Campaign Led by Ronald Haeberle, My Lai Massacre Photographer and Chuck Searcy, Co-Founder of Project RENEW
For Immediate Release
Thursday, 14 January 2021
For More Information Contact
Ngo Xuan Hien
Project RENEW
Phone +8491 535-2565
Or
Nguyen Hoang Hiep
Quang Ngai Red Cross
Phone +8490 519-1933
More than 110 Americans have so far donated more than $28,000 USD in a charity campaign organized by Ron Haeberle, whose photographs of the My Lai Massacre turned American public opinion against the war. He was assisted by Chuck Searcy who co-founded Project RENEW with Hoang Nam in 2001. They were aided by Ron Carver the curator of the exhibit Waging Peace in Vietnam: U.S. Soldiers and Veterans Who Opposed the War, now on exhibit at Vietnam’s War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City.
The funds will be distributed in Quang Tri Province by the staff of Project RENEW and in Quang Ngai Province by the Quang Ngai Red Cross.
“We were moved by the images of mud slides, and water trapping villagers on the roofs of their houses and water roaring through village streets carrying away trees, furniture, animals and villagers themselves,” Haeberle said, explaining the motivation to begin the campaign. “I have been committed to doing all I can to help the people of Vietnam ever since I personally witnessed American war crimes at My Lai.”
“I was horrified to learn that central Vietnam was battered by six typhoons in three weeks,” stated Ron Carver. “When I received photos and videos from the War Remnants Museum, I knew I had to share these with the American people and seek donations to help with the recovery.”
“The Project RENEW staff have firsthand knowledge of victims of these typhoons and are in contact with these families,” Chuck Searcy stated. “People already struggling with the legacies of Agent Orange and injuries from wartime explosive accidents – years after war ended – had a particularly hard time coping with the flood damage. We are fortunate that Project RENEW is in a position to help.” Aid to those in Quang Tri province will be distributed beginning on 25 January. Representatives of Project RENEW will deliver a check to the Quang Ngai Red Cross on 15 January at 08:00 o’clock at the office of the Red Cross located at 431 Quang Trung Street, Quang Ngai City, Quang Ngai Province.
