January 31, 1971
The Winter Soldier Investigation began, sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW). The VVAW challenged the morality and conduct of the war by showing the direct relationship between military policies and war crimes in Vietnam. The three-day gathering of 109 veterans (including John Kerry) and 16 civilians took place in Detroit, Michigan. Discharged servicemen from each branch of military service, as well as civilian contractors, medical personnel and academics, gave testimony about war crimes they had committed or witnessed during the years of 1963–1970. A complete transcript was later entered into the Congressional Record by Senator Mark Hatfield, and discussed in the Fulbright Hearings in April and May 1971.
