George Mizo

George Mizo (October 21, 1945 – March 18, 2002) was an American activist, veteran,[3] and founder of the Vietnam Friendship Village[4] in Hanoi, Vietnam. The institution serves individuals afflicted by conditions related to Agent Orange while also opening channels of cross-cultural dialogue.[5]

George Mizo
Born(1945-10-21)October 21, 1945
Waltham, Massachusetts
DiedMarch 18, 2002(2002-03-18) (aged 56)
Germany
OrganizationVietnam Friendship Village
MovementVeterans for Peace
AwardsPurple Heart, Silver Star, Vietnam Medal of Friendship.[1][2]

Early life

Born into a working class family on October 21, 1945 in Waltham, Massachusetts, George was the son of a Blackfoot Sioux father and Irish-American mother. Before contracting Lou Gehrig's disease, his father worked for Raytheon, a U.S. defense contractor. In Autumn of 1963, George joined the U.S. Army, where he served until 1966. After the end of his first stint in the army, and due to the growing effort in Vietnam, Mizo chose to re-enlist with the intent of serving in the conflict.[2][6]

Activism

While recuperating in a Seattle military hospital, Mizo learned that his entire platoon had fallen in the Tet Offensive. After receiving this information, Mizo broke with the U.S. Army. Opting not to return to the war, he was court martialed and served two and a half years in prison before ultimately receiving a dishonorable discharge.[2][7]

In 1986, Mizo joined fellow war veterans Charles Liteky, S. Brian Wilson, and Duncan Murphy in the Veterans Fast for Life.[8] Advocating for change in U.S. policy in Latin America, the group fasted on the steps of the United States Capitol for 46 days and renounced the medals they received for their prior military service.[9][3][10] When their fast came to a close on October 10, The New York Times described Mizo as ″...closer to death. He [George Mizo] has lost 45 pounds, 25 percent of his body weight. And because of a respiratory infection, he says, the doctor has told him he will slip away in five or six days. His muscles are contracting as they atrophy, and at night, he said, I wake up with agonizing cramps all up and down my legs.″[9] One month after their fast, the Iran-Contra Scandal broke.[11]

Vietnam Friendship Village

Following the Veterans Fast for Life and revelations regarding the harmful effects of Agent Orange on veterans of all sides of the war, Mizo turned to reconciliation in Vietnam. Originally planning to construct a peace pagoda, Mizo instead began work on the Vietnam Friendship Village.[2][7][12]

The village now accommodates upwards of 120 individuals offering residency, education, vocational training, and physical therapy.[13] In addition to their work with children, the Friendship Village also works directly with veterans, offering health services, education, and opportunities for cross-cultural dialogue.[14]

Today, the Vietnam Friendship Village is supported by a global network of donors and volunteers.[15] Numerous fundraising committees for the village exist throughout the world, including, the United States,[16] Vietnam,[17] Germany,[18] and France.[19] The organization draws on this international support to fund projects and day-to-day operations of the main residency in Hanoi, Vietnam.[15][5]

In media

George Mizo has been featured in a number of stories on anti-war activism and the aftermath of the Vietnam War.

At the end of their fast on the steps of the Capitol building, Mizo and his fellow protestors appeared on the Phil Donahue Show to discuss their activism.[20]

As part of a story on the peaceful collaboration between the United States and Vietnam, PBS interviewed a supporter of the village project and Mizo's vision of reconciliation.[21]

George Mizo and the Vietnam Friendship Village were the focus of Michelle Mason's award-winning[22] documentary, "The Friendship Village," [23][24] which outlines Mizo's story, the process that led to the creation of the village, and the vision and potential of the project.

Mizo and The Friendship Village were also a focus of Matthias Leupold's documentary, "Lighter than Orange."[25][26]

Personal life

Mizo met his wife, Rosemarie Höhn-Mizo, during a German peace march in 1986. Later that year, she joined him in Washington, DC to support his fast. Following the fast, George and Rosemarie returned to Germany where she gave birth to their son, Michael. Today, Rosemarie is the head of the German Friendship Village Committee.

On March 18, 2002, George Mizo passed away from complications related to Agent Orange.[2]

See also

References
  1. Marciano, John (August 18, 2016). "The American War in Vietnam: Crime Or Commemoration?". NYU Press – via Google Books.
  2. http://cypress-park.m-bient.com/download/fvpressk.pdf
  3. Saperstein, Saundra (October 10, 1986). "Medals of Valor Are Given Back in Protest" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  4. "Historical Highlights | Vietnam Friendship Village Project USA".
  5. https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health/article/1153160/vietnamese-school-trains-disabled-victims-agent-orange
  6. Parker, Tim (May 12, 2014). "The Regimental Piano: A Story of War, Love and Peace: The Memoirs of Major Bob Orrell, RE". HOP Publishing – via Google Books.
  7. "Terrible Legacy of the Vietnam War". www.veteransforpeace.org.
  8. Wilson, S. Brian (2011). Blood on the Tracks: The Life and Times of S. Brian Wilson. PM Press. pp. 166–182. ISBN 9781604864212.
  9. Brinkley, Joel; Times, Special To the New York (October 17, 1986). "Four Veterans Ending Fast on Policy in Nicaragua" – via NYTimes.com.
  10. "War Medals Returned To Protest U.S. Policy". October 10, 1986 – via NYTimes.com.
  11. "Charles Liteky, former Army chaplain who returned Medal of Honor in protest, dies". National Catholic Reporter. January 23, 2017.
  12. "Veterans for Peace members return to Vietnam to 'make things right'". Stars and Stripes.
  13. "VAVA and THE FRIENDSHIP VILLAGE: Seeking Justice for the Victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam". January 16, 2014.
  14. ""Peace and reunification have come at the cost of justice and truth, and restored peace rests atop a mountain of horror."". Roads & Kingdoms. December 5, 2018.
  15. "Students grapple with ramifications of Vietnam War on Alternative Winter Break". The Bowdoin Orient. January 26, 2018.
  16. "About Us | Vietnam Friendship Village Project USA".
  17. "Làng Hữu Nghị Việt Nam". langhuunghi.vn.
  18. "Startseite". www.dorfderfreundschaft.de.
  19. "Das Dorf Der Freundschaft in Vietnam". www.vietnamfriendship.org.
  20. "Four Veterans Say Other Efforts Will Go On : Fast Over Central America Policy to End". Los Angeles Times. October 17, 1986.
  21. "Can U.S. post-war relationship with Vietnam serve as a model for North Korea?". PBS NewsHour. February 26, 2019.
  22. "Cypress Park Production, Inc". cypress-park.m-bient.com.
  23. "The Friendship Village | Bullfrog Films: 1-800-543-3764: Environmental DVDs and Educational DVDs". www.bullfrogfilms.com.
  24. "Docuseek | The Friendship Village". docuseek2.com.
  25. Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "The long shadow of the Vietnam War | DW | 08.07.2015" – via www.dw.com.
  26. "Lighter Than Orange – The Legacy of Dioxin in Vietnam".
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