In Honor of Gary Lord
A veteran whose courage helped shape the path forward.
In 2009, something unexpected happened that changed the course of my life — and gently shaped the mission I carry today. I attended the Vietnam Veterans of America National Convention as the author of Beyond the Rice Paddies, a memoir about my childhood in war-torn Vietnam. That’s where I met Gary Lord, President of VVA Chapter 85 in New York.
We didn’t know then how much that moment would change both of our lives.
When I walked into the room, Gary approached me, and we embraced — a hug that felt like something larger than words. Something had shifted. What followed was an emotional exchange that neither of us had expected.
Later, Gary would tell me:
“Meeting you gave me the courage to face what I’d buried.”
Gary and I came from different sides of a painful history — a young Vietnamese girl and a soldier who had carried the weight of that war home with him. Yet, in our meeting, something softened. He began to write to me, to open up, and in time, to heal.
In one of his emails, he wrote:
“You changed my world in many ways. Thank you so very much for the gift you left in my heart that has helped me deal with my darkest times.”
Over time, Gary co-wrote a song called “Your Face” with Nashville songwriter Mark Elliott. The song was inspired by our meeting and the healing it sparked in him.
“I’m very proud of this song… it’s as much yours as mine.”
— Gary Lord
Gary passed away in 2020 following a motorcycle accident. His passing was a tremendous loss to his family, his fellow veterans, and to me.
His legacy lives on — in this song, in the lives he touched, and in the moment we shared that still shapes the way I connect with others through memory and healing.
Meeting Gary reminded me that, even decades after the war, healing is not only possible — it’s still needed. His openness and courage inspired me to use Jasmine in the Wind not only as a memoir, but as a tool — to reach out to others who carry silent wounds, and to build bridges between past and present.
In Gary’s honor, I’ve committed to donating a portion of the proceeds from my book to veterans' organizations and orphanages in Vietnam. I believe he would have approved of this purpose.
He showed me how powerful a single story can be — and how, when shared, it can begin to heal not just one heart, but many.
Disclaimer: The story shared here reflects my personal experience and correspondence with the late Gary Lord, whom I met at the 2009 Vietnam Veterans of America National Convention. His words and our connection inspired a chapter in my healing journey and the revision of Jasmine in the Wind. This tribute is shared with the utmost respect and gratitude. A portion of the proceeds from the book are used to support veterans’ organizations and orphanages in Vietnam, in alignment with the spirit of healing and service that Gary championed.
Linda West and Gary Lord, VVA National Convention 2009
Photograph by Michael Keating