Update: Afghanistan & Collateral Damage on the Homefront; Broken Hearts & Smoldering Embers......

Ed Note:  This piece came in from a VetSpeakNet subscriber...thanks.  It originally appeared as an Op-Ed piece in the Winona360, a news and feature outlet in Minnesota, made up of college, community, and internet contributors. The piece is timely and relevant. It strikes at the heart of the political, moral and social contradictions inherent in serving ones country.  For those who serve, it is an altruistic undertaking on behalf of America and it's citizens, rather than as politically motivated operatives of either political party, or any self-serving political initiative, such as corporate, political or nationalistic imperialism. For their families, it is hell on earth.  Ending these wars of imperialism will require each of us to take action.  This piece offers some good reasons, and some suggestions. Honor the Warrior - Not The War. WH 

Op-Ed: It's Time--A reflection on War, Family, and Action

Article | 03.28.11 | By Lisa Gray

The headline in The Washington Post March 2, 2011 read: “Lt. Gen. John Kelly, who lost his son to war, says U.S. largely unaware of sacrifice.”

No truer words have been spoken. Until recently, I could stand on one side of that statement and hang my head in shame because it’s clear he was speaking to me. On February 27, 2011, Corporal Andrew Wilfarht, cousin to my husband, and son to Jeff and Lori Wilfahrt of Rosemount, Minn., was killed in Afghanistan.

This begins a story I did not know needed to be told.

An uncle of mine served in Vietnam. He survived, came home to receive a purple heart for his efforts, and rarely spoke of it. Later, he would enter counseling, conquer alcoholism, and forgo having his own family because he didn’t trust himself. He has spent an entire lifetime battling the demons we civilians won’t know by becoming a counselor himself. He made several return trips to Vietnam, and later produced a video for returning soldiers called, “Coming Home.” 

My own cousin was a Marine and later became a part of The Green Berets, a special forces unit of the Army. He served as the medic in his team and the trials he endured go untold. We know he served the Bosnian refugees during their plight. Stories are rumored to be told of babies delivered in fields en route to escape. But he’s always come home.

I have friends with relatives in the service; other relatives who’ve served; and I was shuffled along as a kid to the Memorial Day Parades and patriotic concerts around the 4th of July; and like anyone, can describe in great detail what I was doing when the towers fell.

What I can’t explain is why I did nothing after the towers fell. 

So enter Andrew Wilfahrt, a young man I met at various family gatherings with the Wilfahrt crew. They are a silly bunch with a bit of a musical streak. Andrew was by far the most gifted; composing and mastering the piano and clarinet and any other instrument he touched. A stand-out memory includes my husband on guitar, mother-in-law on accordion, uncle on guitar, and Andrew on clarinet. It was Christmas and they were “performing," but it was so ridiculous that Andrew honked his clarinet consistently throughout due to laughter. He didn’t show off and gamely participated in mediocrity with the rest of the family band while we held our lighters aloft in delight. Later, this same young man’s eyes would sparkle as he played with my kids in a way that suggested enjoyment rather than endurance. 

When Andrew joined the Army, it was a surprise move made at the age of 29. He’d done many things and gone many places and battled some of his own demons. His mother, Lori Wilfahrt, told Minnesota Public Radio her son was an “interesting, wonderful young man” who joined the service because he was “looking for a purpose.” Andrew wanted to be with a “group of people that would be working together toward something.”

Still, our thoughts weren’t firmly in place as to the enormity of the decision. Besides, Afghanistan and Iraq were like old wallpaper in the guest bathroom. It’s there; no one likes it; yet no one really pays attention to it. This is not to say I didn’t worry about his safety, but for months he was in Hawaii—bored, sick of it, and then…deployment to Afghanistan. Our ears perked as we rigorously paid attention to the news, but we would soon learn the price to pay for complacency. I wouldn’t consider myself a peace activist, yet who admits to being “for war”? But I learned, through a shocking introduction to icasualites.org—which tracks the deaths of all of our fallen soldiers—that I have been living foolishly under the assumption that “they” doesn’t really mean “me."

Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said it best in this email to a reporter from The Washington Post: “I worry that we could wake up one day and the American people will no longer know us, and we won't know them.” 

Later, in a speech given by Lt. General Kelly, he said, “We are in a life-and-death struggle, but not our whole country. One percent of Americans are touched by this war. Then there is a much smaller club of families who have given all." He spoke of the anger that some combat veterans feel toward the war's opponents. "They hold in disdain those who claim to support them but not the cause that takes their innocence, their limbs and even their lives.”

Lt. General Kelly then clarified in an interview that he is opposed to indifference, not dissent. "I just think if you are against the war, you should somehow try to change it," he said. "Fight to bring us home."

And this is where I am left. I can no longer be indifferent after attending Andrew’s funeral, which was executed in full-on military style. Andrew would be the first to claim that his life was no more important than another’s, but the Army clearly felt differently. There were high ranking military officials in attendance along with Governor Dayton. To look at that small box of Andrew’s remains surrounded by grieving family on a crisp winter day where 154 “Patriot Riders” stood at attention with a firm grasp on their flag is to be touched in a way that changes the shape of the heart. The guns fired, Taps played, and sobs echoed throughout Fort Snelling.

I looked SPC Kevin Gill, Andrew’s platoon mate, in the eyes as he told me the story of Andrew’s last patrol. Andrew was handing out candy to some Afghani children; children he loved as much as any children he’s met, and shooed them away. Platoon 3 marched over 100 meters of control wire where three IED’s were remotely triggered. SPC Gill walked over one and Andrew another. Only one of the three detonated—Andrew’s. I soaked in SPC Gill’s pride and pain, and felt his tears while realizing this man is forever changed. 

It seems disrespectful to return to life as we know when a bright, colorful, articulate, gentle soul, is gone simply because he wanted to be part of something bigger.

I, too, want to be a part of something bigger. I want to be a part of a country that doesn’t let those who are fighting for an idea that we take for granted every single day go unnoticed. I want them to be remembered and respected and I want them to come home. We, I think, have done our time in Afghanistan. We have sacrificed too many to those who clearly can’t find their way even with our help. Ten years is long enough and every day the number of families and soldiers who will never be the same increases.

Andrew’s platoon members went back to work within 36 hours of his death.

It’s time for us to join those who have been trying to no avail. Contact your representatives. Attend a peace rally. Send an e-mail. Start a letter writing campaign.  As Jeff, Andrew’s father said, “Prayers aren’t cutting it. Prayer has been going on since the beginning of time and clearly, it’s not enough.” Join in being part of the message to our leaders that says it is time bring our soldiers home.

Please don’t look away from the next headline. That wall paper is someone’s life. The next name you see is also Andrew’s; his family’s; my family; yours. These are people whose hearts are in complete disrepair, and we owe them nothing less than our willingness to speak out on their behalf. Andrew did it; I am trying. I need more to join me. To not do so is nothing less than shameful. 

Submitted photo of Corporal Andrew Wilfahrdt

To further educate yourself, please consider these resources:

1.    The article from the Washington Post in its entirety can be found here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/01/AR2011030106355.html?sid=ST2011030106452

2.    Icasualties.org tracks the loss of life from Iraq and Afghanistan.

3.    Lori Wilfahrt was interviewed by Cathy Wurzer and the audio can be found here: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/03/04/mother-remembers-soldier-killed-in-afghanistan/

4.    Jeff Wilfahrt was interviewed for the CNN news blog about viral celebrity tweets versus our interest in the war here:

http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/10/viral-post-pits-coverage-of-sheen-fallen-soldiers/

5.    Contact your local representatives from Winona and area districts: https://writerep.house.gov/htbin/wrep_findrep

6.    Please take one minute to seek out this website where your name will be added to a petition seeking to bring our soldiers home from Afghanistan: http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/july11_withdrawal/

www.VetSpeak.org

A Veteran's Commentary on American Values & Priorities...

Ed Note:  My friend, Rafe Pilgrim, first posted this piece to OP ED News, on 8 April 2011.  When I asked him for permission to re-post on VetSpeak, he informed me that it was available to all who would share it with their readers. I find it well worth sharing...so, here it is...hope y'all will share it, too...WH

The Old Lie:  It is Sweet and Fitting to Die for One’s Country

By  Rafe Pilgrim

Guest Contributer

www.VetSpeak.org

In my small town on the bay side of central Florida, our demographics consist of 2 percent Afro-American, 3 percent Hispanic, and 95 percent Other. The Other is more or less equally divided between, on the one hand, Retirees from northern states (whose incomes consist of social security entitlements, pension checks, investment earnings, etc.) and on the other hand, Workers, mostly of local origin, who service the Retirees as electricians, plumbers, mechanics, bank tellers, wait staff, small business operators, grocery clerks and cashiers, etc., many who when losing a job, must immediately depend upon unemployment compensation for their subsistence.

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The very latest official unemployment index in my county is in excess of 12 percent, significantly less favorable than the national index, but nonetheless a gross understatement of the county's economic woes since many of our Workers -- once so abundantly employed in the pre-2008 housing construction boom -- have now been unemployed so long beyond the parameters of the government's unemployment rolls that they have disappeared from not only the entitlements of the system but also from the embrace of the statistics. Moreover, the local imbalance between the former construction workers and those of other occupations is skewed beyond what is typically the case with unemployment statistics across other areas of the country. This presents us with a deceptively low official unemployment index, with actual unemployment of our local Workers probably ranging from the mid-to-higher-twenties percent range.

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Addressing this bifurcated milieu, one might expect extreme differences in their socio-economic persuasions, but strangely they congeal in two aspects. One is in their religiosity in which God will provide the answer to all of our problems, and -- make no mistake -- He has no use for Muslims! The other is in their obeisance to Republican political fundamentalism: we've got to put an end to these freeloaders, those unions, the welfare state, all foreign aid, and tell the U.N. to get lost.

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In addition, any endeavor to examine issues of American military behavior is to be shouted down with the "Support Our Troops" mantra. Examination of issues or debate becomes unpatriotic, and dissent treasonous. Reasonable doubt becomes "conspiracy theory." So, as with "the colonel's lady and Judy O'Grady" our financially cosseted retirees and our jobless who have exhausted their unemployment benefits, are in these respects bizarrely "sisters under their skins."

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We have our share, or more, here of casualties of our historically disgraceful War (What was it for?) in the Middle East, not surprisingly with most of the deaths and amputees from families of economically challenged status. (It is difficult to resist the lure of the $40,000 enlistment bonuses or even the modest subsistence of barracks life in favor of crowded survival in a "single-wide" staked off a dirt road.) None of these pitiful casualties is reported as a victim who wasted his life by hazarding to step on an IED (Improvised Explosive Device, the newly coined weapon-of-man-destruction of this war) but always as a "hero protecting us and defending America," or something very similar.

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Military funerals here are more than sincere expressions of grief and family loss, assuming a celebratory context. Individual caskets are tracked by the press, out of the Eastern Hemisphere and into Dover Air Base in Delaware, then to the hometown, then to the local church for the service, then to perhaps Arlington National Cemetery. Between stops there are parades featuring military color guards, flags and banners, and large public attendance (in most casual attire) at the local football stadium to celebrate our heroes' sacrifice to preserve our freedoms.

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"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori." Horace penned it with an air of idealistic superiority. Wilfred Owen knew it for the exploitive lie it had become. When will we learn -- as he knew -- the cost of this treacherous propaganda? When -- by anyone's God! -- will we spare the deaths and the amputations of our youngsters in the service of the greed masters and those who lust for power?

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Our captive media heap napalm upon the vicious fire, extolling the War (of Lies) and beatifying its American victim-soldiers, while suppressing any criticism or even questions. One Florida newspaper, the Citrus County Chronicle, recently featured as its top page-one headline, in expose fashion, the tale of a local high school teacher (who also serves as the school's basketball coach) who dared to show his class in government a video questioning the official version of the cause of the World Trade Center's collapse in 2001. In additional columns farther back in the paper, the account ran on of the visits by "mad" parents protesting the teacher's conduct, but it was noted that this teacher had an otherwise outstanding record. Nonetheless, the County Superintendent of Education would initiate an "investigation" into the matter.

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The Citrus County Chronicle chose not to print my letter to its editor, wherein I offered my appreciation to the pilloried teacher "for introducing an exceptional example -- however contrary to popular sentiment -- of the uncompromising importance of inquiry and the supreme need for truth to our students." The Chronicle did several days thereafter, however, feature an editorial headlined: "Conspiracy theories have no place in the classroom."

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Where does this leave us? It seems that Inquiry is now Conspiracy. Truth is now Unpatriotic, perhaps Treacherous, as well as Career-Threatening.

"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori." The seductive lie goes on and on -- and very likely will until it destroys us all.

.................................................................................

www.VetSpeak.org

After Action Report: Washington, DC - 19 March 2011 & Quantico, Va - 20 March 2011

Ed Note: In spite of having posted on these pages my own journey to DC for this event, I am now posting Bill Homans' journey, as well. More expansive than mine, his is a two part report; Washington, DC on 03-20-11 & Quantico MCB re Free Bradley Manning, on 03-21-11. We both came up from the Southeast, he from Mississippi, and I, from Florida. We both brought OIF/OEF folks with us; members from the Baton Rouge and the Savannah chapters of IVAW. We were both there, not only for the demonstrations, and CDO actions (we were both arrested at the White House), we were there to rally other VVAW folks sitting at home, who might have thought VVAW wasn't still in the game, and to hopefully inspire others to commit to action, once again, through our example of presence and unity of purpose with the our other co-endorsing anti-war Veterans' organizations; VFP, IVAW, and March Forward, in future similar actions. Finally; Bill's report on Quantico is a very powerful piece, on it's own. No one can tell it, or play it, like Slim.WH

By Bill Homans AKA Watermelon Slim

VVAW Life Member & VVAW Ms Contact

Washington, DC - March 19, 2011 On Thursday the 17th, Army Iraq vet Zach Choate and Coast Guard vet Ethan Crowell (who served in SE Asia) drove up from Baton Rouge, after Zach had picked Ethan up in Mobile. We took off from Clarksdale. We hammered it in about 16 hours, 955 miles, getting into Washington early into the afternoon. After a few misdirections by our GPS, who was known as either "Linda" or "Shutup, bitch," we pulled into the Harrington Hotel. As soon as we got into a room, it was time to go to the big music-and-briefing meeting at the coffee/internet bar, Busboys and Poets. Watermelon Slim @ Busboys & Poets (Photo: Sue Thompson) I was able to give people an inspiring moment when movement musician and band-leader-for-the-night Margaret Flowers brought me to the stage to sing my song, "Blues for Howard" about Howard Zinn, with the band, that had actually practiced it! I assured them that the spirit of my dear comrade Howard was with us all, just as it was in the last communication Howard ever sent me. In that letter, Howard Zinn sent me $1000 and told me to do what was best with it. I gave it to IVAW toward the WSI in Austin. After some other magical, if rough, musical moments with the band over the duration of the meeting, I finished the show with Sweet Home Chicago (honest, it was on their set list!). Tip o the hat to y'all up in National. A beer or two was had at Harry's, at the Harrington, and we got a good night's sleep. In the morning, after a good breakfast served by sympathetic people, it was off to the site, where everyone busied themselves about all the things that are required for a good demonstration. Stage erection, literature ready, PA system there and working on time (as a musician, I'll tell you that one's real important, lol), tables set in place. It is the same in the movement as it is in the music-festival business: the movement culture sustains itself through volunteers and volunteerism. The speeches of Ralph Nader, Daniel Ellsberg, Chris Hedges and Ann Wright are all on Youtube now, so I won't summarize them. My remarks, representing VVAW, on the morning of Saturday, March 19, were short, and directed to President Obama. Col Ann Wright Speaks at Lafayette Park (Photo: Willie Hager) I noted at the beginning that the President was not currently there and listening, but urged whoever was listening to take notice. I declared that several things having to do with the wars in Afghanistan (and Iraq, whether they will still call it a war or not) were unacceptable. "First, bankrupting our children and grandchildren with the need for ever more deficit spending to cover two wars-- economically unacceptable! Militarily overextending US forces for years, to the point that there would not be sufficient forces to bring to bear in the event of attack by a potential real enemy like North Korea-- militarily unacceptable! And the creation of more and more combat veterans, maimed in body and mind, in a war that has no real prospect to end-- socially and morally unacceptable! Mr. Obama, these started as Bush's wars. They are your wars now, and I can't believe I'm having to say that. Why not bring our troops home and let the country reap the peace dividend of the net difference between logistically supporting two wars, and threatening in other theatres, and bringing the troops lunch on the southern border? I have a suggestion for you: why don't you bring our troops home and station them on the southern border if you want to satisfy both right and left at the same time? If you provide a military mission that honorably defends America, you will never lack for recruits. A US combat role in Afghanistan through at least 2014? Utterly unacceptable! Mr. Obama, the Vietnam Veterans Against the War are back in Washington, as we were in 1971 when the man in the White House was Richard Nixon. We're saying now exactly what we were saying then: VVAW returning medals, Washington DC, 1971 - Operation Dewey Canyon III (Photo: VVAW File) Bring 'em home. Bring our brothers home. Bring our brothers and sisters home-- NOW." VVAW Silent March to Fontainebleau Hotel (Nixon Bunker), RNC, Miami, Fl 1972 - Operation Last Patrol (Photo: VVAW File) (Photo: Willie Hager) That night, there were IVAW events which raised significant money for Operation Recovery. This reporter sat back in room 533 at the Harrington and played his guitar, thinking to go to sleep early-- big day tomorrow in Quantico-- but ended up doin' a little concert for VVAWs Willie Hager and Marcia Westbrook, as well as former VVAW brother Scott Camil, and some of their friends from Florida, and some other VFP and Code Pink folks, we had the room pretty full pretty late. I knew Zach, Ethan and I were going to highball back south as soon as we were done in Quantico, so I had to pull out the instruments sometime, lol. (Photo: Willie Hager) Quantico MCB, Virginia - March 21, 2011 (Photo: Willie Hager) We got to Quantico Marine Base, south of Washington in Virginia, early Sunday afternoon. There were somewhere pushing 1000 people at the first action in Washington-- probably 800-- and my estimate of the crowd which eventually assembled on the land across from the Iwo Jima Memorial was also around that. (Photo: Willie Hager) I would say that there was more press at the second action than the first, though brother Ward Reilly says he saw plenty at the first. One thing about a world where Japan's reactors are threatening to melt down and the US is projecting military force into Libya-- which they did, it is not to be forgotten, on the very day we are deploring in infamy, the invasion of Iraq in 2003!-- antiwar demonstrations might easily get lost in the shuffle! Zach Choate was first to speak. The 10th Mountain division turret gunner was given the Purple Heart when he suffered injuries from an IED attack. He resurrected all the ghosts of Operation Dewey Canyon III when he asked, "What does this Constitution mean, when Bradley Manning is being treated like this?" He tossed the pocket copy of the US Constitution to the ground. (video: sgtfritter) "What do all these ribbons mean? They're worthless, if he's being treated this way." And with that ripped medals, Combat Action Badge, Unit Commendation and name tag off his dress greens, leaving nothing on the shirt but a "Free Bradley Manning" button. L to R: Ward Reilly, Bill Homans, Willie Hager - VVAW, Unidentified Member - VFP, Tassie McKee (behind Zach) and Jason Hurd - IVAW & Ryan Endicott - March Forward (Photo: Sue Thompson) Zach had to really work hard to get through his speech, but he had his brothers standing behind him. This is a young man with a great soul. (Photo: Bill Perry) Among the other speakers was David Hames (sp?), who somehow has been able to see Bradley Manning. This is a spectacular looking and speaking young "computer scientist", as he identified himself. I suggested to him that he was a special person for Bradley Manning, and to keep on being there for him. Eventually, after I had played Taps, Choate, Ellsberg, Wright, Camil and several others were able to go and lay flowers at the Memorial. Or-- no, wait a minute, at the last moment, the police, or the Marines, or the DoD-- never was clear about that-- denied the representative group access to the grounds to actually lay the flowers on the Memorial. At the Barricades, Quanatico MCB - 03-21-2011 (Photo: Ward Reilly) The flowers had to be laid through the fence. Rather significant symbolism, I thought, but there was no help for it. Eventually, Ellsberg, Wright and 28 others were arrested by the Virginia State Police for sitting down in the road opposite the Memorial. Daniel Ellsberg, Col. Ann Wright and 28 others stage sit-in, and are arrested (Photo: Willie Hager) I have written at length on agents provocateurs, and their role in the furtherance of right-wing policy throughout my 40 years of political history. It was, in fact, in March of 1971, while loading wetcast concrete forms in one of my various dead-end jobs of the early 70s, that my ruminations on the war were reaching a climax. A month later I would be in Washington for my first great moratorium march. I was a VVAW the next month, and I'm a Life Member today. It is up to those of us who have the hard, first-hand experience (one defendant in the Gainesville Eight Trial was present at both actions, and arrested-- voluntarily this time-- in DC) with agents provocateurs to police the movement. At the Quantico action we identified two police posing as protesters, circulating through the crowd-- big, burly, buzz-cut fellows, couldn't have been more obvious. (Photo: Willie Hager) A few people loudly baited them. The more serious among us surveilled them. Pictures exist, digitally and in people's minds. Those two fellas will never be effective undercover in the antiwar movement. Job done, even though there might have been more of them that we didn't catch. Personally, and as a Vietnam Veteran Against the War, I was honored to speak from the same platform as Daniel Ellsberg , Ralph Nader and Col. (Ret.) Ann Wright Saturday morning before being arrested at the White House fence again. Ellsberg and Wright were arrested for committing civil disobedience twice in successive days, first in Washington, and then in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial, at Quantico. I was also honored to have joined Ellsberg in arrest twice now, though my musical role, and my security role, were more important at Quantico. We had to get home, and could not spend the night in a Virginia jail, so we busted ass back for Mississippi, or in Zach Choate's case, Baton Rouge. He oughta be as far south as Jackson now, on the Blues Highway (US 61 runs right from Clarksdale to Baton Rouge). I will be back in Washington again. The wars are not going away. And no one protest is going to make them. This is not Egypt or Tunisia, or Libya. The political, social and economic system of the US is built with quantums more redundancy of responsibility and chain of command than it is in those countries. There are no peasants in America; even the illiterate have the boob tube. All the better to behaviorally modify you with, my dear!? We have not felt the pinch of an economy sufficiently desperate and a government sufficiently oppressive simultaneously to make the middle class vote in an enlightened manner, i.e., run against and throw out all the bums responsible for our messes (very crudely stated). And we certainly have not reached the beyond threadbare shape of a Libyan society that had to resort to arms against the longest-ruling dictator (oh, that one on the island doesn't count).

I don't know what it will take to truly threaten the American people into taking to the streets, into being a society in which being in "the movement" is a reality for a majority, instead of what I acknowledge that I am, one of the commited hard core of; a relatively tiny minority. I would question whether more than a few million people in the US-- maybe 10?-- have even done so much as to send a check to Vets for Peace, or VVAW, IVAW, ANSWER, March Forward!, or any of the liberal orgs like MoveOn, PDA. etc. As for real activists-- well, I'm purty sure that nationwide we've got hundreds of thousands of people who will stand on the corner with a "Stop the War" sign, or will go to a demonstration if it's not too far away. People who are actually ready to do civil disobedience (and this has been the civilest disobedience I ever took part in; the cops, Capitol and Park primarily, were exemplary in Washington), are probably in the thousands, maybe 10s of 1000s nationwide, but it's hard to tell that, because the people just haven't been pinched enough. However, those numbers could go up with stimuli as direct as $5.00 at the pump, or as indirect as an unseen cloud of radiation from Japan. An aside on police relations: I would say that relations between protesters in Washington and police have never been so good! We were literally being asked for consultation as to what we intend to do, and they were allowing us to do it. Of course, we won't be lulled, but I've had first-hand contact with one high-ranking police person, and he was very cordial. Along the way, in DC, I committed a funny tactical error: I had myself all nicely chained up to the White House fence when one of the cops came by and told us that the arrest area would be some distance down from where I was chained. So after thinking about it, I concluded that I was going to have to unchain and re-chainup further down the fence. Wrong move. As I was taking my leisurely time (seeing as how the police were being so nice) finding another spot, the captain supervising the entire police presence tapped me on the shoulder and told me they couldn't just let me do that. "You were already chained up, you had your chance," he said, shaking his head. Bill Homans & Officer Friendly re chains (Photo: Marcia Westbrook) He was cordial, I didn't plead much with him. He said something quite cool too, as I was removing the chain and giving it and the lock to him personally: "I'm just trying to protect my people the way I know you'd be protecting yours." Given my proactive attitude toward security, he was righter than he knew. VVAWs present included Bill Perry, Ward Reilly, Al Kovnat, Sam Adams, Doc Bjornson, Pat McCann, Marcia Westbrook, Willie Hager, and a whole raft of brothers from the old days who wear the VFP colors too-- but there were certainly 30 wearing ours. I am encouraged (though only slightly so; I would have sworn the good weather would have brought out more "sunshine patriot" movement supporters. Those who came were dern sure enthusiastic, and many constructive contacts were made! Others will undoubtedly report, but this'll be the longest and most personal of 'em, I'll wager. Free Bradley Manning! VVAW's Roots Run Deep - 1971 (Photo: "The New Soldier", Collier 1971) www.VetSpeak.org

After Action report: Washington, DC, 03-19-2011...

Once More Into The Breach...

Willie Hager

www.VetSpeak.org

VVAW Fl

Sue Thompson - Photo-Journalist
(Photo: M.Westbrook)

Jason & Rushelle - IVAW Savannah
(Photo: Jason)

I had traveled north from Jacksonville, Fl. In our vehicle, we had our own small coalition headed north. Sue Thompson a Global Peace Rally advocate, and professional photo-journalist had come up from Orlando to share a ride to DC, and to document the actions for VetSpeak, and for ANSWER Coalition, too. We left Jax at 11;30 p.m, on March 17th. We got to Savannah around 2 a.m. and picked up Jason Hurd, IVAW SE Organizer, and his partner, Rushelle Fraizier. We then (mostly Jason) drove straight through, and got into DC at approx. 11 a.m., Friday morning the 18^th. Bill Homans, VVAW Ms, did the same, up from Baton Rouge with Zach Choate, and a new face to me, Ethan Crowell of the newly formed Baton Rouge chapter of IVAW. We all arrived at the Harrington Hotel, VVAW hdqtrs in DC, at about the same time. Most of that first day was spent seeking out VVAW types, and getting caught up on the plan.

Zach Choate & Ethan Crowell - IVAW Baton Rouge

David Ross - VVAW/VFP Vermont

Willie H & Scott Camil
VVAW & VFP FL

There were VVAW groups from Baltimore, Philadelphia, Ohio, and the Southeast, as well as many other VVAW members from the Northeast region, there in DC. One of them was a VVAW member named David Ross, from Essex Junction, Vermont. I had crossed trails with David, as far back as the Gainesville 8 trial, when we all had camped out on land donated by the city of Gainesville for VVAW supporters of the Gainesville 8, who came to town in convoys to support the 8. Bill Perry of Philly chapter was VVAW POC, and Ward Reilly was liaison with the parade organizers and police. Here in DC, today, VVAW was still strong in spirit and organizational skills, if not in numbers reminiscent of the day. VVAW, the tie that binds so many together over the years, was now bonding them together, once again.

Sam Adams, Doc Bjornson, Al Kovnat - VVAW Philly

This time, although far fewer in numbers than back in the day, VVAW had come to DC to link arms with Veterans of other major anti-war Veterans organizations; Veterans For Peace (VFP) & IVAW (Iraq Veterans Against The War), who, together had come in protest of America’s continued involvement in Afghanistan, 11 years and 1513 US KIA, later. This in addition to 4441 KIA in Iraq, to date. VVAW had come to participate in a STOP THESE WARS – EXPOSE THE LIES – FREE BRADLEY MANNING march on the White House, and to also participate in a civil disobedience (CDO) action with other Veterans, once we arrived there. What we missed in numbers, we still had in attitude; it was planned that, following the march we would all take to the fence of the White House, and refuse to disperse when ordered to by the US Park Police, and we all agreed that we would be arrested, if it became necessary….”we’ll all go down together…”.

Jim Baldridge (R) & Member - VVAW Baltimore

Bill Homans - VVAW Ms
Chains At The Ready!
(Photo: Willie H)

The Mission: We would all be arrested on Obama’s doorstep for bringing a message of peace, justice, and compassion from America’s warriors, to the President of the United States. Unlike back in the day, the arrests were pre-organized by the march organizers, and would be carried out by the Commander- In- Chief’s Park Police, who would, image wise, be arresting America’s Veterans for the crime of attempting to speak truth about the wars that they fought in, and publically calling it a misdemeanor offense (PP19690 – Failure to Obey - Bail $100.00). A powerful image of dissent back in the day and, we believed, still a powerful message, today…if we only we could get it out to the American people, as some of those present had managed to do at the same White House fence, on 12-19-2010, including my brothers Zach Choate ( IVAW), and Bill Homans (VVAW). I would say that the mood of the troops was solemn, rather than reunion festive, which wasn’t the case of several other of the groups in attendance. Another hold over, from back in the day.

Amber Stone - IVAW
(Photo: Willie H)

Prior to the march, there were a couple hours of speeches by various organizational representatives. Most notable and on message to me, were those of

Code Pink - ON STAGE!

Michael Kern of VFP, and Amber Stone and Zach Choate of IVAW. The rest, it seemed to me, were simply sophomoric revolutionary political rhetoric by ANSWER affiliates, with political theatre provided by Code Pink.

And so it was, as we prepared to march forth from Lafayette Park on the morning of the 19th, 2011...

(Photo - Bill Perry)

Jason Hurd - IVAW & Willie Hager - VVAW
(Photo: Bill Perry)

I was privileged to be on the lead banner for the parade, along with Jason Hurd. It was a strong image of Veterans’ unity around the march’s demands, the VFP banner demanding STOP THESE WARS – EXPOSE THE LIES – FREE BRADLEY MANNING, flanked by Veterans in IVAW and VVAW colors. As I looked back down the line during traffic pauses it appeared that the march stretched out for blocks, and was rich with marchers, signs, and color. Solemn Veterans shuffling along silently, in lead of a colorful and chanting contingent of pissed off protestors, a rewarding visual. Zach, Ethan, and the rest of the IVAW troops gathered behind Jason and I, with an IVAW banner sandwiched in between the “official” VFP banners. Our cadence was a Korean Drum group that marched right behind the Veterans.

(Photo: Bill Perry)

As we approached the White House, the area immediately in front of it had been cordoned off.

(Photo: Bill Perry)

There were cops everywhere; walking, on motorcycles, and riding horses. They had a

(Photo: Bill Perry)

little booking tent, and two awaiting Metro buses already in place…right out in the middle, blocking the view from the street on the other side of their cordon, which was filled with protestors. On the business side of the booking tent, Veterans had begun lining the Whitehouse fence. There were other folks there as well. Daniel Ellsberg and Col Ann Wright came too take a stand, and be arrested with us. The effervescent Code Pink ladies entertained with political cheer-leading routines as the rest of us tensely awaited the order to disperse.

It didn’t come for a long time. When it did, it was low key as Ward negotiated the arrest of Daniel Ellsberg, and Ann Wright. Shortly after that they arrested Ward and began to arrest the remaining individuals, one at a time, including the Code Pink ladies in their regalia, a very surrealistic scene. It was a long process that was intended, I am sure, to dampen our spirits. But, it didn’t work. During the whole process, I saw no Cable or Network news groups, but plenty of alternative media. It was all so unspectacular, that it became apparent that the powers that be realized that low-key was the way to go. They were well organized for the task, were courteous enough, and were, these days, well schooled in managing dissent. Not to mention making all that overtime and bail money that they realized, as a result of our efforts. There were ultimately 113 arrested, at $100.00 a pop. They finally took us to a county holding facility, where they were all set up for a quick n’ easy processing-out for all of us who had defied their order to disperse

(Photo Credits: Bill Perry & Sue Thompson)

Later, as we were released, we gathered just off jail property where pre-arranged shuttles were picking folks up and carrying them back to their hotels. I and a few others were picked up in a van driven by Elaine Brower, who I had met at a GI Organizing work-shop in Savannah a year or so ago. She works with a group of GI Rights activists in New York. Thanks, Elaine, it was getting’ sort of chilly, out there. After we returned to the hotel, it was down time. We were all sharing one of the Harrington’s “large” rooms.

Ward & Slim
(Photo - Willie H)

Scott & Zach
(Photo: Willie H)

My new friend, Marcia Westbrook of Ohio was our benefactor, and allowed us to share her room with her. It sort of became the Harrington Hotel VVAW hospitality room. We had a cooler of beer and plenty to smoke. Watermelon Slim played tunes throughout the evening, and Scott Camil came up with the members of his Gainesville VFP Chapter, who had traveled up and marched, getting arrested along with the rest of us. With Dave Ross in the room with Slim, Scott, and myself, there were VVAW types that went back together, forty years. What a great PTSD therapy session that evening. Then, all too soon, it was time to turn in, as we were all headed to Quantico MCB, to protest in support of Bradley Manning, the next morning, the 20th of March.

The downside of the past week-ends actions in Washington, DC, is that the “anti-war movement” had to go back, again…how many times does this make that we have traveled to DC, over the past 8 years in protest of continued US involvement in Iraq & Afghanistan? Anyone else think maybe Obama and Congress are just not listening? Or, is there a message, that we as an “anti-war movement” should re-group and reconsider the effectiveness of our current strategies?

Now, 8 years into Afghanistan (I don’t like to think of it as an “anniversary”, but rather, as an annual gathering of militants to protest the continued waste of American blood and treasure in the desert sands of the mid-east, in wars of un-necessity), and 8 years into Iraq, and 10 in Afghanistan; I suddenly find myself, on 03-19-2011, once again, in the streets, being arrested. It all seemed sadly desperate, looking back on it.

How was it that all of that political ground, and all of the momentum that we had gained with our mass demonstrations, and blood, sweat and tears back in the day, was lost over the ensuing years of complacency and political infighting that followed the then victorious and politically unified Democratic party, a merger of civil liberties and ant-war movements....what power! Whatever the reasons; here we were again, mobilizing mass demonstrations just as we did so many years ago. In a further twist of irony; in this -latest “limited incursion int0 Washington DC”, the 03-19-2011 Vietnam Veterans Against The War contingent was made up of several individuals who were part of those mass demonstrations and political victories, way back in the day. I, among them.

(Photo: Bill Perry)

Would I do it all again? For the right objectives? Not just YES, but HELL YES! But I do think that we should all rethink our long term position in light of the economy, and the new age of instant communications and electronic networking, and perhaps begin to design some winning strategies out in the grass-roots, and bring our message to America’s door steps, rather than to just Obama’s. I sadly believe now that “they” have figured out how to deal with the tactics that we have carried over from back in the day. We must build an effective and modern grass-roots anti-war movement for the 21st century…all the rest is history.

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