It started with the vision of Bill Kimball, a Vietnam Veteran who served with the 1st Cavalry as a Mortarman during the 1968 Tet Offensive. Bill’s overwhelming desire was to see Vietnam veterans return to Vietnam to help in the rebuilding of a country that suffered immense destruction to its infrastructure and to minimize its effect on the former South Vietnamese.
After an exploratory trip to Vietnam in 1988, it became clear that the people needed help to recover from the ravages of war and the policies of the current government. From that trip, Vets With a Mission (VWAM) began under the guidance of Bill Kimball and a few Vietnam veterans and friends. They formed a not-for-profit humanitarian organization and ministry which started projects in 1989.
In 2001, Charles Ward would assume Bill’s position as the new Executive Director to manage the daily operations of VWAM. Through his leadership and dedication, as well as a committed Board of Directors and Advisors, VWAM has continued its service in Vietnam as a ministry and humanitarian organization respected by the Vietnamese Government and medical professionals in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, the United States, and Canada.
The government of Vietnam assigned the first project to VWAM in Ho-Chi Minh City – Polio Orphanage #5. The orphanage was managed by a Catholic nun, Sister Jean Marie, who later became known as the “Mother Theresa of Vietnam.” VWAM focused on this orphanage over the next several years. Prior to VWAM coming along side Sister Jean Marie, the polio orphanage was in a pitiful state of disrepair.
Children were using outdated crude braces to walk and the therapy pool was dry with broken and missing tiles everywhere. The well that supplied the pool with water, as well as the main water supply to the orphanage from the city, were not working and had been abandoned years before.
This was a difficult time in Vietnam as the country was trying to recover from the war and its closure to the western world. Food staples, parts of every kind, electricity and other services were nearly non-existent. On top of that, the infrastructure was dilapidated. The people were suffering in every way imaginable.
VWAM believed that God had called them to this orphanage to bring healing on several levels. In order for there to remain hope and healing for those afflicted, they needed to insure that the walls which surround the compound were secured and the grounds made safe and secure, as well. VWAM and the veterans who participated on these team trips were humbled by the self-sacrifice and dedication of Sister Jean Marie and her staff of sisters who helped her care for and feed the children afflicted by polio.
VWAM’s volunteers, most of them veterans of the war as well as the staff, shed many tears as they worked together to bring hope and healing to “the least of these” whom God had placed in their midst. It was not unusual to see a tough former Marine, with tears in his eyes, holding one of these children in his arms. The visits to Polio Orphanage #5 brought a new measure of meekness and humility to every team member. It was in the midst of all of this suffering, and the emotional baggage the veterans themselves brought with them, that the calling for Vets With A Mission was birthed.
2 Cor. 5: 18 – “All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” What God began in those early years has not faded nor tarnished in the hearts of VWAM’s leadership or volunteers. It is still the main “THING” of VWAM. It is the ministry’s heart’s desire to see the people of Vietnam know that former enemies can come together in forgiveness and reconciliation to each other. The purpose and the prayer of VWAM is that the Vietnamese on both sides of the war, as well as US veterans, can come to the understanding that every man, woman and child can be reconciled not only to former enemies but to God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
VWAM strives to accomplish this through the compassionate, humanitarian efforts of veterans and non-veterans alike who desire to rise above the tired political arguments and unnecessary apologetics concerning their service and the US involvement in the war.
VWAM, in the early years, focused on building and/or sponsoring health clinics in rural areas and medical clinics in the greater Saigon area. During the ensuing years its work moved to Da Nang City, Quang Nam Province, Da Nang Province and finally Thua Thien Hue Province. VWAM has built thirty-two rural health stations or medical clinics in the cities. VWAM offers medical training programs and works with the local clinic doctors to help improve their level of education and skills in the medical profession. VWAM has invested over three million dollars in the country over the past twenty-seven years! It has sent three disaster relief teams to Vietnam following typhoons. Often assistance has been in the form of medical supplies and equipment to clinics VWAM has built, as well as government built clinics where VWAM medical mission teams served. This was done with thirty-six shipping containers between 1990 and 2001.
VWAM has also worked and partnered with local churches providing Bibles and Christian literature, funding church repairs, and supporting their outreach efforts, which includes Christian medical teams that reach out to those who are unable to get proper medical care for one reason or another. These ministry efforts are now coordinated with the local church who interacts with the local government in Vietnam. Vets With A Mission medical and ministry teams give hope to the same people servicemen and servicewomen went to Vietnam to help back in 1965-1975 – and the mission continues! Please help us financially or come join us!
On MissionFinder, we have over 1,000 ministries offering opportunities like this to serve at home and around the world. Does your church or organization need help organizing mission trips? Check out our partner site, MissionMinder.com. Their easy to use software will help you manage all the details for your short-term mission trips and team members online. Unlimited Trips. Unlimited team members. Easy online fundraising for your team members. Try it free for 30 days. Learn more here.
