I am VVA Member No. 253, and I am still here and still active. I joined in 1981, two years before our Founding National Convention. I was a delegate and have been a delegate to every Convention since.

There has been much discussion about VVA’s future, but not nearly enough about our history. Sometimes looking back can help decide how to move forward. Many of us remember what it was like when we tried to join the traditional Veterans Service Organizations. Vietnam War veterans seeking help with legislation and other issues often found that the established VSOs were unwilling to support us.

Eventually, we came to a simple conclusion: We needed members, and we would take care of Vietnam veterans ourselves. If we did not help ourselves, no one would. VVA was formed.

One of our first great battles was gaining recognition as a Veterans Service Organization and, ultimately, securing a Congressional charter. The traditional organizations opposed us, and we had to overcome many obstacles. We also had to build an organization.

We needed a constitution, conventions, elected leadership, and a structure that could endure. We knew from the beginning that our membership eligibility rules meant VVA would someday face the question about its future. Most of us were naïve enough to believe we would win our battles quickly and eventually join the traditional VSOs, if they would have us.

Our first convention in 1983 was chaotic. Many of us did not know one another. Some, including founding President Bobby Muller and founding member Rick Weidman, already knew the issues inside and out. There was a lot of debate.

I especially remember one man from New York who seemed to be at the microphone for everything. At first, I thought he might be just another blowhard. But he clearly knew what he was talking about. Years later, we became close friends, and we remain so today. His name is John Rowan.

We had direction, and our battles began. One of the first was winning recognition from the public and from the older veterans organizations, who often viewed Vietnam veterans as druggies, baby killers, or mentally unbalanced. Over time, we changed that.

We helped win judicial review for veterans through the creation of the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals, giving veterans a path to challenge VA decisions outside the department. Today, veterans of every generation benefit from that change. Other big victories included gaining recognition for PTSD, for illnesses linked to Agent Orange exposure, and getting answers on POW/MIA issues.

At the 1983 Founding Convention, Rep. David Bonior gave us words that spoke directly to what many of us had experienced: “Never Again Will One Generation of Veterans Abandon Another.” Those words became VVA’s Founding Principle.

To me, those words meant we would never turn our backs on another generation of veterans. We would help when we could. And we have.

There are many benefits younger veterans now enjoy because VVA fought for them. We worked to improve the GI Bill. We fought for recognition of Agent Orange exposure, and that fight helped broaden the national understanding of toxic exposure in general, so veterans harmed by burn pits and other battlefield toxicants could receive benefits. There are plenty more examples of VVA living up to its Founding Principle.

But today, some use “Never Again” to argue that if VVA does not open its membership to younger veterans, we are somehow abandoning them. I do not agree.

We have not abandoned younger veterans. We have spent decades fighting for them. Nothing in our Founding Principle requires that future generations of veterans become VVA members. Younger veterans must step forward by forming organizations of their own, strengthening existing organizations, or joining the traditional VSOs that today are much more willing to serve veterans of every generation.

Please do not tell me that if VVA someday comes to an end, we should leave with our heads hanging low. I have been in the trenches with this organization for more than 40 years. When my time comes, I will leave knowing that I did my best for my fellow veterans, and my head will be held high.

We did good. Take the win.

Ned Foote
New York State Council President

I keep reading about the dilemma of how to save VVA. We all know that when we came home from ‘Nam, we weren’t treated well, so hence the creation of VVA. Now that we’re [getting] down to the last man standing, maybe it’s time to change the name and invite more veterans in. Let’s include all veterans, even though some did not serve in a war.

VVA is not getting many new members and the VFW is not bringing in many new and younger members, as well. How about allowing vets from all wars and conflicts to join? We should be including veterans who supported their brothers and sisters in the military.

James Dishneau
Grosse Ile, Michigan

I have a problem with Douglas Page’s comment in the May/June issue about the town of Pelham, New Hampshire, allowing the VFW to use its old town hall building. The town did not give the building to the VFW; the town voted for the VFW to use it.

I was involved with the VFW when we left the American Legion Hall and moved into the old town hall for our meetings. All of us involved were Vietnam War veterans or from of campaigns after the Vietnam War and did not discourage anyone from joining.

I was told that back in the 70s and 80s when I wanted to join the American Legion that they weren’t interested in any Vietnam veteran joining.

Dave Ouellette
Pelham, New Hampshire

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