Dear Sergeant Skipper,

I am an Alabama white man, combat disables veteran, and a member of DAV, VFW, Legion, etc. I saw your letter in Legion Magazine.

I can tell you from personal experience that it takes more guts to lead a peace demonstration in the USA than a combat charge in Vietnam. I have led peace demonstrations and combat charges. I was in Sicily, at Salerno, at Venafro, Cassino, Anzio, and in Normandy. I also spent a year POW after being wounded twice in Normandy and picked up by enemy medics. I was with the 82nd A/B division 504, 505, and 508 regiments. I have more than 5 wounds not counting minor wounds. I had five major combat campaigns. I have a sack full of combat awards and I am presently rated 110% plus combat disabled by V.A. I know all about war, and the causes of war.

I am opposed to war… all war! The peaceniks are the real hero’s of our times, they are the real patriots, and that doesn’t detract from you contribution nor mine in war. If more people had demonstrated for peace there would have been no WWII nor Vietnam.

Building bigger bombs and guns is not supporting you. But working for peace is supporting you, by making war impossible, so that we can turn our efforts to constructive things. The war on poverty is a noble struggle.

Fighting in a war is the easy way to work for peace. I went in the Army at about 15, came out about five years later with white hair and wrecked physically, mentally and emotionally. And the war mongers were working on the next war (Korea) even then.

Somebody has to stand up and demonstrate for peace. But it is not easy nor popular. But it must be done because there is no suitable alternative.

Did you ever walk through a street with raging and howling maniacs on all sides of you, cursing you spitting on you, cuffing you, threatening you, hitting you with everything from iron pipes to rotten eggs? Give me a nice combat charge anytime. Most of those reviling the peaceniks are yellow 4-F’s whose only service was in some safe HQ, if they served at all.

Your ex – combat veterans are working for peace, not more war. The day must come when war will cease to be a factor in the affairs of men. Yes Sgt Skipper our combat men are being betrayed but not by the peaceniks but by the ones who want more war and will do anything to get it. I know what you are going through. I wish for you a safe return and ask you to join me in a “Protest of war for Peace”. Meanwhile with every good wish for your good health and safety, I am, truly,

Yours in Comradeship.

M.G. Marsh 

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