Mo Gemme's Legacy: A Family's Milestone

Hi,

My name is Lori Pierce. One of my closest friends, Mo Gemme, asked me to establish this fund to support a celebration on April 6, 2025 that will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the arrival and adoption of his first two children, following the Vietnam War.

Not much good came from the Vietnam War. We sent 2.7 million servicemen and women to serve, 300,000 were injured, many with life altering injuries, and lastly, 58,220 of our young people died. Because this war was so unpopular, many who came home were shamefully scorned and rebuffed by their fellow Americans.

There was one bright spot however, a little-known U.S. mission, called Operation Babylift. With Da Nang having fallen and Saigon under attack, on April 3, 1975, President Gerald Ford announced that the U.S. Government would begin airlifting Vietnamese orphans out of Saigon; ultimately resulting in the relocation of over 2500 children.

My dear friend, U.S Marines Corps Sgt Maurice (Mo) Gemme, served on the front lines. Having seen unspeakable atrocities during this time, he made a promise to himself and God that he would do something right to help the plight of the people he had witnessed after returning to the States.

And Mo delivered on his promise.

On April 6, 1975, Jason, age 3, and Larry, age 5, arrived at Kennedy Airport, where they met their new dad, Mo. Over the next few years, the family expanded with the addition of three more children, Dao, Jennifer, and the youngest, Chris. At one point, Mo was a single father of five teenagers, two of which are disabled.

Having been Mo’s close friend for over 40 years now, I can say I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to witness firsthand this love, their commitment and their growth as a family, through all the ups and downs that most families endure.

It’s now been 50 years since the adoption and that’s certainly a reason to celebrate! Mo, along with assistance from the DAR and the Blue Star Mothers, is hosting an event to commemorate the historic feat of his children’s journeys and the value of family.

Any contribution that you can make will be most welcomed and very much appreciated!

Thank you!