Download PDF of this full issue: v37n2.pdf (26.8 MB)

It Is Never Too Late To Get Involved

By Mike Kerber

Upon hearing of the 40th anniversary of the VVAW, I thought I would go and see what they are doing. Since the start of the Iraq war, I have been looking for ways to be more politically active.

Like many Vietnam vets, I was drafted and went because I felt some loyalty to my country, at least enough to not go to Canada. I figured our leaders would not send us off to fight a war if it was not necessary. After two weeks in Vietnam, I realized we did not belong there and we were doing more harm than good to these gentle people. My tour was spent in the very northern part of South Vietnam from Camp Evans in the east to the Ashau Valley in the west with a 101st artillery unit.

When I returned all I wanted to do was forget Vietnam and get on with my life. Watching the VVAW protest on TV stirred emotions about how bad the war was and that it was great to see someone speaking up. However, I did nothing. I was "too busy" getting on with life. This guilt has always been with me.

Once I learned that a group of vets were going to ride bicycles from Chicago to St. Louis after the Chicago convention, I knew I had to go to Chicago to the convention and be part of the ride. Lane Anderson was heading up the ride. The weather was going to be in the 90's on the week of his ride so he did not have many join him. Roland James had traveled from California to join the ride and end up in St. Louis for the Veterans For Peace convention. He and I joined Lane for part of the ride.

We were able to get Lane and Roland on my local NPR station in Bloomington and there were two articles in our local paper thanks to an anti-war reporter I know. They got the message across to the public about how this war is to protect our oil sources and that if we all conserve, we would not need to go to war.

I may be 40 years late, but it sure feels good to be protesting this war. I owe a debt of gratitude to those that sacrificed so much in the late 60's and early 70's protesting the war and working for the rights of veterans.