Henderson group supports Vietnam-era veterans

Like a family, the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1076 focuses on bonding and helping one another to succeed in life after service.

The Henderson group provides financial and emotional support for veterans in need through donations and mentors.

“We support the national organization while helping the community,” said chapter president John Scaduto. “Veterans are very proud, so most times they don’t ask for help until the last minute. Being a small chapter, we can react faster to individual needs, such as paying a bill or rent.”

Some of the organization’s work this year includes providing burial ceremonies for veterans who are buried as state wards, installing automatic door openers at the Nevada State Veterans Home in Boulder City and gifting emergency funds for veterans seen at the VA Southeast Primary Care Clinic.

“We’re also the single largest contributor to (Henderson’s) Veterans Court,” said member David Hugus. “We’ve given them $3,500 the last two years, and that helps with bus passes, graduation ceremonies and counseling not available through the VA.”

As more service members are scheduled to return from the Middle East, the chapter plans to expand its support.

“As many people know, (Vietnam veterans) weren’t well-received when we returned from war,” Hugus said. “The national organization’s creed is, ‘Never again will one generation of veterans be abandoned by another,’ and we’re trying to reflect that mission from a local standpoint.”

In addition, the chapter offers to serve as “big brothers” to any returning veteran.

“More and more young vets are coming home, and Vietnam veterans are the closest age group to them,” Scaduto said. “We’re trying to help them with anything they need, whether it’s with benefits, jobs or just getting back into the roll of things.”

The chapter was founded in 2013 around the observance of Vietnam Veterans Day, a patriotic day established on March 29, 2012, in honor of the final withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam.

With more than 110 members, the chapter allows individuals to bond and heal, Scaduto said.

“It allows our members to associate with people who they know will accept them as they are,” he said. “Also, some members have said that they’ve never felt part of anything since they left the service until they joined Chapter 1076.”

Unlike his return home from war, Hugus said Henderson supports its veterans well.

“We had a booth at the St. Patrick’s Day festival in Henderson, and a young man from Vietnam came up to us and said, ‘I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you,’ ” he said. “The reactions and connections in the community makes it emotionally satisfying and helps with our healing process.”

Chapter 1076 meets at 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, 401 W. Lake Mead Parkway. It is open to any Vietnam-era veteran who served between Feb. 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975.

For more information, visit vvachapter1076.org or contact Scaduto at 1076vvahnv@gmail.com or 702-236-0825.

To reach Henderson View reporter Caitlyn Belcher, email cbelcher@viewnews.com or call 702-383-0403. Find her on twitter: @caitlynbelcher.