The Americans Who Left

[mahatmakanejeeves]

The Americans Who Left


John Bergenske received conscientious objector status before moving to Canada in 1970.

Some of the United States’ Vietnam War opponents found refuge in Canada. Fifty years after the end of the war, they’re still worried about the future.

Photographs and Text by Ruth Fremson
Ruth Fremson, who was born too late to experience the 1960s firsthand, traveled to 13 towns, islands and cities across three Canadian Provinces.
May 3, 2025

The presidential pardon signed by Jimmy Carter in 1977 was a sweeping invitation to thousands of Americans to come home and help heal a nation torn apart by the Vietnam War. Those who had left for Canada to avoid the draft had wanted no part of the conflict, which killed about 60,000 Americans.

Canada had offered a refuge. It did not support the war and was willing to welcome, with few questions asked, those crossing the border.

Many war resisters, or draft dodgers as they were often called by others, were not interested in returning when Mr. Carter made his amnesty offer. Their decisions had come with high costs: ruptured family ties, broken friendships and, often, shame. While some hailed those who went to Canada as principled, others considered them cowardly.

Now, the 50th anniversary of the war’s end arrives at another turbulent moment. … For Americans living in Canada, President Trump’s economic attacks and threats to Canada’s sovereignty have again stirred uneasy feelings about the United States.

{snip}

Vjosa Isai contributed reporting from Toronto.

Ruth Fremson is a Times photographer, based in Seattle, who covers stories nationally and internationally.

A version of this article appears in print on May 4, 2025, Section A, Page 14 of the New York edition with the headline: They Fled A Torn U.S. Long Ago. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

[purrmaid]

1. I grew up Republican

I was taught that the objectors were traitors and cowards. It took years to unlearn that. Not until I had retired from the Army did I change my mind. Vietnam was an illegal war of choice. The Americans who left had more courage than those who went off to kill brown people who had never done them any wrong (to paraphrase the great Muhammed Ali).

We did revolting things to the Vietnamese and our own military, just so rich Americans could get richer. Posturing politicians did their best we were really fighting for our own freedom.

I still honor the heroes of war: those who saved their comrades, flew missions of mercy, those who came back lost and broken and disappeared into our uncaring world.

Thank you to all who served, and did not serve, who made me see the truth.

[LT Barclay]

2. To the billionaires we are all disposable. If only the right would get that.

[BurnDoubt]

3. Compulsory Military Service...

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