Dave Chaix is still fighting a war in Vietnam, 41 years after his military service there ended.

It’s the war against poverty, hunger and ignorance. He's doing it through a local non-profit group he heads that helps fund five orphanages in Kontum, Vietnam.

On Wednesday, Chaix will be honored as grand marshal in the Auburn Veterans Day parade.

Chaix, 64, served with the 4th Infantry Division in the Central Highlands of Vietnam in 1967 and 1968. He returned to that area soon after he retired as a division manager for SBC Communications in 1998 and was deeply touched by the poverty and poor living conditions among the indigenous Montagnard people.

Chaix found he could make things better by donating to an orphanage there and in 2001, he co-founded the non-profit Friends of Vinh Son Orphanage. He has served as president since the group achieved charity status in 2005.

Today, Friends of Vinh Son Orphanage provides a coordinated effort to raise funds to provide a happier and more fulfilling quality of life for more than 500 Montagnard children at five orphanages centered around Kontum city.

Chaix has journeyed to Vietnam six times since that first visit and now helps lead tours to Vietnam, as well as Cambodia, Laos and China.

“The first trip was all about the past,” Chaix said. “Most of the trips since then have been all about the future. It’s been very good for me.”

Chaix pulls out a book of photos to illustrate the good his group has accomplished among the Montagnards, a tribal culture that was allied with the Americans during the Vietnam War and suffered after the U.S. departed in 1975.

Some photos are of the orphanage children and the Catholic Sisters of the Miraculous Medal who run the facilities. Others show Montagnard youngsters learning computer skills or working on sewing machines that will be given to them once they have finished their lessons.

“These kids have nothing,” Chaix said. “They have no possessions.”

Hank Gonzales, a member of the Friends of Vinh Son Montagnard Orphanage board, said Chaix has provided strong, intelligent and dedicated leadership to a cause that has obviously touched his heart. And the group’s work is done by absorbing all overhead costs, which allows every cent of money donated going to the orphanages, he said.

“What I’ve seen has been amazing – almost a miracle,” Gonzales said. “We have a lot of people praying for us.”

Chaix will serve as grand marshal for a parade with a theme of “Welcome Home Vietnam Vets.”

“It’s very appropriate,” Chaix said. “When I got back in 1968, it was not a popular war and veterans were not well thought of, especially around campuses and larger cities. 'Welcome home' is a veteran-to-veteran greeting because they’re lacking that.”

Chaix sees parallels today with involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq in recent years. Unlike Vietnam, though, people that are against the war are supporting the troops, he said.

“I think America learned a lesson from Vietnam,” Chaix said. “It’s one of the reasons there is so much support of active troops now.”

The local effort to help the orphanage puts Chaix in touch with veterans around the country and groups around the world.

“A lot felt we didn’t complete what we started,” he said. “This allows us to continue to work on that.”

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Fast facts: Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal Dave Chaix

-Philosophy: “Don’t dwell on the past”

-Longtime local. He’s lived in Auburn since 1965. His residence is just over the Bear River in Nevada County but it’s part of the Auburn postal delivery area.

-Family support. Married for 37 years to his wife, Elaine Chaix, whose maiden name is Gregorsen. She’s a Placer High School grad. They have four children, Steve, Heather, Lyndsey and Chanda

-Schooling. A graduate of Courtland High School and Sacramento State University

-Telephone career. Started as a lineman with Pacific Telephone and retired after 33 years as a division manager

-Tricky pronunciation: Chaix is a French surname, with the word translated as “cellar.” It’s pronounced “Shay.”

-How to help the Friends of Vinh Son Montagnard Orphanage. Send checks to P.O. Box 9322, Auburn, CA 95604-9322.

-More information. E-mail info@friendsofvso.org

-Web site. Friendsofvso.org

– Gus Thomson

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Auburn’s Veterans Day Parade

Start time: 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11

Parade route: Start at Lincoln Way and Cleveland Avenue in Downtown Auburn. Travel along Lincoln Way and then High Street. End at National Guard Armory at the Gold Country Fairgrounds.