SAN FRANCISCO - On Oct. 12, GIs here will lead [ano]ther [antiwar] demonstration [illegible] against the Vietnam war despite moves by top military brass to stop the action. The GIs followed by reservists, veterans and supporters, will march along the same route used by the April 27 antiwar march this year. A [rally] in the Civic Center with GI speakers [will] be held after the march. GIs are working with veterans and peace organisations in building the march. A broad base of support is being built. Endorsements and financial support have been obtained from labour unions and churchmen.
Civilian support for the Oct. 12 march includes [illegible] service centres [illegible] [regarded] by Smith and Locks and supporters as the best way of encouraging GIs to march and to protect them from retaliation by the [illegible].
Lieutenant Hugh F. Smith and Airman Michael R. Locks of Hamilton Air Force Base are among the GI leaders building the demonstration. Both worked on the GI contingent for the April 27 march and on the Aug. 10 GI teach-in in Berkeley.
That the military brass is concerned by the Oct. 12 march was revealed by a leaflet being distributed to servicemen in the Bay Area. The leaflet reproduces the text of an unclassified message received at the Air Force communications centre in the Pen[tagon] Aug. 28.
The message is headed "Personal for General McConnell from General Estes." Gen. McConnell is chief of staff of the Air Force; Estes is chief of the Military Airlift Command.
The message says, in part, "Strongly believe this demonstration should be quashed if possible because of possible severe impact on military discipline throughout the services."
Estes points out in the message that there is now [illegible] AFR (Air Force [Regulation]) 35-78 [illegible]. Smith was instead ordered to [illegible] duty stat[ion] [illegible].
Smith, however, has said that the march will not be stopped even if he and Locks are shipped out or confined. "Others will step in to take our [places]" [illegible].
Lawyers in the Area have volunteered their [illegible] an illegal move by the Air Force in shipping Smith out.
Smith and Locks see mass action as the best way of spreading opposition to the war and say that the broad support already obtained indicates a new stage for the antiwar movement. "We see a new and broad link-up of GIs and civilians, something that has not happened before, coming out of this [illegible].
The two servicemen have also been active in forming the GI Association, or GIA (the name is a take off on CIA). According to Locks and Smith, GIA membership is widespread and includes men stationed in Vietnam, Korea and elsewhere. "We need our own organisation which will look after our own interests and allows us to take common action to our common problems," Smith said.