Ok, so I've rescheduled my trip to Vietnam for mid June as a non combatant per the Vietnamese Govt.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

I will post numerous pictures of where I fought and survived.
The Govt. of Vietnam has graciously offered to pay for our expenses, up to and including our full time visiting their beautiful country.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Sounds like you'll have a wonderful trip! I look forward to seeing your photos.

It will also be interesting to hear your memories, if you choose to share them. How long will you be there?

I hope you can take your time and really soak in the details. Hurrying around is truly not productive.

Have a fabulous trip!

[MarineCombatEngineer]

2. The Govt. has generously offered to pay for 2 weeks of all expenses paid, including hotel expenses, food,q

travel and everything else.
How they can forgive us for the pain and suffering we, as a nation, caused them, is beyond my comprehension.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. That is super generous of them. Wow!

I suspect they have several reasons for this: They are genuinely generous plus they would like to show the world that they hold no grudges over the terrible battles that they fought in.

[H2O Man]

5. I think it

is because of older cultural influences that know that the American young men were not responsible, and that holding grudges is unhealthy. Over the years, I've seen numerous documentaries on the war and post-war years, including interviews with elders in hamlets that helped in the search for human remains.

I hope that you have a good visit there!

[DFW]

10. A friend of mine was involved with that

The Pentagon had a small, unsung office whose task it was to work with Vietnam and Cambodia to help find MIAs (or what was left of them) to help their families get closure. Before he told me about it, I had never heard of the project. I visited him in their small office. They seemed quite busy. This was maybe twenty years ago. My friend was already about 70, and had served in Vietnam himself as a radio announcer. Hollywood even made a film about him. He said the story and portrayal of him in the film had little to nothing to do with how it really was (what else is new?).

[MarineCombatEngineer]

12. Adrian Cronauer? nt

[DFW]

22. Adrian it was

Most people don’t remember his name, just Robin Williams’ antics in the film. Adrian was nothing like that.

[mopinko]

23. i have a friend who was a consultant for a 'based on a true story' movie

about his dad. it was about 10% true. (that’s generous.)
yeah, movies….

[DFW]

40. They are entertainment, not journalism

Adrian wasn't amused or impressed, but he understood what was going on. The film was to make money, not to be a documentary about him.

[Irish_Dem]

26. Why are they doing this? What is their goal?

Is it part of healing??

[MarineCombatEngineer]

27. I can only guess, but I would say yes, that's part of the reason.

[Irish_Dem]

29. How are you feeling about going back?

Do you go back to the spot where you were stationed?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

30. I'm excited to return to the places I was stationed at,

this time with a camera instead of a weapon.

[Irish_Dem]

34. Yes a marked improvement.

And a total change of dynamics and interaction.
All positive.

I am glad you are making the trip.

I would like to hear about it when you return.

If you get a chance to take a picture of Da Nang, I would like to see it.
But you probably won't go there I assume.

Have a good trip when you go!

[MarineCombatEngineer]

36. Oh yeah, Da Nang is on our itinerary.

I'm anxious to see if any of the restaurants, hotels, etc are still there.
I would love to take some pictures, video to show my friends at DU and share my experiences.

[Deuxcents]

3. I was wondering when you were going..actually thought it was gonna be around this time of year..

I agree with Miss Peggy..we will be wanting to see your pictures and hear all about your experiences.

[democrank]

6. My wish for you, MCE....

~ PEACE~

[Bev54]

7. Enjoy the country this time, it is a beautiful country with a rich history.

Take earplugs for the honking though!

[Celerity]

8. 20 Vietnamese Dishes You Have To Try! 🇻🇳 🩶🩶🩶🔵

[MarineCombatEngineer]

9. Even during the war, I got to experience Vietnamese food and let me tell you,

it was delicious, Da Nang had, and I suspect it still has, wonderful food.
I intend to sample every dish they have on the menu.
I'll probably come back to the states weighing about 10 lbs more than when I left.

[KS Toronado]

24. Stay away from those tiny peppers, unless you love super hot stuff

[MarineCombatEngineer]

25. I love hot peppers, but at my advanced age,

my metabolism doesn't digest them like when I was a youngster, so, not hot peppers for me.

[RussBLib]

41. it's the cilantro, coriander, and culantro

Last edited Wed Nov 26, 2025, 11:41 PM - Edit history (1)

I hope your trip goes well. Not everyone has that opportunity, obviously. Full circle.

I was so lucky to be a few years younger than you.

https://russblib.blogspot.com

[DET]

18. Thanks!

Always interesting to see how other people live and eat.

[electric_blue68]

19. Fun,Ty!

Unfortunately the first several had fish sauce.
But then the Xoi sticky rice! I love sticky rice. In Chinatown I'd get sticky rice in lotus leaves, and a different place had the sticky rice by itself with little bits of meat & vegs.
The Mi Quang also sounds good.
Have to watch the rest tomorrow.

[KT2000]

11. My neighbor made the trip

he only said how glad he was that he did it.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

13. I'm hoping it will bring closure to a sad chapter in my life, as I hope it brought closure to your neighbor.

[KT2000]

39. Yes it did

Best to you -

[czarjak]

14. My son just returned from there.

Enjoyed it except for the typhoons.

[BaronChocula]

15. I was gonna say

Have a pho kin good time, but I wanna keep it classy.
How long are you going?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

16. 2 weeks and I plan to explore every place I served and fought at.

The Vietnamese Govt. is giving us unfettered access to past battle fields.

[BaronChocula]

17. Looking forward to hearing about it!

[GoodRaisin]

21. Enjoy your stay.

It will be brief.

[gay texan]

28. Any possibility you will be passing by Nimn Hoa or Tuy Hoa

It's where my Dad fought in the 68 Tet.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

31. Unfortunately, no,

I wasn't stationed there.
If your dad is still around, tell him Welcome Home Brother.

[gay texan]

32. We lost him this year

Service related illness. He's no longer haunted by the things that happened there

[MarineCombatEngineer]

33. My deepest condolence to you and your family.

[gay texan]

35. Thank you mate

I'm glad you made it home

[dalton99a]

37. FWIW, VFW pays for Purple Heart recipients to visit Vietnam all expenses paid

Since 2005, 142 wounded Vietnam vets have returned to their former battlefields courtesy of the Ralph Charles Kahle Jr. Endowment Fund, which was established in 1999 following a $1.1 million bequest from Kahle’s estate.

https://www.vfw.org/media-and-events/latest-releases/archives/2017/8/purple-heart-vets-return-to-vietnam

[surfered]

38. Have a good trip. Peace!

[Skittles]

42. wow

what an amazing and poignant experience that will be

do you know if any of the folk you served with will be doing this too?