The Pentagon Papers matter today because of what is happening to Bradley Manning. He stands accused in the media of leaking the cables that Wikileaks has shared with the world.
The Pentagon Papers showed to what lengths the US was willing to go to lie to the American people about our involvement in Viet Nam. I was a young man of 23 when I was drafted into the army in 1970 sent to boot camp in Fort Campbell, KY and then on to Fort Sill, OK for artillery training as well as an NCO training camp there.
I had always been against the war, but thought that my education would keep me from being sent to kill in that illegal war, but, of course, that didn’t end up being the case. I decided that I was not going to participate in this war no matter what when one day in my training to become a gunnery sergeant an instructor informed us that in our leadership position it was important to maintain discipline in combat. To do this we were told that we had to keep our men from running away under fire and if we had to shoot them to do so, ah well.
I then proceeded to “flunk” out of gunnery school, got my orders to report to Fort Lewis, Wa . Getting a 30 day leave before reporting for shipment to Viet Nam I went AWOL for one year and after that time turned myself back in at Fort Carson, CO. I was given an undesirable discharge.
I went on to become a middle school social studies teacher which is what I currently do at this time.
The Pentagon Papers showed me that I was justified in my opposition to the war in Viet Nam, and just as Daniel Ellsberg did back then, Bradley Manning and Julian Assange continue to do this day.
Sharing your experiences, thoughts and feelings with middle schoolers about war in general and Vietnam in particular does a great service to us all. With more like you, and Ellsberg, and Manning, perhaps this next generation will be the first in American history to be faced with the question, “Shall we go to war?” and choose the negative, instead of picking up the gun. Thank you and best to you.