestinians to openly attacked and beaten as was George, a Greek national, and even a display their wares! Following the massacre, Israeli military orders disabled Palestinian child. All this occurred in this “Hell on Earth” had forced more than 500 shops in the city center to close. city. Americans should be outraged to discover that when Palestin- While walking through the old market, we observed as we ians are being attacked, beaten, even shot, the IDF usually looks looked above our heads some Israeli flags that flew from windows the other way. This is the military that our tax dollars are support- in houses that overlooked the market. A number of Jewish families ing. had bribed some Palestinians to sell property while other Israelis Who supports these settlers? One major donor is the Hebron had obtained eviction notices since owners of Palestinian houses Fund (a 501.c.3 organization) which collects monies (tax-free) to had not obtained the required permits from the government to maintain and support Hebron settlers and those who live in adja- build additions to their homes. Thus, we saw Israeli flags flying cent areas. To view a glimpse of the injustices we have described, above the passageways that led through the old market. We also we recommend going to www.Openshuhadastreet.org. Moreover, observed the netting that was placed over the streets in the market. the photos that accompany this article show what we have men- This heavy wire mesh (see photo below) is designed to protect tioned: the netting over the passageways in the old market; the Palestinians from being hit with bottles, bricks, chairs, and other concrete blocks that are examples of resistance. debris that the settlers routinely throw down upon any persons who take this route while shopping in a very limited area of old Hebron. Our IFPB group was allowed to walk on Shuhada Street which In addition, Hebron residents must place wire meshing over their is well-kept and refurbished by money from the Clinton admin- windows to protect them from armed settlers who walk by and istration with the stipulation that it must be shared by all citizens throw rocks that would shatter the windows without such protec- of Hebron. However, the water and electricity which were sup- tion. Incidentally, Palestinians with houses on Shuhada Street are posed to serve both the Hebron settlers and the residents of the not allowed to walk on this street. In 2000, the IDF sealed the front Old City are no longer available to the Palestinians. Contrary to doors of these homes and shops in the name of “security,” requir- the agreement (the Hebron Protocol), when we were there in June, ing Palestinians in these houses to find alternative routes through Shuhada Street was closed to all traffic except for the military and other houses or via their rooftops in order to access their own com- settlers. There are still some Palestinians clinging to their homes munity. on Shuhada Street but they have had to cover their windows with Many of the merchants whose shops were welded shut have heavy reinforced screens to provide protection from religious moved away as they have no way to display their goods or easy zealots in Hebron. access to another location because of the blocked off streets. Busi- We questioned if settler damage is ever reported to the Israeli ness, therefore, has slowed to a trickle as nearly a thousand more occupying authority and Issa told us that attacks by settlers on na- have closed their shops. No access, no business. tive Palestinians are rarely investigated, even if these attacks result We IFPB delegates learned that Israeli settlers verbally harass in serious injury or death. and sometimes, physically attack Palestinians, including school We conclude by stating that the oppressive Israeli policy we children who walk to school. Thank goodness for members of witnessed firsthand does little or nothing for Israel’s security but, Christian Peacemakers Team (CPT) and International Solidarity instead, has the opposite effect of inciting anger and encouraging Movement people (ISM) who often act as escorts for the children insurgency among Palestinians. So many of the ideological settlers and provide protection. We met a gutsy pair of CPT who docu- carry US weapons which have been used to terrorize or kill Pales- mented the many human rights abuses inflicted by settlers who tinian families. Settlers also cut down olive trees, poison Palestin- have taken over much of Hebron and nearby lands. Within one ians’ animals, as well as their water supplies, and fields. month after we returned home, the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, re- Help to bring peace and justice to Israel/Palestine. Get in- volved. Do your own research such as visiting the websites of UN OCHA, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian affairs; B’tselem, Israeli Information Center for Human Rights (www. btselem.org); If Americans Knew (www.ifamericansknew.org); Ha’aretz, Israeli newspaper; The Jerusalem Post, Israeli newspa- per; and ICHAD, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (www.icahd.org). Finally, we believe it is in Israeli’s best interest that people worldwide support the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Cam- paign (BDS). We say take the profit out of Illegal Occupation and support the nonviolent international movement to pressure the government of Israel with a tactic that aided the collapse of South African Apartheid. For additional information on this campaign, go to www.BDSmovement.net Vince Stravino, Veterans for Peace, Bethlehem, PA. Will Thomas, Veterans for Peace, Auburn, NH Hebron: Old City. vvv - 19 - Non-Profit Org. 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