Download PDF of this full issue: v56n2.pdf (37.4 MB)

30 Years of The Veteran

By Jeff Machota

For decades, Barry Romo made sure The Veteran (and before that, Winter Soldier and The First Casualty) was published and distributed to VVAW members and supporters across the country. First he did this as part of a collective, then later with only a few to help out. In 1995, Barry couldn't finish the current issue.

In the summer of 1996, after viewing the incomplete layout at Barry's apartment, I told him I was pretty sure I could give it a try. I brought the production into the computer era. Joe Miller, Lisa Boucher, and, of course, Barry helped with the content. I also brought the VVAW mailing list into the computer era.

Hard to imagine that was 30 years ago. I don't think in the summer of 1996 I had any idea I would still be doing this all these years later.

Many things have changed since then, most significantly the new format we had to adopt 10 years ago to keep up with the changes in the print industry. Also, the loss of Barry two years ago, and the loss of super reviewer John Ketwig this year are deeply felt.

The wars of GW Bush increased our circulation to close to Vietnam War level numbers. We still distribute over 17,000 issues of the paper across the country twice a year. The days of stamping and labeling them around my dining room table are long past.

We have also put every issue of The First Casualty, Winter Soldier, and The Veteran online on our website. 55 years of articles by and for VVAW members and supporters.

Over the 30 years I have been working on this, countless people have contributed articles, poems, photos, and cartoons. It amazes me that we can still get great articles and keep rediscovering great photos from the past.

Thanks for the opportunity to play a role in keeping VVAW alive.

Jeff Machota is on the VVAW National Staff.