Ghosts of War

Decades after Vietnam, our therapeutic battlefield programs help veterans heal from trauma and honor fallen comrades. By returning to these sacred sites, veterans reaffirm bravery, camaraderie, and peace—sending a lasting message that transcends war and unites us in shared humanity.

The 12th Man

The lasting impact of war extends well beyond the battlefield, shaping both the memories of those who served and the landscapes that bore witness to their sacrifice. For Vietnam veterans, the processes of healing and remembrance are deeply personal and often complex. The 12th Man program serves as a meaningful and effective framework for therapeutic return, recovery, and commemoration. By facilitating veterans’ journeys back to sites of profound personal significance, the program promotes reconciliation and ensures that the sacrifices of the fallen are appropriately honored and remembered. In doing so, it reinforces the enduring connection between individual service, collective memory, and the broader narrative of American history and identity.

Two men standing outdoors, one in a gray shirt and the other in an orange shirt, saluting towards a white shirt and red hat hanging on a wooden fence, surrounded by greenery and hills.

The Tradition

As veterans return to once-familiar terrain, they are met with a landscape that is at once strikingly beautiful and profoundly evocative. These environments—lush hillsides, thriving urban centers, and peaceful rural roads—serve as poignant reminders of the past, prompting a deeply personal engagement with the legacy of conflict. This journey becomes not merely one of physical return, but of reflection and reckoning, as veterans confront the enduring psychological and emotional impact of war. Their experiences underscore the lasting imprint of military service—on themselves, on their communities, and on successive generations shaped by the consequences of conflict.

Soldier in military uniform with bull ornament on helmet, carrying a rifle.

Man wearing military uniform and cap, seated and looking at camera.

A soldier wearing a military uniform stands next to a camouflage netting and military equipment. He has short hair and a neutral expression. The background features sandbags and helmets.

Two soldiers in military gear, one in focus holding a rifle, with a serious expression, wearing helmets and backpacks, outdoors.

Three soldiers in green uniforms sitting in a wooded area, holding weapons, with another soldier in the background.

A soldier wearing a helmet with the word "PFT" written on it, looking serious, with a background suggesting a military setting.

A person wearing military gear including a helmet, vest, and glasses, standing outdoors in a natural, rugged landscape with hills in the background.

Two soldiers in military uniform in a dense jungle setting, one looking at the camera and the other with their back turned, surrounded by foliage.

Young soldier in uniform pointing at his name badge, with a wooden wall and a rifle in the background.

A person in military uniform holding a rifle in an outdoor setting with trees in the background.

A soldier in a military uniform stands in front of a sandbag fortification, smoking a cigarette. A rifle is propped against the sandbags. The background features barren trees and a cloudy sky.

A young man wearing a U.S. Navy uniform and glasses, with a white sailor hat tilted on his head.

Young man in military-style uniform looking at the camera against a plain background.

Young man in military uniform sitting outdoors near tents and vehicles.

A portrait of a man wearing a military uniform and cap.

Soldier in military uniform using a field radio

Psychological Burden

These pilgrimages provide veterans with a meaningful pathway toward closure and understanding, transforming private reflection into a structured process of healing. By returning to historically significant sites—such as the Mekong Delta, the Central Highlands, or the battlefields of the DMZ—many veterans are able to rediscover a sense of peace and reconciliation. These journeys help bridge the gap between fragmented wartime memories and present-day realities, fostering constructive dialogue with local communities and fellow veterans alike. Through shared narratives and intentional reflection, participants often reframe past suffering into a renewed sense of purpose—cultivating inner peace and a broader, more compassionate perspective on their experiences.

A man in a white polo shirt and a red "Delta Co Vietnam Veteran" cap holds a black and white photo in front of a historic building with a tiled roof. The background shows greenery and a tree.

Older man in red "Marines" shirt and hat holding a black-and-white photo of two young men.

“When you serve in combat together, you forge a bond that can never be broken. Even years later, I still feel that connection with my brothers from Vietnam.”

— Max MORGAN (1969)

“Being a woman in a predominantly male environment was tough, but the support and camaraderie I found among my fellow soldiers made all the difference. We were a family.”

— Eline NIGGEMANN (1968)