Socialist Republic of Vietnam

DulluthNewsTribune.com
Posted on Tue, Nov. 04, 2003


A group of Northland residents, including two Vietnam War veterans, leave today for Vietnam, where they will distribute 450 wheelchairs.

Sponsors of the trip are Hope Haven International Ministries of Rock Valley, Iowa, the local chapter of Wheels in Motion and the Northland Vietnam Veterans Association.

Fletcher Hinds and Tim Dieffenbacher, both St. Louis County social workers and Vietnam veterans, are joining a dozen others making the trip.

"The people that will be getting the chairs are probably a combination of young and old, some of whom will be veterans from the Vietnamese Army, some of whom fought on our side and maybe some against," Hinds said.

Last summer, the fourth annual Wheels in Motion Run-Walk 'n' Roll 5K race at Barkers Island helped raise money for the restoration and shipping costs of $150 per wheelchair.

The wheelchairs were donated by hospitals, nursing homes and individuals, Hinds said.

More than 4,500 wheelchairs from northern and central Wisconsin and Minnesota have gone to Romania, Ghana, China and Vietnam, where distribution teams give chairs at no cost to recipients.

Hinds, who served in Vietnam from 1969-70 as a Marine, finds it gratifying to be able to use the trip to help others, but said it would be a worthwhile trip for any Vietnam veteran.

"We encourage other veterans to return to Vietnam to experience the country it is today," he said. "I think it will be an opportunity for Vietnam veterans to recognize the images and memories they have of Vietnam are different than what they would experience today. Hopefully, it would help to resolve some of their difficulties. It can be kind of a reflective, healing time."