July 4, 2006

COMMITMENT TO WHAT IS TRUE

Gentlemen:

Thank you for your website and for the stand that you have taken. You represent what I was raised to value about West Point, and your voice offers a credible counter to our Secretary of Defense's dismissive attitude toward the professionalism, expertise, and commitment of your fellow alumni.

My grandfathers, Gen. Omar Bradley and Gen. Herman Beukema, were both from the Class of 1915. Of note in this context is the work of Gen. Beukema. He served as chair of the Social Sciences Department there, where he initiated the vision that was carried forward by Gen. George Lincoln to equip our military leadership to serve and to provide expertise in the increasingly complex world of geopolitics. It has been ceaselessly distressing to see Rumsfeld sweep aside that depth of professionalism in favor of his own wishful thinking and to see the tragic price we are paying for ideology trumping empirical, professional judgment in the lives and losses, not only of so many fine, dedicated Americans, the coalition forces and their families, but also in the sweeping “collateral” losses. Our decline in credibility and trustworthiness on the geopolitical stage may take many years to recover from.

My father, Maj. Henry Shaw Beukema, Class of 1944, served in military intelligence in Berlin before electing to join the Air Force at the split in service branches.  His career and his place in our family were both abruptly and sadly truncated when he was killed in active duty in 1953 in a flight accident out of Langley Field.

I would be proud to support and to be counted as a member of your organization.

Sincerely,

Omar Bradley Beukema

Chevy Chase, Maryland

July 2, 2006

ADMIRE YOUR PUBLIC STANCE

Hello Gentlemen, 

I just discovered your site http://westpointgradsagainstthewar.org. Unfortunately, I'm not eligible to join your organization because I'm not a West Pointer BUT I do support you and admire your public stance against this ill-gotten and ill-conceived war in Iraq. 

I'm a retired US Army E-8 (11B/13E) and Vietnam combat vet who has one son (Cpl) in the Marines (already been to Afghanistan) and a son-in-law (WO2) in the Army (deploying to SW Asia this month). My father was a decorated Darby Ranger (4th & 1st Bn) from WW2 and combat vet of Korea as well. He had been awarded three purple hearts and two silver stars. I guess you could say we're a proud military family and a family that believes in service and in our country. 

Anyway, I want to say thank you for speaking up and for organizing. My wish is the same as yours: to stop this g**damn war and bring our troops home and then imprison the depraved S.O.B's that instigated this mess. 

I know from a lot of reading over the years graduates of the USMA usually aspire to high level management and leadership positions within government and private industry. PLEASE do everything you can to persuade these grad's into joining your cause. I don't expect active duty officers to speak out but I would like to hear more voices from the former or retired officer corps. Our government and the media are NOT listening to or paying any attention to the common people. You  need to find a way to get more exposure and publicity and do it on a frequent basis. You need to get on the political talk shows like Meet the Press, Face the Nation and Hard Ball with Chris Matthews for starters. 

This administration will only respond to coordinated, public 'forays' against them that make them feel threatened and you gentlemen need to find a way to really frighten them and put them on the defensive. Those of us who can only blog or e-mail or conduct small time demonstrations have no serious influence. However, folks like you have the intelligence, the experience and the credibility to make a difference and to have an impact that can possibly put an end to the public silence and complacency so evident in our society. 

As silly as this may sound, I suggest you characterize yourselves as modern day Knights of the Round Table, warriors bound together with a Code of Honor, sent forth to educate the masses by bringing them truth and documented facts, thus exposing the governmental liar's for what they are and hopefully bring an end to the careers of the dishonorable administrators of what has become a corrupt theocracy; no longer our once proud democracy.  Anyway, that's the way I'm looking at you gentlemen.

Respectfully,

John Ryan Jr  ( US Army retired)

Rising Sun, Maryland

PS:  I made a visit to West Point in ' 64 during June Week when I was a high school junior and fell in love with the place. Always dreamed of being admitted but didn't have the grades, I'm sad to admit....so I enlisted instead. By the way,I want you to know that if I was still on active duty as a 1SG I would do everything within my power to prevent my unit from deploying to Iraq as well as encourage all my troops to 'stand down' and the consequences and subsequent name calling be damned. That's the truth !

June 25, 2006

MESSAGE OF SUPPORT

Dear Grads,
I'm sorry I can't join you. I was a graduate of Class 1968-E USAF Officer Training School. Not the prestige of West Point, but our hearts were in the right place, and we "showed up".... which is more than can be said for most of our current political braintrusts.
During my era we had an organization called the Concerned Officers Movement.... protesting the logic of Vietnam. I was a member. At the time, those who belonged did our jobs well and honorably but were constantly harassed for disagreement with the system.... and we continued to be harassed after we left the service.
As we look back.... who was right?
How bizarre... that the same system that we offered our lives for served to stifle our thoughts and our speech.
How insane.... that "someone" ... "somewhere"..... has the audacity to prey upon YOUR well meaning organization with "squeaky shoed" lawyers peddling irrelevant legal jargon in order to stifle YOUR thoughts and YOUR speech.
We are living amongst an incredibly stupid, greedy, dangerously self serving and politically destructive Administration. They have put our country, our Constitution and our moral capital in dire straits.
If there is for sure a God, he could not possibly bless what the current Administration is trying to sell as "America." .... and who calls out pleas of "support the troops"... when, in fact, they hope the ignorant will convert their call to .... "support the Administration."
There is a "real" America out here that is not yet dead.... and that your organization  is showing the signs to defend. Keep up the good work.
Regards,
Royal Barnard
Rutland, Vermont

June 15, 2006

Thank You so much!!

June 12, 2006

Ooh-rah! 
Although not a West Point grad, I wholeheartedly support your group. I served as a US Navy SeaBee from 1990-1996 (enlisted), then completed my undergraduate coursework at the University of Oklahoma. I did not see combat, but was involved in logistical support for the first Gulf War, Somalia and Haiti. Like the members of your group, I am disheartened by this administration’s proven history of deception and their refusal even now to acknowledge their actions were in haste, at best, and criminal at worst. George W. Bush will certainly be remembered for this failed action and, unfortunately, I fear his administration’s policies will have a lengthy negative affect upon the US military.

I offer a salute to West Point Grads Against the War for continuing to honor not only the West Point Cadet Honor Code, but also the Army’s motto: “This We’ll Defend.”
Keep up the good fight.

Isaac M. O’Bannon

Norman, Oklahoma

June 10, 2006

RESIST INTIMIDATION!

I’m not a West Point (can I use that term???) graduate, but I was commissioned in 1970 and spent ten great years in the Army Medical Corps as a physician. I was chief of the Family Practice department at Fort Sill prior to resigning my commission in 1983 for private practice here in Utah (The Delusional State). Then I was truly proud to wear the uniform.
The argument that you are infringing a copyright is about as disingenuous as anything I’ve ever heard.  Don’t let the bastards intimidate you. Their argument is totally without substance. To be able to open a dry cleaning business off campus using the “West Point” name and not be able to use it in a non-profit group turns reason on its head. You are, in fact, West Point graduates. That cannot be denied, and to not identify yourself as such would be meaningless.

You are doing a great service in pointing out the lies and corruption and utter folly of the most mendacious, secretive, incompetent and dangerous administration in our nation’s long history. These vicious men and women have spit on the Constitution, violated their oaths of office, committed “high crimes” (if ever that term had a meaning!), compromised, not improved, our national security, and in doing so they have dishonored the military that swore to defend us. They have turned our armed forces into a foreign expeditionary force, an army of conquest and empire, a global enforcer of a twisted American foreign policy, rather than using our dedicated men and women in uniform for their true purpose of defending us and our allies from invasion and imminent threat, as our armed forces were designed to do.

This is a cynical and despicable use of our military, and it must stop.

Thank you for your good efforts, and best of luck.
Will Durant, MD
Vernal, Utah

June 1, 2006

SADDENED AND OUTRAGED

I am not an alum of West Point, but my mother's three brothers all were.  I don't know if this qualifies me to sign your petition. Her brothers were: Colonel John C Edwards, graduate 1938. Captain Robert Edwards, graduate 1940, Lt Colonel Stephen O 

Edwards, graduate 1946. If this is too remote a connection to sign your petition, I understand.  I grew up very proud of the tradition of military service in my family –someone in our family had fought in every war this country was engaged with from 1645 on; my husband is a veteran of the Royal Navy – so I am saddened and outraged that our servicemen and women are dying and risking their lives to support the  intolerable actions of our government.  If I am not eligible to sign your petition, please know you have my deepest respect and support.

Sincerely,

Sara N Paretsky

Chicago, Illinois

May 28, 2006

To The Real American Patriots

It is Sunday morning as I write to you, and I have new reason to "praise God" and renewed "hope for America"!! I heard your comments on George W. Bush's speech to the 2006 Graduating Class of West Point.  And, I was moved, both, patriotically and spiritually.

For Christmas in 1959, at the age of thirteen, my parents gave me a copy of a book I wanted desperately to read: "The West Point Story"!!  I must have read that book, cover to cover, at least twenty times. It instilled in my mind and heart a passion to attend The military academy at West Point. That dream of mine never came to fruition, but the patriotism that was begun, in my soul, continued to deepen and grow over the years.

The very first President that I have memories of from my childhood is Dwight D. Eisenhower.  And each time that I enter the voting booth to select a new President, I make evaluations and comparisons based on Eisenhower's leadership qualities.

Following graduation, during the Vietnam years, I served as a Laotian Interpreter in the Army Security Agency, Military Intelligence, United States Army. That at a time when President Nixon was telling Americans and the World, "we have no troops in Laos."

Now, in retirement, following thirty years of Christian leadership as an Ordained Pastor in the Presbyterian Church USA, (of which President & Mrs.Eisenhower were members), I have spent most of my time studying that era of our national history referred to as "The American Civil War" or "The War of Secession", or "That Recent Un-Pleasantness"!! After reading every word on your web-page and fully understanding what The Honor Code" means and what you stand for, I can proudly rise to my feet stiffen my back-bone; snap a proud salute to you and say along with the hundreds of thousands of American men and women who gave their lives in our American Civil War:  "HUZZAH!  HUZZAH!!  HUZZAH!!!"

Thank God for you, your organization, and your courage to BE AMERICANS in the truest fashion!!  And, may God continue to bless you, your efforts, and America!!

Patriotically Yours,

Rev. John T. Campbell

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

May 24, 2006

THANK YOU
I would like to thank you for your courageous and righteous stand.
As a citizen of South Vietnam, I served with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) in the last year of the war (1974-75).  

Khiem Do
Yorba Linda, California

May 20, 2006

God bless you and your efforts

I am sorry I don't qualify for membership, but you have my whole-hearted support and admiration. I'm an American living in Canada and see these lies and crimes from a distance that makes them all the more appalling. What you have done must have taken great courage and soul-searching. God bless you and your efforts.
Jeff P.

Winnipeg, Manitoba

May 17, 2006

AGAINST THE WAR

I am unable to join you directly as I was in the British army.
Your stand is the best news I have read for a long time and restores my hope that
America will lead the world for the benefit of all peoples.
Roger Gill

Auckland, New Zealand

May 16, 2006

JOINING YOU

Alas! I cannot join you as my training in 1960-61 was at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst not at West Point.
I would just like to say you do your country honour by your actions. How I have despaired to see within the American military what must be an almost routine giving and obeying of unlawful commands under not just this ghastly Administration but under the several preceding in their dirty wars in Latin America. What is the West fighting for but for an honourable and decent way of life. You cannot achieve that end by means of the opposite.
Until I read your Website, I had disgustedly assumed that ethics was no longer on the West Point curriculum.
May you succeed in restoring your nation’s honour and the true values of the civilization of the West.
Hugh Steadman
Blenheim, New Zealand

May 15, 2006

YOUR COURAGEOUS STAND

Dear Fellow Veterans,
I cannot join your organization because I am not a graduate of West Point.  However, I
did serve as a military police officer in Vietnam in 1966 assigned to the 29th Civil Affairs Battalion attached to the Marines in I Corps. It took courage in that era also to publicly contradict and oppose the stance and policy of the government of the United States, particularly if you were part of the military. At the same time, military opponents of the war carried then, and do still today, a unique credibility—they have served their country and have earned the right, in an exalted way, to oppose the war they had been assigned or volunteered to fight. In your case, you bring to the table the prestige and renown of the West Point Military Academy. The academy cannot serve a more noble of important cause than to speak to the American people on behalf of its soldiers and to oppose policies that place them needlessly, even duplicitously, at risk. Good luck in your efforts and know that many Americans applaud your courage and support your cause.
Sincerely,
Paul W. McBride
Retired Professor of History and (long ago) Vietnam Veteran

p.s.  Don’t be cowed by official accusations that in using the name of the academy you
are violating its copyright status.  It is embarrassing to see senior military
authorities attempt to deny West Point Graduates the right to call themselves West Point
Graduates.

May 14, 2006

SUPPORT

I am not a West Point Graduate - nor am I an American, but I wanted to express my support. My grandfather served in WWII. He was one of the soldiers who liberated Belsen. He said that we should use our experiences in WWII to try to make sure that such things never happen again. He believed in acting honourably and justly. I believe the war in Iraq is an illegal, immoral and unjust war. I salute your protest and thank you for it. I live in a country (Australia) which has unconditionally supported your corrupt Administration. I condemn my own Government for the same reason you condemn yours. One of our citizens is in Guantanemo Bay accused of being a member of the Taliban. An officer from the American Army is acting as his lawyer and has been doing a wonderful job, acting with integrity and honour. He, as with your group, is an example of a citizen and a soldier acting honourably when the Government of the day acts corruptly and contemptuously. Once again - I offer you my wholehearted support and I stand with you in condemning the Coalition of the Willing and their immoral acts.
Mark Leahy
Adelaide, Australia

May 14, 2006

Not a Grad, but just had to thank you

Thank you so much for showing the courage and honor that I believe is  the true power of
this country—not the bombs, tanks and ships, nor  the clever trade lawyers and CIA assassins. Just ordinary people who stand up when they find that they must.
You honor yourselves and our country.
Jeff Gilmore
Half Moon Bay, California 

May 11, 2006

JOINING YOU

Nobody in my family is in your ranks. My dad, Ray E. Prigmore, was a decorated hero from D-Day. 13 days into the landing, he took machine gun bullets to his torso… 8 to be exact... and the 9th when he fell... that last one nipped his heel. He volunteered. Hated 'Nam... hates these current wars. I thought all men had nine navels until I was of some age of appreciation. He is now 86, having lived well with one eye, one lung, one intestine, one kidney, and other assorted shortcomings. A medic was there when he fell, and he never lost consciousness. 
What can I do to prevent this from happening to someone else? At least I, as an educated person, having attained a doctorate, in jurisprudence, of all things, may have a voice. 
I want to scream about my beloved country that seems to be destroying itself. Thomas Jefferson recommended the government reinvent itself every 7 years. He called it revolution.
I want to help you get out the information to the general public who just does not understand we are headed straight into a WWIII that will be a Pyrrhic victory.

I give you permission to print my name and location. It would be cowardly of me to hide behind initials. My father was hit from the front, not the back, and I am, at the end of the day, my father's daughter.

Laura Lee Prigmore, Esq.

Coldspring, Texas

May 9, 2006

PRAISE AND HONOR TO YOU

Dear West Point Grads Against The War:
I have no connection to West Point, but I saw the article about you in the Poughkeepsie Journal this week. I teach freshman English in two colleges in the Hudson Valley and I have always taught Orwell's "Politics and the English Language." Never has it been more true.  Knowing that there is still honor in America heartens me. God bless you and God help us as we try to change the most dishonorable and dangerous course this president has us on. I am a '75 Vassar graduate and a poet; never did I think my children would see another such war as Vietnam. This is even worse, if that is possible. I support you in all that you do.
Sincerely,
Raphael Helena Kosek

Hopewell Junction, New York

May 8, 2000

I want to add my thanks and appreciation

I am so grateful that you have formed this group and stepped forward to tell the truth. Every section of your website is exactly what it should be. After many years of battling with my conscience I left the States, believing that voting with my feet is ultimately the only choice. Of course it does not exonerate me or any American from our collective responsibility for the atrocities and injustices being committed in our name, and I continue to write letters and express my opinion whenever I have the chance. The existence of your group gives me a sense of reassurance, telling me that indeed there was and still are honorable, peace-loving, and honest members of the armed services. I only wish your colleagues would drop their fears and self-interest, and whatever else is getting in their way, to listen and join you in your efforts. May you have a deep and lasting influence on them and their successors.
Francesca Rogier

Halifax, Nova Scotia

May 6, 2006

LIVING IN CANADA

I am sorry I don't qualify for membership, but you have my whole-hearted support and admiration. I'm an American living in Canada and see these lies and crimes from a distance that makes them all the more appalling. What you have done must have taken great courage and soul-searching. God bless you and your efforts.

Jeff P.

May 6, 2006

I SUPPORT YOU!! 

I support you and the premise of your group! "A cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do." I always wanted to attend West Point but did not have the grades or guidance to get me there.  But I did serve 6 years as an enlisted person with almost four of those years at the White House Communications Agency. I've always tried to live my life according to that rule above.
I saw the story about the USMA sending a trademark warning to your group and wanted to send my support to you. We need men and women with backbone to stand up and say this war, these lies, are wrong! GOOD FOR YOU!
I now have a son who I hope I can raise properly so he "may have the opportunity" to reach the heights I couldn't.
STICK TO YOUR GUNS!
Thank you,
Shane Erwin
Largo, Florida 

May 6, 2006

MEMBERSHIP

I will be honored to join your organization. My father graduated from West Point in 1944.
I was raised with Duty, Honor, Country foremost in my value system. During the conflict in Vietnam, that led me to apply for deferment as a conscientious objector. That may seem counterintuitive, but when our government does immoral acts in our name and uses the military to further its agenda, then honor demands action. Denying myself participation in a society I loved was a small sacrifice.
Similar times are upon us again. Some lessons are never really learned, it seems.

Thank you for being there.
David

Oakland, California

"Truth comes out of error more easily than out of confusion." Francis Bacon

May 5, 2006

I CONCUR

Dear Sirs:
I am in wholehearted agreement with your cause. I would love to join with you formally, however, I was in the USAF. I am a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, where I completed AFROTC. I flew as an Electronic Warfare Officer in B-52s and completed 65 bombing missions in Viet Nam. I believe that war is a poor means of dealing with problems and should be engaged in only as a last resort.
I commend all of you for taking the courageous step to speak out. You are, indeed, a tribute to the United States Military Academy, to the United States Army, and to the United States of America. I salute you!
Ron C.
Denver, Colorado

May 5, 2006

SPECIOUS ARGUMENT
Dear Sirs,
I am heartened when I see credible individuals and groups such as yours stand and speak out about this immoral and illegal war. At the same time I find myself very concerned by the reaction and arguments of those who promote these wars. I think the fact that 'they', and it may not be just the academy, feel righteous to the point where they'd use such a specious argument is a cause for great concern.
I feel very entitled to my opinion about war. I was drafted right after high school and served in Vietnam in 1967-68. First as an infantryman and then later was reassigned and flew 10 months as a helicopter door-gunner. The parallels between that event and this is striking, not to mention very, very disturbing.
I applaud and appreciate your courageous and wise stance and want to encourage you to continue to speak out. I hope your voice carries far.
With best regards,
F. Stiles

El Cajon, California

May 2, 2006

Senior Patriots Against the War in Iraq

Gentlemen

I am sorry that I do not qualify to be a member of your honorable organization. Here in Leisure World, a retirement community in Seal Beach, California, we have organized a group called Senior Patriots Against the War in Iraq. On the 29th of April we had a demonstration for two hours in front of our community, with flags and signs, protesting this illegal war. Virtually everyone who passed us during that time honked their approval of our actions and position or gave us a thumbs up. When seniors in their 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's have to get up out of their walkers to protest this conflict, you know that all popular support is gone. 

God bless you all and God help America. Together we can end this war, bring our troops back home and even salvage our country's honor.
Tom Pontac

Seal Beach, California

April 30, 2006

THANK YOU

Hi folks,
Eisenhower was brilliant! Thanks for posting his quotes.
I'm not a grad or relative. I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for speaking out. You truly exemplify honor--putting our America first, before party or president.
God bless you all.
Susan Sackett-Wilk

Dallas, Texas

April 26, 2006

MAY GOD BE WITH YOU ALWAYS

Dearest Truly Brave Fighters for Truth, Justice, and Peace.

I am not an American and not a West Point graduate. Just flipping through your web pages brought tears in me from reading the very encouraging and hopeful quotes and messages.

As a fellow God's creature in the same ailing spaceship, i.e. planet earth, I can't help but feel the same way about our seeking and to stand for truth and justice for fellow human beings and other fellow occupants of this ailing space ship. We were created as human beings, the perfect creature above all other of God's creatures, and entrusted to lead this world to prosperity and not to destruction, and to protect all other weaker creatures on earth. He created us in different colors and tribes so that we can do good deeds to one another. I hope we can share this obligation to fulfill God's trust and save our ailing ship together.

May peace be with you and your loved ones and may God's blessings be with you always.

Abdul Karim Abdul Aziz

Kulim, Kedah, Malaysia