Vietnam Veterans Against the War
Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) is an organization founded in 1967 in New York City, aimed at opposing the Vietnam War and addressing the experiences of veterans. Gaining prominence in the early 1970s, VVAW became known for significant events such as Operation Rapid American Withdrawal, which symbolically linked veterans to Revolutionary War soldiers, and the Winter Soldier Investigation, where veterans shared testimonies about war crimes they witnessed or committed. The group's defining moment came with Dewey Canyon III in April 1971, featuring a congressional testimony and a dramatic ceremony in which veterans returned their medals, sparking controversy. VVAW also focused on psychological healing for veterans through "rap groups," where individuals could openly discuss their Vietnam experiences, providing a crucial support network during a time of societal stigma. Throughout the early 1970s, VVAW actively protested at significant political events and sought alliances with various social justice movements. Following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, the organization faced internal strife and a decline in membership, yet it maintained its opposition to U.S. military actions in subsequent decades. VVAW's legacy includes highlighting the role of veteran activism in the peace movement and offering support that helped many cope with their war experiences.
Vietnam Veterans Against the War
Identification Activist organization
Date Formed in 1967
Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) brought the credibility of combat veterans to the antiwar movement, addressed painful truths about the war, and provided veterans with psychological help.
VVAW was formed in New York City in 1967 and gained national attention in the early 1970’s. Events such as the Kent State massacre in 1970 and President Richard M. Nixon’s escalation of the war led VVAW to take action, starting with Operation Rapid American Withdrawal in 1970. This three-day march began in New Jersey and ended in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, a site chosen in order to link Vietnam veterans to Revolutionary War soldiers. In early 1971, VVAW gathered in Detroit for the Winter Soldier Investigation. Participants discussed war crimes that veterans claimed they committed or observed; this set the stage for Operation Dewey Canyon III in April, 1971.
Dewey Canyon III took place in Washington, D.C., and was VVAW’s defining event. Activities included testimony before the U.S. Congress and a memorial service for Vietnam casualties in Arlington National Cemetery. Former VVAW member John F. Kerry, later a U.S. senator and the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, described the Winter Soldier Investigation to Congress in a speech that remained controversial in subsequent decades. A ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in which more than one thousand veterans disowned their medals and other service decorations was even more contentious.
In addition to antiwar activism, VVAW helped veterans heal psychologically. Gatherings called “rap groups” started in 1970 as forums for veterans to discuss experiences in Vietnam and on the homefront. The groups offered peer therapy at a time when many Americans avoided and stigmatized Vietnam veterans. Government and private counseling programs that followed the rap group model began appearing later in the 1970’s.
VVAW remained a force for dissent in 1972 and 1973 by protesting at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions and during President Nixon’s inauguration for a second term. The group also reached out to advocates for the rights of women, workers, and ethnic and racial minority groups.
When the Vietnam War ended in 1975, VVAW entered a phase with internal conflict over ideology and tactics. Membership and activity declined dramatically in the late 1970’s, but the group survived and consistently opposed the U.S. government’s post-Vietnam military actions.
Impact
VVAW showed that peace activism was not confined to college campuses and kept pressure on a government that was simultaneously withdrawing from and escalating the Vietnam War. Some saw VVAW as patriotic; others saw it as treasonous and challenged the Winter Soldier Investigation testimony as well as the military records of VVAW members. In general, however, VVAW appears to have helped many veterans deal with their experiences during and after the war, both publicly and privately.
Bibliography
Hunt, Andrew E. The Turning: A History of Vietnam Veterans Against the War. New York: New York University Press, 1998.
Moser, Richard R. The New Winter Soldiers: GI and Veteran Dissent During the Vietnam Era. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1996.