History of Rolling Thunder

In Artie's Words

POW/MIA "We Will Never Forget"
Written by Artie "Dictator" Muller - 10/02

“Rolling Thunder ® ...The Run”, was started in 1987. Ray Manzo and I met just before Veterans Day. At the time we both wanted to do something about the POW/MIA issue. We wanted to wake up the American public and educate them about the many American POWs that had been left behind. We wanted to pressure the United States government to let them know we were not satisfied with their inaction on the POW/MIA issue. We wanted to shake the hell out of the United States government and expose the cover-up, lies and the corruption of this great government that destroys trust. Ray came up with the idea to do a run, a motorcycle run for the issue. Rolling Thunder ® Ride for Freedom of all POW/MIAs was born.

Larry, Left, Greasy, Walt, John and a few others were in from the beginning. Ray and I worked on organizing Veterans and supporters to attend the demonstration. We all worked hard trying to reach out to every corner of America to notify everyone about the American POWs abandoned after past wars. John Holland, Walt Sides and Ted Sampley worked on getting the permits for the demonstration. The Run was put together for this issue. Many brothers nationwide joined in and did whatever they could to make this happen. We did it because we care about the freedom of our brothers abandoned in POW camps. The same government that sent them there to fight (the United States government) had no intention of winning. Many American prisoners of war were abandoned and died in POW camps after WWII, Korea, and the Vietnam War.

Many brothers came to Rolling Thunder ® 1 from all over the United States. There were some 2600 riders in Rolling Thunder ® 1 and thousands of brothers and sisters lined the streets as Rolling Thunder ® roared into Washington, DC. It was one hell of a Run; one had to be there to feel the rush in his veins. Proud Vietnam veterans numbering 2,600 plus at Rolling Thunder ® 1 grew to hundreds of thousands brothers and sisters returning every year. The North Pentagon parking lot overflows every year and tens of thousands park in Washington, DC before the Run. Veterans, men, women and children line the Memorial Bridge. They come to the event, not always riding with the main pack.

Their purpose was and is to honor our brothers and sisters on the Wall as well as veterans of all wars that gave their lives for their country. They demonstrate to people worldwide that POW/MIAs do exist! They demand a complete accounting of all POW/MIAs and insist on bringing home all live American POWs still held by communist countries!! They protect our future veterans so that they will be “guaranteed” that they will not be left behind!! That is what we are all about.

In the next war, police action, conflict or whatever our elected leaders get us into let these politicians let their children fight in the Hell of war and we are sure to bring all the politicians' kids home. Many brothers from all the 50 U.S. states, Canada, Australia, England, South Korea, New Zealand, Germany and many other countries have helped us put these Runs together. Guys like Larry, Lefty, Greasy, Jake, Stretch, Casino, Rat, Eugene, Wazat, Bungee, Evo Red, John, Slick, Joe T., Tony, Pap, Elf, Guardrail, Doc. Reid, Bob, Jim, Jack, Mike, Gil, Rusty, Andre, Filthy Phil, Lee, Garb, La, Buzz, Motzman, Dan, Tom, Joe, Low Rider, Terry and many others have helped make this one of the largest Runs for the POW/MIA issue worldwide. My wife Elaine has been my biggest supporter and has helped me from the beginning giving me all her support and encouragement.

Run for the Wall from California: Evo Red, James, Bungie, John and others ride across the United States of America to be with us at Rolling Thunder ® as one unit. I know I left out many names that helped and many just kept a low profile and passed out information to make this the largest Run worldwide. We all do it for our brothers, not for the money. All money raised from patches, pins and T-shirts goes to the POW/MIA issue, to help disabled veterans and to cover expenses of the next Run.

We have donated funds to send family members to Vietnam to investigate on their own about their loved ones. We pay for air fare and hotel rooms for some family members to help them come to the Run. We put some funds into search teams going into Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos searching for live American POWs. We have sent some of our own people to Vietnam searching for remains and live POW information. We care about freedom for all American POWs. We will never forget our brothers.

Too many live Americans have been abandoned as POWs in past wars to die in communist hands. Why? Our government accounts for money and equipment, not American POWs. That is too costly and may upset the enemy. Just who is the enemy when the politicians of the United States write off POWs with the stroke of a pen? This has happened too many times and we, the Vietnam veterans and our supporters, will not let this happen again. That is why we keep going even after the United States government has lifted the trade embargo against Vietnam. We are watching the corrupt United States politicians.

The blood is on the hands of many of our United States senators, congressmen and the Presidents (past and present) of the United States. Several senators that voted yes to support the embargo are Vietnam veterans and they turned their backs many times on our POWs. They lied and covered the truth. How much money did each senator get for his vote from big business? The yuppies of big business are filling their pockets with cash from Vietnam. Money and equipment are important to the United States government. Big business seems to get more support than the men and women who have put their lives on the line for their country to fight on foreign soil for freedom and democracy for all countries.

We have had many successful Runs (in DC) and each year we get stronger and touch more people worldwide with the truth. Why do veterans who fought in wars come home and have to fight our government to do the right thing? Our government was formed of the people, by the people, and for the people!

Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children attend Rolling Thunder ® in Washington, DC each year. They come to participate in the event from all around the world. If you love your freedom be at Rolling Thunder ® and ride for the freedom and full accounting of all prisoners of war / missing in action from all wars. Remember to pay your respects to all our brothers and sisters that gave their lives for their country. Remember, you don't have to ride a bike to be a part of Rolling Thunder ® .

If you don't ride, line the streets of Washington, DC and be part of the true American spirit. You have to care. Give up some time for those who can't speak for themselves. Protect future generations of veterans. Pressure the United States government to account for the known POWs taken captive by enemy forces and never returned. Keep the faith and remember all POW/MIAs and family members. My son asked me “Dad, what if all the POWs are dead?” I answered, “Son, what if they are alive?” Ride for the freedom of all American POW/MIAs!

Your Brother,

Sgt. Artie Muller
Vietnam 1966-67
U.S. Army, Combat Veteran
4th Infantry Division, Company B 1/22nd Inf.