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What I Felt About Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan

By John Beitzel

From the moment I arrived at the location of the Winter Soldier hearings in Silver Springs, Maryland, I could feel the intensity of the Winter Soldier event. The security was extremely tight, from the moment you arrived at the front gate, until you walked into the conference room. Ultra-right wing groups had threatened to disrupt the event, but only a small group protested outside the front gate. If I remember correctly there were more protestors at the original Winter Soldier event in Detroit. These protestors proved to be irrelevant.

There is no need to review the tormenting stories from Winter Soldier; Iraq & Afghanistan. If anyone wants to hear the testimony, it can be viewed on the Internet. What impressed me the most, were the Winter Soldier participants. They were so articulate, intelligent, and mature when expressing themselves, and telling their stories. As a participant in the first Winter Soldier, it was déjà vu all over again. Every time a new panel would start their testimony, I found it a struggle to stay in the conference room, and listen to their heart-wrenching stories. I felt exactly the same way in Detroit. At both events, I had to force myself to stay.

What I will remember the most, and what characterized the entire event were the emotions and feelings... sadness, anger, shock, rage, indignation, regret, remorse, resentment, disgust, repulsion, distress, pain, agony, torment, heartbreak, and empathy. I felt a deep, deep sadness for the Winter Soldiers, for the Iraqis, for America. As I drove home alone, I shed some tears.

John Beitzel at VVAW's 40th Anniversary in Chicago, 2007.