Winter Soldier Redux

Escaping Ice in Detroit
By
Alex Primm

Alex, who testified at the VVAW Winter Soldier Investigation in 1971, shares his thoughts with us as he and his wife Cathy prepare to depart for IVAW's Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan, to be held in Silver Springs, Maryland, March 13th thru 16th, 2008, at the George Meany College of Labor campus.

I can't quite recall how I ended up in my friend's old Mustang driving to Detroit all night one winter without a heater. I mainly remember the drive. Everything else deeply lodged back in dreamland... charged up veterans, Jane Fonda being beautiful and aloof, an angry mass meeting, the cold... all mostly a fog... though fragments now emerge.

Or maybe it wasn't all night because I remember staying at someone's apartment in Valparaiso. John went to college there. He too must have been drafted after graduating.

He was infantry. Me, an Army correspondent. We weren't kids. We knew we had seen some serious craziness. Nothing like what our fathers did.

This is all ancient history, 1971. Were you even alive then? Did Iraq exist then? The CIA?

Sure. Bad stuff was out there. That's why we were on the road with a can of Sterno.

No, no, no... We weren't drinking it... we hadn't sunk that low... we had the little can set in the console between the two bucket seats and kept the blue flame alive. More cornfields than billboards in those days. The tiny fire made it easy to light cigarettes. We were nervous. Might have even been drinking beers as we cruised through the Midwestern night. Crazy and uptight.

x x x

Where we would end up? Reassuringly our goal was Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge in downtown Detroit. Back then HoJos was near the pinnacle of respectability. Comfort and good taste reigned as it advertised something like 28 flavors of ice cream. No one was interested. We were revolutionaries.

The lobby was filled mostly with longhaired scruffy guys wearing cast-off pieces of uniform. Lots of milling around, waiting for the local radicals to find us a flop... or a party. This was the Vietnam Veterans Against the War's first national action, funded largely by Fonda, Graham Nash and others that we learned about later. John and I went, maybe after demonstrating in St. Louis. This was different... no marches... no angry or turgid speakers... no one trying to twist their ideology around your neck.

The actual Winter Soldier Investigation, Numero Uno, took place back in a small ballroom. You went in, registered, showed your paperwork, told your stories from Vietnam and someone would ask questions to make sure you got it right, that it wasn't fake. Some of it was filmed, all of it must have been recorded, transcribed then parts published by Beacon Press later.

x x x

I didn't have much to say as the former editor of the Army's newspaper for the First Logistics Command, a division-sized unit that ran resupply for the Army all over South Vietnam. The Army didn't lie much, we just left out stuff, especially any mention of American casualties or KIAs.

I forget what John testified to. It's probably in the book. When we got back we held a Veterans' Inquiry into the War in St. Louis, spring of '71.

People listened... a few... more and more over time... we had to say what we had seen. We about filled an auditorium at a Lutheran seminary.

We had to talk... we had seen so much waste and craziness.

Luckily we hadn't tried to take over the GM Building in downtown Detroit when WSI was finally over. Some wanted to do that. There was enough anger they almost got their way.

We ended up going by the Detroit Institute of Arts, a sane, peaceful place.

www.VetSpeak.org

Going Broke... Going Bonkers... Going East...

By

Alex Primm

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Alex testified at the original Winter Soldier Investigation in Detroit in 1971. He will be at Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan, to be held at the George Meany College of Labor in Silver Springs, Maryland. He will be there in support of the current ranks of Winter Soldiers as they Speak Truth To Power, and to the American People.

This March, 2008, marks our 5th anniversary in Iraq... we invaded on the 19th... shock and awe... the same day Cathy and I jumped the broomstick.

It's two days before the equinox... this can put people on edge... caught between two seasons... especially the season of cold and cabin fever.

Our Ozark college town had a demonstration the day before, more than a hundred showed up. Not me. Good luck, they were trying to stop the war even before it started.

I sort of believed President Bush, that Saddam Hussein was a bad guy who was going to blow up America with his secret weapons.

I believed in GWOT... briefly... the Global War on Terror. What happened to that? It seems to have had a short shelf life indeed...

I wanted Ahmad Chalabi to be right... the guy who was going to make Iraq a model democracy... whatever happened to him... another war criminal?

Has it all come down to Iraq? Who has benefited from the trillions of dollars... the thousands killed?

Iraq and the price of gas... and the price of bread... or heat... or life.

Everything going up... prices... casualties... confusion... frustration.

So why not go to D.C., the center of it all? That's where the Iraq Veterans Against the War are holding their investigation of this war... the Winter Soldier Investigation... numero dos.

Cathy's an intrepid traveler... let's go... it can't hurt. The same energetic attitude she had 25 years ago.

What finally made up my mind was talking with Willie Hager... a Vietnam vet like me... a smart dude with a good sense of balance who can laugh at this craziness because he saw beaucoup daily in Nam.

"You testified at the first WSI," Willie said. "You oughta think about coming to help these young vets now. Help get their stories out."

x

So, Cathy and I are going East; for memories, and for the future.

www.VetSpeak.org

xx

w

In from a friend...pass it on...

x
To Whom It Concerns:

I have to side with Willie and others as to the need for supporting the Winter Soldier movement when it comes forth. The American people want and deserve to hear the truth. The truth is not spoken any harsher than from those that served in the war in Iraq. This event will be an all out needed support from ALL VETERANS groups, pro and con against the war. Veterans have and need the support of one another, since the govt. seems to always deny what has happened to them in their effort to defend for America's Freedoms. As that old saying goes...."I don't agree with what you say...but I defend, to death, your right to say it..."

The last protest I attended was against the 1st Iraq invasion. As a combat veteran, I feel it is my duty to support and aid my fellow veterans in harms way. I also agree that some sort of new tactic be aligned to help in the anti-war movement. In today's arena, I don't think dissent among veterans is the way to proceed. I support total support for the Winter Soldier agenda.
Thanks for your ear. I usually don't say anything, anymore, but this is a time to stand together and aide our fellow veterans....

Lil'John
Vietnam 68-69
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www.VetSpeak.org

How to Support Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan

*Less Than 20 days away!*

Winter Soldier will be the largest gathering of Iraq Veterans Against the War to date!

From March 13-16, 2008, IVAW will gather at the National Labor College near Washington , DC to disclose the realities of U.S. war policy in a public investigation called Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan .

Continuing a tradition of courage...

Veterans and civilian survivors of both occupations will give public testimony and share eyewitness stories that have been censored from the American public about the true human cost of these occupations.

Winter Soldier will rewrite history...

Currently, the history of the Iraq and Afghanistan occupations is being written by people who aren't fighting them. For our democracy to function, Americans must understand the reality of the wars their government is waging. By breaking the silence, veterans are performing a difficult but essential service to our country.

What you can do? Learn more:

• Check out the 1971 VVAW Winter Soldier video, now available online, www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier
• Join the movement...Sign the statement of support at www.ivaw.org/wintersoldierstatementofsupport
• Spread the Word....Post a banner on your or your organization's website. Here's some help; www.ivaw.org/wintersoldierspreadtheword
• Be an Advocate...Encourage and sponsor GIs and veterans in your area to tell their stories. Veterans and GIs interested in testifying should contact the NYC IVAW chapter, who are coordinating the testimonies for Winter Soldier, at nyc@ivaw.org .
• Donate Today...Help with fundraising by collecting donations or hosting public events. House parties have been happening across the country in support of Winter Soldier http://ivaw.org/node/2418. For more ideas; check out IVAW's fundraising guide, www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier/support/housepartyguide.
• Volunteer to help in DC. There is a limited amount of space for VVAW, VFP, and MSFSO members to attend. If you can come to DC and lend a hand at registration tables, peer counseling, child care, security, or other tasks, please register ASAP at www.ivaw.org
• Share the Stories...Distribute information to other organizations, websites and journalists.

All of the Winter Soldier hearings will be archived online in video and audio at the IVAW website. A pdf of the testimonies heard and a DVD will also be available shortly after Winter Soldier weekend. For more on the archives of Winter Soldier that will be available, please contact wintersoldierally@ivaw.org

• Write your Experience...Write letters to the editor of local newspapers, or you can e-mail your piece to willie.hager@vetspeak.org Subj: Submit, telling why Winter Soldier is important to you. For help preparing materials for the press, please contact media@ivaw.org.
• Call your Leaders ("When follower's lead, leaders will follow." Ed.)...Contact your Congressional offices, request that they watch the hearings. To find out who your U.S. representative is visit U.S. House of Representatives, on-line; https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml; For the U.S. Senate, http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
• For state and local representatives; call your town hall, visit your state website, or ask your local librarian for help.
• Organize your Neighbors...Organize community forums to share the live broadcasts of the Winter Soldier hearings, and let us know about them. All planned events can be posted at the IVAW website here: www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier/viewinglocations/submit

For more on the Winter Soldier schedule, and how to connect to the live broadcasts, please visit www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier

• Give Strength.Provide emotional support for vets and GI's. A national network of mental health professionals is being organizing to support testifiers, members of IVAW and their families. If you or a colleague and would like to participate in this important organizing effort, please contact wintersoldierally@ivaw.org
• Speak Out...Use the testimonies recorded at the hearings to talk to youth about the reality of military service. Check out IVAW's Truth-in-Recruiting campaign for more details. http://ivaw.org/truthinrecruiting> > _______________________________________________

Posted by http://www.vetspeak.org/ from vvawnet mailing list vvawnet@vvaw.org

Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Inc. (773) 276-4189 e-mail: vvaw@vvaw.org. Fighting for veterans, peace and justice since 1967

WINTER SOLDIER:

Iraq & Afghanistan

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"Every age and generation must be as free to act for itself, in all cases, as the ages and generations which preceeded it...Man has no property in man; niether has any generation a property in the generations which are to follow." Thomas Paine, 1776

In January 1971, VVAW held the Winter Soldier Investigation, where Vietnam Veterans testified about war crimes and atrocities they committed or witnessed in Vietnam. This action helped expose how atrocities during Vietnam were essentially military policy, a policy that continues in the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This spring, the largest gathering of US veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Iraqi and Afghan eyewitnesses, will share their experiences in a public investigation called Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan. They will provide testimonies to war crimes the United States perpetuates with the ongoing wars and occupations, as well as the increasingly poor treatment of returning veterans by the US government agencies here at home.

From March 13-16th, 2008, Iraq Veterans Against the War will gather in our nation’s capitol to break the silence about the real stories of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and hold our leaders accountable for the devastation they have caused. We hope that you’ll join in supporting this, because this is a story that every American needs to hear!

Since IVAW's inception, VVAW has provided support and guidance. VVAW’s main priority this spring is to support IVAW's Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan. We are urging our membership to help with outreach to Veterans in your area, especially of the Iraq and Afghanistan era. Talk to them about possibly attending WSI or even testifying; put them in contact with local or national IVAW. We also need to raise more money; specific ideas for fundraising efforts (which can also be a great outreach tool) can be found at http://www.vvaw.org/press/?id=768. Ask local peace groups to help raise money to sponsor an IVAW member’sparticipation.

IVAW members face challenges similar to those VVAW faced 40 years ago. War crimes in places like Haditha, Fallujah and Abu Ghraib have assisted in turning the public against the war. But, politicians and generals repeat history by blaming 'a few bad apples' for such atrocities, rather than examining the military policies that destroyed Vietnam then and are destroying Iraq and Afghanistan now.

Veterans have the most powerful voices for speaking out about war because they have experienced it. IVAW members participating and attending the upcoming Winter Soldier Investigation will undoubtedly receive backlash similar to VVAW members in 1971. It is crucial to maximize support for one another; through the process of testifying and hearing testimonies, as well as after returning home after WSI. We request your help in getting more IVAW members to WSI and encourage VVAW members to attend and offer suport before during and after the event.

Thomas Paine, writing during the Revolutionary War, said: "The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."

It is time for all of us to support these true Winter Soldiers. All contributions for IVAW's Winter Soldier Investigation will go towards this event. Please help continue the outreach and fund raising efforts which go to further support our brothers, sisters, sons and daughters in Iraq Veterans Against the War.

For more information call VVAW at (773) 276-4189, email vvaw@vvaw.org, or check out www.vvaw.org/events/ or www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier

* Donate on-line at http://www.vvaw.org/store/?mode=ivawdonation or

* Send tax deductible donations with IVAW/WSI in the memo to:
VVAWPO Box 2065, Station A
Champaign, IL 61825-2065

Sincerely,

The Winter Soldier Investigation VVAW Support Team.

www.VetSpeak.org