The Ubon Orphanage Residence was sponsored by USAF, by choice. The servicemen on base had a lot to do with supplying the orphanage. I became known to the director and the assistant nurses. I was a regular helper and visited weekly. I held babies and supervised for an hour or two. Their staff, some of which were orphans themselves, would work 24/7; when you have babies no one goes home.

 

Orphans were helpers and moms as well. Only nurses had one day off. Most of the orphans were abandoned months and weeks after birth. Several babies had permanent chronic illness such as blindness and deformities. Much had to do with syphilis and gonorrhea.