From The Living
Archives Of Boston Veterans For Peace-They Ain't Your Grandfather's Veterans-By
Site Manager Greg Green-The Life And Death Fight Against The Further Privatization
Of The Veterans Administration Health System Which Will Harm The Prospects For
All Eligible Veterans
[Ralph Morris who has
lived in Troy, New York most of his life, been raised there and raised his own
family there, went to war, the bloody, horrendous Vietnam War which he has made
plain many times he will never live down, never get over what he did, what he
saw others do, and most importantly for the long haul, what his evil government
did with no remorse to people in that benighted country with whom he had no
quarrel never was much for organizations, joining organizations when he was
young until he came upon a group formed in the fire of the Vietnam War protests
-Vietnam Veteran Against the War (VVAW) which he joined after watching a
contingent of them pass by in silent march protesting the war in downtown
Albany one fall afternoon. Somebody in that contingent with a microphone called
out to any veterans observing the march who had had enough of war, had felt
like that did to “fall in” (an old army term well if bitterly remembered). He
did and has never looked back although for the past many years his affiliation
has been with a subsequent anti-war veterans’ group Veterans for Peace.
Sam Eaton, who has
lived in Carver, Massachusetts, most of his life, been raised there and raised
his own family there, and did not go to war. Did not go for the simple reason
that due to a severe childhood accident which left him limping severely thereafter
he was declared no fit for military duty, 4-F the term the local draft board
used. He too had not been much for organizations, joining organizations when he
was young. That is until his best friend from high school, Jeff Mullins, died
in hell-hole Vietnam and before he had died asked Sam that if anything happened
to him to let the world that he had done things, had seen others do things, and
most importantly for the long haul, what his evil government did with no remorse
to people in that benighted country with whom he had no quarrel. As part of
honoring Jeff’s request after Sam found out about his death he was like a
whirling dervish joining one anti-war action after another, joining one ad hoc
group, each more radical than the previous one as the war ground away, ground
all rational approach vapid, let nothing left but to go left, until the fateful
day when he met Ralph down in Washington, D.C.
That was when both in
their respective collectives, Ralph in VVAW and Sam in Cambridge Red Front,
were collectively attempting one last desperate effort to end the war by
closing down the government if it would not shut down the war. All they got for
their efforts were tear gas, police batons, arrest bracelets and a trip to the
bastinado which was the floor of Robert F. Kennedy stadium which is where they
would meet after Sam noticed Ralph’s VVAW pin and told him about Jeff and his
request. That experience would form a lasting friendship including several
years ago Sam joining Ralph’s Veterans for Peace as a supporter, an active
supporter still trying to honor his long- gone friend’s request and memory.
No one least of all
either of them would claim they were organizing geniuses, far from it but over
the years they participated, maybe even helped organize many anti-war events.
One day their friend, Josh Breslin, who writes a by-line at this publication,
and who is also a veteran asked them to send some of events they had
participated in here to form a sort of living archives of the few remaining
activist groupings in this country, in America who are still waging the
struggle for peace.
Periodically, since we
are something of a clearing house and historic memory for leftist activities,
we will put their archival experiences into our archives. As mentioned above
Sam and Ralph “met” each other down in Washington, D.C. during the May Day
anti-war demonstrations of 1971 when out of desperation clots of anti-war
radicals, veterans and civilians alike, tried unsuccessfully to shut down the
government if it would not shut down the war. They “met,” their in forever
quotation marks not mine, on the floor of Robert F. Kennedy football stadium after
they had been arrested along with members of their respective collectives,
Ralph’s VVAW and Sam’s Red Front Brigade after getting nothing but tear gas,
police batons and a ride in the paddy wagon for their efforts. What they were
doing, what for each of the them, according to Josh Breslin who met them
shortly after they got “sprung,” also then a member of VVAW and also arrested but
had been held in a D.C. city jail, were their first acts of civil disobedience.
The first of a long time of such actions which is the lead in to the archival
material presented in this piece.
Josh, who introduced
the pair to me several years ago when I first came on board to manage the day
to day operations of this publication after Allan Jackson, aging and ready to
retire, brought me on board for that purpose so he could work on where the
publication was heading. He mentioned the Washington action as their calling
card although then, in 1971, I was about a decade too young to have realized
what they were doing and how important it was for their future political
trajectories, their political commitments to “fight the monster,” their term,
on the questions of war and peace and other social issues. Not have realized,
not having done any such actions how important civil disobedience, or the
threat of such actions was, is to their political perspectives.
By the way, as Josh
was at pains under pressure from Ralph and Sam, to report to me that May Day
action was not the first attempt by either man to “get arrested,” to “put their
bodies on the line” as Sam articulated it to me one night when we were putting
this piece together. May Day was just the first time when the cops, National
Guard, Regular Army was willing, with a vengeance, to take them up on the
offer. Both men had tried repeatedly to get arrested “sitting down” at their
respective local draft boards in Carver and Troy in order to warn off young men
on signing up for the draft. Maybe it was the nature of the times but the local
police would not arrest them.]
***********
Kudos to Doug Straw and a tip of the hat to Pat Scully for
today’s Bedford VA stand-out morning and afternoon
Thanks to Doug Straw as well for being the organizing spirit
behind today’s second VA stand-out and first at the Bedford VA in our campaign
to save the VA and prevent further privatization. Many leaflets were handed out
to the passing cars at the four stop intersection near the facility and many
thumbs up and honks by passing motorists who were heading into the VA to work
or for appointments.
Thanks to Pat Scully, well for being Pat Scully, passing out
leaflets like seven dervishes, and taking care of having a righteous and
wind-worthy banner complete with poles made up.
Thanks to the divine Jon Neil who acted as “host” for these events for his
helpful knowledge of the Bedford facility.
I only made the morning stand-out but thanks to Winston who
came at an ungodly hour from Dorchester to do his part.(Dan Lane also from the
sunny hills of Dorchester was to make the afternoon trek so thanks to him as
well), David Sneed (maybe sic) who is
doing double duty today going to the Newton office of Congressman Joe Kennedy
to get him on the Save the VA bandwagon (I think Doug is going as well) and
welcome new face from the Navy Nathan Lador.
Somebody can add thanks to whoever showed up for the
afternoon stand-out.
I think that given today’s reception and the logistics that
we concentrate on Bedford in our publicity efforts but we can discuss that at
Monday’s General Meeting. Later Ralph Morris
