Today we visited Independence Palace also known as Reunification Palace. Before I get started I would like to point out that toward the end of every blog until the end of this trip there will be a short summary of one or two Vietnam veterans participating in this trip so you can get to know the impact this trip is having on them and learn about some of the reasons as to why they have chosen to return to Vietnam after almost 50 years. Of course, each veteran will know this is being published and I will only share information they choose to disclose about themselves.
Brief history on the Fall of Saigon: it effectively marked the end of the Vietnam war on April 30th, 1975. US forces defending South Vietnam had been drastically reduced leaving the military in South Vietnam vulnerable and eventually unable to defend their country against North Vietnam. The advance of the North into the South became unstoppable. North Vietnamese tanks smashed down the gates at the Presidential Palace. By the end of the day on April 30th, South Vietnam was totally under control of the North and announced a reunification of a united Vietnam. Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City. Below are some pictures I took of the Palace and the actual tanks used to smash down the gates.
Above: the Presidential Palace
Above: the original tanks used to smash the gates down. Black and white pictures show what occurred on April 30th, 1975.
Above: view of the courtyard from the top floor of the Presidential Palace.
As we toured the palace I approached one of the Vietnam veterans who has been back to Vietnam over 40 times since the war. I asked him if the people in South Vietnam currently resent or are angry toward the U.S. for withdrawing its forces from the South in 1975 and abandoning them to the North. He said, "No, the Vietnamese culture is a very forgiving culture." I asked him if some of the Vietnam veterans experienced guilt for being ordered to withdraw knowing the South was still vulnerable. He replied, "Yes, most of us do."
Another important aspect of this tour which struck me as interesting was the reaction the Vietnam veterans had when we walked into the Command and Operations room in the palace. There were several maps of Vietnam during the war displayed along the walls and I noticed how all excited all of them were trying to locate the different places and base camps where they had been. As they traced their fingers up and down and side to side on the different maps of Vietnam I imagined some of the flashes and glimpses of memories long forgotten or still fresh in their minds.
Later in the evening, we all had dinner at an interesting sea food restaurant. I'm would not consider myself a foodie, but I like to try almost anything at least once. Tonight was one of those nights when I finally got to taste Balut. My brother Daniel is going to love me for this, Balut is a developing duck embryo that is boiled and eaten in the shell. Below are pictures of me trying it for the first time. My first scoop was the little ducks head with its small duck bill hanging off the side of my spoon. A tasty treat!!
Tonight I partook of many other tasty and exotic dishes as you can see below.
I had the privilege of doing a short interview with Mike this evening down in our hotel lobby here in Saigon. There are only a few questions I asked. I belief they are relevant to the trip and some of the the events which have already transpired (such as what happened on the bridge on Day 2) and some events of which I believe are still to come. Please NOTE that these answers are personal to the veteran and his experiences and the strength and courage it took for him to return to Vietnam.
1. What was your greatest fear in coming back to Vietnam?
"That I would disappear. Disappear into the Vietnamese culture. That I would flip the switch."
2. What motivated you to make this trip back to Vietnam?
"While in Fort Worth I had the opportunity to give my testimony to a group of Vietnamese people. They were shocked by my experience and that's when I knew I had to go back [Vietnam]"
3. So far, what has been the most important part of this trip for you?
"Meeting everyone in our group because they have touched me in different ways. Zollie's (another veteran in the group) testimony. But probably the most important part of this trip is what happened on the line (referring to what happened on the bridge on Day 2). That day might have been the total reason why I came back."
4. Does being back in Vietnam bring closure to the war for you?
"I really think that has already been done. I believe God has removed the darkness. The stronghold inside me has been removed by the blood of Christ."
5. If you could reach out to another Vietnam veteran hurting from the war what would you tell them now that you're back to Vietnam?
"I want them to know there is a way out. And maybe the way out is going back to where you were like the guys that served in Iwo Jima. Or maybe it's Jesus.....I don't know. But there is a way out and it's not the medications, psych ward, doctors, or alcohol. There is a way out where they can be happy, joyous, and free."
Thanks everyone for reading my blog. This is all for tonight.
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