US Veteran 30 Years of Healing War Wounds: Learned a Lot About the Kindness of Vietnamese People

Mr. Chuck Searcy (left) spent most of his life in Vietnam to contribute to healing the wounds of war - Photo: NGO XUAN HIEN

Looking to the future, US veteran   Chuck Searcy puts his faith in the younger generation, hoping they will learn from the past to avoid war at all costs, and be aware of the long-term consequences of war.

Two life-shaping trips

In June 1967, Chuck Searcy, 23 years old, arrived in Saigon as a military intelligence analyst, specializing in collecting information about units of the People's Army of Vietnam.

The work of processing reports gradually made him and many of his comrades realize a harsh truth: much of the information was inaccurate, designed to reinforce the message that America was winning. This disillusionment fueled his opposition to the war.

Returning to the US after a year of fighting, Chuck Searcy actively participated in the anti-war movement, spreading the message that "the war was wrong, we need to leave Vietnam".

In 1992, he and another veteran returned to Vietnam for 30 days. They traveled from Ho Chi Minh City through the Mekong Delta, to Hanoi , and gradually south. What surprised and moved him was the warm, hospitable, and friendly attitude of the Vietnamese people toward the two veterans. The people did not show anger, but instead showed forgiveness.

However, he was also shocked by the consequences of war, especially the unexploded bombs everywhere. The images of poor people having to make a living by dangerously removing war scrap haunted him and reshaped his life.

Mr. Chuck Searcy participates in a humanitarian activity - Photo: NGO XUAN HIEN

Silent American Veteran

In 1995, Chuck Searcy returned to Vietnam to work at Bach Mai Hospital and the National Children's Hospital (Hanoi). Initially, he thought the mission would last three years. However, trips to rural areas, witnessing the enormous challenges posed by landmines and Agent Orange in heavily damaged provinces like Quang Tri , inspired him.

He felt that America had a moral obligation to help the Vietnamese overcome the consequences of the war. That thought kept him in Vietnam longer than he had intended, lasting 30 years.

He worked hard to persuade the US government to sponsor $3 million worth of mine clearance equipment for Quang Tri province in 1996. In 2001, he and the Quang Tri provincial government and partners co-founded the RENEW project (Restoration of the Environment and Overcoming the Consequences of War) in Dong Ha. Since then, his life has been closely tied to this land.

Over the past 30 years, Mr. Chuck Searcy has become a familiar face in Quang Tri, constantly present at events to overcome the consequences of war. Project RENEW, with his contributions and many organizations, has tirelessly carried out mine clearance, accident prevention education, rehabilitation and income generation for victims.

He humbly said that he himself had learned a lot from the kindness and forgiveness of the Vietnamese people.

Mr. Chuck Searcy has made a silent contribution to clearing landmines from Quang Tri - Photo: NGO XUAN HIEN

He was moved by the transformation of Quang Tri in 50 years, from a "bomb bag" to a developing community with many achievements in agriculture, tourism and clean energy. The greatest achievement that he was proud of was "the significant reduction in the number of accidents, injuries and deaths caused by unexploded ordnance - now almost zero".

For his tireless contributions, Mr. Chuck was honored to receive the Vietnam Friendship Medal in 2003.

Mr. Dinh Ngoc Vu - Deputy Director of Quang Tri Mine Action Center - said that Mr. Chuck Searcy became a meaningful bridge between the people of the two countries. "His lasting and profound contributions, especially in Quang Tri - the land that suffered many consequences of war - have left an important and extremely valuable mark on Vietnam," Mr. Vu said.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Thai Huu Lieu - Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Quang Tri - affirmed that Mr. Chuck Searcy is a close friend, an "ambassador for Peace" deeply attached to Vietnam and Quang Tri.

"With the passion of an American veteran and rich understanding of the country and people of Vietnam, Mr. Chuck Searcy has made extremely important contributions to the common efforts of reconciliation and promoting comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and the United States.

He and other Americans who love Vietnam always support and help Vietnam heal the legacy of bombs and mines left by war," said Mr. Thai Huu Lieu.

The image of a silver-haired American veteran tirelessly healing the wounds of war in Quang Tri is not only a personal story of compassion, but also a powerful symbol of reconciliation and the ability to build a better future together.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cuu-binh-my-30-nam-han-gan-vet-thuong-chien-tranh-hoc-duoc-rat-nhieu-ve-long-tot-cua-nguoi-viet-nam-20250506084451592.htm