Thanks Dean, most enjoyable. I was embedded with the 101st Abn Div in 1968-69 and have vivid memories as to the destruction of Hue. Served most of my time in rice paddies, villages, and Ashau Valley. Pretty much a recluse living in Mexico now, but a return to visit Vietnam is in my dreams.
We took two trips to bring our infant son home from VietNam right around 9/11. In fact, we were there filing our adoption paperwork when it happened. We were one of the last planes to arrive back in the US before they shut down flights. We returned six weeks later to get his baby visa and bring him home to GA. My personal experience in Hanoi was absolutely wonderful. The hospitality and work ethic we witnessed there would put many 5 star resorts to shame. I really did fall in love with the country and hope to take our now-23 year old rocket scientist back there one day.
Dean, did y'all have one of those Vietnamese sandwiches and a nice hot bowl of Pho'? Great food--that Vietnamese food. A hard French roll with head-cheese, pickled vegetables smeared with some nice pate'-------I just found a Pho' joint yesterday down the street and I'm fixing to on dropping in by next week. I was engaged to a Vietnamese girl years ago-----too messed up mentally from the war and we fought all the time over nothing (I'm not one to fight with a woman-disagreements happen but cursing and throwing shit at me over nothing was too much). She'd hold her breath whenever we passed a cemetery-----I asked why, she said she saw soldiers bodies stuck on a big branch on a crik behind her literal 1 room wood shack on a crik behind the shack. Her Momma turned tricks right in front of her---poor thing. She was so beautiful and she loved me so much----I miss that little girl a whole lot---a tiny little thang and a spitfire. Damned war messed her beautiful head up. She was was one of those girls airlifted offen the helicopter from the embassy-----she was 5 years old--Yep, seen that picture? That was her. Lan Nguyen.
Thanks Dean, most enjoyable. I was embedded with the 101st Abn Div in 1968-69 and have vivid memories as to the destruction of Hue. Served most of my time in rice paddies, villages, and Ashau Valley. Pretty much a recluse living in Mexico now, but a return to visit Vietnam is in my dreams.
We took two trips to bring our infant son home from VietNam right around 9/11. In fact, we were there filing our adoption paperwork when it happened. We were one of the last planes to arrive back in the US before they shut down flights. We returned six weeks later to get his baby visa and bring him home to GA. My personal experience in Hanoi was absolutely wonderful. The hospitality and work ethic we witnessed there would put many 5 star resorts to shame. I really did fall in love with the country and hope to take our now-23 year old rocket scientist back there one day.
Thanks for the vivid reporting. Love it!
Also please see my latest:
https://montanarcc.substack.com/p/the-dark-forces-in-control-of-the
Hi Dean, do you sell your books directly or do I have to go through Amazon?
Amazon or Barnes & Noble to my knowledge...
Dean, did y'all have one of those Vietnamese sandwiches and a nice hot bowl of Pho'? Great food--that Vietnamese food. A hard French roll with head-cheese, pickled vegetables smeared with some nice pate'-------I just found a Pho' joint yesterday down the street and I'm fixing to on dropping in by next week. I was engaged to a Vietnamese girl years ago-----too messed up mentally from the war and we fought all the time over nothing (I'm not one to fight with a woman-disagreements happen but cursing and throwing shit at me over nothing was too much). She'd hold her breath whenever we passed a cemetery-----I asked why, she said she saw soldiers bodies stuck on a big branch on a crik behind her literal 1 room wood shack on a crik behind the shack. Her Momma turned tricks right in front of her---poor thing. She was so beautiful and she loved me so much----I miss that little girl a whole lot---a tiny little thang and a spitfire. Damned war messed her beautiful head up. She was was one of those girls airlifted offen the helicopter from the embassy-----she was 5 years old--Yep, seen that picture? That was her. Lan Nguyen.
Ok thanks Dean!
What a lovely account of your trip.
Makes me want to go to Vietnam, which is probably the best reaction to great travel writing.