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Student demonstrations correspondence, 1965
1965-10-21 Clippings Page 4
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Bailed In Draft Case David Miller, 22, Syracuse, N.Y., leaves county courthouse in Manchester Friday morning after hearing before U.S. marshal on charges he burned draft card publicly in New York City last weekend. Miller was released on $500 bail for appearance in Federal Court Oct. 27. With him is Catherine Swann New York City, friend. (AP Wirephoto to The Sentinel last night) After Draft Card Burned Ex-GI Leads Walkout At Antiwar Meeting IOWA CITY, Iowa A self described retired Army sergeant, who said he saw service in Vietnam, walked out of a pacifist meeting at the University of Iowa Thursday night and about half the audience of 300 followed him. One of those who didn't was Stephen Smith, 20, sophomore from Marion, Iowa, who publicly burned what he said was his draft card Wednesday. THE SERGEANT, wearing the green beret of the Army Special Forces and walking with a limp, told the audience nobody likes war but no one has the right to oppose what the government believes is right. "You have been brought up from a long line of generations which have not turned their backs on the law of the land," he said. "It's your business to go to Viet Nam to support our government's policy" The sergeant, in full uniform, said later he did not want to be identified because "I don't want the publicity, I don't want my name splashed across the front pages. " THE MEETING had been called by the students for a Democratic Society to support Smith's card-burning incident. When the sergeant left, about half of the audience in the Yale Room at the University Memorial Union did likewise. Prof. James H. Murray, head of the university science department advised the remaining students not to issue a policy statement in support of Smith for fear they might also be liable to prosecution. However, the group approved a statement read by Daniel Leshay of Iowa City. It said in part: "THE UNIVERSITY of Iowa Students for a Democratic Society offers its complete support to Steve Smith as he prepares to fight a five-year sentence. "Although we do not feel that the burning of draft cards will help stop the dirty war in Viet Nam nor the trend toward suppression of dissent in the United States, we applaud his moral courage necessary to combat the massive power of the United States government." Marine Chastises "Babbling Nitwits" MOLINE, Ill. (UPI) A young Marine officer, writing to his wife and their home town newspaper denounced the anti Viet Nam demonstrators as a "group of babbling nitwits" who "have offered comfort and aid to our enemy." First Lt. Ward S. Johnson, 23, in a letter scrawled on seven sheets of lined notepaper, wrote from his post in the Vietnamese jungle. "I have also developed a hatred for some of you at home." " I AM SPEAKING of those of you who carry idiotic placards denouncing our stand in Viet Nam and march in circles that closely resemble your pattern of thinking," he wrote "And I am speaking to you 'intellectuals' college students and professors, who undermine our efforts with your 'teach-ins'., And I am speaking to those of you who have called the Marines in Viet Nam animals, butchers and killer of women and children and have even offered comfort and aid to our enemy." THE UNIVERSITY of Illinois graduate spoke of what the Viet Nam war is like - " At night, a rat can always be found in one of our tents., We have learned to ignore them." And he praised his platoon- a collection of "war babies and high school dropouts" - who he said have done a tremendous job. LT. WARD S. JOHNSON ... 'Why not volunteer?' Johnson added: "I have a feeling inside of me that has nearly reached the boiling point for another group of you - the ever increasing group of American youths that practice the art of draft dodging. I understand that some of you even rushed your marriages to beat the draft deadline. "DON'T GET ME wrong - I agree with you that the government shouldn't have to draft our young men, the cream of our generation into the armed services. The government shouldn't have to draft. Why in the hell don't you volunteer - I did!" Johnson's wife and his son, Gregory, 8 months, are staying at his parents' home in Moline. Johnson asked that his letter be passed onto the Moline Daily Dispatch, the local newspaper, which printed it on a fill page spread. Johnson said he wanted to ask the majority of Americans, "Doesn't that group of babbling nitwits that denounce our stand in Viet Nam arouse your anger? How in the hell can you permit the voices of a few thousands to be heard above your mil;lions?"
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Bailed In Draft Case David Miller, 22, Syracuse, N.Y., leaves county courthouse in Manchester Friday morning after hearing before U.S. marshal on charges he burned draft card publicly in New York City last weekend. Miller was released on $500 bail for appearance in Federal Court Oct. 27. With him is Catherine Swann New York City, friend. (AP Wirephoto to The Sentinel last night) After Draft Card Burned Ex-GI Leads Walkout At Antiwar Meeting IOWA CITY, Iowa A self described retired Army sergeant, who said he saw service in Vietnam, walked out of a pacifist meeting at the University of Iowa Thursday night and about half the audience of 300 followed him. One of those who didn't was Stephen Smith, 20, sophomore from Marion, Iowa, who publicly burned what he said was his draft card Wednesday. THE SERGEANT, wearing the green beret of the Army Special Forces and walking with a limp, told the audience nobody likes war but no one has the right to oppose what the government believes is right. "You have been brought up from a long line of generations which have not turned their backs on the law of the land," he said. "It's your business to go to Viet Nam to support our government's policy" The sergeant, in full uniform, said later he did not want to be identified because "I don't want the publicity, I don't want my name splashed across the front pages. " THE MEETING had been called by the students for a Democratic Society to support Smith's card-burning incident. When the sergeant left, about half of the audience in the Yale Room at the University Memorial Union did likewise. Prof. James H. Murray, head of the university science department advised the remaining students not to issue a policy statement in support of Smith for fear they might also be liable to prosecution. However, the group approved a statement read by Daniel Leshay of Iowa City. It said in part: "THE UNIVERSITY of Iowa Students for a Democratic Society offers its complete support to Steve Smith as he prepares to fight a five-year sentence. "Although we do not feel that the burning of draft cards will help stop the dirty war in Viet Nam nor the trend toward suppression of dissent in the United States, we applaud his moral courage necessary to combat the massive power of the United States government." Marine Chastises "Babbling Nitwits" MOLINE, Ill. (UPI) A young Marine officer, writing to his wife and their home town newspaper denounced the anti Viet Nam demonstrators as a "group of babbling nitwits" who "have offered comfort and aid to our enemy." First Lt. Ward S. Johnson, 23, in a letter scrawled on seven sheets of lined notepaper, wrote from his post in the Vietnamese jungle. "I have also developed a hatred for some of you at home." " I AM SPEAKING of those of you who carry idiotic placards denouncing our stand in Viet Nam and march in circles that closely resemble your pattern of thinking," he wrote "And I am speaking to you 'intellectuals' college students and professors, who undermine our efforts with your 'teach-ins'., And I am speaking to those of you who have called the Marines in Viet Nam animals, butchers and killer of women and children and have even offered comfort and aid to our enemy." THE UNIVERSITY of Illinois graduate spoke of what the Viet Nam war is like - " At night, a rat can always be found in one of our tents., We have learned to ignore them." And he praised his platoon- a collection of "war babies and high school dropouts" - who he said have done a tremendous job. LT. WARD S. JOHNSON ... 'Why not volunteer?' Johnson added: "I have a feeling inside of me that has nearly reached the boiling point for another group of you - the ever increasing group of American youths that practice the art of draft dodging. I understand that some of you even rushed your marriages to beat the draft deadline. "DON'T GET ME wrong - I agree with you that the government shouldn't have to draft our young men, the cream of our generation into the armed services. The government shouldn't have to draft. Why in the hell don't you volunteer - I did!" Johnson's wife and his son, Gregory, 8 months, are staying at his parents' home in Moline. Johnson asked that his letter be passed onto the Moline Daily Dispatch, the local newspaper, which printed it on a fill page spread. Johnson said he wanted to ask the majority of Americans, "Doesn't that group of babbling nitwits that denounce our stand in Viet Nam arouse your anger? How in the hell can you permit the voices of a few thousands to be heard above your mil;lions?"
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