SANFORD — Joe Armstrong was 17 years old when he boarded a ship headed for Vietnam. He marked his 18th birthday on the way. A machine gunner, Armstrong was “in country,” in 1968 and 1969.

“I went over there as a child and came back an old man. We all did,” Armstrong said Thursday.

He admits he was on a rocky road for a long time when he returned home. But he persevered. And he learned about his post traumatic stress disorder.

“I found out I’m not a bad guy; I’m not the devil I thought I was,” said Armstrong.

Once he turned his life around, Armstrong began a dedicated effort to make sure his fellow Vietnam veterans know about benefits available to them and their families, and to share in the camaraderie that only those who have spent time together in difficult circumstances can appreciate.

First came the establishment of a local chapter of Rolling Thunder, a nationwide group dedicated to drawing attention to those listed as Prisoners of War or Missing in Action.

But Armstrong was looking to broaden efforts associated with his fellow Vietnam veterans. So now, five years after starting Rolling Thunder, he has taken the initiative to organize Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1044.

Members, now 44 strong and hailing from around the region, meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Sanford Elks Lodge on Elm Street on the first Sunday of the month.

Membership is open to U.S. armed forces veterans who served on active duty in Vietnam between Feb. 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975, or during the Vietnam era, Aug. 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975. As well, the affiliated Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America has about 19 members, Armstrong estimated. Membership in AVVA is open to anyone.

There are four chapters of VVA in Maine ”“ in Limestone, Madawaska, Orrington and Sanford.

VVA State Council president John W. Wallace of Limestone, active in veterans advocacy for 20 years, said 30 years ago, when Vietnam veterans were returning home, other organizations that existed at the time weren’t listening to the needs of the Vietnam vets, so VVA was formed nationally in 1978. It has 630 chapters in 46 states, more than 50,000 members and has broadened its scope to include looking out for all veterans, said Wallace.

“We let veterans know what’s available and fight with the Veterans Administration and Congress to keep giving us what we need,” said Wallace.

VVA Chapter 1044 is also helping the State Bureau of Veterans Affairs get the word out about the availability of medals marking service from World War II to the present, said Armstrong.

A Silver Star Honorable Service Medal is designed for those who were wounded, received a Purple Heart or who were Prisoners of War. A Gold Star Honorable Service Medal is available to families of veterans who were killed in action or died of illness or injury while deployed in support of combat.

Armstrong in particular is looking for families of four area men who were killed in action during the Vietnam War: The families of William Batchelder of Springvale, who was born Oct. 21, 1945; John Cash, born June 20, 1949; Richard Glaude, born June 6, 1948; and Michael R. Pickles, born Sept. 13, 1948, all of Sanford.

 Armstrong said the chapter will also focus on the contributions of women Vietnam veterans ”“ a group he says are largely overlooked.

“They saw every bit of the trauma we did,” he said, and pointed out that military nurses saw the trauma hour after hour, day after day.

As well, the group, along with other veterans organizations, is trying to get the word out to wives of veterans that they too may be eligible for benefits.

Armstrong said he sees a “lot of good things” coming from having a local chapter of VVA and said he hopes the public will embrace the organization as it works for Vietnam veterans and other vets, like those serving now in the Middle East.

“We will not let our children come home from Iraq and Afghanistan and receive the treatment we did,” he said.

For Armstrong, the work that goes into veterans issues goes on 24/7. He calls it  his therapy.

“Helping veterans helps me,” he said.

Armstrong said folks interested in talking to him about VVA may call him at 490-2092, e-mail: president@vva1044maine.org or drop by Aroma Joe’s in Sanford, where he has coffee before 8 a.m. most mornings.

 — Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.