Prof. Ron Carver speaks at an event introducing the book “Waging Peace in Vietnam”. (File photo: VNA) He worked tirelessly for the book “Waging Peace in Vietnam” to be published in the Vietnamese language under the title “Tranh dau cho hoa binh”. The book was co-compiled by Carver, his wife Barbara Doherty, and David Cortright, who are all peace-loving journalists.
Since the publication of the book, they have held exhibitions to introduce it to 19 universities in the US and eight others in Vietnam. As the book’s foreword reads, he and his US friends wished to write the stories “to the millions on both sides, killed, maimed, and morally injured by the bullets, bombs, and chemical weapons unleashed during our war in Vietnam. And for people of conscience now and into the future who have the courage to stand against unjust war.”
Together with some war veterans, historians, and scholars of the US, Carver has carried out many humanitarian projects in Vietnam to assist people in war and disaster-hit areas.
At their home, Carver and his wife reserved two spaces – one for objects and images of Vietnam and the other for South Africa’s.
He told the Vietnam News Agency that Vietnam and South Africa are the countries he has many connections with, and they also have the heroes he admires, including President Ho Chi Minh, Madame Binh (former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh), and South African leader Nelson Mandela.
On the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam - US comprehensive partnership in 2023, Carver and three other US nationals were honoured with the “For peace and friendship among nations” insignia, the highest honour from the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), in recognition of their significant contributions to peace, solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between the Vietnamese and US peoples.
At the insignia presentation ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung expressed his admiration for and highly valued the relentless efforts by Carver and the other US friends to contribute to peace, justice, the healing of the wounds of war for Vietnamese people, and the enhancement of mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries’ people.
He described the honourees as unsung heroes in the US who are known by millions of Vietnamese people, adding that they could be proud to be part of the historical milestones of bilateral relations.
Talking about the sound relations between Vietnam and the US since their ties were upgraded last year, Carver noted people-to-people links have become greatly important since the war ended.
However, it took the US too much time to elevate the relations with Vietnam to the highest level, he said, expressing his regret that the two countries underwent 20 years of embargoes, from 1975 to 1995, which should have never happened.
People of the US, especially war veterans, brought medical supplies and helped build health stations and schools in Vietnam as soon as the war was over. Since then, peace-loving people from the US began coming to Vietnam and took part in the clearance of unexploded ordnance left by their country.
He voiced his delight that these efforts by the US people have received more assistance from their Government, a thing any country should do.
Carver perceived that people of the US should continue taking responsibility and supporting Vietnamese people to deal with heavy consequences of the war.
Over the last eight years, he has visited Vietnam for over 10 times to implement projects on war legacy settlement and education. He and many other peace-loving people of the US have been committed to devoting their entire life to the journey of “Waging Peace in Vietnam”./.
VNA
