An idea conceived by federal volunteer agency director Thomas Rauken in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program (VVLP) was officially launched in November, 1981. The program was scheduled to be federally funded for three years, and thereafter to be privately funded and operated. The VVLP formed a network of veteran volunteers who accomplished the following: (1) the establishment of 47 nonprofit corporations across the country to build the volunteer network, enhance its image, build support, develop employment and training opportunities, aid in small business development, raise funds, and collaborate with other organizations on veterans' affairs; (2) the involvement of about 6,000 veteran volunteers who have given 350,449 hours of unpaid time to help their fellow veterans and to introduce a new, positive image of Vietnam veterans to the American public; (3) the raising of an estimated $1,208,800 in material donations made through the network's contacts; and (4) the creation of workshops and programs that have counseled veterans on starting small businesses and helped them obtain employment. This book is a history of the VVLP and its accomplishments, as well as its hopes for the future. It is organized in six chapters. The first chapter presents a summary of the program's accomplishments as well as a historical perspective on the program. In the second chapter, the need for such a program is documented; this is followed by a chapter detailing the start-up of the program and project funding. The fourth chapter reports on the projects that were implemented, while the fifth chapter sets the tone for the challenge of the future. The final chapter summarizes the design, approach, and source materials used in compiling the report. (KC)