Barry Romo (July 24, 1947 – May 1, 2024) was an American antiwar activist. He joined the US military as a
second lieutenant in 1967 and was initially a strong support of the
Vietnam War, but within four years had become a leader of
Vietnam Veterans Against the War.[1][2]
Biography
Romo earned a
Bronze Star medal for his role in a battle in
Tam Ky Province. At a demonstration in Washington in 1971 that he had helped organize, he joined about 700 soldiers in throwing away their medals in protest, hurling them over a fence in front of the
Capitol.[3]
In December 1972, Romo returned to Vietnam with
Telford Taylor, a
Nuremberg War Trials prosecutor, and the pacifist singer
Joan Baez, delivering Christmas packages for 535 prisoners of war.[4]
Romo worked for the veterans effected by
Agent Orange, homeless veterans, and for veterans' post-traumatic stress disorder treatment,[5] supporting
Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Chicago Homeless Veterans Standdown.[6]
Romo died from a heart attack on May 1, 2024, at the age of 76.[1]