The torment of an American veteran
During the ceremony of presenting a wheelchair to a disabled student due to Agent Orange at Vinh University, a foreign man was moved to tears. When handing over the wheelchair, the man smiled kindly. That was Chuc Pa-la-zô (Chuck Palazzo) - an American veteran who fought in Vietnam and is currently a representative of the organization Veterans for Peace Vietnam 160 (an international organization operating in our country). Talking with him, we truly understood the feelings and emotions of American veterans towards Agent Orange victims as well as the country and people of Vietnam.
(Baonghean) -During the ceremony of presenting a wheelchair to a disabled student due to Agent Orange at Vinh University, a foreign man was moved to tears. When handing over the wheelchair, the man smiled kindly. That was Chuc Pa-la-zô (Chuck Palazzo) - an American veteran who fought in Vietnam and is currently a representative of the organization Veterans for Peace Vietnam 160 (an international organization operating in our country). Talking with him, we truly understood the feelings and emotions of American veterans towards Agent Orange victims as well as the country and people of Vietnam.
Chuc Palazo and student Le Dinh Thanh (disabled person)
due to Agent Orange contamination).
Chuc Pa-la-zo was born in 1954. At the end of 1970, he went to Vietnam to fight as a Marine. During that time, he fought at Da Nang base, Hai Van Pass, Phu Bai Airport (Hue) and Quang Tri battlefield. Within 2 years, Chuc Pa-la-zo witnessed several times the scene of American planes spraying toxic chemicals on the forests in the Truong Son range, causing all the trees to lose their leaves. From that moment, he realized that the war caused by the US was completely unjust and contrary to the progress of human society. Therefore, he asked for an early discharge to return to his homeland. Back home, Chuc Pa-la-zo was forever tormented by the consequences of the Vietnam War.
At that time, in the US, there was an international organization of War Veterans for Peace, founded in 1958, with the main goal of working for peace. On that basis, about 3 years ago, Chuc Palazo mobilized 2 more friends to establish a branch in Vietnam called the Vietnam War Veterans for Peace Association 160, headquartered in Da Nang City. This was where he lived most of the time during his time fighting in Vietnam.
Explaining the reason for establishing this branch, Chuc Pa-la-zo said: “I am a veteran who once and unintentionally sowed war crimes in your country. Now I want to atone for my mistakes and do positive things for Agent Orange victims and bomb and mine victims. I want to be closer to them and want the world to see the consequences of war that America left in your country.” With that purpose, over the past 3 years, Chuc Pa-la-zo has organized many tours for American veterans to return to Vietnam to participate in social and charitable activities. These veterans have been able to visit the Vietnamese countryside to visit the victims and witness firsthand the pain and misery of the families of the victims.
Chuc Pa-la-zo shared: “I hope that through the activities of the association, people will better understand the devastation of war. When I return to the US, I will tell everyone and mobilize the American people to help victims of Agent Orange. And I will also contact some Senators and Congressmen to have them visit Vietnam and support the passage of a law to compensate the victims.” At the same time, Chuc Pa-la-zo also expressed his indignation at the fact that American chemical manufacturing companies refuse to compensate victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam.
Not only that, they also persuaded some countries to buy genetically modified seeds to help farmers escape poverty. But in reality, the cultivation of genetically modified cotton in India has produced very low yields, poor quality, many farmers in this country are on the brink of bankruptcy. Not to mention that some products being introduced by these companies contain ingredients similar to those in Agent Orange. As a social activist, an honorary member of the Association for Peace, Chuc Palazo comes into weekly, even daily contact with victims of Agent Orange. He realizes that all problems related to Agent Orange cannot be solved at once, but must be done step by step. Therefore, he is planning to continue to mobilize American veterans to participate in tours, raise money to support victims of Agent Orange...
Before parting, we asked him: “If you were allowed to send a message to the victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam, what would it be?” He replied: “I would like to tell them that everything the US military did in Vietnam was wrong. And the Agent Orange manufacturers who have not yet compensated have no conscience or morality. I also want to tell the victims to never give up hope, because there are many international and domestic organizations standing by and ready to support them. I believe that one day soon, the environment contaminated with Agent Orange in Vietnam will be improved, and the victims will be supported. We promise never to abandon them, and will continue to make efforts to help ease the pain of Agent Orange!”
Article and photos: CONG KIEN
