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What Lies Behind the Peace Talk?
98 Chenery Street, San Francisco, California 94131 I 13
ssue
THIS PAPER CANNOT LEGALLY BE
TAKEN FROM YOU. ACCORDING TO
DOD DIRECTIVE 1325.6 oPOSSESSION
OF UNAUTHORIZED MATERIAL MAY
NOT BE PROHIBITED.�
January 1973
MILITARY
REVOLTING!
Free to Gls
Constellation brothers photographed in the middle of a vote on whether or not to reboard the ship.
A. the same time many Americans feel powerless to change the
course of NixonTs ship of state, a hundred and thirty black sailors
forced a United States aircraft carrier to turn around dead in its
tracks and return from sea trials to its port in San Diego.
The 130 had staged a sit-down strike in the mess deck of the
attack carrier USS Constellation. They settled in for a long stay,
and remained calm, disciplined and unified in the face of every-
thing from sweet-talking Human Relations counselors to a riot
squad toting loaded M~-16s with fixed bayonets. Unable to feed
the rest of the shipTs 4000 men, and unable to split up the
group, Captain Ward was forced to turn ohis� ship around in
order to get ~~the problem� off the boat.
But even when the 130 were on the pier and off the boat,
they remained a problem to Capt. Ward. They stuck together
and refused to get back on until their demands for fair and
equal treatment by the ship's command were dealt with. Again,
they sat down together, refused to work, and disobeyed a direct
order to get back on the boat. See the full story on page four.
VIETNAM PHILIPPINES BILLY DEAN SMITH
When Martial Law Was Declared,
How Will It Affect You?
See Page 8.
American Friends of the
GI Movement ~
Were Jailed & Deported. At Fort Ord, California
Interview on Page 9. See Page 15.
Acquitted of Fragging Charges
~ LETTERS
USS Constellation
October, 1972
Sympathizers,
/ have had many questions in my life, but few have
found the trail to answers of honesty... it is starting
here, the Blue Chimera has told me two Navy Intel-
ligence personnel have questioned him on the salting of
feedwater in a main propulsion plant"he is alright...and
Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Koslowski have not found any
suspects.
The Captain.told the ship we are the first obirdfarm�
to complete. war preparations (better known as Reftra)
with, no oun-sats�. He is hoping we will be onumber
one� again, as are all the genocidal maniacs now populat-
ing this gray ghost.
/ say justice to whoever did the Ranger in. And one
question still lies unanswered in my-mind-ohow many
people were spared by one personTs actions against a war
he did not believe in?�T
You may ask, who is this stranger. | am the unknown
water warrior Grand Funk spoke of, with my hand
around your throat, but heaven won't help to take me
from your boat...
Beware, you insane murderers, for | am by your side.
Invisible Memory
Nothing in life is given to you-not even freedom.
Please tell me how to organize. | have a friend and
believer. ItTs a beginning!!
A Coral Sea
catapult
officer at Christmas
USS Saratoga
October 21, 1972
Dear Bulkhead,
Well | would really like to thank you for writing and for
the super neat care package you sent me. It makes me
feel real good to know | am not alone in my struggle to
help bring this senseless war to an end. Everyday more
and more of our fellow shipmates here on the Saratoga
are joining our ranks. In two days we will have our real
first attempt at organizing a demonstration to protest
the war and the unjust conditions that exist on this ship.
In the morning we will be pulling into Subic Bay for
an overnight stay in order to take on needed supplies.
When it comes time to pull out the following afternoon
over four hundred of us plan on walking off the ship and
refusing to sail until our demands have been met. Some
of the demands are that this ship be returned to the
states, that the unjust drug investigations now being held
be stopped, and that the unfair curfew being imposed on
us be lifted.
Now | will attempt to explain the cause of these
demands. Our ship, when first deployed, was scheduled
to return to the states by November Ist. Since then we
have been extended twice thus far, moving our arrival
date in the states to March Ist. People here are beginning
to get fed up with all the false promises made to us that
we get home. by Christmas.
Secondly, since the beginning of this deployment
until this present day, our ship's brig has been filled to
its maximum. Most of those placed in the brig are people
who have been accused of drug use. On August 10, nine
of our crew members were found guilty of drug use
solely on signed statements by three people who testi-
fied to seeing them use drugs some seven months
beforehand.
Now my entire division has been placed under suspi-
cion of drug use. A special N.1.S. agent has been assigned
to cover this case. All the proof that he has on the
members of my division are again three signed state-
ments from some pretty unreliable sources. All of us
here now face confinement in the brig or a possible
administrative discharge if our commanding officer finds
us guilty on this evidence. We therefore intend to see
that those so accused are dealt with fairly and convicted
only on sound evidence.
Lastly is the unfair curfew imposed on us because of
a racial riot which occurred early on the morning of
October 18th. Since then all hands not actually on
watch or engaged in work must remain in their racks
between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. Anyone
who violates this curfew is immediately placed on
report.
So | hope in this letter | was able to inform you of
some of the things we are fighting against here on the
Saratoga. We may have just begun in our fight, but
things are moving really fast.
Wish us luck in our struggle and keep up the great
work your paper has been doing to keep the fleet
informed of our progress.
Peace soon,
Mark
USS Ranger
November 18, 1972
Dear Bulkhead,
/ am an E-3 on the war machine Ranger. | got your
address from a buddy who showed me a_letter he
received from you expressing an interest in the
Chenoweth case. | thought maybe youd like to print
something about him.
Patrick D. Chenoweth is a personal friend of mine
who is getting unjustly fucked over by the big political
war machine. | donTt know about other places, but the
rumors on the Ranger say that Pat has been convicted
and sentenced to life. This is far from true. He has been
held in the brig at Treasure Island since July opending
the pre-trial investigation.TT They say they are holding
him to ensure his presence at a court-martial. On several
occasions he has been away from the brig to talk with
his lawyers and each time has been an opportunity to
split which he hasnTt done. | talked to him Wednesday
morning (the day before Ranger pulled out) and he said
that to split would be an admission of guilt.
The pre-trial hearings have been over for about 3
weeks now, and all the reviews and bullshit like that
have ended and the Navy has decided to put it to a
court-martial. This is far out because as soon as they
decided that there was immediately a lot of publicity,
which has been totally freaking the lifers.
Eric Seitz, PatTs lawyer, is in federal court trying to
spring Pat from the brig. There was supposed to be a
ruling on it last Tuesday or Wednesday, but as of the
time we pulled out nothing had been heard about it.
Maybe heTs out by now.
There were about 10 of us who could not dig going
and playing war, so we volunteered to testify in PatTs
behalf. Eric requested we get put on legal hold to
prepare our statements, but we are all still on the boat
headed for Westpac. A few of us are filing Article 138
complaints on the Captain of Ranger to try and get
transferred back to the Bay Area until the trial.
Since PatTs confinement to the brig he has been
consistently hassled by the lifers there. Also Pat (being
held merely on suspicion and for safekeeping) has been
forced to\do the same shit as those sentenced to brig
time. Their mail is all censored and Pat said he has been
getting some far out mail, but they won't let him have it
cause itTs gotta be from someone on his omailing list�
before they let him have it. All they do is tell Pat they
have it. All mail for Pat should be sent:
c/o Eric Seitz
405 Capp St.
San Francisco, Ca. 94110
ThatTs about all | can tell you about Pat. As far as the
Ranger goes, there are a lot of SOS buttons around and
literature against the war, and the Pigs are so scared they
have had a lock installed in their compartment door and
each Pig has his own key to the door.
The Ranger is heading overseas again after 144 years
and you wouldnTt believe we just got out of the yards.
Right now 3 or 4 out of 8 boilers are not working.
There are many things the yards were supposed to fix
and didnTt and most of what they did has been redone
by shipTs personnel. What a waste of money and effort
all the way around.
Well | hope | have given you something to print.
Thanks, for letting me take up your time. | would like to
receive the Bulkhead.
D.
[See article on page 17 for more on Pat Chenoweth]
search warrant) by local police. His wife was pushed
because she asked for @ warrant. He was thrown irlto a
5x8 cell, maximum securit Y, denied the right to shower,
allowed to have only th
e�,� barest necessities. He is
harassed constantly and told if he would change his
mind and beliefs he would be let out??? .
They are trying hard to break Will He was taken out ®
of maximum securit yY and given a job,- untying cords to
Parachutes. He refused to do this. His reason"those
chutes were used in Vietnam. He would not help in the
Okinawa
September, 1972
Dear Bulkhead,
Will McIntosh has taken a stand in his beliefs. He has
retused to be led down that age-old road of destruction,
bloodshed and corruption any longer, to be used by the
swine in power as if he were a mindless robot that is
unable to think, reason, or fee/!
Here in Okinawa there
elsewhere in the world. Many Gls are really getting the
shaft but are frightened into keeping silent. They are
told oyou canTt buck the system,� | say Bullshit!
The military is like cancer. It is @ killer!
Will sent letters informing his superiors that he was
resigning and was no longer a member of such an
organization. He wrote:
o1 would go to one class the Army gave where they
talked about guerilla warfare and they said that in order
for guerillas to fight a war they had to have support of
the people. In another class they told us the people of
Vietnam asked us to help fight the invaders. The
US has had to fight them for 12 years. The guerillas
must have support of the people.�
In the past he tried for a transfer. No soap! His m.o.s.
was that of an electrician. He received the highest score
on his m.o.s. test in the entire Army. His job, handing
out furniture. He tried for a discharge, no luck either. He
was singled out because he voiced his ideas and dressed
in a certain way. This brought about many changes.
These are some of the reasons he is now in the
stockade. He was arrested. His home was searched (no
is much military injustice, as
war. He has been writte
threatened with othe box.�
/s it wrong to believe that it is insane to Rill, to invade
another's country and push an unwanted society upon
them, to want freedom and Peace worldwide?
Signed,
Anti-Military
P.S. Letters of support will be greatly appreciated. Let
us get it together and exchange ideas, problems, etc.
Please be careful in letters written to Will. All mail is
checked for items on drugs, obscene language, etc. Write
to:
Will McIntosh
USA Maint. Act.
APO San Francisco, Ca. 9633!
or
J.O.R.O.
P.O. Box 4
Naha, Okinawa
c/o oOpinion Line�
ee
oI say justice to whoever did the Ranger in.
And one question still lies unanswered in
by one personTs actions against a war he
did not believe in?�T
nN. up several times and is
'
Fe a \
Bez
,
ic | y, re ~
Ce? The ~i aR iff =
He builf the ROAD "
With others of his CLASS, he builf the road,
Now oer il, many a weary mile, he packs his load,
Chasing a JOR. Spurred on by HUNGERS goad.
He walks and walks, and wonders why
In H"-) . he buslt the road.
Vv Camp Lejeune, NC |/
October 17, 1972
ae Pe,�
"04
4K
, S
/
Mee
*
o"
Bulkhead,
There really isnTt much that | could tell you that you
could print. E: verything | have would just be hearsay.
This place is really driving me up a wall though--itTs so
capitalistic itTs sickening. But thereTs no way of getting
out or getting any relief without really getting fucked
over. ItTs just one group of heavies running their system
and you have to follow, or pay the Price, and sometimes
the price is pretty high, They.carih eyo tan, Tntic
quite a few people around here that are interested, but
thereTs not enough material. Most of the people around
here really like the Bulkhead, except the heavies--they
try to avoid it. They couldnTt this time though. There
were too many around. Peace and Love, \/
John
A MIDWAY BROTHER REPORTS
October 18, 1972
ItTs getting worse here on Midway. phate sabe
really getting down on everyone's case. Haircuts an
ir latest harassments. 7
ae hay in Subic Bay here in the Philippines
for R&R. Right when liberty call is sounded, the wai
bring up this bit about haircuts, so what happens is they
put about 12 masters-at-arms on the atter-brow, and
check for haircuts. ITd say half of those leaving on
liberty were turned back and told they couldn't leave
until they cut their hair to conform to lifer standards. |
was turned back twice, once after | had gotten one
haircut. They're not even going by Z-gram standards.
to have their own.
so oem the drug harassment which has gotten to be
really bad. The master-at-arms will get brothers out of
bed during the middle of the night to check for drugs,
going through lockers, beds, personal belongings, even
gee coming back from liberty are constantly being
checked out on the after-brow for drugs. The lifers make
you take your shirt and shoes off, check your wallet
; fect}.
weet sabseunss about 20 brothers in the brig. For
example: for just having a pipe, no dope, just a pipe.
They figure if you have a pipe and no tobacco you aie:
be smoking dope, so they put you in correctiona
custody and they give you a forfeiture of $150 for one
Yas got a new captain in late July and pre: is
-everythingTs been getting more and more fucke phe :
talks about how he loves to bust people from "
paygrades. He never has anything good to say to se
E.M. EverythingTs always a pat on the back Big
officers, especially the pilots. Suppose all the E.M.'s
decided they wouldnTt work one day. This would be one
fucked up ship"even more messed up than it is now. :
As for our schedule, we were supposed to return to
Alameda Nov. 26, but they say they donTt know ~
we Il return home. It could be as iate as March 3, 1973.
Admiral Zumwalt was on board not too long ago, and
he was asked when we would return home. He wouldnTt
answer, HeTd only change the subject to all that LIFER
BULLSHIT, like shipping over bennies.
Most of us here now donTt give a fuck, which really
blows the lifersT minds. Like during bomb replenish-
ments, part of bombs are being thrown over the side.
Almost all seamen here on working parties do this. Little
things like this can really antagonize a lifer.
About the SOS movement. | could dig some info on
it. I'd like to get started a movement like that because
something has to be done here or a lot of trouble will
soon be breaking out here on Midway. Like after we
were told we could be here until March 3, fires were
started here, along with high temperature alarms in
several compartments.
~~Suppose all the EMs
do. | hope this can get more brothers in the movement.
November 9, 1972
The movement is starting to pick up now. I've gotten
about 20 guys turned on to the movement now.
We've also found out there are several other groups of
the same kind aboard Midway. What we re doing now is
getting these groups united as one. After we do this,
7
we ~re on our way.
Now that weTve been extended over here, more
brothers are getting turned on to the movement as a
means of fighting back the gung ho lifers.
More and more brothers are getting turned on to your
papers, Bulkhead, War Bulletin, etc. Keep up the beauti-
ful work. We're all with you. oPower to the People.
We heard about the news on the Constellation, about
decided they: wouldn't
work one day. This would be one fucked up
ship " even more messed up than it Is now.
October 29, 1972 °
Four brothers were killed and several others were
injured during a plane crash on the flight deck. This
wouldnTt have happened if Midway wouldn't have been
extended. ItTs just not right, taking the lives of brothers
when thereTs no fucking use to be out here at all in the
first place. "
- Captain Foley said these men died fighting for their
country. Bullshit, man! It wasnTt their time to die. Foley
said we should also be proud of the dead, and that the .
crew showed professionalism in the manner they put out
the fire and took care and aided the injured. He was
more worried about the planes than the men. You can
always replace men, but you canTt do the same with
planes.
[ few of us plan
The funeral services are tomorrow. A
to go and wear black armbands to see what the lifers will
it-i / to hear it.
the sit-in they had. It was really coo : :
we'll get our shit together here on Midway soon.
; [ oR.
We've got to if we want to fight bac :
Please send more papers and literature if at a
possible for distribution to brothers. This way we can
ent. 5
et more brothers turned on to the movem .
. When we do, if ever, return to the world, myself and
other brothers will do anything we can to help ~ out
in any way. We've got to get it together for all our
brothers.
Enclosed is $20 to help pay for a bulk of paper and
literature if it is possible for you to send.
oTurning the Regs Around� [a GI rights and coun-
seling manual available from Bulkhead, see page 18] isa
+ beautiful book. More people should turn on to it. -
USS Midway
I. early November as oracial incidentsTT
flared at many major bases, over 100 sailors,
most of them black, effectively paralyzed the
aircraft carrier Constellation in a series of highly-
publicized sit-downs and work stoppages. At the
time the Connie was in San Diego preparing to
return to Vietnam. Soon after a crewman wrote:
CBS came today to get a view of the prob-
lem. They interviewed a guy from the south who
said there wasnTt a racial problem at all but a
group of guys ticked off at having to work on
the mess decks.
Since | didnTt get a chance, | ask you to tell
the masses that there is a racial situation on this
genocide queen. Although you may not be able
to see it through the plastic smiles whites offer,
it exists.
/! have watched whites greet blacks and smile,
only to turn their backs and call the same people
niggers. It is not soothing to my ears. | say these
truths not to arouse a feeling of distrust in
blacks, but to let all know there is racism in the
Navy in general, and on the Constellation ~in
particular.
The Captain had the 100-plus group of dis-
sidents broken down into three small groups to
~deal with their problems more effectively.� |
feel it was only a divide and conquer scheme to
disrupt the solidarity of the group.
Also today, Connie wives (of Dike Bombers)
were handing outcoffeeand food to guys at 7am
fo start a petition and get a showing of force for
old Captain Ward. But he is sweating, and the
carcass of brass from Rison, Arkansas is seeing
his tinal days as leader of a ship that is as racist
as the war it is fighting in.
The powerful US Navy, like the once-powerful Army,
is going under. The admirals have become the focus of
the deepening hostility between nonwhite people and
the entrenched racists of the Nixon administration. At
the same time the Seventh Fleet is carring the main
burden of a futile war.
At times the Navy can keep people divided by rate
and race by tightening discipline and driving EMs on the
job. Other times when its problems explode into the
public eye, Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, the o~liberalTT Chief
of Naval Operations, announces new programs and poli-
cies by the dozens, and promises to change attitudes in
his notoriously racist command.
But eruptions at every major base and on many of the
ships in the Pacific, have revealed the realities of Navy
life. In recent months, both black and white sailors have
shown that equality is bullshit in a system based on
inequality. They have proved that the slogan oYou can
be black and Navy, too� is a lie. Sometimes people
fought each other, but also got together and dealt heavy
blows against the Navy and the small minority of pigs
who try to run it.
Vice Admiral David Bagley warned that othere will be
more of these outbreaks before the problems are
solved.TT For once, theyTre right. Things will get worse
before they get better.
KITTY HAWK "_
MAKES HISTORY (AGAIN!)
A small fight started at the San Paquita bar on Subic
Naval Base in the Philippines on October 11. Some
Marines made racist remarks to a few blacks. According
to reports, about 25 blacks and whites were involved,
and the blacks were beaten up badly. The next morning
the Kitty Hawk rushed to Vietnam on short notice.
Blacks had beefs to settle from the night before, and
everyone was pissed by the sudden departure. No one
was looking forward to 45 days on the line. Tension was
high.
The captain started an investigation of the trouble at
the San Paquita. He ordered two blacks to report for
questioning. Eleven other brothers showed up in a
demonstration of unity. The whole tone of the investiga-
tion implied that the blacks were to blame for the fight
the previous night.
As word of the investigation spread, a group of angry
blacks grew on the mess decks, and smaller groups
formed elsewhere. Some marines began to act like
rednecks, strutting around and provoking blacks. Some-
one called the black Executive Officer (XO) down to
clear out the group. He managed to disperse the main
group in the mess decks. But the marines were told to
guard the planes, and to watch out especially for blacks,
alone or in groups.
On the hangar bay some marines forced small groups
to break up. Blacks were suspected as soon as they got
together to rap, and by nightfall they were really pissed.
According to Navy officers who investigated what hap-
pened that night, about 100 blacks went on a rampage
against whites for most of the night. The XO apparently
ordered blacks to group separately from the marines, but
this gathering freaked the captain out. He ordered
everyone back to their spaces, and declared it the ~~most
fucked up chapterT in the shipTs history. A top Navy
ominority affairs� official said it was the worst race riot
in Navy history.
Next morning the casualty figures were released"46
wounded, 40 whites and 6 blacks, and three people
medivaced from the ship for treatment. Twenty seven
black sailors and one white were busted.
ItTs hard to believe that these figures reflect what
happened on the night of October 12-13. It is probable,
for one thing, that more than six blacks were injured,
and couldnTt get medical attention without getting
busted. The 27 already busted made that clear. And
publicly, at that time the Navy played to the racism of
white America by making it look like the blacks really
beat the shit out of defenseless, innocent whites, and
didnTt get scratched.
A minority affairs panel had to tell Zumwalt later
that othere is no way a racial battle can take place with
only one group involved.� It may be that the Navy will
drop the charges on these brothers since they are
obviously phony. But as of now the charges stand. The
men are divided up, and face individual court-martials.
THE HASSAYAMPA
CARRIES ON
Four days after the fight on the Kitty Hawk, on
~WHAT RACIAL PROBLEM?~
Hip ai
*
~~
Cc
a diagram showing how to
October 16 there were fights on the oiler Hassayampa.
Eleven sailors were arrested, all blacks, People from the
ship, transferred first to the Philippines and then to San
Diego ran down the conditions in the fleet that led to
this uprising. These brothers reported:
Hassayampa Captain McGuire and the XO Hanerford
worked together to keep tensions high. They divided
people by race, and pitted them against each other. The
XO and NCOs took to following people around, and
claiming they were looking for drugs. One guy would be
told that others were dropping the dime on him for one
thing or another. And in one instance, a crewman said
oThere were fights between blacks and whites, and the
(¢
...a Ship as racist
as the war
itTs fighting in...�
USS Constellation sailor in a letter to Bulkhead
XO just looked on.�T The XO, a former river boat
honcho in Vietnam, got off by saying ~You canTt be a
man until youTve been over there (Vietnam) shooting
people."T He and his type tried to provoke fights by
urging whites to oget in there and kick their asses first.�
They urged white sailors to arm themselves. The captain
stayed away from blacks as much as possible, and gave
the appearance of being lenient to them as a group. He
added to the tension by hazarding the ship so close to
shore that it drew fire.
Many EMs fought against all of this-bullshit. When the
tension was high (before the first publicized fight),
about 25 blacks and whites went to the O-4 level of the
ship to talk. ~We talked about it and decided that the
lifers were trying to instigate it. After the meeting,
everyone was tight and everyone went away happy. It
was good.�T
With discrimination in Non-judicial punishment,
people working 16 to 18 hours a day in the hole, being
hassled_ everywhere for dope, and race-baited by the
lifers, it was hard to keep it together. Fights started
again. The chiefs granted themselves ~o~dungaree liberty�
so they could get in their licks without breaking their
code of behavior. When the fighting stopped, eleven
black crewmen faced justice military style.
BROTHERS GAIN
THE ADVANTAGE
At the same time that the Navy came down on a group
of blacks 10,000 miles from home, tension was growing
B K 58 G
get the most black slaves into the slave ship Brooke
on the Constellation. On October 17, a few days after
the Hassayampa outbreak, about 80 blacks met in the
barber shop to discuss Captain WardTs discriminatory
policies: From then on sit-downs and meetings occurred
almost daily while Ward refused to acknowledge any -
problems or to talk with representatives of the crew.
The captain made his position clear. On November oe
while the Connie was on sea trials off of San Diego, he
ordered administrative general discharges for six black
crewmen. The reason he gave was that their General
Classification Test scores were too low. Most of the six
Brothers spread the word, and by evening the six and
their supporters held a meeting of about 150 people in
the after mess decks. The brothers asked the Captain to
come and answer their questions, since heTd refused to
talk with representatives before about his discharge
policies. Ward instead sent down the Human Relations
~Council (six white and one black officer). In a TV
interview one of the participants in the meeting describ-
ed the HRC as a o useless organization� that was ohighly
ineffective. The last meeting was nine months before the
last incident.� At the meeting, after HRC officers admit-
ted that they didnTt have the power to deal with the
groupTs grievances, they went.to~get thre santo
never came back. So much. for ZumwaltTs li
policies.
VIOLENCE
Captain Ward now ordered the men off the mess
decks. Instead, after a large group of whites left, they
staged a sit-down and work refusal. The Navy now
turned to a more familiar tactic; Intimidation. obi
the night, a detachment of marines les in arme
ed 45s and M16s to stop oa riot.
herbi told congressional investigators that he
refused to appear because he was convinced that the
men wanted ~~a violent confrontation.� But he was the
one who ordered an all-hands muster at 2:30am on the
mess decks. This meant that 4500 men, mostly ste
surrounded the group of about 80 blacks. One b a
said, oIt caused the situation to become very tgp
any little incident could have caused an sunires -
seems to me as though the Captain was shin 0
precipitate the anne 8 he could have justifica-
i i erate the Diacks.
| iat insies failed. People settled in for a long =
and passed out food and blankets. Spirits were high, oti
people were together. As long as they were holding the
mess decks, the command had to deal with their re-
quests.
DEMANDS
The blacks and some white brothers united behind
three main demands: vier ee
@ An investigation of the captainTs discharge policies.
They felt he forced blacks to take general dis-
charges instead of honorables a
e@ An independent investigation of captainTs mast
(Article 15) punishments. Blacks felt that they got
sony imi iolations.
heavier penalties for similar vio
@ Better job assignments. Many black sailors had
trained for rated jobs, but werenTt allowed to work
in them. Instead most of them were unrated and
werenTt about to be rated with Ward in command.
During the night the commander of Fleet Air Pacific
flew out to the Connie from San Diego. The captain
decided to cool it and return to port to get rid of the
protestors. In the morning Ward finally appeared on the
mess decks and announced that he was setting up a
otemporary beach detachment.� When questioned
three times about what measures he would take to
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protect blacks remaining on board from reprisals, he first
refused to answer and then ordered the questioner off
too.
In San Diego he ordered all men with grievances off
his ship, but quickly closed the after brow after only
130 men had left. The Connie went back to sea for four
days. When the ship returned to San Diego, Ward
ordered the beach detachment back on the ship. But he .
still had done nothing to guarantee the safety of the
protestors. On the advice of the Black ServicemenTs
Caucus, the men passed around a muster sheet on the
pier. Ward acknowledged the muster but charged 132
men with six and a half hours unauthorized absence.
The Navy brass was working at full steam by now
trying to bury the issue with press statements and legal
maneuvers. They promised the group of sailors discus-
sions with ~human realtions counsellors.� Actually, men
were forced into individual interviews where they were
told to consider themselves fortunate not to be charged
with mutiny. Ward explained that this was oto learn
whether they have genuine grievances or none at all� He
tried to blame the incident on o hard work by a small
group of men.�
During the next few weeks, the Navy broke yn the
mands before getting rid of some with general discharges
and returning others to ships.
While many of the racial flare-ups in the past few
oIf the Captain
criminally refuses to
-listen to his
crew, he is irresponsible
and more than racist,
and should be tried.�
USS Constellation sailor
[November 19, 1972]
weeks have resulted in fighting betweeen blacks and
whites, the Connie brothers avoided this kind of dead~
end confrontation and focused their attack on the di
enemy""the Navy brass and their phony liberal vacia
policies. In addition they tied up the Connie for days
with sit-ins and work stoppages that showed the zoe
can be badly shaken and forced to retreat by a solid,
organized movement.
oBATTLE� IN
THE HIGH COMMAND
ial inci rapidly,
While the number of racial incidents grew
Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Elmo Zumwalt,
made a show of attacking the traditional racism of the
Navy. He blamed both the admirals and NCOs and
threatened that othose who are not fully conscious of
the need for absolute and total equality will, over time,
be weeded out.�
How can he weed out a whole command? Many
admirals who were passed over by President Nixon for
Chief of Naval Operations reflected the hardcore racism
of most of the command. .Admiral Ulysses S. Grant
Sharp, for example, was very blunt: oPersonnel prob-
lems in the Navy can be attributed to the fact that the
Navy is taking in men of lower mental! Capacity. Men
of lower intellectual Capacity can handle only lower type
jobs.�T ZumwaltTs statements for public consumption left
these guys fuming.
At the same time a special subcommittee of the
notoriously right-wing House Armed Services Committee
began investigations of orace riotsT and opermissiveness�T
in the Navy. One sailor from the Connie who testified
said, o~They asked me questions about why | disobeyed a
direct order and why | joined the protests, but they
didnTt address themselves to the central problems of
discrimination and job assignments for blacks aboard the
ship.�
But after the committee files its report, nothing will
change substantially. The report will be put with the
reports written after Watts, Newark, the 1968 Chicago
Convention, Kent State and Jackson State, and the
massacre at Attica State Prison in New York. ThereTs no
way the Navy is going to change its basic nature as a
racist arm of a racist society, unless that society. is
radically changed as well.
ZumwaltTs attack on Navy racism is proving to be
nothing but a fancy public relations campaign. Already
in the past two years he has set 233 different programs
down the command. Each one has been kicked off with
a press release commenting on its projected effective-
ness. Zumwalt did admit recently that most of them
ohave tended to fail wherever a real change from
hallowed routine was required.� Very little in the Navy
isnTt hallowed routine. The shameful role of the Human
Relations Council a good example of
ZumwaltTs liberalism.
Lt Commander William Norman, ZumwaltTs Negro
oadvisor on race relations� predicts that racism ois going
to blow this organization apart unless we take some
emergency actions. We have to make commanding of-
ficers give the same kind of priorities to race relations
that they do to keep their ships from running aground.�
But reports from most ships point out whatT most
commanders priorities are: to get ahead, get medals, pass
the buck, get off more planes or shells, and get more
work out of their already overworked crews,
WHOSE
To see where the NavyTs real priorities are, check this
out. Zumwalt announced that he and all flag officers will
take 18 hours of study in a race relations course. The
course will costT $600,000. to develop and very little to
run. This is about half the cost of keeping one aircraft
carrier on the line off Vietnam for one day. _ |
Even if the Navy is one day relieved of its role in
Vietnam, the tide of national liberation movements is
rising all over Asia. Each represents a threat to US
economic interests and military bases. Zumwalt testified
to Congress that the Navy ohas the mission of manitest-
ing an overseas presence sufficiently powerful and visible
to make it plain to any possible adversary as well
as to our allies, that any effort to challenge our vital
overseas interests or those of our allies could bring
confrontation with American armed might.�T )
Zumwalt has repeatedly asked for more tax dollars to
, aval operations from Vietnam west to the
nae kes it ia the oil fields of the Middle East. Ass
argued, for example, that by 1985 the Navy must be
able to guarantee that the US can import one half of a
oil through Asian waters from the strife-torn Middle
East. ; 3 4
Closer at hand is the coming battle to protect huge
naval installations and billions of dollars of US invest-
ments in the Philippines where our oally� recently
declared martial law. (See page 9.) : 3
How can Zumwalt persuade the American people that
he is building a democratic Navy when both blacks and
whites will be forced to fight against Asian people to
keep the empire oiled? Anti-racist talk doesn't fit their
The US government and Nixon, along with Zumwalt
and his advisor (and his successor ?), have a similar goal:
to keep the machinery of violence running at full spent
without self-destructing. Everything else, despite talk of
racial equality, is a means to that end. co
BLACK SERVICEMENTS CAUCUS
The Black ServicemenTs Caucus is a group of
active-duty Gls, veterans and civilians struggling
together to combat racism and discrimination
against black brothers and sisters within the military
while simultaneously developing strong ties with the
black community. oh
The Black ServicemenTs Caucus invites Mexican-
Americans and all other minority groups into the
Caucus. We at B.S.C. encourage brothers and sisters
of the military to get involved. Possibly we can help
you, if not weTre sure you can help us.
Power & Unity
CAMP PENDLETON
BRIG REVOLT
CAMP PENDLETON, CALIF. (August 1) " On August
1, 19 Gls in the Pendleton brig decided they were tired
of being harassed and forced to work like animals even
though none of them were sentenced to hard labor.
When the guard came to get them at noon, the group
refused to go to work.
The guard left and sent back a Staff Sgt., a Captain,
and three or four Sgts. The Staff told them itTs bad to
refuse to\go to work regardless how hot it is, and then
gave a direct order to leave. It was refused. He then
ordered them to pack their gear because he was sending
them to the oUTT. The oU�T is solitary -onfinement. They
responded by shouting oFuck the Marine Corps and all
its lifers!�� The Captain hollered, oShut up!�T, and every-
one replied oFuck you, too!�
One of the striking prisoners said, oWe felt good as if
we had the power for the first time. This feeling of
power came from the fact that all the people in the
group agreed to stick together regardless of what the
lifers did. They tried to split us up because they were
afraid. of the power we had as a group. [Five went to the
oUY� five went to cell blocks, and nine to the dorm.|
But to this day we still havenTt been sent out to working
parties.� (UP FROM THE BOTTOM)
Gls REJECT PINUP GIRL
15% ASK MALE FOLDOUT
Washington, D.C. (August) " ThereTs a different breed
of soldier in todayTs Army. The editors of SOLDIERS,
the ArmyTs official magazine, had hoped to heighten the
publicationTs appeal with a monthly color pin-up of a
scantily clad female. ~ooYou won't believe it,�T the editors
wrote in the latest issue, but reader response was 48% to
37% AGAINST the cheesecake. They said the remaining
15% who wrote in asked for an occasional male pin-up.
Possibly these requests came from WACs,
Maj. Gen. Winant Sidle, chief of Army information,
was amazed. ItTs ironic that this lord high bureaucrat is
just starting to notice the struggles of women for equal
rights. (CAMP NEWS)
NEW COLONY
FOR UNITED STATES
NEW YORK CITY (August 18) " For 70 years, the US
has pushed the idea that Puerto Rico is almost a state,
and that the people like it that way. Most Puerto Rican
people disagree and this summer there was a large
demonstration in front of the United Nations demanding
independence. After a long investigation into conditions
in Puerto Rico, the UN Special Committee on Decoloni-
zation voted 12-0 with 10 abstentions to list Puerto Rico
as a colony of the US. (LNS) ;
OUTSPOKEN BLACK GI CHARGED WITH SONTS MURDER
Okinawa (November) " Lee King is a Spec 5 in the US
Army with 6 years service and an absolutely clean
record. He is a black man, married to a Korean woman,
stationed on Okinawa. For 5 years and then some, he
put up with military racism; for 5 years he didnTt speak
out, he didnTt demand an end to some of the worst
excesses he constantly saw. Then it got to be too much.
His warrant officer started to call him o~colored boy�
and tell him about the slaves his grandfather owned. But
he did this in front of witnesses, and Lee King brought
charges against him and removed him from that com-
mand. Then another warrant officer started putting
white soldiers to work in the shade and black soldiers to
work out in the sun. He said, oAfter all, they canTt get
sunburns.� There were witnesses for this one too. Lee
brought charges and had him removed.
Then one night in June, while he was out, his 20
month old son fell out of bed and hit his head on the
concrete floor. The child died four days later in the
hospital from a hairline skull fracture. At the hospital, a
white pediatrician noticed a bruise on the childTs back-
side from a spanking and a week old scrape on his back
from a fall off a swing. He accused King and his wife of
child beating and told the CID to investigate for murder.
Not a single witness was found to say that Mr. or Mrs.
King ever beat their children, and they have another son
in perfect health.
Two months later a friend of Lee KingTs was facing a
rape charge, and in exchange for testifying falsely against
King, his charges were dropped. So Lee King was
charged with murder. The pre-trial investigation was held
and the false testimony was so full of holes that the
Investigating Officer recommended that the charges be
dropped. But the command overruled him and the case
was referred to a General Court Martial. Lee King could
get life, although he is totally innocent. He needs your
support. Contact:
Lee King Defense Committee
c/o Hobbits
P.O. Box 447
Koza, Okinawa, Japan
(The Hobbits)
VOLAR MEETS
THE AIR FORCE
LOWRY AFB, COLORADO (November) - Perhaps tak-
ing heed of supposedly ultraliberal conditions at Ft,
Carson, the brass at Lowry have decided to give the
infamous 3320th Retraining Group a new image. They
recently held a picnic for retrainees at a reservoir near
the base. A three page directive was issued to give
instructions for the event. Among the more interesting
aspects of the directive:
A detailed schedule was issued including orders to
report for certain games, when to oStart Feeding,� and
when to line up for prizes. It may have been the only
order in history with compulsory attendance for touch
football, sack races, tug-of-war, wheelbarrow races, man
and horse races, and Frisbee. Two hot dogs per person
were allotted. (CAMP NEWS)
FODDING AT EL TORO
El Toro MCAS, Calif. (September) " Cpl. Mike Tippett
has been in the brig since mid-September. He is charged
with the total destruction of 2 F-4 Phantoms-and the
attempted destruction of another.
Mike is accused of fodding (foreign object damage)
the fighter bombers by leaving nuts, bolts, tools, etc. in
the engine when repair work was done.
In MikeTs squadron, VMC-J3, a number of planes have
been fodded. Rumor puts the number at more than 12
since August. During a pretrial hearing it was disclosed
that fodding has continued in VMC-J3, even though
Mike has been in the brig.
Sometimes fodding is done intentionally in an at-
tempt to stop the military machine. More often itTs not
planned. It comes from low morale, from carelessness,
and from high anti-military feeling. In MikeTs squadron a
new commanding officer was installed several months
ago. The new CO concluded that VMC-J3 did not havea
military enough appearance and harassment and
repressiveness increased. Fodding also increased.
There is no eyewitness to link Mike with the destruc-
tion of these planes. But the squadron commander wants
the fodding in his command stopped, especially since
one of the planes fodded was his own (his phantom
exploded shortly after he got out of it). After Mike was
decided on as the osuspect,� the CO gave a speech to the
men of the squadron offering honorable discharges to
anyone who would be a owitness.�
Despite the lack of evidence, proceedings against
Mike continue at El Toro. Mike faces more than I0 years
in prison. He needs your support. Contact:
Support Our Soldiers
PO Box 17732
Los Angeles, Calif. 90017
oFUCK THE POWER
HUNGRY BASTARDS�
OAHU, HAWAII (August) " The state of Hawaii is
ripping off agricultural land for a golf course. ThatTs
right. Golf. A game for people with plenty of time and
money, like US military officers.
Masepa Tanoai, Samoan and long time Hawaiian
resident told the rich developers and government
officials what the Hawaiian people thought of their idea
in a public hearing.
oEuck the power hungry bastards. This is our land,
our hearts and sweat and years are in this soil and we
still will stop you. Do we have to have revolution " have
to kill " to make ourselves heard? The teacher wants my
kids to learn to play golf. Who can afford golf shoes and
golf clubs and golf hats? How about teaching them
Hawaiian history. and how to plant taro? Why do we
have to cater to your country officials? ItTs time for
revolution. We are going to tear this whole place down "
Nixon, too.� (LIBERATED BARRACKS)
Gls BATTLE POLICE
IN STUTTGART, GERMANY
Stuttgart, W. Germany (August 12) - The ohottest and
bloodiest brawl! Stuttgart has had since postwar days�
took place between over 100 black Gls and 35 German
policemen. The fighting started when an MP refused to
take the ID card ofa obrawling US soldier� upon orders
from the German police. This incident (only one of
many) stems from the stepped up racism of the Germans
against black Gls. In the six months previous to the riot
six discotheques frequented by black Gls were oadvised�
by the ocity administration� to bar black soldiers. oOff
Limits� signs have appeared in many black bars and
amusement centers and several have closed as a result of
this prejudice. The military is going to deal with the
problem in their usual ass-backwards way; by stationing
MPs at the few black hang-outs left so that there will be
oaS exact surveillance as possible.� (CAMP NEWS and
STARS AND STRIPES) me
WAVE GETS C.O.
Long Beach, Calif. (September) " Lt. Teri Pohl has
recently been discharged from the Navy as a conscien-
tious objector. She is the first woman officer that we
know of and the second woman of all services to win a
C.0.
Teri began to fight back against the military while
stationed at Sasebo Naval Station in Japan. She was
banned from some of the ships that frequently dock at
Sasebo because she talked to brothers on board about
the war and how to fight back. Her last fitness report
commended her for professional skills and compassion
for her patients, but said she did not possess the oloyalty
to the Navy that a Naval Officer should.�
When TeriTs discharge came. she was rushed to L
Beach NAS. (CAMP NEWS), obee
.
HEROIN SEWED INSIDE DEAD Gls
SE Asia & USA (December 17) " Last summer in his
exhaustive study, The Politics of Heroin in Southeast
Asia, Alfred McCoy uncovered one of the most vicious
aspects of the US military occupation of Southeast Asia:
the CIATs role in developing one of the biggest sources of
heroin in the world. After traveling throughout Asia
collecting information, McCoy revealed that CIA-
sponsored commandos in the Golden T-:-"(t" ++
region of Burma, Thailand, and.Laos bring raw opium to
Laos where it is refined into heroin by American-
financed Laotian generals. From Laos part of the heroin
is flown by Vietnamese puppet politicians like Vice
-President Ky and President Khiem to Saigon. ;
Now federal agents have revealed that a smuggling
ring operating in the Washington-Baltimore area has
been smuggling heroin into the US sewn into the bodies
of dead Gls for eight years. A 51-year-old man disguised
as an Army sergeant was arrested after he accompanied
the bodies of two Gls from Hawaii to Andrews Air
Force Base outside of Washington. (S.F. CHRONICLE)
Always salute
a
naked general
Saigon, S. Vietnam (December 12) " What does an Air
Force EM do when he meets a naked general?
He salutes.
An order issued recently by Major Paul M. Boseman
operations officer of the 377th Security Police Squadron
at Tan Son Nhut airbase, Says in part:
Salute when you recognize an officer even though
you both, officer and non- commissioned officer, are
nude.�
An Air Force spokesman said this was ointended to
emphasize the importance of saluting officers when
recognized, whether in or out of uniform.�
He said he did not know under what circumstances
officers and enlisted personnel might encounter each
other in the nude.
The order was attached to a photograph of Brigadier
General Ralph Holland, new vice commander of the 7th
Air Force.
The General was fully clothed. (SF CHRONICLE)
MORNINT GEN RAL _.
; THAT SURE |S A
SHARP NEW UNIFORM YER WEAR (hy
J APANESE SIDE WITH Gls
JAPAN (December) " The Navy would like to develop
Yokosuka, Japan, as a forward base for aircraft carriers
to save the expense (and dangers) of returning to
California for refitting. But in Yokosuka, like Alameda,
San Diego, Pearl Harbor, and Subic, sailors and civilian
supporters are undermining the NavyTs plans.
On October 14, 25 Japanese protestors and a lone
American civilian disrupted a Navy Day parade attended
by both US and Japanese naval personnel. From a small
boat off the parade grounds, they played an air raid
siren, recordings of air attacks in Vietnam, and appeals
to oFree Doug, Stop the War� while others chanted in
the reviewing stands.
oFree Doug� refers to SA Douglas Weaver who was
sentenced to two months for participating in political
activities in a fareian COtimtens rr
SLFaLOFrs.
The next day the Japanese held a demonstration in
support of GI rights. They carried a sign made by Gls
which read, o~We canTt march, but we made this sign
signed, ~Yokuska Gls,TTT and one made by themselves
which said ~~Human Rights for Gls.�
Japanese people have also been acting with Gls against
the war at Yokohama (US Army Depot at Saganihara)
where they have been blocking tanks and having large
demonstrations. (CAMP NEWS)
A place
A pla
A place w ord Of 0
A place where f
A place where skoqers ar
}
ds
A plage wher
A place where
Life in this p
So donTt complain-and_
AZOT ZPZ
WhatTs this place called Nam Phong
A plac you wish you bad never come,
ou wish bad never began
2 of foul water and oC� rats in a can.
A placd @bere barracks have never-been seen
A place\wbere living quarters Are_ te
A place where proud Phanta
A place whee all things
aves gro® on trees,
You're ¢gither dir YY fas bol} O
yell oWatch
A place where theyysll is now cally mgt,
rape des put Texas to $ha
They don't stin oee fa hal mai
Ca)
ay after day
And so my , astTve jusk said
e is realy sag
DHkusting at the seams
rasters of the sky
iting for \rain.
oPee is now no sweat
do eon
Instead say a prayer for the Marines at Nam Phong.
IWAKUNI, JAPAN (Nov. 23) " Dennis L. Murphy is a
Sergeant in the Marine Corps and a six year veteran from
Lindon, Michigan. He was an Air Traffic Controller
assigned to Marine Air Control Unit 62 which is de-
ployed to Nam Phong, Thailand. The primary mission of
the attack squadron at Nam Phong is combat missions
over South and North Vietnam.
Dennis told reporters, oOn Nov. 8, after hearing of
President NixonTs re-election, | began to circulate a
petition in the mess hall of my unit. The petition read:
~From United States servicemen stationed at Nam
Phong, Thailand, to our Commander-in-Chief, Pres.
Richard M. Nixon. We are tired of words and arguments.
Sign the peace treaty now!�T
oWhile | was only able to work two hours for peace, |
was able to collect 200 signatures before being stopped.
Major Kiley [his commanding officer] told me that it
was against the law to circulate petitions. A demand was
made to me to hand them over. | gave them an unsigned
copy but refused to hand over the signed copies.�
oRather than risk the petitions falling into the hands
of the brass and being used against the 200 men who had
signed them, | and other Gls secretly burned the signed
copies. | then sent a letter explaining what had happened
to Senator Proxmire with an unsigned copy of the
petition.�
Before the suppression of the petitions, Dennis had
informed his CO that, o! can no longer control tactical
aircraft.�T Shortly after the petition incident, Dennis was
ordered to sick bay. A few days later he was flown to
Yokosuka Naval Hospital, Japan, for psychiatric exami-
nation. While enroute to Yokosuka, Dennis was tied
to his seat with leather straps and handcuffs.
At Yokosuka, after a thirty minute interview, the
doctor there decided that DennisT problem was that he
did not want to be in Thailand or in the Marine Corps.
The solution was to return him to the war zone witha
prescription of tranquilizers. (PACIFIC COUNSELING
SERVICE)
What Lies Behind
the Peace Talk?
How Will It Affect You?
EF. three months, NixonTs administration has baffled
the bejesus out of the American people. One day the
peace agreement is 99% complete. The next day thereTs
no agreement there at all. But on every day of those
three months of talks, Nixon ordered his flyboys to
bomb the shit out of Vietnam as long as they did it
below the 20th parallel. Now that the talks are officially
off, Nixon lifted even that limit and ordered the heaviest
raids of the entire war.
WhatTs confusing to people is that Nixon can talk of a
settlement at the same time heTs bombing. But Nixon
can do this because talk and bombs are, to him, just two
different paths to the same goal.
What Are Those Goals?
When Nixon or Kissinger speak of opeace with
honor,� they are speaking of a settlement which leads to
a US-controlled Vietnam. They have never given up their
plans for:
@ a pro-American state in South Vietnam
@ US control of military bases there
@ hungry markets, cheap labor, and valuable resources
like oil for profit-hungry American corporations
® proof of AmericaTs ability to make good its commit-
ments to two-bit dictators who are threatened by the
people they rule over
The Vietnamese, on the other hand, are still fighting
for a Vietnam for the Vietnamese. TheyTve fought for
that and won against the Japanese and the French. After .
winning their self-determination three times, they are not
about to give it up to Richard Nixon. So a conflict seems
inevitable.
What Are The Terms
Of This Peace Settlement?
Why then all this talk of peace? The opeace� being
discussed is a continuation of the same conflict on new
terms. Those terms are laid out in an agreement reached
in October between Henry Kissinger (representing the
US and Saigon) and Le Duc Tho (representing North
Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government
or oVCTT). Those terms are, briefly:
Military Settlement. There will be a ceasefire in
South Vietnam within 24 hours of the signing of the
agreement, and a total withdrawal of all American
military personnel.
Political Settlement. After the ceasefire, the two
sides in South Vietnam " Thieu (GVN) and the PRG
" will settle together the internal affairs of South
Vietnam. On the surface this means that there would
be no more shooting, and that ThieuTs government and
the PRG would settle their disagreements through elec-
tions without US interference. This seems fair enough.
e GPSS sicaxe) FY
ane wae ue
ei
eee ont
~?
-
~ :
Why WonTt It Work?
As usual, thereTs a catch: Thieu canTt win an election
without US interference. The last time he ran for
President, he was the only candidate. Even then he
needed his American equipped national police to scare
people to the polling places.-Just after his oelection� he
declared martial law.
This meant that all radio and tv stations were closed
down. The only newspaper still printing is owned by
Thieu himself. Their congress, the National Assembly,
was made powerless. The universities and high schools
were closed. Buddhist temples and Catholic churches
were occupied by ThieuTs police.
~One hundred thousand to three hundred thousand
people now jam ThieuTs prisons. Some are guilty of
trying to survive in cities like Saigon, which is the
densest city in the world, more than twice as crowded as
Tokyo. But most are guilty of violating ThieuTs own
edicts which make it a capital crime to advocate peace or
neutrality. To give you some idea of the level of
repression, the San Francisco Chronicle and the London
Express both reported on August 5 that 14,000 people
had been arrested every month since April of this year.
And on October 12, Thieu boasted that oanyone favor-
ing a coalition with the communists will not be permit-
ted to live more than five minutes.� (Giai Phong Press
Agency)
ThieuTs army has long since fallen apart. The spring
offensive reduced the entire Army of the Republic of
Vietnam (ARVN) from thirteen divisions to seven.
Those that are left are now deserting at a record-
breaking rate of 20,000 per month according to the New
York Times in mid-December. ARVN units are now only
used as bait to draw fire from ooVCTT units, and once the
shooting starts, the ARVN run and the Americans call in
air or artillery strikes.
While ARVN was falling apart at Quang Tri, An Loc,
and Kontum, villagers in the Delta region were driving
out opacification teams� and levelling ostrategic ham-
lets� (forced relocation centers is more like it). Most
moved to the parts of the countryside protected by the
oVC�. According to the New York Times of May 28, 77
Saigon government outposts had been taken over in
Chuong Thien province alone.
Why Talk Peace If It WonTt Work?
The Vietnamese are taking the heaviest bombing in
the history of the war. They want this destruction of
their land and people to stop. If they can do that at the
conference table, fine. They know they can win an
election because the people are with them. But they also
know they can win on the battlefield, and arenTt afraid
to keep on fighting.
Nixon, on the other hand, needed the peace talks at
election time so that he could campaign as the only man
who could bring peace to American and Vietnam. But he
also needed the talks to cover up the beating heTs taken.
In four years he has spent $59 billion, dropped 3.7
" =
you lose,
. eee "
i
+
oe re
Lo
1 3
¥
million tons of bombs, and killed, wounded, or made
homeless 6 million people to try to get what he wants.
But heTs no closer to his goals now than he was in 1968.
Basically, heTs used the peace talks to buy enough time
to fight the war in a less obvious, more effective, and less
expensive way.
What Is NixonTs New Way?
A lot of Gls have seen NixonTs plans taking shape. If
youTre an airman at Travis AFB, you've loaded more
tons of Vietnam-bound military cargo in the last week in
October than at any other time in the entire history of
the war. If youTre an airman at Tan Son Nhout airbase
outside Saigon, youTve seen 600 fighters and fighter-
bombers, and over 10,000 tons of supplies delivered in a
three week period in October/November. ThieuTs air
force, already the third largest in the world, and ThieuTs
police force are being beefed up to the max.
If youTre a clerk in Saigon, you've seen civilian
technicians rushed in to replace stateside-bound Gls. In
fact, according to a story in the New York Times on
November 27, oAbout 10,000 American civilian advisors
and technicians will stay on in South Vietnam after a
ceasefire... They will do everything from running the
South Vietnamese militaryTs personnel and logistics
computer, to teaching the Vietnamese Air Force how to
fly and maintain newly-provided planes, to repairing the
complex communications network left behind by the
U.S. Army.�
Nixon would like to use ThieuTs refitted police state
to run the cities of South Vietnam like a military base
where everyone follows orders out of fear for their lives.
The people whose homes had been destroyed in the
countryside would be driven to these cities to live. And
American technicians and advisors would keep ThieuTs
police state running smoothly.
What Does This Mean For You?
With or without a settlement, you will still be fighting
NixonTs war. You may not be firing any shots. But your
just floating off the coast of Vietnam (50,000 men), or
your being stationed in Hawaii (43,000 men), Taiwan
(10,000 men), Okinawa (45,000 men), Japan (40,000
men), Korea (55,000 men), the Philippines, Guam, or
Thailand 60,000 men) lets Henry Kissinger demand
that the Vietnamese agree to oPeace on our terms, or
else ...� You are used by American diplomats as a
threat, a card to be dealt in a cold war poker game " like
the men on the USS San Bernardino who were sent to
Panama during the elections there, or like the sailors on
the carrier USS Enteprise who were sent to India during
the India-Pakistan war.
ThereTs more than one way for the American govern-
ment to fight its wars. One way is to use you to bomb
people into submission. Another way is to use you to
train others to bomb people into submission. And
another way is to use you to threaten another people
into submission. Any way you cut it, youTre used, and
rist group demonstrates against the US-backed Saigon government.
We talked with Dale Borgeson and Gene Parker in San
Francisco after Gene was deported from the Philippines.
Dale had left before President Marcos declared martial
law. Dale was active in the Gl movement at Ft. Lewis
while in the Army, and was discharged as a conscientious
objector after he refused to go to Vietnam. He spent
eleven months at Clark Air Force Base working with
Pacific Counseling Service. Gene worked at the Liber-
ated Barracks before going to the G/ Center at Subic
Naval Base.
BULKHEAD: WHY WERE YOU BUSTED?
GENE: We were Gls and civilians doing work against the
war in Vietnam criticizing the presence of US military
bases in the Philippines, and just doing a lot of legal
work with. Gls asserting their democratic rights under
the military system of injustice. All along they had tried
to get lawyers kicked out. Three times the GI Center at
Clark where Dale was working, had been raided by the
Philippine Constabulary (PC) .
We were picked up October 16 on the streets of
Olongapo and taken back to the GI! Center. Doug was
busted two days later right in the Legal Center at Subi¢
Naval Base. The PC just came right on base. They never
told us legally why we were busted. They were putting
out a lot of rumors in the press about ocommunist
subversion� and ocommunist literature and documents�,
but when we asked them for evidence and what we had
done they never told us. They never charged us. And of
course we didnTt have any right to a lawyer. We wer¢
always asking for our rights, but under martial law you
have none of those rights. In fact, they could have kept
us in jail without charging us indefinitely. (cont'd next page)
A
S
V
I
|
rT
.
A
M
¢
January 1970 Jeepney drivers strike against price increase by
US-controlled oil companies. Marcos calls out PC storm-troopers
in Manila after tens of thousands of demonstrators attack the
Presidential Palace.
(ContTd from page 9)
Every step of the way the Naval Intelligence people
were calling the shots. ONI was standing outside the
Center and theyTd come in and were ransacking the
house along with the Philippine authorities. And the
Philippine authorities would come in and ask us ques-
tions for ONI but we never had any direct contact with
them.
Later when they photographed our files we saw 4
thing which said that the Naval authorities had met with
the PC arfd suggested to them (thatTs how it was written)
that they bust us. We found out later from a lieutenant
in the intelligence division of the PC that he had been
sent there two months before and had been working
with Naval intelligence. He knew our backgrounds. They
were just looking for an excuse to bust us.
ACTIVISTS EXECUTED
Already some of the Filipino people we had known
who had been in groups like Patriotic Youth, Kabataang
Makibayaan (KM), had been picked up. KM is an
organization which works in the community in Olonga-
po. They also had youth organizations in the colleges,
high schools, and they worked with base workers. Some
of them, friends, had been killed and tortured in prison.
We knew when we were facing the PC what they had
already done to our friends throughout the country.
They had arrested thousands of people. People had faced
firing squads. In Olongapo, just the day after martial
law, they picked up 15 people off the streets, people
who had criminal records, and put them before a firing
squad. This was an example to the rest of the popula-
tion. You better not step out of line. A terrorist
example.
The first night when they were waiting for instruc-
tions from the head PC office and from Naval Intelli-
gence to decide what to do with us, another thing
happened to scare us. Guys were coming in who we
worked with, sailors and Marines; theyTd taken them
upstairs and question them. We were finding out that PC
were. telling them stuff like weTd be marched to the
square and put before firing squads.
They took us to Olongapo City jail. When we got tq
the jail, the police lieutenant, | guess, went and talked tq
the prisoners and told them to work me over. As soon as
| got into the cell about seven or eight guys started
beating the shit out of me until a black American whq
was there on a long sentence for drugs stopped them.
They had respect for him. Then we all talked.
The cell is like four feet long by maybe fifteen feet
wide and maybe three or four cells on each side of it two
feet by six feet. There were 37 of us in there. There was
no bedding, no bathroom except a hole. People weren't
fed. A lot of them, of course, couldnTt afford lawyers.
They had no rights. They were completely at the mercy
of the jailers. If the jailer told them to beat up some-
body they would beat him up without asking any
questions. They knew that people had already been
facing firing squads and there were people who had been
in there for years without a trial or anything.
PRISONERS SYMPATHETIC
But after they had beaten me up, after they had done
their task for the jailers, when we talked, they were
really sympathetic. They saw Marcos as really being bad
for the Filipino people. They saw for sure martial law
being bad, and they were really sympathetic to me being
an activist working with Americans who were against the
war. And they said that they had no choice, that they
were ordered to beat me up and they did that. And you
know, they shared food, they offered to share cigarettes,
they shared drinks, and they had nothing. They them-
selves had to be really collective in order to live because
they werenTt fed regularly at all. They were only fed if
somebody had money or if they had family there.
The next morning we got taken out of there and back
to the GI Center until about 11 oTclock at night when
they finally took us to Camp Olivas.
It was really weird. We were-in a car and there were
maybe 50 or 100 Filipino people outside wondering
what was happening and maybe 15 PC with their M-16s
and Navy Intelligence were all out there. Then some-
body, | think it was the head of Naval Intelligence just
looked at us and he goes, ~Do you have any words to
pass on?� That really freaked us. It was like we were
going before a firing squad.
So weTre in this car with these guys with M-16s, late
at night. They begin to get really heavy on us asking us
questions and then when we wouldnTt answer, theyTd say
things like, oWell, you know since you Americans kill
for money, we Filipinos, we kill because we like to kill.
We kill because we have the desire to kill.� Kind of
playing on racist fears of white people, | think, or
because the Navy really pushes that all Filipinos are out
to kill Americans, to rip Americans off. The Air Force,
too, they have orientation programs, always drilling it in
that Filipinos are really savage, barbaric people. The PC
nrobably knows this and thought we were coming from
that same type of mentality. But he wasnTt scaring us
because the Filipino people had been really good to us
all the time. We were really close, and we had come
away from the Philippines with just a lot of love and
respect and admiration for them.
Once we got to Camp Olivas things settled down. It
looked like they were going to charge us, but by now the
neople in the US put on a lot of pressure through
Congress and the media so that Marcos decided that if
they charged us, it could be an international incident. He
is really dependent on the American people to think that
heTs a democratic type because he needs American
support.
GENOCIDAL WAR
BULKHEAD: WHY DO YOU THINK MARTIAL LAW
WAS DECLARED?
GENE: I think first you should understand the United
StatesT interests in the Philippines. From 1898 to 1902
there was a Filipino-American war during which the US
invaded and conquered and colonized the Filipino peo-
ple. The US sent over 126,000 troops, spent $600
million. It was really a genocidal war on the scale of
Vietnam in that they killed over 600,000 Filipino people
in order to grab control of the Philippines. Now the
Filipino people didnTt want to be an American colony.
They had just ended a war kicking out Spain, which for
over 300 years had ruled the Philippines. Now the
United States was coming in, US industry and the
military to take raw materials and to invest in the
Philippines and to dump the surplus products from
American industry into the Philippines.
From that time until now, through a lot of different
means, the US has gained considerable economic, mili-
tary, cultural, and political control of the Philippines.
US investment now totals almost $3 billion. This money
isnTt building up the economy. Between 1956 and 1965,
108 large US corporations sent back more than $380
million in profits to the US " six times the total new
investment for the same period. We have large military
bases there. We completely control the Marcos govern-
ment because our money controls their economy. And
in a lot of ways, of course, the Filipino people, just like
the Vietnamese people or the people of Latin America,
are realizing that the reason theyTre not an industrialized
country, the reason they arenTt able to become more
wealthy and have to stay in such conditions of poverty is
because the US has control over the economy. The
Filipino people canTt develop their own industry, they
canTt raise the levels of agricultural output. They donTt
really have the self-determination to decide what the
countryTs going to do.
After martial law to show that he is really a puppet of
the US, Marcos overturned a Supreme Court ruling
which said US citizens or corporations cannot buy or
own agricultural lands in the Philippines after the Parity
Laws expire in 1974. The so-called Parity Amendments
gave the US the right to completely invest in and exploit
the land and natural resources and labor of the Filipino
people. And it also said the Filipino people could do the
same in the US, which is crazy since the Filipinos are so
poor. So what Marcos immediately did was to assure all
American investors and landowners that they wonTt have
to sell anything and that they could continue investing
in the Philippines.
According to the constitution which was written by
Americans, Marcos canTt run for president again when
his term runs out in 1973. He didnTt want to give up any
of his power, so he convened this constitutional conven-
tion. It had a certain nationalistic ring to it because the
people were supposedly going to get a chance to write
their own constitution. In fact, Marcos planned to have
the government changed from a so-called republican
form to a so-called parliamentary form. That way he
would have been able to stay in power as prime minister,
since there would not be any restrictions on the length
of time he could stay in office.
Marcos, however, was having his problems. Conven-
tion delegates tried to pass a oban Marcos� provision to
the constitution which would have prevented Marcos
from becoming prime minister. That was barely defeated
and only because Marcos bought off the votes he needed
to defeat it.
The constitution is pretty much drawn up, but it
would have to be approved by 60% of the people and
the people really haté Marcos. But it.will pass because
Marcos controls the election machinery. Then he can
have parliamentary elections which would also be rigged
and heTd become Prime Minister. But he doesnTt even
have to have these elections, since the constitution has a
provision now that the incumbent president head the
ointerim� government until 1976.
THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION
For especially the last four years, a large movement
has grown for an independent Philippines, against the
Marcos government which is known throughout the
world to be corrupt, and against the influence of US
military bases and US economic control. ItTs a large
revolutionary movement for what they call ~national
democracyTT, meaning first of all that they want all
foreign interests " American, Japanese, anybody " out
of there. They want to be able to control their own
country, to industrialize and provide jobs for their
people and not have all their wealth go to other
countries. And secondly, by democracy they mean that
the Philippines is a feudal system. You have a few
landlords owning most of the land. Peasants have to
work that land and pay sometimes 50, 60 and 75
percent of their yearly harvest to landlords, which keeps
really primitive methods of agriculture " it prevents
them from expanding agriculture to meet the food needs
of the people. So they want to take the land from the
landlords and give it to the people. This is what they
mean by national democracy.
So three things led to martial law. One, to assure the
US that they should support him because heTs going to
support their investments. Two, to keep his own power
after 1973. And three, he hoped in some way to be able
to stifle the national democratic movement.
Show came through Clark and Subic. These were shows
for Gls that allowed us to get in contact with a lot of
Gls to begin a mass organization of Gls at Clark against
the war. We started a couple of GI newspapers - the first
one at Clark called ~Cry Out.� Then in about January,
1972, we set up a project at Subic, and the Gls there also
began a paper, oSeasick.� In May or so of 1972 Gls from
the Seventh Fleet, Subic, San Miguel Naval Communica-
tions Station, and Clark met and drafted the progranr for
othe GI movement in the Philippines. There were six
points. Generally it was an anti-imperialist program
against the economic, military, and cultural domination
by the US over the Philippines and also over other
countries.
Another major part of our program was to fight for
full democratic rights for the people serving in the U S
Armed Forces. Then we thought that we should fight to
make the military serve the interests of the American
people and not just the interests of the big monopoly
corporations and the corrupt politicians. And we
pledged ourselves to educate ourselves to struggle against
racism and discrimination against women. And we
demanded an end to the suppression of groups and
individuals who were struggling for the creation of a
more just and democratic society And we said that the
GI movement is part of the movement of the American
people and we pledged to unite with and support all the
peoples of the world who share our common goals. So
those were as of May the general goals of the Gl
movement.
The program reflected 3 or 4 months of encounter with
the military, with Gls trying to assert their democratic
rights and being put down by the military. Through our
educational programs, people began to realize that the
war in Vietnam was not just an accident, but that the US
military was doing the same thing, or could in the near
future be doing the same thing in the Philippines as it is
doing now in Vietnam.
People began to work with Filipino activists, to have
some contact with the Filipino reality, to understand the
struggle of the Filipino people against US imperialism.
ItTs very easy to do educational work about what
imperialism means in the Philippines because especially
in the base towns conditions are so blatant. You see
oThere is no way things will get better. If the Communists come here,
we will go back with them to the hills. If they gave me a gun, I would
kill the haunderos [big landlords]/.�T
A Filipino sugar cane-cutter to New York Times reporter Philip Shabecoff in March 1970
BULKHEAD: DO YOU THINK THE MOVEMENT IS
AT THE POINT WHERE THERE WILL BE A NATION-
AL DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION IN THE NEAR FU-
TURE?
GENE: ItTs hard to say. ItTs impossible to lay out a
timetable for the movement there, but for sure | can tell
you that if Marcos didnTt have US support heTd be out of
there in a day. But because there is US support in a lot
of different ways, itTs just like the Vietnamese move-
ment. We donTt know how long that struggle for com-
plete independence is going to take. But still they are
strong. They have a New PeopleTs Army (NPA) which is
like the National Liberation Front (~Viet CongT) in
Vietnam which has worked with the peasants to kick out
the landlords and kick out the government forces. The
NPA has distributed land to the peasants and in certain
base areas is raising the living standards of the people. At
the same time, they have to fight the Philippine Armed
Forces. In those areas US planes, piloted by Filipinos,
but taking off from Clark AFB, are dropping napalm.
Early in July of this year in the largest base area,
Isabella, there were 50 American advisors helping on
military operations again trying to put down the pea-
sants and crush the New PeopleTs Army. This is just like
Vietnam back in the 1950s and 60s. The US, through
JUSMAG (Joint US Military Advisory Group) and
through US AID (Agency for International Develop-
ment) programs, controls and directs all the Philippine
Armed Forces and is really instrumental in all the
different strategies and tactics they use to fight the
Filipino people whoTre fighting for their national libera-
tion.
So thereTs really a strong movement. They do have
base areas. They have complete, massive support, the
sympathies of the people, and Marcos is really hated.
GI MOVEMENT ORGANIZES
BULKHEAD: COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
GENERALLY ABOUT WHAT THE GI MOVEMENT
WAS? WHAT WAS IT DOING?
DALE: Well, the Gl movement was a movement against
the war in Vietnam and also against the presence of US
bases in the Philippines and in Asia in general. It began
in an organized way in the Fall of 1971 when the Pacific
Counseling Service and the National Lawyers Guild
established a GI project at Clark Air Force Base. Shortly
after that the Barbara Dane Show and the FTA
little beggar kids on the streets. There are 10,000 prosti-
tutes in one base town. And all of itTs caused by poverty
in the countryside, the fact that US imperialism main-
tains total economic domination over the country " it
doesnTt allow the development of the industries needed
there. Gls began to draw analogies from that to whatTs
happening in Vietnam, to what was happening in Latin
America, and other parts of the world.
SERVING THE PEOPLE
BULKHEAD: SO ONE OF THE UNIQUE FEATURES
OF THE Gl MOVEMENT THERE WAS THE RELA-
TIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GI MOVEMENT AND THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC STRUGGLE. COULD
YOU TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THIS?
Filipino activists were always really anxious and enthusi-
astic to talk to Americans and to learn the problems of
Gls and to explain the problems of the Filipino people.
Probably one of the most concrete experiences was
during the last few months when there were really heavy
floods probably the worst in the history of the Phil-
ippines. A lot of people were really hurt by them, forced
out of their homes. Food wasnTt getting through from
Manila to a lot of the provinces. People couldnTt go to
work. The floods destroyed their crops. Homes were
flooded out. Mud was all over. It was really a mess. The
government hadnTt done anything to help. The few
(contTd next page)
a » � ae gi i a
fe aah 4 hn St es
Pao
August 1971 " Clark AFB after 10,000 residents of Angeles City
demonstrate.
things they had done were almost ridiculous, purely
propaganda attempts to show the people that they were
helping. The US Navy cooked what they called
nutri-buns. With these nutri-buns, they were going to
solve, | guess, the health problems of the people and
drop them on different areas and people would eat
them. Inside of them they put slips of paper saying
oCompliments of Imelda Marcos� because at one time
Marcos wanted Imelda to run for President in place of
him kind of like George Wallace and his wife.*
IMELDA MARCOS NUTRI-BUNS
So what the US did is the military would drop the
Imelda Marcos nutri-buns from the air. They wouldnTt
even investigate to see what people needed, or what the
problems were, they just dropped them. And sometimes
they dropped big boxes of them right on top of houses, |
and they would go through the houses. A couple of
times they dropped them on top of people in the fields.
The way they did it just showed that there was no real
care being taken for the people and that it was a political
thing so that Marcos would make front page headlines
with pictures showing how the American military,
despite what the GI movement and the Filipinos were
saying, was for the Filipino people.
No real help was given at all, as far as medical Care, as
far as really getting food to the people, as far as getting
engineering brigades together to help dig out the homes
of the people, to dig out the roads, to build bridges. The
~only place they built bridges was on the San Miguel
road, the road between the Naval Communications
Station and Subic where a bridge had gone out which
meant that ground transportation between the two bases
was cut off. And of course, big front page pictures of
that one too.
While the Navy was dropping nutri-buns, thousands
of youth activists from universities, from all the bro-
vinces, doctors and nurses stopped going to school and
formed what they called ~Serve the People� brigades.
They each had different names. There were thousands of
young people collecting clothes and instruments and
things -and going all throughout Luzon to take care of
people's different needs. In Olongapo we worked with
the KM (Patriotic Youth), other youth organizations at
the schools, and the Enlisted Men for Justice which was
an organization of sailors and marines at Subic. We got
together and collected money. WeTd stand in front of the
gates and, together with Gls, weTd collect a lot of
money. Gls gave a lot of money to buy food and other
people helped to collect food and clothing. _
At one time we had what we called Engineering
Brigades. We went into the barrio of Santa Rita where
the mud had really risen to high levels so that cars
couldnTt go through and people couldnTt get out of their
houses. A lot of us just working with shovels would dig
out the mud and.make new roads and dig out houses.
With one machine the Navy could have done all the
work in maybe a half hour. But they really didnTt care.
It was up to the initiative and the spirit of the people to
get together and do these things. And that was one way
where we concretely worked with the Filipino people.
All newspapers and leaflets we'd put out, we'd always
pass them out to Filipino peopleT as well as Americans
and discuss with them what we were doing. And at
demonstrations and rallies the Filipino people would see
Americans and Filipinos together. We were showing that
the American Gls werenTt the enemies of the Filipino
people but it was the American iiperialists and the
American military that were controlling the country.
And so weTd walk around the streets, people active in
the GI movement, wearing our T-shirts, our buttons, or
even not wearing anything like that and people would
know us and were really friendly. You know, oMakibaka
Huwag Matakot!�T which means oFight Back, DonTt Be
Afraid!� There was really a good feeling among every-
body. You could say we really had a lot of support in
the community there because they understood what we
were doing and what our relationship to them was.
BULKHEAD: DO YOU THINK-THAT MARTIAL LAW
WILL STOP EITHER THE NATIONAL LIBERATION
MOVEMENT OR THE GI MOVEMENT?
GENE: Well, as far as the national democratic movement
that got stronger. Martial law was declared and there was
no doubt that Marcos was a fascist dictator. Many
people began to join the movement in general and
especially the New PeopleTs Army. They saw they had
no choice. If they let it go along too long then pretty
soon they would have American troops in there and then
theyTd have a complete fascist dictator like Thieu. They
were all going to have to commit themselves to fight in
the struggle. The movement got bigger if anything. It
never got weaker. The only thing, of course, ~hat will
hold the movement down more than temporarily is a
large dose of US military aggression. Once again it will
be a protacted war like the Vietnamese war. If the US
doesnTt go in there, which they will if it gets that bad,
the movementTs just going to keep getting stronger.
*In mid-December, Mrs. Marcos was stabbled and severely
~younded by an assassin at a public ceremony in Manila. Marcos
claims that there have been seven attempts on his life this year.
January 1970 " When the US government forced Marcos to raise
gasoline prices, the thousands of poor people who made their
living driving tiny buses and taxis called Jeepneys were put ina
bind. They couldnTt earn a living if they had to pay even higher
prices for gas, and they couldnTt earn a living if they didnTt drive
Gls AND MARTIAL LAW
BULKHEAD: AS FAR AS THE GI MOVEMENT?
DALE: In terms of the GI movement, itTs going to be
impossible to do the kind of open mass work which was
done there before martial law was declared in which you
had an open project with a newspaper, open propaganda,
and you had lawyers there to defend the GlsT democratic
rights. We are trying to get some lawyers back into the
country to defend Gls at courts-martial. But itTs very
likely that weTre not going to be able to get the kind of
project that was there before back again. ~What that
means is that the GI movement will probably be more of
spontaneous thing, not as formally organized as it was
before. It will be the same conditions which prevail for
Gls who are stationed in Korea, South Vietnam, or
Thailand or some of the other places in Southeast Asia
which are under martial law under a US-puppet dictator-
ship. What that means is that thereTs a lot of anti-mili-
tary sentiment a lot of anti-war sentiment and anti-im-
perialist consciousness on the part of Gls. ThereTs spon-
taneous actions, sabotage in some cases, spontaneous
anger that Gls feel against the military or the war. But
itTs very difficult for them to hold meetings or put out
any written propaganda at all. They have to be very
informal about their level of Organization. But the
conditions in the Philippines, especially at Subic, are
* such that just to declare martial law and to kick all the
civilian activists and lawyers out is not going to remove
* the reason why there was a GI movement in the first
place.
BULKHEAD: FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE WORKING
THERE DO YOU HAVE PARTICULAR SUGGES-
TIONS ABOUT WAYS GUYS CAN WORK POLITI-
CALLY UNDER MARTIAL LAW?
GENE: Instead of everyone meeting at big meetings, we
were having barracks meetings or workplace meetings.
Instead of people trying to call large meetings and get
leaflets and big base-wide newspapers out like oSeasick,�
get together wherever people are, with their friends or
where they work or live. If they want to put out their
own newsletter, if they can, thatTs really good. One of
~the things is to keep in contact with papers like The
Bulkhead, with SOS, with San Diego PCS. In Yokosuka
thereTs a movement and there is the Liberated Barracks
in Hawaii which is also a Navy port. (See PCS box on
page |8 for addresses.) Keep in contact with those
groups and if they need things to study or read, rely on
these groups.
| think itTs really important for Americans there to
realize what the bases in the Philippines are doing and to
always try to educate the rest of our friends out there
that we shouldnTt be there. Also there are no lawyers out
there, but there are a lot of counseling booklets that
people here on The Bulkhead can tell people about. (See
announcement about oTurn the Regs Around� on page
I8 ) Guys can be defending themselves. Really fighting
back and not letting the military come down on them
anytime they want because there are a lot of legal ways
that you can fight back. If you get a lot of guys
together, you can file Article 138s. ThereTs ways of
putting the brakes on military injustice.
BULKHEAD: YOUTVE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE
US MILITARY IS USING THE RP TO ATTACK THE
a lot of miles every day. So they went out on strike. This is a
photograph of students demonstrating at their university in
support of the popular Jeepney driversT strike. Actions like this
took place all over the Philippines.
PEOPLE OF VIETNAM. COULD YOU TALK SOME
MORE ABOUT WHAT THE US MILITARY IS PLAN-
NING INSIDE THE RP?
DALE: OK, take the Philippine Constabulary, the dom-
estic police force. They get their counterinsurgency
training from US advisors, a lot of officers at Ft. Bragg
in North Carolina. There are US advisors at all levels of
~the PC. ThereTs a clause in the Constitution which has to
do with the fact that the Philippine Armed Forces arenTt
allowed to get any equipment for their military without
approval of JUSMAG, which means that the US has a
veto power over what kind of equipment that Armed
Forces gets. In fact, they get everything from M-16 rifles
to F-5 jets, tanks and armored personnel carriers.
GENE: Two recent developments that are important.
One, the Public Safety Division of USAID, is instituting
through the METROCOM, the Metropolitan Command
of the Philippine Constabulary, a counter-insurgency
anti-riot group. They are now taking on a lot of major
responsibilities. US advisors, some from Saigon who have
done the same kind of work in Vietnam, are coming to
the Philippines. TheyTre doing a lot of small-arms train-
ing. A lot of counter-insurgency, strategic type of pro-
grams are being set up, things like intelligence, comput-
erized intelligence systems throughout the Philippines,
riot training for all the local Filipino Armed Forces.
In March, the Secretary of Defense there came to
Washington and spent ten days presumably in the Penta-
gon. Five days after he came back they announced a new
military program. What theyTre going to try to do in the
Philippines with massive US support is to set up a
mini-military-industrial complex. So that US goods and
US Naval and US hardware will be produced in the
Philippines. It will look like itTs not coming directly
from the US, but that Philippines industry is supplying
its Own guns and its own hardware. But, you know,
completely with the programming and the planning and
the direction and for the most part, the funds of the
United States.
The whole strategy now is: the United States is going
to make it look like itTs purely a Filipino war while itTs
really going to be all US money, all US thinking, all US
direction; itTs going to look like itTs all coming from the
Philippines, and then in the background will be the
United States. They donTt want to have to put more
ground troops in there. They donTt want to have to use
American airplanes with American pilots like they have
in Vietnam now. TheyTre taking off from the end part of
the Vietnamese strategy and beginning it in the Phili
ppines. ThatTs more like it probably.
ASSORTED oGoones®.. Fi
YA ONLY GET 2 SLES OF BREAD STUD,
watvA THINK DIS 15, DA RITZ?
COKE, DOOJY, SMACK, HORT
KREBIOZEN, HASH
SPANMSH Fry ANDO
ALKA-SELTZER /
GONNA ZONK sOoME
LIFERS , LORD HAMA!
ON KP AND GETS
AWAY CLEAN!
+e
oMARICON! T GONNA :
CUT some GRINGOS!*
THE GATES. WITH
RUNCIBLE SPOONS
GENERAL ORAL C. FOuLBUTT (5 NOW FUNCTIONING
PROOUCTIVELY AS A STOPLIGHT IN HAIGET-ASHBURY
2 7 f DING DING !
Gal CRED LIGHT é
T a \]
FREDERICK THE
RHETORIC SAYS:
o(T TAKES A lor
OF MASHED PontTaEs
To Kitt AN _--"
CHAIN OF COMMAND?
When the body was made, all parts wanted to be Boss. The hands said,
oSince I perform all chores and duties for man, I should be Boss.�
The Feet said, oSince I put man in the position to do the chores and
duties of the hands, I should be Boss.� The brain said, oSince I control all
parts and do all the thinking, I should be Boss.� And it went on, the eyes,
the ears, and so on. Finally the Asshole spoke up. All the other parts
thought it was funny, an asshole being Boss.
So the Asshole refused to work. Soon the eyes got quiverish, the
hands got limp, and the feet got weak. All the other parts pleaded with the
brain to give in to the Asshole. And so it was done.
The Asshole just sat back and passed out a lot of shit.
Moral: You donTt have to be a brain to be Boss " just an asshole.
feiffer
ERICANS THE ESCALATION THE AVERAGE OU GIV
IM- IN CRIME AN AMERICAN) IS Senseene 7
IS A JUST UKE AUD HE'S GOING
RESULT OF THE THE CHIL? TO AMOUNT TO /OSS,
OVE MENT WW THe DHETHING.
ERMIS
COUOTRYG PERMISSINEDESS.
COMPAGSIOWATE..
YOU PAMPER HIM THIS COULTRY MORE IMAORT-
AND oou ARE HAS ENOUGH ADT. THAN eae ye -
GOING oTO OW (15 PLATE (MORE Moniew / THIS: 1S
MAKE HIM (0 THE WAY 4 TO SOLVE A () NOT A
SOFT, SPOILED CE THROWING PROBLEM | Lc PERFECT
ANU A VER DOLLARS AT IS T] AVOIV COUNTRY.�
WEAK CHAR- PROBLEMS... A TAX 4
ACTER... IWCREASE... RMN. Nova. 72
On Uh HR
14 Gls MOVE TO CANCEL
WAR GAMES IN GERMANY
FORT RILEY, KANSAS (September) " Operation
Reforger, the brassTs annual war games in Germany,
seems to be off for good. At the beginning of October,
the Senate cut off the money. Last year the brass paid
expenses out of Ist Division funds.
Reforger was originally planned for October 2 "
November 20. Beginning in early summer, units of the
Ist Infantry Division and its support groups at Ft. Riley,
and the 5th Engineers at Ft. Leonard Wood were on
severely increased duty and®field exercises. When it
became obvious the money wasnTt coming, rumor had it
that things would be postponed until January. A whole
new round of training and field exercises was begun.
Gls at Riley responded with a petition to Congress
which stated several reasons for their Opposition: (1)
Reforger doesnTt fulfill its stated purpose and canTt; (2)
Last year several people died during the exercise itself,
and others died in training for it; (3) It disrupts the life
of Germans in the area and creates resentment; (4) It
costs millions of dollars which could be spent better
elsewhere.
Before rumors began that Reforger would be
cancelled, 100 signatures were collected at Ft. Riley.
(CAMP NEWS)
NO MORE OF THIS SHIT!!!
LYONS, MICHIGAN (October) " Workers on the first
shift at ChryslerTs trim plant in Lyons were not allowed
to leave the assembly line to go to the head! This shit
had to stop. They staged a sit-down strike, closed down
the plant, and won their demand for open use of the
toilets. (LIBERATED BARRACKS)
VIETNAM
VETERANS
AGAINST
THE
WAR
Recent Actions
Around the World
THE LAST PATROL
August 18-24 " 1200 vets and supporters in three
separate caravans traveled across the country in military
style to protest the coronation of King Richard in
Miami. The three convoys began respectively in Boston,
Chicago, and San Francisco. People all along the road-
sides of America gave vets the power sign. The vets felt
that most people were showing their desire to end the
war.
The eastern portion of the convoy made a special
stop at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina to talk with members
of the 3d Brigade / 82d Airborne who were to be
deployed to Miami to help police the demonstrators.
When 50 VVAW members with brothers and sisters from
the Ft. Bragg GI project went to the billeting area on
base, about a thousand Gls came out of the 82d
Airborne barracks cheering. Gls assured the vets that
they would never confront Vietnam veterans in a
demonstration. However, they assumed that in a show-
down, only special lifer squads would be sent out. They
had about ten minutes of rapping time before MPs
rushed in and threatened to arrest the vets. The VVAW
members left the base at their own speed and in their
own style, which put the MPs really up tight.
The Last Patrol converged in Miami on August 21,
and camped in at Flamingo Park. The effort the vets
made to come to Miami was negligible in the eyes of the
nation. Richard NixonTs government effectively con-
trolled all media and, with the help of local and state
police, undercover agents and lifer troops, made Miami
into a police state. The convention appeared on tv to be
just one big wholesome American family. The message
known so well by vets, Gls, and the Vietnamese people
was lost to the Ameircan people under a blanket of red,
white and blue.
UNDER THE GUN IN THE SUN BELT
Sept/Oct " Legal persecution of VVAW continues.
Although it is clear that the thousand vets present at the
Republican convention did not disrupt it with oauto-
matic weapons, slingshots and fried marbles�, a Grand
Jury reaffirmed an indictment of six VVAW members
and indicted two more on October 8. The only evidence
against the vets is the testimony of William Lemmer, a
vet who. was offered a psychiatric discharge from the
Army, was a paid FBI informant, and has continued to
display many ' signs of severe mental disability. On
December 19th, the-defense filed a motion for dismissal
because defense lawyer Larry TurnerTs briefcase was
seized and searched without warrant by US marshalls
~ ~. *
gy
+ AL:
Prey
¥
Black GIs march here with German people in November 1970,
demanding freedom for imprisoned Black Panther Bobby Seale.
Although regs say itTs illegal to demonstrate in a foreign country,
brothers marched anyway, stuck together, and to the best of our
knowledge were not charged.
Gls MARCH WITH
GERMAN PEOPLE
EUROPE (October) " Dozens of Gls marched with over
ten thousand Germans October 28 in Frankfurt in a
massive demonstration to support the Vietnamese and to
condemn US imperialism. They ignored the brassT
threats of oup to three years in jail.�� Hundreds more
packed the windos of the o~casernes� (barracks and
Army housing) waving and saluting with V-signs and
clenched fists as the long march wound past.
In Paris, 100,000 young people took to the streets to
protest the Vietnam war. (CAMP NEWS and LNS)
DAP/PEACE SIGN OUTLAWED
KANOEHE MCAS, HAWAII and NORTH CAROLINA
(Fall 1972) " Over 100 black Marines at Kanoehe MCAS
signed a petition demanding cultural and economic
reforms at the base. The petition was ignored. L/Cpl
Edwin Gregory campaigned and organized strongly
against racism at the base. He documented the racism
there, wrote to Nixon, Senators, and Congressmen. His
evidence was ignored; he was shipped to California and
discharged. Brothers at Kanoehe are consistently op-
pressed for black forms of greeting and solidarity ges-
tures. One brother was attacked by a pig officer at the
messhall for these gestures of brotherhood. The officer
got the shit beat out of him, but the brother went to the
brig.
At New River Air Station in North Carolina, a new
order has been put out. Brothers cannot give the power
sign and cannot greet each other as they wish. Also, no
one can give the peace sign. (RAGE and LIBERATED
BARRACKS)
Members of Vietnam Veterans A
gainst the War make up the largest contingent in a Veterans Day
parade in San Francisco. As they pass the lifer-laden reviewing stands, they turn their backs to the
brass and salute the people watching on the sidewalks. By-standers applauded strongly while the brass
boiled.
while Larry was boarding a plane. When the motion is
denied the trial will resume the end of February.
WINTER SOLDIER INVESTIGATION
INTO HEAVY DRUGS
August 3 & 4 " There are probably 300,000 veterans of
the Vietnam era in New York city. And of those, at least
30,000 are heroin addicts. These figures are based on
Defense Dept statistics and a Harris Survey conducted
for the Veterans Administration. On August 3 & 4, the
New York State chapter of VVAW conducted a public
investigation into Vietnam drug addiction at City Uni-
versity of New York, The two days covered testimony
from veterans who had kicked or were still drug addicts.
By the end of the testimony, it was obvious that these
men were not exceptional cases but regular Gls, victims
of what the military does to its soldiers in this war. The
military and the VA have no intention of dealing
seriously with the problem of drug addiction (which
they refuse to admit is even their problem) because they
prefer to blame the problem on the addict himself. What
became clear is that the causes that create addiction in
the military, in the war, and in the society have yet to be
discussed by ~o~professionalsTT and that the addicted vet-
erans are left alone to create their own solutions. VVAW
and others are trying to create those solutions by
exposing the problems to the public thru investigations
like this one and also by initiating programs of their own
all over the country.
VETERANS DAY, SAN FRANCISCO
October 23 " The annual Veterans Day parade, spon-
sored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, honored Viet-
nam era veterans " but not the way the parade lifers
intended. After two hours of Army tanks and guns,
models of the Coral Sea and the Hancock, high school
ROTC drill and marching units, bands and color guards,
after all this came 300 fatigue-clad, medal-laden
figures. This was the largest unit in the parade " and the
most popular. Apathetic crowds who had yawned during
the rest of the parade applauded loudly and cheered
when the silent anti-war vets marched by in formation
behind a black peace flag and the VVAW banner. At the
reviewing stand the vets revised their normal procedure,
turned their backs to the lifer brass and gave the unity
and power sign to the people. As one of the vets put it,
oWe turned our ass to the brass and saluted the people,
and they dug it!�
IWAKUNI/HIROSHIMA CHAPTER
The Ilwakuni MCAS chapter of Vietnam Veterans
Against the War (VVAW) and Beheiren (Japanese Peace
in Vietnam Committee) sponsored a o~peace tour� of the
A-bomb memorial Peace Park in Hiroshima on Sunday,
October 1. The purpose of the o~tourTT was to involve Gls
in anti-war activities, and to show support for the
Vietnamese ~people who are the current victims of US
militarism. Because it is illegal for Gls to participate in
demonstrations while stationed in foreign countries the
event took the form of a o~tour.�T
Twenty-two active duty Marines participated in the
tour along with several American civilians and fifteen
Japanese members of Beheiren. The Gls wore anti-war
buttons and patches, VVAW emblems, and a pin written
in Japanese saying oopposed to war.� The tour was
warmly received by the Japanese citizens of Hiroshima
who observed it, although many expressed surprise that
American Gls were opposed to the war.
Although the lwakuni chapter of VVAW is only a few
weeks old, there has been GI resistance to the war at the
Iwakuni base for almost three years. After the tour
members of VVAW held an open air meeting in Peace
Park.
FRAG CASE
Billy Dean Smith, 24-year-old black Army private
from Watts, California, was acquitted November 14 at
Ft. Ord (California) of the fragging murders of two
white lifers at Bien Hoa, Vietnam, in March 1971. The
acquittal came after Smith had spent 17 months in
solitary confinement while a broad movement of sup-
porters including organizations in the black liberation
movement, GI organizations, Vietnam Veterans Against
the War (VVAW), and many others worked for his
freedom.
SmithTs case was one of the most widely publicized
trials coming out of the Vietnam war where fragging
took a heavy toll among lifers who had reputations for
being gung-ho killers and racists.
During the trial, Smith pointed out, ~~l was accused,
charged, and found guilty and sentenced to death while |
was still in Vietnam ... simply because | didnTt have a
puppet mind and | was a candid, black, outspoken
individual. | had stated time and time again that | realize
that the war in Indochina is unjust and racially moti-
vated and that most of all | strictly hated all who had
high regard for the habitual butchery of the Vietnamese
people.�
During the trial, his lawyer, Luke Mc
ae
Vets testifying at the Trial of the Army in Monterey, near Fort
Ord, California on September 6.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November) " On September 30,
Richard Oakes, a 30-year old Mohawk best known for
his central role in the occupation of Alcatraz Island in
[969 by the Indians of All Tribes, was shot to death.
Oakes, who was unarmed, was shot by the white man-
ager of a YMCA Camp north of San Francisco during an
argument about a horse allegedly stolen by OakesT
cousin. In an act reminiscent of a history of genocidal
attacks on Native Americans, the camp manager was
only charged with manslaughter. He claimed he o~didnTt
know it was wrong to kill an Indian.�
Although the Indian occupiers of Alcatraz were even-
tually removed by federal authorities in 1971, Oakes later
described the 2 year occupation as an important step in
the reawakening of Native Americans. After he left the
island, he wrote, oIt was just beginning... For some, it
was the first time that they had met with the people of
other tribes, the first time they felt a unity with all
Indians. The getting together of all Indians was some-
thing undreamed of since the Ghost Dance of 1889.�
Indians Seize Bureau of Indian Affairs
Sadly, Oakes did not live to see his words become
prophetic six short weeks later when probably the
greatest Indian victory since Custer was rubbed out at
Little Big Horn came down at the Bureau of Indian
Affairs in Washington. On November 2 almost one
thousand Indians led by the American Indian Movement
dismantled the BIA after occupying the building for one
week.
The occupation came at the end of the Trail of
Broken Treaties Caravan when went to Washington
demanding major reforms in the BIA. The Caravan
represented two-thirds of the 300 tribes in the US.
Twenty-one regional BIA offices were occupied simul-
taneously.
After the occupation the Nixon administration. se-
cured a court order warning the Indians that othe
government is going to retake the building:�T The Indians
responded by barricading the building and arming them-
BILLYTS FREE
that justice would be served only if Smith was tried by a
jury of enlisted men. The court denied the motion and
Smith was tried by seven career officers, all of whom
served in Vietnam and two of whom were black.
Worldwide Support
When the trial began a year ago support among black
Gls at Ft. Ord was significant. At one point there was a
large demonstration on base and several buildings were
burned. Many of the leaders were discharged or trans-
ferred and civilian supporters were hassled frequently.
Despite this Billy Dean Smith became widely known
throughout the world through the work of groups like
VVAW.
VVAW built support in the Monterey area by holding
a oTrial of the ArmyTT on September 6. After many
veterans testified indicting the Army for racism and
repression, 300 vets marched to the gates of Ft. Ord. At
a VeteransT Day action in Seattle, Washington, on Octo-
ber 23, 100 veterans and active duty members of both
Ft. Lewis and Seattle VVAW called for SmithTs freedom.
Gls from Ft. Lewis handed out grenade pins. saying,
oThis pin entitles you to one free court-martial for
murder compliments of the brass.� (The prosecution
claimed that a grenade pin found in SmithTs pocket
linked him to the murders.)
The prosecutionTs case was a joke. At least two of
their witnesses changed their stories in favor of Smith on
the witness stand explaining that they were free of the
military and could now tell the truth without fear of
reprisals. Three brothers who received money from the
prosecution to travel to Ft. Ord never showed.
Army Freaks
During the trial the Army freaked out. Only 35
spectators were allowed in the court room which was
specially built for the trial. Spectators had to board a
bus to get to the area where they were searched and
cautioned about their behavior in court. The building
was surrounded by MPs on the ground, snipers on the
roof, and a helicopter hovering overhead.
selves with makeshift weapons.
At this point the Great White Father himself inter-
vened. Another massacre of Native Americans would not
look godd on election eve after all. What was called for
was a little bureaucratic razzle-dazzle: NixonTs advisors
promised to set up a task force to review the IndiansT
demands.
But this was the Trail of Broken Treaties. Every
Indian knew as spokesman Vernon Bellecourt explained,
oOur civilization has been all but destroyed by this
bureaucracy.�T The average life expectancy of an Indian
is still only 42 years; the infant mortality rate is three
times the national average; unemployment stands at over
40 per cent; and the average per capita income is a
pitiful $1500 a year.
Documents Taken Back to Tribal Lands
A week after the occupation the Indians left, des-
troying most of the furnishings and office equipment in
the building. With $66,000 paid to them by the White
House as a bribe to leave the BIA, the Indians withdrew
from Washington under police escort. What the police
did not know was that they were also escorting virtually
all of the BIATs records which the Indians had smuggled
out of the building.
These records are now stashed secretly around the US
and Canada. Prominent Washington columnist Jack
Anderson, who has seen all the documents, reported that
othe documents indict the bureaucrats who have pre-
tended to help the Indians but have often exploited
them.�T The Indians promise to return the documents
after they publicize the BIATs collaboration with politi-
cians and business interests to rip. off the remaining
reservation lands onto which the Indians were herded in
the last century.
The following could be read on the wall of the ruined
BIA: oGentlemen, I do not apologize for the ruin nor
the so-called destruction of this mausoleum. For in
building anew, one must first destroy the old. This is the
beginning of a new era for the North American native
After the verdict Smith discussed the meaning of his
trial at a press conference:
oMost people want to know whether my acquittal
means that | got a fair trial or insist that it is proof
positive that the system works.
May | say that the system of ~military injusticeT is still
riddled with injustice.
If | had been tried in Vietnam or if | had failed to
receive tremendous popular support throughout the
world or if | did not have a brilliant attorney like Luke
McKissack, | would have been railroaded... .
| was chosen for trial because | was an outspoken
critic of the war, and was not afraid to expose the racism
in Vietnam.�
oAs | sat in solitary confinement during this period, |
often thought of the different treatment | was receiving
not even having had a trial, from that of Lt. William
Calley, a white officer who was virtually free after being
convicted of slaughtering hundreds of innocent, un-
armed Vietnamese.�T
olam glad to be free, but | canTt really feel free until
the war in Southeast Asia is over. The blood of nearly 6
million Vietnamese has seeped into the soil of rice fields
which will never grow again, and the gouged-out
trenches of a devastated land run red with the life
substance of a people who would be free had they not
been made scapegoats in this vicious warT game which
would-be fascists choose to play at their expense.
| now wish to dedicate the rest of my life to working
toward guaranteeing that other persons like myself will
not have to be subjected to the injustices | faced both in
the military and in courts throughout the country. |
commit myself to working for the freedom of all
political prisoners everywhere.�
j
-
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aoe
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feos
©
.
,
,
.
a
people. When history recalls, our efforts here, our des-
cendants will stand with pride, knowing their people
were the only ones responsible for the stand taken
against tyranny, injustice and the gross inefficiencies of
this branch ofa corrupt and decadent government.�
UNSAFE
AT ANY
oe accidents on board Navy ships have
claimed the lives of hundreds of sailors. On
aircraft carriers alone over 225 sailors have died
due to fires and explosions since 1966. The
worst disaster occurred on July 29, 1967 when
134 men died in a fire on the USS Forrestal off
the coast of Vietnam. A fire on the USS Oris-
kany in October 1966 left 43 men dead and a
series of fires and explosions on the flight deck
of the USS Enterprise caused the deaths of
nearly 40 sailors.
These accidents were at a time when the war was being
primarily fought on the ground, and the Navy was playing
less of a role. But now the attack on Vietnam is being
spearheaded by the Navy and the Air Force through
massive saturation bombing.
More ships in worse condition have been sent to
Indochina since last Spring than ever before, thereby
increasing the number of serious accidents. We can only
cover some of the accidents which have occurred.
USS Kitty Hawk, USS America, USS Oriskany " A
letter from a crewman on the Hawk to Concerned
Military (an antiwar organization of active duty military
people) in San Diego in early August stated:
o.. We were scheduled to stay out til the 27th but
got extended til the 5th of August because the America
(CVA-66) had a series of serious engine room fires and
had to go to Subic for repairs.... We were forced to
come into Subic for equipment failure also. We had five
main machinery room fires in seven days, oil fires that
could have been, very bad. Right now we have only one
of four engines and three of eight electrical generators "
. all of the rest of them are fucked up in one way or
another. Number 4 driveshaft coming out of Number 4
Main lost some bearings and developed a fore and aft
movement of about two feet causing a seventeen foot
crack in the bulkhead of Number 4 Main. The crack runs
athwartships. We've got a 4T x 4T hole cut in the hanger
deck and a 6T x 6T hole cut in the port side two feet
above the waterline. We're not going anywhere for
awhile.
The Oriskany is in Yokosuka, Japan, for extensive
structural repairs to Number 3 elevator damaged when she
bumped into a supply ship she was taking fuel and
bombs from. So that leaves the Midway and the Saratoga
on the line.�T
But not for long, brother. ...
USS Midway " In October, a plane crashed while
landing after a bombing run. Four men were killed. See
letter on page 3 for details. s.
USS Saratoga " On October 29, while the ship was
berthed in Singapore Harbor, a fire killed three sailors
and injured another twelve. The flash fire that swept
through one of the shipTs machinery rooms was rapidly
contained, with little smoke and water damage. The fire
op
e
SPEED
was sealed off from the rest of the ship, but the smoke
from burning oil mushroomed out into the passageway
leading to the crewTs living quarters. Off-duty seamen
were relaxing in their bunks as the smoke came through
every exit. The sailors who made it crawled out on their
hands and knees, but three didnTt make it. Check the
letter on page 2 for more news on the Saratoga. :
USS Newport News " One of the most serious accidents
occurred on the Newport News. Off the coast of Viet-
nam, 20 sailors were killed and 36 others wounded.
Shortly after midnight on October 1, an explosion
occurred in the barrel of one of the shipTs eight inch
guns, It trapped 16 of the men who were killed inside
the gun turret.
The ship, which is 23 years old and scheduled for the
mothball fleet next year, left the war zone and returned
to Subic for repairs. Sailors from the News said the
explosion was caused by a faulty gun mount and
defective ammunition.
At Subic the ship was anchored far out in the harbor
so that people couldnTt see the damage. Shortly before
repairs were completed a large demonstration was held
on the pier. Sailors from the News and the base were
protesting the shipTs return to Vietnam. They were fed
up with the war and didnTt want any more useless deaths
of friends.
PY IRE BS Ge Seg - Bee
Speaking of accidents ... here a plane can be seen hanging off
the edge of the USS Constellation, limping back from sea trials
in early November.
oAccidents
donTt just happen.
They are caused by
a military machine
that has no interest
in the lives
of the men
who are forced
to work for it.�T
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Just like sailors on the Newport News, Gls on other
ships have organized against unsafe conditions and de-
ployment to Vietnam.
USS Bordelon " In early October, the crew of the
Bordelon and their dependents started a campaign to
keep it from sailing not only because it was going to
Vietnam with a load of white phosphorous shells but
also because the ship is old and anything but sea-worthy.
(The use of white phosphorous was banned at the 1954
Geneva Convention.) Crewmembers compiled a long list
of deficiencies: faulty air-search radar, a poor distillation
unit, an extremely weak hull, and undependable elec-
trical systems and engines. Petitions against these and
other unsafe features were circulated and crew members
attempted to contact press and Congress to prevent the
shipTs departure. An SOS (Stop Our Ship) movement
was started also on board ship. The commanding officer
countered these efforts by declaring ALL information
about the Bordelon otop secret�, thus making it illegal
to expose the problems. Various petty officers also
threatened future harassment if the protest activities
continued.
The ship sailed on October 16. A PeopleTs Blockade
of kayaks and canoes protested the shipTs departure.
Crewmen from the Bordelon and several other Navy
ships in the harbor watched and cheered the demonstra-
tors.
USS Kraus and USS Cone " The G! Office in Charleston
reports that the Cone and the Kraus are really in shitty
shape. The Cone failed its Guantanamo Bay Test Cruise,
also possibly the INSURV BATT and the last two
inspections. Also lots of engineering equipment is faulty.
One of the electrical fuel service pumps for a boiler is
out. A dumping valve that regulates the exhaust valve is
out. Fuel oil pump regulators, shipTs service generator are
down, and the main reduction gear is fucked up. Any-
thing over 1/3 back speed is likely to result in a power
loss and the ship canTt steam at full speed more than an
hour or so. Safety equipment is worse " ladders donTt
have supports or adequate treads, bilges have pools of
black oil in them, damage control personnel are under-
trained, not enough life jackets and battle lanterns for
the crew, no oven in the galley, insufficient water
distillation for- showers, constant lack of soap in heads,
etc. The ship is undermanned, and the engine room
personnel report that any emergency could-put the
whole ship out of commission,
The Kraus is supposedly in worse condition. The GI
Office reports: ~Sabotage on both occurs daily. Yester-
day the Cone, on its way to the Weapons Station, nearly
lost its main generator ~cause someone turned off the
water valves which cool the generatorTs oil. There are TV
cameras on both ships, watching vital machinery, and
lately theyTve put lifers in many engineering spaces to
watch.�
Accidents donTt just happen. They are caused by a
SARE SIlll D
S | ~- =a x& om
On November 6, 1971, a large antiwar march in San Francisco was led by active duty Gls and Vietnam vets. Right behind the people
holding up the banner in front is a group from the carrier Coral Sea. Brothers who marched with them from the USS Hancock carried
a banner which read, oFor Sale: USS Hancock, cheap, S.0.S.�
military machine that has no interest in the lives of the
men who are forced to work for it. s)
ALLISON
| PR Allison is in jail in Norfolk,Virginia. Earlier
this year in a conversation with his father, a California
highway patrolman, Jeff said he was thinking about
staying in for 20 years. After all, the pay, the bennies,
the security " you know the rest. But on the night of
July 7th, five fires broke out on JeffTs ship, the USS
Forrestal, causing $7 million worth of damage.
On July 13th he was grabbed by acouple of NIS agents,
and thrown in the brig. When he asked what the hell was
going on, he was told he was being jailed ~~for his own
protection� because there were orumors� on the ship that
he was on watch that night in the vicinity of the biggest
fire. He asked NIS if they were going to bring him to trial
and if he needed a lawyer, and they answered no " he was
just in the brig for his own protection. But, they
continued, as long as they were all together, would he care
to sign a full confession?
For the next four days, Jeff was badgered and
harassed unmercifully as NIS tried to break him. The
light outside his cell was never turned off; he was not
issued soap or toothpaste; he was not allowed out of his
cell to exercise or eat with other prisoners. About every
hour and a half the brig guards banged on the metal bars
of his cell, asked him why he burned down the ship, told
him he was going to hang for it, and threw flaming packs
of matches in through the bars.
On the 17th, after not sleeping for four days, an NIS
agent claimed that Allison said to him, oI did it. | lit the
curtains on fire with my cigarette lighter and it scared
the hell out of me.� The agent then asked him (for the
first time) if he wahted a lawyer. Jeff said yes, and
there was a JAG officer there in 15 minutes.
Jeff vs. Military oJustice�
Jeff was charged with 25 specifications of arson,
sabotage, and a few hastily put together drug charges. He
faced 350 years in jail if convicted. His trial lasted 8 days
" the longest military trial in NorfolkTs history, and the
courthouse was packed every day with sympathetic Gls
and civilians from the surrounding area.
The prosecutionTs evidence was: 1). jeff had.a.key. to
the area where the fire started; 2) he was On watch in the
vicinity of the biggest fire at the time it started; and 3)
the ~~confession.�� The defense showed at the trial that
there were at least two other men on the ship who had
been issued keys in question, that it was well known that
the doors could be forced open with an ID card anyway,
and that other men had the opportunity to be on the
premises. So it all boiled down to the ~~confession.�T
And in spite of JeffTs persistent denial of that confes-
sion: in spite of all JeffTs written statements claiming his
innocence: in spite of the fact that no one was charged
with starting the four other fires on the ship: in spite of
the NavyTs Chief Fire Inspector Lawrence DuberkoughTs
testimony that the curtains and the carpeting in the
AdmiralTs quarters where the fire started violated the
spirit of Navy fire regulations; in spite of the lack of
physical evidence (fingerprints, direct witnesses, etc.); in
spite of all that, on December 7th Jeff was convicted
and sentenced to five years and a BCD.* All on the
oword� of an NIS agent. ThatTs all it takes in todayTs
Navy.
AllisonTs organized defense committee working in his
behalf, and the publicity and services of a civilian lawyer
probably made the difference between 350 years and 5.
* Washington columnist Jack Anderson has recently revealed the
fact that Navy brass has been using funds provided by Congress
for combat necessities to install fancy, flammable furnishings in
their private quarters.
CHENOWETH
Pat Chenoweth is a sailor who used to be a crewman
in the engine room of the USS Ranger. Since August 2,
he has been in the brig at Treasure Island, California,
.longer than anyone else there except the lifers who run
the place.
Beginning in late May, as the RangerTs Vietnam
departure date approached, acts of sabotage began to
occur on the Ranger with increasing frequency. Fire
hoses were cut, the shipTs drinking water was contami-
nated, once with salt water and once with airplane fuel,
small fires were started, oil pressure gauges and oil
pumps were damaged, the generators were damaged, and
several times bomb threats and rumors of mass desertion
spread throughout the ship. The Navy itself has con-
firmed twelve incidents since May, and at least 16 others
have been revealed by crew members.
Just days before the ship was supposed to leave
Alameda, a paint scraper and two 12-inch bolts were
inserted. into the number four main reduction gears.
These three small pieces of metal destroyed the entire
nechanism and forced the Navy (and its partner in
bine: General Electric) to cut through five decks to
PRISONERS OF WAR
17
Jeffrey Allison and Pat Chenoweth are two
Navy first termers who have one thing in common:
they are both behind bars in Navy brigs, taking
the rap for the sabotage thatTs spreading through
US ships all over the world.
Crewmembers from PeopleTs Blockade last summer engaged in battle with a munitions ship going from Bangor 3
Naval Resupply Depot to Southeast Asia. The group has staged several actions like this one.
remove, repair, and replace the gear " all of which cost
$800,000 and kept the ship in sunny California an extra
3% months.
A few days later Pat was charged with willful destruc-
tion of government property and sabotage in time of war
(war? isnTt peace at hand), a charge that the government
hasnTt used since World War II. He could be sent to jail
for 35 years.
The evidence against him consists of testimony from
three witnesses who claim they overheard Chenoweth
confess to friends of his. However, a defense investiga-
tion showed over 20 men who overheard similar admis-
sions all over the ship and who admit to having made
similar statements themselves. And, as with Allison,
there is no direct physical evidence linking him to the
deed.
PatTs trial has been in the pretrial motions stage since
October and probably will go on for several weeks. The
Navy has been acting in the time-honored tradition of
the American military. Witnesses have been threatened,
information concealed from the court, and the press lied
to. Despite PatTs clean record, they have refused to let
him out of pre-trial confinement.
Trial Move?
And now, they have revealed that they want to move
the trial back to the Ranger. They say itTs too compli-
cated and expensive to fly all the witnesses back to
California. If the judge wonTt grant that, the Navy wants
to stage the trial in Guam, Japan, Danang, Saigon, or the
Philippines (currently under martial law; a pleasant
atmosphere for a sabotage trial).
lf granted, this would be the first time in history that
a military triat has been moved from the U.S. to a
foreign country. By law, this would prevent the defense
from subpoenaing civilian witnesses necessary to testify
against the ~~in time of war� charge and would prevent
the case from developing into a political issue here in the
States where the press coverage has been excellent and
where Vietnam Veterans Against the War and other
anti-war groups have been packing the courtroom.
ChenowethTs defense committee, like jeffrey
AllisonTs has already been successful in planting this case
in the publicTs mind. But even if he is acquitted and
AllisonTs conviction overturned on appeal, the two men
will have suffered incredibly in the process. In neither
case did they have any evidence, and if it werenTt for the
support of brothers and sisters in and out of uniform
they would have been hustled away under lock and key
for the rest of their lives in a matter of days. (see letter
on page 2 for more on Pat Chenoweth) 0
MMM KKK KKK KK KK KH
The articles on this page explain a few ways
to fight back against the insane military
machine. But there are others. Did you
know that you can file a complaint against
your commanding officer if he fucks with
you, like if he gives you extra duty illegally
or calls you nasty names? Did you know
that you can file charges against lifers who
steal your personal possessions (posters,
underground newspapers, etc.)? Learn all
about it in:
oTURNING THE
REGS AROUNDT
A 200 page GI counseling manual distri-
buted by The Bulkhead for $2.00, if you
have it.
KM KKM KKK KKK KKK KKK KKKEE
18
CMM MM KKK KEKE KH?
FIGHT URINALYSIS
BOSTON, MASS. (Fall, 1972) " As many servicepeople
M stationed both in the US and abroad know, random
~1 urine testing is being used by the military to detect
odrug users.� The military says that this testing is legal
Ss
FIGHT NON-JUDICIAL
PUNISHMENT
FT. HOOD, TEXAS (Fall, 1972) " Every year, several
hundred thousand Article 5s and summary courts-mar-
tial are held, stripping Gls of rank, pay, privileges and
freedom of movement. Even more importantly, these
two types of non-judicial punishment are clubs the brass
holds over the head of every man and woman in
uniform. All of you know that a minor offense can force
you to accept trial-by-officer without any rights to speak
of, or to risk confinement and severe punishment by
asking for a special court-martial.
The military depends on Article Ss and summaries as
a way to hand out ojustice� without having to provide
lawyers, respect legal rights, or provide a forum where a
GI can present his case. But there is a fight going on
against non-judicial punishment: a campaign started by
Gls at Ford Hood that is rapidly spreading to other
bases.
Below is a copy of the Ft. Hood United Front
anti-Article IS petition. At Ft. Eustis/Langley Field, the
Gls changed the petition to demand that: |) The pro-
posed Article 15 boards should include EMs of ranks E-I
to E-7 only, since E-8s and E-9s have allowed themselves
to become willing parts of the command structure; and
2) that court-martial boards should include elected EMs.
Court-martial boards presently allow 1/3 EMs, but these
EMs are selected by the brass--and show it by their
performance in the majority of cases.
rank and name
military address/unit
branch of service
(50) (100)
welcome, folks).
be getting this paper:
THE BULKHEAD
military number
~AARON NO 1 A ER AICO EEE LCE EES NE TAA EET EE LEP ELIS,
release date
{ ] 1! ama captive of the US Armed Forces and want to get this free.
{ ] | will distribute Bulkheads on base. Send me (5) (10) (25)
f ] I'm a civilian, who's enclosing $5 for 12 issues (donations are
HereTs the name and address of a friend in the service who ought to
98 Chenery Street San Francisco, California 94131
PETITION TO THE CONGRESS
OF THE UNITED STATES:
RE: ARTICLE I5, UCMJ
We, the undersigned Gls of (insert your base) demand
that Congress completely change Article 15, UCM},
taking the power to impose punishment out of the hands
of Commanding Officers and putting it into the hands of
enlisted people.
We propose that a board be established composed of
three EM, grades E-I through E-9, who would be elected
every 90 days in company-wide elections. That board
would decide on ALL cases that are now decided by
commanding officers. The board would hear both sides
of a case, allowing the accused to defend himself before
making its decision.
Article 1S is now used to intimidate and harass Gls. It
violates the Constitution of the United States by deny-
ing Gls due process of law. It is used in a racist way
against Third World Gls. It gives company commanders
absolute power to punish EMs under their command
who they donTt like.
A democratically-elected board would change the pre-
sent system of intimidation and harassment to one of
fairness and justice.
NAME AND RANK ADDRESS
ee eee
The campaign against Article 15s has spread to Ft.
Lewis, Washington, Ft. Belvoir, Maryland, and Ft.
Leonard Wood, Missouri. (CAMP NEWS)
LEGAL
AID
can be contacted at:
Committee,
Germany
ThereTs also sympathetic radical The people at Pacific Counseling
lawyers around who dig on your Service know military law. They
fight and will help you out. They can let you know what your rights
SAN FRANCISCO: Bay Area Military Law have to fight to get them. They're
Panel, 558 Capp Street, San Francisco, phone: |gcated in the States and in Asia.
[415] 285-5066 @ JAPAN: P.O. Box 49,
lwakuni-shi, Yamaguchi-ken, phone 269-5082
@ OKINAWA: Box 133, Koza, 358 Kin, Kin� san FRANCISCO: 1232 Market Street, room
69 Heidelberg, Marzgasse
because drug use is a omedical� problem and the testing
then falls into the same areas as vaccination, confine-
ment in a hospital for illness, etc. It is interesting that
for purposes of discharge and disability payments, drug
use is specifically EXEMPTED from being a omedical�
problem, so that Gls who become addicts in Nam cannot
get disability payments. The legality of urinalysis has not
yet been tested, but there is a marine in California
awaiting court-martial for refusing the test, who will
probably be the first legal challenge to the program.
The military is testing, supposedly, all servicepeople
and all dependents living in on-base housing overseas.
People stationed in ohigh-risk� areas like Asia are being
tested several times a year, but all servicepeople are
supposed to be tested once a year.
That is, ALMOST all servicepeople. Anyone over the
age of 29 is exempted on the grounds that the early
testing showed ovirtually no drug use in the 29-and-over
age group.� Urinalysis does not detect alcoholism.
Gls are fighting random urinalysis, though. In Boston,
the GI newspaper UNDERTOW printed a self-defense
and legal rights form for Gls who are being tested. The
main points that UNDERTOW suggests for Gls who
want to resist testing are:
1) Refusal (though at present this is a violation of the
UCM] and Gls should get legal help before refusing).
2) Insist on receiving IN WRITING a direct specific
charge to you personally by the officer in charge before
submitting to the test. Tell them you feel the test
violates your rights against illegal search and_ seizure,
equal protection under the law (no one over 29 has to
take it), and that you may want to press charges.
3) Demand to be read Article 31 rights before testing.
4) Request the commanding officer to excuse you
because you feel the program is illegal. oTry to get them
to let you not piss until the chit is returned.�
5) Demand a copy of the authorization for testing
before submitting.
6) Protest the test in writing. Send copies of the
protest to a Congressman and to the GI organization at
your base or The Bulkhead.
7) Write up exactly what took place for possible legal
action. (CAMP NEWS)
PACIFIC
COUNSELING
SERVICE
are, and back you up when you
7. Jefferson St., [415] 836-1039 @ TILLICUM,
WASHINGTON: Box 411, Tillicum 98492 @
SAN DIEGO: 827 Fifth Street, [714]
239-2119
OKINAWA: Box 133, Koza & 358 Kin, Kin-
Son near Camp Hansen ® IWAKUNI,
JAPAN: P.O. Box 49, Ilwakuni-shi, Y amagu-
chi-ken @ MISAWA, JAPAN: The Owl, 2-4-9
Chuo Cho, Misawa-chi, Aomori-ken @® FUSSA,
JAPAN: First Amendment, Yokota AFB,
P-12, 2099, 3-5, 1 Chome/Mushashe-no-dai @
YOKOSUKA, JAPAN: Apt. 3-B, Yamaguchi
Bidg., 1-1 Hinode Chuo, Yokosuka-shi, phone
269-5082
USS Tripoli
October 21, 1972
Dear Bulkhead,
Received your letter in the post and was really happy
to hear that your movement is still together.
You asked for info concerning the USS Tripoli. ItTs
an easy task to relate what has been going on since our
return to Amerika on August 17.
To begin the Tripoli is on an exercise at the present
time (10 October-27 October) off the coast of
Monterey, California. We are training Marines for amphi-
bious landings, which includes putting them ashore on
the coast. The reports that ITve heard are that the first
day brought demonstrators to the area protesting the
mock landing, which | was really glad to hear. They
(Marines) have since raped hundreds of beautiful acres of
land with their tanks, half-tracks, jeeps, etc. ITve seen
pictures and reports of trees being run over and torn
down ojust for funTTs This kind of sadistic treatment of
our natural resources makes me somewhat skeptical of
our intentions and ends. This whole situation I hope
doesnTt go unnoticed to the people of the Monterey
area.
Another interesting point that comes to mind aboard
the USS Trip is the living conditions put upon the men.
Two days ago we had a medical team inspect the boat
which consisted of qualified doctors and nurses. The
results were filthy, dirty, unlivable. | would safely say
there are in the tens of thousands of roaches on board
everywhere. The food is tracked with evidence of their
presence. We are expecting another such inspection upon
our arrival in San Diego on the 27th. At this point Capt.
Gammon has said if the boat is not satisfactory he will
leave the boat moored out in the harbor until it. meets
his terms. His neck is on the table if the inspectors on
the pier aren't impressed. He also stated he would use his
private boat and leave the ship, leaving the crew to be
held responsible for the outcome. To completely clean a
ship of this size and.in such condition would take. many
months, if not years.
The movement on board consists of a small band of
heads. Let me not forget our legal advisor who has come
to our aid many times during the course of events that
preceeded this writing.
If you ever get to San Deigo please stop and see me. |
would love to rap with you people. | will be getting out
soon, January 1973, but feel free to stop in for some
words and a number anytime.
Keep the good work up. ITve spread your papers all
over the Tripoli and people are really digging it. 1m
trying to find someone out of boot camp who can
continue the movement aboard the Tripoli after Janu-
ary, so you'll be hearing from him soon.
Camp Lejeune, NC
October, 1972
Dear Bulkhead,
ITve been in this Green suck for 2 years and canTt
figure out why ITve hacked it for that long. ITve been for
the Gl movement but haven't participated in it until
recently because of financial difficulties. Just got busted
last week for calling some dumb-ass officer a pig thoT.
| think why more guys in the Marines havenTt really
taken part in the movement is that you canTt do much
when you're in the brig, and if you constantly get on the
lifersT asses they discharge you on less than honorable or
general conditions.
But the few of us are trying and hope that we come
through somehow.
Take it easy brothers,
Paul
¢é¢
19
USS Midway
August 25, 1972
To whom this may concern,
/ would like to subscribe to your fantastic paper. |
used to get it but the XO condemned them and said they
were off limits. But now | read a thing called Exercise
Your Rights which came off the Enterprise which says
that they canTt take our papers and fuck us over like
they have been. So like | would like to get a subscription
for your far out paper! !
Sincerely yours,
ie
Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) members marching in San Francisco on October 14, 1972. They led a group of
2,000 people through rainy city streets on a five mile long march route.
Guam
September 13, 1972
Dear Bulkhead,
Hi! 1 am real sorry this answer to your /etter is so late
but | just got your letter! ThatTs right. You mailed it
March 8, and | just got it. The post office said it was
lost. | bet. If a head hadnTt started working there | never
would have gotten it. Well enough for that!
/ will try to get you up to date on whatTs going on
here. | hope you have a lot of time to read!!!
Diego Garcia .(sucks). We are SeeBees and they're
fucked up twice as bad as the fleet.
O.K., the rock (Diego Garcia) is an island in the
middle of the Indian Ocean. About 2,000 miles from the
nearest civilization. It is hell on earth.
When we got there, there was nothing except palm
trees, birds, snakes, and all kinds of bugs. We were to
build a communications station and a rutiway. We also
had to build our huts, showers, chowhall, etc., etc.
Where did that leave us? Yep, in tents. 7 degrees off the
equator and we live in.tents! We ate out of a tent also.
Flies all over the food (not the human type). But we
were Bees, we should be able to take it. Well we did! The
only type shower we had (when it worked) was the
outside type. But who cared. There werenTt any women
around anyway. Just 900 horny Bees and a few jack-
asses. (I didnTt say that but it wouldnTt surprise me!)
We had one death while we were there. All the heads
buried morale. Which the C.O. said was always in real
_.. Just 900 horny Bees and a few jackasses . . .
good shape. If the facts were only known...
About /0 of the lifer flies were shipped off the island
to the local A.A. because they couldnTt stay sober! But
the heads did fine. The ships that came in kept us
stocked and for good prices. They could have made a lot
of money but they didnTt. Really far out people! We all
owe them a debt of thanks!
While we were there several jeeps were run off into
the ocean. A few 2 holers (shitters) were burned down.
Also the firehouse.
By the way the island is 22 miles from tip to tip, one
mile across at the widest point, and 7.5 feet above
sealevel at the highest point. If we had a storm, well???
/ could go on forever on the rock, but | must tell you
about Guam! Just one more thing. If any of you heads
out there are going to Diego Garcia, man, go AWOL. |
swear the brig is better any day. Man, what a drag! Oh!
If you want to know what you do with your time off,
the three clubs cleared $50,000 a month! | swear this is
true. Soda 15 cents, beer 15 cents.
Well, after we left the rock, we spent six months in
Davisville, Rhode Island. That is our home port. Really
it is a decent place. Freaks all over the place! Well now
to Guam!
Guam (sucks). Not as bad as the rock but just about.
When-we got here we moved into barracks that were
condemned ten years ago. Full of termites and cock-
roaches.
The people of Guam hate the Navy and take it out on
us. You canTt even go downtown at night without
getting a hassle. Man, what a bummer! We donTt want to
be fhere either. The dope is just like not having any--
$50.00 for a two finger bag. What are we, rich?
We had a couple of our guys busted for not hauling
bombs. We are still fighting that. No real progress yet.
We have too many boot camps who are afraid to stand
up yet. But we are trying.
If any of your readers are in the Air Force, tell them
not to come here. Most of the Air Force is living in
tents. Man, they're sick as dogs. | have a 35 mm, so I'll
take some pictures of tent city and let you print them so
the public can see what the Air Force offers! Ha, Ha!
Just write a note back saying that you got my l/etter,
were able to decode it, and that you are still putting out
a paper! I'll help all | can. Like they say, SeeBee can do!
Ha!
Well | have to quit for now. Would like a few back
copies of the Bulkhead and all new ones. If you have any
questions send them on. We have a cool head in the post
office now, so all mail comes through.
Trucking on,
Frank
?)
APO 96225
A young man once went off to war
in a far country
When he had time, he wrote home and
said, oSure rains here a lot.�T
But his mother, reading between the lines,
Wrote, oWe're quite concerned. Tell us
what itTs really like.�T
And the young man responded, oWow, you ought
to see the funny monkeys!�
To which the mother replied, oDonTt
hold back, how is it?�
And the young man wrote, oThe sunsets here
are spectacular.�T
In her next letter the mother
wrote, oSon we want you to fell us
everything,�
So the next time he wrote,
oToday I killed a man.
Yesterday I helped drop napalm on women and
children. Tomorrow we are going to use
gas.�
And the father wrote, ~Please donTt
write such depressing letters. You're upsetting
your mother.�
So, after a while, the young man wrote, oSure rains a
lot here...�
On! Keep on!
The more we go the more wonders we see " Larry Rotterman
Bombs here and there:
Someone blocks a road, and a hundred roads
are opened.
On land long untilled a hamlet council
has built a school
Co-operative fields seem always chattering, busy
Tires run back and forth
Ferry landings bustling
A youthful song troupe piles in recklessly!
Where are the bomb craters?
What? Look again and what do you see
It has become a well, a pool
Become a lotus pond
Become a place to raise fish!
"A Vietnamese Freedom Fighter
EULOGY TO THE FISH, TREES & GRASS
A long grey ship is steaming ~round out in the Tonkin Gulf
ItTs sending fighter bombers to destroy a world itself
They carry bombs and rockets sometimes drop them in the sea
SINGAPORE en : For to land with them on Enterprise might destroy you and me.
HILIPPINES HAWAII _" Our pilots armed with six-guns, bandoleros cross their chests
HONG. KONG -. Survival knives and four-leafed clovers tucked inside their vests
They climb into their cockpits gunning blood lust in their eyes
The daring Phantom jet-jockeys who drop death from the skies.
Oh catapults, arresting gear, you precious wonderful things
Your screaming, screeching, thudding noises make my eardrums ring
Assail my heart, my mind, my soul and make me want to sing
Thrust forth your weapon-laden planes and destruction that they bring.
Bomb elevators hiss and moan a carrying their toys
Full of lots of silver goodies for the brown girls and brown boys
The bombs that kill the fish, the trees, the grass and ~o~you-know-who�T
Tis death thatTs dealt from the Enterprise with love from me and you.
But the war cannot be ended yet
At least not just today
We've got to fly an alpha strike
And make our combat pay.
"An SOS Enterprise Brother