3 diary entries

“During the period that Lieutenant Colonel John James Jones, a hawk-nosed
infantry officer from California, commanded the 40th Inf. Battalion. There was
little doubt in anyone's mind as to who was in charge. Sometimes within an
Army outfit the Battalion Operations Officer or the Battalion Sergeant
Major will try to run the battalion, but when LTC Jones assumed command in
December 1968, he let everyone know that he followed the principles of Unity
of Command and Chain of Command. LTC Jones relied heavily on his company
commanders, usually senior 1st Lieutenants or junior Captains, but he also
made sure that his company commanders knew who their superior was, and
that the orders would come from only one person within the battalion as long
as he held the position of battalion commander. I seriously and honestly
believe that one of the main reasons why so few men from the 40th Inf.
were killed or seriously wounded while in Vietnam was the excellent leadership
exhibited by Jones in the management of the battalion."

-Sergeant Williams, 40^th Battalion

"Because of the throng, because of the clashes that had occurred between youth and police, the mood and temper of the crowd were considered of paramount importance for the safety of all. Stress was placed at trooper briefings on the maintenance of friendly relations. There was to be no show of riot helmets or batons. Nor was there any need for them. The mood of the crowd was one of friendliness, consideration, sharing and togetherness. But, I was enjoying myself despite the chaos. Men everywhere. Women everywhere. Life. Love. Joy. People are smoking and getting high in protest of the overseas mayhem. The police believe they can resist and make our cries mute, but we are heard. Always we are heard."

            -Psychedelic Jim, Woodstock, 1969

“I am a native of Tennessee and the daughter of a Baptist preacher and Civil Rights activist. My school was integrated when I was in the first grade, the same year that Arkansas' "Little Rock Nine" had to be escorted to high school under the protection of the U.S. Army. I was victim of acts of crime committed by evil, disgusting white men who threw things at me, and beat my mother. The worst of it all was that I was a little boy who had no choice for being black, but I am anyway. I was brought up being told that blacks are worthless. Why was that? Aren’t we all equal at birth?”

            -Jamal Johnson, 1967