Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 . __ . . -*- N A M V E T -*- ____/ \_ . . ( * \ . . Managing Editor \ Quangtri . . ---------------- \_/\ \_ Hue . . G. Joseph Peck \_Ashau Phu Bai . . \_* \_ . . Editorial Assistant \ * ) . . ------------------- _/ Danang . . Pete Farias ( \_*Chu Lai . . \_ ------- \__ . . Distribution Manager \_ I Corps \ . . -------------------- \ ------- ! . . Jerry Hindle /\_____ ! . . / ! \ . . Section Editors ! !___ \ . . --------------- ! \/\____! . . AGENT ORANGE: Martin H. Kroll, Sr. ! ! . . IN-TOUCH: Ray "Frenchy" Moreau / Dak To ! . . INCARCERATED VETS: Joyce Flory / * / . . HOMELESSNESS: Lefty Frizzell ! \_ . . FEDERAL BENEFITS: Jim Hildwine ! Phu Cat\ . . GUEST CHAPLAIN: Michael Harris \ * * ) . . \ Pleiku ) . . -**- N A M V E T -**- \ \ . . / / . . "In the jungles of 'Nam, some of us ( -------- ! . . were scared and wary, but we pulled _\ II Corps ! . . one another along and were able / -------- \ . . to depend on each other. That has \ \ . . never changed. Today, free of the ! * / . . criticisms and misunderstandings _/ Nhatrang / . . many veterans have endured, _/ / . . NAM VET is a shining beacon, __/ ! . . a ray of hope, and a _ __/ \ ! . . reminder that the _____( )/ ! Camranh Bay . . lessons learned / !__ ! . . at such a high / \ / . . price shall not \ Bien Hoa \ / . . be forgotten - ! Chu Chi * \ __/ . . nor the errors \_ * --------- \ ___/ . . repeated!!!" ____ \ III Corps \ _/ . . / \_____) )_(_ --------- !__/ Duplication in . . ! ( ___/ any form permitted . . _____! \__ * ___/ for NONCOMMERCIAL . . ! Saigon/ purposes ONLY! . . \___ -------- / \/ . . \ IV Corps / For other use, contact: . . ) -------- / . . / ! G. Joseph Peck (413) 442-1660 . . / ____/ Managing Editor . . / Mekong/ . . ! Delta/ This newsletter is comprised of articles . . ! ____/ and items from individuals and other . . ! / sources. We are not responsible for the . . ! / content of this information nor are any of . . ! __/ NAM VETs contributors or Section Editors. . . \_/ gjp . . . NAM VET Newsletter Page i Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 ================================================================= T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 1. From the Commander-In-Chief A Veterans Day Proclamation ............................. 1 2. Editorials Sign it in blood! We did! .............................. 2 Bringin' NamVet to YOUR door! ........................... 5 One Vets Feelings ....................................... 7 Old 'Nuff For The Real America? ......................... 8 3. In a country far away... "All POWs are Dead!" says US Government! ................ 9 They haven't forgutten US!!! ............................ 16 Walkin' Point ........................................... 17 4. ATTACK on the U.S.S. Liberty!!! USS Liberty: 23 Years Later ............................. 18 Reunion: USS Liberty Veterans Association ............... 24 5. In-Touch "In Touch" Unites Families, Friends and Strangers ....... 24 In-Touch: What is it??? ................................. 27 IN-TOUCH Registration/Request Form!!! ................... 30 Innocence ............................................... 32 6. The NamVet Chapel Inside the Chaplain's Heart ............................. 33 The Electronic Chapel ................................... 37 WE WERE CHILDREN ........................................ 38 7. The "Not-So-Secret-Anymore" Agent A well-earned rest! ..................................... 41 Break out the Clearasil ! ........................... 43 Should You Be Concerned About Agent Orange? ............. 44 More than ONE poison in Vietnam! ........................ 47 Zumwalt Suggests Link with 27 Diseases/Disorders! ....... 57 8. The Few but Special National Women Veterans Recognition Week ................ 58 VWMP's Sister Search .................................... 59 VWMP's Sister Search Form ............................... 60 We're Not Alone ......................................... 61 9. Don't Abandon 'em Silence and Empty Cells? ................................ 62 A visit or note once in awhile? ......................... 63 10. Hearts n' Minds War just isn't a cool topic ............................. 64 Reflecting .............................................. 66 The War No One Wants to Remember ........................ 68 11. Uncle Sam wants YOU to know Ask the Veterans' Affairs Counselor ..................... 77 12. Concentrated IVVEC/NamVet Service Vet Service Summary - USPO, Radio Shack, DAV ............ 79 Radio Shack Responds to "Misunderstanding" .............. 81 Others WILL follow ...................................... 82 13. IVVEC & NamVet - WHERE? The NamVet/IVVEC Roll Call ............................. 83 Some Gave All... ........................................ 86 NAM VET Newsletter Page ii ================================================================= F r o m t h e C o m m a n d e r - I n - C h i e f ================================================================= A Veterans Day Proclamation Veterans Day, 1990 By George Bush The President of the United States of America A PROCLAMATION The Bible tells us that no greater love has a man than this: to lay down his life for a friend. Our Nation's military veterans are brave and selfless individuals who, when duty called, were willing to put themselves in harm's way to defend the lives and liberty of others. Each November 11, we pause with solemn pride and heartfelt gratitude to honor this special group of Americans. The sacrifices they have made for our sake - and, indeed, for the sake of millions of freedom-loving men and women around the world - can never be forgotten. Their abiding patriotism and enduring devotion to the ideals on which the United States is founded can never fail to inspire us. This Nation's veterans have made their stand for freedom and democratic ideals from the Argonne Forest to the windswept Aleutian Islands, from the searing sands of North Africa to the steep hills and dense jungles of Southeast Asia. Some have defended the cause of individual liberty and self-government in more recent conflicts and less remote places, such as Grenada and Panama. They have seen comrades-in-arms fall on the field of battle, giving "the last full measure of devotion" for our country and the vision of freedom and justice we hold dear. They, too, have suffered and sacrificed, carrying on the light of liberty with efforts that have been equally selfless and heroic. It is fitting that we pause on the anniversary of "Armistice Day," a day of peace and celebration, to honor America's veterans and to express our gratitude for their courage and sacrifice. World War I, which ended with the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918, did not, as millions of people hoped, prove to be "The War to End All Wars." Nevertheless, we know that our wold is safer, freer, and more peaceful today thanks to the vigilance and resolve of our Armed Forces. Indeed, our Nation's veterans have helped to bring peace and freedom to regions of the world that once suffered under the shadow of hostility and oppression. The triumph of democratic ideals to Eastern Europe and other parts of the world provides powerful evidence that their sacrifices were not made in vain. Although the dramatic social and political changes we have witnessed around the world during the past year provide a resounding affirmation of the ideals our veterans have fought to uphold, current events in the Persian Gulf region underscore the need for continued strength and vigilance on the part of free nations. As veterans have so often reminded us, eternal vigilance is, indeed, the price of liberty. These great heroes who have left their own "footprints on the sands of time" know that preparedness deters aggression, and they understand the important task before those American service men and women now keeping watch along the sands and off the shores of Saudi Arabia. NAM VET Newsletter Page 1 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 On this Veterans Day, mindful of President Wilson's call to honor our Nation's war heroes with a 2-minute interval of silence at 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 1919, let us pause to remember and pray for all those men and women who have since served in the United States Armed Forces. Through special services, programs, and ceremonies held in their honor on this day, let us affirm that their singular contributions to our country are cherished and remembered. Let us also strive, each and every day of the year, to ensure that ours remains a land worthy of the great love our veterans have shown for it. In order that we may pay due tribute to those who have served in our Armed Forces, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor America's veterans. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Sunday, November 11, 1990, as Veterans Day. I urge all Americans to honor our veterans through appropriate public ceremonies and private prayers. I also call upon Federal, State, and local government officials to display the flag of the United States and to encourage and participate in patriotic activities in their communities. I invite civic and fraternal organizations, churches, schools, businesses, unions, and the media to support this national observance with suitable commemorative expressions and programs. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of October, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifteenth. /s/ George Bush Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 ================================================================= E d i t o r i a l s ================================================================= Sign it in blood! We did! By: G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, Massachusetts (413) 443-6313 It's been a busy, busy month here in the northeast! With a severe shortage of funds, our Governor was forced to look at some areas where cuts in funding would have to be made. The "cuts" in funding were to have eliminated ten of the eleven Veteran Outreach Centers in our state and closed two state-funded soldiers' homes. Word quickly spread from veteran organization-to-veteran organization and soon plans for a rally were being drawn up and put into place. Initially, from our home here in Pittsfield, MA, it was to have cost the individual wishing to attend $20 but, the week before the rally we were all informed that The American Legion would foot the bill for transportation costs (THANK YOU, American Legion!). Upon arrival at Boston Common, veterans in uniform and civilian dress from throughout the state were forming up as bus after bus emptied. According to newspaper reports, eight thousand veterans attended - but it sure LOOKED like more ('course, after the first 5000, guess they'd all tend to blend into the crowd anyways!) It *WAS* a spectacular sight! When we formed up and began our march up to the Statehouse (State Capital Building), the entire street was filled, curb-to-curb, with veterans! Physically able veterans; veterans walking with canes; veterans in wheelchairs either wheeling themselves or brother/sister veterans behind them pushing. The American Legion band led the way, and the colors from the varied units immediately followed. A *STRONG* show of unity ... and it continued. It continued as speaker after speaker took the podium and stated in no uncertain terms the "unwritten" guarantees that America gives each of her soldiers as they pledge their service and allegiance; stated in no uncertain terms the determination to see that this country and this state (Massachusetts) NOT renege on its promises and pledges; stated in no uncertain terms the good that *HAS* been done for veterans by the meager funding already in place and how devastating it would be were that funding to cease. Then, as 8000+ veterans stood in near-formation near the Statehouse steps, suddenly there came before the crowd those men who were candidates for our upcoming political elections and each, in turn began speaking to us. In my humble opinion, it was *TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE* to turn our veterans' rally into a political meeting. Where a few moments before we were being told about the needs and necessities of our brother and sister veterans and how they *WERE* being served at the Veteran Outreach Centers and how the homeless *WERE* being helped - although meagerly - by the states' Homeless veteran coordinator, we quickly found ourselves listening to campaign promises after campaign promise. Although equal time *was* given to each candidate, I personally felt that *NONE* of 'em should have been invited or allowed to speak! They *SHOULD* have just stayed by the sidelines and *LISTENED* to the *NEEDS* of the veterans of our state - *NOT* make campaign promises to win our NAM VET Newsletter Page 2 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 votes or to an audience that, for the most part, had been severely damaged by promises and actions of past politicians! Hearing the "campaign promises" of William Weld to "NOT close any Veteran Outreach Center, NOT close any Soldiers' Home, to make SURE that the Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs would BE a veteran, to continue efforts in solving the Homeless situation, I could not help but SHOUT: "SIGN IT IN BLOOD! WE DID!" (Yup... I left some of MY blood on a highway in Dawn, Virginia - and many of you out here left some of theirs in 'Nam, Korea, and so many other places where FREEDOM is constantly guarded!). Election night... and William Weld became the new governor of Massachusetts. I thought about William Weld and some of the things I've come to learn about him... A non-veteran who attended college, MIGHT have taken some ROTC classes while there, but did not serve in the military. HOW is he - how CAN he understand the real needs of the veteran population? By osmosis? By members of his administration telling him "THIS is a real need of the veteran community and you should DO something about it?" Then I remembered the statement I'd shouted during the rally. "SIGN IT IN BLOOD! WE DID!" Just because you and I and many other veterans "signed" our commitment to America with our blood doesn't always mean that we have the right to demand the same price of our fellow countrymen or that we should look to them for some equally-strong measure of THEIR commitment before we take them seriously. It is up to YOU and ME and ALL OF US to show, by the intensity and determination of OUR actions, not just our words, how deeply committed we are to those principles for which we placed our lives on-the-line! It is up to YOU and ME and ALL OF US who valued those prices we paid to continue leading, continue persisting, and continue teaching those who follow us - rather than standing on the sidelines, demanding that others prove to us the level of THEIR commitment and dedication, doing nothing but watching. A couple of days ago I sent Governor-elect Weld a letter in which I took responsibility for being the person who shouted the slogan which caused a little disruption in his presentation. I reminded him of his campaign "promises" and that many veterans are expecting him to keep them. Of course, I closed the letter with an offer to help him and his administration see to it that he keeps his promises. There's a tear or two in m' eyes as I write this final part of this month's editorial: Sign it in blood? Two of my three sons are now in the service. Neither is in Saudi Arabia - YET. But they're in the military, doin' a job I once used to do, doin' a job YOU and others used to do. Sign it in blood? I think many of us have signed our commitment to America with more than our own blood - its now our sons and daughters who follow in footprints we've left for them. They'll come back to a NAM VET Newsletter Page 3 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 country you and I have 'stayed the course' for; that you and I, dedicated, committed, and determined, have continuously tried to make better. Sign it in blood? You're darned right I did - I have - and I will!!! 'til next month ('er our Anniversary Issue) Show a brother or sister veteran That YOU care!!! Ci'ao for Ni'ao - Joe - NAM VET Newsletter Page 4 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 Bringing NamVet to YOUR door! __________ \ NamVet \ _____) Delivery)_____ _________(____(________(______(@) ) ) / O O O O O O O O O/_/| /<> O O O O O O O O O/ | /MM O O O O O O O MM/ | / ___________ / . /O (___________) O O/. (====================( From the desk of Jerry Hindle NamVet`s Distribution manager Just Mail - Stratford Heights, Tennessee (901) 683-5410 Well.... I've been away for a while I guess. I had a few problems with my system and have been in the process of reconstructing things here. Let me bring things up to date first and then I will ask for comments... I have finally gotten ALL issues of the Namvet Newsletter to reside on my system in 3 different formats. These are *.LZH, *.ARC, and for those NON-IBMers out there *.NWS (ascii text). I hope this will make it available to everyone who wants it. If I find a need for yet another format I can add them in that format also, IF I see it is warranted. Right now the files take about 13 megs of space in the formats available. I lost a lot in the disk(s) crash (yep I lost 3 drives all SCSI's and went from over 200 meg down to less then 20 in seconds (ouch!), but I am back now bigger then ever and ready to "rock n' rollllllllll". I do however need those folks who I was feeding who are NOT on the list below to contact me via netmail again. I may be reached at either 7:48/0 (AlterNet) or 1:123/4 (fidonet). This is a mail only system right now and I really have no time to devote to setting up a bbs for human callers to log on and manually DL the namvet files. I would suggest you set up binkley as a POINT system and contact me for a point number. This way I can file attach the newsletter to your "point and when you poll me using your point the newsletter will be sent to you. ALSO (BIG POINT HERE)..... Those on the below list are going to be receiving the newsletter from me instead of polling Gjoseph Peck for it. You will need to let me know if your system is a CM system (ie continous mail) and also what flavor of namvet file you want (ASCII, ARC, or LZH) from me. I can only handle a few as ascii cause the cost is prohibative. I have also placed behind some of the names the note that you will be forwarding the newsletter on to other members of your net and what their node numbers are. This is the only cost effective way of doing this and I would appreciate it if you would work out details between yourselves on this. I will not be sending the newsletter to more then 1 node per NAM VET Newsletter Page 5 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 net no matter what the circumstances. If politics (or personal gripes) are in the way of you getting it from another member of your net then I might suggest you working it out amongst yourselves also. Ok, enough of the long winded-ness. Here's the list Lefty Frizzell 1:106/449 please forward to 1:106/116 Scott McKnight: 1:389/2001 Mike Harris 1:343/26 Ray Moreau 1:109/316 Bob Currie 1:105/204 Joan Renne 1:285/662 Tom Mickus 1:250/440 Mike Nelson 1:125/20 Jim Barth 1:350/21 Bob Rudolph 1:261/628 Douglas Seavy 1:130/10 Chuck Haynes 1:308/60 please forward to 1:308/20 & 1:308/101 Sam Saulys 1:132/101 The people listed above need to let me know what flavor file you want BEFORE Veteran's Day... otherwise I shall send the LZH format to you. The ARC format is arc5.02 compatible (ie fidonet standards). Jerry Hindle 1:123/4 7:48/0 modem phone (901)683-5410 HST 9600bps PS: if your node is not an HST please let me know so I can try to find an HST in your net willing to accept the file and forward it on to you. All of this is coming out of MY POCKET, no company is footing the bills here..... NAM VET Newsletter Page 6 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 ONE VETS FEELINGS By Rod Germain VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 As November rolls in so does a very important holiday. No, I'm not talking about Thanksgiving. It, too, is important, but in a different way. I am referring to Veteran's Day. This special day has been set aside to remind each of us that all of the freedoms we take for granted were made possible by those who served in our country's armed forces. These proud and brave men fought and died to preserve our way of life. Our freedoms have been bought with their blood. Let each of us honor them in some way this November 11, 1990. Fly a flag in their honor, visit a vet's cemetery, take a homeless vet to lunch, or ask your minister to pray for peace. Our country's young men are once again overseas and whether you agree or not with this conflict is irrelevant. The facts are that the Government "WE THE PEOPLE" elected have seen fit to commit lives once again. It is these and past lives I ask you to honor on this Veterans Day, not the politics. These men deserve your respect, don't let them down. They carry a part of all of us with them, that part we call American. To all of you who are Veterans in our midst, I say THANK YOU!!! If you can't tell, "Yes," I'm a Veteran. My war was Vietnam. I remember all too well the 'Welcome Home' of the protesters at the airport. It took them twenty years to realize they vented their feelings on the wrong people. When our boys come home, welcome them as the heroes they are and vent any hostilities to congress or the President for sending them there. It is our elected officials who should be held accountable for this country's politics. They WILL NOT know your feelings if you don't call or, better yet, write them, to express what you feel. I implore each and everyone of you, MAKE YOUR FEELINGS KNOWN! If your officials don't reflect your feelings, vote against them next election. Take to heart what they say, discredit it at every opportunity, to family, friends, and above all to the officials themselves. Don't give up! You may not see immediate results but YOUR opinion IS important. When speaking to my local Congressman I asked, "How many letters does it take to make something a hot issue in your office?" His answer, "Four" - and I live in the outskirts of Los Angeles, Ca. Most of us feel that one person's opinion isn't going to change anything. Every time I hear this I am reminded of an old proverb, "A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step". Let us take that step, find out who your Congressman is, write that letter, photocopy it, send a copy to the White House. You may or may not get a response, but I guarantee you'll sleep better. Don't stop there, the next thing that official spouts that you don't agree with, RUN - don't walk - for pen and paper, and blast him again! If you have trouble motivating yourself to it, try thinking of it this way: Our fathers, brothers, sons, and friends died to give us the right to speak out. Honor their deaths by using some of the freedoms they paid for. MAY PEACE BE WITH US ALL SOON, Rod Germain NAM VET Newsletter Page 7 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 Old Enough? By: Scott Summers The Fireside BBS - Houston, Texas (713)496-6319 In a recent post - Bob Whatishisname suggested that Vietnam Veterans don't like to think. Maybe he's right - but he got me to thinking. I offer the following for consideration. You're old enough to remember the real America if you can remember when American's proudly proclaimed their patriotism. When clerks and repairmen tried to please you - or else. When you never dreamed our country could ever lose. When a Sunday drive was an adventure, not an ordeal. When you left the front door open. When you went to church and found spiritual consolation. When you could always find someone willing and able when you needed something done. When you had to be brave to fly. When people knew what the Fourth of July stood for. When riots were unthinkable. When the clergy talked about religion. When you took it for granted that women and the elderly would have their safety protected and the law would be enforced. When a girl was considered daring if she smoked in public. When Christmas was merry and Christ was kept in it. When a boy was a boy. When a girl was a girl. When they liked each other. When you didn't feel embarrassed to say that this is the best damned country in the world. When the flag was a symbol. When socialist was a dirty word. When a man who went wrong was blamed - not his mothers nursing or his father's income. When liberal wasn't. When our government stood tall anywhere in the world. When a nickel was worth five cents - could buy you a magazine or a good cigar, or a 12 oz Pepsi. When two nickels could get you into the movies with THREE pictures. When even Harvard professors knew the difference between right and wrong. When things weren't perfect, but you never expected them to be. When taxes were mearly a nuisance. When you didn't feel guilty for enjoying dialect comedy. When the poor were too proud to accept charity. When you weren't afraid to go out at night with your family. When you considered yourself lucky to have a good job. When you were proud to have one. When Protestants and Catholics thought enough of their beliefs to argue about them. When you knew that you could accomplish something. When sick meant you weren't feeling well When people expected justice. When ghettos meant neighborhoods. When you felt a little shiver of awe at the sight of a policemen. When everybody wasn't entitled to a college education. When you expected justice. When young fellah TRIED to join the Army. When college kids swallowed goldfish, not acid. When people valued what they had. When songs had a tune. When you wrote love notes. When juvenile delinquents and criminals went to jail. When you could get away from it all for a while. When you bragged about your home state or your home town. When America was the home of the free and the home of the brave. NAM VET Newsletter Page 8 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 ================================================================= I n a c o u n t r y f a r a w a y . . . ================================================================= All POWs are Dead! Submitted by Terry Hayes VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 >> From Smith vs. Reagan, United States Court of Appeals, for the Fourth Circuit, No. 87-1661, April, 20, 1988, regarding the POW/MIA issue. << Introduction: One year ago, the Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations assigned members of the Minority Staff to investigate the following three questions: 1.) Whether the United States Government has received and still possesses valid information concerning living prisoners of war/missing in action -- POW/MIAs -- in Southeast Asia; 2.) Whether the U.S. Government has failed to act on such information; and, 3.) Whether the U.S. Government has acted improperly to intimidate and discredit sources of such information. It is not the purpose of this investigation to determine whether any POW/MIAs remain alive today. Its purpose is only to determine whether the U.S. government has handled the question in a truthful and effective manner. The inquiry remains on-going. It is based not only on the review of thousands of classified and non-classified documents, but also upon hundreds of telephonic and face-to-face interviews with government officials and those affected by their decisions with regard to POW/MIAs. A full report will require much additional investigation and analysis. The following, however, represents an interim report at the conclusion of one year's work. It allows the presentation of some preliminary conclusions. Preliminary Conclusions: The U.S. Government states it has no evidence that POWs were left behind in Southeast Asia. The official policy asserts that it is open to investigation of all reports. For example, the official Department of Defense (DOD) POW-MIA Fact Book, issued July, 1990, states: Although we have thus far been unable to prove that Americans are still detained against their will, the information available to us precludes ruling out that possibility. Actions to investigate live sighting reports receive and will continue to receive necessary priority and resources based on the assumption that at least some Americans are still held captive. Should any report prove true, we will take appropriate action to ensure the return of those involved. Notwithstanding this professed openness to new evidence, the U.S. Government has insisted since April 12, 1973 that it has no evidence of living POWs. In fact, on that date -- at the conclusion of OPERATION HOMECOMING, which brought home 591 POWs. -- Dr. Roger Shields, then Assistant Secretary of Defense, stated that the DOD had "no evidence that there wee any more POWs still alive in all of Indochina." This assertion has been consistent. For example, last July, Col. Joseph A. Schlatter, then chief of the Defense Intelligence Agency's Special Office for POW/MIAs, was saying that "If we look NAM VET Newsletter Page 9 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 at everything we collected during the war and everything we've collected since the war, we don't find any evidence that Americans are captive." Furthermore, as late as October, 1990 an unnamed "senior State Department official" was quoted in the press as saying the U.S. Government has "no evidence" of living American prisoners in Southeast Asia. However, to say that the U.S. Government has "no evidence" is not the same as saying that no evidence exists. After all, there have been nearly 11,700 reports relating to POW/MIAs over the years, including 1,400 first-hand, live-sighting reports. The question is whether every single one of these reports can be dismissed from the category of credible evidence. The U.S. Government position makes sense only if every single one of these reports can be shown to have been fabricated, erroneous, or not relating directly to a POW/MIA -- for example, some reports may relate to Europeans in the area. In fact, DIA analysts have rejected the evidence of all these reports, except for a small pool of less than 150 still considered "unresolved." The preliminary conclusions presented by staff for review by Senators are as follows: 1. After the conclusion of OPERATION HOMECOMING in April, 1973 brought the return of the 591 POWs, official U.S. Government policy internally adopted and acted upon the presumption that all other POWs were dead, despite public assertions that the government was still open to investigating the possibility of discovering the existence of living prisoners. 2. Following the adoption of an internal policy in April, 1973 that all POW/MIAs were presumed dead, the U.S. Government convened commissions in each military service to consider each case on the POW/MIA list in order to make a statutory declaration of presumption of death. 3. While there is no reason to believe that the majority, if not most, of the declarations of presumptive death are incorrect, staff review of live-sighting report files at DIA found a disturbing pattern of arbitrary rejection of evidence that connected a sighting or to specific POW/MIA or U.S. POW/MIA in general. 4. The pattern of arbitrary rejection resulted in a declaration of presumptive finding of death for every such individual case, except one. 5. The internal policy that all POW/MIAs were presumed dead resulted in an emphasis on finding and identifying remains of dead personnel, rather than searching for living POW/MIAs. 6. The desire to identify specific sets of remains with specific names on the POW/MIA list led DOD to an exaggeration of the capabilities of forensic science, and identification based on dubious presumptions and illogical deductions rather than actual physical identification -- a process which resulted in numerous misidentifications of remains. 7. Despite adherence to internal policies and public statements after April, 1973 that "no evidence" existed of living POWs, DIA authoritatively concluded as late as April, 1974 that several hundred living POW/MIAs were still held captive in Southeast Asia. 8. Although the Pathet Lao declared on April 3, 1973 that Laotian Communist forces were holding American POWs and were prepared to give an accounting, nine days later a DOD spokesman declared that there were no more American prisoners anywhere in NAM VET Newsletter Page 10 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 Southeast Asia. No POWs held by Laotian Communist forces were ever returned. The evidence indicates that American government officials made a decision to abandon U.S. citizens still in the custody of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, at the conclusion of U.S. involvement in the Second Indochina War. 9. U.S. casualties, to include POW/MIAs in Southeast Asia, resulting from covert or cross border operation, may not be included on the list of those missing. 10. The executive branch has failed to address adequately the concerns of the family members of the POW/MIAs, and has profoundly mishandled the POW/MIA problem. Definition of POW/MIA: The subject of POW/MIAs requires some definitions. After the Second Indochina War -- popularly known as the Vietnam War, even though Thailand, Burma, Laos and Cambodia saw U.S. combat action -- hundreds of POWs returned alive, notably in OPERATION HOMECOMING, which concluded in April, 1973. Those who did not return home are classified by the Department of Defense into two categories: POW/MIAs -- that is, those for whom there is some documentation that they were captured but never repatriated; and KIA/BNRs -- that is, those believed to have been killed in action, but whose bodies were not recovered. For the latter, there is no evidence of their death except DOD's evaluation of the circumstances, even though no physical evidence of death may be available. In April, 1973, DOD reported that 2,383 personnel were unaccounted for: 1,259 POW/MIAs, and 1,124 KIA/BNRs. This study assumes that both categories of the unaccounted for deserve review. Since 1973, DOD has announced the return of 280 sets of remains, diminishing the over-all number by that amount. In addition, there could well be an equal number of military personnel missing in action from various U.S. covert actions during the war. Since DOD files on covert actions have not been opened, and the participants in such actions never publicly identified, this inquiry could not establish any number for covert POW/MIAs. However, public source books and interviews with participants suggest that the issue of covert operations adds a substantial, but unknown, dimension to the MIA question which has received no scrutiny. Review of Live-Sighting Documents: In this inquiry, staff has reviewed hundreds of U.S. Government classified, declassified, and open-source documents. In addition, Senator Grassley and Committee Minority staff were given access to, and have reviewed personally, hundreds of classified live-sighting reports (accounts by Southeast Asians of live POWs in Southeast Asia) in the files of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). According to DIA, this is the first time that either a United States Senator or any United States Congressional Committee staff have been given access to the raw intelligence contained in the 1,400 live sighting reports. Out of the 1,400 live-sighting reports, approximately 1,200 are considered by DIA to be "resolved." Each of the so-called "resolved" sightings was resolved by concluding that the live sighting report did not pertain to U.S. POWs present after April 1979. Staff felt that in some cases such a conclusion was correct, but that in many it was not supported by the facts. Staff began by first examining so-called resolved cases in order to study DIA methodology by which a conclusion of "resolution" was reached. Since the quidelines set by DIA for access to the files were extremely restrictive, the time available allowed review of only NAM VET Newsletter Page 11 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 about one-quarter of the so-called "resolved" cases, and none of those in the category of "unresolved." Nevertheless, staff concluded that a significant number of the "resolved" cases reviewed showed that the DIA methodology was faulty, or that the evidence did not support the DIA conclusion in the case, or both. The information collected and reviewed to date by the staff shows that the position held by the United States Government -- namely, that no evidence exists that Americans are still being held against their will -- cannot be supported. Rather, the information uncovered during this inquiry provides enough corroboration to cast doubt upon the veracity of the U.S. Government's conclusion. Without revealing classified information, staff believes that the review of the classified live-sighting reports reinforces that doubt. Although more information remains to be reviewed, the evidence this inquiry has thus far uncovered shows that: 1) living U.S. citizens, military and civilian, were held in Southeast Asia against their will after the U.S. Government's statement on April 13, 1973 that no prisoners remained alive; and 2) the information available to the U.S. Government does not rule out the probability that U.S. citizens are still being held in Southeast Asia. In fact, classified, declassified and unclassified information all confirm one startling fact: That DOD in April, 1974 concluded beyond a doubt that several hundred living American POWs remained in captivity in Southeast Asia. This was a full year after DOD spokesmen were saying publicly that no prisoners remained alive. Evidence uncovered in the several hundred cases reviewed thus far clearly demonstrates that, in a disturbing number of cases, DOD made significant errors in drawing conclusions about live sighting reports, the presumed deaths of individuals, or about individuals that were unaccounted for at the conclusion of the war. Although many cases were resolved correctly based upon the files, there were too many errors apparent to rule out the need to undertake and complete the review of the "unresolved" cases. Staff also concluded that DOD spent an excessive amount of effort in discrediting live-sighting reports, while exaggerating or mishandling forensic data in order to confirm a presumptive finding of death. DOD appeared to be more anxious to declare a presumptive finding of death than in following up reports of sightings with creative investigative work. Furthermore, there is evidence of insensitivity on the part of the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government in providing complete and accurate information to the next-of-kin of missing American servicemen. The classified evidence in DIA files suggests a pattern by a few U.S. Government officials of misleading Congressional inquiries by concealing information, and misinterpreting or manipulating data in government files. Interested Senators and staff with proper clearances no doubt will want to review the classified files themselves and draw their own conclusions. The 1973 Policy Decision: Those who have not dealt with the POW/MIA issue may find it difficult to understand how DOD's analysis of the information could be in error. Unfortunately, staff believes that DOD has allowed its procedures to be dictated by a pre-conceived policy finding. The New York Times reported on April 12, 1973 as follows: WASHINGTON, April 12 (AP) -- The Pentagon, two months after the NAM VET Newsletter Page 12 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 first American prisoners of war began coming home, said today that it had no evidence that there were any more prisoners still alive in all of Indochina. Despite the fact that interviews with all returning prisoners are nearly complete, a Pentagon official, Dr. Roger Shields, said that none of the 1,389 Americans listed as missing were now technically considered prisoners. "We have no indication at this time that there are any Americans missing alive in Indochina," Dr. Shields said at a news conference. Dr. Shields was at that time Assistant Secretary of Defense, but he was following guidance issued on that date by the Department of State in a memorandum to DOD which stated that "There are no more prisoners in Southeast Asia. They are all dead." This directive was issued immediately after the return of the last POWs in OPERATION HOMECOMING. This finding was made despite that the fact that none of the hundreds of POW/MIAs that the Pathet Lao publicly acknowledged holding were ever returned from Laos. There were hundreds of live-sighting reports on file in 1973. Thousands of such reports have continued to be received since then. Process for "Presumption of Death": Since it was official policy, then, that all MIAs were dead, it became a bureaucratic necessity for all "unresolved" cases to be resolved in favor of a presumed finding of death. Each respective military service from time to time convenes its own special commissions to pronounce on individual cases. Such a commission has before it at least three categories of information: The first is intelligence-related information concerning the individual. The second is eyewitness accounts of the loss event. The third is the so-called "incident report" -- the official report of the loss incident. If a year passes without new information, the respective military service can convene a commission to determine whether a presumptive finding of death should be declared. The April, 1973 statement of policy was a political statement, rather than a finding according to statutory authority. As a result, the military services subsequently reviewed each individual case of those who previously had been declared dead en masse. And in every case except one, the commissions made a determination of a presumptive finding of death. Because of this procedure, the bureaucratic necessity arose for discrediting any evidence that might cast doubt on the mass presumptive finding of death of April, 1973. From the standpoint of law and military regulations, the procedure followed in each case gave a legal affirmation to the original political statement. Therefore, in order to discredit any information which might undermine the political thesis, the analysis of intelligence files fell into a systematic pattern of debunking information contrary to the thesis. This systematic debunking included discrediting of reports, possible intimidation of witnesses, dismissal of credible evidence through technicalities, and -- if all else failed -- the arbitrary disregard of evidence contrary to the thesis. DOD's Working Hypothesis: An analysis of DOD's working hypothesis for fully accounting for American MIAs is the key to understanding the discrepancies between DOD's position on the POW issue and the evidence uncovered by the staff. DOD's premise, beginning in April, 1973, has been that all MIAs are dead; the corollary, therefore, is that DOD must never find NAM VET Newsletter Page 13 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 any evidence that any MIA is alive. The best evidence, in DOD's opinion, is a set of physical remains that can be identified as a specific individual on the POW/MIA list. Once such an identification has been made, the case of that individual can be removed forever from the list. This is an easier task than to accept live-sighting reports that might point to a living POW necessitating appropriate follow-up action. It is a reasonable assumption to remove POW/MIAs from the list when remains are identified, if the identification is correct. But the fact is that such identifications have been made on the basis of inadequate physical evidence, using presumptive deductions that may or may not be true. The pressure to identify sets of remains has resulted in specific cases where caskets have been buried with full military honors as the "remains" of the individual when, in fact, the casket is empty. Therefore, DOD acts on its premise by vigorously investigating for the remains of dead MIAs. The list of MIAs presumed dead following the conclusion of the war totalled 2,383. DOD has received and claimed to have identified a total of 280 sets of remains since 1973. Any full accounting of MIAs, according to DOD's working hypothesis, would necessarily involve only those cases in which either a presumptive finding of death could be made, or else full or partial remains could be discovered. As each presumptive finding of death is declared or set of remains is identified, DIA would remove, as accounted for, the names that matched those on the original MIA list. In this respect, DOD claims that DIA has vigorously investigated and resolved hundreds of such cases. The policy of DOD is to focus attention on the cases where some evidence, no matter how small, of physical remains can be recovered. But even while DOD enthusiastically and vigorously investigates remains cases -- no matter how fragmentary -- it just as vigorously discredits live-sighting and other witness accounts. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s hundreds of thousands of Asians fled Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. These refugees provided many first-hand reports, or knew by second or third-hand reports, of American prisoners being held in their respective countries. To date, over 11,700 accounts have been received by DOD; 1,400 of these are first-hand, live-sighting reports. DIA claims to have analyzed fully each of these live-sighting reports, and to have left "no stone unturned" in searching for living prisoners. After analyzing the live-sighting reports, DIA has concluded that the majority are not related to living American POWs, with the possible exception of a small percentage of reports that DIA describes as "unresolved." However, no "resolved" case has ever concluded that an American POW remains captive in Southeast Asia. In this way DIA concludes that there is no evidence of Americans currently being held captive in Southeast Asia. This contention is consistent with both the working hypothesis described above and with DIA's apparent success at removing from the MIA list names that involve only those cases in which remains are identified, or a finding of death declared. Insofar as these discrepancies relate to the 1,400 first-hand reports of living prisoners, DOD's original premise comes into question. Numerous live-sighting reports have been erroneously discredited by DIA analysts. Moreover, staff has reason to believe that DOD has misidentified the remains of scores of MIAs, and has incorrectly presumed dead many others. NAM VET Newsletter Page 14 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 This analytical bias is typical of a bureaucracy defending an established policy at all costs, even if it means denying the obvious. It is also a typical characteristic of an out-moded paradigm that can no longer explain the real world or real facts. If the original premise of DOD were that at least some of the 2,383 MIAs were alive, then the evidence collected by DOD, including the thousands of live-sighting reports, would have to be viewed as valid or potentially valid. Therefore, the evidence would have to be presumed worthy of consideration. The same could be said of problems relating to the forensic identification of remains and the presumptive finding of death: Unless convincing or conclusive evidence were known, remains cases and presumptive finding of death would not be prematurely made. Importance of the Problem: The resolution of these questions is important not only to any MIA/POWs who may be still alive, but also to the families involved. It is also important to the fate of any possible POWs in a future military action. With 200,000 U.S. troops now deployed to the Persian Gulf, the question of possible prisoners of war once again becomes an urgent matter. Moreover, the resolution of issues relating to Southeast Asia is a key priority of our nation's foreign policy. Secretary of State James A. Baker III stated recently that the POW/MIA issue is the last remaining obstacle to resumption of relations with the government of Vietnam. But if it turns out that Vietnam has been concealing the existence of POWs, then it would be a complicating factor in initiating relations with the present regime. -- From POW-MIA Fact Book, Department of Defense, July 1990: "The fullest possible accounting for the missing, the return of all Americans who may still be held in captivity, and the repatriation of all recoverable remains is required to resolve the POW/MIA issue. While the life prisoner issue remains at the forefront of our negotiation and intelligence efforts, we recognize that accountability is both a complementary goal to resolving this pressing question and vital to obtaining the answers which the POW/MIA families of our nation so richly deserve." --Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense, July 1990. "Accountability lies in oversight by Congress or in criticism from the electorate, but not in the judgement of the courts." NAM VET Newsletter Page 15 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 W W M M W W M M M M W W \ / M M M M OOOO W W W --*-- M M M IIII O O W W W W / \ M M II O O W W W W M M II O O W W M M II O O II PPPPPP O O ..... II AA PP PP OOOO . '' '' .. IIII A A PP PP ..' '.. A A PPPPPPP ..' ''. A A PP ..' '. AAAAAA PP .' ''. A A PP .' '. A A .' .:::::.. '. .' .::::::::::. ' .' .::::::::::::::. '. .' __ .::::::::::::::::;:... '. .' _- -_ .:::::::::::::::::::::::. '. .' _-_ _ _ -_ ::::::::::::::::::::::::' '. .. _- -!!___!!!-_:::::::::::::::::::::::. .. .' ==_ _- _= .:::::::::::::::::::::::: ', . =-_= _= = :::::::::::::::::::::::: . .' =-_ =_- = ::::::::::::::::::::::: '. .' = - -_ =_:::::::::::::::::::::. '. .' -_ -_- .:::::::::::::::::::;;;. '. .' _-_ ..::::::::::::::::::::::::; '. . _ _ .:;:::::::::::::::::::::;, . ' _ .:::::::::::::::::::::::::. '. Y .'.....::::::::::::::::::::::::::;' '. N ::::::::::::::::::::::::' `''' ': O `::::::::::::::::::::::: \v/ \ / :'E `:::::::::::::::::::::: =========================== :' U `:::::::::::::::::::::. /^\ \ :'T `:::::::::::::::::::: .: A `:::::::::::::::::: .:'T `::::::::::::::::::. .;' R `:::::::::::::::::. .;' T `::::::::::::::::. .;' E `:::::::::gjp::: .:' O `:::::::::::::...........'' G N O T F O R " Bring them home --- NOW !!! " NAM VET Newsletter Page 16 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 WALKIN' POINT By: Michael A. Harris Republic of Vietnam 1968-69 Walkin Point was a risky place. Sixteen on auto, ready to fire. Might see Charlie, face to face. Always watchin, where's that wire? Skin whether Black, Brown, or White. Don't mean nothin, in no man's land! The long green line, followed til night. Depending on you, to deal their hand. Point Man, Point Man, where are you? I've been lost, these last few years. Broken and bitter, depressed and blue. I've even come, to shedding some tears. Who's this Jesus, up on the trail? I want to follow, it seems a must! Upon the Cross, He did travail? He walked Point, so I could trust? Oh Glory be! Now I'm able to see! I'm made alive, His oil can anoint! It's hard to believe, He has chosen me. Now He's asking me, to walk the Point. Come along Brothers, there's healing and peace! Many, many, years, you've had to cope. Your rucksacks are heavy, you need to release. Give Him your burdens, He is your hope! Let's march again, down a different road. We're on the Point, only by His Grace. Just ask Him in, He'll take your load. Giving you strength, to start a new race! NAM VET Newsletter Page 17 ================================================================= A T T A C K o n t h e U . S . S . L i b e r t y ! ! ! ================================================================= USS LIBERTY: 23 YEARS LATER Why reinvestigate now? By: James M. Ennes, Jr. Input by: Joe Meadors SeaBat BBS - Corpus Christi, TX (512) 387-6638 Last summer marked 23 years since Israeli forces attacked the American intelligence ship USS Liberty during the Arab-Israeli Six Day War. The attack, which killed 34 Americans and wounded 171 others from a crew of 294, remains controversial even today, while the call for a serious investigation becomes more urgent with each passing year. Probably no other event in American naval history is the subject of such widespread dispute. Yet the only official inquiry ever held by the United States was a patently inadequate shipboard inquiry into little more than the performance of the crew while under fire. That limited investigation ignored its mandate to inquire into all aspects of the attack, violated U.S. Navy regulations concerning the conduct of investigations, took no evidence concerning the intentions and culpability of the attackers, and failed to answer the most pressing questions. As a result, the attack is even more controversial today than it was when it occurred. The situation cannot be allowed to continue. THE CONTROVERSY: The circumstances are clear enough. Both sides agree that the ship was strafed and bombed repeatedly by Israeli aircraft in international waters during calm, clear weather, then torpedoed. Israel ultimately apologized and paid almost $13 million for deaths, injuries, and damage to the ship. There the consensus ends. Survivors insist that the attack was deliberate and have amassed a great body of evidence to support their case. An ever-growing number of eyewitnesses and former leaders of the era agree that the attack was deliberate and that the Israelis are lying. Experts agree that the evidence is overwhelming. The problem, survivors feel, is not in proving their case but in persuading the government to listen. Israel and its many spokesmen, however, insist just as adamantly that the attack was a mistake, and they have managed for 23 years to block all attempts to review the case. As a result, Americans who ask about the attack cannot get a straight answer from Washington. Instead, "boilerplate" paragraphs repeat the same responses that were originally drafted as early as 1967. Result: stalemate. CONTRADICTORY ACCOUNTS: According to the Israelis, the ship flew no flag, operated in a war zone where she had no legitimate business, "attempted to escape when spotted," and brought the attack on herself by her NAM VET Newsletter Page 18 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 suspicious and unfriendly behavior. By this account, the Israeli aircraft circled three times at low level looking for identification and attacked only after finding none. The Israeli torpedomen launched torpedoes only after the ship "arrogantly" refused to identify herself. The attack occurred, say the Israelis, because the ship's behavior and appearance convinced them that she was a hostile Egyptian vessel. Firing stopped immediately, they claim, when the ship finally hoisted her American flag. Survivors call the Israeli story contrived and untrue. The ship was clearly identified by standard markings and a bright, clean, oversize American flag, they say. Crewmen and an American intercept station in Germany heard Israeli reconnaissance pilots reporting to their headquarters by radio that this was an American ship. The Israeli war room that ordered the attack tracked the ship on a chart by name. The Israelis, survivors say, attacked deliberately and pursued the attack long after examining the ship and American flag at very close range. According to survivors, the Israelis used sophisticated equipment to jam U.S. Navy radio frequencies used by the ship to call for help--frequencies they could not have known without knowing they were American. The ship's signalman flashed "USS LIBERTY - U S NAVY SHIP" at the approaching torpedo boats until his lamp was shot out, but the torpedomen ignored the signals. After disabling the ship with a torpedo, the Israelis ignored the ship's hull number, the oversize American flag, and the ship's name in English on her stern. For another 40 minutes they continued to fire upon firefighters and litter carriers from very close range. Finally, the boatmen drew closer and methodically machine-gunned the ship's empty liferafts waiting in the water for survivors. Then they took a deflated liferaft aboard, with its large "U S NAVY" markings, and returned toward their base - still supposedly unaware that they had been killing Americans. Even if it were possible to have misidentified the ship initially, these men insist, the Israelis could not possibly have continued to attack from close range over such an extended period without recognizing their target as American. And if it was an accident, survivors say, the Israelis should at least be able to tell a story that can be verified. But the Israelis keep changing their story, and no Israeli version agrees with the eyewitness reports of American survivors. THE QUESTIONS: Did the ship fly a flag or didn't she? Was she clearly marked or wasn't she? Did she identify herself when asked or did she refuse to do so? Did she look like an Egyptian vessel or not? Did the Israelis fire upon the ship's liferafts in the water or did they not? Did they cease firing after examining the ship and flag at close range or did they not? Are the Israelis telling the truth? Or are the Americans? Did the Israelis deliberately attack a ship they knew to be American, or did they not. These are easy questions. The answers are readily available. Yet the U.S. Navy and the Congress of the United States have been sidestepping these questions for 23 years. The time has come to face the facts. NAM VET Newsletter Page 19 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 OTHER INCIDENTS: With the single exception of the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty, every serious naval and maritime incident since before the bombing of the Maine has been thoroughly investigated by the United States Congress. Pearl Harbor, Tonkin Gulf, Maine, Scorpion, Thresher, Mayaguez, Pueblo, Stark, all were exhaustively probed. When the USS Stark was struck by Iraqi missiles in 1987, the circumstances were never in doubt. Missiles were launched from many miles away at night and the entire attack was over in a matter of seconds. Yet investigators probed that attack for eight months! Investigators interviewed the Iraqi pilot, reviewed Iraqi flight procedures and gunnery practices and interviewed everyone even remotely connected. Not so the USS Liberty. The Liberty affair, with bitterly disputed circumstances and a two hour coordinated attack involving Israeli air, sea, reconnaissance, intelligence and headquarters forces -- and a crew which has complained of a cover-up from the beginning -- was resolved to the satisfaction of the entire United States Government after barely four days of Navy inquiry and not a word of testimony from Israel. Crewmen were browbeaten into frightened silence. No member of Congress ever felt compelled to ask an official question. The USS Liberty Court of Inquiry violated Navy Regulations and ignored rules of evidence and procedure. The Court failed to interview bridge lookouts, gunners, signalmen, key conning officers, and the ship's surviving second-in-command, and failed to review such vital documents as the ship's deck log, weather log and quartermaster's notebook--all of which argued that the attack was deliberate. Although otherwise ignored by the Court, the ship's official deck logs were rewritten and refiled with the Navy without the knowledge or permission of the officers who actually stood the watches. Even the legal advisor for the convening authority rejected the completed Court of Inquiry report as inadequate and advised his boss, a four star admiral, not to sign it. But his advice was ignored and the report was officially approved despite its warts. That badly flawed and ambiguous report now stands as the only inquiry into the attack. No one in authority has ever wondered why rescue aircraft, dispatched from the carrier Saratoga in time to prevent the torpedo attack, were called back while the ship was still under fire. That act probably cost 25 additional American lives. Yet no one in authority has ever asked why the airplanes were recalled or bothered to ask the Saratoga's skipper a single question. This issue alone justifies an inquiry. Responsible people charge that our government ordered a hasty and ill-advised "retaliatory" raid on the Egyptian capital of Cairo. The then- American Ambassador to Cairo, among others, reports that he received official messages warning him that American aircraft were en route to bomb the city. Does no one in our government wonder about this? Survivors repeatedly ask our government to explain the official lack-of-interest in eyewitness reports that Liberty's life rafts were machine-gunned in the water--a serious violation of international law. Our government evades the questions. Survivors have twice produced Israeli citizens who claim to have observed the attack from the Israeli side and who have offered to NAM VET Newsletter Page 20 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 testify that it was deliberate. No government official has ever been willing to listen. And while the Court was still in session, the ship's Acting Commanding Officer leaked to the press a report that the attack was deliberate and the investigation a sham. The story was widely printed, but even this failed to generate questions from Washington. Clearly the facts in this case were of no interest. Washington wanted a whitewash. POWERFUL SUPPORT: Then-Secretary of State Dean Rusk now calls the attack deliberate and the Israeli excuse untrue. So does Rusk's legal advisor Carl Salans and his Assistant Secretary Lucius Battle. Then-Chairman of the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board Clark Clifford is on record having told President Lyndon Johnson in a closed National Security Council meeting that the attack was deliberate; he said so again a few days later in a written report for the president. A Central Intelligence Agency official made a similar report to a committee of Congress. The committee report, however, is still withheld from the public. Then-director of the National Security Agency General Marshall Carter and his deputy Louis Tordella agree that the attack was deliberate; so does their senior aide Walter G. Deeley who prepared a still-secret in-house report. So do then-chief of the Central Intelligence Agency Richard Helms and former deputy George Carver. So does Admiral Bobby Inman who headed both intelligence agencies. So do former Under Secretary of the Navy Dr. James Johnson, former Air Force Chief of Intelligence General George Keegan and then-Senior National Security Advisor to SecDef Paul Warnke. Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Thomas Moorer insists that the attack could not possibly have been a mistake as the Israelis claim. "Even a rag-tag Navy could not have made such a mistake," he says. That beloved patriarch of the modern Navy, Admiral Arleigh "31 knot" Burke, agrees. Lyndon Johnson's press secretary George Christian reports that "no one in the White House" believed the Israeli excuse or believed that the attack was accidental. Even Ronald Reagan once cited the Liberty to his staff as an example of Israeli untrustworthiness. These are responsible people whose views deserve respect. Yet none of that select group was able or willing to speak out publicly in 1967 when that could have made a difference. And no one in government since Dean Rusk has ever challenged the Israeli version of events. Even Rusk did so only under the cloak of top secret diplomatic communications. These views are important. Eyewitness reports of survivors deserve attention. Israeli military officers who offer to describe the attack as seen from the Israeli side should arouse some curiosity in Washington. Yet, any examination of these views and the reasons for them is blocked by spokesmen for the very people who attacked the ship. Except for some brief and highly- classified exceptions, no Member of Congress and no senior government official has ever shown the slightest official curiosity about this affair. Americans should wonder why their government seems not to care. POLICY OF EVASION: NAM VET Newsletter Page 21 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 For 23 years, survivors and other concerned Americans have been asking their government to examine this subject seriously, and for all of that time they have received short shrift. The stock answer, no matter what question or to whom it is addressed, is, "Israel apologized and paid damages. The matter was investigated by the Navy. There is no evidence to support charges that the attack was deliberate." Recently, in attempts to evade the boilerplate, survivors have been asking very specific questions. "Why were rescue aircraft recalled while my ship was still under attack?" "Why did the Court of Inquiry ignore the machine-gunning of our life-rafts?" "Why did the Court of Inquiry report that the flag hung limp at the mast when logs and testimony say otherwise?" "Why were so many key witnesses not interrogated by the court?" Such questions bring more boilerplate, if they are answered at all. "There is no evidence to support charges. . ." the Navy says. Early this year survivors wrote directly to the Judge Advocate General of the Navy, Rear Admiral J. H. Campbell. "If your records lack evidence," they wrote, "it is because the Navy has for more than twenty years refused to accept the evidence that has been offered. We can provide eyewitness testimony by survivors, sworn statements by eyewitnesses on and off the ship, and official U.S. Government files. To whom should we send our evidence?" "Israel apologized and paid damages," a staff officer replied. "The USS Liberty matter is closed." Occasionally, briefly, we get to peek behind the boilerplate. A few days ago, for instance, a senior aide to a California congressman called to say, "My Congressman agrees with what you say, and he would like to help. But what can he do? Any support for Liberty survivors would just bring the wrath of the pro-Israel Lobby and my congressman would be out of office at the next election. Better just to keep quiet." Patrick Henry would have wept. DEAD CREWMEN ARE DISHONORED: Men who are sent to die for their country deserve their country's support in battle. If they give their lives, they and their families deserve their country's honor and respect and an honest accounting of how they died. That has not been the case with the USS Liberty. The USS Liberty was abandoned by her country while under fire, and has been treated disgracefully ever since. Recently, for instance, the mother of a dead shipmate told me she feels, because of our country's attitude toward the attack, as if her son died, not in honorable combat for his country, but in shame. That should not be. This mother should at least temper her loss with the knowledge that her son died proudly for his country. But she has been denied even that. Meanwhile, the cover-up continues. Every year, more vital records mysteriously vanish. Memories fade. Key witnesses die. Every year the truth becomes more elusive. And every year our country's refusal to face the facts of the USS Liberty becomes a larger blot on American honor and on the historical integrity of what passes for American naval history. COVER-UP KEEPS THE ISSUE ALIVE: NAM VET Newsletter Page 22 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 The issue remains alive today because spokesmen for Israel have managed for 23 years to persuade our leaders that any examination of the circumstances might become a platform for political attacks on Israel. That may be true. But domestic crimes don't go unreported for fear of damage to the accused's reputation and this one shouldn't either. In 1990, after 23 years of official cover-up, it is time for forces on both sides of this controversial issue to join together in calling on the Congress for a complete, thorough, no-holds- barred investigation of what really happened to the USS Liberty during the Six Day War. If Israel is innocent, as her supporters maintain, then they have nothing to fear. Israel will be vindicated and the controversy will end. If they believe in Israel's innocence as strongly as they claim, they should insist upon this inquiry to clear her name. If Israel is guilty, as survivors and others maintain, then, too, the matter will finally be laid to rest. If it is not resolved, the controversy will haunt us forever. I was present in 1980 when then-senator Adlai Stevenson III explained to his Senate staff why he had decided to call for an investigation into the Liberty attack. "Because the American people deserve to know the truth," the senator said. To Adlai Stevenson, that was reason enough. Years later, that is still reason enough. --++END++-- BIO: James Ennes retired from the Navy in 1978 as a lieutenant commander after 27 years of enlisted and commissioned service. He was a lieutenant on the bridge of the USS Liberty when the ship was attacked. His book on the subject, Assault on the Liberty (Random House, 1980; Ballantine, 1987), is a "Notable Naval Book" selection of the U.S. Naval Institute and was "editors choice" when reviewed in The Washington Post. SIDE BAR: IN THEIR MEMORY Several government bodies have remembered the men who died in the USS Liberty by proclaiming June 8 "USS Liberty Memorial Day." Those include such major population centers as St. Louis, Boulder, Omaha, Lincoln, Washington, D.C.; Grafton and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; the town of Greece and the county of Monroe, in New York; and the States of Colorado, Nebraska, New York, Washington and Wyoming. Citizens in other cities have arranged to install in public places small monuments in memory of the men who died. Such monuments are now installed or under construction in Sheridan, Wyoming; Bay City and Flint, Michigan; Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; and Hicksville, New York. A major memorial is planned for the Naval and Maritime Museum, Patriot's Point, South Carolina. U.S. Navy buildings in Japan, Florida, California and West Virginia have been named after men who died in the ship. And a public library has been constructed in Grafton, Wisconsin, and named, "The USS Liberty Memorial Public Library." At their 1987 national convention, the Veterans of Foreign Wars passed a resolution calling upon the United States to construct a NAM VET Newsletter Page 23 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 national monument in memory of these men. THE AMERICAN LEGION STONEWALLS: Numerous attempts at getting a resolution through The American Legion have proven unsuccessful. There is currently an appeal being made to the Department of New York to determine the correctness of the procedure followed by one Post (China Post One, Slidell, LA). In rejecting the resolution, China Post One's Board of Directors (two of whom are not qualified for membership in The American Legion) decided to unilaterally reject the resolution without submitting it to the membership for a vote. The effect of that action was to confer upon non-qualified members a voice in establishing The American Legion's National Agenda while denying that same right to qualified members. The appeal was made five years ago and repeated calls and letters to the Department have proven unsuccessful in obtaining a ruling from them. ================================================================= USS LIBERTY VETERANS ASSOCIATION REUNION By: Joe Meadors SeaBat BBS - Corpus Christi, TX (512) 387-6638 Time: June 7-9, 1991 Place: Embassy Suites, Washington, DC For Info, Contact: Bob Hrankowski Airport Systems Travel One Airport Systems Way Suite 100 Rochester International Airport Rochester, New York 14624 Phone: (716)328-8747 (Call Collect) Fax: (716)328-4058 For more information on the USS Liberty incident, contact: USS Liberty Veterans Association 3 Burns Avenue New York, New York 11801 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 ================================================================= I n - T o u c h ================================================================= "In Touch" Unites Families, Friends and Strangers Input by: Ray "Frenchy" Moreau NamVet's IN-TOUCH Section Editor Herndon Byte eXchange - Herndon, VA (703) 471-8010 "We deeply loved our son... but until we met and spoke with his friends and fellow veterans, we did not realize what an impact his short life had made." These words of Frances Rufty, mother of Joe Herne Rufty, were spoken when she and Joe's dad, Archie Rufty, participated with Joe's fellow veterans, Bob Evans and Ken Strafer, in placing a wreath near panel 14 West of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This panel bears the names of Joe and many of his fellow officers who were killed in an intense battle on January 29, 1970. Bob Evans remembers that day in 1970 only too well. He and Joe were 1st Lieutenants and platoon leaders who had met the previous Christmas Day. Bob liked Joe's warmth his sense of humor. "He helped us laugh when there was nothing to laugh about", Bob recalls. And when he (Joe) was hit, 37 men from Bob's platoon offered to risk their own lives to attempt to rescue Joe. "That's how much they thought of him. They were willing to die to try and save him." For years, Bob wanted to contact Joe's family. Thus, he became one of the first participants in the Friends "In Touch" locator program designed to help families, friends and fellow veterans of those lost in Vietnam to find each other. After "In Touch" located the Rufty family, Bob called them to share his memories of Joe. Bob says that he had mixed feelings about contacting the Rufty's. He was afraid that he might cause them more pain. But once he heard the receptiveness in Archie Rufty's voice, he was very glad he had called. Another connection that "In Touch": made for Bob and the Rufty's was that of Lt. Col. Ken Strafer who served with Joe in basic training, OCS, and Vietnam. In their first phone conversation, the Rufty's told Bob that Ken had written to them, but that they had lost contact with him. They believed that Ken was in the Army and could be in the Washington, DC area. After Ken was located, he invited Bob and the Rufty's to his retirement ceremony scheduled for June 28th. The Rufty's flew in from Las Vegas to attend Lt. Col. Strafer's retirement ceremony *and* to join their son's friends in placing a wreath at the Memorial. Other vets who served with Joe were also present for this tribute. As the wreath was placed, a group gathered to watch and listen, to smile and to cry -- family, friends, and strangers, united by a common bond of gratitude for a young man whose life and death continues to be remembered. NAM VET Newsletter Page 24 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 This tribute to Joe Rufty was filmed by *Reunions*, a newly syndicated television program which will feature this "In Touch" story in one of its premiere episodes this Fall. *Reunions* is also working on another "In Touch" story about Layna McConkey, daughter of Army Capt. Wayne McConkey who was killed in Vietnam, September 17, 1970. Layna's mother died in July, 1989. When Layna was going through her mother's papers, she discovered tapes that her father had sent from Vietnam. On these tapes, Wayne McConkey spoke with fondness of some of his fellow veterans. Layna would like to find these veterans, and *Reunions* is going to help "In Touch" in this search. "In Touch" *IS* AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME. As expected, Al Santoli's moving article, "We Never Knew Our Fathers" which ran in Parade magazine on Memorial Day week-end, resulted in over 1,000 calls, letters, pleas for help, and offers of assistance. An especially nice benefit is the fact that all four of the young adults featured in the article, Tony Cordero, Michelle Mitchel, Sharrie Downing and Wende Ruffin, have been contacted by persons who knew their fathers. Danielle Sanville, another daughter for whom "In Touch" has made a connection, learned that her dad had printed her name and those of her mother and sister on his helmet. He said, "Here I am with the names of three girls on my helmet. The guys must think I'm quite a lover, and I am because I sure do love my girls." Danielle wrote us, "I sat on the floor and cried. To me, it was my dad's way of telling me he loved me. Only I didn't hear it for 22 years." The *Parade* article has also produced a positive response to Sons and Daughters In Touch, a network to facilitate support and communication among children of men who died in Vietnam. Hundreds of letters express gratitude to Tony Cordero who founded the network and initiated the *Parade* article. Lynn Welch Davis, daughter of SFC. Donald Walter Welch, killed in Duc Lap on August 23, 1968, Wrote: "All my life I grew up wondering if there were other children like me. None of my friends had lost their fathers, and I found it difficult to talk with them about my feelings. I had always prayed that someday I would find others like me, someone who could understand how I felt... When I read your story I broke into tears because at long last my prayers had been answered... I hardly know anything about my father and would like to find anyone who might have served with him... I have nowhere else to turn for help in my search." AN UNEXPECTED BONUS OF THE PUBLICITY ABOUT "IN TOUCH" AND SONS AND DAUGHTERS IN TOUCH HAS BEEN THE FORMATION OF ADDITIONAL NETWORKS. Siblings In Touch is being coordinated by Melinda Knapp and JoAnn Seyfried whose brothers died in Vietnam. A Vietnam Widows Research Project has been initiated by Peggy Borsey, Ph.D., whose husband died in Vietnam, and Jacki M. Beatty, MSN, RN, sister of a Vietnam Veteran. They want to hear from any Vietnam widows (whether or not they have remarried) and will, in turn, furnish their participants with printed summaries of their research. NAM VET Newsletter Page 25 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 Also, sons and daughters of veterans lost in World War II and Korea have written that they, too, have longed for a support network as well as a means of finding persons who knew their fathers. The World War II Orphans network is being coordinated by Ann Bennet Mix, daughter of Sidney Bennet, KIA, April 19, 1945. "In Touch" has been likened to a tree with the locator program, Sons and Daughters In Touch, the Vietnam Widows Project, Siblings In Touch, and even sons and daughters of persons killed in Korea and World War II, being branches of the "In Touch" tree. If you are a leaf on one of these branches and would like to participate in any of these programs, please write to "In Touch" c/o FVVM 1224 M St. NW Washington D.C. 20005. Your letter will be forwarded to the appropriate coordinator. The tremendous response to "In Touch" would not have been as overwhelming had it not been for some special groups. Electronic Data Systems (EDS) has designed the data management system. Zenith Data Systems, Hewlett-Packard, Borland International, Quarterdeck Office Systems and Fastcomm Communications have contributed computer equipment and peripherals. EDS and Zenith employees have volunteered to help with publicity and data entry. These contributions really make the difference for "In Touch". Many people write or call to ask how they can help. We suggest that they spread the word to friends, churches, and local news media. This will do two things. First, the more participants in the locator program, the more "matches" we will have, that is, the more people who will locate those persons with whom they need to be "In Touch". Secondly, we need funding to operate this program. If you help us tell people about "In Touch", please emphasize that there is no charge to participate, but that so far "In Touch" has received no government or corporate funds. For this reason donations are needed. If you would like to help with "In Touch", please write or call. If you live in the Washington D.C. metro area, we need volunteers in the office. And wherever you live, you can help by spreading the word. NAM VET Newsletter Page 26 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 In-Touch. What is it ??? Input by: Ray "Frenchy" Moreau NAM VETs IN-TOUCH Section Editor Herndon Byte eXchange - Herndon, VA (703) 471-8010 ================================================================= |+++++++++++++++++++++++++ IN TOUCH ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++| | There are some 43 million people in the United States whose | | lives were directly and irrevocably touched by the Vietnam | | War. | | | | Almost four million people served in Vietnam -- the longest, | | and perhaps most difficult, war in our history. More than a | | quarter of a million were seriously wounded. 58,175 are dead | | or missing. | | | | Each of those who returned recognizes the true cost of war. | | But so too do the families and friends, wives and lovers of | | those listed on the Wall. They too paid a tremendous price, | | not always recognized... many still do. | | | | Though twenty years have passed, it seems that is the period | | people have needed to get the distance necessary to begin to | | address the unresolved, deeply personal issues that have | | been haunting them since the war. Perhaps that is a measure | | of the pain. | | | | But, the "healing of a nation" that was intended by the | | building of the Memorial, has begun. | | | | In the office of the Friends of the Vietnam Veterans | | Memorial, we hear them on the other end of the phone on | | any given day, and far into the night, they call from all | | corners of the country. | | | | "If only I could find out..." | | "I need to find his family so I can keep my promise..." | | "I just want to talk to someone who was with him... " | | "Please, can you help...?" | | | | At the Wall, we find them every day. Veterans who have not | | spoken of their experiences even to their most intimate | | family members are now beginning, tentatively, to seek a | | responsive ear. | | | | Brothers and sisters, parents and even wives who were simply | | never allowed full expression of their grief because of the | | fierce pressures of the time, are now coming forward, | | looking for someone who can help with their healing. | | | | We hear from children, now 15 - 25 years old, who are | | searching for bits and pieces of information they can | | assemble to help fill that empty place in their lives that | | is the father they never knew well, if at all. And they want | | to talk to each other, to share their special needs and the | | unique experience of growing up with a father on the Wall. | | They understand each other all too well. | NAM VET Newsletter Page 27 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 | | | Millions of Americans need to meet and talk because of the | | Wall, and only the Friends can help them. | | | | Initial discussions with many other national organizations | | whose work brings them into contact with Vietnam veterans | | and their loved ones have attested to the need for IN TOUCH | | and their willingness to help. | | | | Simply put, the Friends will draw on its special work at the | | Memorial, its acquired and available data bases and | | programs designed and integrated by Electronic Data Systems | | (EDS), and the commitment and concern of its volunteers to | | place people with a common association to a name on the Wall | | to be in voluntary communication with each other. | | | | From there, we will let human nature take its good course. | | And let the healing begin. | | | | The starting point for the data base will be the more than | | twenty thousand names of people who have requested name | | rubbings from our volunteers in Washington. Each will be | | contacted and given the opportunity to participate by being | | listed in the IN TOUCH central data base file. | | | | Confidentiality is the keyword to cooperation and IN TOUCH | | will respect the integrity of all lists and records. Lists | | will be unavailable for public use and will not be | | distributed for any commercial purpose. | | | | By its nature, IN TOUCH must reach far beyond the veterans | | community in order to be successful. With professional | | guidance, the Friends will develop a program of on-going | | articles and other coverage in major media markets, high- | | lighting the personal experiences of people as they are put | | "in touch." The International Vietnam Veterans Echo | | Conference via the Herndon Byte eXchange 1:109/316 node as | | the enter point for gathering and disseminating information | | will be used. Aside from bringing the program into public | | awareness, these articles and stories will serve as a val- | | uable tool for public education on a wealth of matters | | relating to the Vietnam era. | | | | As a preliminary test of the IN TOUCH project, the Friends | | has implemented a pilot project to test the design and | | demands of such a program. Several hundred requests with | | full background information have been entered into a system | | designed to match requestor data with the existing Memorial | | data. Even with such a small sample, limited data and a | | fairly unsophisticated cross-indexing system, matches have | | been made and IN TOUCH has produced its first real | | connections. The results have been as profoundly moving for | | the participants as expected. And as gratifying for the | | Friends. | | | | But it was clear that the information management system and | | the supporting hardware system would have to be more power- | | ful and more complex in order to handle thousands, perhaps | | hundreds of thousands, of requests. Confidentiality of the | NAM VET Newsletter Page 28 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 | system and information must be paramount. | | | | With well over 2,000 Vietnam veterans, Electronic Data | | Systems (EDS) became involved and has been generous in its | | assistance with designing the data management systems which | | will be critical to a successful program. The Friends have | | reached a three-year working agreement with EDS which | | promises continuity and maximum potential for success in | | building an information bank that can truly help people in | | their search for others who knew a loved one. | | | | The Friends are delighted that Bob Hope has agreed to make | | a public service announcement which we can use on radio and | | television to help get the word out to the public on the | | availability of the service. | | | | The Friends are also pleased to note that Hewlett Packard, | | Zenith Data Systems, Borland International, FASTCOMM | | Communications Corporation and the First National Bank of | | Chicago have all contributed computer equipment, computer | | software, and office equipment to the project, so they are | | beginning to feel fully functional. | | | | The Friends hear from people who have long been living with | | the pain of loss and looking for a way to heal. For | | instance, the Friends recently received a letter from a | | woman who wrote: | | | | Dear Friends: | | For quite some time I have been searching for a | | way to know my brother. It seems hopeless at times. | | I was 12 when he was killed... I had waited for the | | day he would come back to us. He never did. A part | | of me will always be 12 and continue to wait. | | Thank you for giving me hope that there may be | | a way to find him and bring him home to my heart..." | | | | + + + | | | | The Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial | | Electronic Data Systems | | Herndon Byte eXchange TCOMMnet BBS 1:109/316 | | | |+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++| NAM VET Newsletter Page 29 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 IN-TOUCH Registration/Request Form Input by: Ray "Frenchy" Moreau NAM VETs IN-TOUCH Section Editor Herndon Byte eXchange - Herndon, VA (703) 471-8010 THIS FORM REQUIRES SIGNATURE FOR CONFIDENTIALITY RELEASE PLEASE READ BELOW ------------------------------------------------------------------ I wish to be IN TOUCH with (Please circle and/or comment) Family, Friends and/or Fellow Veterans of the following: __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ----------- PERSON WHO DID NOT COME BACK FROM VIETNAM ------------ First Name_____________ Middle Name___________ Last Name__________ Relationship to You and/or Reason for Request (Answer as fully as possible)_____________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ================================================================== -------- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT HIM/HER - IF KNOWN --------- Rank_______ Birth Date ______________ Soc. Sec. # ________________ Tour Date of Birth _______________ Where Buried __________________ Branch of Service: AR__ NA__ AF__ MC__ CG__ RC__ CIV__ (Fill in his/her equivalent unit designations in the spaces below) Division ____________ Brigade ___________ Battalion ______________ Regiment ____________ Company ___________ Ship ___________________ Battles:__________________________________________________________ Locations:________________________________________________________ Nicknames:________________________________________________________ Hometown (while in Nam): ____________________ Home State: ________ ================================================================== ---------------------- INFORMATION ABOUT YOU --------------------- Title___ First Name ____________ Middle/Maiden Name _____________ Last Name ____________________ Address___________________________________________________________ City __________________________________ State ____ Zip: _____-____ Your Home Phone ( ) ____________ Work Phone: ( ) ____________ ---------------- IF YOU ARE A VIETNAM-ERA VETERAN ---------------- Tour date _______________________________ Rank __________________ Branch of Service: AR__ NA __ AF __ MC __ CG __ RC __ CIV __ Fill in your equivalent unit designations in the spaces below Division: __________ Brigade: ___________ Battalion: ___________ Regiment: __________ Company: ___________ Ship: ________________ Battles: _________________________________________________________ Locations: _______________________________________________________ Nicknames: _______________________________________________________ Hometown (when in VN) _______________________ Home State: ________ Comments: ________________________________________________________ NAM VET Newsletter Page 30 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT _____ I give permission to the Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to release my name, address, phone number and relationship to other participants in the IN TOUCH project seeking information on the individual above (strike out phone number if you do not want it released). OR _____ I would like to have the names, addresses, and phone numbers of persons who knew my friend or relative, but prefer NOT to have my name, address, and phone number released. I hereby release the Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial from any and all liability that may arise from the operation of the IN TOUCH project. Signature ____________________________________ Date _____________ NOTE: Do not electronically transmit this form, instead mail to: Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 1350 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Suite 300 Washington, DC 20036 ----------------------------------------------------------------- NAM VET Newsletter Page 31 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 INNOCENCE By: Michael A. Harris Republic of Vietnam 1968-69 We left this soil, trained to kill. Men and women, so young at heart. The ravages of war, quickly changed our will. It was so very obvious, from the start. Our innocence seared, we struggled and fought. Confused and weary, we saw many die. Who is this God, so many have sought? He seems so distant, can He hear our cry? As the war raged on, we grew so hard. Losing our youth, we stumbled and fell. Curses put on us, we were broken and charred. Where are you God, in this living hell? Finally it ceased, going home at last. Never to worry, welcomed for our deeds. We found out soon, it wasn't as the past. Our nation changed, it didn't see our needs. There was a new war, upon our arrival. Instead of comfort, came rejection and pain. We retreated within, for our own survival. Dreams and ambitions, never renewed again. Growing ever so bitter, we kept asking "Why?". Did God forsake us, when we needed Him most? We cried out in battle, watching many die. Where is this God, the Lord of Host? He knows every sparrow, that falls from the sky? And every single hair, that is upon our head? Why did He leave us, in those fields to die? He could have intervened, and saved instead. Years have passed, I have begun to heal. My defenses relenting, I want what's true. Tired of hiding, I seek what is real. It's good to be cheerful, not being so blue. The reports are coming, He was there after all. They seem to be credible, as I begin to look. The hardness is softening, as I hear Him call. I see He is Almighty, as I search His book. What about our Brothers, who fell at our side? This I've given to Him, He knows what's best. His arms are outstretched, His gates open wide. What a peace to give all, and dwell in His rest! NAM VET Newsletter Page 32 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 ================================================================= T h e N a m V e t C h a p e l ================================================================= ???BORN AGAIN??? What Does it Mean? By: Mike Harris NamVet Guest Chaplain AFIMS - Everett, WA (206) 486-0609 Subject A Subject B --------- --------- Alcoholic Non-drinker Drug user Drug free Sexually promiscuous Faithful or celibate Lonely Many friends Angry At peace Financial instability Able employee Guilt ridden Free from Guilt Hard hearted Able to love Suicidal High esteem Bad Dreams Restful nights Lack of trust Freedom to trust Relational suicide Solid relationships Without hope Full of hope If you had a choice to be in the shoes of one of these two individuals which would you prefer? If you are honest with yourself, you would most likely say "Subject B". How many of us have experienced or are still experiencing many of "Subject A's" characteristics? You may not have all, but do share some. Many of you have seen my posts on the Vietnam Echo from time to time. I truly enjoy being a part of such an Echo. As soon as I get home from the days work I usually rush to my little laptop and try to get on the board. If it is busy I continue until I get through. When I miss a few days I can't wait to get back in to see what I have been missing. Being on an Echo is an interesting means of communication. You very seldom see the other person face to face. Perhaps some will say in private what they would never say to another in person. You get used to "regular users" and begin to understand how they think. Just when you think you have them figured out they fool you with a response. New users come and go. Clicks seem to form. No yelling. No screaming. No crying. No laughing. Out loud that is! The silence is broken only by the clicking of the keys of your computer. Silently you share other peoples lives. The Vietnam Echo is special to us former soldiers. We are able to share our pasts as well as our futures. Our victories as well as our defeats. Our concerns as well as our opinions. This article reveals much about its writer. You see, I used to be "Subject A". His attributes were drawn from my past. I am willing to expose my past to reveal to you my present and future. I have been transformed to "Subject B" over these last nine years. I used to live in misery but now I live with hope in my heart. Old NAM VET Newsletter Page 33 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 things are passing away and new things happen in my life daily. It has not been an easy road, but I would not trade if for anything! We have all heard of being "Born Again". Some of us have never gone beyond hearing the phrase. Others have heard it but have never understood what it means. Even christians reading this may not quite understand it. It carries a stigma and has had many interpretations through the centuries. Some make it sound like a "hard" thing to attain. Others feel they can never attain to it. Why? I submit to you that it is simple and can be attained very easily. It is man that makes it seem so elusive! Being Born Again can be likened to our natural birth. After we are born we are totally dependent upon our parents. We can do nothing functional of ourselves. Mom and Dad even have to hold our heads up for us. As we grow, we learn how to crawl and then to walk. To talk and reason. Life is a continual learning process. As we grow, we grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Then death comes and we go the way of all mankind. What is our hope beyond death? Do we really know what to expect? Man is made up of Spirit, Soul, and Body. In the Garden, Adam and Eve were complete in God. They communed with Him daily in obedience. God had told them never to partake of the fruit of the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil". If they did, then He said, "Thou shalt surely die". He had His reasons. Then the serpent beguiled Eve and man fell out of the grace of God. They died and thus we die still today. What hope do we have then? If we will search with our hearts, the greatest hope we could ever obtain is waiting for us. The bible says, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine HEART that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9) Does this seem difficult? It was for me for many years. In January of 1981 I was sorely distraught because I had tried and tried to quit marijuana and speed. In 1976 I had quit alcohol and replaced it with drugs. Just prior to that winter day I had gone without drugs for 40 days. Victory seemed within reach when a friend stopped by and I fell one more time. In frustration I angrily yelled at God. "If you are real, then make yourself real to me!" I begged. Nothing happened. Three days later, while sitting in my kitchen alone, God spoke to me in a way no one had ever spoken before. I know now that it was in my spirit. He said, "Flush your drugs down the toilet!" I was shocked! In response I said, "What about Randy, he uses them too?" He came right back with, "He doesn't need them either, flush them down the toilet!" I went to the freezer, got my bags of marijuana and pills, and flushed them down the toilet in obedience. It wasn't hard. It was easy! I knew He was serious. It felt good! That day I accepted Him with my HEART. He was faithful and made Himself real to me. I have not used drugs in almost ten years. He has healed me! NAM VET Newsletter Page 34 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 Something special happened that day. My spirit came alive. Without Him, it was dead. He quickened me and planted His ETERNAL SEED within me. I want you to know that that SEED is Jesus Christ! (Galatians 3:16) He died upon the cross for you and I and the Father raised Him from the dead. We can now have victory over death. Eternal life entered my being that day in 81. What is eternal cannot die! God's Holy Spirit came to dwell within me. I will never look back! Jesus, while talking to the Pharisee Nicodemus, stated that, "Except a man be Born Again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) He was speaking of being born "of the Spirit." This happens by believing upon Him with our HEART, not our head. He went on to tell Nicodemus that, "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE." (John 3:16) On that day in 1981 I knew that God was real and my life had changed. That SEED within me began to be nourished and grow. I was like natural baby. I could not even crawl. God had to hold my head up. He began feeding me through home bible studies at first and gave me another single brother to study the bible most nights with. We ate popcorn and the Word of God night after night. He flooded us to overflowing! He showed us His Word was penned by man but inspired by Himself. I tried in vain to prove it wrong. He showed me the Trinity and how to give my burdens to Him. In the Summer of 81 He spoke to me again. This time it was even more powerful. I was driving down a country road by myself when out of nowhere He said, "You can deal with multitudes of people!" Goosebumps rose up all over my body and my hair stood on end. The God of the universe was speaking to me again! He hesitated, then added, "But... you must deal with YOURSELF first!" My mind reeled as I tried to fathom what He meant. Silence. That was all He had to say. As I continued to study His Word, it began to take on a new perspective. He began showing me who I really was. It was not pretty. From that point on I began lightening my rucksack by giving Him the dross in my soul. A lot of things were hard to give over because I felt I couldn't do without them. Every time I went to Him in true repentance, He would give me the GRACE to overcome in another area. I wouldn't trade it for anything! You see, that SEED of Christ is continuing to grow in me. The Holy Spirit lives within me and is cleansing my soul so the Father and Son can come and dwell with me and in me as They did with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. (John 14:23) When I was first born, I was born of a corruptible seed. But now I am "Born Again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." (1 Peter 1:23) I do not know exactly where I am at in His plan for me. I may still be crawling and drinking milk. On the other hand, I may be waddling and eating solids. One thing I do know. I am no longer "Subject A"! You can also partake of the SEED of Christ Brothers and Sisters. Many of you have and I count you as Brethren. But many of you still haven't made the choice. One of the biggest obstacles in NAM VET Newsletter Page 35 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 our way is pride. Being veterans, we are survivalist. We have a strong tendency to make it on our own. God is not wanting to make you some sort of puppet. He does not want you to give up your will. He wants you to follow His will of your own volition. Yesterday I was preparing to speak to a group of Vietnam veterans at a prison here in Washington. All week I felt God was coaxing me to speak on "Surrender". Within an hour before I was to speak he impressed something special upon me. Here it is: In man's army...if we surrender, it means CAPTIVITY! In God's army...if we surrender, it means FREEDOM! Remember the Military Code of Conduct..."I will never surrender of my own free will..." We were all determined to keep this if captured. Some of you were captured and found out quickly how hard it was to keep in reality. How contrary it seems to us to associate FREEDOM with surrender. Without Christ, we are all held as captives by the enemy. I have stepped over the line into God's army. There, the victory is already won! As we receive healing from Him we can become corpsmen and go back for our wounded! I want all of you to share in the freedom that I and other christian brothers share. It is truly a peace that passes all understanding! You too can have it by simply asking Him to "Make Himself real" to you! He will meet you where you are! Why not begin making peace with your past? In His Love, MIKE PS * If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact me via netmail or write to Mike Harris, P.O. Box 440, Mountlake Terrace, Wa. 98043. (206) 486-5383 NAM VET Newsletter Page 36 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 I I IIIII I I 88888 ITTTI o88888888 I I o888888888888o 8888 I I 888888888888888888888888 I I 88888888888888888 8888 888 xI Ix 8888888888888888 88888888 T III T 88888888888888 888888 88 I III I 8888888888888888 88888888 xI III Ix 888 888 88888888888' T I I T 88888888 I I I I 8888 xI IIIII Ix TI IT II II II II The Quiet Place IT | TI II --|-- II XIII | IIIX oooo o II I I II o88 888) (888) II I IIII I II o88 88888888 8888) XII I II II I IIX (88 8 88 888888) XIII III III IIIX (8 8 8 88 88 88 8 888) XIIII I I IIIIX (88 8 8 8 88888888) II II I xIIIIIx I II II ( 8 88 888 88888) II I T T T I II (8888 88 8 8 8888888) II I I I I I II (8 88888 888 88 88) II I I I I I II (8888)888 88888) II I I II II I II (8) (I8I8I) 8 oo8888888o II I I I I I II IIIII X 8888888 888BII I I I I I IIXX III X XX 88 88 88 BII I TIIIIIT I IIXXX III XXXXX 888888 88BII I .... I IIXXXXXX III XXgXXX 888 888888888XXXXXII ... IIXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXjXX II .. IIXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXpX The Vietnam Veteran XII IIXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX has relatives in the III IIIXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX Old and New Testaments III IIIXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX who also experienced loss II IIXXXXXXXXX XXX and grief, guilt and shame, II IIXXXXXXXXX XX rejection and betrayal, I IXXXXXXXXX alienation and estrangement, I IXXXX XX isolation and withdrawal. II IIXXXX II IIX Adam and Eve tried to hide from God; II II Moses, born Hebrew and raised Egyptian IIII IIII searched long and hard for his real self; II II Job, losing his children and all he owned, II II became sorely diseased; IIII III Biblical Joseph was rejected by his brothers, II II lied about and imprisoned; I Peter denied Jesus. II I "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" Matthew 28:20 NAM VET Newsletter Page 37 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 WE WERE CHILDREN By: Josh Schwartzbach CONNECTIONS to a new age - Nov. 1990 PO Box 368 - Slingerlands, NY 12159 Input by: Pete Farias NamVet's Editorial Assistant Berkshire Estates BBS - Pittsfield, Ma. (413) 499-1327 We were children. Mostly 18-21 year olds. We were being asked to make tremendous sacrifices for our flag and country. The vast majority of us had been born between 1946 and 1948. We were 3 to 5 years with the advent of television. We watched, and at that extremely impressionable point of our lives, were imprinted with the archetypes of Superman, The Lone Ranger, John Wayne. Through television and the movies we were taught that there were good guys, and bad guys, and that we were the good guys. We were taught that it is admirable to fight for what's right: to die for a cause; to be ready when your country called. We were the children that were imprinted with 1950's values. We were the children who learned morality from the Cisco Kid, My Friend Ficka and Bugs Bunny. We all wanted to grow up to be heroes like the Duke and Audie Murphy. We were willing to go and die for our country when she called: no questions asked. These were the children that found themselves in Vietnam in 1967-1968. We were idealistic, fervently patriotic, and dedicated. We worked 18 or more hours a day, sometimes in 100 degree heat and humidity. We suspended our personal morality. We had to in order to kill our fellow man. We knew, because we were taught, that the only time it was OK to kill was during war. But the knowing was only part of it. Then there was the doing, and the fear, and the constant anticipation of your own death, and the sudden scramble to come to grips with your own internal concept of God. We had to evaluate lives that had barely lived. We did the job, and did it well. We came over in '67 with the country's blessing and support. We kicked Charly's butt during Tet of '68. We felt good. We had acted heroically. The military newspaper "Stars and Stripes" was our main channel of information. But they neglected to point out the growing number of student demonstrations, the burgeoning Peace Movement, the change in attitude of a growing number of Americans, the growing opposition to the war. We were innocent. We all thought we were heroes. There was a superstition over there, that if you were going to get hurt, you would get it during your first two weeks or your last two weeks. For me it was the latter. The details are unimportant, just suffice it to say that I found myself flat on my back, with a broken leg, headed for home, with absolutely no idea what was transpiring in the "world" I had previously occupied. Now, you may think that a broken leg is nothing to celebrate, but I was going HOME two weeks early, and in my way of thinking, it was worth the price. From the 18th EVAC Hospital in Qui Nhon, to the 249th General Hospital in Japan, to St. Albans Naval Hospital in Queens, I patiently waited for my leg to heal enough so that I could have my first weekend pass and experience the NAM VET Newsletter Page 38 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 world again, first hand. It was November of 1968. The change of seasons that year was gentle and slow. The week had been warm and the weekend promised the same. There were still leaves on some of the trees, and for me things couldn't have been better. I felt great! My leg was close to being healed, just a short walking cast and a cane. It was Saturday, the first day of my weekend pass. I was resplendent in my uniform. My skin was deeply tanned. There could be no doubt in anyone's mind from whence I had come. My attitude? Well, I was walking on air, and why not? I had just given a tough year for my country. I met the devil and looked him square in the face. I had done some things that had affected me to the core of my being, but I was OK. The folks back home would make it OK. They would pat us on the back and say, "Job well done, boys. Job well done." After all, we were heroes, weren't we? So out I went. I took the train into New York City, cabbed to Port Authority, and grabbed a bus to Albany. If you've ever done any extensive bus traveling between New York City and Albany, you know there is the choice of two big carriers. Trailways and Greyhound, and if you're very, very lucky you get to ride a Vermont Transit Bus. There were only two departures per day from New York on those big, clean, lightly traveled buses that make their home in the Green Mountains. And that day, there was one of the big green buses seemingly waiting for my arrival. The bus ride to Albany from New York City follows the Hudson River Valley along the Hudson Highlands and the Catskills. The road winds along the high bluffs that flank the valley. There is one spot near Coxsackie that overlooks a wide expanse of valley. When we reached that vista it was bedecked with one of the most beautiful rainbows that I had ever seen. It was perfect and stretched from one horizon to the other. I cried. Blubbered like a baby. It felt wonderful. Soon thereafter, we arrived in Albany. I'd catch a cab and head home to surprise my parents. However, when I walked out of the doors of the bus station I realized that something was up. A parade. It dawned on me, VETERANS DAY!!! This could not have been more perfect. WOW! There were no cabs so I began to walk uptown. The first few people I saw looked at me in the same way as those on the bus. At first it was barely perceptible, but soon it became clear that it was not a welcoming look or even one of pity or concern (I was after all wearing a cast and using a cane). It seemed as though I was some kind of pariah. I could scarcely believe it! This parade was not for me, It was not a welcome home. It wasn't even for my war. The rules had been changed while I was fighting for freedom. Nobody appreciated what I had gone through and what I had done as a matter of duty. Nobody considered what all of us had done because we had been asked to, not because it was something we wanted to do. These realizations had a profound effect on the next twenty years of my life, as they affect, to this day, the lives of many NAM VET Newsletter Page 39 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 many others like me. We made many personal and moral sacrifices which were not appreciated. Many Veterans are very angry to have made so many compromises with their own, very personal, belief systems, morality and integrity, apparently for NOTHING. Some of my brothers are still lost in the sauce because of this rejection. Those that saw and were forced to do horrible things are still suffering horribly. We all feel it on some levels, even those who deny it. Many have come back to society, but none of us really trust anymore. In relating these things I do not intend to blame, just to explain to those who have not yet understood, and to heal. NAM VET Newsletter Page 40 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 ================================================================= T h e " N o t - S o - S e c r e t - A n y m o r e " A g e n t ================================================================= Agent Orange Update By: Martin H. Kroll, Sr. NamVet's Agent Orange Section Editor Fort Mountain BBS - Chatsworth, Ga. 30705 (404) 695-8703 Having been absent from the keyboard much more than I would like to have been, I have found it difficult to complete much over the past few months. I hope that the following Agent Orange Section submissions helps make up for it. First though, I feel that some sort of explanation is due. It seems that sometime toward the end of August I found that I really had more "irons in the fire" than I could possibly tend! Being constantly busy and getting very little sleep takes a serious toll on a person. Not only does it affect one physically but it rakes you over the coals emotionally as well. With only about a week to plan and get ready for it, I decided in early September to stuff my backpack and head for the wilderness for a 10 day vacation of silence and solitude. An all day walk into the Cohutta Wilderness area put me right where I wanted to be. Miles past the point where motorized vehicles are allowed and approximately 17 miles from even the closest remote homeplace, I could hear neither the sound of car or train and save for the occasional airplane there was absolutely nothing to remind me of civilization. Ten days of solitude that I allowed myself to sort out my thoughts, relax, and enjoy myself. Maybe the best 10 days of my life spanning many years! During this time I watched a black bear 30 yards away as I enjoyed my supper on the first evening there. When I stood up after eating she disappeared to never be seen by me again although I was constantly reminded of her presence for the remainder of the stay by fresh tracks and droppings. I found an old rotted log during the middle of the week that she had ripped apart sometime through the previous night or early morning and figured that she was scavenging for grubworms etc. I think that I must have seen every sort of game animal native to the area except for the wild boar. I enjoyed watching a racoon flip rocks in a creek and enjoying his supper of "crawdaddies", a beautiful bobcat came within 20 yards of me and went on by without even knowing that I was there. I also watched several deer, turkeys, and even found a few beaver dams. During this 10 days of solitude it sunk into my head that there is nothing more important to me than my wife and children and my home. I could not continue to ignore them as I had been doing. My various projects had kept me so busy that I had started to become a stranger in the home and pretty much inaccessible when the family needed or wanted me to do something with them. Since returning home all of this has changed and I will continue to put my family and home above any and everything else no matter what. I am enjoying doing things with them that we hadn't done for quite a while and I have found a new peace of mind that I should have never had to go looking for in the first place. NAM VET Newsletter Page 41 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 This brings me to the point concerning Agent Orange research, Namvet, and running my BBS. Of course running my BBS is a priority as well as Namvet and trying to fight the Agent Orange battle in my own way. I have just plain cancelled out some of my other projects and activities so I hope that everyone understands that I have narrowed everything down as follows and in this order of importance...... 1.) Family & Home 2.) My income producing work 3.) Running my BBS and 4.) Namvet & Agent Orange work. I will try to do all that I can for Namvet and Agent Orange but I have to take the stance that I can allow only so much time for it and my BBS. If family matters dictate that I spend the time elsewhere, then that is how it must be. Otherwise, I will be here doing what I can. I hope that you find the following articles useful and informative. Martin NAM VET Newsletter Page 42 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 _ ______ _______ __ _ _______ /\\ H M H H\\ H HHHHHHH / \\ H H H \\ H H /====\\ H HHH HHH H \\ H H / \\ H_____H H______ H \\H H ______ ______ _ __ _ ______ _______ H H H /) /\\ H\\ H H M H H H H____// / \\ H \\ H H H H H H \\ /====\\ H \\ H H HHH HHH H_____H H \\ / \\ H \\H H_____M H______ . _ . _ . . -.- . - . - . -. - . - - - - . - - - - .- - . . . - - -. - . . . . . . . -. -. . . . U S . - -. - . . . . - . . - -. - . . . - - . . -. - . .. V I E T N A M V E T E R A N . _ - - . . . _ _ _ . _-_ . - - - . - - -_- -_-xxx _ -. . - .-. - . . . . - XXXXXxxXXXXXXXXXXXx -. - .- . - . . XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-. .--. - .- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX -.- - -.- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX -. -. -. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx .g -. -. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX .- j. .- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . p .-. XXXXXXXX ]XXXXXXXXX ]XXXXXXXX .- - -. XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX -.- - -- XXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX -- - XXXXXXXXX X'`XXX XXXXXXX Y Y XXXXXXXXX XXXXX XXX XXXXXXX X X XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXX XXXXXX XXX XX X XXX XX XX XXXX XX XXX XX XX XX XXXX XXX]XXXXXXXXXXXX XXX[ XX XX XXX XXXXXXXXXX " I t ' s o n l y t e e n a g e a c n e ! " -Robert Nimmo- NAM VET Newsletter Page 43 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 SHOULD YOU BE CONCERNED ABOUT AGENT ORANGE? By: Martin H. Kroll, Sr. NamVet's Agent Orange Section Editor Fort Mountain BBS - Chatsworth, Ga. 30705 (404) 695-8703 Many people seem to pass off the Agent Orange issue with little concern about the possibilities that they may have been exposed to it. Some tend to think that if they ignore it then it won't affect them. Others are disabled and dying from exposure to one of the most toxic substances known to man. The following information will shed a little light on the subject for you just in case you are one of those who have tended to ignore the issue. This information was gleaned from a some rather lengthy reports and just touches upon some of the highlights. The source of info comes from: Report to the California Legislature Agent Orange Program Assembly Bill 3443, Chapter 2480, Statutes 1984 State of California, Dept of Veterans Affairs, 1-87 and VA, Review of Literature on Herbicides, Government Printing Office, October 81 Agent Orange, as used in Vietnam, was a combination of two herbicides: 2,4,-D and 2,4,5-T. These herbicides are synthetic derivatives of naturally occurring plant growth regulators found in phenoxyacetic acid compounds. The first of the herbicides, 2,4-D, was developed in 1945 and was found to be effective in controlling broadleaf weeds, however, it was ineffective in controlling brush-type weeds. Researchers from private and government sectors, including the Department of Defense who studied phenoxy herbicides as a potential jungle defoliant, found that a derivative of these compounds 2,4,5-T, was effective in killing the brush-type weeds. When 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T were combined they delivered a lethal one- two punch by controlling broadleaf and bush-type weeds. In 1948, the U.S. Department of Agriculture licensed these phenoxy herbicides for use in controlling weeds in cash-crop fields. These herbicides were subsequently used for weed control along railway rights-of-way, rangelands, forests, and other areas requiring weed control and suppression. In 1957, scientists discovered and reported that 2,4,5-T contained a contaminant, which was an unavoidable by-product of the herbicides manufacturing process. This contaminant, TCCD or dioxin (2,3,7,8 Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin), is the reason for concern among Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Dioxin was found to be a potent carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) and teratogen (fetus deforming agent) when administered to laboratory animals. These tests were inconclusive as the results varied from one type of animal to another, and even varied within a particular species of animal. Five years after the discovery of 2,4,5-T's dioxin contaminants, the U.S. Armed Forces began using it in Vietnam. In 1971, the Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of 2,4,5-T on most food crops. The use of Agent Orange in Vietnam was stopped by the Department of Defense. Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange and its dioxin NAM VET Newsletter Page 44 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 contaminants have reported a variety of symptoms. These symptoms include: chloracne, chloracne-form lesions, liver damage, loss of sex drive, changes in skin color and sensitivity to light, numbness or tingling in the extremities, psychological changes, sore joints, cancer (particularly soft-tissue sarcomas), and birth defects in children of those exposed. Agent Orange exposure, and the uncertainty of the consequences of such exposure, have also undoubtedly caused severe anxiety-related problems for many Vietnam veterans. Military and Civilian personnel in Vietnam were exposed to dioxin and other chemicals through multiple exposure routes, e.g., inhalation and dermal exposure from spray and spraying drift; ingestion of contaminated food and water; inhalation from burning brush which would likely release dioxin by pyrolysis of 2,4,5-t; breathing and ingestion of contaminated dust; and in some cases, the use of discarded pesticide drums for stoves, heaters, showers and storage containers. DIOXIN: Dioxin is a colorless crystal made up of oxygen, hydrogen, and chlorine in a compound 2,3,7,8,-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin referred to by most non-scientists simply as dioxin or sometimes abbreviated as TCDD. Dioxin is a trace contaminant in the herb 2,4,5-T which was a main ingredient in several of the agents used during the ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<-* PLEASE NOTE * defoliation program. This abbreviation is perhaps an unfortunate one for people familiar with chem. nomenclature because dioxin is another compound. The 6-numbered ring C4,H4,O2 is dioxin; when the 2 oxygen atoms occupy positions opposite each other in the ring, as in the central ring of the compound shown, it is p- dioxin. The compound shown is a substitute p-dioxin in which the 4 hydrogen atoms of the original compound have been replaced by 2 dichlorinated benzene rings, The molecule has 4 chlorine atoms at 2,3,7, and 8 ring positions: 4 hydrogen atom at 1,4,6, and 9 positions. The concern of Vietnam veterans is the toxicity level of the estimated 368 pounds (Young, 1978) of dioxin used in spraying missions in Vietnam between 1964 and 1975. The toxicity of dioxin produced by the manufacturers varied from .02 parts per million [PPM] to 68 PPM, a difference of 3400 times. The Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] has determined that dioxin is toxic to humans at the part per trillion [PPT] level. A comparison of ppm and ppt is 1 ppm equals 1 drop of gasoline in a 28 gallon fuel tank. 1 ppt equals 1 drop of dioxin in a string of railroad tank cars over 10 miles long. The EPA considers any exposure to dioxin toxic to humans (NIOSH Bulletin #40, 1984). In drawing conclusions from this information it is very important that you understand clearly the relationship between the size of South Vietnam and the estimated 368 pounds of Dioxin (this is PURE dioxin here and not Agent Orange) actually contained in the millions of gallons of Agent Orange. Then you must realize that the EPA determined that Dioxin is toxic at the PPT level (part per trillion) and finally that just ONE PPT is equal to only one drop of dioxin in a string of railroad tank cars over 10 miles long! If you have read this article carefully I think that you will understand the urgency of the situation. Your health problems and also those of your children could very well be linked to exposure NAM VET Newsletter Page 45 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 to Agent Orange. You may very well be one of the unfortunates who come down with one of the Cancers attributed to Dioxin exposure. You may not live long enough to retire! On the other hand, you may be one of those who are not affected as the tests on laboratory animals have shown to happen. Once again I urge you to write letters and make phone calls to your representatives in Congress and the Senate and let them know that you are fed up with the Government "foot-dragging" concerning Agent Orange exposure and it's ill effects. Tell anyone who will listen just what the truth really is and ask them to join in our efforts to force the Government to do the right thing. NAM VET Newsletter Page 46 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 MORE THAN ONE POISON IN VIETNAM By: Martin H. Kroll, Sr. NamVet's Agent Orange Section Editor Fort Mountain BBS - Chatsworth, Ga. 30705 (404) 695-8703 Agent Orange is in the limelight but should Vietnam veterans be concerned only with Agent Orange? I think not! As the following list of 58 chemicals used by our government in Vietnam will show, Agent Orange was only one of the poisons that we were subjected to while serving our country in Southeast Asia. Please bear in mind that this listing is only a partial listing. Take a good look at the warnings and chemical structures contained in the list and draw your own conclusions. If you draw some of the same conclusions that I have drawn, then we are indeed fortunate to be alive going into the third decade after being bombarded with this stuff. It makes me even angrier when I realize that some of this stuff is still on the open market today! I have noticed some discrepancies in amounts used as compared with other Government figures. Source: VA, Review of Literature on Herbicides Government Printing Office, October 81 Name [N]: Afalon CLASS/LABEL [C/L]: HERB (CAUTION) CHEMICAL NAME [CN]: 50% N-(3,4 dichlorophenyl)-N-methoxy mentheusea. USED FOR [UF]: Selective weed control MANUFACTURER [MFG]: USED BETWEEN [UB]: 1967 Australian tests AMOUNT USED [AU]: Under 5 gals N: AGENT BLUE C/L: HERB (CAUTION) CN: Hydroxydimethylarsine Oxide (cacodylate adic) UF: Rice crop destruction and to kill grass and bamboo MFG: Ansul Company UB: 64-71 AU: 2,166,656 gals N: AGENT GREEN C/L: HERB (WARNING) CN: n-butyl ester of 2,4,5-T UF: Defoliation of jungle cover MFG: Bayer A G, Dow Chem, Union Carbide UB: 62-64 AU: 8,2O8 gals N: Agent Orange C/L: HERBCIDE (Caution) CN: A 50/50 mixture of n-butyl ester of 2,4,-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and 2,4,5,-Trichlorophenoxy Acetic acid UF: Defoiliation of jungle cover MFG: Hercules Inc, Dow Chem, Diamond Shamrock, TH Agriculture & Nutrition Co, Thompson Chem Corp. Mansanto Co, Uniroyal Inc UB: 1964 and 4-70 ANT USED: 10,316,929 gals NAM VET Newsletter Page 47 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 N: Agent Orange II C/L: Herb (Caution) CN: A 50/50 mixture of n-butyl esters of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and issocytl ester of 2,4,5-T UF: Defoliation of jungle cover MFG: Miller Chem & Fertilzer, Union Carbide, Vertac, Dow Chemical, Diamond Shamrock, ICIANZ UB: 68-69 AU: 950,000 gals N: Agent Pink C/L: Herb (Caution) CN: 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxy acetic acid UF: Defoliation of jungle cover MFG: Dow Chem, Union Carbide UB: 62-64 AU: 122,800 gal N: Agent Purple C/L: Herb (Caution) CN: A 50/30/20 mixture of n-butyl ester of 2,4-D, n-butyl, N-butyl 2,4,5-T, and Iso-butyl 2,4,5-T UF: Forest defoliation UB: 1962-64 MFG: Union Carb, Diamond Shamrock, Dow Chem AU: 145,000 gal N: Agent White C/L: Herb (Caution) CN: a 20/80 mixture of the triisopropanolimine salts of picloram and 2,4-D acid UF: Forest defoliation MFG: Dow Chem, Union Carbide UB: 66-71 AU: 5,264,129 gal N: Agral C/L: Wetting agent (None) CN: Nonylophenolethylene oxide condensate UF: A wetting and spreading agent for herb's MFG: ICI Plant Protection Div UB: 67 AU: 12,500 gal N: Aldrin C/L: Inscticde (Warning) CN: 1,2,3,4,10,10-hexocholor-1,4,4a,5,8,8a,-hexahydroexo 1-4-endo-5,8,-dimethanonnnaphthalene not less the 95% UF: primarilly to control insects MFG: Shell Chem UB: 72-73 AU: 15,400 pounds [lbs] N: Axodrin - 5 C/L: Insct (Danger, poison) CN: Dimethyl phosphate of 3-hydroxy-N-methyl-cis-croto-namide, or 0, 0-dimethyl-0-(2 methylcarbamoyl-1-methyl-vinyl) phosphate, or Phosphoric acid, dimethyl 1-methyl-E-methylamino)-3-oxo-1- NAM VET Newsletter Page 48 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 propenyl ester UF: USAID fram prog insct used on potatoes, cotton, rice, a very stable toxic mat'l UF: control of flies, thrips, bollworms, and aphids MFG: Crystal Chem Inter-America UB: 72-73 AU: 213,850 lbs N: Danex C/L: Herb (Caution) CN: 20% solution of 2-methoxy 3-6-dichlorobenzoic acid UF: Nonselective grass and weed killer MFG: ICIANZ UB: 67 Australian test AU: under 5 gal N: BHC C/L: Insct (Warning) CN: 1,2,3,4,5,6-Hexahlorcyclohexane; aka benzene hexachloride UF: Control of pests in cereals and sugar beets. Production or use of BHC is prohibited in the US by the EPA MFG: Hooker Chem; Woolfolk Chem UB: 72-73 AU: 275,575 lbs N: Bidran C/L: Insct (Danger/Poison) CN: Phosphoric acid, di-methyl 1-methyl-n, n-(dimethyl-amion)-3-oxo-1 ppropenyl ester, (E)-isomer-(9CI); or dimethyl phosphate of 3-hydroxy-N-N-dimethyl-cis- crotonamide; or 2-dimethyl cis-2 dimethyl-carbamol-1- methylvinyl phosphate UF: USAID farm prog insct used for the control of pests on cotton and control of ticks MFG: Shell Chem UB: 72-73 AU: 84,800 lbs N: Binoctal C/L: Medication (Prescription) CN: A headache medication containing 50 meg of amytal (tradename for amobarbital, a sedative and hypnotic) and 70mg of seconal (tradename for secobarbital, a short acting barbitrate) UF: A French headache medicne, available withot prescription in V'nam: when abused, it led to persistent neurological disorders, sudden aggression, personality changes, and disorientation MFG: A French product UB: 62 and 75 AU: unk N: Borate Chlorate C/L: Herb (Warning/Danger) CN: Sodium tetraborate dechydrate and Na Cl O2 UF: A non-selective herb and soil sterilant MFG: Kerr-McGee Chem Corp (Australian) UB: 67 AU: 4,500 lbs (estimated) NAM VET Newsletter Page 49 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 N: Bromacil C/L: Herb (Caution/Warning) CN: 5-Bromo-3-sec-butyl-6-methyuracil UF: weed and brush killer MFG: Hopkins Agriculture UB: 68-69 AU: 16,500 lbs N: Butoxone 80 C/L: Herb (Caution) CN: 80% butyl ester of 2,3,5-trichlorophenoxy acetic acid UF: Defoliant MFG: ICIANZ UB: 67 Australian tests AU: 44,100 lbs N: Cacodylic Acid (Phytar 138) C/L: Herb (Caution) CN: Hydroxydimethylarsine oxide or dimethylarsinic acid UF: grass, bamboo, and rice crop destruction MFG: Ansul Co UB: 62-64 AU: 10,000 lbs N: Carbaryl (Selvin) C/L: Insct (Caution/Poison) CN: 1-Naphthyl N-methylcarbamate UF: control of insect pests on field crops, trees, poultry and pets MFG: Union Carbide Agriculture Products Co, Inc UB: 72-73 AU: 72,750 lbs N: Chlorfurazole 8 C/L: Herb (Caution) CN: 20% sodium salt of 4,5-dichloro-2-trifluro-methyl benzimidazole UF: Herb MFG: Fisons UB: 67 Australian tests AU: under 50 gals N: Chlordane C/L: Insct (Warning) CN: 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,8-Octachlor-2,3a,4,7,7a-hexahydro-4,6- methanoindane UF: Sprayed for cockroach, termite, tick, and flea control, Banned by the EPA in 75 for all domestic use MFG: PPG Industries UB: 62-72 AU: 50,000 gals N: Cresote (Coal Tar) C/L: Wood preservative (Caution) Chem Properties: Relatively insoluble in H2O UF: wood preservative possessng a high toxicity to wood destroying organisms and a low rate of evaporation MFG: Crowley Tar Products Co; Koopers Co Inc Organic Mat'ls; Los Angeles Chemical Co NAM VET Newsletter Page 50 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 UB: 62-71 AU: Unk N: 2,4, D Acid C/L: Herb (Warning) CN: 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid UF: Defoliant; also used in Agents Orange, White, Purple, and as a separate defoliant MFG: Miller Chem & Fertilizer; Union Carbide; Vertac; Dow Chem; Diamond Shamrock UB: 72-73 AU: 815,000 lbs N: 2,4-D Ester C/L: Herb (Warning) CN: A compound formed by the union of an organic acid and an organic base (an alcohol). An example is 2,4-D & isoocytyl alcohol to form the isooctyl ester of 2,4-D UF: Defoliation of forest canopy MFG: Miller Chem & Fertilizer; Union Carbide; Vertac; Dow Chem; Diamond Shamrock; ICIANZ UB: 62-70 in AO mixes; 72-73 as a separate herb; 67 Australian tests AU: 224,870 lbs (72-73) N: DDT C/L: Insct (Caution) CN: Dichloro, Diphenyl, Trichloroethane UF: Dusted to control rat fleas in quarters MFG: Montrose Chemical; Diamond Shamrock UB: 72-73 AU: 2,253,100 lbs N: DDVP C/L: Insct (Danger/Poison) CN: 2,2-Dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate UF: Dusted to control rat fleas in quarters and pests in stored grain MFG: Hopkins Agriculture UB: 72-73 AU: 674,600 lbs N: Dalapon C/L: Herb (Caution) CN: 2,2-Dichlorpropionic acid UF: effective against annual grasses and brushes MFG: Dow Chem; Crystal Chem; Bayer UB: 72-73; 67 Australian tests AU: 121,250 lbs N: Dapsone C/L: Medication CN: 4-4' Diraminodipheylsufone UF: An experimental anti-malaria drug used in combat areas in 67-69. Dapson is the drug of choice for treatment of Hansens disease (Leprosy) MFG: UB: 67-69 AU: Unk NAM VET Newsletter Page 51 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 N: DEET C/L: Insct Repellant (Caution) CN: N,N-Diethyl-m-Toluamide UF: Insect repellant, personal and clothing MFG: Chemical Formulators; Hercules UB: 62-73 AU: Unk N: Del Defoliant 21 C/L: Herb CN: UF: A defoliant preparation intended for causing leaves to drop from crop plants such as cotton, soybeans or tomatoes, usually to facilitate harvest. Used as a fire base defoliant MFG: Australian UB: 67-69 AU: over 44,100 lbs N: Diazinoh C/L: Insct (Caution) CN: O,O-Diethyl O (2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-pyrimidinyl) phosphorothiote UF: Principality used for control of soil insects, also in rice pesticide control MFG: Ciba-Geigy Corp Agricultural Div UB: 72-73 AU: 1,016,320 lbs N: Dibrom C/L: Insct (Danger) CN: 1,2-Dibromo-2,2-Dichloroethyl dimethyl phosphate UF: Araricide insct used on numerous crops, flies, and in food processing plants MFG: Chevron Chem Co; Ortho Agricultural UB: 72-73 AU: 520,285 N: Dieldrin C/L: Insct (Warning) CN: Hexachloro-epoxy-octahydroendo,exo-dimethanonaph thalene (principal constituent, known as HEOD), with not over 15% related compounds UF: Insect control around quarters MFG: Shell Internat'l UB: 64-71 AU: 11,025 lbs N: Diquat C/L: Herb (Warning) CN: 1,1'-2-2'-Bipyridylium ion: or 6, 7-dihydrodipyridol (1,2-a:2,'1'-c) pyrazdiiumion present in formulation as the dibromide monohydrate salt UF: Defoliant - aquatic weed control MFG: ICI Plant Protection Div UB: 67-70; 67 Australian tests AU: 40,000 lbs N: Diuron NAM VET Newsletter Page 52 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 C/L: Herb (Caution) CN: 3-(3-4-Dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea UF: selective broadleaf herb and soil sterilant MFG: Hopkins Agriculture UB: 64 AU: under 5 gals N: EPN C/L: Insct (Danger) CN: O-Ethyl O(4-nitrophenyl) phenylohoshonolhioate on ethyl p- nitrophenyl theonobenzenephosphonate UF: insect control such as rice stem borer and boll weevil MFG: EI duPont de Nemours & Co Inc UB: 72-73 AU: 26,450 lbs N: Endrin C/L: Insct (Danger) CN: Hexachloroepoxyactahydro-endo,endodimethanona-phthalene (principal constituent) UF: Insect control on cotton and small grains MFG: Velsicol Chem Corp UB: 72-73 AU: 451,940 lbs N: Furadan C/L: Insct (Warning/Danger) CN: 2,3-Dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranyl methylcarbamate UF: insect control in living quarters MFG: Pillar Internat'l; FMC agricultural Chem Group UB: 73 AU: 103,620 lbs N: Gardona C/L: Insct (Caution) CN: (Z) isomer of the compound 2-chloro-1-(2,4,5 trichloropheny) vinyl dimethyl phosphate UF: major pests on cotton, corn, and stored grain MFG: Shell Internat'l Chem Co UB: 72-73 AU: 26,450 lbs N: Lindane C/L: Insct (Warning) CN: Gamma isomer of 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocy-clohexane UF: a powder used in living quarters for roaches and around rat burrows for fleas MFG: Celamerck Gmbh & Co KG UB: 72-73 AU: 46,300 lbs N: Malathion C/L: Insct (Caution) CN: O,O-dimethyl phosphorodithoate of diethylmercapto succinate or diethylmercaptosuccinate, S-ester with O,O-dimethyl phosphorodithioate UF: roach and pest control in living quarters MFG: American Cyanamid Co UB: 72-73 NAM VET Newsletter Page 53 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 AU: 1,380,080 lbs N: Maneb C/L: Fungicide (Caution) CN: Manganese ethylenebisdithiocarbamate UF: Blight on tomatoes and potatoes MFG: Crystal Chem Inter-American; Cumberland Internat'l Co UB: 72-73 AU: 485,000 lbs N: Methyl Parathion C/L: Insct (Danger) CN: O,O-dimethyl-O-p-nitrophenyl phosphorothioato UF: broad use insect control MFG: Kerr McGee Chem UB: 72-73 AU: 343,920 lbs N: Mirex C/L: Insct (Warning) CN: Dodecachlorooctahydro-1,3,4-metheno-2 N-cyclobuta (cd) pentalene UF: General purpose insct MFG: Allied Chem Corp UB: AU: N: Nonuron C/L: Herb (Caution) CN: 3-(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea UF: Soil Sterilant MFG: Hopkins Agricultural chem Co UB: AU: N: Paraquat C/L: Herb (Danger/Poison) CN: 1,1-dimethyl-4-4'-bipyridinium ion; present as the dichloride salt (ICI/Chevron) or dimethyl sulfate salt UF: Contract herb and dessicant (Extremely toxic) MFG: Ortho UB: 67 AU: 330 lbs N: Phosphamidon C/L: Insct(Poison) CN: O,O-dimethyl O-(2-chloro-2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methyl-vinyl) phosphate UF: Insect control in quarters, stores, etc MFG: Chevron Chem Co; Ortho Agricultural Chems Div UB: 72-73 AU: 41,900 lbs N: Phosvel C/L: Insct (Warning) CN: O-(4-Bromo-2,5-dichlorophenyl) O-methylphenlphos phonothioate UF: Insect control in grain storage and warehouses MFG: Velsicol Chem Corp UB: 72-73 NAM VET Newsletter Page 54 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 AU: 41,900 lbs N: Icloram C/L: Herb (Caution/Warning) CN: 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid UF: Herb against a wide variety of deep rooted herbaceous weeds and woody plants, also used in Agent White MFG: Dow Chem Co UB: 66-71 AU: 5,274,129 gals (2,650 lbs in 68) N: Polybor Chlorate C/L: Herb (Caution) CN: 73% disodium octaborate tetrahydrate and 25% sodium chlorate UF: Non-selective weed and grass killer MFG: US Borax UB: 66-67 AU: 68,500 lbs N: Primatol A C/L: Herb (Caution) CN: 2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6 isopropye-amino-1:3:5-trazine UF: Selective herb MFG: Geigy UB: 67 Australian tests AU: under 5 gals N: Pyrethrins C/L: Insct (Caution) CN: a botanical insct with active principles of pyrethrins, cinerins, and jasmolins I and II UF: Stock, sprays, pet sprays, and food warehouses MFG: Fairfield American Corp, McLaughlin Gormley King Co; Printiss Drug & Chem Co UB: AU: N: Tandex C/L: Herb (Caution) CN: m-(3,3-dimethylureido) phenyl-tert-butylcarbamate UF: Broad spectrum defoliant for weeds and brush MFG: FMC Corp UB: AU: N: Trinoxol C/L: Herb (Caution) CN: 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxy acetic acid, and 49% butoxy ethanol ester of 2,4,5-T UF: Selective herb for brush control MFG: Union Carbide UB: AU: N: Urox 22 C/L: Herb (Caution/Warning) CN: 3-(p-chlorophenyl)-1-1dimethylureatrichloroacetate UF: soil sterilant - long lasting MFG: Hopkins Agricultural Chem Co NAM VET Newsletter Page 55 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 UB: AU: N: Weedazole C/L: Herb (Caution) CN: 3-Amino-1,2,4-traizole UF: control of annual grasses and broadleaf leaves MFG: Geigy UB: 67 Australian tests AU: under 5 gals N: Zinc Phosphide C/L: Rodenticide (Danger/Warning) CN: Zn3 P2 UF: Mice, rat, rodent control MFG: Hopkins; Bell Laboratories Inc UB: 72-73 AU: 99,200 N: Zineb C/L: Fungicide (Caution) CN: Zinc ethylenebisdithiocarbamate UF: control of mites on citrus MFG: Bayer AG; Farmoplant SPA; FMC Corp Agricultural Chem Group UB: 72-73 AU: 257,940 lbs NAM VET Newsletter Page 56 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 Zumwalt Suggests Link with 27 Diseases/Disorders! Input by: Clarence Smith *Chrysalis* Multi-User BBS - Dallas, Texas (214) 349-9397 On May 5, l990, retired Navy Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. filed a report with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Edward J. Derwinski regarding the available medical and scientific materials on human exposure to dioxin contaminants found in Agent Orange. Admiral Zumwalt concluded that the body of studied literature indicates that a significant number of adverse health effects suffered by Vietnam veterans are more likely than not service-connected. The health effects that he linked to Agent Orange are non- Hodgkin's disease, neurological defects, birth defects, soft tissue sarcoma, chloracne and other skin disorders including skin cancer, liver disorders, porphyria cutanea tarda, Hodgkins disease, leukemia, kidney cancer, testicular cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, brain cancer, psychosocial effect, autoimmune disease/disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, multiple myeloma, lip cancer, bone cancer, lung cancer, hematopoetic diseases, nasal/pharyngeal/esophogeal cancer, and malignant melanoma. In March 1990, the VA announced that it would service-connect non-Hodgkins lymphoma based on Vietnam service. In May 1990 the VA indicated it would service connect soft tissue sarcomas based on exposure to dioxin-containing herbicides. For those who don't know Adm. Zumwalt ordered the spraying of Agent Orange. Also his son, who was serving in country at the time, died several years ago of non-Hodgkins lymphoma... a direct result of Agent Orange. Copies of the Agent Orange Review may be obtained from: Department of Veterans Affairs Data Processing Center(200/397) 1615 East Woodward Street Austin, Tx 78772 Important Information for those interested in Agent Orange Disability Compensation or Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): The court decision in the lawsuit of Nehmer v US Veterans Administration 712F Supp, 1404 (N.D. cal 1989), (Nehmer lawt). On May 3 1989, US District Judge Thelton Henderson overturned a portion of VA's regulation covering disability and death claims based on Agent Orange/dioxin exposure and all benefit denials made under those regulations. As a result the VA has begun to create regulations to cover Agent Orange-related claims. Questions can be answered by the VA or: Counsel for Plaintiffs's Class National Veterans Legal Services project Att. Nehmer Class Information 200 S. Street N.W. - Suite 610 Washington, D.C. 20009 NAM VET Newsletter Page 57 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 ================================================================= T h e F e w b u t S p e c i a l ================================================================= National Women Veterans Recognition Week DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Office of Public Affairs - News Service Washington DC 20420 (202) 233-2741 President Bush has signed a Congressional resolution proclaiming the week of Nov. 11 as "National Women Veterans Recognition Week." The observance is intended to focus attention on the significant contributions and sacrifices of women in the Armed Forces. "Women veterans have contributed greatly to the security of the nation through honorable military service, which often involved great hardship and danger," the President said in his proclamation. Women veterans also are performing a wider range of duties in the military, as demonstrated recently by the activities of women in the military action in Panama and their presence in the current Middle East situation. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Edward J. Derwinski has urged all VA facilities to conduct observances to celebrate this week and to initiate appropriate projects to emphasize VA's role in serving women veterans. "While the total veteran population will decline gradually in the years ahead, the number of women veterans will grow as the number of women on active duty in the Armed Forces continues to rise," said Derwinski. Currently, women veterans comprise 4.5 percent of the 27.2 million veterans in the United States and Puerto Rico. NAM VET Newsletter Page 58 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 SISTER SEARCH Vietnam Womens Memorial Project, Inc. 2001 S Street NW Suite 502 Washington, DC 20009 202/328-7253 The Vietnam Women's Memorial Project's "SISTER SEARCH" is a program designed to locate the military and civilian women who served their country during the Vietnam War. The goals of "SISTER SEARCH" are to facilitate hope and healing among women veterans; to provide a network for them; and to assist research efforts on women who served during the Vietnam War. Vietnam era women veterans are asked to provide as much information as they feel comfortable sharing. Although "Sister Search" is NOT a locater service, should an inquiry be made as to the whereabouts of a person included in the "SISTER SEARCH" database, the VWMP will pass the inquiry along in writing to the individual, allowing her to decide whether she would like to respond. If the individual is deceased, the inquiry will be sent to the closest family member identified by the VWMP. All women veterans in the "SISTER SEARCH" database will periodically receive information on the Project's program and ultimately receive an invitation to the dedication ceremonies in Washington, D.C. The Vietnam Women's Memorial Project is a non-profit, volunteer organization with the three-fold purpose of educating the public about the women who served during the Vietnam ear; locating and providing a network for these women; and placing a realistic representation of a Vietnam woman veteran on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Project has the support of every major veterans group in America, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. For more information, contact: "SISTER SEARCH" Vietnam Women's Memorial Project 2001 S Street, N.W. - Suite 302 Washington, D.C. 20009 NAM VET Newsletter Page 59 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 SISTER SEARCH Vietnam Womens Memorial Project, Inc. 2001 S Street NW Suite 502 Washington, DC 20009 202/328-7253 (If different) Name: ______________________ Vietnam Era Name: __________________ Address:____________________________ Work #: ( ) ______________ City:__________ State __ Zip:_____ Home #: ( ) ______________ Service Organization: ___________________________________________ In Country (Vietnam) Assignment #1: _____________________________ Start Date: _______________________ End Date: __________________ Assignment #2: __________________________________________________ Start Date: ________________________ End Date: __________________ Assignment #3 ___________________________________________________ Vietnam Era (1959-1975) Assignment: _____________________________ Start Date: ________________________ End Date: __________________ The Project receives inquiries from press and researchers in search of Vietnam era women veterans who are willing to share their experiences. Your participation as a press/research/education contact is strictly optional. I authorize the Vietnam Women's Memorial Project to release my name to individuals or organizations who are seeking information on Vietnam era women veterans for press inquiries, research, or educational activities. ___________________ __________ Signature Date I authorize the Vietnam Women's Memorial Project to release my name to the National Volunteer Coordinator and the State Coordinator in my area. ____________________ __________ Signature Date ---------------------. FOR OFFICE USE : : Please list the names and DATE REC'D : addresses of any other women : Vietnam era veterans you know TRANSFER: : on the back of this form. : ENTER: : : : Thank you for participating in COMMENTS : "SISTER SEARCH" : ---------------------' NAM VET Newsletter Page 60 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 14 years after marriage, war comes back to haunt couple By: Laura Palmer 9/30/90 El Paso Times Input by: Joyce Flory NamVet's Incarcerated Veterans Section Editor Desert Dolphin BBS - Las Cruces, NM (505) 523-2811 Debbi Miller's GI pen pal was stationed in Vietnam. His name was John McCallops, and they met when he came home, in July 1971. Two years later, the storybook romance became a happily-ever-after marriage. John never mentioned Vietnam. He had a steady job, no problems with alcohol or drugs, and was devoted to their two children. But then, inexplicably, after 14 years, the atmosphere in their Attleboro, Mass., home changed. "Our marriage was in trouble. His temper was getting really hot. He never became abusive, but he and the kids would fight a lot. It felt like my constant job was to referee." They sought help. "We went for family counseling and they told us, after a year and a half, that we were wasting our time, " Debbi says. "We had them completely baffled. They didn't know what was going on. "Vietnam never came up. It never occurred to us. Your normal thought would be if Vietnam is the cause of your problems it would come up right away, not 12 or 14 tears down the line." But Vietnam was to blame, they realized, after talking with other veterans and their wives. John founded the Greater Attleboro Vietnam Veterans Association and gradually was able to understand his past. Debbi joined a support group for wives and learned that her husband's violent outbursts were because of Vietnam." It was a mild form of post traumatic stress disorder. Suddenly, everything began to make sense." She refers to her support group as "The Cracker Factory" because "it's nice to know there are people who don't think you're crackers for staying. Somebody who is not married to one thinks the guys are loons, but they're not. The only one who can understand a Vietnam veteran's wife is another vet's wife." Debbi believes in the power of wives helping each other so much that she and a priest who was a combat veteran in Vietnam co- founded a hot line for Vietnam wives. It's not therapy, it's more like a first step - a number to dial to find out you are not alone. To reach the hot line, call (508) 222-7313, or write to Vietnam Veterans' Wives Hotline, P.O.Box 538, Attleboro, Mass. 02703-5195. NAM VET Newsletter Page 61 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 ================================================================= D o n ' t A b a n d o n ' e m ================================================================= Silence and Empty Cells? By: Joyce Flory NamVet's Incarcerated Veterans Section Editor Desert Dolphin BBS - Las Cruces, NM (505) 523-2811 Here's me, checking in with the latest update from "my guys", the incarcerated Vietnam Vets. I've had some disappointments over the last couple of months, with my form letters being returned from San Quentin Ca. , Delaware CCR, LaGrange Ky, and no response from 21 other prisons across the country. Hopefully I'll hear something from those 21 soon. Sadly, most of the returned envelopes said "No such person" or "No such organization", meaning the VVA unit there has been disbanded. On the brighter side, I have made contact with Rutledge Ga. and Jackson, Mich. The updated addresses should be in this issue of NamVet or the anniversary issue. I've also gotten a huge listing from Westville Ind. (140 names) but can not list them at this time, as the inmates haven't approved my use of their names. Never fear.. my letter to an inmate, along with the list is on it's way for approval and if that inmate doesn't answer, I'll send it all to the next one on the list, until I get a reply. I have found an ally at Terre Haute Ind. that is looking into gathering a list from there. Word from "my guys" in Colo., Mass., Va., and Penn. is that all is well and even looking up. Transfers to less secure facilities more privileges are abounding. I send the newsletter on disc to Va. and Penn., with the hopes of doing so for Mass. in the future and an inquiry into doing the same for Ga. and Mich. In closing let me add that the inmates STILL want pen-pals and are disappointed when I give them a ray of hope that's not followed up by you folks out there. As always, if there's an avenue you think I'm not following, please let me know via the Vietnam_Vet echo, 305/105, or 1825 Evelyn Las Cruces N.M. 88001. Later, Joyce NAM VET Newsletter Page 62 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX \ \ \ \ \XXXX XXXXX XXXXX.::::::::::::::.XXXXX INCARCERATED XXXX XXXXX XXXXX --------- XXXXX \ \ \ \ \ \ \XXXX XXXXX .XXXXX W W I I XXXXX. VETERANS \ \XXXX XXXXX ::XXXXX --------- XXXXX::. \ \ \ \ XXXX XXXXX :::XXXXX ------------- XXXXX:::. XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX K O R E A XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX ------------- XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX ------------- XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX V I E T N A M XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX ------------- XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX::::::::::::::::XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX::::::::::::::::XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX::' `::XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX:: ::XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX `..........''`XXXXX:::: XXXX XXXXX ::::XXXXX .:(O) . (O):. XXXXX:::' XXXX XXXXX ::' XXXXX .. XXXXX:: XXXX XXXXX .:' XXXXX . .. XXXXX: XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX . .. ` XXXXX XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX ' '.. ` XXXXX. XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX" ' ` XXXXX . XXXX XXXXX ``. XXXXX ' . . . ` XXXXX '. ........., XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX'' ..''.'''. XXXXX .' '.XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX" ':.:'' XXXXX .'' .:::'XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX:.. .:XXXXX.'' .::::' .XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX '.. ..:' XXXXX ..:' . .:::'XXXX XXXXX ....::'XXXXX ':::::;' XXXXX .:''. .:::' XXXX XXXXX .:::::' XXXXX .: XXXXX :'. ..:... XXXX XXXXX.::' :: XXXXX: PREPARED TO XXXXX .'' ''.. XXXX XXXXX::' :: XXXXX`: FIGHT XXXXX.' '.XXXX XXXXX' :: XXXXX ``. XXXXX XXXX XXXXX '' XXXXX PREPARED TO XXXXX XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX DIE ...'XXXXX XXXX XXXXX :: XXXXX `...' XXXXX XXXX XXXXX `..' XXXXX .' XXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX /\ .' .' XXXX XXXXX /\ \ . . XXXX XXXXX / \ \...' `. .' XXXX XXXXX / NOT PREPARED TO BE DESERTED XXXX XXXXX / .'.' . .`.' XXXX XXXXX / ~ | : : : . XXXX XXXXX / |`. : : . .__________ XXXX XXXXX / ~ ~ ||.` ` : || \ / XXXX XXXXX / WRITE OR VISIT AN INCARCERATED VETERAN SOON ! XXXX XXXXX / ~ || . .'. / / XXXX XXXXX/ ~ ~ ~|| ||/ / XXXX XXXXX ~ ~ ~ || || / XXXX XXXXX || || / XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX \_________XXXXX________|| XgjpX XXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXX NAM VET Newsletter Page 63 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 ================================================================= H e a r t s n ' M i n d s ================================================================= War just isn't a cool topic By Mike Royko The Berkshire Eagle - 10/17/90 Input by: G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 CHICAGO -- "You know what's great about American's?" asked Slats Grobnik. "We're so cool, that's what." "What prompts that proud observation?" "Well, just listen to what people are talking about." Such as? "They're talking about who's winning the football games, the baseball games, how their cars are running, what the weather's like, how much sump'n costs. "Because if you listen to people, you wouldn't have a hint that we're gettin' closer and closer to a real war. A lot of people are going to get killed. But do you hear people talking about that? Nah. We sort of say, 'Hey, what me worry?'" Oh, I'm sure people are concerned. They're aware of the growing tensions in the Middle East. "Yeah? But are they really aware? Or do they think this is just another made-for-TV crisis where we put up some yellow ribbons for hostages, then the whole thing kind of fades away? You think people really know that when this thing gets going there's probably going to be thousands of American troops getting killed?" Well, there is still the possibility that it could be averted. Saddam Hussein could withdraw from Kuwait as we're demanding. Or maybe our blockade will be effective. Deprived of food and other necessities, he'll have to be reasonable. "That sounds good, except they can grow enough food to scrape by for a long time. And there's ways stuff can be smuggled in to them. You know how long the blockade would have to last? Some of the GIs over there would have gray hair." Then we might have to negotiate a settlement that is satisfactory to both sides. "Like what? President Bush says we won't settle for anything except getting Kuwait back. And Hussein says he ain't never giving it back." Maybe Bush will change his mind. "No way. Remember when people said Bush was a wimp? Now he's acting like a tough guy and you can tell that he likes it. But if he pulls out, Hussein wins. Or if he just lets the troops sit there for the next year or two or three, Hussein still wins. So people are going to start saying Bush is a wimp again. And he's like every other president, worrying about what the history books will say about him." Assuming you're right, that conflict is inevitable, then maybe we can end it quickly with those quick, surgical air strikes the experts talk about. "Bull. You don't win wars with any air strikes that are quick NAM VET Newsletter Page 64 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 and surgical. This ain't like taking out tonsils, you know." But we have air superiority. "Yeah, we had all kinds of air superiority in Vietnam. We had air superiority in Korea. And before we landed at Normandy, we had air superiority over Europe. But where were those wars fought? Right down on the ground. Because that's where you fight wars. The only time air superiority ended a war was when we nuked Japan." Well, there are those who say we should consider . . . "We should consider what? Nuking Irag?" I've heard readers say it. "Then refer 'em to a shrink. We nuke Iraq and every Moslem in the world is crazy mad at us. And the rest of the world will say we're creeps. And Bush goes down in history in the same chapter as Attila or Dracula. Yeah, we'd look good. I can read it now: "The United States, to preserve stability in the Middle East and protect its national interests, nuked Iraq, killing a few million innocent men, women and children.' Hooray for our side." You paint a very bleak picture. "Hey, don't worry. Be cool like everybody else. Just say: Hey, the president knows what he's doing or he wouldn't be president. And let's all call the local talk show guy on the radio so we can fax a cheery message to the boys over there. And, remember, if all hell breaks loose, this country has got a big supply of yellow ribbons. Besides, the timing looks good." What timing? "The experts say the shooting won't start for a few months." Why is that good? "It won't screw up the playoffs, the World Series or the Super Bowl." That's a relief. "See? You're learning to be cool." Or stupid. "Either way, it works." NAM VET Newsletter Page 65 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 REFLECTING By: Michael A. Harris Republic of Vietnam 1968-69 My childhood days seemed so very full. Running and playing, no care at all. The days were so active, there was no lull. Soon it was school,in the early fall. It was so fun to learn with each new day. "Dick,Jane, and Spot", was read out loud. I was taught to pledge, the American way. As the years flew by, I became very proud. Then there were girls, and the noontime dance. Emotions went wild, when one of them cared. My heart would melt, with the slightest glance. I'd often feel, that we should be paired. Then off to high school, and a brand new game. Crewcuts, madras shirts, and pegged blue jeans. I was popular due to my football fame. Boy was it cool, to be in my teens. Graduation came, and soon I was out. The next step was college, and a degree. Rumors of war, were wandering about. How could it be, in the land of the free? At once I was faced, with making the grade. The pressure was strong, I couldn't perform. In the Navy I thought, "I'll have it made!". Just sail the sea's, and weather the storm. Then came a sudden, change of heart. Patriotism arose, like a sleeping lamb. Suddenly I wanted, to fulfil my part. Next stop in my life, would be Vietnam. Such an adventure, for a very young man. From backwoods and innocence, to the real war. Meals came to often, from a C-ration can. It was an experience, to lay with a whore. I had the attitude, that I would never die. That all changed, with my first firefight! My machinegun roared death, I wanted to cry. It was pitch black, where was the light? Again and again, we were hit that eve. For a kid from the country, it seemed so strange. I couldn't have imagined, I wanted to leave. How soon would it be, til we were out of range? Finally the guns, were silenced at last. How had I performed, under such stress? We had dead and wounded, I was aghast! How did I end up, in such a mess? NAM VET Newsletter Page 66 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 Again and again, we were attacked that year. While trying to survive, I wondered "Why?". Growing ever hard, I couldn't shed a tear. I counted the days, til I could say "Goodbye!". That day finally came, after much blood and sweat. All I could think of, was fleeing that land. I thought of our lost, and silently wept. While seeing visions, of a big brass band! No one was there, as my "Freedom Bird" arrived. Who are those people, with all of the signs? Don't they know, we have just survived? I could hardly identify, with the changing times. In the years that followed, I became so bitter. It was impossible, to pledge allegiance again. I performed my job, and never was a quitter. Our hands were tied, we weren't allowed to win. That is ok, the wounds are slowly healing. Wars come and go, they seem to be a must. I've found my Lord, and He's very appealing. I'm beginning to see, in Him I can trust! So I continue on, in this world each day. Reflecting upon, those days of old. Anxious to grow, as I commune and pray. Releasing the "old man", and grasping His gold! For so many years, I had ignored His call. Now I have accepted, and received His peace. It is so wonderful, to give Him my all. He allows the battle, to finally cease. As I come across, my comrades and brothers. The reunions are grand, I can share my fate. We have more in common, than many, many, others. My prayer is that we meet, at that Pearly Gate! NAM VET Newsletter Page 67 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 The War No One Wants to Remember CONNECTIONS to a new age - Nov. 1990 PO Box 368 - Slingerlands, NY 12159 Input By: G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, Massachusetts (413) 443-6313 Lazaris Talks with Vietnam Vets Ellie Hoffman first noticed him just hanging around, lingering outside her Silverdale, Washington, bookstore called Life Styles as though he were waiting for someone or something. He waited until there were no customers in the store, and when they had gone she saw him checking doors and windows. He was ragged and dirty, and she might have felt afraid but didn't: For some reason he felt safe. Apparently satisfied that all the people were gone, he walked into Life Styles and asked if he could rent a Lazaris video. Ellie said yes, and he went away with Awakening the Love. He cam back intermittently. Always the same: He came in worn-out clothing, looked as if he lived in the woods, and rented Lazaris video tapes. After a while Ellie was able to talk to him, and he told her that he did live out in the woods, alone, and he was the only one of his group who had a VCR and a TV. He was, he said, one of 20 or so Viet Nam Veterans who lived in the wilderness, men so emotionally and mentally battered and shattered by the War, and by the treatment they had received on returning home, that they had retreated. They had been living in the wilds of Washington state for years, a loose community of loners, coming into a town only when necessary, wrestling with nightmares and the fear as best they could. He told her that they got together around his VCR on Friday nights and watched Lazaris. After the first time, he said, the room was filled with a wonderful peace and stillness. They were deeply touched by Lazaris. After 15 years of not allowing any emotion, they had begun to feel again - and had begun to feel that they were okay. Word had gone out across the countryside to other Vets, and now there were some who travelled many miles to join the Silverdale men to watch Lazaris tapes. Ellie Hoffman called Concept: Synergy and told them about the men, and Lazaris, realizing they would be too afraid and too alienated to come to a workshop, offered to come to them, wherever they may chose, to talk to them in person. He would meet them in the woods if they liked. They chose the Life Styles bookstore, and in early 1987 Lazaris held a four-hour personal conversation with ten of them. More were outside, listening at windows and doors, wanting to hear but not comfortable in coming in. What follows is an excerpt of the conversation between Lazaris and the Silverdale Vets. Very personal questions and all names are deleted to protect the intimacy and privacy of those who were present. In the time since their meeting, tapes of this conversation have been circulated to Veterans' Hospitals across the United States and to other Vietnam Veterans by those in Silverdale. With great appreciation to Ellie Hoffman, and with tremendous respect and gratitude for the Silverdale Vets, Concept: Synergy and Connections are pleased to share these excerpts of their conversation with Lazaris. NAM VET Newsletter Page 68 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 Q: -- Why won't the nightmares stop? Every night when I try to go to sleep, my brain explodes with the pictures - with the nightmares. I can't sleep, Lazaris, I can't sleep. Sometimes during the day, even, the pictures start coming and just keep coming. I can't get away from them. Why do I keep reliving the memories? LAZARIS: -- They are still alive. They are still alive inside of you. You are not reliving them, you are living them. The pictures - the nightmares - will continue because you have to do more than just figure out how to stop reliving the images. YOu need to learn how to stop those images from continuing to live. They live, not just in your head. They live throughout your body. They live in your mind, and in your soul. This is why the traditional approaches to helping you haven't worked. You are seeking a way to stop the "reliving" when you should be searching for ways to stop the "living." To find the right answers, you need to look in the right direction. Those images are more than memories. They are memories, to be sure, but they are also living images. Some can temporarily stop the memory, but it returns, because the "living images" produce new life - new memories. Q: -- There has to be a way to end it. I have to believe there is a way out. Some times that's the only thing I can hang on to. LAZARIS: -- There are answers. There is a way out. There are a number of things that must be done to clear those images. It would be convenient to say, "Oh, it's easy. Here... one, two, three," and be done with it. We could say it. You would know better. YOu live those experiences every day, you know the "one, two, three" approach is a lie. Convenient, easy, but it's a lie. We won't lie to you. The necessary work can be done, but it is complex, intricate, and it will take time. First you must establish what we call THE FOUNDATION OF CHANGE, which has four phases. THE FOUNDATION OF CHANGE PHASE I: WHY? We must begin here. Why did this particular war affect you the way it did? There have been wars throughout history, and each has had influence upon those who returned. But for the most part, the soldiers have been able to return to a normal life. They have been able to contain their memories. They have been able to selectively remember the good times - the fun times. Slowly, but effectively, they have been able to smother the pain and really or artificially move past it. They have learned to focus on new friends becoming lifelong friends. Removed from the conflict, they are able to dwell on the "good old days." Why? Many psychological and sociological studies have examined and evaluated the war experience. That is not our purpose here. Why was it different in Viet Nam? Why was it different for you? It was different because Viet Nam was different. Unlike previous wars, this war had a different kind of depth. This war attempted to teach humanity about the insanity of war. All war has had its insanity, but that insanity was blurred - obfuscated - by the nobility and by the victory. With Viet Nam there was no nobility and there was no victory. Though this war had neither nobility or victory, it did have a purpose: More than any other war, it intended to teach humanity - NAM VET Newsletter Page 69 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 not just the victors or the losers, but humanity - the insanity, the ugliness, the senselessness of war. The Viet Nam War intended to teach. You are its teachers. Those of you who returned with living memories that won't stop - that render you imprisoned by those living images - those of you who returned unable to function - unable to fit neatly back into your niche - are the living examples of that insanity and inhumanity that is war. You are a living reminder to the world. You are a reminder of several things the world want to forget. Because the world wants to forget what you represent, the world also wants to forget you. Soldiers who returned from other wars were welcomed as heroes, you were not. The world turned its back on you because it wants to turn its back on what you represent. In Washington, D.C., there is a moving and beautiful memorial to the War in Viet Nam. Evocative and powerful, it is made of stone with engraved names of the war dead. It is silent. That is the kind of memorial the world wants, one that is inanimate and silent. You are also a memorial to that war the world wants to forget, but you breathe. You are not the war dead. You are the war living. And you are not silent. You stand as a sentinel saying, "No. You cannot forget Viet Nam. I am a reminder. I am alive, and I am a living reminder of the war you want to forget." First, you force the world to remember the ugliness. The ugliness you see every time you close your eyes - the ugliness that forces sleeplessness and withdrawal - keeps the world from closing its eyes. Second, you symbolize the politics of usury where young men and women were used to advance political posturing in Washington. As the statistics of death increased, both sides used the numbers to incite response. The hawks used the numbers to incite the determination to win and to encourage more of the young to be sent to Viet Nam. The doves used the numbers to incite moral indignation and to encourage an end to the war. Everyone used the numbers. Sons and daughters - the flesh and blood - were forgotten. You remain. Your memories remain. They stay alive. You refuse to be a number. As much as the world wants to make you a number, you refuse. Third, you are a reminder of the hurt, the anger, the rage. You are a reminder of the pain. While the world wants to retire Viet Nam into the two-dimensional pages of history, you are three- dimensional. Your hurt, anger, rage - your pain - is a living, breathing reminder. Even though you have retreated from the world, lost, you keep Viet Nam from being preserved in sepia tones like some dried flower pressed between the heavy pages of historical documentation. You keep it alive - three-dimensional and in full color. The first phase in ending your torment comes with realizing, "For reasons I may or may not understand, I have chosen to be a living memorial of the inhumanity, of the usury politics, and of the pain of this war and of all wars." When you can begin to understand that you chose that, you can begin to come to peace with your choice. When you can begin to come to peace, the memories can begin to die. When you can hear the whispers, the whispering can stop. When you can hear the message, you can stop being the message. NAM VET Newsletter Page 70 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 PHASE II: SENSITIVITY The second phase is to acknowledge your sensitivity. It is important to acknowledge that you exist at one end of a continuum of sensitivity. At the other extreme there are those who went to Viet Nam and did the killing requested and required of them. Some did it with lesser or greater degrees of enthusiasm. They came home and re-entered society as if nothing had happened. In the mid-range of that continuum, some returned and with varying degrees of difficulty - stumbling and faltering - also re- entered the America they once knew. It was not easy for many, but they did it. At your end of the continuum, you could not re-adjust. You tried. You couldn't. There is a sensitivity inside of you. You need to begin to admit that sensitivity. In a world that frowns upon sensitivity, you have a delicate sensitivity that barred your re-entry. The assault to your sensitivity and to your sensibility was so severe that it rattled you out of position. You lost your balance. You became lost and are still lost now so many years later. You need to acknowledge that you were too sensitive for that war. PHASE III: FORGIVENESS The third phase involved forgiveness. No, not forgiving the government or your commanding officers. No, not even forgiving yourself for the specifics of what you did while in Viet Nam. Those "forgivenesses" will come later. Now the forgiveness involves forgiving yourself for failing to re-enter the world. No matter the intellectual rationale and the psychological labeling, in your guts you blame yourself. You blame yourself for not being able to adjust. In the depth of your being you feel - regardless of what you think - that you failed. In your guts, you are a failure. You need to forgive yourself. You wonder, "What's wrong with me? Why can't I just walk away from it like I hear or see others doing? Why can't I be normal like all the therapists want me to be - insist that I should be? What's wrong with me that I can't act like nothing happened? Why do these memories live inside of me?" You are a sentinel of remembrance; you are too sensitive for a war like that. There is nothing wrong with you. There is plenty to do to "fix" the problem, but there is nothing wrong with you. The problem needs to be "fixed," not you. The problem needs to be "fixed" - not you. Hear that. Forgive yourself. PHASE IV: YOUR STRENGTH The fourth phase is to touch your strength. Now, each of you has strength that is unique to you. You also have strengths that are common to all of you. You need to admit and touch those common strength. First there is self-reliance. You survived, many did not. Not only did you survive physically, you survived mentally. Your withdrawal fro society, even your fear and distrust of the world out there, is a powerful survival mechanism. Many who suffered the nightmares - who were sentinels of remembrance and too sensitive as you are - did not survive mentally. Their bodies may function, but they are vegetables tucked away in some institution. They could not sustain. Though you may live in a wilderness, though you may shun people, NAM VET Newsletter Page 71 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 though your nightmares may debilitate you from time to time, you did survive. In fact, your retreat is your current survival mechanism. We are NOT saying, "Stop complaining, at least you're alive." No. No. No, we are NOT saying that at all. We are saying you are self-reliant and creative. YOu faced an insurmountable problem, and you found a way to survive it. Touch your strength. A second strength is self determination. It would have been simpler to just curl up and die. It would have been easier to become the "vegetable." You didn't. You found a way - living in the wilderness with no one around, behaving in a way that the consensus reality calls strange and bizarre, fearing people and rejecting a world that wants to forget you - whatever your method, you found a way. You were determined, and you found a creative solution. A third strength that might never occur to you is that you have compassion. Yes, you are a compassionate person. Your compassion is for people and humanity. You may question this. How can someone have compassion for people and for humanity when they cannot effectively function with or in either? What has happened is that your sense of sensibility and the compassion you have for life, for the living, for people, and for humanity was so shocked, so knocked out of kilter, that you are not able to adjust to the world yet. If you did not have the compassion of which we speak, you wouldn't care. The nightmares wouldn't have been nightmares. It is precisely because you have the strength of compassion that the problem you experience exists. Your compassion was assaulted. You were thrown way off balance. YOu got lost and are still lost because of your depth of compassion. See these strengths. Touch them. Discover other strengths, and touch them as well. Let them touch you. Four phases: recognize that you are a sentinel of remembrance, acknowledge your sensitivity, forgive yourself, and touch your strength. This is the Foundation of Change. This is where and how it must begin. To end the nightmare, this is where it must begin. Once you do this work, and it will take time, then you are ready to move on to technique. Q: -- Okay, what is the technique? What do I do? LAZARIS: -- As The Foundation of Change has four phases, The Technique has three phases. As we said, this is not a simple process, but then you have spent a great deal of time in nightmarish pain. It will take much less time to get out than the time you have already spent there. Others may offer you a technique that is much simpler, we offer you a technique that works. Are you ready? Q: -- Yes. I'm with you. LAZARIS: -- Good. THE TECHNIQUE PHASE I: THE MEDITATION In a meditative state - relaxed, eyes closed, in a light daydream or a deep altered state, begin with phase one. Consciously make yourself relive the memory. Breathe life into the memory and bring it up and thing it - feel it. Right now, the memories come flooding in, but they come in when they want to, not NAM VET Newsletter Page 72 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 when you want them to. The first step is consciously making the memories respond to your request. Make them come up when you are in a mental/emotional posture to handle them. Late at night or spontaneously during the day the memories control you. When you consciously conjure them when you decide, then you can begin to control them. As scary as this may seem at first, it is phase one. The key words are: choice - your choice, and decision - your decision. Then you are in control, not the memories. Once you have the images in your mind, put them "out there" in front of you. See them as though watching a movie. When you do watch a movie, you get emotionally involved, so get emotionally involved in WATCHING the images - watching the memories. Make it objective - put "out there" in front of you. It may take several tries. It may be hard - real hard - at first, but no harder than the out of control agony you are in now. Work at it. Then, once it is successfully "out there," sense a powerful presence behind you. Imagine - create it in your mind. Feel as though someone very very powerful - compassionately powerful - is standing behind you. This someone can be your Higher Self or your Future Self. It could be an imaginary friend. It can be God - or as we prefer to say God/Goddess/All That Is. You can't see them, so let it be whoever you want. Just feel it. Imagine it. Feel it some more. There you stand with the abhorrent pain in front of you and the power of change invisibly behind you. Now, sense a light beginning to glow from behind. A dim light - almost imperceptible at first - that grows brighter and brighter and brighter until it is a brilliant light. The now-brilliant light whooshes around you. Like a powerful swirl of wind, it whooshes and whirls around you. It moves past you to confront the ugliness that is before you. It surrounds that ugliness. It cocoons the pain. Layer upon layer of brilliant-light cocoons the pain until the nightmare is no longer visible. Once invisible, mentally demand, mentally scream your demand that the cocoon containing your pain shrink. After several emotional demands, the brilliant cocoon will slowly and then more rapidly shrink. Keep demanding, commanding until the cocoon is small enough to fit into your hand. Then hold the brilliant but tiny sphere in your hand. You control the pain. YOU CONTROL THE PAIN. It no longer controls you. What do you want to do with the pain? Yes. Throw that baseball-like cocoon as far away as possible. Throw it with all your meditative might. Pick it up and throw it. Throw it away. Will this work? Yes. The first time? For a few, yes. Most will have to repeat this meditation several or many times. If you involve yourself and your senses - seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, and tasting it - and your feelings, from fear and loathing to exhilaration, it will work. As easy as it sounds, it will work. The only fine print: You must build The Foundation of Change first. To skip the intellectual part and rush into meditation will be an exercise in futility, disappointment, and failure. Do the homework. Build The Foundation of Change. Then do the meditation to consciously throw away the pain. NAM VET Newsletter Page 73 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 PHASE II: CONSEQUENCES OF FREEDOM For many of you the nightmares have been alive for more than a decade. We understand that. But what would happen to you if those invading images stopped? As painful as they are, they are also familiar. As much as those nightmares are imprisoning and destroying you, they are familiar. What do you do when they stop? If you do not know what [will] happen[ed], you might not readily throw them away. The power of familiarity is immense. If you do know what would happen and don't like it, you might not really throw those images away, either. Some of you think that without the nightmares that you would have to rejoin society. You think you would have to move back into the city, get a job, and join the American work force as a normal member of the community. Likewise, many of you don't want to do that. As much as you hate the nightmares, the thought of "fitting in" is even more frightening and abhorrent. Some people find the consequences almost as nightmarish as the nightmares themselves. Some may find the consequences more so. The nightmares serve as an excuse. You didn't create them as an excuse. You created them as a remembrance and out of sensitivity and strength. But once created they have become an excuse for many. Now, you may not want to see this. We may make you angry by saying this. Our goal is to help you, not to win your approval. You need to look at your personal consequences of freedom and then decide what to do with them. If, for example, you want to continue to live in that wilderness and remain reclusive, that's fine. Your lifestyle doesn't have to change just because the nightmares end. Whereas you are currently selecting your lifestyle by the default of survival, you can select the exact same lifestyle, if you like by choice. You can choose by free choice. PHASE III: THE DREAM Once you throw away the pain and deal with the consequences of freedom, you must replace the hole left behind. It's like digging a hole in the sand at the ocean's edge. If you just remove the sand and don't put something where it was, the hole will fill up again with more sand. If you just throw away the pain and don't replace it with something, the pain will return. It will return the same, or perhaps even worse. You must replace the pain. Now is when you need to start dreaming, consciously dreaming about the future you want to create instead. You need to start desiring, expecting, and imagining the world YOU want to create for yourself. The world you left behind when you went to Viet Nam was filled with desire, expectation, and imagination. However, often they were not YOUR dreams. They were dreams that mothers and fathers held, that peers held, that society held. They were not yours. Viet Nam crushed the dream. Lost, you came back, but never really returned. Everyone has been telling you to be normal. They are telling you to fit back in. You can't. You don't want to. Well, don't be normal. End the nightmare and start dreaming again, but this time start dreaming the dreams you never dared dream before. Start dreaming your dreams. What do you want to do? What do you want to be? How, where, when, how much... so NAM VET Newsletter Page 74 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 many questions. When the pain ends, fill the hole with all kinds of desire, all kinds of expectations, all kinds of imaginings. They may not all come true. Some may be wishful thinking and escapist avoidances. Some of those new dreams may produce pain. Yes, they may produce pain, but not the pain that the nightmares produce all the time now. Whatever the pain your dreams may produce, they will be nothing compared to the pain you experience now with every inhale and exhale of your existence. Now you have the pain of existence. At worst, with your dreams you will have the pain of living. Further, many of the dreams will come true. You can and will create many of those dreams, but you have to risk, dreaming them first. The alternative to what we suggest is untenable. Start dreaming - after the homework and after the meditation - start dreaming your personal dreams. It will work. This is how to end the nightmare. This is now not only to stop reliving the pain, but also how to stop living it. Q2: -- Lazaris. My nightmare ... I was on patrol. I was scared. I heard a noise, and I shot. Lazaris ... I killed a young girl. I killed her. She was carrying guns and stuff - she was the enemy - I knew all that. But I killed her, Lazaris. I killed her, and I see her every time I close my eyes. I see her face. I see her body dead. I see her. I can't get away from it. I killed ... How do I get rid of that .. I killed a girl .. how?? LAZARIS: -- There is no direct answer to this. Some might tell you, "It's karmic. She intended to die. She killed you in a previous life time. It was her karma, it was yours." That doesn't deal with the pain. To tell you that would, first, be a cop-out. It would be a simple answer requiring no caring on our part and no change on your part. Secondly, it would be a lot of gobbledygook. Even if such a lifetime did exist and did have impact, it would still be just so much gobbledygook. It just would not help you. You killed someone. There is no justification or rationale that will make the pain go away. There is justification and there is rationale, to be sure, but none of it - not one twit - will dissolve the pain. Killing a human being twists inside of you. It is gut-wrenching, and it destroys a piece of you when it happens and every time you think of it - every time you feel it. Enemy or now, you killed someone. With right or good reasons or not, you killed someone. That's the fact. That's what happened. "What might she have been? What might she have grown up to be? What about her family? What have I done?" The questions, unending, riddle, rattle, and bounce around inside of you. They follow you like a specter - like a ghost haunting you day and night. Additionally, there is not one answer that will work for each of you that killed someone in Viet Nam. There is no one cure, no panacea. The approach we are going to suggest to you will work for you. It might work for others, too, but it might not. It will work for you. To be sure, it will. You need to "Edit the Film." This is a powerful technique and it will take time, but it will work. This is a meditative technique where you once again bring the memory into your consciousness by choice. Do the following: 1. Bring the memory to your conscious mind by choice and play it through from the beginning to end, feeling all the feelings NAM VET Newsletter Page 75 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 associated with the killing. Feel it consciously. Feel it by choice. 2. Then do an instant replay, starting from the beginning. Play it full. Play it with intense feeling. As you approach the point when you lift your gun and are just about to fire, mentally yell, "Cut!" as a director of a film might do. When you yell, hold the last image as a still shot - like you stopped the film - freeze frame. 3. Then you, as you are now more than a decade later, you step into the scene. Walk past the young frightened soldier and go up to the girl. Help her set her guns down, and the two of you go off to the side. Talk. Talk to her. Tell her something to this effect: "Look, in the next scene I am going to kill you. You will die, and I will live. I will live with the memory for a very long time." Talk to her. Let her talk to you. Let her react with fear and hate and anger and whatever other emotional reaction she has. Let her hit you. Let her scream and pound her fists. 4. When she exhausts herself, ask her to forgive you. "Please forgive me for killing you. Please forgive that young and frightened soldier who thought he knew why he was here in the first place, but doesn't know any more. Forgive him. Forgive me." 5. Have her forgive you/him. Reluctantly at first, and then with more strength, "I forgive him. I forgive you." 6. Once forgiven, thank her. Go back as she takes her place in front of the aimed gun. Walk past the freeze frame soldier. In a position to watch, quietly say, "Action." 7. Play the nightmare, and then do the technique where you cocoon it and throw it away as we suggested earlier. Yes, it is an illusion. But it is a healing illusion. We will never convince you that you didn't really kill her - you only wounder her. We will not insult you or your intelligence. Yes, it is an illusion, but it is a healing illusion. It won't bring her back, but it will bring you back. You can't do anything to bring her back, but you can do a great deal to bring yourself back. Action. We'll close ... We love you ... We close with love and peace. -- LAZARIS Copyright 1989 Concept: Synergy. For further information about Lazaris please call or write Concept: Synergy, 302 South County Road, Suite 109, Palm Beach, Florida, 33480, (407) 588-9599. Lazaris is the author of three books (The Sacred Journey; You and Your Higher Self, Lazaris Interviews: Book I, and Lazaris Interviews, Book II), more than 75 audio tapes, and conducts seminars regularly in American and Canadian cities. NAM VET Newsletter Page 76 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 ================================================================= U n c l e S a m w a n t s Y O U t o k n o w ================================================================= "Ask the Veterans' Affairs Counselor" DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Office of Public Affairs - News Service Washington DC 20420 (202) 233-2741 Input by: G. Joseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 (Following are representative questions answered daily by VA counselors. Full information is available at any VA office.) Q-- My spouse and I do not live together, neither do I contribute to her support. Can I claim her as a dependent on my pension claim? A-- No. A pensioner can claim a dependent spouse only if living with that spouse or, if separated, contributing to the spouse's support. Q-- I receive VA compensation and I wish to claim an adopted child as a dependent. What type of documentation does the Department of Veterans Affairs require? A-- You should provide VA with a certified copy of the final decree of adoption or the adoptive placement agreement. In areas where court records of adoption are not readily available, a certified copy of the revised birth certificate showing the name of the veteran as parent may be acceptable. Q-- I have questions concerning the Montgomery GI Bill. Can I get information from the local VA regional office? A-- Yes. Questions concerning the Montgomery GI Bill should be directed to any VA regional office. Toll-free telephone numbers are listed in your local directory under U.S. Government. Q-- I am a retired Army officer and have applied for disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Will my grade entitle me to increased compensation? A-- No. Military grade is not a factor in determining the degree of disability attributed to military service. Q-- I am an honorably discharged veteran of the Vietnam era. I plan to retire shortly and I would like to buy a new home. I know that I was entitled to a VA-guaranteed home loan when I got out of the service, but I believe the time limit on this benefit has expired. Is this correct? A-- Loan guaranty eligibility is not subject to an expiration date. Q-- Are common-law marriages recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs? A-- Yes, if the relationship was established in a state that recognizes common-law marriages. NAM VET Newsletter Page 77 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 Q-- Can I get a release of liability from the VA if a non-veteran assumes my VA-guaranteed home loan? A-- If the buyer meets with Department of Veterans Affairs approval, you may be released from liability. NAM VET Newsletter Page 78 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 ================================================================= C o n c e n t r a t e d I V V E C / N a m V e t S e r v i c e ================================================================= Now we've done it __________ \ NamVet \ _____) Service )_____ _________(____(_________(_____(@) ) ) gjp / O O O O O O O O O/_/| /<> O O O O O O O O O/ | /MM O O O O O O O MM/ | / ___________ / . /O (___________) O O/. 10 Nov 90 (====================( Seems like there's been an AWFUL lot goin' on in our SERVICE department the past few months. Will try to update ya here... Regarding the issue(s) concerning the house/home of a disabled veteran in which many avenues were approached - among them the National Commander and Massachusetts State Commander of the Disabled American Veterans... The veteran, living in a house/home that is valued at $98,970 (for which he originally paid $36,000), having mortgages totalling $47,000, was denied his request to file Chapter 13 (wage earner's) Bankruptcy because he is "equity rich" - yet he can't pay bills nor take out another loan with the "equity richness." Talk about "catch 22"! Even though BOTH offices of DAV were written to 1 Jan 90, neither office of the DAV has responded or acknowledged receipt of any communication. (Sorta says SOMETHING about DAV concern!) EMPLOYMENT WITH THE USPO: On 1 Nov 90, veteran appeared as requested for an interview for custodian position. Although the position IS for a disabled veteran, the postmaster was "concerned" about the veterans' disabilities and whether or not the distance (58 one-way miles) would be a factor in the veteran being able to report for work in inclement weather. Veteran has not been notified concerning his prospective position. EMPLOYMENT WITH RADIO SHACK: As the letters following indicate, a reply from Radio Shack was received, detailing, in bureauspeak, the corporations understanding of the situation concerning hiring practices apparently erroneously implemented as veteran attempted to gain employment. Although no employment position was offered, the efforts of the veteran hopefully made things easier for the next veteran who sought employment at Radio Shack. And, finally, BERKSHIRE VETERANS' CENTER, INC. has received notice from the I.R.S. that, beginning 7 Nov 90, it will take approximately 100 days to determine its official nonprofit status. The wait goes on... If you or any veteran/dependent that you are in close touch with have a need for veterans' services or benefit information, please contact us at VETLink #1 BBS (413) 443-6313 ... or write: BERKSHIRE VETERANS' CENTER, INC. Post Office Box 2056 NAM VET Newsletter Page 79 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 Pittsfield, MA 01202 I will keep you all apprised of any changes in any of the above situations. We're working HARD to see that ALL veterans receive what they rightfully earned when they put their lives on-the-line for America!!! Ci'ao for Ni'ao -Joe- NAM VET Newsletter Page 80 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 Tandy Corporation/Radio Shack Human Resources Department 500 One Tandy Center Fort Worth, Texas 76102 GEORGE J. BERGER October 15, 1990 Vice President Human Resources (817) XXX-XXX George Peck XXX XXXX XXXXXX Pittsfield, MA 01201 Dear Mr. Peck: I have completed my review of your complaint regarding the manner in which our sales management considered your applications for employment back in June. The request for copies of school transcripts was only intended to help fill the gaps in your employment history between jobs, as you indicated on the application form. Actually, the word transcript was misused. Any documentation to support activity from September, 1986 to present would have been helpful. Your diploma updated non-employment time only until May, 1989. Apparently, our personnel did not clearly communicate why this information was important, for consideration of a position handling company assets. The more reluctant you became to submit additional information, the more persistent our management was. Please accept my apologies for any misunderstanding and that this situation even occurred. Very truly yours, George J. Berger GJB/lt NAM VET Newsletter Page 81 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 XXX XXXX Street Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201 413/XXX-XXXX DATA:413/443-6313 6 November 90 Mr. George J. Berger, Vice President Human Resources Department Tandy Corporation/Radio Shack 500 One Tandy Center Fort Worth, Texas 76102 Dear Mr. Berger: Reference is made to my 3 Jul 90 letter to the Director of Public Relations of Tandy Corporation/Radio Shack which was referred to you, our subsequent telephone discussions of 3 Oct 90 and your letter of 15 Oct 90 respectively. One of the most difficult and deceptive things to understand about "communication" is the IDEA that it has been achieved. In my 3 Jul 90 letter I vehemently complained because, to my know- ledge, all portions of the employment application were completed, all "non-employed for pay" time was accounted for, and the time- delayed request for a copy of my college transcripts seemed to be both an unwarranted and needless invasion of my personal privacy and an "extra hoop" that this disabled veteran had to jump through in order to gain a $3.80-$5.00 per hour position. While my degree accounted for time up until May 1989, the completed application accounted for all other time. In my opinion, I truly had the RIGHT to become "reluctant to submit additional information" and was justified in feeling offended. One of the "avocations" listed on the employment application was "Managing Editor: NamVet - An electronic newsletter by, for, and about veterans and the issues that concern them." As one who is in daily computer and voice-telephone contact with veterans across the U.S., I am acutely aware of how, left unchallenged, issues such as the one(s) that I have reported to you quickly become S.O.P. (Standard Operating Policy). I know, too, that it is MY responsibility to do what I can NOW so that the brother and sister veterans who follow in similar footsteps will not find the way clogged with unnecessary obstacles in their attempts to be a benefit to themselves, their families, and the company they will work for. While your 15 Oct 90 reply to me failed to address the issue of "Why I was not hired even though my local newspaper consistently runs help-wanted advertisements for positions at Radio Shack," I take heart in knowing that a small change, a small increase in human sensitivity MAY have been made in the pre-employment interviewing practices of your organization that will benefit our disabled veterans and others seeking employment where THEIR skills will increase Tandy's bottom-line profits. Yours, in Service to America ... and my fellow man In kindness, honesty, and good faith G. Joseph Peck GJP/jct cc Files NAM VET Newsletter Page 82 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 ================================================================= I V V E C & N a m V e t - W H E R E ? ================================================================= The NamVet/IVVEC Roll Call By: Gjoseph Peck NamVet's Managing Editor Moderator/EchoMail Coordinator: VIETNAM_VETS VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA (413) 443-6313 =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= VIETNAM_VETS is received at _________ (BBS) SysOp/Co-SysOp/SigOp ________________ FidoNet/AlterNet/OtherNet Node Number:____________ Private or Public Board? ________ Telephone Number if Public ________________ Hours of Operation if Public ______________ VIETNAM_VETS is imported from (other node/hub/network) _____ Daily __ Weekly __ Other __ VIETNAM_VETS is exported to (other node/bbs/hub/network) _______ Daily __ Weekly __ Other __ VIETNAM_VETS Echo participation on ________ (BBS) is: Read-only __ Open to All __ Open to Verified Users __ VIETNAM_VETS useage on __________ (BBS): Users Read VIETNAM_VETS: Seldom __ Frequently __ Never __ Users participate in VIETNAM_VETS: Seldom __ Frequently __ Never __ A companion "service" to VIETNAM_VETS is the monthly NamVet Electronic Newsletter - chock full of information of value to veterans concerning past experiences, poems, and available veteran services and occurrences throughout the nation and world. NamVet (is/is not) _____ received on _________ (BBS) If NamVet is received: It is available for downloading: _______ It is downloaded seldom __ often __ never __ If NamVet is NOT received: Did not know it was available ____ Did not know where to get it ____ Would like to obtain it _____ =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= There are veterans in YOUR area that consistently make long distance telephone calls looking for NamVet or a tie-in with VIETNAM_VETS. Please help US help THEM. If *YOUR* BBS is not listed below, it means that you nor your SysOp have completed and returned the above form! NAM VET Newsletter Page 83 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 The following are the current locations where the NamVet newsletter and Annual editions are currently sent and, as I understand it, available for Bark/Wazoo File Requests. If a BBS near you carries NamVet or our VIETNAM_VETS echo, please ask its SysOp to complete and return the above form! FidoNet & AlterNet Nodes: ------------------------ Scott McKnight 1:389/2001 Blytheville, Arkansas (501) 532-6212 Todd Looney 1:143/27 San Jose, California (408) 298-2740 Terry Stewart 1:206/2506 Oxnard, California (805) 483-1467 Bob Hirschfeld 1:114/74 Phoenix, Arizona (602) 840-4752 Ronnie Toth 1:135/71 Hialeah, Florida (305) 821-3317 Joe Meadors 1:160/230 Corpus Christi, Texas (512) 387-6638 Bob Morris 1:141/333 New Haven, Connecticut (203) 934-9852 Rick Thoma 1:272/1 Mahopac, NY (914) 621-2719 Sarge Hultgren 1:101/215 Lynn, Massachusetts (617) 593-2605 Gary Herbert 1:2210/205 Rockford, Illinois (815) 962-6379 John Clements 1:387/21 San Antonio, Texas (512) 675-4511 Marge Clark 1:116/3000 Nashville, Tennessee (615) 385-9421 Jerry Hindle 1:123/4 Stratford Heights, Tennessee (901) 683-5410 Ken Flory 1:305/105 Las Cruces, New Mexico (505) 523-2811 Lefty Frizzell 1:106/449 Katy, Texas (713) 347-2558 Mark Marean 1:343/26 Everett, Washington (206) 486-0609 Ray Moreau 1:109/316 Herndon, Virginia (703) 471-8010 Joan Renne 1:285/13 Omaha, Nebraska (402) 896-2567 Mike Nelson 1:125/20 Burlingame, California (415) 343-5904 Jim Barth 1:350/21 Brownsville, Washington (206) 698-1044 Bob Rudolph 1:261/628 Reisterstown, Maryland (301) 833-8933 Douglas Seavy 1:130/10 Fort Worth, Texas (817) 640-7880 Chuck Haynes 1:308/60 Alamogordo, New Mexico (505) 437-8267 Sam Saulys 1:141/488 Branford, Connecticut (203) 488-1115 Mort Sternheim 1:321/109 Amherst, Massachusetts (413) 256-1037 NAM VET Newsletter Page 84 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 G. Joseph Peck 1:321/203 Pittsfield, Massachusetts (413) 443-6313 Pete Farias 1:321/210 Pittsfield, Massachusetts (413) 499-1327 Bob Currie 1:105/204 Milwaukie, Oregon (503) 652-5803 Other Nets: ---------- Martin Kroll MetroLink Chatsworth, GA (404) 695-8703 NAM VET Newsletter Page 85 Volume 4, Number 11 November 10, 1990 Some Gave ALL ... Some Still Give!!! O O O SOME GAVE ALL ... ________O__________________________________O______________ ! O O ! ! pow mia pow mia - BRING THEM HOME NOW! - pow mia pow mia ! ! O O ! ! ~~~~~ ~ ~ O~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~ O ~~ ~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ! ! ~~~~ ~ ~~ O ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~O~~~ ~~~ ~ ~~~~ ~~ ! ! ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ O~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ O ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~ ! ! ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~ O ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ O ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ ~ ! ! ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ O ~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ O ~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ ! ! ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ O ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ O ~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ! ! ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ O ~_~_~_~_~_ ~ O ~ ~~~~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ! ! ~~~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~ O ) O ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ! ! ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ /(O) / O \ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~ ! ! ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~ / / O \~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ ! ! ~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ / PRISONER / \~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~~~~~~ ! ! ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ / / MISSING \~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~~ ! ! ~~~ ~ ~~ ~~ / OF /\ \~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~~ ~ ! ! ~ ~~~~ ~~ ~ / / \ IN \~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ! ! ~~~ ~~~ ~ / WAR / ~~ \ \ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ! ! ~ ~~ ~~ ~ / / ~ ~~ \ ACTION / ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ! ! ~~ ~~ ~~~(__________/ ~~ ~~~ \ / ~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ! ! ~~~~~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~ \ / ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ! ! ~~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ \ / ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~ ! ! ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ \ /~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ! ! ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ! ~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~ SOME STILL GIVE ! ~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ! ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ! ! mia pow mia pow - BRING THEM HOME NOW! - mia pow mia pow ! !__________________________________________________________! NAM VET Newsletter Page 86