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| p e a c e v i l l e NEWS & INFO FOR & ABOUT THE PEACE COMMUNITY OF NASHVILLE & MIDDLE TENNESSEE |
| VFP has more than 3,000 members nationwide. Most members are combat veterans, all strongly believe that war is not the way to solve the world's problems. VFP has taken a strong stand against the current call for war with Iraq. Powell contends that even those who believe in the concept of a "just" war have not heard convincing arguments for attacking Iraq. His cited research (see www.veteransforpeace.org) that shows invading Iraq is more about oil than helping the its people. He noted that the US destroyed the country's infrastructure during the Gulf War. More than a decade of continued bombing coupled with international sanctions have decimated the people, with one million deaths as a result of these actions. Both government and military experts contend that a new war and following occupation of Iraq would cost hundreds of thousands of lives and cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The three men spoke briefly on why they were involved in the organization and pursuit of peaceful methods to solve conflict. All spoke of both military and civilian life experiences that had led to examining and reshaping their views about war, in general, and American war, in particular. When questioned by an audience member about how he could be so critical of our government, Mr. Powell confessed to waging a long-time inner struggle with his beliefs. He spoke of the good and just America he had been raised to believe in and the violent and domineering reality that he had experienced as an adult. He explained that, for most of his life, he supported the actions of his government. Despite admitting and being ashamed of the unnecessary violence that both he and his fellow soldiers had committed against innocent Koreans, it was not until the Gulf War that he had a reached a point to take a stand against the perpetual, gratuitous violence promoted and used by the US in the name of peace. Powell stressed that he believes most Americans, even some in our government, have good hearts and want to do the right thing. He separates them from those in power who evoke patriotism and a sense of moral superiority in order gain public support to wage war and violence throughout the world--often to promote their own economic, religious, political and personal agenda. World War II veteran, Lincoln Grahlfs, spoke of being labeled a hero. He said going to war was not heroic, nearly every young man from his generation signed on to go to war. His reward for answering the call of his country was suffering health problems from radiation exposure, which occurred while working on US military nuclear experiments after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He told of how he had dedicated himself to telling other Americans about the downside of war that was rarely mentioned. He also noted that only recently have people come to know and believe accounts by veterans about the health problems they suffered from being knowingly exposed to radiation by the US government. Charlie Atkins recounted how, as the youngest of a long line of veterans, he had been disappointed that he was too young to fight in WWII, but managed to get into the Korean War. He went in thinking that he and his comrades were protecting the people in the southern part of the country from the evil communists in the north. That was what his government had told him. What he discovered was a US war machine that laid waste to an entire people and their homeland by bombing every village and hamlet in Korea, from north to south. There was no victory. Fifty years later, Korea remains divided. US troops still occupy the south. The main message presented by all three veterans was that they have come to believe that war is not just. It has not and does not solve problems. The problems that caused the war must still be worked out, peacefully, after all the bloodshedding and destruction. War may stifle symtoms but it does not kill the disease. War is no solution. It is an endless cycle of violence and non-solution. Powell did acknowledge that not all members of VFP were pacifist, however. Veterans For Peace web site: http://veteransforpeace.org/ Local veteran, Warren Duzak, had invited the three veterans to come to Nashville. Duzak, Ray Conaster, Dan Sweeton and other local veterans have been working to start a local VFP chapter. Their efforts came to fruition on Friday, November 15, when most of the veterans who came out to see the Powell, Grahlfs and Atkins decided to join the new local chapter, surpassing the ten-person minimum needed to start a chapter. VFP is made up of both veterans and non veterans. Only a veteran can become full member of VFP; a non veteran can join as an associate member. Info about local VFP chapter, email Warren Duzak @ wdukak@earthlink.net Speaker Bios Woody Powell is currently the National Administrator for Veterans for Peace (VFP). He is also a Korean War veteran, served in the USAF. Mr. Powell is the author of "Two Walk The Golden Road," dual autobiographies of two soldiers, one Chinese, the other American, who were enemies during the Korean War, but are now close and loving friends. Charlie Atkins earned the Purple Heart while serving in the Army during the Korean war. He is also a past Board member and Treasurer for VFP. Charlie has been the primary instigator of the Peace Studies program at the University of Missouri - Columbia. Lincoln Grahlfs served in the Navy during World War II. He has also written two books: one on radiation survivors, "Voices From Ground Zero"; the other a recent memoir about his days on a sea-going tug, entitled "Undaunted." Mr. Lincoln is a PhD Sociologist and still teaches at the college level. |
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| Nashville, TN (Nov. l6, 2002) - Three members of Veterans For Peace (VFP) stopped by the Nashville Peace and Justice Center on their way to protest the School of the Americas at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Twenty people, mostly veterans, came to meet Korean War Veteran (USAF) and National Administrator for Veterans for Peace Wilson "Woody" Powell, Purple Heart recipient and Korean War veteran (Army) Charlie Atkins, and World War II veteran (Navy) Lincoln Grahlfs. |
| L-R: Front row: Charlie Atkins, Lincoln Grahlfs, Woody Powell; Back row: new members of Nashville VFP Michael August, ?, ?, Warren Duzak |
| Veterans For Peace (VFP) Come to Nashville to Speak Out Against War With Iraq Local VFP Chapter Formed During Their Visit |