Margot Carlson Delogne Talks "The 2 Sides Project," Healing in Vietnam

Margot Carlson Delogne, the founder of The 2 Sides Project, spoke at Catholic Memorial School about her efforts at healing and reconciliation for the sons and daughters of soldiers who were killed during the Vietnam War.

Ms. Delogne and her sister, Kim Benner, spoke to juniors and seniors in Mr. Vincent Bradley's elective class "The American War in Vietnam." Ms. Delogne and Ms. Benner are the Gold Star children of Air Force Captain John W. Carlson, who was killed in Vietnam when his plane was shot down in 1966.

The 2 Sides Project is a nonprofit that connects sons and daughters who lost fathers on opposite sides of the Vietnam War.

Ms. Delogne’s efforts were chronicled in the documentary film The 2 Sides Project, directed by Anthony Istrico. The film won the Founders’ Choice Award at the 2017 GI Film Festival and aired on WGBH in Boston in January. The documentary will air on PBS nationwide later this year.

Ms. Delogne and Ms. Brenner shared pictures of their father and their experience of growing without their father.

“I grew up hating all things Vietnamese,” said Ms. Delogne, yet over time, she wondered about Vietnamese children who also lost parents. Her curiosity led to a proposal for The 2 Sides Project.

The Project's first trip to Vietnam in 2015 brought six Americans to meet 20 men and women whose parents were killed on the other side of the war. As part of her trip, Ms. Delogne visited the place where they believe Captain Carlson’s plane was shot down. She also met face to face with Vietnamese men and women who grew up in a similar circumstance.

“When two sides come together, amazing things happen,” said Ms. Delogne.

Kim Benner, Ms. Delogne’s sister, was not emotionally ready for the initial experience but is planning to take part in the next trip scheduled for late 2018.

This talk was offered as part of an intentional strategy to expose students to experiential learning and extend the learning experience beyond traditional academics. Students gained a valuable perspective on the Vietnam War from this experience.

“The 2 Sides Project is a big step in finding peace after the war,” said Colin Caggiano '18.

"[Ms. Delogne’s] presentation was an eye-opening view of the war and truly shows you don’t know the full story of the war without looking at it from both sides,” said John Mulry '18.

“The Vietnam War is still affecting many lives to this day," added Owen DesRoches '19.

“The talk helped humanize the war in a way that many textbooks and documentaries fail,” said Tyler Storm '19.

Resources
Interview with Margot Carlson Delogne on PBS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh_LRhCNyCU

The 2 Sides Project Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI-vz6N7QdM

The 2 Sides Project Web Page:
https://www.2sidesproject.com/