Ron Kovic

Ron Kovic (born July 4, 1946) was a U.S. Marine who served two tours of duty in the Vietnam War where he was awarded the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. In combat on January 20, 1968 He suffered a spinal cord injury which left him paralized from the chest down. He became one of the best known peace activists among the veterans of the war.

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recent photo:

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http://la.indymedia.org/uploads/2003/09/ron-kovic-sm.jpg

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Here's a poem by Ron Kovic:

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I am the living death

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the memorial day on wheels

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I am your Yankee Doodle Dandy

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your John Wayne come home

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your fourth of July firecracker

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exploding in the grave

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Kovic was born in Ladysmith, Wisconsin and grew up in Massapequa, New York.

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His autobiography, Born on the Fourth of July, was adapted as an Academy Award winning film directed by Oliver Stone and starring Tom Cruise as Kovic. Academy Award winning Actress Jane Fonda has stated that Ron Kovic's story was the inspiration for her film Coming Home.

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Bobby Muller, Bill Wieman, Mark Clevinger, and Ron Kovic were spat upon by Republicans at the 1972 Republican National Convention.

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http://pej.org/html/print.php?sid=2718

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In November 2003 he joined the large protests in London against the visit of George W. Bush.

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On Jun 13, 2005 08:20 AM he wrote the following:

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http://pej.org/html/print.php?sid=2718

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July 4: July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 180 days remaining. The phrase "Fourth of July" has acquired widespread significance in American lingo as a reference to the Independence Day celebration in the United States and that celebration's many cultura...

1946: 1946 was a common year starting on Tuesday. (see link for calendar)...

U.S. Marine: REDIRECT United States Marine Corps...

Ron Kovic related Images and Photos (experimental)

Ron Ely	Ron Ely	Ron Moody	Ron Howard
Ron Harper	Ron Leibman	Ron Leibman	Ron O'Neal
Ron Ely - Tarzan	Ron Santo Posed	Ron Carter - Peg Leg	Ron Carter - Peg Leg