Reply #21: Operation Rapid American Withdrawal [View All]

I participated in Operation Rapid American Withdrawal along with Jane Fonda at Valley Forge Pennsylvania. Fonda was very comfortable with the vets and, along with Donald Sutherland and other well known people, walked many miles with us and shared the food that supporters provided. It was very clear to me that she was no traitor, or no more of a traitor than I was since the right wingers at the time labeled all of us anti-war vets with the same smear.

The local American Legion had declared that they were out to capture Fonda and disrupt our gathering. When they showed up, about 30 Korea or WW II age vets, we went out to meet them at the crest of a hill. We expected a hostile atmosphere but ended up having a civil exchange. Perhaps it was the fact that most us younger vets had worn the medals and ribbons we had earned on our rag tag uniforms. There were several Silver Stars and many Purple Hearts among us. The Legion guys left after a while and we went back to camp.

It's always easy to demonize a person when it's done in the abstract. Not so easy when it's face-to-face.