This week Liz Henderson has been asked to make a statement at the Grand Opening of Thuy Bang High School Library. This library was funded in a partnership between Think About the Children and Global Village Foundation, Le Ly Haslip's new foundation working with rural schools in Viet Nam.
Le Ly is the original creator of East Meets West Foundation, the largest foundation functioning in Viet Nam, with millions of dollars funded each year. She also was the subject of a film titled When Heaven and Earth Changed Places. I'm not sure you can find a more influencial Vietnamese American lady.
We've taken the opportunity to fund a mobile library for A Loui. It will first go to the Primary school next to our Early Childhood Education Center. Then it will move to other Primary schools in the A Loui area.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
This weekend was a special time. I received an email from Viet Nam plus pictures announcing that the school we have worked so hard to build in Viet Nam is now a reality. The village of A loui will be the location. The open space in the picture will be the location of our Early Childhood Education Center for kids prior to kindergarten. There is a primary school next door with 80 children.
Our original goal was to build in Quang Tri Province, on the old DMZ. The frustration eventualluy forced us to move our plan south a bit. Our contact was a very special man and his daughter Vi. We met these two through Doug Young. They have a farm near Hue. What a blessing this has been to meet these people.
I can't wait to post pictures of the school.
A Loui is west of Hue on the Laos border. The hills you see in the picture are in Laos.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
We had the opportunity to get a family picture recently. Cathy organized everyone for a beach photo while my mom was in town just before her 90th birthday.
Wendy, Richard, Brianna and Samantha are on the left. Chad is in the middle. Marcy, Chris, Dylan and Kylie Denny are on the right. My mom and sister are in the back with Cathy and me.
You can double click the photo to see a larger version.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
A Band of Brothers
As I mentioned in the previous Blog, I had the opportunity to meet for several hours with my old RECON Sgt and my Troop Commander from C Troop 3/5 Cavalry. We met for a drink in the hotel at Pentgon City and then went across the street for dinner. HBO had a series called Band of Brothers. There are songs with the same name. Kenni Thomas has a new one out that tell the story very well. The bond between combat soldiers is so strong. It can last a lifetime.
It's hard to describe how close the three of us are. I'm closer to Howey and Edd than any living relative, except possibly my mom. Even with my mom, I'm closer to these guys in many ways, but my mom is obviously special. The three of us can go for decades without seeing or talking to each other and immediately when we see each other it's like we still see each other daily.
Something happens when you live side by side with someone during combat. Howey jokes that we slept together for four months. That may sound funny, but is true. We slept under a piece of fabric attached on one side to the ground and the other side to the commanders tank. Each person slept in exactly the same place each night no more than a foot apart. Each person took their shift on watch. If the enemy attacked during the night, each person knew exactly what to do. We fought as a well-oiled team. Each of us went from sleeping to fighting instantly. In our unit the enemy had little chance to win, but sadly they did on several occasions. Those combat funeral ceremonies were very emotional. I hated them.
Howey was a tough guy, a career Army soldier from West Point. His history was taking over units with weak leadership. Sometimes he replaced a relieved commander. In civilian life we call being "relieved" as getting "fired". His soldiers loved him. They knew under his leadership they would have the best chance to go home to their families in one piece. Howey was the best solider I ever met.
Edd was a youger guy. Like many of us he was simply in Viet Nam because the government asked him to go. He took his job seriously and was exceptional at it. Our habit was to spread our platoons out into the locations at night stretched out across our area of operation. One night while his platoon leader was on R & R, with no officer in the defensive position Edd's unit of 35 was attached by close to a thousand enemy soldiers. His unit had to fight alone all night because a small bridge separated him from us. The real possibility existed that we would be ambushed with horrible consequences if we went to his units rescue. Edd led the unit. He called in artillery, which was his job. He pulled guys out of burning vehicles. He lit up the sky with illumination. It was like daytime all night long. He helped get the Medi-vac helicopters into his position. As the sun came up and the enemy limped away there were the 37 dead NVA soldiers laying around the defensive position. There were blood trails leading to the jungle nearby. I wrote Edd up for a Silver Star. He easily was award the medal for courage beyond what was expected. He was a hero in the real sense of the word.
I have so much respect for Howey and Edd. I am so grateful to have served with both of them. My time with them has shaped my life in many ways. Combat will do that a soldier. We're all older and grey now. Some of us limp a bit. None of us hear real well. My mind thinks we can still go out and do the job as soldiers if called. My body says pass the Advil.
It's hard to describe how close the three of us are. I'm closer to Howey and Edd than any living relative, except possibly my mom. Even with my mom, I'm closer to these guys in many ways, but my mom is obviously special. The three of us can go for decades without seeing or talking to each other and immediately when we see each other it's like we still see each other daily.
Something happens when you live side by side with someone during combat. Howey jokes that we slept together for four months. That may sound funny, but is true. We slept under a piece of fabric attached on one side to the ground and the other side to the commanders tank. Each person slept in exactly the same place each night no more than a foot apart. Each person took their shift on watch. If the enemy attacked during the night, each person knew exactly what to do. We fought as a well-oiled team. Each of us went from sleeping to fighting instantly. In our unit the enemy had little chance to win, but sadly they did on several occasions. Those combat funeral ceremonies were very emotional. I hated them.
Howey was a tough guy, a career Army soldier from West Point. His history was taking over units with weak leadership. Sometimes he replaced a relieved commander. In civilian life we call being "relieved" as getting "fired". His soldiers loved him. They knew under his leadership they would have the best chance to go home to their families in one piece. Howey was the best solider I ever met.
Edd was a youger guy. Like many of us he was simply in Viet Nam because the government asked him to go. He took his job seriously and was exceptional at it. Our habit was to spread our platoons out into the locations at night stretched out across our area of operation. One night while his platoon leader was on R & R, with no officer in the defensive position Edd's unit of 35 was attached by close to a thousand enemy soldiers. His unit had to fight alone all night because a small bridge separated him from us. The real possibility existed that we would be ambushed with horrible consequences if we went to his units rescue. Edd led the unit. He called in artillery, which was his job. He pulled guys out of burning vehicles. He lit up the sky with illumination. It was like daytime all night long. He helped get the Medi-vac helicopters into his position. As the sun came up and the enemy limped away there were the 37 dead NVA soldiers laying around the defensive position. There were blood trails leading to the jungle nearby. I wrote Edd up for a Silver Star. He easily was award the medal for courage beyond what was expected. He was a hero in the real sense of the word.
I have so much respect for Howey and Edd. I am so grateful to have served with both of them. My time with them has shaped my life in many ways. Combat will do that a soldier. We're all older and grey now. Some of us limp a bit. None of us hear real well. My mind thinks we can still go out and do the job as soldiers if called. My body says pass the Advil.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Teach Viet Nam Teachers Network
The Teach Viet Nam Teachers' Network Conference was held in mid-July in Washington, DC. This conference is one of the hidden secrets for Social Studies teachers. Each July VVMF pays for food and housing at American University and provides a wide array of talented speakers. This year Joe Galloway and Stanley Karnow were part of a panel discussion on the comparison of journalists in VN and Iraq. This segment of the conference was held at the Newseum. Another annual, very special portion of the conference is the Congessional breakfast in the Senate. Jack Reed and Chuck Hagel hosted us just prior to their trip to Iraq and Afganistan with Barak Obama.
The main protion of the conference is lectures on curriculum and pedagogy. This is all done with multiple daily visits to The Wall. The final ceremony takes place at The Wall with each teacher honoring someone on The Wall from their state.
I usually present about my student oral history publishing projects, but this year I spoke on Vietnamese culture. It was well received. The bulk of teachers only know Viet Nam as the site of America's first military defeat. Those who attended now hopefully know a bit about culture and the Vietnamese people through the 62 pictures presented. All of the presentations, including mine on culture, can be seen on the VVMF Webcasts.
Check out http://www.tvworldwide.com/events/vvmf/080716/
My gift was time on Saturday evening with my old RECON Sgt and Troop Commander from C Troop 3/5 Armored Cavalry back in Viet Nam. We met at Pentgon City. We are so close. Time cannot change that, no matter how many years go by.
The main protion of the conference is lectures on curriculum and pedagogy. This is all done with multiple daily visits to The Wall. The final ceremony takes place at The Wall with each teacher honoring someone on The Wall from their state.
I usually present about my student oral history publishing projects, but this year I spoke on Vietnamese culture. It was well received. The bulk of teachers only know Viet Nam as the site of America's first military defeat. Those who attended now hopefully know a bit about culture and the Vietnamese people through the 62 pictures presented. All of the presentations, including mine on culture, can be seen on the VVMF Webcasts.
Check out http://www.tvworldwide.com/events/vvmf/080716/
My gift was time on Saturday evening with my old RECON Sgt and Troop Commander from C Troop 3/5 Armored Cavalry back in Viet Nam. We met at Pentgon City. We are so close. Time cannot change that, no matter how many years go by.
Friday, July 4, 2008
A look back at the summer of 2006
In the summer of 2006 I accompanied four students on a 30 day Study Abroad to Viet Nam. We visited Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Dong Ha, Ban Me Thout and Tho Duc. We taught English learned history, explored the environmental and on a cultural basis established life-long friendships. Charlotte, Ray, Liz and Mike were on that trip. The trip was so special. Cathy and I consider each of those now graduated student to be our friends.
Charlotte and Ray are now teaching in Charleston, SC. Charlotte teaches middle school and Ray teaches four grade. The trip taught them so much about the teaching profession. Real life experiences teach so much about ESOL (second language learners), culture and dealing with people. I'm hoping to do some research in 2009 documenting the value of these real life experiences in the classroom.
Liz went to Viet Nam for six months and is now back home in the USA. She fell in love with Viet Nam and is returning in August to work for the International School in Hue. She may even participate in the administration of the school as it grows.
Mike is operating a hiking and boating business in the hills of North Carolina. His love of Viet Nam is still alive. His business slows during the winter and he's exploring an adventure in Asia ending in Viet Nam next winter, the winter of 2009.
Viet Nam means a lot of different things to a lot of people. Veterans have strong feelings. Young students frequently have far differerent feelings. A trip to Asia is so powerful it can change lives if done properly. Our trip back in 2006 was done properly and changed many lives.
Charlotte and Ray are now teaching in Charleston, SC. Charlotte teaches middle school and Ray teaches four grade. The trip taught them so much about the teaching profession. Real life experiences teach so much about ESOL (second language learners), culture and dealing with people. I'm hoping to do some research in 2009 documenting the value of these real life experiences in the classroom.
Liz went to Viet Nam for six months and is now back home in the USA. She fell in love with Viet Nam and is returning in August to work for the International School in Hue. She may even participate in the administration of the school as it grows.
Mike is operating a hiking and boating business in the hills of North Carolina. His love of Viet Nam is still alive. His business slows during the winter and he's exploring an adventure in Asia ending in Viet Nam next winter, the winter of 2009.
Viet Nam means a lot of different things to a lot of people. Veterans have strong feelings. Young students frequently have far differerent feelings. A trip to Asia is so powerful it can change lives if done properly. Our trip back in 2006 was done properly and changed many lives.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Our former students have left Viet Nam
As of June 10th our four students living in Hue, Viet Nam have moved on to other challenges. Eva and Paul have taken on another adventure. They are moving to India for internships with an NGO for six months. They will then return home to graduate school and some fund raising for Duc Son and maybe Ms. Don. They are publishing a book about Duc Son. I am eager to see a book of Eva's very high quality photos.
Liz is returning to South Carolina for the summer. In August she will return to Hue as a teacher at the International school. There has even been talk of her taking on principal responsibilties at the small school. She will be visiting family and doing a bit of fund raising during her time home.
The last six months have been a real challenge. A lot has been learned.
Viet Nam is a beautiful and interesting place. A friend who lives in Ho Chi Minh City told me today that Viet Nam is experiencing no problem with gasoline prices. They froze the price of gasoline and have plenty of supplies. Escalating gasoline prices would be devastating in a country where such a high percentage of the population earn a dollar or two a day.
Viet Nam is the 12th largest country in the world so this is no small feat. As I was told by the Vietnamese Ambassador in DC once, theVietnamese style of communism is very practical. It works for them. His comment seems to have been very accurate.
Liz is returning to South Carolina for the summer. In August she will return to Hue as a teacher at the International school. There has even been talk of her taking on principal responsibilties at the small school. She will be visiting family and doing a bit of fund raising during her time home.
The last six months have been a real challenge. A lot has been learned.
Viet Nam is a beautiful and interesting place. A friend who lives in Ho Chi Minh City told me today that Viet Nam is experiencing no problem with gasoline prices. They froze the price of gasoline and have plenty of supplies. Escalating gasoline prices would be devastating in a country where such a high percentage of the population earn a dollar or two a day.
Viet Nam is the 12th largest country in the world so this is no small feat. As I was told by the Vietnamese Ambassador in DC once, theVietnamese style of communism is very practical. It works for them. His comment seems to have been very accurate.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
A Reunion of the 108th Artillery
The Reunion of my Combat Artillery Group from Viet Nam is taking place in Washington, DC as I write this from my hotel room. It's great to see the guys I fought with so long ago. Gofer, Stinky, Sgt. Rock and so many others are all brothers to me. William Shakespeare is quoted as saying, "He who sheds his blood with me today shall be my brother."
It's amazing how close you become to people during combat circumstances that you never knew before and seldom ever see again. I've seen most of these guys once or twice since 1971 and it seems as though the conversations had just a minor interruption. In many ways the "brothers" can understand each other in so many ways that with other people might take far more explanation and even then not be clearly understood.
The Saturday morning involves the obligatory group photo at "The Wall". We have 120 guys here. It's a large group. The reunion doesn't have a lot planned other than this trip to "The Wall" and a banquet on Monday night. The main focus is a large room with large round tables so guys can talk about whatever they want. Usually the talk is of family or war experiences. Sometimes the stories are funny, but often the memories are very sad.
My time teaching high school allowed me to mentor my students in the study of The Vietnam War through the eyes of the participants. Of course we talked to veterans, both male and female, but we also talked to Red Cross workers, reporters, sons, daughters, moms and dads, friends and brothers and sisters. It doesn't take long to see that war changes generations of people. For sure the soldier, his parents and his children are affected, but also grandchildren and grandparents can be affected. The reach of war is far more than the dates historians place on them. It's more like a pebble thrown into a lake. The ripples extend far beyond your view. Such is the case of war. It's effects are far more than the eye can see.
One thing that is very, very common amongst veterans is their feelings on war. They have a respect for soldiers, but a hatred for war that is not waged to the fullest. No war should include "surgical strikes" or be conducted in a politically correct way to placate a portion of the citizenry. Politicians should know that war is simple, but deadly. It's about killing and nothing else. No politician should ask someone to go to war unless that politician is willing to have an all out military effort to inhililate the enemy. It's a horrible thought, but its true. No politician should ask any family to possibly sacrifice its son unless that same politician is willing to sacrifice his or her son.
We are so quick to forget the lessons of the past. Unfortunately, as with everyone else, when politicians do not learn from war they are forced to repeat it right along with those who do the fighting for them.
I don't mean to preach, but war should be avoided at all costs. When we decide we must go to war their should be no limits on the military.
It's amazing how close you become to people during combat circumstances that you never knew before and seldom ever see again. I've seen most of these guys once or twice since 1971 and it seems as though the conversations had just a minor interruption. In many ways the "brothers" can understand each other in so many ways that with other people might take far more explanation and even then not be clearly understood.
The Saturday morning involves the obligatory group photo at "The Wall". We have 120 guys here. It's a large group. The reunion doesn't have a lot planned other than this trip to "The Wall" and a banquet on Monday night. The main focus is a large room with large round tables so guys can talk about whatever they want. Usually the talk is of family or war experiences. Sometimes the stories are funny, but often the memories are very sad.
My time teaching high school allowed me to mentor my students in the study of The Vietnam War through the eyes of the participants. Of course we talked to veterans, both male and female, but we also talked to Red Cross workers, reporters, sons, daughters, moms and dads, friends and brothers and sisters. It doesn't take long to see that war changes generations of people. For sure the soldier, his parents and his children are affected, but also grandchildren and grandparents can be affected. The reach of war is far more than the dates historians place on them. It's more like a pebble thrown into a lake. The ripples extend far beyond your view. Such is the case of war. It's effects are far more than the eye can see.
One thing that is very, very common amongst veterans is their feelings on war. They have a respect for soldiers, but a hatred for war that is not waged to the fullest. No war should include "surgical strikes" or be conducted in a politically correct way to placate a portion of the citizenry. Politicians should know that war is simple, but deadly. It's about killing and nothing else. No politician should ask someone to go to war unless that politician is willing to have an all out military effort to inhililate the enemy. It's a horrible thought, but its true. No politician should ask any family to possibly sacrifice its son unless that same politician is willing to sacrifice his or her son.
We are so quick to forget the lessons of the past. Unfortunately, as with everyone else, when politicians do not learn from war they are forced to repeat it right along with those who do the fighting for them.
I don't mean to preach, but war should be avoided at all costs. When we decide we must go to war their should be no limits on the military.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
The legacy of the Viet Nam War
Those of you who know me or read the earlier posts are aware that I served in Viet Nam along the DMZ for 19 months at the height of the war. My work in high school to get at-risk students re-engaged in school by using veterans both in the interview process for four oral history books and in many ways as mentors to students is part of my research as a university professor. The veteran, at-risk student connection pulled so many kids out of trouble and helped them graduate and in many cases move onto college.
In my work to use the experiences of veterans in a positive way, I've had many repsonses. American veterans are primarily grateful to help. So many veterans came home and used their military serice as motivation to help others as teachers, coaches, counselors, police officers, fireman and medical professionals. It's rewarding to see so much positive come out of our experiences.
There are instances also of the negative side of war. It doesn't take a lot of work in this area to find that the cost of war can be uncovered for generations. A veterans experience will effect as many as three or four generations. It's pretty obvious that the veterans are deeply effected, but so are parents, children and I've often seen grandchildren effected. What few people really understand is that war has a very real impact on a long line of peope in veterans' families. The effects of war do not end when the historians place the beginning and ending dates on it. It has it's own life in many ways.
There are times when you see the damaging, negative side of a warrior's experience. As Think About the Children communicates the story of its work to teachers, veterans and others it is not uncommon to hear the comment, "I'll support Vietnamese kids when every one of our veterans is taken of." When I talk to veterans about the temendous therapeutic value of a trip back to Viet Nam I often hear, "I spent my time in hell. I have no desire to go back."
Recently, my wife has expressed some concern over a few high school classmates who served in Viet Nam. My wife herself graduated from high school in 1968 and immediately went into a 36 month registered nurse program with no time off in the summer. She graduated in 1971 and did not personally experience the potential horror the war could bring to families. She was focused on her own education. Now her 40th high school reunion is set for this summer. One of her classmates has organized a Yahoo Group and over 100 of her classmates are reconnecting, many for the first time in those 40 years. Last night she mentioned to me how sad the postings were of the many guys who served in Viet Nam. Those Viet Nam Veterans in her high school class had some tough experiences. She sees so much pain and some very damaged lives in the postings of her high school classmates who served in Viet Nam.
My wife only knows Viet Nam from our recent trips over the last three years. Those experiences are all positive, so positive we asked our son to go with us last December. The Vietnamese have mostly put the war, the war they call the "War of Liberation" which lasted from the French occupation until the defeat of the Americans in 1975, behind them. A trip there finds so many friendly, happy faces to welcome Americans.
It's interesting to compare the two societies. Americans served 10,000 miles from home. They often came home to people who couldn't understand their military combat service. This was often challenging for the veterans who saw the horrible waste of life on both sides. Vietnamese served on their own soil. There country's economy couldn't have been worse at the end of the war. They really didn't have the option to worry about their war exeriences. They had to find food, work and survive in very difficult circumstances. Things like PTSD, Agent Orange poisoning and other issues in the USA were placed on the back burner in Viet Nam as the immediate needs to survive were a serious daily challenge. Consequently, its difficult to find a personal side of the war in Viet Nam unlike the USA where it seems to always come up in presidential elections and comparisons to Iraq.
One war, two countries with two very different legacies. It's interesting to see and maybe a trip to Viet Nam for our veterans can offer a different perspective and relief from memories that are so powerful. Thich Nhat Hanh says, "In order to deal with War we have to touch the peace inside us first." Many find that peace inside themselves right back in the place where they were part of a difficult war.
In my work to use the experiences of veterans in a positive way, I've had many repsonses. American veterans are primarily grateful to help. So many veterans came home and used their military serice as motivation to help others as teachers, coaches, counselors, police officers, fireman and medical professionals. It's rewarding to see so much positive come out of our experiences.
There are instances also of the negative side of war. It doesn't take a lot of work in this area to find that the cost of war can be uncovered for generations. A veterans experience will effect as many as three or four generations. It's pretty obvious that the veterans are deeply effected, but so are parents, children and I've often seen grandchildren effected. What few people really understand is that war has a very real impact on a long line of peope in veterans' families. The effects of war do not end when the historians place the beginning and ending dates on it. It has it's own life in many ways.
There are times when you see the damaging, negative side of a warrior's experience. As Think About the Children communicates the story of its work to teachers, veterans and others it is not uncommon to hear the comment, "I'll support Vietnamese kids when every one of our veterans is taken of." When I talk to veterans about the temendous therapeutic value of a trip back to Viet Nam I often hear, "I spent my time in hell. I have no desire to go back."
Recently, my wife has expressed some concern over a few high school classmates who served in Viet Nam. My wife herself graduated from high school in 1968 and immediately went into a 36 month registered nurse program with no time off in the summer. She graduated in 1971 and did not personally experience the potential horror the war could bring to families. She was focused on her own education. Now her 40th high school reunion is set for this summer. One of her classmates has organized a Yahoo Group and over 100 of her classmates are reconnecting, many for the first time in those 40 years. Last night she mentioned to me how sad the postings were of the many guys who served in Viet Nam. Those Viet Nam Veterans in her high school class had some tough experiences. She sees so much pain and some very damaged lives in the postings of her high school classmates who served in Viet Nam.
My wife only knows Viet Nam from our recent trips over the last three years. Those experiences are all positive, so positive we asked our son to go with us last December. The Vietnamese have mostly put the war, the war they call the "War of Liberation" which lasted from the French occupation until the defeat of the Americans in 1975, behind them. A trip there finds so many friendly, happy faces to welcome Americans.
It's interesting to compare the two societies. Americans served 10,000 miles from home. They often came home to people who couldn't understand their military combat service. This was often challenging for the veterans who saw the horrible waste of life on both sides. Vietnamese served on their own soil. There country's economy couldn't have been worse at the end of the war. They really didn't have the option to worry about their war exeriences. They had to find food, work and survive in very difficult circumstances. Things like PTSD, Agent Orange poisoning and other issues in the USA were placed on the back burner in Viet Nam as the immediate needs to survive were a serious daily challenge. Consequently, its difficult to find a personal side of the war in Viet Nam unlike the USA where it seems to always come up in presidential elections and comparisons to Iraq.
One war, two countries with two very different legacies. It's interesting to see and maybe a trip to Viet Nam for our veterans can offer a different perspective and relief from memories that are so powerful. Thich Nhat Hanh says, "In order to deal with War we have to touch the peace inside us first." Many find that peace inside themselves right back in the place where they were part of a difficult war.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Our First Library - Thanks Liz
Liz Henderson our Board member living in Hue has built our first library. We'll be sending out an electronic newsletter about the library eventually, but I want to mention it now.
My first visit to a Vietnamese orpahange was to Ms Don's in Ho Chi Minh City in 2005. A Jesuit friend Thanh took me there. I was so intrigued by the place. It had such a warm feeling. The kids loved visitors, especially those bringing gifts of snacks. There was one little boy there who was dropped off byhis mom only 18 hours earlier. She was so poor she couldn't feed him. He was weak and frail. He also looked shell shocked, but, in fact, he was safe and was going to have enough to eat as long as he was with Ms Don.
I've visited Ms. Don's dozens of times since then. The little boy is my grandson's age. He's healthier than ever and loves to play with the visitors. On one visit he met me at the door with a big smile and took the snacks to distribute to his friends. It's a great opportunity for Think About the Children to help this boy and the rest of the orphans with Ms Don.
The children are a variety of ages, but mostly preschool and early elementary although they do go to age 18. The students went to the book store and purchased 184 books. We provided some shelving. The books were a variety of reference books, novels and even coloring books.
My grandson loves books. I've been reading to him since he was 90 days old. When he stays with us I read to him each night. He also loves to color. Now these great Vietnamese kids have a chance to learn to love books and the places the books can take them.
Ms Don's is also the orphanage that teaches oil painting to some of the students. The art is amazing. The kids have great skill. We have brought over 200 of these paintings to the USA. Those who own them love them.
I've visited Ms. Don's dozens of times since then. The little boy is my grandson's age. He's healthier than ever and loves to play with the visitors. On one visit he met me at the door with a big smile and took the snacks to distribute to his friends. It's a great opportunity for Think About the Children to help this boy and the rest of the orphans with Ms Don.
The children are a variety of ages, but mostly preschool and early elementary although they do go to age 18. The students went to the book store and purchased 184 books. We provided some shelving. The books were a variety of reference books, novels and even coloring books.
My grandson loves books. I've been reading to him since he was 90 days old. When he stays with us I read to him each night. He also loves to color. Now these great Vietnamese kids have a chance to learn to love books and the places the books can take them.
Ms Don's is also the orphanage that teaches oil painting to some of the students. The art is amazing. The kids have great skill. We have brought over 200 of these paintings to the USA. Those who own them love them.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Music from the 60s
Last night my wife and I had the opportunity to enjoy my mom's Christmas present to us, Jersey Boys. Jersey Boys is the musical story of the Four Seasons and Frankie Valli. The show tells the story of the Four Seasons with narrative provided by different members of the Four Seasons mixed into a chronological presentation of their songs. It certainly is an interesting story of musical success matched against the personal ups and downs of the quartet's lives.
The end of the play includes a portion noting the death of Frankie Valli's 22 year old daughter from drug overdose. I thought of how horrible the death of a child can be. I experienced the death of my son, Michael, at age seven. It was a start of a very dark time for me.
I also thought of the waste of young lives during the Viet Nam War. If you return to Viet Nam now as a veteran you have to feel that the 60,000 young American lives lost during the war were wasted. These were geat young men who never got the chance to live their lives. I wonder how much good was eliminated from our world by these deaths, and htat doesn't even include the approximately 3,000, 000 Vietnamese deaths.
The Jersey Boys also reminded me of so many songs of the 60s. Think About the Children by Richie Havens and found on his Great Blind Degree album is certainly a song that had a profound effect on me as a soldier. Decades later I named our foundation on this song. Certainly We've got to get out of this place by the Animals is a song all veterans know well. The list goes on and on.
One of the best techniques a teacher can use in the classroom is music analysis. It' not a good idea to just play music. It's best to show the lyrics on the overhead or projector while the song is playing. This allows students to focus on meaning and sound at the same time. If you just play music you risk the students comparing the music to their favorite genre and discounting the song immediately.
Students, especially those who enjoy rap, understand that music is frequently the story of the reality of the streets. It's easy to then relate a song to some historical event or concept. Students find this as a valuable way to understand the lesson. In fact, many do not consider this academic "work". They consider reading and answering questions "work". They actually enjoy music analysis, photo analysis and classroom guests and consider it more like fun than work.
The Jersey Boys did an amazing job of placing the songs of the Four Seasons in perspective with what tragedy the group's members were experiencing. It was well worth our time. The musical has me thinking about so much. Thanks Jersey Boys.
The end of the play includes a portion noting the death of Frankie Valli's 22 year old daughter from drug overdose. I thought of how horrible the death of a child can be. I experienced the death of my son, Michael, at age seven. It was a start of a very dark time for me.
I also thought of the waste of young lives during the Viet Nam War. If you return to Viet Nam now as a veteran you have to feel that the 60,000 young American lives lost during the war were wasted. These were geat young men who never got the chance to live their lives. I wonder how much good was eliminated from our world by these deaths, and htat doesn't even include the approximately 3,000, 000 Vietnamese deaths.
The Jersey Boys also reminded me of so many songs of the 60s. Think About the Children by Richie Havens and found on his Great Blind Degree album is certainly a song that had a profound effect on me as a soldier. Decades later I named our foundation on this song. Certainly We've got to get out of this place by the Animals is a song all veterans know well. The list goes on and on.
One of the best techniques a teacher can use in the classroom is music analysis. It' not a good idea to just play music. It's best to show the lyrics on the overhead or projector while the song is playing. This allows students to focus on meaning and sound at the same time. If you just play music you risk the students comparing the music to their favorite genre and discounting the song immediately.
Students, especially those who enjoy rap, understand that music is frequently the story of the reality of the streets. It's easy to then relate a song to some historical event or concept. Students find this as a valuable way to understand the lesson. In fact, many do not consider this academic "work". They consider reading and answering questions "work". They actually enjoy music analysis, photo analysis and classroom guests and consider it more like fun than work.
The Jersey Boys did an amazing job of placing the songs of the Four Seasons in perspective with what tragedy the group's members were experiencing. It was well worth our time. The musical has me thinking about so much. Thanks Jersey Boys.
Friday, February 29, 2008
A Chat with New Friends
I participated in one of the most enjoyable projects of my teaching career last spring of 2007. I was helping teachers a Burke High School in inner-city Charleston. We had a small grant to publish something with a cultural focus. I was able to connect a group of seniors at Burke HS in South Carolina with young children in a technology program in Ha Noi with the Blue Dragon Foundation. Blue Dragon works with Street Children. The Embassy of Ireland had recently funded the creation of a technology room with four or five computers.
The Blue Dragon students suggested the title for the book as "A Chat with New Friends". That's really what the project was. Students emailed each other from 10,000 miles apart. They talked about their lives, their interests and things in which they take pride. Burke sent a You Tube video address so the Vietnamese students could watch their amazing marching band. Vietnamese students find it hard to understand what a band has to do with high school.
Many Burke students can be considered poor. They found themselves wealthy compared to the Ha Noi kids. The exchange was interesting.
The technology person at Blue Dragon did all the interpreting. The final product was the previously mentioned book entitled "A Chat with New Friends". It was published with all stories, both sets of kids, in English and Vietnamese.
The kids in both locations loved the books. I can't believe this simple idea produced such powerful results.
It's a goal of Think About the Children to create lots of cross-cultural projects with students in Viet Nam and America. The learning is real and gets kids engaged like never before.
The Blue Dragon students suggested the title for the book as "A Chat with New Friends". That's really what the project was. Students emailed each other from 10,000 miles apart. They talked about their lives, their interests and things in which they take pride. Burke sent a You Tube video address so the Vietnamese students could watch their amazing marching band. Vietnamese students find it hard to understand what a band has to do with high school.
Many Burke students can be considered poor. They found themselves wealthy compared to the Ha Noi kids. The exchange was interesting.
The technology person at Blue Dragon did all the interpreting. The final product was the previously mentioned book entitled "A Chat with New Friends". It was published with all stories, both sets of kids, in English and Vietnamese.
The kids in both locations loved the books. I can't believe this simple idea produced such powerful results.
It's a goal of Think About the Children to create lots of cross-cultural projects with students in Viet Nam and America. The learning is real and gets kids engaged like never before.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
The power of a small sacrifice
Many of us feel as though we just struggle to get by. Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Debt is at an all time high. If we luckily come into some money with an inheritance, win a lotto ticket or some other unusual circumstance we'll pay our bills and give some away.
Actually, the most powerful thing any of us can do, especially when it comes to poor kids in Viet Nam, is to give a small, a very small amount of money that will not have any effect on our daily lives at all. If you simply donate $1 or $5 or maybe a big donation of $25 and encourage someone else to do the same miracles can happen.
School fees in Viet Nam can be as little as $20.00 twice a year, but millions of children cannot afford school fees because their families do not have enough food to eat. A university education in Viet Nam can cost as little as $150.00 a year. A book can cost as little as a dollar.
Think about it.
Can you afford a small donation? Any small amount? Go to ThinkAboutThe Children.org and make a difference in some child's life.
The education of one family member can stop generational poverty in Viet Nam for that family.
Actually, the most powerful thing any of us can do, especially when it comes to poor kids in Viet Nam, is to give a small, a very small amount of money that will not have any effect on our daily lives at all. If you simply donate $1 or $5 or maybe a big donation of $25 and encourage someone else to do the same miracles can happen.
School fees in Viet Nam can be as little as $20.00 twice a year, but millions of children cannot afford school fees because their families do not have enough food to eat. A university education in Viet Nam can cost as little as $150.00 a year. A book can cost as little as a dollar.
Think about it.
Can you afford a small donation? Any small amount? Go to ThinkAboutThe Children.org and make a difference in some child's life.
The education of one family member can stop generational poverty in Viet Nam for that family.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
The beginning
Think About the Children has been a long time in the making. I served in Viet Nam from October 1969 until June of 1971. I served with the 108th Artillery Group, The Guns of the DMZ. My first nine months were as a Forward Observer. I served with my RECON team as artillery support for the 3/5 Armored Cavalry. We traveled around what was called "The Backyard" in our tanks and armored personnel carriers. We patrolled both north and south of Highway 9 around Cam Lo. Our headquarters was in Dong Ha with bases on places like Con Tien and J. J. Carroll. We were a part of the second occupation of Khe Sanh in February of 1971. That major operation to cut off the Ho Chi Minh Trail was called "Lam Son 719". I still have contact with Sgt. Ed Rutherford, my RECON Sgt. from those days. It took me over 30 years to find him once I got home.
I extended my tour by six months. My last six months were spent in Phu Bai near Hue. I flew out of the airport daily for four hours of target acquisition followed by either bombing with the Air Force or dumping our own 8 inch or 175 Guns on targets. Our targets were always inside the DMZ.
There's a lot to that decision to stay an extra six months, but that's better for a different post. What is important for this post is the fact that during my time in Viet Nam I learned to love these people who worked so hard and were so sacrificial. I met so many people who gave up everything to fight for their country and their freedom. During my time in Viet Nam back in the 60s I saw a lot of kids. I always remember one boy who lost a leg to a mine while he was trying to gather metal to sell as scrap. As soon as he was healed from the amputation at the knee he was right back in the same area risking his life again.
This little boy was not unusual. He did anything to help his family just like so many kids you find in Viet Nam today. Around this time I remember a song by Richie Havens, Think About the Children. The song is no longer available for purchase. It's on his Great Blind Degree Album.
The song asks who thinks about children at a time of war. What a great question? We want to think about those children or maybe their grandchildren now.
I've thought about that song for over 35 years. I returned to Viet Nam in 2005 to present research on engaging at-risk students in education at The Center for Education Research in Ho Chi Minh City. I toured my old bases and taught English for 30 days. I saw how so little money can do so much in Viet Nam. Two key items are a house can be built for as little as $1,200. A one room school can be built for $8,000. That's within the reach of many people.
As a teacher I saw an opportunity to help students explore real issues through their peers eyes around the world and then do something about it. Think About the Children was created to build a school using my own funds. Students and teachers were another way to expand this effort.
Think About the Children is a reality. We've worked through Blue Dragon Foundation to help victims of trafficking in the beach community of Hue. We've sought advice from Project RENEW in Dong Ha Town. We helped a friend near Hue who's home was devastated by a Typhoon. We've helped several orphanges with food and basic needs. We've helped several friends with big hearts and who do a lot of community service.
Now we have a special opportunity. Three College of Charelston students are now living in Hue. What pride I have in these great young people. I'm so confident they will get the school built that's been my dream for so long. We need to get government approval and maybe team up with a more experienced non government organization, but I am so happy to have these former students in Hue. They're working on a library in an orphanage right now.
Funny, they are the same age I was when good old Uncle Sam sent me to Viet Nam. They have a far different mission.
I extended my tour by six months. My last six months were spent in Phu Bai near Hue. I flew out of the airport daily for four hours of target acquisition followed by either bombing with the Air Force or dumping our own 8 inch or 175 Guns on targets. Our targets were always inside the DMZ.
There's a lot to that decision to stay an extra six months, but that's better for a different post. What is important for this post is the fact that during my time in Viet Nam I learned to love these people who worked so hard and were so sacrificial. I met so many people who gave up everything to fight for their country and their freedom. During my time in Viet Nam back in the 60s I saw a lot of kids. I always remember one boy who lost a leg to a mine while he was trying to gather metal to sell as scrap. As soon as he was healed from the amputation at the knee he was right back in the same area risking his life again.
This little boy was not unusual. He did anything to help his family just like so many kids you find in Viet Nam today. Around this time I remember a song by Richie Havens, Think About the Children. The song is no longer available for purchase. It's on his Great Blind Degree Album.
The song asks who thinks about children at a time of war. What a great question? We want to think about those children or maybe their grandchildren now.
I've thought about that song for over 35 years. I returned to Viet Nam in 2005 to present research on engaging at-risk students in education at The Center for Education Research in Ho Chi Minh City. I toured my old bases and taught English for 30 days. I saw how so little money can do so much in Viet Nam. Two key items are a house can be built for as little as $1,200. A one room school can be built for $8,000. That's within the reach of many people.
As a teacher I saw an opportunity to help students explore real issues through their peers eyes around the world and then do something about it. Think About the Children was created to build a school using my own funds. Students and teachers were another way to expand this effort.
Think About the Children is a reality. We've worked through Blue Dragon Foundation to help victims of trafficking in the beach community of Hue. We've sought advice from Project RENEW in Dong Ha Town. We helped a friend near Hue who's home was devastated by a Typhoon. We've helped several orphanges with food and basic needs. We've helped several friends with big hearts and who do a lot of community service.
Now we have a special opportunity. Three College of Charelston students are now living in Hue. What pride I have in these great young people. I'm so confident they will get the school built that's been my dream for so long. We need to get government approval and maybe team up with a more experienced non government organization, but I am so happy to have these former students in Hue. They're working on a library in an orphanage right now.
Funny, they are the same age I was when good old Uncle Sam sent me to Viet Nam. They have a far different mission.
A College of Charleston Success Story
The College of Charleston teamed up with Think About the Children for two International Service Learning trips in December 2007. A group of seventeen traveled to Viet Nam. A total of twenty-two students went to Kenya. A powerful statement about the College of Charleston that a total of 32 undergraduates and three graduates gave up a large portion of their winter break for these orphans.
The girls in Kenya helped to build a health clinic next to an HIV/AIDS orphanage. HIV/AIDS has devastated much of Africa. Malaria is also a very serious challenge for children in this area. The 22 C of C girls joined with local adults and the orphans to lay brick and build walls. There is no running water in the area so the girls helped orphans carry water to the area to mix concrete. The C of C donations purchased bricks, building supplies and malaria kits. The College of Charleston girls left their mark on this village. Both the orphans and C of C the students have memories for a lifetime.
The group that traveled to Hue, Viet Nam focused on two Think About the Children programs. The beach villages of Hanh Phuc, Phu Hai and Thanh My have all been victimized by Child Trafficking. Over thirty children were trafficked to Ho Chi Minh City to work eighteen hour days for the traffickers. Our friends at Blue Dragon Foundation were able to identify these children and return them to their villages and families. Once these trafficed kids were home we supported several of these children with food, school supplies, school fees, water filters, debt reduction and had electricity installed in their home.
The recent flooding in Hue has really challenged these families. Our first visit after the flooding found families that had not eaten in four days. We provided the food, soap, shampoo, tooth paste and tooth brushes they needed.
The College of Charleston girls spent three mornings at the villages and visiting homes. Each family received rice, eggs, milk, cheese and noodles. According to the villagers this food can feed a family for up to six weeks.
Each afternoon the students went to Duc Son orphanage. More information can be found about Duc Son on this site. Prior to our first visit, the children had eaten rice exclusively for three months. We brought rice, chicken, pork, eggs, vegetables and fruit. We also brought a month’s supply of infant formula. At the time, Duc Son had eight babies with four under 90 days old.
The orphans sang to the C of C girls and asked that the girls sing to them. It was such an emotional evening that the girls returned for four straight evenings with more food. The highlight of each evening was several hours of play between the girls and the orphans.
Eventually we left and the orphans talked incessantly about the fun they had with the ladies who spent so much time with them day after day. The weather turned cold for Hue. Think About the Children brought a scarf for each child and returned with a blanket of each child. More food of all types was also provided for the children.
Eva Capozzola, a 2007 graduate of the College of Charleston, is living in Hue and visiting Duc Son each day. She’s documenting life at Duc Son with her camera while she collects oral histories of each nun, child and selected alumni. We hope to publish a book of her work.
The College of Charleston girls have created a special relationship with these orphans and intend to keep that relationship alive for a long time. Eva teamed with Think About the Children to purchase a new pair of shoes (actually sandals) for each child for Tet, the New Year Celebration.
We have a lot of ideas, but no established plans yet as to how we will continue the work of the C of C girls into the future. Things move slowly in Viet Nam. We'll announce the C of C project when it is government approved. Summer trips are in the planning stage. Keep tuned.
The girls in Kenya helped to build a health clinic next to an HIV/AIDS orphanage. HIV/AIDS has devastated much of Africa. Malaria is also a very serious challenge for children in this area. The 22 C of C girls joined with local adults and the orphans to lay brick and build walls. There is no running water in the area so the girls helped orphans carry water to the area to mix concrete. The C of C donations purchased bricks, building supplies and malaria kits. The College of Charleston girls left their mark on this village. Both the orphans and C of C the students have memories for a lifetime.
The group that traveled to Hue, Viet Nam focused on two Think About the Children programs. The beach villages of Hanh Phuc, Phu Hai and Thanh My have all been victimized by Child Trafficking. Over thirty children were trafficked to Ho Chi Minh City to work eighteen hour days for the traffickers. Our friends at Blue Dragon Foundation were able to identify these children and return them to their villages and families. Once these trafficed kids were home we supported several of these children with food, school supplies, school fees, water filters, debt reduction and had electricity installed in their home.
The recent flooding in Hue has really challenged these families. Our first visit after the flooding found families that had not eaten in four days. We provided the food, soap, shampoo, tooth paste and tooth brushes they needed.
The College of Charleston girls spent three mornings at the villages and visiting homes. Each family received rice, eggs, milk, cheese and noodles. According to the villagers this food can feed a family for up to six weeks.
Each afternoon the students went to Duc Son orphanage. More information can be found about Duc Son on this site. Prior to our first visit, the children had eaten rice exclusively for three months. We brought rice, chicken, pork, eggs, vegetables and fruit. We also brought a month’s supply of infant formula. At the time, Duc Son had eight babies with four under 90 days old.
The orphans sang to the C of C girls and asked that the girls sing to them. It was such an emotional evening that the girls returned for four straight evenings with more food. The highlight of each evening was several hours of play between the girls and the orphans.
Eventually we left and the orphans talked incessantly about the fun they had with the ladies who spent so much time with them day after day. The weather turned cold for Hue. Think About the Children brought a scarf for each child and returned with a blanket of each child. More food of all types was also provided for the children.
Eva Capozzola, a 2007 graduate of the College of Charleston, is living in Hue and visiting Duc Son each day. She’s documenting life at Duc Son with her camera while she collects oral histories of each nun, child and selected alumni. We hope to publish a book of her work.
The College of Charleston girls have created a special relationship with these orphans and intend to keep that relationship alive for a long time. Eva teamed with Think About the Children to purchase a new pair of shoes (actually sandals) for each child for Tet, the New Year Celebration.
We have a lot of ideas, but no established plans yet as to how we will continue the work of the C of C girls into the future. Things move slowly in Viet Nam. We'll announce the C of C project when it is government approved. Summer trips are in the planning stage. Keep tuned.
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