Veterans for Peace: No More War

by Bob Hanafin

This past July 4th as happened last year, Veterans and Military families who QUESTION and/or OPPOSE the War in Iraq played a patriotic role in parades or related U.S. National patriotic observances that are subsidized, planned, or coordinated by municipal workers or local governments using taxpayer $$$.

Acting on guidance from the ACLU, and related Constitutional Law rights groups [lawyers], Veterans for PEACE took the lead last year in creating a Peace Float that was entered in various national observances in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Some of the Ohio State level organizers for our national organization, Military Families Speak Out (MFSO), Columbus and Dayton chapter leaders and members, sent me the above photo and story from a Freedom of Expression Float created by members of Veterans for PEACE last year that not only participated in several patriotic events but also focused at least that state and Wisconsin, on the constitutionality of banning patriotic dissent groups from U.S. National patriotic observances and events.

First, let me say that I’m not picking on Minnesota, and I’ve also written about California where Veterans and Military Family groups with AGAINST, and PEACE in their logos are beginning to question the constitutionality of such discrimination. The point is that these are but a few state-level examples because this UN-AMERICAN activity of exploiting Patriotism is a national level disgrace.

If our troops are serving, fighting, and dying, so that we (and the Iraqi people) can express our dissent or related views that even our troops may not agree with, then how come some of our troops and a few others refuse to allow us to express our dissenting views? More on that later. In response to those troops who take issue with anyone’s constitutional rights, I’m not sure we want troops who do not take the Constitution, and it’s Bill of Rights, they swore allegiance to serious. How many times have you been told our troops are not clones? Well, it is way past time for them and us to act as if our troops are as intelligent as the Pentagon claims they are. More important let both our troops and us behave and act as if THEY did take their oath to the Consitution more serious than loyalty to any party or politician – MORE ON THAT LATER.

A rule of thumb that must be applied by any parade sponsors, planners, or organizers is that IF you intend discriminating against patriotic dissident groups, you cannot legally use (City, County, State, or Federal) taxpayer dollars for any subsidy of your event even if it is by split donations from the public for a so-called private event.

In fact, by definition, if a parade or other observance is promoted as let’s say a City of Dayton, or Columbus, Ohio fireworks display and parade, and a portion of the funding came out of city coffers, and city employees were used in any of the planning, one cannot exclude people or groups based on race, religion, national origin, or political views.

That said, I am asking that any organization that has AGAINST or PEACE in their logo/banner and patriotically participates in a public sponsored parade or related event, PLEASE ensure that a photo and story of your float, display, or marching group gets posted across the Internet, especially to Independent Media outlets, like Air America and such. Wake up, it is the Internet age, who needs mainstream media, only those who do not know what a computer is.  Despite folks living longer, computer illiterate people are becoming a minority within any voting block.

I want to give a very PROUD, and of course PATRIOTIC, military SALUTE to the members of Veterans for PEACE who took the initiative to create this moving expression of our first amendment rights.

Robert L. Hanafin Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired (69-94)

A year ago in preparation to patriotically observe our nation’s birth, a nation that would never have been born without DISSENT and REBELLION against a tyrannical colonial and imperialist power, the British Empire, Minnesota Veterans for PEACE (VFP) member Peter Edmunds, some friends, and supporters decided to build a float to protest the war in Iraq, they did so thinking it would be a better way of promoting their views than by standing on street corners in small Minnesota cities with a few homemade signs that very few who could not relate to the Iraq War would pay any attention to.

But the float Edmunds and his VFP colleagues took to parades last summer in primarily conservative areas of rural Minnesota did much more than deliver an antiwar message. It stirred debate over the Constitutionality of exclusion from parades and national patriotic observances, and attacks on First Amendment Rights (Freedom of Speech and Assembly) that could compete with attacks on Second Amendment Rights (the right for American’s to own weapons).

It’s created quite a stir, and more media attention than the anti-war movement normally gets from local and state media.

Two weeks prior to last years July 4th parade, event directors in Virginia, Minnesota banned the VFP float from the Land of the Loon Festival, (say that with a straight face without thinking Loonies) http://www.landoftheloonfestival.com/parade/ saying VFP’s “NO MORE WAR” message and accompanying tally of U.S. fatalities killed in the War on Terror was too political for their event.

Upon close examination of the event, it was and will be sort of an Arts and Crafts Event, and this year will be an All Class Reunion (scholastic theme). Thus, any dissident who graduated from any school in Virginia, MN either leaves your anti-war signs and floats home or in other words, “Patriotic Dissidents Need Not Apply.”

With that said, how many Patriotic or related national observance planners who now exclude Patriotic Dissidents from OUR July 4th are Irish-Americans. Did you know that once upon a time IN AMERICA – the sign – IRISH NEED NOT APPLY, was not only legal but normal, socially acceptable behavior of freedom-loving Americans?

That said how many non-political, non-partisan parade and national patriotic event planners happen to be black or Hispanic yet choose to exclude those who disagree with you politically or otherwise from OUR JULY 4th?

Now, we know nothing like this ever happened in Minnesota, because it only happened in the South, (Dream ON) it was called Jim Crow laws, and it was legal and normal, socially acceptable behavior in our freedom-loving America.

Folks I’m trying to get a message across to you. Despite the feeling, I get sometimes that given freedom isn’t free nor a reality within the United States, the old cliché AMERICA LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT is something I could agree to and LEAVE. However, let me see a show of hands, in fact, several million Amens to this – I LOVE AMERICA AND I REFUSE TO LEAVE HER TO FASCISTS!

So, I’m embracing a new patriotic phrase that is far less hateful, in fact, one that I found right here on ProgressOhio:

AMERICA, LOVE IT OR FIX IT!!!

If not, it may but take another New York minute for Colored and Mexican need not apply or not welcome signs of days gone by to be replaced by UNAMERICAN or UNPATRIOTIC AMERICANS NEED NOT APPLY. Because the real message behind exclusion or ban from OUR NATIONAL PATRIOTIC OBSERVANCES is PRO-WAR MONGERS ONLY NEED APPLY!!!

Frankly, despite making this patriot sick to his stomach, THEY can get away with it for NOW. WE THE PEOPLE changed (or I think we did) Jim Crow laws and black people are no longer sitting at the back of the bus, by-law. Well, Mexicans are still pretty much not Welcome in America but thank God above, they are not going to allow themselves to be scapegoats for the War on Terror.

How come when most suspected Terrorists are either already here or coming from Canadian entry points, the Minuteman Militia mentality of far too many Americans looks toward the Mexican border to bash?

Regardless, last July 4th, similar concerns were raised in Conservative strongholds like Biwabik, Gilbert, and Aurora, Minnesota that being pro-War is not a political ideology, it was patriotic, but being anti-War was.

By the same token and measurement, the American Legion should not be allowed to participate in any more parades until that organization ceases to have a political agenda that includes blind support for President Bush in Iraq or anywhere else he (or his replacement) wants to invade. The Legion is not only a controversial organization if it were not controversial, but Congress also would not have fundraising watchdogs keeping an eye on the Legion (and VFW).

The good news is that no other town in Minnesota that VFP applied to express their patriotic zeal rejected the float, communities across northern Minnesota and Wisconsin are still abuzz. The Float creators were in fact invited to events in areas outside their own community. Frankly, I can see locale or residence as being a legitimate reason and concern to bar folks who disagree with your town’s views from any patriotic event. If the float was not created by residents of the local community, then I can see not only a legal but reasonable reason to exclude them and their message of PEACE from my War Mongering Town.

According to Edmunds, the 68-year-old VFP member,  “It created a discussion that we’re very pleased is going on.” Edmunds, a Navy veteran and retired owner of a construction business who lives in Solon Springs, Wis., and is a member of the Duluth chapter of Veterans for Peace, “It’s just healthy [therapeutic against war mongering]. There’s too much of this not talking about the war.”

I have to not only give Brother Edmunds beaucoup KUDOS, and salute him, but also strongly agree with him that it is neither patriotic nor decent American citizenship, in fact downright UN-AMERICAN to not talk about the war. War impacts all of us regardless if we are cheerleaders, in the cheering section or have the brains to question what is going down. Let me see a show of hands and several million Amens to this. How many who will eventually read my expression of freedom agree that not talking about the war really helped Vietnam Vets upon return to America? How many of you seriously believe that not talking about the War, really Supports Our Troops. If you do, then do you know what you are agreeing to?

Unless they’ve drunk Bush’s Jim Jones cool-aid, those who honorably served yet question the war are not rightfully considered VETERANS, and YOU allow such a disgrace, via ignorance, and SILENCE, if nothing more. Speaking as a veteran of two wars and father of a kid lost to this one, I must say YOU ARE SICK to expect our troops not to talk about their war be they for it, against it, or do not give a damn what WE think who was NOT THERE!

Thank God, the VFP flatbed-trailer float appeared in more than a dozen parades over the past two years. It carries a two-sided billboard that reads “For Children, For Veterans, For Mothers, For the Planet, NO MORE WAR.” Frankly there was nothing anti-military about it, and unlike some fanatical right-wing religious sect that damns our troops for our nation allowing Homosexuality, the VFP Float had and has no intention of going near anyone’s funeral. The truck pulling the trailer carries a sign with up-to-date U.S. casualty figures in large, black numerals and the words, “How many more must die before we say enough?”

In my eyes, that is more appropriate and supportive of our troops, because we want to keep them alive than some right-wing religious fanatics (evangelicals out of control to the point that even evangelicals despise them) blame our troops for their government allowing homosexuality. That is something that I might accept as weird out of Congress, but not from some American citizens claiming they speak of God. So much for those who THINK they speak for our Lord.

Above  IS NOT a doctored photo, I’m not a perfect Christian, but I’m a decent one who seriously believes Our Lord and God would be deeply offended by this idol worshiping of Jesus. Anyone who happens to be driving between Dayton, Ohio, and Cincinnati, Ohio, and parts south on Interstate 75 will find this Drowning Jesus as the locals jokingly refer to it on the left-hand side of the expressway.

Tell you what, my fellow Veterans who can THINK for yourselves, even those who just found out you could. I’m still receiving mass mailings from the Democratic (and Republican) Party to donate to this candidate or that candidate who has yet to end the Iraq War nor succeeded in acquiring an exit strategy. I’m not talking about trying to negotiate an exit plan. You cannot negotiate an exit plan when you consistently vote to give G.W. Bush (and his successor) never-ending blank check(s)  fearing you will hurt our troop’s feelings as you are allowing them to be KILLED twiddling your thumbs!

If anyone is a member of a patriotic group in Ohio (or in your state) who is planning on doing something like this, by all means, contact me and not only will I donate anything I would have given a politician who cannot relate to Iraqnam, but I will help you create a work of Peaceful and Patriotic Art.

That reminds me, PEACE IS PATRIOTIC YOU KNOW, and not only during the July 4th Sales Events. When I was a young Lieutenant in Strategic Air Command (SAC) that no longer exists as such. Every B-52 and Command letterhead had these words on it, “PEACE IS OUR PROFESSION!”

Imagine how many SUVs and pick-up trucks went ON SALE this past July 4th, and most will not have been at Used Cars or Dealerships. THAT is but one cost of War Mongering. Does America deserve it. Well, did America deserve a blood bath in the 19th century for making slavery socially and religiously acceptable? YOU DECIDE!

AMERICA, LOVE IT OR FIX IT!

Ok, every story has two sides, Deanna Mickelson, a parade director in Biwabik, MN said that some [pro-War] veterans and mothers who have lost sons in Iraq have told her that they “are just mortified by the float,” as well as by some of the signs held by Veterans for Peace members. Among the more offensive signs, she said, is one that reads “Our troops — misused abused.”

THE TRUTH HURTS DOES IT NOT!

What really concerns me is the unpatriotic and UN-AMERICAN fact that the feelings and views of Veterans and Mothers who lost sons (and daughters) in Iraq, yet question the cause and the war, are not only worthless but socially unacceptable. What mortifies our military family is that freedom-loving Americans allow only a one-sided, pro-war view to be given an allusion of respectability when the number of American citizens half-heartedly or hypocritically committed to the War on Terror is far larger than those expected to do the dirty work for us.

Not, only that but when anyone questions, I mean really questions someone who lost a love one in Iraq or Afghanistan, it sickens me to hear them even mention G.W. Bush’s name in the same breath with their child. I could feel sensitivity for their loss, if they did not make it clear their child died for G.W. Bush. That is SAD!

I no longer encourage anyone’s child to go into the Armed Forces, because our military family seriously does not want any American citizen to have to sadly say their child died for a POLITICIAN – come on now. Had those who lost a loved one limited their pain, hurt, and mourning to “our child died for his/her country,” we could relate, but to passionately say that your child died for G.W. Bush, John Kerry, John McCain, or Barrack Obama, come on folks  THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THAT, and such parents should get the exact POLITICAL sympathy they display nothing more, nothing less.

For those of you who feel that I’m coming down too hard on folks who lost a loved one to Bush’s War, so be it, I earned the right to not give them a pass more than most of YOU!

How long have YOU ignored those Gold Star Mothers (and Dads) who lost someone in the war and yet questions WHY? Think about it, who exactly rarely if ever says their child died for a noble cause or Bush. That is ludicrous and amounts to saying they died for Caesar or the Empire.

Those who created the float say it is important to call attention to the cost of war. I must again add that even if a half dozen parents feel they’ve lost their child for an unworthy cause, or a government or people who en mass just doesn’t give a dump, that too needs to be UNDERSTOOD. Military families who are being exploited and abused, especially the National Guard, we are not all clones drugged and numb on NEOCON cool-aid. If that IS the kind of Armed Forces we have, and YOU want, than American Freedom is seriously in trouble that no July 4th allusion is going to fix.

“When you think about war, how can you not think about the people who died?” said Karen Olsen, Veterans for Peace member in Mountain Iron, MN. “It goes kind of hand in hand.” I must add that every child that loses their life in Iraq or anywhere else leaves behind an extended family that feels the pain regardless how we view WAR. If losing your child makes you love war so much that you want other children to die for G.W. Bush, I can’t relate nor sympathize with your loss. Why?

Because you are going to get other young Americans killed without the nation making a commitment to win let alone participate in Iraqnam. Sorry, but I share your hurt, I sincerely do, but I cannot condone your illogic. Don’t you dare send another child off to die in Bush’s war, because you lost yours? How dare you!

You are more than welcome to take your hurt and pain out on me, I too have nothing else to lose but my life, and I do not relish losing it, but I’m not afraid to for what I believe in. I’m certainly not going to waste my life on some POLITICIAN. I would be downright ashamed if my parents told the world that I died for ANY POLITICIAN including the Commander-In-Chief. I prefer dying for the U.S. Constitution, my family, and my nation – ALL OF IT!

Freedom of speech

Mickelson said Biwabik parade directors were so uncertain about whether to allow the float in their holiday parade that they planned to poll residents on the subject during a recent community function.

Wrong, if a national patriotic event held at the city, county, or state level uses even one dollar of taxpayer monies, parade planners either have to forfeit taxpayer funding or call a town hall meeting to make such political decisions. BTW-it makes no sense to ban any controversial group or political message if it takes a political action to decide what is the right or moral thing to do.

Last year the Constitutional controversy was resolved when the VFP float was INVITED to a July 4th parade in Superior, Wis., so no poll was necessary. If a poll of citizens had been taken similar to a citizen referendum or vote on a tax levy, that would seriously have given VFP the grounds to take the city of Biwabik to court.

If the ACLU could find it in their hearts and pocketbooks to allow Nazis to march in Skokie, Illinois then I’m certain there is a Constitutional legal network somewhere that will eventually step forward and say, “No more Jim Crow laws on Patriotic Americans who agree with most American citizens and not with warmongers.”

“That made things a lot easier for me,” Mickelson said. It let her off the hook until this year. We shall see.

In Aurora, MN Mayor Bill Ojala, a World War II veteran and a Veterans for Peace member, said as long as public money is involved in [a] parade, “in no way are we going to trample on anybody’s right to freedom of expression.

“The Fourth is always a robust celebration of democracy and we’re going to keep it that way,” added Ojala, 82, a longtime critic of the war who marched through his city with the float.

Until recently, Edmunds said that reaction has been subdued. I would have to agree. We are now down to the final stretch on an election that will decide if America continues in a BACKWARD direction toward Jim Crow, or a forward direction that not only takes back freedom but maybe even punishes those who took it away. One can only have an AMERICAN DREAM.

“Universally, it stops the conversation,” he said. “It’s eerie. You’ll hear all this chatter, and then the float will come by and people stop talking.

SPECIAL NOTE to judges and lawyers who will eventually hear cases like this, when American patriots have their freedom of religion, speech, or related expression taken from them. “Whether they are for or against [the VFP float] you don’t know. The VFP members had a few thumbs down or a finger up [the G.W. Bush salute] along the way, but most of the people, if they had a reaction, the reaction was positive.”

That changed when organizers of parades in Virginia, MN, and Hayward, Wis., told Veterans for Peace the float was not welcome.

The timing was the issue in Hayward — parade organizers were honoring an injured veteran returning from Iraq.

Take close notice to that statement above, then THINK about this. Do you think a wounded Iraq or Afghanistan Vets views on their war matter when they file a VA Claim or seek treatment? Now, what’s wrong with this response from Virginia, and Hayward. Is this the America that I gave near thirty years of my life to defend? Woo is me!

Nope, I served so that all views would be accepted even if not respected.

In fact, I read somewhere recently that pro-war opposition to allowing any dissenting freedom of expression, they used the sorry excuse that an angry Iraq Veteran came up to anti-Iraqnam Veterans and said, “I served in Iraq so that you could have your free speech.”  Trying to make a point the pro-war, pro-Bush mongers, said the kid was very upset that what he/she had served to protect was being expressed – FREEDOM OF SPEECH. He/she cannot have it both ways.

I would have turned to the young man and said, “Well thank you very much, I served for our right to disagree and express my opinion too, I’m glad we are in agreement and pray he didn’t slug me or worse.” Seriously, media folks need to begin checking the identification of those on both sides who claim to be an Iraq War Vet, heck Veteran period. If mainstream media can waste their time either ignoring the war, or covering one partisan view or another, they can spend some time to certify that the person speaking is a VETERAN.

I guarantee you that if this was done, the bluff that mainstream VSOs pull on Congress that they can bring several million votes concentrated to end a politicians career or get mandatory funding, or an amendment to the constitution to protect Old Glory as they desecrate her would be EXPOSED as what it is – A BLUFF.

They just might have several million members, but closer scrutiny of DD-214s would surely be very embarrassing. Unfortunately, to all sides concerned, so let’s not go there anymore. We had enough of that in 2004.

The pro-war group said ‘This is a community going through enough trauma with this…handsome young man who came home injured,’ ” Edmunds said. “We just said, ‘We’ll live to go to Hayward another day.’ ”

How many young men have died or become wounded like this Iraq or Afghanistan Vet, and how does he/she feel about their war a year later, that is the question. Now, this is the sorriest excuse yet. In fact, being honest and telling the truth, that if your group or organization did not have Bush/Cheney stickers on your float, you ain’t WELCOME.

That said, why WE would want to even go somewhere we are not welcome, especially if the truth is THEY are in the IMMORAL minority, and will eventually belong in an even smaller minority. The only exception will be that THEY will not be excluded from patriotic events organized by Veterans who have intelligence and can THINK. I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for them to come. They would only make it an issue, just as we are, IF they were legally banned from expressing their patriotic zeal. Guess what, they are just as patriotic as we are even if we do not glorify WAR and they do.

The float ’scared children’

In Virginia, MN, the issue was more political.

“Our bylaws clearly state we do not have any political solicitation in our parade,” said Barb Fivecoate, a Land of the Loon spokeswoman. “Our festival is a family festival and we want to keep it upbeat and a happy day and a happy weekend for everybody.”

Fine, that said, I do not believe that the VFW has a foreign policy political agenda on record, however, the American Legion does, and thus the Legion is a political organization. In fact, the VFW has a political action committee arm that also defines the VFW as a political organization. When any Veterans group allies or aligns itself with one partisan party or another, they are no longer strictly a Veterans Issue organization or Service Organization, they are a political lobbying group no different from organized labor and UNIONS.

Although, Veterans in most unions and within organized labor realize these Nationalistic groups are a JOKE.

Olsen said that explanation came only after Veterans for Peace was told the float scared children at another parade the week before. She said she was later told that the float also offended local VFW members. Finally, “We were just told ‘No, you are not welcome. Just leave,’ “Olsen said.

Hold the phone, it is our children who will eventually have to fight the War on Terror, and certainly have to PAY FOR IT! If they aren’t scared by the prospect of war, Lord helps us all. That beats bombarding children with video games based on the horrors of war for ENJOYMENT and RECREATION. Just how are these people raising their children to also be warmongers? So much for freedom-loving Americans.

At one point, Edmunds said, a parade director threatened to call the police.

My response to that is let them. We’ve held street corner demonstrations (not too many) in the Republican stronghold of Beavercreek, OH on public property that we pay our taxes to maintain. We do notify the police we are using our freedom to assemble peacefully. If local law enforcement likes it or not, they will send patrols to our location to ensure it doesn’t turn into a free for all. The only question remains is what are the attitudes of law enforcement officers toward WAR? Are they Veterans too, who may not agree with us, but will protect our right to protest the way they would reluctantly protect a Nazi or White Racists rally somewhere.

Olsen said the group contacted the American Civil Liberties Union, which said that [parade organizers] could keep the group from participating since the parade was privately run.

The second that public funds or public lands are used to exclusion it becomes an issue of Violating the group’s constitutional rights and will be challenged in court. We may not be able to sue the parade planners, but the city can be sued.

Within days, however, [pro-war] parade organizers were being second-guessed.

“How could you deny a float permit to the Veterans for Peace?” one reader said in an opinion piece in the Mesabi Daily News. “These are war veterans who fought for this country to uphold the freedoms we cherish. One of these freedoms is free speech. … Shame on you.”

More recently, a Daily News online survey asked readers if they thought the [pro-war] committee “made the right decision” in banning the float. The results for such a small town were 206-98 against that decision in the unscientific poll. POINT: it reflects a national sentiment that is for PEACE, and freedom of expression.

“A lot of people have a sour taste about the group and the float, but at the same time they’ll defend their right to get their message across,” said Bill Hanna, executive editor of the Daily News.

That was my point about any irate Iraq or Afghanistan Veteran coming at me and saying he/she served so that my right to dissent was protected. Since I did the same, not only can I relate, I can appreciate him/her serving so I could disagree, so why are you in my face. No real Veteran would do that!!! That is why I call for media reporters to ask for some form of identification before quoting that a Veteran said this or that.

In fact, in the few interviews I’ve granted where the issue has diverse views from Veterans, I agree to show both my military ID and DD-214 if necessary, but I will not do any interview if the other so-called Veterans are not willing to do the same. If the reporter doesn’t ask for confirmation he/she is quoting a Veteran, they do not interview me. I’m no HAM!

Edmunds, meanwhile, said he has been pleasantly surprised by all the fuss. He said he and his colleagues recently received an invitation to participate in a parade in Bovey, Minn. And a radio DJ in Texas called him for an on-air interview after hearing the story on national news.

“This is a public relations perfect storm,” Edmunds said. “It’s crazy in a way. But I think we’ve hit the right time and we’ve created a discussion.

“Democracy is a discussion and discussions are messy. But that’s how we make decisions.”

Portions originally published by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Reprinted only with commentary to educate the public that there are two sides of every story, but no one side should dominate the media, argument, or PATRIOTISM.

This is my Independence Day sentiment, and I’m willing to share it with you if you seriously want INDEPENDENCE!

Robert L. Hanafin
SP/5, U.S. Army (69-76)
Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired (77-94)
Reference Source: Common Dreams – June 2008

Robert L. Hanafin

Readers are more than welcome to use the articles I’ve posted on Veterans Today, I’ve had to take a break from VT as Veterans Issues and Peace Activism Editor and staff writer due to personal medical reasons in our military family that take away too much time needed to properly express future stories or respond to readers in a timely manner.

My association with VT since its founding in 2004 has been a very rewarding experience for me.

Retired from both the Air Force and Civil Service. Went in the regular Army at 17 during Vietnam (1968), stayed in the Army Reserve to complete my eight year commitment in 1976. Served in Air Defense Artillery, and a Mechanized Infantry Division (4MID) at Fort Carson, Co. Used the GI Bill to go to college, worked full time at the VA, and non-scholarship Air Force 2-Year ROTC program for prior service military. Commissioned in the Air Force in 1977. Served as a Military Intelligence Officer from 1977 to 1994. Upon retirement I entered retail drugstore management training with Safeway Drugs Stores in California. Retail Sales Management was not my cup of tea, so I applied my former U.S. Civil Service status with the VA to get my foot in the door at the Justice Department, and later Department of the Navy retiring with disability from the Civil Service in 2000.

I’ve been with Veterans Today since the site originated. I’m now on the Editorial Board. I was also on the Editorial Board of Our Troops News Ladder another progressive leaning Veterans and Military Family news clearing house.

I remain married for over 45 years. I am both a Vietnam Era and Gulf War Veteran. I served on Okinawa and Fort Carson, Colorado during Vietnam and in the Office of the Air Force Inspector General at Norton AFB, CA during Desert Storm. I retired from the Air Force in 1994 having worked on the Air Staff and Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon.