Day 2: Deliverance from War

Brief history on Vietnam war: successful attempt by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) and the National Front (Viet Cong) for the liberation of Vietnam to unite and impose a communist party over the nation. Opposing North Vietnam was South Vietnam or the Republic of Vietnam also backed by the United States of America. American ground forces were involved between 1965-1973. 

This morning, for most Vietnam veterans in our group, it would be their first time ever crossing into North Vietnam. We crossed the Song Ben Hai River which divided North and South Vietnam during the war. This time I could feel tensions running high as the group approached what would've been considered hostile enemy territory. Below are pictures of the veterans unloading from the bus and heading toward a museum dedicated to the war in Vietnam. 

What happened next is extremely difficult for me to detach myself from because I am also a veteran. Although from a different war, in my opinion, the psychological end results are similar in nature. 

A small group of us, including our Vietnamese guide, wandered off to explore the bridge extending across the Song Ben Hai River which was built in the 1950's to connect South and North Vietnam. As we walked along the river we noticed a line of demarcation painted along the middle of the bridge as you can see below. Also note the Southern side of the bridge is painted yellow and the Northern blue. 

Suddenly, one of the veterans, Mike, stood with one foot on the south and the other foot on the north of the bridge and as he looked over the river he began shouting in Vietnamese. He raised his hands toward the sky and pleaded in Vietnamese. For me and the others, time stood still as we watched this former soldier unleash his burden of pain. Another of the veterans in our group, Dan, was emotionally touched by what was happening and made his way toward Mike. They embraced one another as brothers and cried. As I observed these two soldiers I could see flashes in my mind of them as young men carrying their rifles and packs in the thick jungles of Vietnam. I could see them holding a wounded and dying brother just as they were holding each other now. Most importantly, I could feel and see their old battle scars opening and bleeding for what I hope is the last time.  Below are some pictures of what occurred. 

As both men withdrew from their embrace, another man was also emotionally touched by what had just happened. Our Vietnamese tour guide, Duc, his father had fought against American forces and was killed by American bombs during the war. Yet here he was on the bridge, with two American soldiers; he too walked toward Mike and Dan and embraced both of them as brothers and together, American and Vietnamese, shed tears of pain.

I don't know where or when, perhaps it's irrelevant, but after the expression of pain passed from these men there was suddenly an overwhelming sense of deliverance, redemption, and freedom. It was so powerful I could almost touch these emotions. All three men, in my opinion, were delivered from the bondage of war on that bridge today. It's something I will never forget. 

Next, we headed to explore the tunnel complex used by the North Vietnamese in the artillery village of Vinh Moc. It is difficult to imagine the Viet Cong living in these tunnels below the earth. In the pictures below you will see how whole families lived in these subterranean tunnels. Expecting mothers even had their children in these tunnels. We had the opportunity to explore some of the complex tunnel systems and get a small glimpse of the extreme survival measures the Viet Cong used to stay alive and survive American bombings. 

Our last significant stop was Alpha Three Fire Support Base better known as Con Thien (the Hill of Angels). It was a sight of fierce fighting between the US Marines and NVA (North Vietnamese Armies). Nobody in our group had been directly involved in this vicinity but we stopped and took a look at the battle sight anyway. Below you will see pictures of Con Thien. 

Thank you everyone for reading my blog. I'm doing my best to keep up with it as the days are long and weary. Stay tuned for more tomorrow. Good night everyone!