IVAW Warrior Writers 6

Documentary shot by Mark Lewis of CSaction.org on May 16, 2008 at the WeUsOur Artist Market and Gallery in Manitou Springs, Colorado.

To support the Warrior Writers Project please visit www.ivaw.org, and Colorado Veteran's Alliance

May 16 , 2008, Manitou Springs, Colorado

David Mann, Denver chapter of IVAW, reads his poem, "Convoy to Iraq"

I am a second generation soldier following my fathers footsteps into the Army. I initially signed up in 2000 in the delayed entry program. It was then I choose to be a Radio and electronics repairman. My general idea was if I was to be sent to war I would be in the back lines and out of harms way. I never wanted to be involved with combat. After basic at Fort Jackson I had my Advanced Individual training at Fort Gordon, GA. From there I was stationed at Fort Carson, CO. Following getting to Fort Carson I was deployed twice with the 183rd Maint CO. It was during these deployments that the miscommunication and disorganization of the army started coming forth. I could name all kinds of things that happened to me or my company as a whole. I'm strongly against the war in Iraq and wish more soldiers would speak up and have a voice. I currently attending school at the university of Colorado and am looking to get more involved with the local activist community.

Jared Hood, Treasurer of the Denver chapter of IVAW, reads his poem, "Machine Mechanism Parts"

Marine Captain Rick Duncan, Veteran of 3 tours in Iraq, reads his favorite: 91st Psalm

Garett Reppenhagen, Chair of the board of IVAW, reads his poems, "Anxiety of a Weapons Malfunction", "Home Field Advantage", and "Dear Line Xray".

Bobby G, Coast Guard Veteran from WeUsOur Gallery, reads Toby Harbarger's poem, "On Death - Frequent Thoughts", and several of his famous Haikus

Toby is an Army veteran who served in Iraq and he is a member of IVAW. He joined the staff in May 2007. Toby checks the national email and phone messages; manages the member and donor databases, and approves website content. Contact him at IVAW.org if you need member contact info, need help or have questions about your member profile or post.

Lovella Calica, national organizer and founder of the Warrior Writers' program, reads 2 poems about her grandmother, including "Loosing Lola".

Lovella is a civilian who brings over 10 years of organizing experience to IVAW. She has been working with IVAW since September of 2005. As Field Director she coordinates national events and actions, as well as supports chapter and regional development. She also oversees IVAW's Warrior Writers creative writing program. Contact her at IVAW.org for support with chapter and regional organizing, including trainings and retreats, and information about Warrior Writers.

Dom Roses, Colorado Springs chapter of IVAW, reads a poem written by George Mizo,

a Vietnam Veteran and member of the VVAW:

You, my parents, taught me that it was wrong to kill-except in war.
You, my church, taught me that it was wrong to kill-except in war.
You, my teachers, taught me that it was wrong to kill-except in war.
You, my government, taught me that it was wrong to kill-except in war.
Then you sent me to war
And when I had no choice…except to kill,
Then you told me I was wrong.
And now I will tell you…my parents, my church, my teachers, my government,
It is not wrong to kill-except in war.
It is wrong to kill-period.
And this you have to learn.

Just as I had to!

Tribute to George Mizo
George Mizo, a prominent longtime VFP member and founder of the Friendship Village in Germany and Vietnam passed
away during the week of April 8, 2002. VFP mourns the loss of a tireless worker for peace.
An artillery sergeant and glorified war hero with almost two years of experience in the combat zone, by the end of 1967
George Mizo had begun to question US involvement in Vietnam. But it wasn't until the horrible moment during the 1968
Tet Offensive when George learned he was the sole survivor of an assault that killed his entire platoon that his under-
standing of the war's deception and immorality crystallized. From that moment on, George's life was no longer about
war, but about peace and reconciliation. In his words (spoken at the grand opening ceremony for the Friendship Village),
"Those of us who have seen firsthand that horror called war know how fragile life is, and how precious life is, and know
that war is not the answer but part of the problem."
At the Vietnamese embassy in Paris in the 1990, George and a group of international "veterans for peace" met face-to-
face with Vietnamese officials to propose building a peace pagoda in Vietnam. Although the Vietnamese conveyed their
appreciation of the gesture, they expressed that the money for the well-intended pagoda could go to better use securing
food and medicine for the survival of the Vietnamese people. As George sat and listened, the idea for the Vietnam Vil-
lage of Friendship was born.
The mission of the Vietnam Friendship Village Project to cultivate reconciliation and heal the wounds of the Vietnam War
by uniting veterans and caring citizens through international cooperation in the building and support of the Village of

Friendship, a living symbol of peace. We honor George Mizo's contribution to peace.

George Mizo, US Vietnam War Veteran (1945-2002

Jim "Gourcho" Beckenhaupt, reads his poem, "Patriot Paradox"


Bobby G's friend, AJ reads a couple his poems, "Put This i nYour Head and Process it", I am Bleeding", and "Consider the Source"


Jeff Englehart sings a song about the cavalry

all poems and writings are copywrited by the author

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