SEO: Steve McAllister’s journey from Vietnam to Greenpeace Summary blurb:

Tales of war and peace are common in novels, but Steve McAllister has lived the real

thing. From his time as a soldier in Vietnam becoming head of Greenpeace US, his story

demonstrates the impact one person can have on a global scale.

From War to peace Steve McAllister’s journey through Vietnam to Greenpeace

By: Samantha Dean

He spends his November mornings relaxing by the fire or listening to NPR. He sits at his

newspaper-littered table and peers out of his kitchen windows. In the background, he can hear

the whistle of the tea kettle. He enjoys his tranquil surroundings, a stark contrast to his mornings

in the war.

But Steve McAllister’s life is anything but ordinary. His story sounds more like that of a

great fiction novel. Tales of war and peace are common in novels, but Steve McAllister has lived

the real thing. From his time as a soldier in

Vietnam, to becoming head of Greenpeace US,

his story demonstrates the impact one person can

have on a global scale.

The contradictions of War

Reminders of the war are so prevalent in

American culture that for the most part we have

become numb to it. Shocking images of

bombings and soldiers in the Middle East are not

so shocking anymore.

McAllister reads the paper in his

Annapolis home. By: Samantha Dean

For McAllister, the evening news clips of the

Middle East are all too real reminders of his past in the

war. He recalls his first nights in Vietnam. He dug

ditches under the tanks and slept in the mud to shield

him from possible attacks. At one point, he even slept

among the dead bodies in an armored vehicle.

“The absurdity of it all was always present.

Nobody had any idea what they were doing there or

who and why people were trying to kill us and why we had try and kill them. It was chaos,”

McAllister says.

Those fearful days are behind him now. He does not own a television, never has, never

will. McAllister says he keeps the war out of sight. He hears only an occasional reminder from

the radio broadcasts lulling in the background as he works at his large oak desk in his home

office.

Breaking stereotypes

McAllister’s desk has seen its fair share of work. From old war documents to lobbyist

movements for Greenpeace, there is always work sprawled out.

McAllister returned from war feeling low. The public hated veterans. He fled home to

Vermont and fell into the holistic “hippie” lifestyle, even living in a teepee at one point.

Times were rough, but nature provided safe salvation. His lifestyle drew him to a new

organization, Greenpeace.

An ambitious McAllister worked up the ranks in Greenpeace, eventually running the

Australia office. Later that year, he gained a promotion to

deputy executive director and campaign director of

Greenpeace International at its headquarters in Amsterdam

He decided to change the face of Greenpeace to be more

credible. He suggested the organization became more

mainstream and practical. Breaking the stereotype would give

the cause mass appeal. The rest of the organization did not

share his views, so he departed with his head held high.

“I think the attitude that I was lucky to be alive after Vietnam has always stayed with me

and led me to take more risks than most. I felt like what’s the worst that can happen? Nobody is

trying to kill me!” says McAllister.

This attitude led him to take more risks and be more ambitious. After Greenpeace he

went into housing development and took some financial risks. Using his bold business moves he

found success, which led him to early retirement.

Inspiration for the future

McAllister’s son, Wilson, now 27, has heard his father’s old stories since childhood. As

an adult he can look back and appreciate their true value.

“He passed along his risk taking and fearlessness. I was raised to chase whatever I

wanted. There were no boundaries,” Wilson says.

Wilson has applied his father’s lessons to his business career. He credits his success in his

own housing developing business to his fearless attitude.

“I think the attitude that I

was lucky to be alive after

Vietnam has always stayed

with me and led me to take

more risks than most. I felt

like what’s the worst that

can happen? Nobody is

trying to kill me!” says

McAllister.

Steve McAllister may never hear of his impact

on his son. He may never know how his story

transcends his time into the next generation. Much like

the radio in the background, strong emotions are present

but unannounced.

McAllister enjoys his relaxing retirement, but

continues to work for greater environmental

understanding. He now sits on the board of directors for

Oceana, an international ocean conservation

organization. He donates his boat and his time to the

cause. While he plans his next excursion, he takes in the

view from his kitchen, grabbing the whistling tea pot

and sitting by the fire.

For more information on Oceana visit http://oceana.org/en. Also visit

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/ to find out more about Greenpeace.

Wilson McAllister posing for the

camera after his interview.

By:Samantha Dean