The World - News from Feb. 12, 1989

A group of former U.S. soldiers, hoping to “deliver an olive branch of peace,” have begin to build a medical clinic in rural Vietnam, the Veterans-Vietnam Restoration Project announced. Although a number of veterans’ groups have returned to Vietnam for visits, the clinic at Vung Tau in southern Vietnam is the first known development effort by former U.S. servicemen. A news release from the group said a ground-breaking ceremony for the 10-room facility was held last weekend with California veterans Ruben Gomez and Gordon Smith and Vietnamese medical official Dr. Nguyen Van Rep taking part. Gomez is a computer software technician from Santa Cruz and Smith a building contractor from Monterey.