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