After 48 years, a 68-year-old combat veteran fulfilled a lifelong dream of returning to Vietnam. James Lempke recently served as a volunteer with a Habitat for Humanity Veterans Build Team. He had numerous encounters with the local people that were both heartwarming and healing. Jim was saluted and embraced by former North Vietnamese soldiers who had been enemies of the US soldiers. He was called “brother” by women who had lost family in “The American War”. All of the older people he met were in some way affected by American bombs, bullets, and chemicals, but showed no bitterness. He was told to not look back at the war and be sad, but rather “you must look forward with joy and friendship.”

Jim will share his story in a free presentation on Tuesday, October 2 at 7:00pm in the Peter White Public Library Shiras Room.