Posted on 08/24/2005 8:52:07 AM PDT by Interesting Times
Al Hubbard at the VVAW's Winter Soldier Investigation, early 1971
Vietnam Veterans Against the War: Al Hubbard
Al Hubbard, a radical activist with ties to the Black Panthers and to the Peoples Coalition for Peace and Justice, joined the VVAW in late 1969 and was elevated to the top leadership position of Executive Secretary in early 1970. Hubbard, who said he had spent two years in Vietnam as an Air Force pilot and captain and had been wounded in a plane crash in Danang, impressed fellow organizers with his quick mind and militant rhetoric, advising activists to "resist the war in every way possible," and to "be prepared to put your own body on the line." Hubbard advocated turning the VVAW into an armed, revolutionary "weather vets" group, modeled on the Weathermen.
Hubbard worked to expand the VVAW, then primarily a clearinghouse for antiwar veteran speakers, into a national organization with self-sustaining chapters and regional coordinators. He also obtained 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status for the VVAW, making it eligible to receive public and private grants.
In August 1970, Hubbard convinced the leaders of the Citizens' Commission of Inquiry (CCI), a group dedicated to popularizing claims of U.S. war crimes, to join the VVAW, Jane Fonda, Mark Lane and others in organizing a national war crimes conference. Lane was the author of a book recounting U.S. atrocities in Vietnam -- many fabricated -- that Pulitzer prize-winning reporter Neil Sheehan later described in the New York Times as "irresponsible."
In the fall of 1970, Hubbard joined Jane Fonda on a national speaking tour that covered more than 50 college campuses, where they raised money for the VVAW and started new chapters.
In late January / early February 1971, Hubbard joined Fonda, Lane, John Kerry and others at the VVAW's "Winter Soldier Investigation" in Detroit, where more than 100 men who said they were veterans claimed to have participated in or witnessed war crimes. The CCI was not present, having dropped out after a dispute with the VVAW and Fonda over whether to include Mark Lane.
During the VVAW's April 1971 "Dewey Canyon III" protest in Washington, Hubbard appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" with John Kerry to claim that U.S. atrocities were commonplace. Days later, the NBC Nightly News revealed that Al Hubbard had not been an Air Force pilot and captain, as he had claimed, but a staff sergeant E-5 who worked as a flight engineer. In a June 1971 National Review article titled "Who is Al Hubbard?" journalist William Overend described his own research into Hubbard's military background, noting the refusal of CBS News and other media outlets to report what he had discovered -- that Hubbard had never been assigned to Vietnam and that his "wounds" were actually old sports injuries. Despite losing some prestige and influence in the wake of his exposure, Al Hubbard continued as a leader of the VVAW for another year.
In August 1971, Hubbard and John Kerry raised money from wealthy East Hampton liberals by showing clips from the Winter Soldier Investigation.
In November, Hubbard met with the North Vietnamese and Vietcong delegations in Paris. FBI records report that his travel expenses were paid by the Communist Party USA. About the same time, Hubbard also travelled to Moscow to receive an award from the Soviet Union.
In late December, Hubbard coordinated a series of actions intended to "put the issue of the war back on the front page." VVAW members took over the Statue of Liberty in New York, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, a military hospital in California, and the South Vietnamese consulate in San Francisco.
In February 1972, Hubbard spoke before a rally at the World Assembly for Peace in Paris, providing details about classified U.S. ship and aircraft movements to the delegates.
In March, Hubbard travelled to Hanoi with the communist folk singer Pete Seeger and met with North Vietnamese Vice-Premier Nguyen Duy Trinh.
In April, the VVAW's National Steering Committee met in Houston to adopt a less centralized structure, placing control of the organization in the hands of six national coordinators. Al Hubbard did not stand for re-election, saying he wanted a rest from his responsibilities.
VVAW ping...
I didn't know Al Hubbard was still alive. I heard that his boyfriend stabbed him.
Good job! Expose the truth - one loser at a time
VVAW, many of whom were NEVER in the service much less ever laced up a pair of combat boots, had a major problem, along with the rest of the "antiwar" protesters including Kerry, with a HUGE YELLOW STREAK running down their backsides. PERIOD!
Semper Fi,
Kelly
BTTT!!!!!!
I imagine there'll a whole lot more fake vets against this war. What's Hagel's real record? He looks like one of those band-aid Purple Heart pansies who just learned how to speak gruff to cover the simper.
Thanks for the ping!
Vietnam Veterans Against the War: I was a leader of that organization, can't you tell? Yes, didn't you notice how I kept that title and War Hero at the same time. Next time, I will catch the vote and bring in my North Vietnamese friends to help with this country.
/sarcasm off
Thank you for posting this. Many people need to know it.
Bump!
Thanks for the ping.....the younger crowd needs to be kept informed.......BUMP
Bump!
bttt. good review.
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