Vietnam War Symposium
|
TSIO understands that everyone's experience connected to the war in Vietnam is different. It was different for Veterans while they served in Vietnam and when they returned home. We respect everyone's experience, and how and where they are at with their process of that experience.
The war did not only affect American born Vietnam Veterans, but the Hmong and Vietnamese Veterans, now also American, and their families. This event took place in 2012. |
Keynote Speaker: Andrew Lam
|
Born in Vietnam, Son of former South Vietnamese General Lâm Quang Thi
Andrew Lam is a writer and an editor with the Pacific News Service, a short story writer, and, for 8 years, a commentator on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.” He co-founded New America Media, an association of over 2000 ethnic media organizations in America. |
His essays have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country including the New York Times and Huffington Post. He has also published two books with reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora. Andrew will be sharing from various perspectives of the Vietnamese experience including as the son of a former well known south Vietnamese general, refugee and immigrant rebuilding in America, and the returning to Vietnam today both from a personal and journalist perspective.
Panel One: Reconciling the Vietnam War Experience
Michael Muller
|
PHD, Psychologist
MACV CORDS operations Advisor, Binh Chanh District, 1970. Michael Muller is a Vietnam veteran and former VA and Vet Center psychologist who counseled combat veterans for many years. He recently published a novel, A DREAM OF HEAVEN, under his pen name, Michael FitzGordon. It is available on Kindle and is based on his experiences in Vietnam and as a psychologist working with combat veterans. |
Michael will focus on the concept of PTSD as a mental illness, and the ways that it is helpful to have it as a diagnosis, but the ways in which it is simply not an illness at all. The primary effects of traumatic events are not an illness, but they make you different, which isolates you (cruel punishment), and you develop secondary effects, such as depression and drinking, which derives from the isolation and not the traumatic events. Having PTSD just makes you different from normal, not sick. So you have to learn to cope with being different than "normal" people.
Allan Cutter
|
Allan received his BA from Syracuse University (1968), Master of Science (Library Science), Simmons College (1970), Master of Divinity, Bangor Theo Seminary (1977, Doctor of Ministry, Pittsburgh Theo Seminary (1996). Held pastorates in Weld, ME, Stamford, NY, New Martinsville, WV, Duluth, MN (16 years), then served as executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of South Louisiana.
Allan was in the US Navy from 1969 to 1975, 5 years on active duty - as an enlisted man in the Naval Security group, then as an officer - first as an advisor in VN then as a teacher at the Naval Academy prep School. "War as a prayer” as a way in which I reconciled my own experiences. |
Among the things I “lost” in Vietnam were any sense of meaning for the phrases “right” and “wrong” and a sense of “connection” between my community and myself. I gained some knowledge however; I found I could survive in evil circumstances and that I was capable of doing some pretty terrible things. I discovered that I could survive by assuming I was dead anyway, and focusing in the present and the “mission.” I learned a lot about compassion, love, and sacrifice. I came “home” fragmented - incomplete - a part person. Over the years on my own journey towards wholeness I have learned the importance of connection and community. The sense of connection was renewed with the VET Center program and the veterans group of clergy to which I belong (as well as within my own family structure).
Trauma, to be validated, demands community, achieved through sharing stories. Trauma is personal. One of the communities I wanted was God and me; and if we are going to have community we are going to listen to each other’s stories. We are going to have a conversation, a personal connection through sacred conversation, or prayer. What is the personal conversation, the prayer, like - it is Scary, Honest, Intense,and Tough. Instead of the one-way of ACTS it is the journey of SHIT, calling forth the recognition that all shit is not bad, but can be life-giving as well. Thus my statement that my healing has taken place when I began to regard war as a prayer or perhaps a context for prayer.
Trauma, to be validated, demands community, achieved through sharing stories. Trauma is personal. One of the communities I wanted was God and me; and if we are going to have community we are going to listen to each other’s stories. We are going to have a conversation, a personal connection through sacred conversation, or prayer. What is the personal conversation, the prayer, like - it is Scary, Honest, Intense,and Tough. Instead of the one-way of ACTS it is the journey of SHIT, calling forth the recognition that all shit is not bad, but can be life-giving as well. Thus my statement that my healing has taken place when I began to regard war as a prayer or perhaps a context for prayer.
Cindy MaCaulay
|
Cindy has worked at the Duluth Vet Center since 1984 and has been a witness to incredible courage and strength as she listened to veterans from WWII, Korea,Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada,Desert Storm and OIF/OEF.
Her hope as a Counselor for Veterans is that by talking they find a bit of peace and healthier ways to cope with the struggles that will always be there. Cindy is also increasingly aware of how veteran’s pain affects their families, those who love them & their communities. She is instrumental in incorporating much community education and networking. |
Cindy will focus on the Loss of control issues and the NEED to take care of yourself at this life stage; and to ask for/accept help when that is so hard & foreign to do. There are other aspects such as how relationships change with retirement, health issues, and dealing with unstructured time. All three speakers will also talk about things that are specific to the Vietnam Era.
Panel Two: Minority Panel
This panel will feature an African American Veteran, Native American Veteran, and a Hmong Veteran who served in the war in Vietnam. Many times you hear about the Caucasian or American born Vietnam Veterans. You do not hear much from the other various Veterans and their perspectives. All three Veterans will discuss their various experiences from their perspectives while having served in Vietnam and after they returned home. Details coming on speakers for this panel.
Gary L. Quaderer, SR
|
Gary is from the Ojibwe Tribe Lac Courte Oreilles Indian Reservation. He was drafted in the U.S.Army and served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1970. Gary wa a Specialist 4 Radio Operator with B Company - 63rd Signal Battalion, 1st Signal Brigade.
Gary's occupation has been as a Heavy Equipment Operator 40 years. I first met Gary back in 1988. He always came across as a humble and sincere person. He is highly involved with his Tribe's cultural and Veteran activities. |
Thai Vang
|
Thai is from Laos and he is Hmong. He was drafted to serve in the special Commando force at Region II of Laos from November 1966-1975. Thai was a Prison Of War at the Re-education facility in the Northern part of Laos from April 28, 1977 to May 30, 1980. He escaped from the prison of May 1980 and crossed into Thailand in March 9, 1981. He came to the US in August 12, 1988.
Thai is now retired with his family in Eau Claire. Thai is very humble and respectable among the Hmong people. He also serve in many capacities as an adviser for the Hmong Community. |
Dr. Jesse L. Dixon
|
Dr. Dixon is the Director of the office of Multi-Cultural Affairs within the Student Affairs Division at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire (UW Eau Claire). He served 21 years as an Inventory Management Specialist with the Supply and Logistics field.
Technical Sergeant Dixon (retired) served on active duty at Cam Ranh Bay AFB Vietnam from October 1968 to October 1969. He also served at Naha Airforce Base Okinawa, Eglin AFB Florida, McConnel AFB Kansas, Eilsen AFB Alaska, Davis-Monthan AFB Arizona, Phil Sung Bomb Range South Korea, Hickam AFB Hawaii, and Gila Bend Bomb Range Arizona; with temporary duty assignments to Forbes Kansas, Ram Stein AFB Germany, and Yokota AFB Japan. |
|
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
|
|
