By the fall of 1968, the Vietnam War was tearing apart America as well as Vietnam. But what could a 17-year-old college freshman do to stop such a conflict? As he walked to class one day pondering that question, John Arnold suddenly heard an answer in his thoughts as clearly as if someone had spoken it:
“You can’t stop a war if you aren’t where the war is.”
His first reaction was, “You’re kidding, right?” But 1968 was not a time for kidding. People were dying. Thousands of people, every week. So after considering the matter for a few minutes, John dumped his books in a trash can, dropped out of college, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, the only military branch that could guarantee that he would get to Vietnam in his pursuit of peace.
“VVAW Contacts frequently get requests from high school and college students seeking interviews and for information about the war and GI resistance. Some of us who respond to these requests ponder the best approach to help these students. Do we agree to the interview or send them packing to the library to do the research? I submit that Peacemaking Under Fire provides us with a third way. Like, “Dear X, we got your request for an interview. Go read John Arnold’s book, get shocked, awed and inspired to learn more, and then yeah, call us.”
Vietnam Snapshots
Pictures taken during the author’s tour of duty, 1969-1970. Click to enlarge.
