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Reprints: From Vol. 1 No. 1

By VVAW

(The following items are taken from Volume 1, Number 1 of The First Casualty, VVAW's first newspaper; the date is August 1971. Although the world is different today than it was 16 years ago, much of what is in that newspaper is as true today as it was then.)

"Napalm Sticks to Kids"

(Poem was collectively written as an antiwar message by the GIs of the First Air Cavalry in Vietnam.)

We shoot the sick, the young, the lame,
We do our best to kill and maim,
Because the kills all count the same,
Napalm sticks to kids.

Ox cart rolling down the road,
Peasants with a heavy load,
They're all V.C. when the bombs explode,
Napalm sticks to kids.

A baby sucking on his mother's tit,
Children cowering in a pit,
Dow Chemical doesn't give a shit,
Napalm sticks to kids.

CIA with guns for hire,
Montagnards around a fire,
Napalm makes the fire higher,
Napalm sticks to kids.

Drop some napalm on the barn,
It won't do too much harm,
Just burn of a leg or arm,
Napalm sticks to kids.

(VVAW had a substantial membership among GIs in Vietnam, particularly following an ad, which Playboy Magazine carried for the organization. The following pair of letters, also from the first issue of The First Casualty, says about all there is to say.)

Hi,

To start with I'll introduce myself. My name is Mike Street. A friend of mine was telling all about your movement to Washington April 19. If you could, please send more information to me. I'm very interested in this. I hope to hear from you soon. The guys over here really appreciate what you are trying to do. We plan to spread it to all our friends in other units. You have a lot of support coming home soon. So keep fighting the pigs. And maybe we will end this damn war.

A fellow supporter.

PFC Michael Street
A BTRY 2/94 ARTD
APO S.F. 96317

Occupant
25 West 26th St 4th Floor
New York City, NY 10010

Dear Sir:

The enclosed mail, addressed to PFC Michael Street, bears your return address.

We are returning your mail because Private Street died on 6 June 1971. I am sorry that it was not possible to have delivered this mail.

Sincerely,
W.L. Hinspeter
Lieutenant Colonel, AGC
Commanding
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