In 1997, Steve Warren S65 who served as an Army intelligence expert fluent in Vietnamese during the Vietnam war, was asked by the Vietnam Interfaith Council of California to help create a humanitarian aid project in Vietnam.  Steve, who had been active in the Bay Area Vietnam Veterans of America organization, was sent to Vietnam by the council in 1999.  He toured the humanitarian  projects on which the council had focused - orphanages, schools, hospitals,  and homes for the elderly.

        Dismayed by the poverty of the general population and the many children and adults suffering from disabilities, deformities, and other handicapping conditions, Steve took action.  (Vietnamese with disabilities are not allowed to work or attend school.  Many are polio victims.)  He contacted a foot surgeon who had been to Vietnam in 1997 and who was interested in offering his assistance.  Ultimately, a team of three surgeons who specialize in foot and ankle surgery was formed.  Medical and other supplies were donated through the efforts of Steve, the physicians involved, and the Vietnamese Interfaith Council.  The Vietnam Veterans organization offered some monetary assistance, but Steve personally financed the doctors’ and two interpreters’ travel, lodging, and other needs for the first two trips in late 2000 and 2002.  He strongly feels that his $16,000 investment was wisely made.
The organization Steve began became known as Mission Peace and has received some grants and donations which have helped make four “missions” to date possible.  More surgeries are performed on each trip, the last two having the added assistance of some senior resident physicians from Ireland.  Three orphanages receive help from Mission Peace, supplies continue to grow in scope and number, and Vietnamese physicians are being trained by the visiting doctors so that the former can perform these specialized surgeries.

         To quote Steve in a Mission Peace newsletter after the third mission, “..a huge thank you to all of you who have made my dream a reality. Without your extremely generous contributions, we would not be able to move forward. Medical supply companies, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies have provided the materials and equipment our doctors need to do their magic in the operating room. The personal financial contributions of generous friends have helped to cover our largest expense, getting to and from Vietnam. And Mission Peace does more than repair broken bodies...With your help, we have done much good work to improve the health and condition of many people in Vietnam. From me and all of the Mission Peace team members, please accept our heartfelt thanks for helping us help those who, without our help, would have little hope. We love you with all of our hearts.”

         There are some fascinating personal observations by and photos of those involved in the project, as well as much more information on the website, www.MissionPeace.org.  Plaudits to Steve Warren for organizing this mission and for his generous devotion to it.  Incidentally, Steve, through his work in Vietnam, received a wonderful reward himself.  In December 2003, he married his beautiful Vietnamese wife, Mai Khanh, pictured left!