Vietnam Vet Bridges Cultures

August 21, 2009

Mike Boehm talks to students in The 1960s history class about his experiences as a peace activist

Mike Boehm, peace activist and Vietnam War veteran, gave an all-school assembly where he showed pictures of his ongoing work in Southeast Asia to rebuild relationships with Vietnamese still affected by devastation from the Vietnam War.

Boehm works with the Wisconsin-based Madison Quakers, Inc on a variety of projects, including the building of “compassion houses”— homes for poor Vietnamese, many of them afflicted with severe damage linked to Agent Orange exposure during the war. Key to these efforts is the involvement of Americans, including high schoolers, who travel to Vietnam to spend time with local families. 

Boehm also worked along with American and Vietnamese volunteers to build the My Lai Peace Park, dedicated in 2001 on the thirty-third anniversary of the massacre. He describes the My Lai Peace Park as a “place to put aside hatred.”

Lindsay Semel ’09, who traveled to Vietnam last summer to build compassion houses and who was instrumental in arranging Boehm’s visit, said this about his impact: “I think the most important message Mike brought to campus is that the only difference between us and the American soldiers who committed atrocities like the My Lai Massacre is that we were lucky enough not to be them. Everyone has the potential to perform evil acts and everybody has the potential to combat them. The best we can do is stay educated and compassionate.”

After Assembly, Boehm visited several classes including The 1960s, where he was peppered with questions from history students.  "Have you kept in touch with people you fought with in Southeast Asia?" "What about Iraq and Afghanistan?" "What do you think is the role of religion?" "Is there ever a time when violence is justified?"

Students, inspired by Boehm’s personal stories, led a fundraiser for the building of more compassion houses in Vietnam.

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