“MEMORY GIVES SACRIFICE MEANING—AND CARRIES ITS LESSONS FORWARD.”

“Vietnam Inc. preserves the human legacy of the War in Vietnam through remembrance, reconciliation, education, preservation, and the transmission of memory across generations.”

OUR STORY

Return to Vietnam grew from a hard truth: for many veterans, coming home did not mean leaving the war behind. They carried the names of the dead, the places they could not forget, and memories that remained for decades. Through years of returning to Vietnam, standing again on the ground where lives were changed, and listening to veterans tell what they had carried in silence, a deeper purpose emerged—to honor those who never came home, preserve the testimony of those who did, foster reconciliation, and ensure their experiences are not lost to time.

OUR PURPOSE

The Return to Vietnam initiative brings veterans back to the places where they served and where their comrades were lost—to remember, reconcile, honor the fallen, and preserve firsthand testimony. Through each return, we ensure that their experiences, sacrifices, and lessons endure and are carried forward across generations.

WHY WE RETURN

We return because the dead cannot speak for themselves, and memory cannot be left to time. Veterans return to the ground where comrades were lost to honor them, confront what was carried home, and give voice to experiences that might otherwise disappear. We return because remembrance is a responsibility—to preserve what was witnessed, endured, and learned, to create space for reconciliation, and to ensure that those who died are remembered, those who survived are heard, and their story is carried forward.

An elderly man wearing a navy cap with a patch that reads 'Infantry Division', glasses, a blue and white checkered shirt, and an American flag patterned bandana around his neck standing outdoors in a lush green area with palm trees and cloudy sky.
An elderly woman wearing a large traditional Asian conical hat outdoors, surrounded by green plants.
An older man with a white beard and mustache, wearing a beige polo shirt and a blue baseball cap with military badges, standing outdoors in a rural setting with green fields and a thatched roof structure in the background.
Close-up portrait of an elderly man with a weathered face, wearing a black knit cap, looking directly at the camera, outdoors with blurred background.
An elderly man with gray hair and a serious expression, wearing a black cap with various military and veteran patches, outdoors with a green, blurred background.
A close-up black and white photo of an elderly man wearing a wide-brimmed hat, holding a bamboo tool across his shoulder, outdoors with trees in the background.
An elderly indigenous man wearing a black feathered headdress, white collared shirt, and black vest stands outdoors amidst greenery, with a blue sky and clouds in the background.
An elderly man holding a farming tool in a green field with trees and a wooden structure in the background.
A man wearing a beige button-up shirt and a black cap with patches and the words "Our Infantry Division" visible on it.
An elderly man wearing a blue jacket and shorts, sitting on the ground and working on a bicycle wheel inside a workshop with a blue metal gate, a small TV, and various tools and objects around.
Two elderly men standing outdoors in front of a large tree, posing for the photo, with motorbikes and people in background.
A man with a white mustache wearing a black cap with military insignia and the words "Army Infantry Division." He is also wearing a black polo shirt with a purple medal emblem and text that reads "Military Order Purple Heart Combat Wounded." The back

OUR COMMITMENT

Every return is guided by dignity, preparation, historical integrity, and respect for the experiences veterans have carried across a lifetime. Each mission is supported by careful planning, medical readiness, historical research, documentation, and trusted in-country coordination. These are not recreational journeys. They are purpose-driven missions of remembrance, reconciliation, education, and reflection—designed to honor service, preserve firsthand testimony, strengthen understanding, and safeguard the human record of war with accuracy, dignity, and purpose.

A man in a military uniform and cap, smiling at the camera.
A young man with a fade hairstyle and a sideways combed lock, wearing a dark green collared shirt, looking at the camera against a plain background.
A woman wearing glasses and a green uniform is holding a small black puppy outside, smiling and looking down at the puppy.
Young man in outdoor jungle setting crouching with a coffee cup, wearing a hat, glasses, and outdoor gear, smiling and making a fist gesture.
A soldier wearing a helmet, glasses, and a brown vest with a notebook in the chest pocket stands in a rural outdoor setting with mountains in the background.
Two soldiers in military gear, wearing helmets, backpacks, and tactical clothing, during daytime outdoors.
A woman in a military uniform smiling in front of a dark background.
A young man in military uniform standing in front of a sandbag lookout post, smoking a cigarette, with a rifle leaning against the post on a cloudy day in a rural area.
A young soldier sitting outdoors in military uniform, with military tents and vehicles in the background.
Young boy in a navy sailor uniform wearing glasses and a sailor hat, with a serious expression.
A young soldier in a military uniform and helmet, with a serious expression in a combat zone.
A young man wearing a military helmet, glasses, and a brown tactical vest stands outdoors in a field, holding a rifle in his right hand. He has a pen and a notebook in his vest pocket, and a watch on his left wrist.
Young man in military uniform in dense jungle, with others preparing for an operation.
Three men in military clothing sitting on a log in a lush, green forest, with one man holding a knife and the other two holding guns, and another person in the background wearing military gear.
Young man in military uniform pointing at his chest with his right hand, standing indoors with wood-paneled walls and a firearm mounted on the wall behind him.
A soldier in camouflage uniform standing next to a military vehicle during daytime.
Woman in military uniform outdoors with desert landscape and mountains in background.
A man in military uniform with a cap, sitting outdoors, looking at the camera with a serious expression.
Close-up of a soldier wearing a helmet with a small puppy on top, holding a rifle, and dressed in military gear, outdoors in a desert environment.
Two soldiers in military gear, wearing helmets and backpacks, standing outdoors.
Young man with short dark hair, wearing a dark green collared shirt, looking at the camera with a neutral expression, against a light green background.
A man wearing a military uniform and camouflage cap holding a rifle.
A woman with short, brown hair wearing a military green uniform with epaulets, a pen in the pocket, and a serious expression on her face.
Black and white photo of a soldier in military fatigues with glasses, sitting on a rocky terrain, holding a large rifle.

A VIETNAM INC. INITIATIVE

Return to Vietnam is one of four initiatives of Vietnam Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the human legacy of the War in Vietnam through remembrance, reconciliation, education, and historical preservation. Vietnam Inc. provides the organizational leadership, governance, partnerships, and institutional framework through which Return to Vietnam operates.

RETURN TO VIETNAM — LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE

  • An elderly man dressed in formal black tuxedo with a bow tie, wearing military medals on his chest, sitting indoors against a dark background.

    James Lawrence

    Advisory Council

    Lt. (Ret.) James T. Lawrence is a distinguished Vietnam veteran who served with the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. During the 1965 Ia Drang campaign, he served as Executive Officer of Delta Company, was wounded in action, and received the Bronze Star. He later dedicated himself to preserving this history through public scholarship, reflection, and memoir.

  • An elderly man wearing glasses in a tuxedo with a bow tie and military ribbons, smiling.

    Barry Beck

    Advisory Council

    Barry Beck is a Marine veteran, attorney, and public servant whose career reflects sustained leadership, integrity, and service. A 1964 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he served in the Marine Corps from 1964 to 1968, including combat operations in Vietnam with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. He later established a legal career and public service record in Texas.

  • An elderly woman smiling, wearing a light-colored dress with sparkles, pearl earrings, a pearl necklace, and medals pinned to her chest.

    Elaine Niggemann

    Advisory Council

    Capt. (Ret.) Elaine H. Niggemann, MD, FACC, is a Vietnam veteran, physician, and educator whose career reflects distinguished service in medicine and higher education. Commissioned in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, she served in Vietnam in 1971 caring for wounded service members. She later earned her medical degree, specialized in cardiology, practiced in Arizona, and became a respected professor and mentor.

  • An elderly man with white hair, wearing a black jacket over a red shirt, sitting in a room with bookshelves in the background, holding a framed black-and-white photo of three men in uniform.

    Orson Swindle III

    Advisory Council

    Colonel (Ret.) Orson G. Swindle, U.S. Marine Corps, is a combat aviator, former prisoner of war, and public servant whose career reflects exceptional courage and national service. Shot down over North Vietnam in 1966, he endured more than seven years in captivity. He later served with distinction in business, government, and veterans advocacy, sustaining a lifelong commitment to country and Corps.

  • An elderly man with glasses, gray hair, and a mustache wearing a tuxedo with a green bow tie, and several military medals on his chest.

    Grady Birdsong

    Advisory Council

    Sgt. (Ret.) Grady Birdsong is a Marine veteran, author, and veterans advocate whose career reflects sustained service, leadership, and civic engagement. Following two combat tours in Vietnam, he built an international career spanning engineering, marketing, and technology. In retirement, he has remained dedicated to veteran leadership, community outreach, and writing, preserving the experiences and legacy of those who served faithfully.

  • An elderly man in a suit with medals and ribbons on his chest, wearing a black cap with military insignia, standing outdoors near water.

    Robert Good

    Advisory Council

    Sgt. (Ret.) Robert L. Good is a Vietnam veteran and retired Los Angeles police officer whose career reflects courage, discipline, and sustained public service. Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966, he served with the 9th Infantry Division in the Mekong Delta, earning the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal for valor. He later completed a distinguished 32-year career with the LAPD.

  • An elderly man dressed in a tuxedo with a bow tie featuring the American flag, wearing a military cap with Vietnam War medals, standing outdoors near a ship's railing.

    Max Morgan

    Board member

    Capt. (Ret.) Max P. Morgan is a Vietnam veteran whose military service reflects courage, versatility, and sustained commitment to duty. As a Navy corpsman with SEAL Team One, he completed more than 50 missions in the Mekong Delta, earning the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with Combat “V.” He later served as a Marine Corps infantry officer and received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.

  • A smiling elderly woman with short gray hair, wearing glasses, a black dress with floral patterns, and celebration medals on her chest, standing outdoors during sunset.

    Gracie Moore

    Advisory Council

    Lt. (Ret.) Grace Margaret Lilleg-Moore is a Vietnam veteran and Army Nurse Corps officer whose service reflects compassion, leadership, and professional dedication. Deployed to Vietnam in 1968 with the 44th Medical Brigade, she provided and supervised critical care at the 12th Evacuation Hospital in Cu Chi. She later continued her nursing career while advocating for recognition of Vietnam-era medical personnel.

  • An elderly man with gray hair and a serious expression, wearing a black Carhartt jacket and a black military-style cap with military patches and an eagle emblem, standing outdoors near a stone building.

    Rick St-John

    Advisory Council

    Col. (Ret.) Rick St. John is a Vietnam veteran, author, and military historian whose career reflects distinguished leadership and enduring commitment to Army values. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he served with distinction as an Army officer and later dedicated himself to preserving the history, sacrifice, and service of airborne soldiers in Vietnam through scholarship and veterans advocacy.

  • An elderly man with blonde hair wearing a black tuxedo with a bow tie and a white shirt, showing a civilian medal ribbon bar. The background is wooden paneling.

    James Hackett

    Advisory Council

    Sgt. (Ret.) James P. Hackett Jr. is a Vietnam veteran whose career reflects courage, service, and commitment to veterans. He served two combat tours in the United States Marine Corps and received two Purple Hearts. Following military service and work in the performing arts, he joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, retiring as a reserve captain after a distinguished career.

  • A man with gray hair and a beard wearing a black tuxedo with a bow tie, standing outdoors during sunset with a background showing a dark sky and a red barn.

    Timothy Davis

    Founder & Advisory Council

    Timothy Davis is an Australian-born nonprofit executive and veterans’ advocate with more than 25 years of international leadership. As Founder of Vietnam Inc., he advances remembrance, reconciliation, education, preservation, and the transmission of memory surrounding the War in Vietnam. His career reflects a sustained commitment to veterans, historical integrity, international partnership, dignity, responsibility, and purposeful service across generations.

  • An older man with gray hair in a black t-shirt and beige cap standing outdoors against a backdrop of green trees and a partly cloudy blue sky.

    William Albracht

    Advisory Council

    Capt. (Ret.) William Albracht is a highly decorated Vietnam veteran, Special Forces officer, author, and speaker whose career reflects exceptional courage and leadership. Serving with the 5th Special Forces Group, he distinguished himself at Fire Support Base Kate and received multiple Silver Stars for gallantry. He later completed a 26-year career with the United States Secret Service, serving under four Presidents.

Group of elderly men and women posing for a photo outdoors under a canopy in a forest setting, some wearing hats and sightseeing attire.
A group of eleven older men posing among trees and mangrove roots in a forest.
A group of eleven men, some kneeling and some standing, posing for a photo outdoors with Vietnamese flags in the background, surrounded by trees and a cloudy sky.
Group of 13 men standing outdoors on a road with green fields and mountains in the background, some wearing baseball caps and casual clothing.
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A group of nine men standing outdoors on a dirt path with hills and greenery in the background under a partly cloudy sky.