Posted on Dec 15, 2019
SGT Robert Pryor
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I wanted no part of returning to Viet Nam. The last time I got wounded I received 30 major wounds (11 gunshot and 19 shrapnel wounds at least as large as the gunshot wounds) and a couple hundred minor wounds. But that wasn’t the bad part. Before the night ended I would up alone, with my weapon and my radio both KIA. What’s worse is the only people who had any idea where I was were all shooting at me. I’ve had better days.

Every night from 1969 through June 18, 2003 I kept having the same recurring dream -- I was a dud for allowing myself to get in that predicament. Oh yeah, I was down to only two bullets left when my M-16 got killed. The recurring dream always ended with Sir Charles walking up to kill me -- their blast from and AK would awaken me. Then I’d have trouble falling back asleep due to fear.

In 2003 my then 32 year old daughter asked me to take her to Viet Nam. Not only “NO” but “Hell NO!” -- except the word “no” is not in my Daddy dictionary. The plan was for me to take her where I got shot the last time for the 34th anniversary of the event. We shared a hotel room in Saigon the night before -- June 19, 2003. There were no bad dreams that night -- I couldn’t sleep. I was afraid I was going to humiliate myself in front of my daughter by crying or freaking out when we got there to confront the monsters in my closet.

When we got to Bunard, there were children playing, oblivious to the horrors of days gone past. Crops growing and even a few permanent structures. The place was beautiful. I still dream about Viet Nam, but they are all joyful dreams. I have never dreamed about the war since. The monsters in my closet were vanquished and replaced with the easygoing lifestyle of present day Viet Nam.

I like the place so much I returned twice in 2006 on leaflet drops (dollar bills) and in 2014 I took my youngest daughter -- then 10 years old.

I’m looking forward to hopefully returning again someday. I love it there. And the attitude of the average Vietnamese citizen on the street? ‘That was then, this is now.’ They are so welcoming; genuinely happy to see you.

One picture is my then 32 year old daughter and me standing where SFC Charles Hinson found me on the morning of June 20, 1969. The other is of my then 10 year-old daughter (pink top and white pants) with some of the local children at Bunard. It is actually my favorite all-time picture of Viet Nam.
Posted in these groups: Vietnam service ribbon Vietnam WarC92a59d8 FamilyScan0009 Vietnam
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Responses: 33
LTJG Robert M.
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Sound like a great road to healing.
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SGT Robert Pryor
SGT Robert Pryor
5 y
I am fortunate to have a daughter way smarter than her old man. She knew exactly what to do.
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LTC Eugene Chu
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Retired US Army General, Hal Moore and retired reporter, Joe Galloway returned to Ia Drang battlefield with their Vietnamese foes. The group got stranded overnight and made peace

We Are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam https://www.amazon.com/dp/006114777X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_hyK9DbR0GEZZP
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SSG Terry Cummings
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I'm really happy for you, getting rid of those dream monsters
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SGT Philip Roncari
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Great post ,Welcome Home Brother, never and no would be my respective responses
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MSG Danny Mathers
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Hell fu#king no! I know of only a few Vets that wanted to return from my circle, Infantry. The only dudes that I know that paid over $10K to go back were REMFs. There is nothing there but bad dreams and very bad memories. That was the most miserable time of my life, why in the hell would I want to flashback.
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SGT Robert Pryor
SGT Robert Pryor
>1 y
MSG Danny Mathers, I certainly understand your sentiments. In fact, because of my never wanting to return, I suspect that a majority of Viet Nam vets would rather not return. As for the cost, this was part of a greater trip I took with my daughter were we also visited Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. The total cost of the trip, to include all four countries, for the both of us, was about $6K -- $3K each. While I did not see much action, and was not in Viet Nam very long, I would not consider myself a REMF. I did hear a gun fired in anger a time or two:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/5119
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SSgt Richard Kensinger
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So very sorry that you are experiencing psychosocial wounds. I see this very frequently w/ combat vets dating back to Korea. I am a clinical psychologist w/ expertise on this trauma. The very vast majority of vets I encounter, never want to return to this conflict zone. Via your dream your observing ego is attempting to achieve mastery over this tragic experience referred to as "repetition compulsion" . I can send you articles based on my ongoing research. You can reach me " [login to see] ".
My best to you, and God Bless for serving there.
Rich
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SGT Robert Pryor
SGT Robert Pryor
5 y
Life's been good so far.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
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Do me a favor to give me a thumbs up so I can connect with your post later. Thank you
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COL Scott Pacello
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And thanks for that excellent write up.
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LCDR Thomas Doherty (USNR-R Ret)
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When I visited Vietnam in 2017, I ran into a USAF Vietnam vet who was living in Saigon, where he had been stationed almost 50 years before. He just enjoyed living in Saigon and hanging out.

I am a "Vietnam Era" vet, from 1974 and thus old enough to look like a real Vietnam vet. I didn't experience any hostility, took the train and spent time in Hanoi, Dong Ha, Hue, Da Nang, and Saigon. I went to museums in Hanoi and Hue, and while they have their point of view on the war, I didn't see an overload of demonizing Americans. If anything, the French are made out to be the bad guys.

Like China, Vietnam has transitioned to capitalism, and all of the familiar US brands are there. It might be more of a shock to see Starbucks and KFC there for some vets.

Food is great, the beer is cold, it's inexpensive to stay there. I recommend it.

The DMZ Bar in Hue was kind of a hoot, a war-themed bar.
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SGT Robert Pryor
SGT Robert Pryor
5 y
I envy you. My return trips to Viet Nam did not allow me to see much of the countryside beyond the areas around Saigon and Hanoi. I prefer Hanoi to Saigon. Some day I hope to take the train between the two. I did take the train from Hanoi to Beijing once and thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
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LCDR Thomas Doherty (USNR-R Ret)
LCDR Thomas Doherty (USNR-R Ret)
5 y
SGT Robert Pryor - I agree with you, I prefer Hanoi to Saigon. Da Nang was also very nice. It's easy to buy train tickets, I took the sleeper from Da Nang to Saigon, it was comfortable and they served meals.
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LTC Jason Mackay
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I am happy that you could go back and close that chapter to bring some solace to your life.

I fear today’s veterans will not see that in their life time. Iraq and Afghanistan will be no-go places for the rest of our lives
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SGT Robert Pryor
SGT Robert Pryor
5 y
9956e34a
I'm curious about that too. I will have to check with the three close members of my family to serve over there and see how they feel about going to Iraq or Afghanistan. Only one saw heavy combat (my nephew who also lived with me as a foster child). But as you correctly pointed out, it could be a long time before the environment is right for safe/friendly tourism. My son (Robert Jr. -- Air Force) is planning taking my granddaughter to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan when she graduates from high school. He operated out of there when he served in Afghanistan but was also physically stationed in Iraq.
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LCDR Thomas Doherty (USNR-R Ret)
LCDR Thomas Doherty (USNR-R Ret)
5 y
It's possible to visit Erbil and Sulymaniyah in the Kurdish region of Iraq. It's pleasant and safe there.
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
5 y
LCDR Thomas Doherty (USNR-R Ret) the potential to end up in the side of a milk carton still way too high
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