In the spirit of the Oleo Strut, Under The Hood is a place for soldiers to gather, relax and speak freely about the wars and the military. Support services for soldiers include referrals for counseling, legal advice and information on GI rights.
Under The Hood needs your donations and support!
Read the August Under the Hood Update.
Read older issues in the archive.
Rally for Peace by Amanda Kim Stairrett. (Killeen Daily Herald, 10/31/2010) “Peace activists gathered in Killeen Monday morning to speak out against U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The event, which was hosted at Killeen's Under the Hood Café, focused on Iraq and the president's recent announcement that U.S. combat operations ended there today.” Read more
Anti-war groups call for full troop withdrawal in Iraq. (News8Austin, 8/30/2010) “The day before President Barack Obama is scheduled to address the nation about the changing mission in Iraq, members of several anti-war groups gathered in Killeen with their own message.” Watch video
Protesters Block Fort Hood Troop Deployment. (The Rag Blog, 8/23/10) “Under darkness at about 4 a.m. this morning, buses carrying the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (3rd ACR) to planes were stopped by a group of five protesters that included two Iraq veterans, one Afghanistan veteran, and one military spouse whose husband had been deployed to Iraq three times.” Read more
Visit Resi•Store, our new online store, for Under the Hood Café merchandise.
Activists protest war outside post by Amanda Kim Stairrett. (Killeen Daily Herald, 7/8/2010) “In conjunction with the sixth annual Iraq Veterans Against the War convention in Austin, Killeen's Under the Hood Café...”
See three 1970 issues of the Fatigue Press, a GI newspaper from Killeen, sent to Under the Hood by a supporter whose husband was stationed at Fort Hood during the Vietnam War.
Anti-war cafe opens in the shadow of Fort Hood by Jeremy Schwartz. (Austin American-Statesman, 8/15/09) “Off-post, soldiers can let down their guard and open up about the war at Under the Hood cafe.” Read more
Injured Hearts, Injured Minds by Forrest Wilder. (The Texas Observer. 8/7/09) “In March, Army Spc. Michael Kern, 22, returned to Fort Hood after a year and a day in Iraq. Shaken by his experience and disgusted with the war, Kern, a native of Riverside, California, tried to readjust by getting as hammered as possible.” Read more
Hoodstock: A benefit for Under the Hood was a great success. Special thanks to Castro’s Beard, Will T. Massey, Shootin’ Pains, Gary Graves, Ann Wright and Alan Pogue.
The Summary Court Martial of SPC Victor Agosto. (The Rag Blog. 8/7/09) “In an unscripted emotional moment after the sentence was read, Victor Agosto ripped his rank off his uniform and put it in front of the Captain.” Read more
Watch this! This is Where We Take Our Stand: The IVAW Winter Soldier Project. A new film series by David Zeiger. A new episode will be posted every two weeks throughout the summer.
Under the Hood Cafe Documentary by Sarah Garrahan and Lauren Sanders
From Ann
The Under the Hood Cafe offers an oasis for members of the military to gather and talk of issues of importance. I welcome the opportunity to meet fellow military in an atmosphere of peace and justice.
— Ann Wright, U.S. Army colonel (retired), official of the U.S. State Department (retired)
From Victor
I lived a miserable existence since I turned against the war in Iraq in 2007. I have frequented Under the Hood Café since its grand opening in March of 2009. The café has become my refuge from a closed-minded and dehumanizing military culture. I have seen it bring joy to every soldier and civilian that has become a regular here. The civilian staff is dedicated to helping soldiers deal with personal and legal issues. I have attained a sense of purpose that I have never had in my life. I am now committed to the success of both Under the Hood and the anti-war movement. I have spent countless hours discussing and thinking about ways to end these wars. The support I have received from my family at Under the Hood has helped me take the liberating leap from obedient soldier to war resister. I cannot remember the last time I was this happy. Under the Hood has changed my life forever.
— SPC Victor Agosto, Afghanistan War Resister
From Ronn
During Vietnam, the GI antiwar movement got off the ground when civilians started establishing a string of coffeehouses around military installations.
I'm genuinely excited that Under the Hood has finally opened. Your donations are greatly appreciated and will go a long way toward giving us what we need in order to take care of our brothers and sisters as well as organize a viable movement to help end these destructive, pointless wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Thank you very much.
— Ronn Cantu, Former President, Iraq Veterans Against the War Chapter 38 at Fort Hood
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