Day 5 and 6: Hanoi

Unfortunately, it has been difficult for me to post blogs lately. Because Vietnam is a communist country our group of veterans have encountered resistance in completing parts of our objectives. At this time it is as specific as I can be. We arrived to Hanoi about an hour ago and are all exhausted. 

However, during the past two days I have had the honor of interviewing 2 other Vietnam veterans and would like to share with you their personal replies to questions I asked them. Please keep in mind that this trip is a journey of recovery for these great men and I choose to focus on the healing aspect of Vietnam and not the trauma they endured throughout the war. Once again, I'm posting pictures and replies to personal questions with the veterans permission. I hope learning about these men touches the hearts and minds of readers. 

Dan A. was an Army specialist in Vietnam from July 1968 to August of 1969. His MOS (job) was an 11 Delta or Recon. He spent some time in Long Bin Province, Xuan Lac, and Loc Nin where he spent most of his time in Thunder Road. As he describes it, Thunder Road was a place you didn't want to be do to mines, sniper fire, and ambushes from the Viet Cong. Below is a picture of Dan A.

1. What was your vision of Vietnam or its people before the trip? 

"I could not see this place better than when I left it. I could not see any beauty in the place or any human qualities in the people. Overtime, I imagined the place had gotten better but not to the degree in seeing it today. I'm just blown away that the Vietnamese people accept us Americans." 

2. Up to now, what has been your most significant moment here in Vietnam? 

"Someone back home in the US told me that God would have something in store for me; something to do with an NVA (North Vietnamese Army). When I found out about our tour guide's father being an NVA and getting killed by American bombs I knew that was the moment. That was the moment I was hoping for."

3. During this trip you have disclosed you were prejudice toward all Vietnamess, is that still true? 

"I was not prejudice, I hated them all. But overtime, after being saved, the hate began to disappear. From then until today the hatered has been working its way out of me and this (referring to Dan's experience on the bridge on Day 2 of y blog) was the last blow that pulled the hatred out of me."

4. So, how do you view Vietnamese people today? 

"I was taught in boot camp and infantry training that they were a little more then animals. On this trip, my perspective has changed and I see them as very intelligent, loving, kind, and creations of God just like me."

5. Why did you decide to return to Vietnam after almost 50 years? 

"I wanted to get more healing from prejudices, hatered and anger. I want to minister to people and how can I do that if I'm feeling all of those things inside me. I'm my mind I know I can't live like this and be an effective leader for God. I can't have any hatered, animosity or ill beliefs toward any race and needed to get all of that out of me." 

Dan wanted me to end this interview with one of his favorite quotes: "There is a Flavor that the soldier has that the protected will never Taste."

The next Vietnam veteran is Ron T. He served in the United States Marine Corps and was in Vietnam from December 1966 to December 1967. As a Lance Corporal his MOS (job) was an 0141/0311 which is an office clerk. He served mostly in Chu Lai and served as a mail clerk and in the bunkers. 

1. What was it like when you came back home from Vietnam? 

"I remember going to a basketball game and the guys I had gone to school with asked me how many babies I had killed. So I stopped going to ball games and other events. People were very condescending." 

2. What is one of the memories that has come back for you since being back to Vietnam? 

"There was this 8 year old kid I wanted to adopt. His parents had been killed by the Viet Cong. A couple of prostitutes had taken him in and gave him a job pimping. I tried to adopt him but the Marine Corps would not allow it. For the last 48 years I have wondered what became of him. He has always been on my mind. I wonder if he made it." 

3. Were there any challenges in planning your trip to Vietnam? 

"The biggest challenge for me was coming up with the money. With the financial support of my friend Brad and the church I was able to make this trip after sharing my testimony of faith with them."

4. What was it like for you to be back to the battle fields here in Vietnam? 

"I had a nostalgia that was strange. As a Marine, being in a place where I knew so many of my fellow Marines had died started to break my heart. I don't know why because I was not here specifically. But even though I was not in it I could feel it breaking me up inside. What helped me was being around other veterans. Because the memories of what happened back then I was able to share now with the other veterans in our group." 

5. What has been the most important part of this trip for you? 

"Connecting with all the guys in our group that were here in Vietnam. I feel a common brotherhood with our group and it is strong." 

6. If you could reach out to a Vietnam veteran back home what would you tell them? 

"That being here among the brotherhood of veterans I have learned first off that they have given their lives to the Lord and surrendered. We are talking about hard core combat veterans, Purple Heart recipients, and Silver Star veterans that realized they would not make it if they did not surrender to a Savior." 

Tomorrow we will be touring parts of Hanoi. I apologize for the delay and hope you all have a good night. Over and out.