Part 2

A MAN WITH A MISSION :

JOHN SWEET AND THE THARE ORPHANAGE

By Jimmie H. Butler

In 1997, John Sweet was a man with a mission. He wanted to help support the THARE (pronounced Thai-Ray) Orphanage, as he had nearly 30 years earlier while assigned to Nakhon Phanom (NKP) Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand . He has been successful beyond what any of us—besides John—might have imagined.

American servicemen overseas have often shown a most generous spirit in helping the less fortunate. At NKP this took the form of Civic Action teams sent out from the Air Commando Wing to bring medical services to remote villages in this poor area of Northeast Thailand . In addition, some individuals made personal efforts. The following is John Sweet ’s discussion about how he first got involved with the THARE Orphanage and Father Khai.

Another Buck Sergeant named Ted deserves the most credit, for he convinced me to accompany him to the orphanage at THARE almost fifty miles away from NKP near Sakon Nakhon. To this day I have no idea how Ted first met Father Khai, nor how he managed to pull off teaching English to the children there during his R & R time, instead of being required to go to Bangkok, but he did!

Father Khai picked us up for the journey and returned us after dark that night, speeding in a cloud of dust over the twisting rut-filled red dirt road through the jungle. We used to say "If you didn't believe in God before you got in Father Khai's car, you sure did by the time you got out." My one-day visit to the orphanage convinced me Ted was right—the kids needed all the help they could get. So together we started a campaign to raise money.

The project began in October and took off like wildfire. The men stationed at NKP gave generously and gathered assistance from everywhere. By the time a week before Christmas rolled around, there was $5,000 in cash, as well as everything from baseball equipment to fingernail clippers. Somehow—don't ask me how—there were over a dozen large containers, each four feet square, filled with personnel items for the children: combs, shampoo, scissors, sewing kits, handkerchiefs, soap, socks and clothes. I was amazed because they were all brand new and individually packaged.

The units competed amongst themselves in a friendly way to outdo each other. The most astonishing gift was the first one delivered. A huge pile of snow from Colorado with a Christmas tree stuck on top. The kids went wild because they had never seen snow. But I have to admit, when Santa showed up in the 21st Special Operations Squadron Jolly Green Giant, they had tied for first place.

Father Khai had not been idle either. The Bishop had come up from Bangkok for the celebration, which was an eleven-hour drive each way. Somehow Father Khai had "found" a case of cold American beer and provided a feast on the verandah for Ted, several of the officers and myself.

The older girls performed Thai dancing as entertainment while the other 1200 orphans watched, lined up behind them facing us. Passing out those gifts to the children is the fondest memory of Christmas I have. As they passed down the row of boxes holding out their newly acquired shopping bags (with handles) I wondered who had connections with the bag manufacturer.

The faces of the children portrayed the true meaning of Christmas in ways I am not capable of putting into words. I always remember that day filled with joy in celebration of love and peace.

John had long since settled in New Hampshire . Circumstances around hosting some Chinese visitors turned John’s eyes once again to Southeast Asia . He and his wife, Nancy, began planning a trip to Bangkok .

Then I discovered that Thai Airways is now flying up to NKP several times a week. When that worked out, I knew I was going up to have a look around. Then in late June I left a posting on the United Stated Air Force 50th Anniversary Web Site – PACAF, as well as another posting on the Vietnam Vets Message Board, about my return trip to Nakhon Phanom.

A week or so later I received e-mail from Suttida and David Brown. Suttida is from NKP and now teaches Thai at Princeton University , and her sister is a school teacher in NKP. Suttida kindly offered to assist me in any way and offered to have her sister meet us at the airport. I then asked her if the orphanage at THARE was still there, and if they could locate Father Khai. I received e-mail back that Suttida would ask her sister to try to locate him and that the orphanage was still there.

That same night I dreamed of returning to NKP, and maybe finding Father Khai, who was my only Thai friend I could remember by name. I woke up when I thought "If I find him, what would I say: remember when we helped you?"

The very next day I began raising money for the orphanage at THARE, which was to be donated in memory of the men from NKP who never returned home. That same night I received e-mail from Dick Anderson, a former member of the 23rd TASS at NKP who responded to my posting on the Vietnam Vets Message Board. Dick had located several other members of the 23rd TASS over the years and held a reunion with them at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington , D.C. a couple of weeks before. He stated that it seemed like a good project for the 23rd TASS guys and asked for my address.

The next thing I knew, I had checks in the mail from five men I had never met, including Roger Herrick, the brother of Captain James W. Herrick Jr. of the 602nd, who became MIA in October 1969 while I was at NKP. Two weeks after I had raised $1,000, Suttida e-mailed me Father Khai’s fax number.

So I faxed off my old pictures of him and I from 28 years ago and received a very warm response, which was signed "Your Old Friend in

Thailand

, Lawrence Khai" He didn’t make a point of the fact that in 1997 he was an archbishop.

Father Khai picked us up at the airport at Sakon Nakhon and drove us to his residence where breakfast awaited. We then toured St. Joseph 's School, which is adjacent. The school today is very modern including a room filled with computers. All grade levels are taught English and computer usage. The children wear red and white uniforms and are extremely well behaved. The school also has a recent addition of a large gymnasium, which has not been enclosed on the sides.

The orphanage at THARE stands across the street from the school. The old buildings I remembered in 1969 have been replaced, and a brand new church has also been built. One of the Sisters who works at the orphanage was one of the children present when Santa arrived in 1969.

Father Khai informed me former students still speak fondly in remembrance of the American GI's visit to this day.

Most of the orphans who attend St. Joseph 's School no longer reside at the orphanage, but rather live with families in the local communities. A family of their own has proven to be far more beneficial to the children. However, some still live at the orphanage, as not enough families have been located.

As the children were all in classes, Father Khai escorted us on a nostalgic visit to the remains of the airbase at NKP, and to downtown Nakhon Phanom. Afterward we headed back to THARE for the memorial presentation.

We make this donation in a sincere desire to again assist the children of this school. Many years have passed since 1969, when Father Khai and I worked on the Christmas celebration together—a celebration, which is vivid even now as my fondest Christmas. A celebration of sharing and love which has never been forgotten by the children who were here, even after almost 28 years former students still remark upon that time with fondness.

Today a new generation of students are here, and the Americans serving in the 56th Special Operations Wing at Nakhon Phanom have long since departed home. Some of those who assisted and contributed greatly to the success of that celebration in 1969 never returned home. Our beloved brothers perished during the war, or yet remain Missing in Action. In their memory we make this donation to renew their commitment of love and fellowship, and they shall not be forgotten.

This donation has been raised by contributions of the men who were soldiers in the 56th Special Operations Wing at Nakhon Phanom, and from the families of those whose fate is still unknown.

Four large bags of perennial American Wildflower Seeds I snuck in were distributed and planted by the children on the field where the 21st SOS Jolly Green Giant delivered Santa. Now the children at THARE Orphanage today remember the American GI's stationed at NKP who never returned home, when they pass the field of flowers. The old song of the 60's asks "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?" and now you know where some of them stand for The Brotherhood.

The next morning, we boarded our plane at Sakon Nakhon and bid farewell to archbishop Khai who came down to see us off with his blessing, and flew into Nakhon Phanom. The return flight to Bangkok always goes there first. What a feeling to touch down on the old runway! The plane refuels then returns to Bangkok . So I used the time to get off and meet the chief of the airport security, who speaks English well and spent ten years after the war in Hanoi at their airport.

Just before boarding the plane, standing on the PSP, I really wanted to share the experience with the other men who had assisted the orphanage and Father Khai. So I noticed the white quartz stones about the size of a quarter, which are the bed for the PSP and picked up five of them. They were covered with grease, oil and exhaust. Perfect!

Now I knew how to make the Memorial Presentation in Memory of the Men from NKP a yearly event so they shall not be forgotten. The orphanage at THARE has no sponsors and remembering The Brotherhood is best served by doing what they did, by helping others. So now all those who were stationed at NKP can have a piece of it, pay tribute in remembrance of the members of their fallen and missing Brotherhood, while at the same time assisting the orphanage at THARE and archbishop Khai's lifelong mission.

The connection between John Sweet and Archbishop Khai is one to be greatly admired. The archbishop prefers to be called Father Khai, and we can see from many pictures that he is a man of the people. One of five archbishops in Thailand , he is responsible for churches in the THARE and Sakhon Nakhon area. His area of responsibility has the largest number of Catholics in Thailand , many of whom are refugees from Laos and Vietnam .

A LARGE BAG OF STONES

John had delivered the $1,000 he had collected, but he was determined to do more. Dick Anderson of the 23^rd TASS had brought John in contact with the new group of formerly Thai-based veterans that was on its way to becoming the TLC Brotherhood. Many of us had been assigned at NKP. At least one had flown the helicopter that delivered Santa Clause to THARE in 1969. John wanted to keep supporting the children IN MEMORY OF OUR BELOVED BROTHERS. That was a goal we could all get enthusiastically behind.

After John returned, he sent me a stone collected from the PSP to acknowledge my small contribution to his initial gathering of funds. The stone has sat alongside my computer for the last three years. John said he was planning to offer a stone for any contribution of $10 or more for his kids at THARE.

John linked up with Tommy Thompson, the Quartermaster of the VFW Memorial Post 10249 at Udorn , Thailand , the site of another major American airbase during the Vietnam War. A bond formed that eventually would link the TLC Brotherhood, VFW Post 10249, Archbishop Khai, and the THARE Orphanage.

In the near term, Tommy and other VFW troops joined up with Father Khai and returned to the airfield at NKP. They gathered stones for John’s fund-raising. Over the years I have had many laughs imagining the scene at US Customs in Boston the day the inspectors came upon the bag of stones inbound for John. I’m sure the inspectors wondered what that bag really was all about—and I bet they never had a clue about the significance of those stones to those of us who served at NKP.

TLCB ASSISTANCE FUND—IN REMEMBRANCE

As the TLCB incorporated as a non-profit organization, two of our four objectives include: Providing humanitarian assistance, particularly in the TLC region, and Honoring those veterans who did not return from the TLC region. So John’s vision has become a part of the backbone of the TLC Brotherhood.

At the TLCB reunions in 1998 and 1999, John and his enthusiastic converts, came up with various fund-raising ideas. In 2000 the TLCB Sisterhood (an internet-linked group of TLCB spouses/supporters) is making a TLCB quilt to raffle. They have collected donations from people who want to put a remembrance on the quilt and are raising more money through the raffle to go to the TLCB Assistance Fund.

As of this writing, nearly $17,000 in donations has been delivered with more on the way. Because this is a heartfelt project for so many of those who served in Thailand those many years ago, we get more “bang for the buck” than any charity I know of. The TLCB/VFW Post 10249 connection makes magic happen. Instead of us buying shoes, blankets, soap, etc. here in the states and shipping the goods to Thailand , the TLCB Board approves recommended projects and sends money to Tommy Thompson at Post 10249 on scene in Thailand . He and the VFW troops can purchase much, much more on the Thai economy, and we don’t pay overseas shipping costs.

Occasionally the volume of donations necessitates renting a van to deliver the goods to some locations, including THARE, which are some distance from Udorn. Even then, the costs are relatively cheap. We’re willing to pay for the gas and other expenses to get the goods on target, but even then, the VFW troops often make those contributions along with their time to make this great humanitarian project happen. They, of course, get partial repayment in thousands of smiles they see firsthand that we in the TLCB only get to see in the pictures.

Most sincere thanks and heartfelt gratitude to you and each member of the Brotherhood in the

USA

for such of your wonderful kindest charity in sending to our poor school children and orphanage the Xmas gifts.

Tommy Thompson and everyone from the VFW joined the children on Dec. 28, 1998 for Xmas Party at our school. Heartfelt thanks to make our poor children so happy. May God bless you abundantly.

Since the Post 10249 troops are on-scene, they have recognized additional areas where TLCB donations can be put to good use. The following is a report of VFW Post 10249/TLCB actions over the most recent holiday season.

Following is our report of the recent joint VFW & TLC Brotherhood missions conducted during December and January. This was by far the largest number of projects ever undertaken here in Northeast Thailand !

December 17, 1999 : Visited the Udorn School for the Hearing Impaired and entertained approximately 300 children. We were nicely received by the Director and 15 teachers. Santa presented each child with a goody bag consisting of a toy, cookies, balloons, coloring books and rubber shoes. We also presented basket balls, soccer balls, badminton and tennis rackets and nets. Everyone had a wonderful time and we hope to visit again next year.

December 20, 1999 : Eight of our Post members met Post Commander in Khon Kaen and visited the Khon Kaen School for the Blind. We were warmly received and given a tour of the school facilities. We presented the School Director with $200.00 from the TLC Brotherhood and $200.00 from the AFTN Memorial Post 10249 as we have been supporting this school for several years.

Santa and friends

December 25, 1999 : On Christmas day, our Post sponsored our annual Christmas party here at the Post home for over 200 children and 150 adults. Santa Claus (who stands nearly7 feet tall) was present to entertain the children. Santa along with the help of the VFW staff handed out gifts to each child. The children ate over 400 hot dogs and drank 72 liter of soda and consumed three large boxes of ice cream. The adults enjoyed a buffet dinner compliments of the post. The party lasted way into the evening. We have hopes for bigger plans next year.

December 28, 1999 : Thirty members of our post including several wives and friends visited the THARE Orphanage/School at THARE near Sakorn Nakhon. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the band, which marched around the playground. We were glad to have with us Mike Cosenza and his lovely wife who assisted Santa Claus in distributing 395 bags of gifts, which each included a toy, coloring books, school supplies, socks & rubber shoes, apple, orange, cookies, candy and balloons. Soda pop was also given to everyone!

The big event of the day, however, was when Father Khai received the complete set of band instruments of sixty pieces to replace the old equipment from long ago. The kids eyes really lit up when they saw the bright shiny musical instruments. Father Khai spoke with tears in his eyes and thanked each member of the TLC Brotherhood for their great generosity and compassion on this Christmas occasion. His fax has been attached on the updated THARE Page, where this report will also be placed shortly.

We hope to return to THARE again to represent you next year or perhaps even before. It is hard to leave those kids knowing they have nothing much. Father Khai and his Staff were each given a small gift from the TLC Brotherhood.

On January 4, 2000 : We visited the Phone Paisai Rehabilitation Center and presented the Director with $400.00 to purchase materials to manufacture many crutches and support walkers for distribution all along the Mekong River from Nong Khai to Ubon City . The center is fortunate to have in their employment a young Thai man who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident who is a genius with PVC pipe and steel materials. He manufactured himself a complete knee and lower leg from PVC pipe and couplings. This organization has assisted over 800 Thais that are crippled to walk again. Thanks for your support of this fine group of people!

January 18, 2000 : We plan to visit the Udorn Mentally Retarded School near the old Ramasun Station. There are 60 children and 12 teachers. Each child will be presented a gift with fruit, cookies, balloons and toys, plus soda pop and ice cream. We will also present sporting equipment and rice and a small gift for the Director and staff members. We hope to continue our support of this fine school.

We here at AFTN Memorial Post 10249 are proud to represent the TLC Brotherhood. Together we have made great strides to assist the children in Northeast Thailand in memory of our lost Brothers. May God bless each and everyone of you for your generous charity to the little children who send you their love.

TOMMY THOMPSON
Assistant Chairman
TLC Brotherhood Assistance Committee
Udorn,

Thailand

Grateful Thanks to each member of the TLC Brotherhood,

USA

. For being so kind to set up the X’mas party for our school children on Dec. 28, 1999 . Thanks a million for your generous gifts especially the beautiful musical instruments which will make our parade much more exciting. We are so proud of your super good generosity and charity. You are really great people who will always remain in our grateful hearts and remembrance. Your goodness is highly appreciated.

We are proud of the association and the real good being done through VFW Memorial Post 10249, which many TLCB members have joined. One note of great concern to us all is that on 10 April 2000 , our great representative, Tommy Thompson, suffered a major stroke. He is now recovering at his home in Udorn, but we all have been very concerned as he has been the on-scene heart of our humanitarian assistance.

VFW Post member, John S. Oles, keeps us regularly informed of Tommy’s progress. A recent posting offers insight into all the connections that have worked through Tommy.

Jit had a Buddhist monk over while we were there. She was making an offering of your dad's favorite food, clothes, and incense to the monk. Although it's a Buddhist ceremony, it's similar to lighting a votive candle at church when you want to make a special prayer for someone. In the case of Thai faith though, such actions are more a matter of taking precautions for the sake of a trouble-free existence.

Your father is indeed a lucky man to have so many people praying for him......from an Archbishop to a Buddhist monk, to the many friends of his around the world who send their prayers and best wishes over the internet.

Jit and Nuning had a ceremony at the house today.....invited 9 monks, all Jit's family, and lots of Tommy's friends over for a Tamboon ceremony. Along with all the religious significance to the ceremony, it provides an opportunity to get friends and family together.....and the Thais know how to do it in real Thai fashion. Everyone does their share of cooking, setting things up, praying, and then eating. Each of the nine monks tied a small white string on your dad's wrist.....then the rest of the guests did the same. When they tie the string on, they say a short prayer and wish him good health......by they time everyone was done, your dad had a roll of string around his wrists! That's a sign of lots of good wishes!

I helped Tommy's daughter, Nuning, balance her dad's accounts today......the first time since Tommy had his stroke in April. Part of that included going online to check her dad's PFCU account. She and her mom were overwhelmed with the level of donations sent in by members of the TLC: $550! That's a fantastic outpouring of support for a man who most members have met only by email, and I'd say it accurately reflects the term you use to refer to members of the TLC: Brothers.

To all the members of the TLC, Jit and Nuning Thompson want to pass on their appreciation for all your support and friendship

We in the TLCB have been hoping and praying for a full recovery. Tommy has appreciated the many internet messages of support that have come through to him during this difficult period.

THE MISSION CONTINUES

For more of this great story of Americans helping those in need in memory of our brothers who didn’t return with us, check the TLCB Website at:

Select the Assistance button on the Site Navigation Bar to see pictures of some of our accomplishments over the years. Additional information about VFW Memorial Post 10249 is available at

John Sweet and his wife, Nancy, are returning to Thailand later this summer. I look forward to going along with them to see in person the many humanitarian accomplishments. We hope to deliver more assistance. Anyone wishing to make donations to this worthwhile effort is welcome to send checks made out to the TLC Brotherhood to the following address:

"PROJECT THARE / PROJECT CRUTCH"
c/o John Sweet
P.O. Box 2371
Seabrook , NH 03874

In these times when American leaders sometimes bring shame upon the values we fought for—and many of our brothers and sisters died for—its heartwarming to see what can be accomplished through the dedicated leadership of one man on a mission that reflects great honor on us as Americans.