Posted on Dec 15, 2019
Would you return, or have you returned, to Viet Nam?
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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.
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.
Vietnam War
Family
Vietnam
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 33
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Would, but probably would not be allowed to see the areas where I served.... my memories are not those of the tour regulators....
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SGT Robert Pryor
You can go anywhere in Viet Nam, as far as I know. My first time back, quite by accident, I met the talking head from the 6 o'clock news in Saigon. She started up a conversation with my daughter and me for no particular reason (other than I'm so handsome -- NOT). Over dinner we discussed our plans, telling her my daughter and I wanted to rent a car and driver to take us out to my old AO. The new reading chick wanted no part of that. She sent her TV station provided car, driver and an interpreter to pick us up at our hotel bright and early the next morning to take us out there on the station's dime. The only caveat was that her car and driver had to be back in time to take her to work that night, which was not a problem as it was only about a two hour drive each way. The TV station did not do a story about it, the gal just had that much clout.
On my second trip to my old AO my wife, daughter and I just hired a car and driver for the day. He took us wherever we wanted. You can even hire a car and driver for multiple days if you want. You just have to pay for their meals and lodging while you are out traveling the countryside. Maybe adding $10 to $15 per day to your bill. They just won't let you rent a car for driving yourself.
Personally, I would never want to take one of those package tours marketed to Viet Nam vets. I've heard they come with the 'party line" commentary on the war. The Communist Party's version of the war is about as wrong as a fart in church. Don't get me started.
On my second trip to my old AO my wife, daughter and I just hired a car and driver for the day. He took us wherever we wanted. You can even hire a car and driver for multiple days if you want. You just have to pay for their meals and lodging while you are out traveling the countryside. Maybe adding $10 to $15 per day to your bill. They just won't let you rent a car for driving yourself.
Personally, I would never want to take one of those package tours marketed to Viet Nam vets. I've heard they come with the 'party line" commentary on the war. The Communist Party's version of the war is about as wrong as a fart in church. Don't get me started.
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Takes a strong person to share their story, yours very touching I am truly glad for you. May God
Continue to bless you and your
Family.
Continue to bless you and your
Family.
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I would never, ever, ever go back, unless it was in a B52 or B2 these days, with my finger on the nuclear trigger. No way, no how, ever.
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SGT Robert Pryor
I would never try to change your mind on this, SP5 Charles Gould, nor should you let anyone. But there are some things many Americans don't know. Out of the more than 20 countries I've visited in the last 20 years, the Vietnamese people like Americans far more than any other. When it comes to the war, the typical citizens' attitude today is, 'That was then, this is now.' And for now, their enemy is Red China. Because of that, they continue to move ever closer to the USA militarily, mostly because of the Spratly Islands and a repeated history of Chinese domination over the past 2,000 years. They have started allowing the US Navy to have ports of call in Viet Nam. While certainly not an ally as far as a mutual defense treaty might go, they are clearly a friend in an area where we need all the friends we can get. The bawdy life of the war years no longer exists. On two of my return trips I dated the same Vietnamese lady. She had a Masters Degree and even paid for some of our dates, over my objections. I once mentioned how I always wanted to see a particular show in Hanoi that was always sold out well in advance, so short stay tourists could never attend. The next day she held up two front row tickets for the show and refused to let me pay, and that was our most expensive date of either trip. She even paid for dinner and the taxi rides. Forget about that "I love you too much GI." I'm sure the oldest profession is still practiced there, just as it is the world over, but I never saw it. Economically, they have now embraced Capitalism for over 25 years. Those Vietnamese citizens involved in the Vietnam War are mostly dead now, just as our VN Vet population is rapidly decreasing. Out of the five remaining Communist countries in the world, Viet Nam is by far the one closest to us. They are better friends than many of our so called allies. For me, I would not condemn to death the millions of Vietnamese citizens that look to us for friendship, guidance and support. Your mileage may vary.
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