VVAW is a national veterans ' organization that campaigns for peace , justice , and the rights of all United States military veterans. It publishes a twice-yearly newsletter, The Veteran ; this was earlier published more frequently as 1st Casualty β and then as Winter Soldier β VVAW identifies as anti-war and has roots in the s civil rights movement , though its members are not necessarily pacifists or civil rights activists. Membership has varied greatly, from almost 25, veterans during the height of the war to fewer than 2, since the late 20th century.
The group originated as a slogan carried by protestors during New York City's Spring Mobilization march. The march went from Central Park to the United Nations , with over , attendees. Speakers included Martin Luther King Jr. Benjamin Spock. During this march, about 20 veterans of the Vietnam War gathered under an impromptu banner reading 'Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Jan Barry Crumb , a West Point dropout who had served in the war as a radio specialist in an Army unit of a fixed-wing supply aircraft.
On June 1, , six veterans met in Jan Barry's apartment to found a new anti-war organization, [ 7 ] "at a time when the mainstream media was wholeheartedly The same year, year-old veteran Carl Douglas Rogers held a press conference [ which?
Soon, [ when? We believe that the conflict in which the United States is engaged in Vietnam is wrong, unjustifiable and contrary to the principles on which this country was founded.
We join the dissent of the millions of Americans against this war. We support our buddies still in Vietnam. We want them home alive. We want them home now.
