350+ Love Letters for Mike

Mike’s story is proof that it’s never too late to welcome someone home.

“The end of August will mark 50 years since my dad, Mike, returned home from Vietnam,” wrote Mike’s son, Neil. “He enlisted in 1971, he often says, ‘to bring the boys home,’ and was sent overseas on Christmas Eve of that year. His eight months in Vietnam have been with him every day since he came home; if you spend even an hour with my dad, you can expect to hear at least one story that begins, “When I was over in Vietnam…”

But sadly, the thing that stays with my dad most of all is not anything that happened overseas, but what happened when he came home. When he returned to the US, he, like many Vietnam veterans, did not get welcomed home. Instead, he was made to feel ashamed of his time in the service, even though he only wanted to help bring an end to a long and terrible war. He was 20 years old.

Now, 50 years later, as a surprise for dad, we are asking anyone who is willing to help us give him the “Welcome Home he deserves…anything to thank him for his service and welcome him home.”

We’ve got to say—if anyone knows how to celebrate a homecoming, it’s this community.

More that 350 people wrote to Mike in honor of the 50th anniversary of his return from Vietnam—and it was a moment he’ll never forget.

From family and friends to church groups to elementary school classes, Mike was showered with love and celebration. He even received a letter from the 81 year old Colonel who founded his unit.

“I was blown away by the kindness of every person who took the time to write,” shared his daughter, Violet, “but most importantly, Dad was so deeply moved by all of the words of love.”

She shared that Mike said, “I can never again say that I was not welcomed home from Vietnam.”