“No event in AMERICAN HISTORY is more MISUNDERSTOOD than the VIETNAM WAR. It was MISREPORTED then, and it is MISREMEMBERED now.”

— Richard NIXON

Our Mission:

We honor the service and sacrifice of those who served in the War in Vietnam by creating return journeys that hold space for the wounds war leaves behind—seen and unseen—and that cultivate remembrance, healing, and reconciliation for veterans, their families, and affected communities on both sides.

Group of fifteen men posing in front of a rock formation with a sign that reads "Camp Peale" and a large star. The men are outdoors on a hill, some wearing hats and sunglasses, with a scenic view of a city and hills in the background.
A group of ten men walking on a beach with mountains in the background.
Group of men standing and sitting among roots and trees in a forest, black and white photo.
Group of men in hats and casual attire standing in a forest setting
Group of older men outdoors surrounded by trees, wearing casual clothing and hats.
A group of eleven men posing outdoors in a garden or park, some standing and some kneeling, surrounded by trees and plants.
A group of twelve men standing outdoors in front of a damaged bridge with metal trusses, surrounded by trees and overgrown grass.
A group of people standing in front of the Mao Is possible in Hanoi, Vietnam. The building has a large sign reading 'Mao Is possible'. The group is posed for a photo, some wearing hats and casual clothing, with a few holding bags or sunglasses.
Black and white photo of eight men outdoors on a hillside with mountains in the background. They are dressed in casual outdoor clothing, some wearing hats and sunglasses, and are positioned among plants and soil.
Group of people walking on a trail through a lush tropical landscape with tall plants and trees in the background.
Group of men standing outdoors in a line, with mountains in the background.
A group of people holding an American flag standing under a sign in Vietnamese script, with trees and utility poles in the background.

Our Vision:

To create a lasting legacy of peace and reconciliation, where the lived experiences of Vietnam veterans heal communities, bridge cultures with deep respect, and ensure their sacrifices are forever remembered with dignity and gratitude.

A portrait of an elderly Asian man wearing a wide-brimmed hat, holding a long bamboo stick on his shoulder, outdoors.
Black and white photo of an older man with a mustache and beard, wearing a baseball cap with military patches, looking surprised or contemplative.
A black and white photo of an elderly man wearing a baseball cap and a button-up shirt, standing outdoors with trees and a pavilion in the background. He is holding a gardening tool.
An elderly man with missing teeth, a long beard, and a surprised or expressive facial expression. He is wearing a suit jacket and shirt, with a blurred background.
An elderly man with a cap, striped shirt, and a wristwatch, standing outdoors near a stone wall and wooden railing, looking to the side.
Black and white photo of an elderly man with gray hair and facial hair, wearing a white collared shirt and a black scarf, looking thoughtfully to the side.
Close-up black and white portrait of an elderly Asian woman wearing a beanie and a scarf, with a calm expression.
A man with a serious expression wearing a cap that says 'Airborne' and 'Tiger Bravo', standing outdoors near a bridge.
A black and white photo of an elderly man with a long white beard and hair, wearing a striped shirt, outdoors with trees and wooden structures in the background.
A black-and-white photo of an older man with a beard, wearing a baseball cap and a plaid shirt, standing outdoors with a field of plants and bushes behind him, under a partly cloudy sky.
Close-up black and white portrait of an elderly woman with long, wispy white hair and deeply wrinkled skin, wearing a patterned fleece jacket.
A black and white photo of an elderly man wearing a cap that reads 'VTOIST AIRBORNE VIETNAM VETERAN' and a striped polo shirt, with a mountainous landscape in the background.
Black and white photo of an older woman wearing a warm hat and jacket, looking directly at the camera with a serious expression.
A black and white portrait of an elderly woman wearing a striped sleeveless shirt and a wide-brimmed hat, standing outdoors with trees in the background.
Black and white photo of an elderly man smiling and looking joyful, wearing a jacket, outdoors with market stalls in the background.
A man in a black polo shirt with folded arms is standing outdoors in front of a thatched-roof structure and a wooden vehicle, wearing a military-style cap that says 'Combat Medic.'
Black and white photo of an elderly Asian woman wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat and a knitted sweater, sitting outdoors.
An elderly man wearing glasses, a cap with a patch, a checkered shirt, and a bandana around his neck, standing outdoors with palm trees in the background.

Healing The Wounds of War:

The profound wounds of war frequently persist long after combat ends, leaving veterans and civilians to endure chronic pain, hypervigilance, sleep disruption, grief, and persistent fear. These harms can reverberate through families and communities, even across generations, yet often remain concealed by silence and stigma. Healing is possible, but it requires more than time: collective acknowledgement, sustained compassion, and accessible, trauma-informed care. We affirm our responsibility to recognize war’s enduring cost and to ensure that those who bear it are treated with dignity, provided practical support, and offered clear pathways to recovery.

Meet the Team

  • Orson Swindall

    Board member

    Colonel (Retired) Orson G. Swindle, United States Marine Corps, rendered exceptionally meritorious service as a Marine officer, combat aviator, former prisoner of war, and public servant. Shot down over North Vietnam in 1966, he endured more than seven years of captivity with extraordinary courage. Thereafter, he served with distinction in business, government, and veterans advocacy, reflecting credit upon.

  • Barry Beck

    Board member

    Barry Beck is a Marine veteran, attorney, and dedicated public servant with a long record of leadership and service. A 1964 Naval Academy graduate, he served in the Marine Corps from 1964 to 1968, including early combat operations in Vietnam with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. After earning his law degree, he built a distinguished career in complex litigation while remaining actively involved in civic leadership, public service, and community engagement.

  • Grady Birdsong

    Board member

    Sgt. (Ret.) Grady Birdsong is a Marine veteran, author, and distinguished advocate for veterans. Following two combat tours in Vietnam, he established an international business career across engineering, marketing, and technology. In retirement, he has continued his commitment to veteran leadership, community outreach, and writing, preserving the experiences of those who served through award-recognized work, public service, and sustained civic engagement.

  • Elaine Niggemann

    Board member

    Capt. (Ret.) Elaine H. Niggemann, MD, FACC, is a Vietnam veteran, physician, and educator. Commissioned in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, she served in Vietnam in 1971, caring for wounded service members. Returning home, she earned her medical degree, specialized in cardiology, practiced in Arizona, and distinguished herself as a professor and mentor at the University of Arizona.

  • Robert Good

    Board member

    Sgt. (Ret.) Robert L. Good is a Vietnam veteran and retired Los Angeles Police Department officer. Drafted into the Army in 1966, he served with the 9th Infantry Division in the Mekong Delta and earned the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal for valor. He later served 32 years with the LAPD, including SWAT, academy instruction, and air support.

  • Max Morgan

    Board member

    Capt. (Ret.) Max P. Morgan is a Vietnam veteran who served as a Navy corpsman with SEAL Team One, completing more than 50 missions in the Mekong Delta. Wounded in action, he earned 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.

  • Gracie Moore

    Board member

    Lt. (Ret.) Grace Margaret Lilleg-Moore is a Vietnam veteran who served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps with the 44th Medical Brigade. Deployed to Vietnam in 1968, she provided and supervised critical care for wounded service members at the 12th Evacuation Hospital in Cu Chi. She later continued her nursing career and remained a dedicated advocate for honoring Vietnam-era medical personnel.

  • Rick St-John

    Board member

    Col. (Ret.) Rick St. John is a Vietnam veteran, author, and military historian whose leadership and service reflect enduring devotion to Army values. A West Point graduate, he served with distinction as an Army officer, later preserving the history of airborne soldiers in Vietnam through respected scholarship, public speaking, and steadfast advocacy for veterans’ stories, sacrifice, and service.

  • James Hackett

    Board member

    Sgt. (Ret.) James P. Hackett Jr. is a Vietnam veteran who served two combat tours in the United States Marine Corps and received two Purple Hearts. After military service and work in the performing arts, he joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, where he served with distinction for decades, retiring as a reserve captain and continuing veterans’ community service.

  • James Lawrence

    Board member

    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 for his service. In later years, he devoted himself to preserving this important history through public presentations, personal reflection, and memoir, ensuring that the experiences and sacrifices of those who served would endure for future generations.

  • William Albracht

    Board member

    Capt. (Ret.) William Albracht is a highly decorated Vietnam veteran, Special Forces officer, author, and speaker. As a Green Beret captain with the 5th Special Forces Group, he demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership during combat at Fire Support Base Kate, earning multiple Silver Stars for gallantry. He later continued his distinguished service through a 26-year career with the United States Secret Service, serving under four Presidents.

  • Timothy Davis

    Board member

    Timothy Davis is an Australian-born nonprofit executive and veterans’ advocate with over 25 years leading mission-driven organizations of international reach and consequence. After stepping back from daily leadership, he focused on Vietnam-related work as strategic architect of Vietnam Inc., advancing peace, reconciliation, and healing for veterans, families, and war-affected communities. He offers donors strategic clarity, global perspective, and impact.

Guided by Experience:

Guided by veterans and strengthened by families, communities, and trusted partners, we lead this mission with lived experience and with the best our nation has to offer—service, integrity, courage, and unwavering compassion. No veteran walks alone in this battle. Together, we honor the fallen, stand beside the living, and safeguard the dignity of every story is a respectful space for grief and a steady pathway to care, delivering practical, trauma-informed support that eases burdens carried for decades.

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  • For many veterans, the Vietnam War remains a deeply personal chapter of their lives. Returning is not about travel but a pilgrimage of healing and remembrance—a chance to confront the past, honor fallen comrades, and find peace. In these moments of reflection and brotherhood, time becomes a bridge from pain to healing and reconciliation.

  • This program is exclusively for combat veterans of the Vietnam War. It is dedicated to organizing meaningful reunions that honor those who served in combat and meet the specified eligibility criteria. We appreciate your understanding and commitment to preserving the integrity of this veteran-centered initiative.

  • To ensure the success of this important mission, the organization operates under a structured framework emphasizing coordination, readiness, and accountability. Each participating unit must designate a primary liaison to oversee communication and logistics, and assemble a roster of 20 highly qualified combat veterans who demonstrate exceptional physical fitness, hold valid passports, and show unwavering dedication to the mission’s objectives. 

  • Each deployment is thoughtfully planned to span twelve days, offering participants the time and space needed for meaningful reflection and connection. This carefully structured schedule balances visits to significant locations with opportunities for quiet introspection, allowing veterans to revisit the places that shaped their service and their lives. The experience is designed to foster healing, encourage camaraderie, and support personal resolution. By creating a respectful and supportive environment, we aim to help each veteran process the past, reconnect with fellow participants, and find renewed peace along the journey.

  • Each itinerary is carefully designed to provide a deeply immersive experience that honors the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. These journeys return you to the very regions where your unit once served, forging a powerful link between past and present. Walking these historic grounds offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with your unit’s legacy—gaining deeper understanding of the landscapes, challenges, and pivotal moments that shaped your service.

  • To honor the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans, the Connecting Generations initiative pairs veterans of post-Vietnam conflicts—such as Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq—with Vietnam veterans on return journeys to Vietnam. This meaningful program builds a powerful bridge between generations of service members, fostering shared experiences, mutual understanding, and enduring camaraderie.

  • Each return journey to Vietnam is supported by a dedicated team committed to your safety, comfort, and peace of mind. Many are fellow combat veterans who understand the meaning of your return. With medical, logistical, and production professionals by your side, the experience is guided with respect, dignity, and quiet reflection.

  • The Battlefield Repatriation Initiative is restricted to combat veterans who served together as comrades in arms. This eligibility criterion is integral to the intent and integrity of the program and is not subject to exception or extension to family members. We appreciate your understanding and your respect for the purpose and solemn nature of this initiative.

  • Your return to Vietnam will be provided at no cost through the support of a private consortium dedicated to honoring those who served in combat. This support is offered in recognition of your distinguished service and as part of our enduring commitment to those who bore the burdens of war. All aspects of the journey—including international travel, accommodations, and all program-related expenses—will be fully covered. This comprehensive provision is intended to allow you to focus solely on what holds the greatest significance: paying tribute to your service, honoring the fallen, and reflecting on the lasting legacy you share with your fellow veterans.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Apply Today:

This mission honors all who endured the war—the fallen, the veterans, their families, and the countless civilians whose lives were forever changed by its course. Together, we can uphold the vision of healing, unity, and lasting reconciliation.

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