Home From the War To the War at Home

By Dave Kettenhofen

My first recollection of VVAW is Operation Dewey Canyon III in April of 1971. At the time I was stationed in Vietnam nearing the end of my tour. News of the incursion into Washington, D.C., came by way of my hometown newspaper mailed to me by my parents.

When my buddies and I read the headlines we were ecstatic. Holy shit, the vets were marching on Washington — the end had to be near! It was absolutely unbelievable! Everyone wanted to get back to "the world" and get involved in the protests.

We were so proud of the way you guys threw your medals back in the face of the government. Even though we opposed the war, we felt that it had to be hard for you since those medals were one of the few acknowledgments you received for doing the government's dirty work. I knew then that someday I wanted to be a part of VVAW.

Dave Kettenhofen was in Vietnam 1970-1971. Reprinted from VVAW's 25th anniversary booklet produced in 1992.