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The vi trip to ukraine
BY JACK G. DEVINE
When I was elected VVA Vice President in August of 2005,
the idea or the possibility was not in my mind. When
VVA President Rowan told me early this year that he wanted
me to make the trip with him, I thought, “Perhaps
that would be interesting.” But, without question,
the most significant activity for me as VP so far has
been the Veterans Initiative trip to Ukraine.
As I traveled
alone, I was reminded of going alone to Vietnam in 1967
and to Thailand in 1968. Except in this case, my mission
was to help unravel lingering questions from a war, not
to be part of an active armed conflict. The possible
outcomes of the trip seemed to range from total success
to total failure. As with most of life, the results would
be somewhere in between.
When I landed in Amsterdam, it
was the first time I had been to Europe. I had just flown
over part of my heritage in Ireland and would be passing
over the other significant segment in Poland. At the same
time, I knew that a great deal was at stake in this trip
regarding the POW/MIAs from the war in Vietnam.
Except for
the flight attendants, I was the only English-speaking
passenger on my flight to Kiev, Ukraine. It was like finding
long-lost relatives when I cleared customs and saw Mokie
Porter with Jim Connell and Walt Assur from the Defense
POW-MIA Office. Bob Maras arrived shortly thereafter, completing
our official team.
It was immediately noticeable, and quite
remarkable, to see the fruits of many years of dedicated
effort by the members of the VI team. Their knowledge of
the city and its people was both interesting and reassuring.
Kiev is a city of three million with history on display
and with growth evident everywhere.
After readjusting to
the time change (and coming down with the early stages
of what turned out to be bronchitis), I visited the Vietnam,
Afghanistan, and World War II museums. The losses and the
sacrifices were as telling as the looks on the faces of
those who had died and those who were visiting in their
honor. This provided me with a valuable point of appreciation
for the subsequent meetings in Kharkiv.
The meetings with
the Kharkiv Organization of Vietnam Veterans (KOVV) formed
the essence and the purpose of the trip. With a growing
appreciation for the subtleties and the nuances of diplomacy,
I joined with our counterparts over dinner and drinks.
I had been advised that there would be toasts offered in
a somewhat alternating manner. Although I was told that
the first toast was in memory of those who had died in
service to country, I did not know that glasses are not
clinked in the process. That was Lesson No. 1.
The gathering
served all very well. We would now be meeting not as strangers,
but as fellow veterans seeking common goals. When the formal
meeting ran into unexpected complications, I was able to
work with the team to maintain mutual respect and take
the next step for VVA with the KOVV. I was proud to sign
a letter of cooperation with the KOVV and to discuss other
matters of mutual interest. I was fully aware of the significance
of this meeting and the beginning of this veteran-to-veteran
relationship.
Petr Serdyuk, the KOVV President, was firm
but fair. Nikolay Shershnev, Anotoly Sokolov, and Sergei
Varyukin were the catalysts for progress, along with Iliana
Romanchenko, their translator. That was Lesson No. 2. As
a sign of sincerity, I invited a KOVV contingent to attend
the VVA Leadership Conference in Tucson.
While VVA is pursuing POW/MIA resolution, the veterans
in Ukraine are eager for guidance in developing a comprehensive
veterans’ organization, and meaningful support systems
for veterans and their families. Given the fact that Ukraine
has been independent for just 15 years and that it suffered
the loss of more that 10 million soldiers and citizens
in WWII, it was humbling to be asked to help in this manner.
It seems that VVA’s reputation as an organization
that gets things accomplished has been noticed beyond our
borders.
Perhaps the most significant result of the trip
was the presentation of a list of 21 classified documents
that will shed light on the fate of some American POW/MIAs
from the war in Vietnam. It was given to the DPMO representatives
by members of the KOVV with the request that the documents
be declassified to enable access.
Among the other highlights
of the trip was the observance and participation in the
Victory Day parade and events in Kiev. Tens of thousands
of Ukrainian citizens filled the streets on May 9 to honor
their World War II veterans. It was heartwarming to feel
the genuine appreciation for their service. Given their
losses and recent independence, the day compelled me to
think of what it must have been like on the 4th of July
in the USA in 1791.
Bob Maras and I presented a wreath from
VVA at one of the monuments in Kiev. We were observed,
photographed, and thanked by dozens near the monument at
that time.
Before leaving, we met with the Ukrainian Veterans
Association (UVA) in Kiev. It was an informal gathering,
but I made a promise that the next time VVA comes to Ukraine
we will meet with the national organization before going
to Kharkiv. That was Lesson No. 3.
The long-range implications
of the trip were most obvious when the members of the KOVV
suggested three-way meetings with the Vietnamese, VVA,
and their organization. Such meetings can reasonably be
expected to produce more results regarding POW/MIA matters.
Given the rapidly growing economy in Vietnam, it now appears
that time is not on our side. Sites may be lost to construction
projects, and the chances to resolve questions for the
United States and Vietnam may be reduced. The eagerness
and sincerity of the Ukrainians in this regard cannot be
understated.
When some of those Ukrainian veterans came
to the Leadership Conference in Tucson, I believe it demonstrated
that the hopes for future success are both justified and
worth pursuing. It was an honor to represent VVA in this
capacity.
As with most successful endeavors, a favorable
outcome produces similar assignments. In October, I will
be leading the VITF delegation to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
This is a critical juncture and much is at stake. However,
I know this for certain—I will no longer be traveling
alone. That is Lesson No. 4.
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