To those who are afraid of what will happen to the machinery of the draft I say-It should be eliminated as it is an irritating sore on the body of our laws and because it is both immoral and unconstitutional. Let's affirm our faith in the dream of our forefathers that created a freedom unknown to man anywhere. We can have a good volunteer army. We cannot defend freedom by depriving people of freedom.

To those who want to grant conditional amnesty based upon further involuntary servitude, I say-Read Amendment XIII to the Constitution and your oath that you took (if you are a government servant) in which you promised to uphold it. What about your pledge of allegiance to liberty and justice for all? Haven't you hurt these boys enough?*

To those who want to wait until the war is over and the unfortunate prisoners of war are returned. I say-Why prolong suffering that can be alleviated, why put off doing what you know is the right thing?

To those who say that some fled because they committed a real crime like stealing, I say-That is a separate matter and should be treated separately.

To those who merely ask for an apology because of the wrongs done to them, I say-You should be demanding justice and you should point your finger at those who victimized you and demand that they, the real criminals be brought to trial and receive justice.

To you who raise still further objections to amnesty I say-There can not be any valid objection except one. How can you grant amnesty, that is, forgive someone who has not done wrong but done right?

The issue is clear and simple. The only reason so many are having difficulty deciding what is right and what is wrong is that the defendants are innocent and the accusors are guilty.

LETTER FROM CELIA E. KAPLAN, NEW YORK, N.Y.

I hope this letter can be useful in the hearings. It may have already been read into the Congressional Records.

Sincerely,

CELIA KAPLAN.

DEAR MOM AND DAD: This war that has taken my life, and many thousands of others before me is immoral, unlawful, and an atrocity unlike any misfit of good sense and judgment known to man..

So, as I lie dead, please grant my last request. Help me to inform the American people-the silent majority who have not yet voiced their opinions.

Help me let them know that their silence is permitting this atrocity to go on and that my death will not be in vain if by prompting them to act I can in some way help to bring an end to the war that brought an end to my life...

Keith
KEITH FRANKLIN.

This letter was written to Mr. and Mrs, Charles Franklin of Salamanca, N.Y.. to be opened in case of death.

LETTER FROM JULIUS KLEIN, CHICAGO, ILL. (FEB. 10, 1972)

DEAR SENATOR KENNEDY: It is my understanding that you will conduct hearings in the near future with regard to the possibility of establishing a policy to grant amnesty to draft evaders. Permit me to give you my personal views on the subject. I might add that these are my own opinions, and not those of Jewish War Veterans organization, which has not as yet taken an official stand on this issue.

My position on the matter is very clear, as I am surely opposed to granting amnesty to deserters and draft dodgers. However, I do not object to conscientious objectors. We must not forget that approximately 2 million American

*I have just spoken to Sen. Taft's office and was advised that he doesn't consider the condition of alternative service to be involuntary servitude because the boys can choose not to return. I say then that conditional amnesty is self-contradictory because it still is a punishment. Why grant any amnesty if they have done a wrong? If they have done no wrong, why must they be forced to spend more of their lives according to the wishes of others in order to be allowed to return home?

young men have served in the very unpopular Vietnam war, and nearly 50,000 of our comrades have made the supreme sacrifice in Vietnam. Therefore, whether we, as citizens, are pro or anti-Vietnam we must follow the law of the land.

I am aware of the fact that at the moment there are several Bills pending in Congress. Possibly Senator Taft's Bill will be appropriate some day, but at this time I am not convinced that he is correct either in his views. Being anti-war and anti-Vietnam should have no bearing on a man's duty toward his own country inasmuch as he is a citizen enjoying the freedom and security of our nation. There were also men who were deserters and draft dodgers during World War II and the Korean War, and they accepted the consequences for their action. However, for the first time we are confronted with many men who have chosen to flee our country in order to avoid their service to our nation.

It is my opinion that before a decision is made regarding this issue, that we should obtain the views of the widows, parents and families of those GI's who sacrificed their lives, were wounded or served in Vietnam. Perhaps they could be polled through an organization. They should have a strong voice on the matter, as this much we owe to them.

My dear Senator, I would like you to know that I am certain that our organization, The Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America, would like to be heard on the subject. At the moment, our National Commander, Mr. Jerome C. Cohen, is on a fact-finding mission with NATO and the Sixth Fleet. He is scheduled to return to the United States around February 20. Our Executive Director of our national headquarters in Washington, D.C. is Mr. Felix Putterman. In the event that it is not possible for our National Commander or myself to take part in the hearings, I shall appreciate if this letter is entered into your records. However, we naturally prefer to express our views personally at the hearings.

I might add that our organization will hold its policy and National Executive Committee meetings in April. Our National Convention is scheduled to take place in Houston, Texas in August, 1972 at which time we will take such action regarding this issue that will have the approval of all delegates and members of our organization, which is the oldest veterans organization in the United States.

With warm regards and best wishes, I beg to remain

Most sincerely yours,

JULIUS KLEIN,

Chairman, Military Affairs Committee,
Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A.

LETTER FROM JOHN M. MACARTHUR, CLARKSBURG, MD. (APRIL 5, 1972)

DEAR SIR: In October of 1965 I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. At that time I could not avoid serving, by claiming to be a C. O., without being a member of a church that would not allow violence for any reason. I was not a member of such a church so rather than become a draft dodger I went to the enlistment office in my area. The only recruiter that was in at the time was the Marine Corp's, so I figured that it was no worse than the rest, and I signed up. After signing up I was sent to Paris Island for training and brain washing. At Paris Island, I became aware of the fact that I was being molded into a small cog in the wheel of the large bureaucratic war machine. I did not quite measure up to their standards but after what I consider an inadequate training period. I was graduated a full fledged, (by their standards) Marine. I had not even taken or passed the combat important physical readiness test.

During my stay at Paris Island I was told by my drill instructors that the President had stopped all Marine activity in Viet Nam. I wrote President Johnson and asked why he had done so, listing the failures of the Army in all other combat areas that had been drummed in my head through endless hours of Marine Corps history. All I received for that venture was extra physical training exercises and constant harassement from my drill instructor.

I was then sent to various schools throughout the country to learn how to check trucks and jeeps for broken mirrors and other first echeleon mainte

nance duties. My first active duty station was Camp Le Juene, where my views in this country's involvement in South East Asia kept me under constant harassment. There was a Sargent in charge of my platoon that told me, since I had a young wife and child, I should do extra favors for him, to be kept off the West Pac quota list. I refused to bow down to his sub par intelligence and within two weeks I had order to go to Viet Nam. I was not sure where I was going to end up or what I was going to do when I there. I told the lieutenant at the company office I really didn't think I could Kill anyone and I was told if I didn't want to come back in a plastic bag, I would learn how real fast.

I went home on leave and I refused to return. At the time there was an air plane strike and I used that as an excuse for not reporting to Camp Pendleton. One evening two Armed Forces policemen came to my house and took me to Marine Corp's headquarters, where I was held pending shipment to California.

When I arrived in California, I was sent to Staging Bn., H & S Co. awaiting office hours for unauthorized absence. Some of my "fellow" Marines told me the only way to avoid being sent to Viet Nam was to apply for a hardship discharge. I went to the company office where I was laughed at by the first Sargent, one first Sgt. Forst, and told he would have me in Viet Nam before I could file the first papers. I had office hours and was sentenced to correctional custody platoon for 30 days. While incarcerated there I was beaten by one of the quards and told my bags were packed for overseas. I cracked and was sent to the hospital where I was given some nerve pills and sent back to correctional custody.

When I was released from correctional custody I was sent back to H & S company awaiting oeswea. I wrote many, many letters to congressmen and senators asking for help. Senator Joseph Tydings wrote the base Psychiatrist and he recommended I be given an administrative discharge. I took this recommendation back to first Sargeant Forest, who read it and rolled it up into a little ball and threw it in the trash. He then told me that I was a coward and the "gooks" would save him the trouble of killing me. I went back to the barracks and packed my bags and left again. I would not be forced into fighting a war I felt was wrong.

I stayed A W O L for almost two months then I got tired of running and turned myself in. I was taken from Los Angeles to Long Beach. At Long Beach I was placed in the custody of the Marines, all of whom were or said they were Viet Nam veterans. There were three or four other Marine prisioners there.

One night one of them slit his wrist, (I can still hear his blood dripping on the floor). When the guard came in to check on us, he discovered this and yanked the injured Marine out of bed and called for the other guards. The head guard a Sgt. Sheaperd hand cuffed the hurt Marine to his bed and started kicking him asking him where is the razor blade. Finally and mercefully the boy passed out from loss of blood and the physical beating.

Then the rest of us were hearded out into the hall and placed spread eagle against the wall-each one of us with a cocked 45 caliber pistol at the back of our head. We were told if we so much as breathed hard our head would be blown off. Then Sgt. Sheaperd called me back into the room to wipe up the blood and help look for the blade. I was on the floor when all of the sudden there were four or five guards all around me and Sgt. Sheaperd said something to the effect he thought they should teach the cowards a lesson. They all started punching and hitting me while I tried to run for the door. I remmember the Sgt. Telling them not to hit me in the face because that would show. They literally beat the shirt off my back before I got out to the corridor.

That night, and several since, I laid awake waiting for those guards to appear and beat me again. The next day I reported the beating verbally to the Captain who said he doubted if there was any truth to my story, and that he wasn't going to check into it.

I was then sent to Camp Pendleton Staging Battalion H & S Co. and again I was brought before the same 1st Sgt. Forest. He told me I would never get a hardship discharge and that some night he would have me taken from the brig and sent to Viet Nam in chains.

I was put in Camp Pendleton's base brig for safekeeping while awaiting trial. Since then, the tip of the iceberg of truth about that brig has been re

vealed. The entire time I was there I was beaten by guards or fellow inmates (who did it as a favor for the guards to earn extra cigarettes). I was, for long periods of time, kept in the ice box or the hot house.

The ice box was a frame enclosures with chicken wire sides that had canvas flaps and a metal roof with one small oil stove up front by the guards desk. In the center were six cells or cages. During the day the flaps were kept down so the heat would be unbearable and at night the flaps were up so you would be untolerably cold. The amount of clothes you could wear, was at the guards discretions.

The hot house was a large metal building with sixteen 4 x 8 cells. There were steam pipes under the floor and the floor sometimes was to hot to touch. All showers and toilet facilities were out side and you had to actually beg for permission to use them.

I was told by other inmates that the corpsmen would give you drugs for cigarettes or local girls addresses and the like. Later, I was called in by the office of Naval Intelligence and I admitted I had used marijuanna and that I had frequented Dupont Circle when I was at home. I also told them that I thought Viet Nam was a very wrong war and would not go. The man questioning me said "Don't tell me, tell the President."

I then wrote President Johnson a long crazy letter denouncing the military and threating crazy actions if I could not be released. The reply I received was if I didn't want to serve my country I was no better than a second class citizen.

I went to see the chaplin but he was no help. He said he had no power to help me. I went back to the psychiatrist and once again he recommended I receive a discharge but as far as I know his recommendation was turned down. I went to a court martial and told the court my entire story and was sent back to the brig. Naval Intelligence again came around and he told me that I was a known drug user and a latient homosexual. He said i could get out of the Marines by making some statements to him and sign them. So, I made up a long story about drugs I had taken and homosexuals I knew and signed it. He then laughed and said I could go to jail for those statements for a long time.

After I was released from the brig I returned to H & S company and I was written up everytime I turned around. Finally they got me back in the Brig.

On my previous incarceration I had told the brig C. O. about me being beaten. When I went back the same guards were there, but as a result of my statements several had been demoted and they were visibly glad to have a chance for revenge. Once again I was beaten and called a coward a communist and other degrading names. I was stripped of my will to live.

Then one day I was called to company headquarters. I went into an office where some Lieutenant read me my rights and told me, that due to my statements to Naval Intelligence, they were going to court martial me and send me to Portsmouth Brig for about twenty years. I told him that I had lied to Naval Intelligence and he said that making false statements to a government agent was a more serious offence. He then told me that after I got out of Portsmouth I would be given a dishonorable discharge and would have no rights in this country. He told me the only way to avoid this was signing a statement that I was not fit for the Marine Corps and would agree to leave for the betterment of the service. I asked whsat kind of discharge would I get, and he said not dishonorable. I was scared, so I signed, and a short time later I received an undesirabel discharge. A discharge that carries a question mark in everyone's mind.

I have had to lie about my discharge on evey job application I have filed and live with the fear that some day someone would find out and I would lose my job. I have had to carry the burden of supporting a family, without being sure I would have a job from one day to the next.

Now I ask you was I completely wrong in wanting to serve but not wanting to fight a war? Do those that did follow that lead, deserve more of a break than I? Is it possible that the thousands of people like me told our side and caused them to leave? Should I have denied everything and gone to Viet Nam to die for refusing to fight? Why should I suffer out my life because I knew my courtry was wrong long before our National leaders admitted it?

I request that I, and those men like me, that were willing to serve this country, in this country, but balked at shipment to a foreign war, that our

convictions didn't believe in, be granted equal amnesty for our acts and given a right to a change of discharge from bad conduct or undesirable to a general under honorable conditions. I request the the committee if possible please withold my name.

Thank You.

JOHN MAC ARTHUR.

LETTER FROM RICHARD A. MAGNEY, SPOKANE, WASH. (FEB. 21, 1972)

DEAR SENATOR KENNEDY: I am writing you in regard to the forthcoming Senate Committee Hearings regarding amnesty to military and selective service violators. I feel that it is important that certain considerations be made in reference to this subject.

The idea of amnesty is undoubtedly tendered by the uncertainity of our nation's wisdom concerning South Viet Nam. The war is now winding down and draft calls have been sharply reduced. Now the nation sees fit to pardon her young, who failed to assist in the greatest mistake of the Twientieth Century. Unfortunately, the problem is of greater measure than that. It is reasonable to assume that the only crime that the evaders and deserters committed. was that they were men willing to stand alone for what they believed to be right and decent. Many evaders chose to face prison terms and face unjust inflictions head-on. Other evaders chose to leave the country or go underground to escape the redicilous waste of humanity by sitting in jail. However, it is of greater importance not to consider what they did but rather, why they did it.

In all cases of evasion or desertion that I have observed, there is a universal philosophy of attitude and belief. I would now like to explain briefly the substance of that thought.

The world and especially this nation is in a time in history of "sophistication". We are sophisticated technologically and yet we cannot find ways to live with our fellow man and resolve our differences. While we fail at domestic and worldwide social progress, we exceed in our ability to kill one another off. While millions of people around the world starve and need for food and medi. cine, we squander in the extravegence of bombs and bullets, that cause greater hunger and pain. While we talk of pollution and concern for the environment, we savagely rape and misuse the earth with our bigger and better war machines. We warn our young about the health hazards of drugs, cigarettes, and alchohol and then pretend it is a chore to send them off to war. Certainly there will always be disagreements among men. But hostilities will not resolve those differences. Wars do not prove who is right, but who is mightier in men and material. For nations to fight for peace, is as logical as people fornicating for chastity. We are all apart of the Brotherhood of man and the problems of one nation should be the problems of all all nations. We will never be able to solve the problems of the world, if we keep creating more by the vindication of war. It is time we forget the absurdities we die for and search for the realities to live for.

Many evaders and deserters have chosen to live their daily lives by being right and decent men. It seems incomprehensible that they should be pardoned from such a crime. It also seems to be degrading, that they would be expected to perform worthless and meaningless civilian service, after they have gone through so much.

I would like to state at this time, that I have been tried and found guilty of draft evasion. I am now awaiting sentencing. Eventhough, it has caused great burden on me and my family. I am proud that I chose to be a good and decent man, even at the cost of being a bad American.

Sincerely,

RICHARD A. MAGNEY.

LETTER FROM THEODORE D. MARSH, ENCINITAS, CALIF. (APRIL 24, 1972)

DEAR SIR: * ** -While following the proceedings on amnesty for "draft evaders" by the Senator's subcommittee. it occurred to me that the Senator and his committee might be interested in my experiences regarding the draft and the war.