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S.O.S.: Stop Our Ship

By VVAW

The USS Coral Sea is a naval Attack Carrier. It has only one mission. To destroy. To destroy with its 3" guns. To destroy with its 5" guns. To destroy with its 85 fighter/bombers. To destroy as much as possible with its 6 1/2 million pounds of shells, rockets, bombs and napalm.

To accomplish this mission of destruction requires the coordination and cooperation of 4200 crewmen, which in the past has been no problem. But the past is not the present.. The crewmen now ask the questions that cant be answered. And a great percentage of the crew of the Coral Sea reject the Indochina War and the military "justification" for it.

The "Stop Our Ship" movement has no precedent in U.S. Naval history (except the recent "Keep the Constellation Home" campaign), but today's anti-war GI's care little for precedent. They are more concerned with finding and implementing ways to legally subvert a criminal and racist military war policy.

Last August, the Coral Sea was ordered to Vietnam. Once there, it was to take up a position on "Yankee Station" in the Tonkin Gulf, and begin dealing out death with its planes. Most of the targets would be civilian hamlets in Cambodia, Laos, and N. Vietnam.

But there was one problem. Many of the crew did not want to go. About September 20th, a "Stop Our Ship" petition began circulating among the crew. The SOS movement began as the Coral Sea sailor's response to the USS Constellation's delayed departure from San Diego (there, a mostly civilian-based "Keep the Connie Home" campaign succeeded in passing a referendum in which a majority of the local residents polled wanted to prohibit the carrier's departure from S.E. Asia. Several sailors who sought sanctuary in the city were forcibly returned to the ship by chopper, but the movement to stop all giant war ships had been born).

Once Coral Sea sailors began to push the SOS campaign, they came under fire. Those considered leaders were transferred off the ship,and the rest were told to "move on" whenever they were found rapping with other crew members.

Lifers ripped SOS buttons off supporters, and a right-wing group called SOB (Sail Our Boat) put out a letter entitled " Love Our Country" accusing SOS supporters of being disloyal, aiding the enemy, and not wanting to provide air cover for US ground forces in Vietnam.

Yet despite harassment, brig confinement, alleged beatings, and some administrative discharges, the petition remained around long enough to be signed by of 1/4 of the crew. During the final shakedown cruise, crew members formed a human peace symbol on the deck as they ship sailed out of San Fransisco Bay under the Golden Gate Bridge. Men in the brig went on hunger strike. Others went on sick call. Some simply refused to work. And four officers resigned their commissions. When the ship returned from the shakedown cruise on October 21, over 200 civilian supporters greeted the SOS sailors as they came ashore.

By now, a great deal of support had been generated for the SOS movement. The Berkeley City Council voted to provide official sanctuary for Coral Sea crew members who didn't want to participate in the war. Many churches and organizations offered their help.

But on November 12, the Coral Sea sailed for Vietnam. This departure (like that of the USS Constellation) was delayed by a demonstration of over 1500 SOS supporters who jammed the roads and dock area around the ship. Unofficial reports indicate that 279 sailors failed to show up for duty.

But the SOS movement still lives on the Coral Sea. Since the ship sailed, there have been numerous "accidents", work stoppages, demonstrations, and continued resistance to carry out the war orders.

On November 22, the Coral Sea pulled into Hawaii. Despite Admiral Zumwalt's "Z-Gram" to the contrary, the ship's Captain William Harris ordered "military haircuts" for the whole crew. That night, over 500 sailors were entertained by the FTA Show. On November 26, the Coral Sea departed for Subic Bay, minus 50 more crewmen. Since the ship sailed from California, there have been 9 fires on board, and the SOS movement continues to gain strength and momentum,. Some old salts now privately admit that the USS Coral Sea may never be able to fulfill its original mission, and may just become an aborted training cruise. The SOS sailors are now in touch with the crews of the USS Hancock and USS Ranger, aircraft carriers undergoing repairs before their return to Vietnam early in 1972.

But the most encouragement the SOS crewmen have received yet was a letter from GI's in Vietnam who had heard of their movement. "All we can do," the letter said, "is stop a squad or platoon from going out. But you guys can stop a whole big mother-raping aircraft carrier. Right On!!"

BULLETIN: Unconfirmed reports indicate the USS Constellation is headed home. The ship, originally scheduled for a 9-month stay on Yankee Station, has only been out 2 months. The Connie too, has been plagued with "accidents", demonstrations, and dissent.