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Special Report
The Reason for Rolling Thunder
It began in 1987 as an effort to educate the public on POW-MIA issues.
On the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, as they have done for the past 22 years, thousands of motorcycles rolled from the Pentagon to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in a “Ride for Freedom” demonstration. Called Rolling Thunder, the ride pays homage to America’s veterans, remembering in particular those who are prisoners of war or missing in action from all of our nation’s wars.
By 9:30 on Sunday morning, the Pentagon’s North parking lot was a sea of bikes, and they were starting to stage motorcycles in some of the other Pentagon parking lots. Downtown, motorcycles were parked along the route where other Rolling Thunder supporters lined up to watch. Once the riders started riding, they kept coming for hours. At the Reflecting Pool, a program that included speeches by Air Force General Richard Myers, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA), and representatives of Rolling Thunder started well before the riders stopped coming.
Rolling Thunder is one of Washington, D.C.’s great events. President Kennedy famously dismissed Washington as a town with “northern charm and southern efficiency,” and that hasn’t changed much. When the Rolling Thunder riders and their supporters arrive in such significant numbers, they send a powerful message. Their message reminds me of events like the March for Life, the Marine Marathon, or the Army Ten Miler in which thousands of people from all across the United States, and some from outside the country, travel to Washington (often from great distances) to speak up for their beliefs and values. Events like these are almost enough to make me reconsider my cynical view of Washington.
Rolling Thunder began in 1987 as an effort to educate the public on POW-MIA issues, with a special focus on those from the Vietnam War. At that time, there were reports that American POWs were still alive in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, even though 591 POWs were repatriated after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973. Those 591 are not easy to reconcile with the 1,205 POWs that North Vietnamese General Tran Van Quang told the Vietnamese Central Committee they were holding in September 1972; a copy of Quang’s report was discovered in the Soviet archives in early 1993. Likewise, the number is not easy to reconcile with the U.S. count of 1,350 captured or missing in action and some 1,200 more reported killed in action and not recovered.
Congress last took a detailed look at the issue in 1992-93, when the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs did its work. That committee “acknowledge[d]” that there was no proof that any U.S. POW had survived, but noted that there was also no “proof that all of those who did not return had died.” It explained, “There is evidence, moreover, that indicates the possibility of survival, at least for a small number, after Operation Homecoming.” Furthermore, a committee staffer, Sedgwick Tourison, advised the Committee, “Defense Department files contain evidence that at least 59 Americans were — or may have been — taken prisoner and their precise fate is still unclear.” Tourison viewed that number as “the minimum number of possible live POWs” in 1992.
With the bipartisan support of 256 sponsors, House Resolution 111 calls for the establishment of another Select Committee to “conduct a full investigation of all unresolved matters” relating to U.S. personnel who are still unaccounted for from America’s wars since Korea. Notwithstanding that support, the resolution is sitting in the House Rules Committee.
It is now 37 years since the Vietnam War ended and 17 since the Committee issued its report. Rolling Thunder made its first run in 1987, and its major function remains the publicizing of POW/MIA issues. It has also broadened its work to include assisting veterans, including homeless veterans and veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The motorcycles may be loud, but nothing drowns out their message. That Memorial Day message of support for the active and veteran members of our Armed Forces, including those for whom we cannot account, is one to keep in mind all year long.
About the Author
Jack Park is an attorney with the Atlanta law firm Strickland Brockington Lewis LLP.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (25) | Leave a comment
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Leatha Drouillard| 6.9.10 @ 8:16AM
We were a part of the group!!! How thrilling it was!!!
Any estimate as to how many participants this year (2010)?
RacerJim| 6.9.10 @ 9:49AM
God Bless "Rolling Thunder"
MIA/POW
Never Forget
Vietnam Era Veteran
Rob| 6.9.10 @ 1:27PM
I had a discussion about this in the 80s with a naval officer who had flown Skyhawks over Vietnam. He said it was quite well known that the Communists had no real interest in shot down pilots, who were usually returned. Pilots know how to fly aircraft, and the Russians know how that's done! But they did want to know what captured weapon system operators and radar intercept officers knew. These men were shipped out to the Soviet Union for interogation. They never came back, because there was no way the USSR could allow them to testify about what had been done to them, which would have been an act of war against the USA.
Human life has never meant anything to communists, the ends always justify the means. These men will have been tortured and killed, and there isn't a damned thing anyone could do about it.
george| 6.9.10 @ 1:29PM
Words do not suffice for the degree of shame that belongs to those who disrespected and slandered the soldiers who fought in Vietnam. And the politicians who sent them to fight and then abandoned them when they returned.
Margie| 6.9.10 @ 4:21PM
And the same degree of shame belongs to those who do the same today to our soldiers. Those who belong to the Blame America First crowd. Who blame America for terrorism, and are therefore siding with the enemy.
Words do NOT suffice.
the friendly grizzly| 6.10.10 @ 7:46PM
Let's not forget the sacred-cow American Legion or the VFW. Many of their chapters turned away those returning from Vietnam, calling them druggies, drunks, or would tell them they had not been in a "real" war like WW2.
I hold the deepest contempt for both of those groups to this day.
Alice| 6.11.10 @ 10:10PM
And we are seeing history repeat itself .. Our 'Warriors' are still being forgotten and neglected while the Washington political games continue
Alice| 7.15.10 @ 11:59AM
Alice, you might be correct in saying that our 'Warrors" are temporarily neglected, but forgotten, I;LL BE DAMNED if thats going to happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nancy| 6.9.10 @ 5:33PM
Thank you - thank you for a truly accurate and wonderfully written article. "POW-MIA we will NEVER forget"
Nancy
Rolling Thunder National
Stephanie | 6.10.10 @ 9:03AM
I'm a member of Rolling Thunder Kentucky Chapter 1. We attend the protest in DC every year. Thank you so much for the article! There should be more media outlets covering this story. I'm ashamed that our government doesn't care more for our fighting men and women. No one should ever be left behind! Bring them home!
davs Noaker| 6.10.10 @ 1:53PM
Our military does not get the same benefits as our government gives ALL illegal immigrants. It's a shame government hangs on our veterans.
Nelle| 6.10.10 @ 3:19PM
I was in DC in April & thought of Rolling Thunder when I visited the Vietnam Memorial. I had hoped to make it back for Memorial Day, but circumstances would not permit. Are there any video's of the day & the ride that can be purchased?
Jack Park| 6.20.10 @ 4:38PM
Thanks to all of the riders and for the comments. This piece was an honor to write. I don't know about purchase but there are a number of videos on You Tube.
Shen| 6.10.10 @ 3:55PM
... and, now, we have a CIC, who holds his crotch, while others are saluting our fallen heros! I only HOPE that We, The People can CHANGE his job title soon, with impeachment!
George| 6.11.10 @ 9:06AM
I'm a member of Oklahoma Rolling Thunder 3, and we will see the CIC's title changed to 'unemployed' in just over 2 more years. And THIS year get out there in November and vote out EVERY incumbent you can because everyone in DC is there to feather their own nest not ours!
BTW, Thanks for the great article!!! We need this word to get to the masses.
Norma Nyikos| 6.11.10 @ 12:28PM
I'm also a member of Oklahoma Rolling Thunder 3 and I agree with George. Vote the INCUMBENT's out of office. They have forgotten who they work for!
Thank you for a great article.
Aimee M. Gut| 6.19.10 @ 11:36AM
I am apalled by the disrespect constantly shown by the "president". We are as ashamed of him as he and his family are of our flag, our troops our great nation and all those who support freedom. Vote him out and let him return to his country of origin and let him implement his "change" there. GOD BLESS OUR MILITARY!!!
Ron Mani,Ohio| 7.15.10 @ 10:21AM
Never stop fighting to bring our POWS&MIAS; HOME.!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Barry| 7.16.10 @ 8:24PM
I too am Oklahoma 3. I've not been as proud in a long time as when we made the Ride to The Wall. Seeing all the flags and waving , cheering people makes me think that once we get the current admin. out maybe we ALL can make a difference. I have a hard considering him the CIC.
Rick Newkirk| 7.17.10 @ 9:28AM
They knew they were there and they knew they were alive! 33 of those that returned should have and could have been tried for treason, one of those was John McCain. BP never honored our embargo and was doing business there in 93 when I went back. Is the oil spill karma? God Bless our troops.