KSV Scholarships

Manager: Dan Fisher

Our KSV members, for decades, have provided higher learning scholarship funds to deserving students who are related to a Khe Sanh veteran.  We encourage all our members and their families to take advantage of this opportunity.

If you wish to contact the scholarship managers with any questions, please do so using our email admin@khesanh.vet.  Attention: KSV Scholarship Manager


Background: In 2008 at the Reno, NV, Khe Sanh Veterans Reunion, the topic of supporting a scholarship program came to the KSV Membership for a vote. The popularity of this program to support the educational goals of children and grandchildren of Khe Sanh Veterans proved a big hit.

A Scholarship Committee wrote a set of guidelines and criteria for the new program. Early members were all KSV volunteers including Larry McCartney, Bill Jayne, Bruce “T-Bone” Jones, Dennis Mannion and Dan Fisher. The Committee approved a draft, and the program good to go for school year 2009-2010 during the Denver, CO reunion. The KSV Board, President Dave “Bulldog” Smith, Treasurers Tom Eichler and Russ Turner gave their full support to let the donations begin. Then the KSV Membership came through to fund the first-year goals including donations from the reunion silent auction and the KSV Ladies Luncheon.

From 2009 to 2025 the program became phenomenally successful attracting college, university, vocational and trade school applicants. In the 16 years since the start of the Scholarship Fund, $133,500 of donated fundes have helped 221 young scholars achieved their educational goals.

The ‘Thank You’ cards from these students were oftentimes more thankful of their fathers’ and grandfathers’ service in Vietnam and especially Khe Sanh than of the financial awards they received.

Presently, the Scholarship Program is in recharge mode following the passing of our esteemed President/Treasurer Tom Eichler.  We remain focused on helping our grandchildren achieve their educational goals.

Semper Fidelis


The link below will open the 2026 Application Form and Instructions:

KSV-2026-Application-fillable-PDF-1

Testimonials

To Whom It May Concern:    

During my time at the University of Connecticut, I had the honor of receiving a scholarship from the Khe Sanh Veterans Association in 2010 and 2011.  It was humbling and helpful to receive these two awards. After graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor's in English, I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. I served as a platoon commander in Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines. 

Currently, I am the English Department Head at North Haven High School in North Haven, Connecticut and an assistant football coach at Maloney High School in Meriden, Connecticut. In my work with my students and players, I strive to instill in them the same values I learned during my service and as the son of a Khe Sanh veteran.  

These scholarship monies were a welcomed help in 2 of my 4 years at Storrs, and I remain grateful to the association for its assistance.  

Semper Fi       

Devin Mannion

"The Khe Sanh Veteran's Scholarship was instrumental to helping me start my college education on the right track. As a Marine Corps veteran myself, transitioning to college and civilian life was a big new step with a lot of unknowns. The money from the scholarship, which I received in 2021 with my sponsor being my grandfather, Dan Fisher, helped to ease the costs the come with a university education and allowed me to cut down on financial worries to help focus solely on school. With the support of the Khe Sanh scholarship, I graduated with my Bachelors of Science in Computer Science this May and am now starting a new chapter as a project engineer in the utilities software industry. Thank you to those who made this scholarship possible."
 
Respectfully,
Adam Chiarella