Thirty-nine Years, Three Weeks and Counting

The journey started a long time ago.

In 1968 my brother David was killed while serving in Vietnam. Several years ago I began researching Dave’s time in the service and learned that his former Commanding Officer, Chuck Meadows, is now a retired Marine Colonel living on Bainbridge Island, just a 40-minute boat ride from Seattle. Now really, what are the odds of THAT?

After exchanging several emails Chuck and I, along with my husband Jeff, met for dinner in late spring of 2004. It was an amazing evening. Chuck shared stories, photos, maps and memorabilia to give us a picture of what the Marines of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines were doing in Vietnam in 1967-68. In particular, he talked about their experiences in the Battle of Hue City where Dave last served (military history buffs will know this is a Very Big Deal). During the course of the evening we also learned that Chuck was Executive Director, and is now Board President, of a non-profit organization called PeaceTrees Vietnam.

In 2005 I had the privilege of traveling to Vietnam as part of a PeaceTrees citizen diplomacy delegation. It was humbling and deeply rewarding to travel in David’s footsteps with the same commanding officer after thirty-seven years, but on a very different mission. Our group of twenty-three people spent two weeks visiting PeaceTrees-sponsored projects. PeaceTrees’ core values of peace, friendship and renewal were at the heart of the trip. We were eagerly welcomed and warmly received by our Vietnamese hosts, and we planted more than 2,000 trees, along with seeds of friendship and understanding.

This March I will be returning for my second trip with Chuck Meadows and PeaceTrees volunteers. This trip is a special one for me because we’ll be dedicating the David Warner Kindergarten in the tiny mountain village of A Xing. Joining us on the trip will be the little sister of another one of Chuck’s Golf 2/5 Marines, Cindy Humphrey; and a good friend and veteran who served in Hue City, Bruce Gant. Together with thirteen others we will immerse ourselves in the beauty and grace of Vietnam, celebrate friendships, roll up our sleeves and work.

Let the journey continue!