With shouts of protest and calls to end the war, more than 30 student activists marched to the state Capitol with Josh Gaines, Iraq War veteran and Madison resident, to watch him return his military medals in an act of protest Wednesday afternoon.

“I’m returning my National Defense Medal because I truly believe that I did not help defend my nation and I’m returning my Global War on Terrorism Medal because I do not believe that I helped defeat terrorism in Iraq,” said Gaines, who received the medals for the year long tour of duty he served while a member of the Wisconsin National Guard.

Protesters gathered on Library Mall at 2 p.m. Before heading to the Capitol, Gaines addressed the crowd and read the letter he had included with the medals, to be sent to former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Rumsfeld is the man Gaines said he felt was responsible for his tour.

“As an American and a soldier I ask for your loyalty to the true needs of the brave men and women serving our country while suffering countless injustices due to greed, corruption and incompetence,” said Gaines in his letter to Rumsfeld.

Gaines said he feels the National Guard needs to be kept home to work on natural disasters. Gov. Jim Doyle needs to demand the return of the National Guard troops back to Wisconsin according to Gaines.

The group that marched to the Capitol consisted largely of students, many of them members of the Campus Anti-war Network. Veterans who supported Gaines in his decision to return his metals were also present.

“Josh has seen combat, he knows both sides of the story,” said Will Williams, Vietnam veteran and member of Veterans for Peace. “More of the vets coming back from Iraq need to find the courage to take a stand against this madness.”

On the way to the Capitol, the group yelled anti-war chants and voiced their opinions along State Street.

“When we can hear a veteran’s own testimony of what’s going on in Iraq, I think that’s really motivating for people,” said Jean Brody, UW-Madison freshman and member of CAN.

Gaines led the protesters to a mailbox on the ground floor of the Capitol building, where he dropped in his medals to the applause and cheers of the group.
“I’m very proud, I’ve never been more proud to call myself an American,” Gaines said.

The protesters then continued on to Doyle’s office and said they wanted to speak with him about bringing home Wisconsin troops. Two staff members said they had talked with Doyle and a meeting would be later sched