rry Whitmore is one of a group of American soldiers who deserted om the US Army while in Japan. The organisation which helped m and others escape to Stockholm is BEHEIREN- -understandably ough it is loathed more than any other pro-deserter organisation the US authorities. y name is Terry Whitmore. I am 21 years of age. I was born ir emphis, Tennessee. Tennessee is in the Southern part of the State t I'm very proud of Memphis; until the early part of this year emphis has never had any racial conflicts. I have an average size gro American family, three brothers and two sisters.
my Elementary School days, 1 of the so-called land of the free, is taught te honour and love my but the grounds of the battlefield untry I must add here, that I was for me The Black Man. aght very well because I did and During this time, I also read of Il do). High School was very another battlefield in the jungles of La foreign country named Viet-Nam. uch the same way, learning about - Covernment and its function, Government spoke loudly and pro- On the TV and newspapers The d our great and long glorious tested that the aggressors (North story, learning and reading also Vietnamese) were opposing freeout her great wars, wars that my dom. hers and countrymen fought and ed in, and it was all for my free- Soon after graduation, I received m. I enfranchise on the words a letter from my Selective Service, freedom used in this statement. asking me to report for my physicause of the fact, that's just what cal. I received another long letter was, my forefathers died bravely from the armed forces after this, d sacrificed their lives for Our which gave me the choice of volation, and all who opposed our unteering being drafted edom. Also in High School I later. So under these circumstances ayed a very important part in the was inducted voluntarily into the hool NDCC programme (National US Marines. efence - Cadet Corps). I was mpany Commander, and wore After receiving my orders to Viet- nam, I felt it would be an honour oudly the rank of a Captain. tere I learned about my country's to serve for my country, for I was litary tactics, learning that it was told the war's for freedom and also e most powerful the world had on receiving orders, I did the way I was taught, do now and ask queser known.
tions later. y senior year was the best of With this kind of background, you I played active parts in such may ask vourself the question, ganisations as the Student Coun- "Why did he desert?" Only ide, art club, football team and senior debating team, players" reading my experience in Vietnam you will find the answer.
NDCC Officer. Also that year I For six long months, I fought in urted to venture off and read and the fearsome jungles and hill-tops arn more about me. The Black Vietnam and during my stay 1 an. After learning my history and must admit, I killed and destroved ere I stood in American Socierv, and burnt everything in my path. then began to realise that no My unit of fighting men was nger did I walk on the grounds composed of young wounded men when a vast enemy the ages of 18 to 21. My Com cut across us. manding officer was out for revenge after losing a brother in the con- Again I was in perfect range for After his arrival within the enemy. All three men were hit. period of two weeks the young men All three were white. J was not. were turned into a mob of blood I was not hit. hungry animals.
There was no time to think, for Why? But I didn't have every day was filled with fearsome think about it. I had to get the rest fighting, and at night the sky was of the men to safety. A corpsman filled with rockets and missiles came up to help us with a wounded searching out the enemy on both man who was hit bad and we had sides. From 1 October to 15 No to get him out fast. A buddy helped vember, my unit moved north, bat- me to pick him up. We had run tling its way from Quang Tyi to about five feet when the enemy cut the DZ. By 1 December we had my buddy down. Again I was not carned the name Bouncing Bravo's hit Why? Still no time to think for murderers. Then came the big test the cries of the rest were louder. for the unit, a 32 tour of Con Thien. With only a 45 pistol I started back During this time Con Thien was in the action to get my wounded the most fearful spot known to the buddies. After going about 20 yards us Marines. Marines often referred I found one very close buddy, but to it as the God forsaken hill. I was too late for him; he was dead. spent days at Con Thien, But there were still more and I had days IIl never forget. Every da 1o get them. There was six more the enemy hit with 100 to 200, 10: get out, two of which were hit and 106 rounds. Every day we lost bad. Myself and a buddy went to men. Some of the men got used to get them. The enemy had them the bombing. Some didn't care well pinned down. My buddies and whether they lived or died. But all I managed to get behind a large the men, even me, had it in their rock to focus the enemy's attention hearts to kill. on us, while the six men got out. Finally on 15 December my com- By this time help had come from pany was on patrol when we can into a large force of NA. Before we Con moving in Thien. and Men and tanks jets circled the air Were could move out the enemy spotted waiting the go sign to drop their us, forcing us to fight. My Platoon bombs. A tank was spotted by the was then cut off from the rest enemy, moving down to pick up company. The enemy laid a perfect the wounded. The enemy then ambush, which sent the men tumb- started to open up with 60 and ling to the ground. Only two of us 82mm. mortar rounds trying to were able to get up. Afterwards knock out the tank. But by this time heard the cries of my Commanding the tank had picked up the wounOfficer calling my name. Without ded and was ready to move out. thinking of the danger I rushed out At this time a mortar round fell no in the open to his side. The enemy more than four feet from me. pickhad a clear view of me and could ing me and slamming me into the have taken my life very easily, but rocks. I was unable to move. Mv he didn't. Why?, After picking the buddy was hit too but not bad. He wounded officer up, he was shot yelled for the tank to come and get again by the enemy. Still never us. But the tank pulled off and left. hitting me. Why? I managed to get The jets were given the signal to him to safety. But the cries and bomb despite the fact that two of pleas of other wounded men pinned us were still down and wounded. down filled my ears. Three buddies For minutes or so powerful and myseif stood over one of the bombs were dropped no more than launched. DOCTOR! were were killed, also and here; on the latter occasion the PKI k Vote was heavily concentrated 30 yards from us. While I laid pray. down me the big question WHY ing I said to myself if I made it still there. Why didn't Merabu mountain, near Bengkajan tions. town. Government troop reinforce-