I thought I might as well write something.
Since 1988 when I got involved with the plight of homeless vets, I have been somewhat of an activist on veterans issues. I wrote a diary back in 2009 that explained how it happened.
I was unrecognizable to myself.
Excerpt from that diary is below the Fleur-de-Kos.
On memorial Day, 2009, I addressed our little of Veterans For Peace gathering that we hold each year. This is what I had to say.
In 1968 Ken was a Marine serving in Vietnam. He wasn’t a rifleman; he was just a cook, working in a mess tent. But during the Tet offensive and only 19, enemy rockets tore through the sagging canvas, erupting in a wide swath of dead and wounded. He survived but the guilt left him psychologically damaged -- forever.
The reason some of us are together is because of Ken. He was a catalyst. On August 30th, 1988, Ken took over Fort Vancouver. Ken was homeless, living in his car and was outraged that there were so many homeless veterans. So he took action. Scaling the walls of the old Fort with some gunpowder and fuses, he commandeered one of the cannons. He had left a note on the door of the Fort ("If anyone tries to enter we'll blow up the fort.”) and alerted the media. He then proceeded to set off the cannon. His subsequent arrest galvanized a bunch of us and we came to his defense, standing with him at the Clark County Courthouse. He got 30 days and 200 hours of community service. At a news conference he stated; "It's a national disgrace, to see veterans sleeping under bridges and eating from garbage cans."
Ken and I became friends and started an organization called Vets For Vets, working to get some help for the homeless vets he cared so much about. One of our first major efforts was to organize a “Stand Down” where homeless vets could meet with the agencies that were tasked with helping them come together in one place. This was set up under the Morrison Bridge during Super Bowl week 1989. We had two GP large tents set up. One was a dorm and the other was for the vets and the agencies to meet and solve their problems. Today, because of the work done by Ken, the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs and the VA hold a “Stand Down” every year. An interesting side note is that at that time, General Westmoreland was speaking at Lewis and Clark. We went up "beard the lion" so to speak and told him about the encampment. He showed up later that evening and went in to talk to the homeless vets in the "Dorm" tent.
Later that summer, Ken and I organized a walk to Salem where the traveling wall was set up. It took us three days, sleeping in schools and churches on the way, but we carried the message of the homeless vets along Highway 99W. Mike Hastie was one of the walkers on the trek, serving as our medic; we called him “Doc”. We also "occupied" the Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial for about 2 weeks and didn't get pepper sprayed.
Me in a tiger cage we set up.
I am telling you this story because sometimes we forget that even though we carry the scars of war with us, we can make a difference. Ken made a difference because he channeled his anger in a positive direction. He turned it into love for his fellow man. I am here because of Ken Rose. His story is emblematic of many who have been touched by the war and yet find a way to turn their experience into something good, something that reduces the pain and suffering of others while at the same time helps us heal ourselves.
When The first Gulf War was ramping up, a bunch of us vets got together and formed NW Veterans For Peace, a rag tag group if I ever saw one. We met and worked and bitched and tried to bring some sanity to the world. That didn't work.
Then in 2003, GW got it into his head that Iraq needed to be invaded and one of my friends thought it would be a good idea to get the old gang back together for a second run at reversing the course of events. We revitalized Chapter 72 of Veterans For Peace, the national organization. We went from 10 members at the first meeting to 120 members on our best year.
I was elected acting president at the first meeting and held that position 3 times over the past 9 years. Along the way I have marched, talked to high school and grade school classes, met with senators and congressmen, city officials, sang at rallies, handed out counter recruiting literature, gone to funerals, picketed recruitment stations, and all the other activities you would expect from a group of anti war DFHs.
The world is still insane.
I'm tired. When I started this journey I was legally blind (another long story, but my sight restored in 1992). I was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2000 and went through chemo, radiation and surgery and have been free of it for 12 years. I lost my best buddy of 34 years and the sweetest dog that ever trotted beside us
It is time to retire and find a new direction. So I'm pulling a 360 or as Firesign Theater said, "Forward into the past".
As many of you know, I'm in a band called "Loose Change".
We have been together in one form or another since 1979. Our roots are in folk and folk/rock. We practice once a week and play a gig every first Thursday of the month. So I have decided to get back to doing acoustic solo stuff (in addition to turn it up to 11 rock) instead of spinning my wheels protesting out in the streets and shit like that. Its where I started way back so many years ago. Got the bug back when I was invited to a gig at a little joint couple of Sundays ago. Very small room and the other performers used the PA and had to fuck around between sets getting their sound mixed right. I thought to my self; "Self, I don't need no stinkin' microphone". Just sat on a stool and made them listen. Went over really well, mostly young whippersnappers in the audience who had never experienced that.
So I'm going to sling my old guitar over my shoulder and hang around the shanty (and coffeehouses) and get a good buzz on.".
My hang out back in the day, Cafe Orpheus circa 1965. No mic in sight.
"Peace Out"
~OPOL
BOHICA
RA18960500
Aging bitter Vietnam Veteran
Repentant ex member of Murder Inc.
Southeast Asia Division