Biography
Jack Elder directed Casa Oscar Romero, a refugee shelter in San Benito, Texas, and participated in the Sanctuary Movement and Vietnam Veterans Against the War. His April 13, 1984 arrest was followed by release on recognizance and a January 1985 acquittal. In a separate prosecution with Stacey Merkt, he was convicted February 21, 1985. After refusing restrictive probation, his sentence was reduced on March 28 to 150 days in a San Antonio halfway house. He entered April 8 and was released August 19, 1985 after 133 days served.
Original reports distinguish two prosecutions
The contemporary VVAW account dates the earlier arrest April 13, 1984 and reports release on recognizance. It does not supply the bail-release day. The former March 31 arrest is replaced by the sourced date in a separate case. VVAW San Antonio, original 1984 arrest account.
The South Texas Catholic April 5, 1985 clipping, preserved by the Reagan Library, dates the reduced sentence March 28; its physical page 49 also distinguishes the earlier acquittal. AP's April 9 report describes Monday's surrender and formal acceptance into the halfway house, establishing April 8 admission. AP's August 19 report states release that day after 133 days served. The former April 18 sentence/admission and year-only release are superseded. Original sentencing clipping, physical page 49; University Daily, April 9, 1985, page 1; Midland Reporter-Telegram, August 19, 1985, page 3A.
Source-identified photograph
The original two-person image carries the printed caption naming Jack Elder and Stacey Merkt. VVAW republishes it from the Spring 1985 Veteran. The full image and caption are preserved, not cropped into an individually attributed portrait. VVAW memorial and photograph provenance.
