Vietnam Veterans Against the War

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Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) is a non-profit corporation originally created to oppose the Vietnam War.

VVAW currently describes itself as a national veterans' organization that campaigns for peace, justice, and the rights of all United States military veterans. It publishes a twice-yearly newsletter The Veteran, previously published more frequently as 1st Casualty (1971-2) and then as Winter Soldier (1973-5).

History

VVAW was founded by Mark Donnelly, David Braum, and coordinator Jan Crumb, in New York City in May 1967 after six Vietnam veterans marched together in an anti-war demonstration. As opposition to the war grew, membership in the VVAW grew from 600 members in 1970 to 11,000 in 1971. This was however a small proportion of returning combatants. At this time, VVAW is said to have received significant financial support from Jane Fonda and other celebrity peace activists. Fonda and Mark Lane had press appearances in July and August 1970 announcing the Washington, D.C., VVAW office.

Operation RAW

During September 4-7, 1970, Operation RAW ("Rapid American Withdrawal") involved a march from Morristown, NJ, to Valley Forge State Park. Mock search and destroy missions were planned during the march. Members of the Youth International Party (YIP) were invited to participate as blindfolded "Vietcong" prisoners, but decided not to participate because such a passive role would be a "bore" and a "drag". Sponsors included Senators George McGovern and Edmund Muskie, Rep. John D. Conyers, Jr., Paul O'Dwyer, Jane Fonda, Mark Lane, and Don Sutherland. Scheduled speakers were John Kerry, Joe Kennedy, Rev. James Bevel, Mark Lane, Jane Fonda, and Don Sutherland. Congressman Allard Lowenstein, Mike Lerner, and Army First Lt. Louis Font also spoke.

Winter Soldier Investigation

The VVAW helpfully put the FBI on its mailing list in January 1971, in order to reduce the government's expenses so those could be put to better use. Membership was claimed to be 20,000. The first mailing was of the Winter Soldier Investigation invitation.

Veterans applying for participation were asked if they witnessed or participated in:

Search and Destroy Mission
Burning of Village
The destruction of crops or animals
The killing of villagers
Harassment & Interdiction Fire
Pacification program
Recon by fire
"Rat patrols"

Any chemical agents used

Any contact with deformed babies

Distribution of contaminated food

POW treatment

Medical treatment
Any torture used
Prisoners shot
Prisoners thrown from helicopters
Prisoners denied food, water, or medical treatment
Orders to not take prisoners or dispose of prisoners

Treatment of civilians and as prisoners

In January 1971, VVAW sponsored The Winter Soldier Investigation to gather testimony from soldiers on political and military leaders' misconduct of the war. Intended as a public event, it was boycotted by much of the mainstream media, although the Detroit Free Press covered it daily and immediately began investigating what was being said.

March on Washington, D.C., April 1971

However, all the Winter Soldier Investigation stories were read into the congressional record in April 1971, during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee enquiry into the conduct of the war. One of the Winter Soldier organizers, Al Hubbard, was later shown to have lied about his service during the war. However, he did not give testimony during the Winter Soldier Investigation.

On April 18, during an appearance on "Meet the Press" with John Kerry, Al Hubbard said membership was 12,000.

This enquiry took place amid a week of VVAW-led demonstrations in Washington, DC. John Kerry, as VVAW spokesman and executive, testified against the war during hearings. Meanwhile, veterans and mothers of soldiers killed in Vietnam marched to Arlington Cemetery, and veterans camped out in protest on The Mall. There was also a medal-returning demonstration on the steps of the Capitol.

Kansas City meeting

During a meeting in Kansas City in mid November 1971, a proposal to assassinate several senators was put forth according to Randy Barnes, current head of Missouri Veterans for Kerry. Scott Camil a radical key leader of Vietnam Veterans Against the War proposed the assassination of the most conservative members of Congress, as well as any other powerful opponents of the antiwar movement.

According to interviews with VVAW members who were present at the Kansas City meeting, Camil organized something he called “The Phoenix Project.” The original Phoenix Project during the Vietnam War was an attempt to destroy the Viet Cong leadership by targeted assassination. Mr. Camil’s Phoenix Project planned to execute the Southern senatorial leadership that was backing the war including John Tower, Strom Thurmond, and John Stennis. The assignations were to be executed during the Senate Christmas recess.

The plan was voted down, although the closeness of the vote is debated. Although John Kerry claims he had resigned from the organization prior to the Kansas City meeting, one account indicates Kerry was present for the vote, voted against it, and simultaneously resigned from the organization in disgust.

In 1972, VVAW continued antiwar protests, and released Winter Soldier, a 16mm black and white documentary movie showing participants in activities at the 1971 event.

End of Vietnam war

By 1973, US combat involvement in Vietnam ended, and VVAW changed its emphasis, to advocate amnesty for draft resisters and dissenters. President Jimmy Carter eventually granted an amnesty in 1980.

Similarly-named different group

The relatively small group Vietnam Veterans Against the War Anti-Imperialist (VVAW-AI) is not a faction, caucus or part of VVAW. The VVAW web site describes VVAW-AI as "the creation of an obscure, ultra-left sect called the Revolutionary Communist Party ... designed to pimp off of VVAW's history of struggle."

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