GI Defense Organization
GI Defense Organization
History
The Communist Party USA created several front organizations concerning the issue of GI anti-Vietnam protests. The largest one, Veterans for Peace (in Vietnam) VFP, can be found at its own page in Keywiki. The second, and smaller organization, the GI Defense Organization GIDO, was shorter-lived. However, information about it and its CPUSA creators/sponsors, can be found in the House Internal Security Committee HISC publication "Investigation of Attempts to Subvert the United States Armed Forces, Part I", hearings, Oct. 20, 21, 22, 27 & 28, 1971, 92nd Congress, First Session, including pages 6388, 6539, 6609-6611, 6613, 6640, 6642-44, 6646-6649 and 6651.
The key synopsis of the GIDO is found on pages, 6609-6611. Its leaders and key members included those of the "provisional executive committee" founded at the "GI Civilian Antiwar Conference" held in Chicago, Dec. 27-28, 1968:
- LeRoy Wolins - identified as a member of the CPUSA by Lola B. Holmes, in testimony before HCUA in May 1965, p. 379
- Irv Bock - "both of Vets for Peace". Bock actually was an undercover Chicago Police Intelligence Officer whose identity was protected until he testified in 1971 before HISC
- Mrs. Nettie Bell - of Detroit
- Matilde Zimmerman - "currently executive secretary of the GI Civil Liberties Defense Committee (GICLDC). Miss Zimmerman is provisional executive secretary of the new group and will open the national office in New York. (YSA member, New Mobe, p. 3928). Soon a member of the SWP and married to SWP soldiers' movement leader Andrew Pulley of the Ft. Jackson 8
"A copy of an ad published in the New York Times NYT, March 30, 1969, listed the following as initiating sponsors of the organization":
- Rev. William Sloane Coffin Jr. - Chaplain, Yale
- David Dellinger - editor Liberation Magazine
- Hank Di Suvero - director (of the cited CPUSA front), National ECLC National Emergency Civil Liberties Committee NECLC (See National Conference on GI Rights, footnote No. 4)
- Brig. Gen. Hugh B. Hester, U.S. Army (ret.) - the highest ranking U.S. military officer to support the CPUSA. Married into the Party orbit (CITATION)
- Sidney Lens - trade unionist and author - leader of the Chicago Peace Council CPC (and formerly a leader of the Revolutionary Workers League, cited as subversive and communist by the Attorney General in 1947. [Testimony of J. Edgar Hoover, Director, FBI, before the House Subcommittee on Appropriations, Feb. 23, 1968, p. 54)
- Dwight MacDonald - author, former Trotskite communist, and lifelong supporter of communist/marxist parties, fronts and causes
- Alderman A.A. Rayner Jr - Commander Emeritus, Veterans for Peace in Vietnam VFP]
- Andrew Stapp - Chairman, American Servicemen's Union ASU (self-proclaimed communist, Esquire, Aug. 1968; see section on ASU. Open member of the Trotskyite Workers World Party WWP
- Melvin L. Wulf - Director, Legal Department, ACLU, and veteran supporter of communist fronts and causes
- Matilde Zimmerman - Ex. Secy, GICLDC
GIDO officers, re HISC synopsis:
- Sholem Lebovitz - Executive Secretary
Alliance of GIDO:
"Chicago Veterans for Peace in Vietnam - It's founder, Leroy Wolins initiated the resolution which the GI-Civilian Antiwar Conference adopted in creating GIDO. In addition, GIDO address at 431 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, is the same as Veterans for Peace in Vietnam. The Dearborn St. address of the Chicago Vets appeared in the Chicago Tribune on May 10, 1969. Wolins has been identified as a mebmer of the CPUSA. (See section on Veterans for Peace in Vietnam).