Return to Vietnam

Sometimes our community spirit reaches beyond our local borders . . . we're especially proud to tell you this story because it involves our Chairman of the Board, John Lauer.  John recently visited Vietnam out of curiosity and to see what the country looked like under different circumstances without a war raging. 

A little more than 35 years ago on April 21st, a young Army soldier named John Lauer was thrilled to be escaping the war in Vietnam and returning home to family and friends.  On the same day this year, John boarded a plane with his wife Alison to head back to the land where he served his country for two years.

With the help of a friend, John was connected to a Toledo organization called D.O.V.E. Fund.  The acronym stands for Development of Vietnam Endeavors.  For the last six years or so, the group has raised money and traveled to Vietnam to complete community service projects such as building schools or improving sewer and water systems.  So John and Alison boarded a plane and headed toward the Quang Tri Province in North Central Vietnam. 

What struck John the most was the development that has slowly begun.  Although poverty is still rampant and sanitation is suspect, especially in rural areas, there are signs of improvement.  Something simple like electricity or plumbing that most Americans take for granted is vastly improving the lives of citizens there.  Small businesses are beginning to sprout up along highways that were barren when John last saw them. 

"It's something that really makes you appreciate what you have," he said.    

For both John and Alison, visiting the schools in the province the first week of their trip was the most striking memory.  The D.O.V.E. group raised thousands of dollars and was helping to construct small school houses and provide uniforms and supplies for the students.  They passed out numerous supplies, such as candy, hats and pens from our credit union.  The children seemed thrilled with the small gifts. "They're so poor, and they don't have anything," Alison said.  "But they were still so happy with the gifts, and they had such big bright smiles."

Although there was a lot of work and tours and the days were long, there was plenty of time to enjoy the sights as well.  John joked that although nearly everyone in the country ride bicycles or motorized  bikes, traffic in the larger cities was horrendous.  And many residents now own cell phones, navigating traffic and talking as Americans do in their vehicles.

Both were also stunned by the beauty of Halong Bay, a waterway dotted with more than 1,000 limestone islands featuring countless caves and untouched beaches.

Even food was an adventure, especially in some areas where there was concern that the same water used to cook food or wash dishes was also used to dispose of waste.  The water was boiled, but the Lauers remained skeptical.  Alison often opted for simple rice and soy sauce. John's diet, which normally consists of meat and potatoes, wound up eating everything from whole fish to ocutpus and squid.  Alison joked that she never cared to see another squid!

The Lauers plan to return within the next few years and visit the army base John was stationed at with a side excursion to Cambodia.

"They've made a lot of advances and things have gotten better there," said John.  "They've still got a long way to go though.  But there are some beautiful places there."

John Lauer, pictured on the right, with a group of Vietnamese outfitted in Fremont Federal Credit Union hats.