Vietnam veterans on a new mission to help country after war

IT TOOK 52 years to return, but they're urging others to do the same and support their plight to make a difference in the lives of children after the conflict.

GOOD SAMARITAN: Barry Kelly was moved when he first visited an Australian-run orphanage in Ba Ria, Vietnam.

IT TOOK 52 years for Vietnam veteran Barry Kelly to return to the land where he worked as a tunnel rat during one of history's brutal wars.

Now he wants to show other service men and women they have nothing to fear about travelling back to Vietnam as he uses his deep connection with the country to do good.

When Mr Kelly made his first trip back to Vietnam in May last year, he and his friend and fellow veteran Terry Smart discovered an orphanage in Ba Ria set up by the Australian Vietnam Veterans Reconstruction Group in 1994.

Seeing children abandoned because they had disabilities, were female or Agent Orange victims broke their hearts.

"It left two big blokes blubbering to see the little bubs in a bed,” Mr Kelly said.

The pair will venture back to the orphanage in May and have set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for powdered milk, cloth nappies and books for the orphanage.

"We care about the children we have had to leave behind, these very young and disabled children have their lives ahead of them, in a country that is just starting to find its feet after years of war and conflict,” Mr Kelly said.

Mr Kelly said Vietnam was vastly different from when he was posted there with the army aged just 19.

As a tunnel rat, he would venture underground with a pistol and torch.

"When we were over there it was horrible, you didn't who was your friend or enemy,” he said.

"There's something of me left there and I don't know what.

"Each service man and woman leaves something of themselves there.”

Mr Kelly hopes that through his work in Vietnam, he helps encourage other veterans to go back.

"It's safe to go back - go and do it guys,” he said.

"If you can go back, all is forgiven.”

Mr Kelly said Vietnamese people treated Australians well, because they offered assistance during the war.

"We used to tend to the wounded, even when we had time off the guys did that,” he said.

"To have that interaction then and have it now is great.”

The pair are hoping to raise $4000 for the orphanage. To support their cause visit gofundme.com and search Ba Ria Vung Tau Vietnam Orphanage.

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