The Good Soldier
It was a great night at Proctor's Theatre. 192 tickets were sold for the Good Soldier with about 170 attending. As many as 20 to 25 high school students came and some concerned parents brought their sons. Many folks found the evening both powerful and evocative. In reply to an inquiry about the evening, I received the below note.
" . . . , we very much appreciated your candor in saying what you did about cultural sensitivity. It was a powerful moment, and virtually everything else in the discussion as well as the film itself validated what you said about military culture. If there is to be any hope for peace and/or reconciling differences, the obvious contradictions between "military force" and"cultural sensitivity" must be addressed -- and not just by the military but by our government and the society at large. Addressing the contradictions is a huge, never-ending task, but your Veteran's Day evening, both movie and panel discussion, did a fine job of contributing to the effort. Both of us found the evening highly informative and stimulating.
By the way, It's very good to hear that you did get a number of high school students. We couldn't tell from where we were sitting. And of course, the man who complained about your trip to Iran is indeed a victim of ignorance and propaganda. But the good thing is that he was actually there--he had to have learned things from the event that he hadn't known before, things that are forcing him to think. Little by little, people learn.
We cannot revolutionize their thinking all at once, but every little step counts. Thank you for all that you have done, and continue to do, to make that happen.''
I hope to post more soon. Paz, John
On November 11, 2009 at 5 and 7 PM, Proctors Theatre in Schenectady will show the Good Soldier. After the 7 PM show there will be a Veteran's Panel to discuss their experiences in combat and reactions to the film. The Veteran's panel consists of Ed Bloch, Tyler Boudreau, Frank Houde, Jason Peterson and John Amidon. Following the panel's presentation will be a question and answer period. This is one of the most important films on war every made. It is time we start having an open and honest discussion about the effects of combat for the good of our nation and the good of our children. One more thing, if you are a high school student and would like to see this movie, Veterans For Peace will provide the first 100 students who contact us with a free ticket. The movie web site is www.thegoodsoldier.com
Veteran's Panel Bio's
John Amidon
USMC 1965 -1969
John Amidon served in the USMC from 1965-69. He is currently the President of Chapter 10, Veterans For Peace, Albany, NY. In 1998 he founded the Kateri Tekakwitha Peace Conference in Fonda, NY. In September of 2005 John traveled with Academics For Peace to Iran and Syria meeting with former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. In 2008 he served as the interim coordinator for the Nevada Desert Experience, working to abolish nuclear weapons and for environmental justice. John has worked tirelessly to close the School of Americas, keep JROTC out of Albany Public Schools and to oppose torture. He is a member of the Interfaith Alliance of NYS, has been honored by the NYS Senate, has written commentaries for the Times Union and continues to work for peace and justice in the Capital District.
Edward Bloch
USMC 1943 - 1948
At 85, Ed Bloch continues to “fight the good fight”. Ed served in the USMC 1943-48 as a rifle platoon leader in L and K Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines Regiment, 1st Marine Division on Okinawa and China. For his efforts in WWII he was awarded the Bronze Star a and Purple Heart. He w was a candidate for Congress running against then-Congressman Gerald Solomon. As a labor organizer, Ed continues to act on behalf of workers. He is the director of The Interfaith Alliance in Albany, an organization that endeavors to make changes in public policy based on religious understanding. Ed is the president of the New York State Council of Veterans Organizations and is an active member of Veterans For Peace. Throughout the years, Ed has worked to promote peace. He and his wife Naomi Finkelstein are the parents of four children.
Tyler E. Boudreau
USMC 1989 - 2005
On March 1, 2004 Captain Tyler E. Boudreau deployed to Iraq as the Assistant Operations Officer for 2d Battalion, 2d Marines (2/2) based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
2/2's Area of Operations (AO) in Iraq was initially the Northern Babil province, directly south of Baghdad. They moved to the southern border of Fallujah in April 2004 for the limited attacks that occurred during the first siege. After the siege was lifted they moved again to As Sadan located along the Euphrates River just south of Abu Ghraib in the al Anbar province. Finally they returned to Northern Babil, from where they ultimately redeployed to the United States in October of 2004. In the fall of 2004, Tyler Boudreau assumed command of a rifle company (Fox 2/2), and prepared to deploy again to Iraq. By April 2005, his concerns about the war combined with his deep affection for his Marines, made him unable to remain in uniform any longer. He relinquished his command and resigned his commission after twelve and a half years of active duty.
Since leaving the Marine Corps Tyler Boudreau has written one of the most important books, “ Packing Inferno” about the Iraq war and his experiences in the Marine Corps. Tyler Boudreau lives with his family in western Massachusetts and works on a variety of veterans issues in his community.
Frank Houde
USAF 1954 - 1974
Frank Houde served in the US Air Force from 1954 to 1974 as a pilot and navigator and is a Vietnam veteran (1968-69). In Vietnam he was commander of Detachment 2 of the 556th Reconnaissance Squadron operating from Cam Ranh Bay and flew 372 combat hours in that capacity. Det. 2’s C130s gathered communication intelligence on movements on the Ho Chi Minh Trail and Haiphong bound shipping in the Gulf of Tonkin. From 1960 to 1965 he flew B47s with Strategic Air Command’s 509th Bomb Wing. The 509th was the direct descendant of the 509th Composite Group that dropped the Hiroshima and Nagasaki weapons fifteen years earlier.
Frank has lived in Albany, NY since 1980 with his wife, Connie Frisbee Houde of Stuyvesant Falls, NY. He has five sons in their forties and fifties by a previous marriage. After reflection on his experience of war and his own military service Frank became a peace activist. He is a member of the Tom Paine Chapter of Veterans For Peace in New York State’s Capitol District and served on VFP’s National Board of Directors from 2002 to 2008. He is also a member of Military Families Speak Out.
Jason Peterson
USMC 1989 - 1995
Jason Peterson enlisted in the Marine Corps in the Delayed Entry Program in the 1st month of his senior year at Land O' Lakes High School, Land O' Lakes, Florida, as an Infantryman for six years. He went to Parris Island, S.C. in August of 1989 upon graduation of high school, graduated from the School of Infantry in March of 1990, checked in to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. While serving in 1st Battalion 3rd Marines he crossed trained with the Gurkha's from Nepal. He served as the 2nd platoon radio operator in Desert Shield and Storm, where he received his combat action ribbon, and then the company radio operator for Bravo Company. After Desert Storm he successfully completed the Commando Course in Tahiti while cross training with the Tahitian Marines, deployed to the Philippines conducting live ammunition patrols for Guerillas, and cross training with the Japanese Self Defense Force while deployed to mainland Japan. During his last year in the Marine Corps, Jason was transferred to Marine Aircraft Group 24 where he taught Base Defense. He was promoted to E-5, Sergeant, awarded his second Navy Achievement Medal, and was discharged honorably on August 9, 1995. Jason is currently a member of Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace and VFP Chapter 10, The Tom Paine Chapter in Albany, NY. free ticket. Email us through our contact information. Immediately below are the veteran's panel biographies.