To the Editors:
I was overwhelmed at the article you wrote about the Fort Wayne Farce Physicals [Brass Boiling over Fort Wayne Exposé, FE #106, May 28-June 10, 1970]. I have been screaming about this for months. I took my physical last February and was astonished to see how low their standards are. I am 45 pounds underweight, and only 6 pounds below their standard.
I have a hernia which was NOT detected in the physical. I also was stoned when I took the physical and the fuckers did not even notice!
Thank you so much again for running the article about fort-fart.
Name withheld
To the Fifth Estate:
Let me point out a few things to John Taylor regarding his letter to the student strikers (FE #105, May 14 – 27, 1970).
1. The UAW-CIO is a union not for the benefit of its workers, but for the benefit of its officials and the corporations. It is pro-war, racist and too conservative.
2. You and the workers of these unions make war materials which are used to kill men, women and children, your sons and daughters in foreign lands, and your sons and daughters in the colleges.
3. Instead of working with the students and helping them create a better society, you criticize and ridicule their hair and their clothes.
4. It’s not true about the students all having or wanting all those luxuries you mentioned. Many students have left their homes and live in the inner cities.
5. The progressive and radical students are not going to school so they can get a high paying job with some big corporation. Witness all the boycotting of recruiters. They are going to school to learn about life and how to live it so everybody can have a good life. They are even trying to do this for you, Mr. Taylor.
6. As far as communication, they have tried everything, peaceful marches, letters, songs, meetings, radio, TV, protests, voting, campaigning, but you and the unions, the congressmen, the President, the Pentagon, the corporations, and the schools will not listen.
7. Can’t you see that the workers don’t really have to be afraid of their jobs? They have all the power. If all the workers went on strike they could shut down everything and even the war would stop.
8. Maybe you don’t know it, but in your little subtle way you are defending the fascist, imperialist, racist USA because you are resisting the changes the students are trying to make.
9. I am not a student, but a 56 year old man who saw through all the lies, racism, discrimination, exploitation and injustice many years ago.
10. You said “stay away from OUR plants.” Do you own part of the plant? You are only a slave in that plant, Mr. Taylor, and don’t ever forget it.
11. My suggestion to you is to read the underground papers and other good works and stop reading the establishment press.
Silent Majority
Waino J. Jarvela
Dear Fifth Estate:
Here’s a real tale of those beloved men overseas in the big muddy. I’ve enclosed a card they use to excite themselves, and also to pin on a killed NVA!
And it isn’t only supported by LIFER-PIGS; it’s those boys that the people are trying to bring home. Believe it or not there are a good number of “the Boys” that dig this shit! I’m wondering if they should be let loose on the world again.
Also the other day there was a collection for the purpose of purchasing a plaque which the sandals of one killed NVA could be mounted on and given to the colonel.
I did not partake in such a perverted act, but the LIFERS and many a young man from this troop sure the fuck did.
What the fuck is going down?
PFC David De Ramo
Vietnam
Web Archive note: Text of card mentioned in the above letter:
You have just been killed
courtesy of the
7/17 AIR CAV, D TROOP
“All in a day’s work for the CAV”
Dear Fifth Estate:
After reading the actions of the scummy brass at Fort Wayne [The Persecution and Assassination of Draft-age Men as Performed by the Inmates of Fort Wayne Under the Direction of Medical Officer Capt. Floyd, FE #105, May 14-27, 1970], I decided to write this letter. I also had the rotten luck of having to take my physical at Fart Wayne Military Slaughter House. Each station was worse than the rest; if they could be any worse.
The urine-sugar test was the really far out experience. Fifteen guys lined up waiting to urinate in a cup, but only one urinal, was working. The other one was stuffed up with paper, feces, and other delicious matter.
As far as respect goes, it was just like we were in the army. They treated us like swine, shoving and yelling like we were at Fort Dix already. Although I flunked my physical due to physical reasons, the guys who still have to take theirs should be prepared for the worst.
Bring plenty of doctors letters, and read up on all the things the Surgeon General’s Report of Medical Fitness Standards in War-Time has to say about your particular ailment. If they try to bullshit you, tell them the exact page of your ailment (in the report) and if that fails; let them give you a form to take to your family doctor for his report again.
Just thought this would be helpful to the unlucky guys who yet have to take their so called “physical” at Fort Nixon.
Right On
Jerry Brown; MSC.
Brothers and Sisters:
A brown Plymouth Fury unmarked cop car, license number CJY 239 has been harassing the Forest-Trumbull area especially at night.
These pigs operate only in their own interests. On May 18 they busted a person for choosing, as is his constitutional right, to not wear a helmet on his very dangerous Honda!
Bullshit! These pigs in this night marauding car should be confronted by the power of the people. Anyone who observes any bullshit from these people, take down the info and make the public aware!
ALL Power to the People!
Free ALL Political Prisoners!
Free John NOW!
Note. Letters to the Fifth Estate need not be mailed to us. If you are in the neighborhood, bring it by the office.
Dear Fifth Estate:
When he was young, that is before he became a “labor statesman”, Walter Reuther had a sense of humor. At a meeting in 1944 I heard him tell a wonderful story about the 1929 Depression days in Detroit. Here it is:
The Detroit Zoo was being built during the Depression years and the problem of where and how to get animals for it was put up to a Mr. O’Connell. Mr. O’Connell had the idea of getting the school children to subscribe to buy a bear. When sufficient funds had been obtained, a bear was captured upstate and shipped down to Detroit.
Unfortunately, the animal died in transit and Mr. O’Connell was left to contemplate the body of the dead bear. Then he had an idea. He gave orders to have the animal skinned and then went downtown to lower Michigan Avenue. There, a soup kitchen had been set up for the thousands of destitute unemployed.
Looking over the line of men, Mr. O’Connell picked out the largest and huskiest, offered him a job with the Zoo. Together they went back there. The man climbed into the bearskin and Mr. O’Connell had it sewed up the back.
After a couple of weeks of practice it was decided that the “bear” was ready for showing to the children. From the first day forward the animal became more enthusiastic about his job. The “bear” performed more and more brilliantly—hanging from a bar, swinging to and fro. One day when the children from several schools were watching him, the bear overdid his enthusiasm and swung very high. His hands slipped and he was hurled into the lion’s cage.
He shouted, “Mr. O’Connell, Help! Help!” The lion came over to him, stood on his chest and whispered, “Shut up you damned fool, I’m on Welfare too!”
Alan Mather