Vietnam War Memorial in Fountain Valley (Photo: Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A Vietnam War memorial in Mile Square Park that once promised to honor American Service Members and South Vietnamese allies now stands as a symbol of failed oversight and corruption. The project, funded with one million dollars in taxpayer money, remains unfinished and deteriorating while the elected official who championed it serves time in federal prison.

The memorial was envisioned as a smaller version of the Washington D.C. landmark, with special recognition for the South Vietnamese military and the tens of thousands of refugees who made Orange County their home after the war. Instead, its black granite slabs sit cracked and blank. An eternal flame sculpture at the center is stained with bird droppings, and no names were ever engraved.

Andrew Do, the former Orange County supervisor who directed the funding in 2023, allocated the money to the Viet America Society, a nonprofit where his daughter held an officer role. Do is now serving a five-year sentence in Arizona for a federal bribery scheme involving millions in pandemic relief funds that were meant to provide meals for seniors. Prosecutors and county attorneys say much of the money he steered to the nonprofit was diverted for personal use. The leader of the organization, Peter Pham, has been indicted and fled the country.

During a recent visit arranged by OC Supervisor Janet Nguyen, reporters saw the memorial unobstructed for the first time since tarps and fencing were removed. Nguyen, who won Do’s former seat, called the memorial a disgrace. She said it dishonors Veterans and was built with poor materials that are already failing. She added that the project lacks accessibility and may pose safety risks, stating that most Vietnam Veterans are now in their seventies or older.

A county assessment estimates that repairing the memorial could cost as much as $420 thousand, with an additional $40 thousand needed to complete the engraving. Making the site compliant with federal accessibility standards could add another one million dollars. Demolishing the structure would cost no more than $30 thousand dollars—and is currently the most likely outcome.

Vietnam Veteran and Veterans Alliance of Orange County president Nick Berardino supports tearing the structure down. He said the scandal surrounding the project stains the memory of those who served and that a new memorial would better honor their sacrifice.

Nguyen said she is committed to pursuing a new memorial, possibly at the planned Orange County Veterans cemetery in Gypsum Canyon, and intends to work with county officials and private donors to move forward.

Author: Rikki Almanza

Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted family connection to the military, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.