Country Joe McDonald hits sour note with Veterans Day organizers

The sticky subject of the Iraq war has prompted Country Joe McDonald and fellow organizers to pull the plug on Berkeley's annual Veterans Day observance -- at least for now.

After much debate, organizers just couldn't agree on whether to allow a parent from the anti-war Gold Star Families for Peace to speak.

"It's ironic, to say the least, that this has happened in Berkeley,'' said Country Joe, whose anti-Vietnam War anthem, "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag,'' made famous the question: "One, two, three -- what are we fighting for?''

Now, one might think any veterans event would have a rough time getting off the ground in a city so known for its anti-war sentiments. And indeed, for years Berkeley didn't even bother to celebrate Veterans Day.

But that changed a decade ago when McDonald, himself an ex-Navy man, decided it was time to heal the city's war wounds.

With the support of then-Mayor Shirley Dean, McDonald started organizing a number of events to honor local vets. He even had the names of 22 of Berkeley's war dead inscribed on a plaque at the local Veterans Memorial Building.

Four years ago, McDonald and others started a small Veterans Day observance. It has since grown, and last year -- while not exactly drawing a huge crowd -- did attract a few dozen people, including politicians, civic leaders, Boy Scouts and even the band from Travis Air Force Base.

Everything looked to be on track for another observance this Nov. 11. Only as part of the program, Country Joe -- who chairs the 15-member volunteer Veterans Day celebration committee -- decided to include Bill Mitchell, a member of the Gold Star Families for Peace whose son was killed the same day and in the same Iraqi town as Casey Sheehan, son of now-Gold Star celebrity

Just for reference, the lyrics to Country Joe's most famous song "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die"

Yeah, come on all of you, big strong men,

Uncle Sam needs your help again.

He's got himself in a terrible jam

Way down yonder in Vietnam

So put down your books and pick up a gun,

We're gonna have a whole lotta fun.

And it's one, two, three,

What are we fighting for ?

Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,

Next stop is Vietnam;

And it's five, six, seven,

Open up the pearly gates,

Well there ain't no time to wonder why,

Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Well, come on generals, let's move fast;

Your big chance has come at last.

Gotta go out and get those reds —

The only good commie is the one who's dead

And you know that peace can only be won

When we've blown 'em all to kingdom come.

And it's one, two, three,

What are we fighting for ?

Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,

Next stop is Vietnam;

And it's five, six, seven,

Open up the pearly gates,

Well there ain't no time to wonder why

Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Huh!

Well, come on Wall Street, don't move slow,

Why man, this is war au-go-go.

There's plenty good money to be made

By supplying the Army with the tools of the trade,

Just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb,

They drop it on the Viet Cong.

And it's one, two, three,

What are we fighting for ?

Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,

Next stop is Vietnam.

And it's five, six, seven,

Open up the pearly gates,

Well there ain't no time to wonder why

Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Well, come on mothers throughout the land,

Pack your boys off to Vietnam.

Come on fathers, don't hesitate,

Send 'em off before it's too late.

Be the first one on your block

To have your boy come home in a box.

And it's one, two, three

What are we fighting for ?

Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,

Next stop is Vietnam.

And it's five, six, seven,

Open up the pearly gates,

Well there ain't no time to wonder why,

Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

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