Can you help re Veterans' photo documentary project

Hello

My name is Todor and based in NW London.  I am in the process of doing a personal photo documentary project - Vietnam War Veterans, then and Now.  The idea is to meet UK based veterans (or those visiting the UK) conduct an interview, take stills, as well as a portrait, and illustrate the interviews with images from when they were in Vietnam as well as the ones I take during/after the interview, Now and Then. 

This is a period of history I am very passionate about from the soldiers' perspective. I am not looking to profit from this, and am looking to have the interviews archived and if any money is made I will donate to a Veterans' Charity (specific area to be decided). 

I am making concerted enquiries with US Embassy, as well as other associations for assistance.  I hope that there are members of this forum out there who can assist, as it will be invaluable to share the experiences.

Please contact me either via this forum, or via e-mail todor@nw10photography.com

Many thanks in advance

Todor

If I have posted in the wrong part of the forum - please advise where it should go and I will re post.... Ta.

How long will you be doing the project and do they need to have served in Vietnam itself?  My father was a vet of the Vietnam War, but he was stationed in Pearl Harbour.  He'll be coming to visit around next June.

Thanks for taking the time to get in touch. The principal interviewees for this project I would like are those who saw combat. However, I would also like to see the war from a different perspective. I am planning to start from January and it should take 12 to 18 months. Please get in touch via e-mail where I would be happy to answer any more questions. Thanks. Todor

The idea is to meet UK based veterans (or those visiting the UK) conduct an interview, take stills, as well as a portrait, and illustrate the interviews with images from when they were in Vietnam as well as the ones I take during/after the interview, Now and Then. 

Hi Todor, your project sounds nice, and I'm glad to hear you'd donate any profits to a worthy cause. 

I just want to give you a heads up that you may (or may not) experience difficulty finding people willing to talk about their experiences in Vietnam.  My Dad saw direct combat, and is extremely open and honest about everything, EXCEPT Vietnam. It's like he's just tried to block the whole thing out of his memory.  All I know is that he's got a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.  The one thing he has told my Mom is that he piled up a lot of dead bodies. And the 1 inch scar above his eye is from being hit with shrapnel from a grenade (But I only found that out through my sister)

Hope you do find soldiers who are a bit more chatty though, as it's most certainly something worth documenting.  Good luck!

Thanks so much for the reply. I am aware of this and although there are veterans who have blocked their experiences out, there are those who would be happy to share theirs. I have had plenty of volunteers, ironically Stateside, and I wish I could have travelled out there, but have to limit it to Uk based veterans and visiting who would be happy to take part.
I really want to do this for people like your dad and the other veterans who cannot bring themselves to speak about their experiences.
Thanks for the contact.
Todor