Announcements, Search Information

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Nếu bạn sinh ra bên ngoài Hoa Kỳ và cha của bạn là một Lính Mỹ, chúng tôi có thể giúp bạn làm xét nghiệm DNA.

Đây không phải là một quá trình nhanh chóng trừ khi bạn có một kết quả rất gần. Việc kiểm tra sẽ mất ít nhất 2 tháng cho mỗi bộ dụng cụ. Mỗi bộ khoảng $ 100 trừ khi nó được giảm giá.

Sau khi có kết quả, chúng tôi sẽ xem xét các kết quả trùng khớp về ADN của bạn và xác định xem liệu có trùng khớp nào đủ gần để xây dựng cây phả hệ hay không để giúp chúng tôi xác định cha của bạn là ai. Đôi khi phải mất vài ngày, đôi khi vài tuần hoặc vài tháng. Nếu bạn không có kết quả trùng khớp nào, có thể sẽ mất nhiều năm cho đến khi ai đó gần gũi hơn làm xét nghiệm DNA của họ và khớp với bạn.

gợi ý

Nhận xét nghiệm DNA từ Ancestry, 23andMe, FTDNA theo thứ tự đó.

Chúng tôi cần thông tin này từ bạn.

  • Tên khai sinh gốc (nếu biết)
  • Tên người Mỹ
    Ngày sinh (nếu biết)
  • Nơi sinh (nếu biết hoặc khu vực gần đúng)
  • Bạn đến Mỹ khi nào? Thông qua chính phủ?
  • Hiện tại bạn đang sống ở bang nào?
  • Số điện thoại và địa chỉ email của bạn
  • Tên hoặc biệt danh của mẹ (nếu biết)
  • Bất kỳ thông tin nào về cha của bạn (nếu biết) bao gồm chủng tộc, tuổi gần đúng khi ông ở với mẹ của bạn
  • Bất kỳ biệt danh hoặc tên của cha (nếu biết)
  • Từng là cha trong Lục quân, Hải quân, Không quân hoặc Thủy quân lục chiến
  • Mọi thứ về bố và mẹ (nếu biết)
  • Gửi bất kỳ hình ảnh nào của bạn hoặc mẹ của bạn từ khi bạn còn là một đứa trẻ
  • Gửi một bức ảnh hiện tại của bạn, đảm bảo rằng đó là khuôn mặt của bạn, rõ ràng và có nụ cười.

Nếu bạn đã có người khác giúp bạn với tư cách là nhà nghiên cứu, vui lòng liên hệ với họ về trường hợp của bạn. Chúng tôi sẽ không giải quyết bất kỳ trường hợp nào người khác làm việc mà không có sự cho phép của họ. Họ có thể liên hệ với chúng tôi tại contactwarbabies@gmail.com

Nếu chúng tôi đang giải quyết trường hợp của bạn và bạn muốn người khác giúp bạn, điều đó không sao cả, vui lòng cho chúng tôi biết để chúng tôi có thể tập trung vào những người khác để trợ giúp.

Nếu bạn không thể đọc hoặc nói tiếng Anh, vui lòng nhờ người có thể giao tiếp với chúng tôi khi chúng tôi bắt đầu giải quyết trường hợp của bạn.

Chúng tôi không tính phí bất kỳ ai, nhưng chúng tôi sẽ nhận các khoản đóng góp. Donations

Tìm chúng tôi trên Facebook! Chelle Reed hoặc WarBabiesorg


We use Google Translate.

If you were born outside of the United States and your father was an American Soldier, we can help you with DNA testing.

It is not a quick process unless you have very close DNA matches. Testing will take a minimum of 2 months per kit. Each kit is around $100 unless it is on sale.

Once results are back, we look at your DNA matches and determine if any are close enough to build a family tree to help us determine who your father is.  Sometimes it takes days, sometimes weeks or months.  If you have no close matches, it could take years until someone closer does their DNA test and matches with you.

TIPS:

Get DNA tests from Ancestry, 23andMe, FTDNA in that order.

We need the following information from you.

  • Original birth name (if known)
  • American name
  • Birthdate (if known)
  • Location of birth (if known or approximate area)
  • When did you come to the US? Through government?
  • What state do you currently live in?
  • Your phone number and email address
  • Mother’s name or nickname (if known)
  • Any information about father (if known) including race, approximate age when he was with your mother
  • Any nicknames or names of father (if known)
  • Was father with Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine
  • Any stories of mother and father (if known)
  • If you have any photos of your or your mother from when you were younger, please provide them to us.
  • Send a current photo of you, make sure it is of your face and is clear and with a smile.

If you have had someone else helping you who is a researcher, please follow up with them on your case. We will not work on any cases that someone else was working on without their permission. They can contact us at contactwarbabies@gmail.com.

If we are working on your case and you wish to have someone else help you, it is ok, please just let us know so we can focus on other people to help.

If you cannot read or speak English, please have someone who can communicate with us available once we start working on your case.

We do not charge a fee to anyone, but we will accept donations.

Find us on Facebook! Chelle Reed or WarBabiesorg

Announcements, History

Our Story

In the fall of 2017, Michelle received a message from a new match on her Ancestry DNA account inquiring if she was closely related to anyone who served in the Vietnam war. Knowing the only 2 choices were her father or uncle, she clicked on his profile and saw he had also matched with her brother that she grew up with.

While elated to have a new sibling she never knew about, sadness ensued when realizing he missed knowing their father by just 10 months of passing away. Michelle was determined to make up for a lifetime of missed memories. She eventually moved closer to her new brother to form a loving bond with him and his family. Together, they are helping others connect with their own biological families.

Michelle and Dung’s father was just one of thousands of Vietnam Veterans who fathered a child while serving overseas.  The repercussions of the discovery lead Michelle to do more research on other families in similar situations.

Being a 20+ year seasoned Genealogist and Researcher, Michelle’s previous experience with reuniting families were from adoption scenarios. She has successfully reunited dozens or more adoptees and long-lost relatives in the last 20+ years.

It wasn’t until meeting her new brother that she realized the magnitude of children still left seeking their American fathers. From this encounter and experience, Michelle has committed to dedicating her time and talents to help other families reconnect.

Meet the Team

Michelle Reed
Founder & Owner

Starting with her own family tree, Michelle has 20+ years of research and reconnecting families on her resume. She has found and reconnected dozens of families who were from Adoptions and Amerasians.

In her professional life, Michelle is a Graphic Designer, Website Developer, and Digital Marketing Specialist.

In the beginning of 2019, Michelle and her adult son moved from her home state of Michigan to Georgia to be closer to her brother and his family. Her blended family consists of 3 siblings, Dung, Kevin and Donna, (all sharing the same father, but with different mothers).

Their father served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He passed away in 2016, never knowing he had another son out there. RIP Dad <3

Dung Peter Pham
Partner & Vietnamese Translator (and amazing brother to Michelle)

Dung was born in Saigon, Vietnam during the height of the Vietnam War.  His mother discovered she was pregnant and fled into deep jungle territory in hopes of saving herself and her child.  Dung was raised by family in this secluded jungle area.

In early 1990, he and his mother and siblings made their way to American through the Amerasian Homecoming Act established to bring children of American Soldiers to the US. He became a US citizen and met and married his Vietnamese wife, Van. They have 4 beautiful children and also reside in the North Atlanta, GA area.

He often runs into other individuals who are half-American/half-Vietnamese and will share his story. He hopes to find more Amerasians who are in search of their American fathers and families and assists them as liaison and interpreter for WarBabies.

What We Do

Warbabies.org is compiling a database of both American Veterans and Amerasian Children. This database is secure and not to be released to the public or any individual outside of it’s organization. We hold anonymity to a higher standard due to the nature of each individuals experience.

We take every precaution of maintaining an individuals rights and respect their privacy as much as possible.

We utilize several DNA testing companies and comply fully with their terms of service. Upon DNA sample submission, we analyze the results and who they connect with.

If a close match is made, we take steps to try to contact the individuals and conclude how they are related and work towards finding out who the father is or who the child is based on the amount of DNA centimorgans between each individual.  Additional testing with closer relatives may be necessary.

Sometimes luck is on our side and we find that the matches are close, half siblings, parents, grandparents, etc.

Then the real work begins… The Reunification Phase. We act as a liaison between the families until they are both comfortable with the next phase, the Healing Phase.


We do not judge circumstances and strongly believe that it is not a shameful or embarrassing situation and that a loving and caring relationship can develop over time.


We need your help…

If you would like to join our team, please send us your resume and a bio, with a short essay on how you can help in our mission. We are currently seeking volunteer Grant Writers, Researchers, Communications, Counselors, and Translators that can speak multiple languages.

Announcements

Dear Military Veteran

Dear Military Veteran,

Thank you for your service! Welcome Home!

War is hell, and you gave so much of yourself and sacrificed so much for our country. In some cases you did it against your will (drafted), or you stepped up to the call of honor and duty, and did so unselfishly. We could not be more prouder of you!

You may have come home and faced some unfavorable backlash, and for that, I am so very sorry. You did NOT deserve to receive any type of negativism. It is just uncalled for, there was nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to hang your head low about. You are the epitome of honor, strength and dignity, and hopefully enough time has passed that those who disgraced you, came to see their wrongdoings. One can hope….

However, this letter to you serves a purpose. I pray that it starts a healing process for you, because YOU deserve peace and love.

I want to bring up an unspoken subject, one that has been joked about, one that has sat at the back of your mind for the last 40 or more years. You may have pushed it deep down and even forgotten about it. That is OK! There is no right or wrong way to feel about this subject…. until today. Today after reading this letter, you have a choice, a decision to make. And after you read my letter, I pray to each and every one of you that you make the right choice.

I would like to talk to you about the Children of War, the Children of Dust, or “bui doi”. I understand this is a very sore subject, but let me share with you my own story and why I am assisting these Amerasian children.

My own dad had fathered a son while serving in the Vietnam war. His name is Dung and was born in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Vietnam in 1971. He is just 3 years older than me. After the war ended, Dung escaped Vietnam and moved to the US in 1990 through the Amerasian Homecoming Act of 1987. He became a US citizen and built a whole new life and started a family. But something was always missing, half of his family!

His story, it completely broke me to hear. He faced ridicule for being a half-breed. He was made fun of and treated unkindly for his “yellow” hair and American features. Life was completely different for my older brother than the life I grew up in. In the late 70’s/early 80’s while I was playing with Barbie dolls and swimming in crystal clear swimming pools, he was romping through a swamp land, dodging poisonous snakes and sleeping on the ground. It seems so long ago, almost like someone else’s story, but it is our story, it is real, and it matters!!

We are NOT alone, there are thousands of other children born from American soldiers in several wars and conflicts across the world. It happens, and you have the power to make a huge difference in someone’s life, and hopefully your own!

In 2017, my brother sent in a DNA test with 23andMe and Ancestry. In October 2017, he matched with me, and my younger brother who I grew up with, through my AncestryDNA test, (1,462 centimorgans shared across 49 DNA segments). When I discovered this, I was highly skeptical, I thought it was a scam or that Ancestry made a mistake. Surely not MY DAD, he wouldn’t ever do something like father an unknown child. I was the oldest child, how could he have another child older than me? See, I couldn’t ask my dad because he had just passed away the year before. So I HAD to rely on this DNA test to prove this was true. I also later submitted a DNA test to 23 and Me… guess what, we matched there also!

DNA doesn’t lie…. I am telling you this because I didn’t want to believe it either. I was scared, I was shocked, I was saddened.

When I finally got to speak to my brother Dung, it was very uncomfortable. But I had an open mind and what I can tell you is that finding Dung (who I now call Peter as his American name) has been nearly the best thing that has happened in my life short of having my own child! He is very kind, caring and is just another human being out in the world who has every right to know who his family is. Just like so many other Amerasian adults, he just wanted to be accepted and to know us and our father and any other family we had.

Contrary to the assumption that Amerasian people are just seeking money or citizenship or some crazy idea of coming to America, most just want to know who their kin is. They just want to be accepted by their family. These children are now in their 40’s and have children of their own, your grandchildren. If they were lucky enough to make it to America, they became US Citizens, worked and supported their families, just like you did when you returned home.

Now you know my story, I want to speak frankly about your time in the service. We understand you may have had to do some awful things, War is Hell, and just living through it, if you can find brief moments of joy, escape, affection, we do NOT blame you for being a young man in a foreign country, just trying to survive. You are a being having a human experience. Many young men had relationships, (encounters, escapades, whatever you want to call it) with local native women where they were stationed (from Cambodia, Vietnam, Korea, Germany, Guam, Philippines and many other locations around the world). Many were in legitimate relationships with these women, most were just brief.

It happened, and it is time to stop sweeping the memory of it under the rug. It doesn’t have to be a shameful secret, it is no longer a taboo topic. If you had an encounter with a woman while serving your country, you have a high probability that you fathered a child, your son or daughter. How amazing is that??!! What a true blessing and gift from God!

This person is a living, breathing, human being with God-given rights, even in their own country. If you survived the war, and they survived after the war, there is a person with YOUR DNA out there in the world. Today, it is time to acknowledge this FACT without any judgement what-so-ever!

Please just take some time to think about the impact you have as a Veteran who proudly served his country, who left their DNA overseas. I only wish my Dad was still alive to learn what a great son he has and that his other children love him just as much as he would have.

I know it is difficult to think about, but remember the shame and guilt of returning home and facing many who ridiculed you? I will say this again, you DID NOT deserve that treatment.  Neither do your Amerasian children.

If you want to talk to someone who has been there, you can contact me any time. I know there are a lot of emotions that go along with this and I will be here to help you process it every step of the way if you want.

We are not a large corporation, this not-for-profit organization consists of just a handful of people who have been impacted by the story and the history of Amerasian’s and want to help reconnect families. We do NOT charge a fee for our services, and at this time are strictly operating online to keep expenses very low.

Let me close with this… God himself is giving you this wonderful gift of a son or daughter, and the rest of your family a potentially positive experience and lesson to learn here. Please don’t turn your back on them.

Warmest Regards,

Chelle Reed
contactwarbabies@gmail.com

Chelle, Peter, Kevin
Together for the first time!

Announcements

Our Affiliates

In order to effectively work to make as many cases as we can successful, we utilize many different affiliate and partner networking channels. Below are just some of the websites, groups, organizations and individuals which we support, and in turn support us.


As we grow, we will continue to add more resources and affiliates to this page. If you have a link you would like to add that would be beneficial, please email us at contactwarbabies@gmail.com.

Announcements

The Face of Our Challenges

Our work can be very difficult, when we reach out to an individual or family member, we often aren’t received very well. A person’s initial reaction is disbelief, confusion or being cautious. With the current problem of identity theft running high, many just will not give out any personally identifying information.

Whether we reach out to a sibling, a parent, a cousin, aunt or uncle or grandparent, we always identify ourselves by name, and give our own personal experience story. We give them time to think about why we are contacting them. Once they understand the reason we are calling, we state that any information they provide will be secure and not released to anyone without their permission.

Many times people just don’t comprehend what we are asking for, it’s a shock and the disbelief of why we are contacting them and makes many not want to discuss the situation. We get hung up on, told off, threatened, and blocked.

Yet we still try. We still persist until it is clear that the person absolutely does not want to help us or hear that they have an Amerasian family member. We accept it and continue on looking for other family members who would like to know them.

It is based off the fear of not knowing what will happen or what they will learn. So we must do our best to educate the public that the Amerasian generation is legitimate, they are real people just wanting to know their families and be accepted. They are not scammers, or con artists. They are not lesser people. They are loving and caring individuals with their own lives and own families who just want to know their other side of the family.

Please consider helping us spread the word that Amerasian children are human beings just like yourself, just looking for their families, and just trying to live a better life. Communication is key and the more we talk about it, the more it will become easier to talk about.

I am always open to listen if you have any questions or just want to talk to someone about your situation. I have been there and can offer a safe place to voice your feelings.

Chelle Reed
Founder of WarBabies.org

Announcements, History

The Great Fire of 1973

It is in my experience that many Vietnam Veterans were told that their Service Records were destroyed in a fire.  Often time, with great persistence, records were found and copies were provided. It is important to note that the branch and years of records that were destroyed in the table below.  If you or your loved one served outside of this time period, don’t let anyone tell you your records were destroyed in a fire!!  Keep pressing for your records!

BranchPersonnel and Period AffectedEstimated Loss
ArmyPersonnel discharged November 1, 1912 to January 1, 196080%
Air ForcePersonnel discharged September 25, 1947 to January 1, 1964
(with names alphabetically after Hubbard, James E.)
75%

Complete info can be found here: https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/fire-1973

Announcements, Search Information

Help! Someone contacted me saying we are related and they are Amerasian!

So you’ve recently been contacted from someone saying they are a cousin, sibling, or child of a US military veteran. What do you do? What do you think? How do you respond?

First of all, don’t panic like I did. This isn’t the end of the world as you know it. Chances are that you or someone in your known family has done a DNA test and it matched with the Amerasian person. If a search angel is involved, like Warbabies, we have done extensive analyzing and researching of your family tree and have deducted or concluded, WITH GENETIC DNA SCIENCE, that they are related to you. Or we are simply just looking for information to fill in any gaps or to rule other connections out.

When I got the message from my Ancestry account that I matched with my half brother that I never knew about, I panicked. Why? Because our father passed away just 10 months prior and my initial thought was it had to be a scam, some weird way for someone to collect money. You all know about those emails from Nigeria, or the daughter of an Arabian princess who needs to send you 3.5 million dollars, right?  Those are obviously scams.

However, when I saw the match on AncestryDNA, something inside of me felt like I needed more info. I immediately reached out to my younger brother who also took a DNA test previously and matched with this new person. He saw the same match, and being as he lives in Washington DC and has acquaintances in the government, he reached out to them to find out if this could possibly be a scam. They came back with, “No known scam exists. This is real! DNA doesn’t lie.”

So what now??

We answered! We talked, shared info, asked questions, sent photos, and listened. It was completely awkward at first because we didn’t know what to think, what to say, what to believe. There was a language barrier also, since I was not used to hearing people speak with broken English. I had to be patient and ask to have them repeat themselves. It’s a challenge, but eventually I started to understand better and am even learning some words in another language and learning more about a foreign culture.

It really didn’t take long to accept that we had a new older brother! (I was no longer the oldest sibling lol) And the only thing I regret is not matching with him sooner while our dad was still alive.

Personally, I had no idea that the term Amerasian existed. I had no idea that there were literally hundreds of thousands of Amerasians in the world and that roughly 400 are still in Vietnam and well over a thousand in the Philippenes still looking for their father and American families. I had to do some research to find out more! Just one Google search for “Amerasian” produces countless articles, videos, groups, books, interviews and photos of American Military Veterans looking for their children that’s left behind, most never knowing they even existed, but most Vets were in legitimate relationships with Vietnamese women, some even marrying them!

What should I do?

You have several choices, both good and bad. We don’t recommend ignoring anyone who contacts you. That’s completely rude, at least respond to hear them out. Many Amerasians are desperately looking for their fathers and family, they feel very similar to someone who was an adoptee, they just want to know their families and be accepted. They want health history for themselves and their own children. They want photos to compare what they look like and if they look like someone else who is biologically connected to them.

In the case of Amerasians who are still living in the country where they were born (Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, Germany, Guam), the US government created the Amerasian Homecoming Act, which allows children of US Soldiers who were stationed in these countries to be considered to have US citizenship. Read this again, these Amerasian ARE rightfully allowed to be a US citizen, if they follow the steps and submit their forms and DNA results to prove they are half-American. Most DNA kits are already paid for from either the Amerasian themselves or kind-hearted individuals who donate for these tests. If you are open to accepting their connection to you, they may wish to have help coming to the US. Not necessarily financial help, but documentation as proof you are related. Keep in mind, the majority of Amerasians are already in the US and have already become US Citizens.

The good and kind thing to do is be open about the possibility of discovering you have this wonderful gift of a new relative! They have amazing stories to tell and so much love to give. Please help them, and yourself, have closure and peace. It is the right and moral thing to do!

But am I opening a bad can of worms? What if my family gets angry or upset? 

There is the possibility of some family members being angry or upset. But those feelings come from fear, shame, confusion, embarrassment or guilt. Older generations often don’t want to go back in time to relive the horror of war. It’s forcing them to remember the worst part of their life. Every dark cloud has a silver lining, and usually from tragedy comes a lesson. After a storm, look for a rainbow. It doesn’t have to be a negative experience, reconnecting with a long lost or unknown family member can be a positive experience! You can be the missing link that gives another human being the peace and closure they DESERVE!

I’m very angry or upset to be contacted. I don’t want anything to do with this and wish it would go away! 

Yes, I have been told this before.  It’s terribly sad and frustrating to hear, but we must honor your decision.  If you have been contacted by an individual claiming to be your long-lost Amerasian relative and you have no interest or desire to know them, please just state so in a compassionate and polite way. In the event that you tell us at Warbabies that you no longer wish to be contacted again, we will respect your decision. We have already prepared a report to give to our client which may include your contact info and any photos we have found on the internet. All info we find is freely available on the internet through Public Domain. We are NOT to be held responsible for what ever the client does with this information. You have every right to refuse and reject any contact.  However, understand that others in your family may not feel the same as you. Please respect their wishes if they want to communicate with their Amerasian relative.

I’m nervous, who can I privately talk to about this?

Call, text or write me!! I’ve been there! And now I have an absolutely wonderful brother, 2 fabulous nieces, 2 very cool nephews and a beautiful sister-in-law that I love and adore! We never share information with anyone without permission. If you are just curious to know, I can be a comforting liaison between you and the Amerasian individual. I am a former search angel to has helped reunite Adoptees with their birth families for over 20 years, and now my focus is to help reconnect US military veterans with the children they left behind. I have the knowledge, tools and experience to help. And I do it out of the kindness of my heart and never charge a fee! This has been my life’s mission to help others and God has blessed me with this ability. I fully intend to use this blessing to help others.

Please help me spread the word, DNA is the link, and knowledge is vital for this generation of brothers and sisters left behind. Veterans often speak of never leaving a fallen soldier behind, their children shouldn’t be ignored or left behind either. Share this post so that we can bring awareness to this very incredible issue.

Announcements, History

Help identify the 55

North Korea Returns Presumed U.S. Remains

“The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is incredibly encouraged by the news that North Korea has returned 55 boxes of remains believed to be U.S. service members who have been missing in action since the Korean War,” said VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence.

“This is a huge step in the right direction that we hope will finally bring peace to the peninsula and closure to American families who have been waiting more than six decades for their loved ones to return home from their war.” The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency lists 7,691 missing Americans from the Korean War, with some 5,300 believed to be in North Korea. DPAA also lists 111 Cold War losses in the vicinity of the Korean peninsula.

* POW/MIA DNA Samples Needed.

The Department of Defense wants family members of All Veteran that are MIA to give a DNA sample. The phone numbers are: Army 1 800 982 2490 * Marines 1 866 210 3421 * Navy 1 800 443 9298 * Air Force 1 800 531 5803 * Coast Guard 1 202 795 6637.

When you call have the following information: Your relation to the Veteran (family member). The war they were in. The time period. Where they were stationed. Service number. And approximate time they became missing.

Once this is received they will send out a test kit, with all instructions. Consisting of two cotton swabs for the inside of your mouth. Then send back.This is FREE. The time frame is about two weeks to get the results, if they have the veterans DNA on file. * It should be noted that once all family members become deceased , it is impossible to identify the remains.

* Praying for All Service members and their families!

Announcements

Help! I think I found my Amerasian Child!

So you’ve done a DNA test and found a child who may be yours and is Amerasian. What do you do? What do you think? How do you respond?

First of all, don’t panic. This is happening literally to thousands of people every day across the country. It’s shocking, surprising, scary, but not the end of the world and not a bad thing. Tens of Millions of people in the world have taken Ancestry DNA, 23andMe, and other DNA tests. These companies are matching people who are related on every scale. You all know about those emails from Nigeria, or the daughter of an Arabian princess who needs to send you 3.5 million dollars, right?  Those are obviously scams. These tests don’t lie, DNA doesn’t lie.

So there it is right in your face, you have a DNA match with roughly 3,475 centimorgans, this is YOUR child. Think on this a bit and let it digest.

Thanks for continuing…. I have to say that I admire you. You have been through a lot in the military and your life. You have sacrificed more than enough and you have the courage to survive when so many haven’t. Thank you wholeheartedly on behalf of myself (daughter of a Vietnam Vet) and everyone in our country.

If you are interested, I have written an open letter to you, Dear US Military Veteran.

What do you do now?

Celebrate that you have a child! You have a gift, you created a human being and that human being may possibly want to have contact with you. What a remarkable situation, there is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about. Circumstances happen and life happens, but you now have a glorious opportunity to become a father. Take full advantage of this!

You may want to keep this to yourself at first, unless you are open with your significant other or spouse. There will be a flood of emotions and you just need time to take it all in. Give yourself that time, as this is between you and your child.

What do you think?

You may be feeling all kinds of mixed emotions, shock, anger, sadness, resentment, fear… all normal. You could be feeling joy, happiness, hope, anticipation… again all normal. It’s completely up to you how to feel and you have every right to your feelings. However, on behalf of your Amerasian child, I beg you to stay open minded and consider keeping a line of communication open. Amerasian children had an unimaginable life filled with very unkind daily living, if they even made it long enough to live into childhood. The truth of war is most Amerasian children were often abused or even killed, just because they were of mixed race. If they were spared, they lived a life of discrimination, often called Bụi đời (children of dust). Imagine thinking your life was valued as less than dust.

How do you respond?

The right thing to do would be to send a message to acknowledge your child as your child. Confirm that you are indeed their father. Most often that is all that the Amerasian wishes, acknowledgement they are someone’s son or daughter. After that, this is where things could get quite complicated depending on your thoughts, feelings or situation. You may want to set a boundary with your child asking them to give you some time to think about the situation with a promise that you will continue a discussion at a later date. Then take that time for yourself to think about how you want to proceed. You may want to talk to family or a professional on how to deal with this circumstance. Please follow up with them, because I can guarantee they are waiting on pins and needles for a response. They may continue to message or call you because of their eagerness. You have to understand their determination and anticipation to be your child.

If you decide not to have a relationship with them, think of a kind way to explain that to them. As an Amerasian child, they fear abandonment and rejection on a much larger scale. They deserve to know the truth, and you do owe them that much. Perhaps just consider keeping those lines of communication open on a level you are comfortable with.

If you decide to accept them into your life, I truly applaud you!! You can take it slow or dive head first into a relationship, that choice is yours. It may take some time to get used to the idea, but think of the possibility of gaining a son or daughter and a whole new part of your family. What a blessing!!

How do I tell my spouse or family?

In all honesty, no one is perfect and this is a sensitive topic, but one that MUST be discussed. Because it will not just be forgotten or go away. It shouldn’t be a secret that you carry to your grave. More likely, others will know especially through DNA testing. The truth will eventually come out and it may not be as bad as you think.

In the case of telling a spouse that you were with prior or during your military service, it may be looked at as an unforgivable infidelity. In hindsight, I bet you said that there would be no way this truth would ever come to the surface…. well, it may be time to fess up. Things I have heard from Veteran fathers have included that they were drunk and don’t remember (the most common). This may be the case, either way, if someone has come to you with a DNA link, you must face that it HAS happened. Simply not remembering doesn’t make this event go away.

If you have a spouse that has stood by your side through out your life, chances are that they will understand with some time and communication. Or they may threaten divorce. This one is a very tough decision, but again, once it comes out, we only hope and pray that it settles on a positive note.

I will elaborate more and give optional talking points later on.

Announcements, Search Information

Sharing your Ancestry DNA and Tree

If you have built a family tree and have a DNA kit with Ancestry.com, we will need access to this information to help work your case. There are a couple different ways to do this.

  • Preferred method – Provide in an email your account login information. Don’t worry, at any time you can change the password and we will no longer have access. If you choose this option, please send your Ancestry account email and password to Contactwarbabies@gmail.com only.
  • Invite us to the family tree you have built. In order to do this, you must go to your Family Tree settings, at the top you will see Sharing, select that link. In the upper right, you will see +Invite People, click that button and you can either select Username or Shareable Link. Enter either Rootseeker74 for Username, or click the Shareable link. You will need to email me the link to Contactswarbabies@gmail.com only. Make sure you have selected for the Role to be Editor. This is critical to be able to view all of your information.
  • For DNA kits, go to your DNA Results page and click on Settings. Scroll down to DNA Ethnicity and Matches Access. Click Add a Person and type in Rootseeker74. Important, where it says Viewer, click and select Manager. This is critical to be able to use all of the tools that Ancestry offers.

For any other DNA testing company, you will need to email us your login info, as they do not provide a way to share your results outside of your matches like Ancestry does.

Note: At any time you are able to remove access by any of these methods above. You can change your password or simply return to the Tree or DNA area and remove access to us. This is 100% completely your choice. Please understand that in order for us to assist you, we will need this access.

Announcements, Search Information

Help! I think I found my American Father/Family!

So you have submitted your DNA test, found several close matches and tracked down either your father or his family members. Congratulations!!!

Now here comes the hard part. Reunification.

In my experience with both the adoptee community and the Amerasian community, this step is always the hardest part. It stems from a primal fear of rejection, and this is a completely normal feeling, and justified. You were abandoned or had some circumstance that separated you from your family.

The most common questions you have are:

  • Did you know about me?
  • Did you think about me?
  • What do you remember about my mother?
  • If you knew about me, why did you leave me?

These are tough questions, and something that should be reserved after initial introductions. Although they are completely valid, you must proceed with caution and sensitivity. I can tell you what your father or family are thinking if they did not know about your existence.

  • Is this a joke?
  • Is this some sort of scam?
  • How do I know this is real?
  • How did they find me?
  • What do they want from me?
  • Do they just want money?

These are the most common initial feelings from a father or family member who just learned they had a stranger find them claiming to be related.

In all of the cases that I have worked on for other Amerasians, we have had one 1 successful reunion. This saddens me because these families don’t know what they are missing!!

The reality of this is there is a high chance that if you are Amerasian, your American family will reject you, or seem curious initially, but never come to fully accept you in their lives. This is the shameful outcome of most Amerasians, but not all. Until you actually approach your found family, you will never know the outcome. Please don’t ever give up hope, there have been many wonderful and loving reunions. Check out our Videos Page for all these success stories to inspire you and give you hope!

I had my own feelings of this when my brother Dung reached out to me the first time. I hate to admit that, but it is true, and my fear was validated after contacting my younger brother who received the same message on Ancestry. We needed some time to process this news and ask around to see how legit these claims were. After all, how could our father have known and never done anything about it? Why had he never mentioned this possibility? Did he even know?

Once we took a look at the situation together, we realized it was very real. We had a brother who no one knew about!! While my younger brother proceeded with much caution, I dove in head first into a relationship with my new brother. I instantly loved him and his entire family. The rest of our father’s family were told much later about him, and sadly, they were not as responsive. This hurts my heart straight to my soul, but I cannot make my family accept our brother. I just continue to pray they will come around.

My best advice to you, if you found your American family:

  • If your English is not that good, find a friend who speaks very good English who can be an interpreter or liaison between you and your family. Or contact us, we can help with this also!
  • Stick to the facts, share your name, where you are from, the year you were born, where you lived before coming to the US (unless you are still there).
  • Make sure you have taken your DNA test and tell them exactly how you matched with their relatives and how you have determined your relationship to them.
  • If you are unsure how you are related to them, state that you are just trying to find your father or any siblings or other relatives. Ask if they could help you figure out who your father is. Some times they will help out of curiosity, a challenge, and to feel good that they can help someone out.
  • If the subject comes up, be clear of what you want from them. If you want to just know who they are, would like photos, medical history, or if you would like to get to know them and be acknowledged. The more straight you are with them, the quicker they can process and over come their initial shock and fear.

If you are unfortunately met with confusion and rejection, be polite and ask if they would be interested in taking a DNA test (unless they have already). The goal is to keep the communication lines open. Suggest that you can call back later or another day. You don’t want to hit them hard at this point, tread carefully! Try to give them your phone number or email address. This way they can contact you after they had some time and are comfortable talking more about this.

If some time has passed, try again. See if they would be willing to talk to you or a liaison or friend. If you need help in this situation, please reach out to us here at War Babies. We have been there, we know the strong emotions that go along with this process and can help.

The worst outcome is your father or his family rejects your existence and no longer wishes to communication at all with you. This is the hardest thing to accept, but just know this part isn’t about you at all!! If this happens, your father or his family simply lack the coping skills to deal with this type of situation. They have their own fears and may feel like too much time has passed to begin a new relationship. It may stir many feelings of shame, fear, embarrassment that they cannot deal with. In some cases, they were married before going to war and if their wife is still alive and with them, it could cause friction in their marriage, as the wife would be terribly upset at the infidelity.

No matter the outcome of reaching out to your father or family, just know that you are not alone and never give up hope that some day your American family will accept you. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people just like you and facing the same situation. War Babies will be here for you if you need them.

Announcements, History

Uniting Families Act – House Resolution 1640

H.R.1640 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1640

DateAll Actions
04/12/2019Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Action By: Committee on the Judiciary
03/08/2019Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Action By: House of Representatives
03/08/2019Introduced in House
Action By: House of Representatives

From the Congressional Record, Volume 165 (2019)

Sponsor: Rep. Ron Kind [D-WI-3] (Introduced 03/08/2019)

CoSponsor: Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick, [R-PA-1]

Committee: House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship

A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the admission of certain sons and daughters of citizens of the United States, which citizens served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States abroad, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. Kind (for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick)

https://www.govinfo.gov/link/crec/165/h/2613

H2613

Summary:

This bill establishes a non-immigrant visa category for an alien who (1) is 18 or older and is the genetic son or daughter of a U.S. citizen who served in the Armed Forces on active duty abroad; or (2) is the spouse or child of such alien and is accompanying, or following to join, such alien.

To obtain a visa, the alien’s citizen parent must petition and receive approval from the Department of Homeland Security. The petition shall include (1) DNA evidence establishing the parent-child relationship, (2) a written statement that the parent will provide financial support until the alien receives lawful permanent resident status, and (3) proof of the parent’s U.S. citizenship and active duty with the Armed Forces abroad.

The period of authorized admission for aliens with the visa is five years, and 5,000 principal visa aliens may be admitted per fiscal year. Holders of such a visa may adjust to lawful permanent resident status after meeting various requirements, such as being admissible as an immigrant.


Official Text

116th CONGRESS
1st Session

H. R. 1640

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the admission of certain sons and daughters of citizens of the United States, which citizens served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States abroad, and for other purposes.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 8, 2019

Mr. Kind (for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary


A BILL

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the admission of certain sons and daughters of citizens of the United States, which citizens served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States abroad, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Uniting Families Act of 2019”.

SEC. 2. ADMISSION OF CERTAIN SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES WHO SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES.

(a) Classification As A Nonimmigrant.—Section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)) is amended—

 (1) in subparagraph (U), by striking “or” at the end;

 (2) in subparagraph (V), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and

 (3) by inserting after subparagraph (V) the following:

“(W) subject to section 214(s), an alien who—

“(i) is 18 years of age or older and is the genetic son or daughter of a citizen of the United States, which citizen served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States abroad; or

“(ii) is the spouse or child of an alien described in clause (i) and is accompanying, or following to join, the alien.”.

(b) Requirements For Admission.—Section 214 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(s) (1) A visa shall not be issued under section 101(a)(15)(W) until a petition has been filed in the United States by the citizen parent of the visa applicant and approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

“(2) The petition shall be in such form and contain such information as the Secretary of Homeland Security shall prescribe, and shall include the following information:

“(A) DNA evidence that establishes that the beneficiary is the genetic child of the petitioner.

“(B) An agreement in writing that the parent will provide financial support for the beneficiary until the beneficiary’s status is adjusted to the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence.

“(C) Information that establishes that the petitioner—

“(i) is a citizen of the United States; and

“(ii) served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States abroad.

“(3) The period of authorized admission for an alien admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15)(W) shall be 5 years, which may be extended for one additional 2-year period.

“(4) The total number of principal aliens who may be admitted under section 101(a)(15)(W) during any fiscal year may not exceed 5,000.”.

(c) Adjustment Of Status.—Section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1255) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(n) (1) The Secretary of Homeland Security may adjust the status of an alien admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15)(W) to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence if the alien—

“(A) is admissible to the United States as an immigrant; and

“(B) satisfies the requirements under section 312, unless the alien is a child described in section 101(a)(15)(W)(ii) who is under the age of 18.

“(2) The numerical limitations of sections 201 and 202 shall not apply to the adjustment of aliens to lawful permanent resident status under this subsection.”.

(d) Naturalization.—Section 312(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1423(b)) is amended by inserting at the end the following:

“(4) The requirements of subsection (a) shall not apply to any person who has satisfied such requirements under section 245(n)(1)(B).”.


Now is the time to write your letters to Rep. Kind and Rep. Fitzpatrick so that this House Resolution does not stall!!