About Us

Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. (VVA) is the only national Vietnam Veterans organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. VVA’s founding principle is, "Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another."

VVA Chapter 472 is the San Diego County chapter that serves this region's Vietnam-era Veterans for over thirty-two years.

VVA does not receive any funding from federal, state, or local governments-it relies solely on private contributions for its revenue.

• We truly try and help the Vietnam Veteran, where other organizations are inclined to look at their assistance as publicity.   
• We are there for the Vietnam Veteran. Though the VA itself does provide a service to the Veteran, VVA is specific to the Vietnam Era Vet.
• We assist the Vietnam Veteran in obtaining claims for disability from the VA and basic healthcare.
• We assist Homeless Vets and work with the local community to address this issue.  Also, Vets with severe PTSD are also a concern, and the public and local community values our assistance in assisting these disabled Veterans. VVA can direct the Vet and community in where to get help.
• Vietnam Veterans face Health issues such as Agent Orange which is still very present in Vietnam Vets. It may take years for any symptoms to appear only to find out it may be  too late. Agent Orange cause’s a number of cancers, that’s why in our Town Hall meetings on Agent Orange we tell the Vets and their spouses, or significant other, about Agent Orange, what they should look for and where to go to get checked and get treatment. 
• VVA 472 is a 503c-19 nonprofit Military Veterans Organization. Your donations to VVA472 are tax exempt.

VVA's goals are to promote and support the full range of issues important to Vietnam Veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans, and to change public perception of Vietnam veterans. We do this by:

• Advocating issues important to veterans
• Gaining quality health care for veterans
• Identifying the full range of disabling injuries and illnesses incurred during military service
• Holding government agencies accountable for following laws mandating veterans health care
• Creating a positive public perception of Vietnam veterans
• Demanding maximum accountability of America's POW/MIAs
• Supporting the next generation of America's Veterans

Major Community Events

• Organize and host Memorial Day Weekend observances.
• Support and participation in Stand Down for homeless Vietnam Veterans
• Helping coordinate and participate in the Veterans Day Parade
• Participating in local community parades

Community Education

• Speakers Forum: The purpose of the VVA Chapter 472 Speakers Bureau is to offer to the public a source of authentic information about America's longest hot war. Speakers from VVA 472 include airmen, sailors, and soldiers who served in all aspects of that long engagement. Many of our speakers served on the ground in various capacities ranging from combat infantry to advisors in Riverine warfare. Others served at sea on ships and flew missions in the north. The Speakers Bureau can provide your group with a single speaker or a panel for discussion. We welcome opportunities to tell our story to colleges and high schools as well as public organizations

Mutual Support

• Member newsletter, The VVA Veteran, is delivered to members' homes free with paid membership. It is full of items of interest to veterans. Some recent articles were about upcoming activities, news from several different sources, VA benefits, flag etiquette, articles on veterans memorials, president's messages, health items dealing with Hepatitis C and Agent Orange, as well as feature items like "A nurses view on Iraq War," tribute to Bob Hope, "Air Force Silver Star," "Good Time Humor," and more.
• General Membership Meetings: Monthly meeting, 3rd Saturday at VFW Post #7907, 12342 Old Pomerado Rd., Poway, CA 92064. Monthly breakfast, 1st Thursday at Jimmy's of Santee, 9635 Mission Gorge Rd., Santee, CA 92071

• Provides scholarship’s each year for College/University.
• Outcomes of Town Hall Meetings/Conventions: The Town Hall Meetings have had a positive effect on the Veterans, their spouse’s and families. Before they may not have known where to seek help other than the VA, which for many is a daunting task. With a little help from VVA, we have provided them with some insight and direction. The conventions provide new information for Veterans on how the VA is helping them, what programs are available and where to get information on those programs. It also gives each Chapter an opportunity to talk with other chapters and find out what they doing.

VVA472 has Commemorated and Memorialized the sacrifices and service of Vietnam War Veterans.  The Chapter has installed and dedicated two Vietnam War Memorial Monuments at San Diego’s two national cemeteries:  Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery and Miramar National Cemetery.  The Chapter has dedicated a Vietnam Veterans of America plaque at the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial to honor the service of Vietnam War veterans.  The Chapter has dedicated several veteran monuments at the Military Museum in Balboa Park.  The Chapter continues to maintain the Veterans Memorial in La Mesa next to the American Legion post.