John E. Craven, II
A Legacy of Hope
One Veteran's Journey: Turning My Disadvantage to an Advantage for Others
 

John E. Craven, II was born and raised in Monroe, Michigan and graduated from Monroe Catholic Central High School (now known as St. Mary Catholic Central).  He attended University of Detroit and Michigan State University prior to serving in the army from August 1968-70.  John served in 1969 with A Co. of the 70^th Combat Engineer Battalion near the village of Khanh Duong, South Vietnam.

After his military service, John married Gail, his college sweetheart on August 27, 1971.  Three years later they were blessed with their only child, their daughter Adrienne.  She and her husband Sam currently live in Ann Arbor. 

Working the night shift and attending classes during the day, John earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Eastern Michigan University. 

He spent 29 years in the Environmental Engineering arena at Ford before leaving to join the supply side of the automotive industry. 

    John, Adrienne and Gail - Circa 1977

John at the entrance to his tent at camp Reil-Davis in 1969.

Gail is retired and now enjoys gardening and devoting time to volunteer work.  John and Gail live in Trenton, Michigan.   Both John and Gail are active members of Southpoint Community Christian Church in Trenton.  John has served on their Building Oversight Committee and is currently involved with their Christian Businessmen’s Ministry as well as Southpoint’s Men’s Ministry.  

John and Gail support two children in other third-world countries through donations to World Vision:  Susana Idu born March 5, 1993 in Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia, and Constanza Nicole Hernandez born April 9, 2002 in Santiago, Chile. In addition, Gail and John have decided to personally provide tuition assistance for their two young Vietnamese “book cover models” Ly and Nhung as they progress from second grade through college.

John is also active with the Development of Vietnam Endeavors, or D.O.V.E. Fund.  He is a member of the Board of Trustees, serves on the Executive Committee and is Chairman of the Donor Appreciation Committee.  During his return trip to Vietnam in 2007, John was able to locate the village and former camp site where his unit served.  As a way of gaining some personal healing and as a tribute to his three friends who died there, John placed a memorial plaque for them on the former camp Reil-Davis grounds.  Still feeling incomplete, John and Gail decided more was needed to ensure his friends did not die in vain.  They concluded that building a school in their honor would be a “legacy” for the men and bring “hope” for the countless children who would receive an education where before, none was possible.

Tax-deductible donations will be derived from speaking engagements, musical presentations and donations for John’s book.  Through the auspices of the D.O.V.E. Fund 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the charitable funds will be used to build the group’s first Junior High School in Vietnam.  As the book “A Legacy of Hope” promotes, John is turning what was his disadvantage to an advantage for those downtrodden children in M’Drak district, Vietnam.  His dream is that as students progress from Junior High through college, they will someday make a positive difference in the lives of others.

John is quick to point out that not only is this school to honor the three men, but equally important, it is to honor their families.

                                                                 John and Gail with friends and interpreters Do and Theresa Nguyen
following placement of the memorial plaque near the former camp Reil-Davis.