The Strength of a High and Noble Hill (An Outlander Story)

Chapter 39: War Wins Land, Peace Wins People

The reason – well, one of the reasons – that Brian went into journalism was that he wanted to investigate, to tell the truth of what's happening.

The Vietnam War was a catalyst. Before the United States' full-scale involvement began, Brian hardly noticed it as it was a war that still felt very far away. But by 1964, it all changed. The draft was developed to usher young American soldiers into combat to protect America and its allies from the communist Viet Cong.

The Vietnam War was unlike any war before, it was being televised and that led to Brian being glued to every development, how it was being reported, fascinated. When he was asked by his parents what he was going to do after high school, he knew what he wanted to do. The war being televised meant that the first time, the American people could see the horror of war from thousands of miles away. In colour, they witnessed firsthand accounts of the violence and devastation caused by the war.

The question that kept on swimming in Brian's mind was why are they fighting in a war that wasn't theirs to begin with.

It wasn't long before he heard of people's outrage and disapproval of the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War.

——

1964

Brian groans as he stares down at his latest assignment. Maybe going out until 5 in the morning was not such a great idea with the assignment due in just a few days.

There was a bar, Sporters, where Brian's eyes were opened for the first time, to see people like him being free. He meets Bill Conrad who works there, who tells Brian of his story in the army, in Germany, that he didn't know there was a community until he met Bob White who gave him the job.

In a way, college had become a sort of liberation for Brian. He could explore more than he could before, and work out what he now knows to be his bisexuality. He was no longer at home, no longer under his parents' watchful gaze though society wouldn't let him forget.

Bill gives Brian advice, advice on how to survive the police raids that happen every couple of months. Brian learnt to have his ID on him and to not react when they called them names.

He also meets Tommy Martin and Kenneth Jackson. Soon, they're joined by Joyce Harris and Ruth Walker who they meet in the Midtown. He gets along well with his friends, they're like him, outsiders, not accepted by society.

They also bond over their anti-Vietnam war sentiments. Questioning why America is bothering with a war that has nothing to do with them. It becomes a frequent thing, meeting up to discuss it then, that December, Tommy hears word that there's going to be nationwide protests against the Vietnam War in Boston, New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia and many more.

He knows his Dad will disapprove but he doesn't care because he feels like he's actually trying to make a difference, fighting for a cause.

——

November 1965

Of course, it was all going to escalate.

Brian has secured a college deferment to stop him being drafted but he knows his deferment won't protect him forever. These days, more and more men are being drafted to fight in a war that has nothing to do with them, pointless dying and for what? To stop the supposed great evil of communism?

In August, President Johnson signs a law making it a federal crime to destroy or mutilate draft cards. On October 15th, David Miller publicly burns his draft card, becoming the first person to be prosecuted under that law.

That doesn't stop it, if anything, David Miller becomes a symbol of the movement against the war. A movement Brian is a part of. No more passive non-compliance with the National Service Scheme, now it is time to actively demonstrate their distaste for the actions of their government.