With his great love and deep sympathy, Mr Matthew Keenan, 68, from the USA, has actively been engaged in giving material and spiritual assistance to Agent Orange (AO) victims in Da Nang.

Mr Keenan always shows his sentimental attachment to the AO-affected children

Mr Keenan used to serve in the American war in Viet Nam, and currently suffers from cancer which he believes is a result of his exposure to Agent Orange, a potent chemical that was spread by US troops during the war and has been linked to many profound health issues and birth defects.

Deeply touched by some of the images of AO-affected children with mental disabilities and physical deformities, the kind-hearted US man always keeps in his mind that he must do his part to heal the wounds of war to bring peace to his soul.

In his mind, decades after the war ended, it is still not over for these unfortunate children, and for those like him that were affected by its consequences.

Every morning, Mr Keenan eagerly comes to the Thanh Khe District-located Shelter No 1 of the city’s Care Centre for AO Victims and Disadvantaged Children.

“I only found out the consequences of what we did 40 years ago recently when I came back to Viet Nam and saw what the children here have to go through. I feel guilty, and I’m doing the best I can help pay back for what we have done.”, Mr Keenan said.

Mr Keenan actively joining in an incense-making class with the AO-affected children

At this venue, clutching the little kids on his laps, he has small chats, plays, dances and teaches simple things for these unfortunate children in a cozy and joyful atmosphere.

The US guest usually joins the AO-affected children for threading beads with thin strings to make bracelets. He also takes delight in teaching them to write letters of the alphabet.

Every afternoon, Mr Keenan takes an about 20km ride to Shelter 3 of the Centre to help other AO-affected children.

As an AO victim, Mr Keenan remarked there is no denying the fact that the profound humanitarian love itself helps to relieve the pain of AO victims rather than the provision of financial support to them.

Mr Keenan travels to Viet Nam twice a year, and each trip last between 3 and 4 months. During his stay in Da Nang, he always spends most of his time with AO-affected children who are being cared for at the Centre.

Encouragingly, the US veteran has enthusiastically appealed for donations for the Centre from a large number of organisations and individuals in Viet Nam, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the US and Canada.

Alongside, the US man has also called upon numerous domestic and foreign charitable organisations to pay visits to shelters of the Centre in a bid to relieve the mental and physical pain of those affected by AO - a bitter legacy of the war.

Mr To Nam, the Director of the Centre, said Mr Keenan is now one of the 65 foreign volunteers who are involved in caring for, supporting and offering free vocational training to AO-affected children at the Centre’s shelters. 

Apart his kind concern and substantial material and spiritual support for the disadvantaged children, Mr Keenan’s good deeds also demonstrate his strong support for Viet Nam’s righteous struggle for justice for AO victims.