Two thousand Vietnam War veterans in Cecil County now have a place close to home to go when they want to help other veterans or need help themselves.
Vietnam Veterans of America Inc., Cecil County Chapter 722, was incorporated last month. It provides camaraderie, community service and assistance with records and benefits for its 71 members.
Because some veterans had been traveling up to 50 miles to the nearest chapter in Bel Air, Ray Aldao and Dale and Louise Johnson decided to form another chapter closer to home.
"We saw the need in Cecil County," said Mr. Aldao, Cecil chapter president. "I live 23 miles from Chapter 588 in Bel Air. Some people were driving 40 to 50 miles."
Nineteen members left Northeastern Chapter 588 for the new Cecil chapter, said Richard Marcinik, state president. Northeastern's membership decreased to about 150.
It took about half the expected six to eight months to incorporate the Cecil chapter.
"We've surprised ourselves," Mr. Johnson said.
Mr. Marcinik, who founded the Northeastern Chapter in 1990, said the group was off to "a very good start in a very short time."
Vietnam Veterans of America Inc., a service organization that supports all veterans, has 12 Maryland chapters.
The Cecil chapter's primary goal is "to let the vets in the county know somebody's thinking about them," Mr. Johnson said, "that they haven't been forgotten."
Mr. Aldao agreed, saying, "Veterans helping veterans -- that sums it up real quick. It doesn't matter what kind of veteran it is. Our goal is really service to veterans."
Mr. Marcinik called the national organization "a clearinghouse of information." Representatives provide information on everything from medical claims to discharge papers.
"We have the information," he said, "so we can steer them in the right direction with where, what and how to handle benefits."
Mr. Aldao, who served in the Navy from 1965 to 1970, said the organization also tries to dispel the stereotypes about Vietnam veterans.
"There is a stigma about [Vietnam veterans] being crybabies crying in their beer," he said. "Vietnam veterans always had a bad rep."
Mr. Marcinik said veterans feel comfortable in the organization because it is a peer group. Veterans "have nothing to explain to anybody, because they are among friends," he said.
Mr. Johnson, who served at Cam Ranh Bay from 1970 to 1972, said being a member of the organization has helped him come to terms with his war experience.
"When I came back [from Vietnam] in 1972, we weren't well received," Mr. Johnson said. "I tried to ignore it and put it all behind."
"Most guys that came back from Vietnam went into a shell and didn't talk about it," Mr. Marcinik said, "but now I can give you the names of 150 to 200 people in Harford County who hold their heads up high."
Mr. Johnson said it wasn't until he joined the organization three years ago that he realized he wasn't alone. "It's a way for veterans to deal with any problems they might have, do some good for themselves and do some good for the community as well," he said.
The chapter's biggest community service project, Vet in Need, provides food and clothing to any veteran.
Last Christmas, members collected food and clothing for two Cecil families with Vietnam veterans. This year, Mr. Johnson said, they hope to help five needy families.
The chapter is also trying to find a building that, in addition to serving as chapter headquarters, could become a food bank and temporary shelter for homeless veterans. Mr. Johnson said he expected approval within two months.
"We don't just [help] families at Christmastime and the holidays," Mr. Aldao said. "We realize there's a need all year round."
The chapter meets at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Susquehanna American Legion Post 135 in Perryville.
The Bel Air chapter meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at American Legion Post 39.
Full membership is restricted to Vietnam-era veterans who served between Jan. 1, 1959, and May 7, 1975. Associate membership is available to anyone who supports the group and its goals, Mr. Aldao said.
He said the chapter needs to recruit more female veterans. "There are approximately 20,000 women that went to Vietnam," Mr. Aldao said, "but, for some reason, they don't come out.
"We'd like to see them, too. It's not just for the guys; it's for the women, too."