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I enlisted in the Corps from northern Virginia, and after discharge made my way back there. Its true, you can never really go home again, but anyway …

In 1971 I was working for the Army Air Force Exchange System, inventorying vending machines. Military bases, buildings and even the White House and Pentagon. I personally observed both the hippy build-up in effort to ‘close down’ the government on mayday and the military exercises to defend against the attempt. Before May is April, and it was in April that Dewey Canyon III occurred. I was late to the picnic, hearing about it after it had started, and I scooted my butt down there joined in with the brothers.

Most of the guys there were for real vets, and an attempt was made to ‘police’ the line, and not let agitators onto the mall with us. It was a great time, almost like the first reunion. Marines formed with Marines, and etc, etc. We found unit-mates and bs’ed and partied.

I didn’t stay the nights in the mall, but I would leave late in the evening and return in the morning, or after work. It was one of these late starts that some of the guys told me about playing search and destroy in the mall areas. They were like a bunch of silly kids, joking about how ridiculous the scenario was, but they did have fun playing the fools.

Public sentiment was strongly supportive of us. The police didn’t muck with us, many of them were vets, themselves. Some liquor stores even delivered free booze.

It was my impression that most of us there cared for the brothers that were over there at the time. Recall, this in 1971, the third year of Nixon’s Vietnamization program. It is also my impression that most there were aware and offended by the agents provocateur’s. We were encouraged to testify about the war crimes we committed. When told to “shove it” they acknowledged that they would have liars tell the tales. Arguments broke out, and a few fisticuffs flew. The provocateur cowards would then leave the combative ones alone. Many of us recognized the direct communist influence, particularly surrounding the leadership of the VVAW, and especially noted in regards to the entourage of 1 ea. J. F’ing Kerry.

I have heard some disinformation regarding Kerry’s anti-communism. There is a fairly famous photo of jf’ink with his entourage. I believe this was taken near the parking lot of the congressional mall which we occupied. Unless I’m mistaken, I was somewhere around there when that picture was snapped. Regardless, word was passed in the mall that the ‘big hero spokesman’ was around, and a few of the guys and I went to check him out. We were all offended by his pro-communist stance, complete with handlers and replete with comments on the ‘international’, the ‘proletariat’ and the ‘international brotherhood’, raised fists and ‘power to the people’.

The medal tossing event occurred. We surged toward the capitol and those who chose, and those who had medals, tossed ‘em on the steps and made whatever political statement they could. Most of the bonafides said something like ‘I sorry it’s come to this’. The commies made long-winded hate speeches, i.e., jf’ink.

I can’t really add too much more. I got outta town again, and stayed out of town during the whole ugly mayday mess. Stadiums were filled with arrested protestors.

In retrospect; the good time we had in reunion during Dewey Canyon III is far outweighed by the damage we did to our history. Kerry represents the acid which tarnishes the shine of our sacrifice.

I found this a couple of weeks ago....and thought you might like to research it further.

Fonda and the F.T.A. coffeehouses..

Jane Fonda began her participation in anti-war activities around 1967, allegedly after meeting with Communists while in France and with American citizens who were revolutionaries. Her activities included active participation in demonstrations, rallies, radio broadcasts and plays.

Jane Fonda also helped in the organization of a production group called the F.T.A. (F*** The Army). This group helped to set up coffee houses near military bases where they would perform anti-war derogatory-type sketches for the visiting soldiers. The coffee-house sketches were intended to counterpoint the U.S.O. shows, such as Bob Hope and other U.S.O. sponsored performers whose performances increased morale and gave positive support to American soldiers. Some of the F.T.A. coffee house employees would mingle with the soldiers to help them to "relax and unwind", while encouraging the soldiers to desert. Some soldiers alleged that they were promised jobs and money by the F.T.A. if they deserted.

The Vietnam Veterans Against the War Organization received major financial support from Jane Fonda. Jane Fonda's F.T.A. coffee houses helped in recruiting soldiers and veterans for the Vietnam Veterans Against The War Organization. The Vietnam Veterans Against the War Organization membership was approximately 7,000 at it's highest. The Organization's membership number was comparatively low, when you consider that more than 2 1/2 million Americans served during the Vietnam war.