It will be New Years Eve tomorrow and on that day it will have been 40 years since I landed in Vietnam. And although it has been 40 years, it remains so much of me. The flight to Vietnam was via Airlift International from California to Alaska, Japan and finally Bien Hoa. The stop in Japan was the longest and one where we saw retuning soldiers. I remember them and us as being quiet. Most of them had their jungle fatigues on and they were really worn out, dirty and much different looking than our new fatigues. And even though I knew these were young men they seemed so much older than their years.
After landing in Vietnam we remained seated on the plane as some type of crew came on board with camera’s and lights filming. A GI screamed out that the plane could be attacked which started a mad rush to the open forward cabin door. I seem to remember the terminal being open with ceiling fans and it just being hot. After processing at the airbase we went via bus to Long Binh for in-processing. I remember looking out the open, wire covered, windows of the bus at this strange place that was hot, had strange smells, music, the Mama-san’s with their hats, etc. It was such a different world.
When we in-processed we had to brush our teeth with that gritty tubed material at an outside “cattle looking” trough. I seem to remember a Sergeant saying something like ‘You won’t know when you’ll get to see a Dentist again.” There was also a sign in both English and Vietnamese saying not to drink the non-potable water. What the hell did that mean? I know several others beside myself who did take a small drink. We were thirsty. Also, It didn’t’ take long to realize that everything was both in English and Vietnamese. Later that afternoon we finished our in-processing and we were pretty much free to wander a small area. We ate at the mess hall that had a sign “Alice’s Restaurant” and checked out everything we could.
During this short period of time friendships were established between total strangers. We banded together in small groups as we explored everything we could, laughed and made fun of things each other did, or reactions. We shared information between each small group about what we found, saw, heard, rumors, etc. We seem to go from being young soldiers to just young teenagers, 20 year olds away at school or camp. I suspect to an onlooker it would never appear we were going into a war. And as day turned into night we eventually all went to our assigned hooch to call it a night.
Then, in the middle of the night, we heard the gunshots and weapons going off. It was dark and no one knew what to do. A guy fell from the top bunk and I believe his nose was bleeding. It was 20-30 young men scared, not knowing what to do. Then somehow, someway we found out it was midnight and the local GI’s were shooting off rounds of ammo, rifles, etc. celebrating the coming of New Years. I think we all may have felt a little embarrassed but I think it was then we truly realized we were in a war zone.
The following morning, January 1, we started getting our orders. As our new found friends left one or more at a time, we said short good-byes and to me it felt like I was losing a very close and dear friend. I have always found this a very sad time in the Service, but it has left me full of wonderful memories. I don’t know how to explain how one can just meet a person and have this friendship/bond established so quickly. I have experienced primarily in the Service, especially in Vietnam. I felt so sad when we all parted ways. I still struggle with this as I want to see that person again, to share memories and our friendship yet I don’t even remember their name. I spoke with a counselor at the Vet Center and he tried to explain this all to me but I still have an intense struggle inside of me and such sadness.
I think that this next year I need to focus on just how wonderful it was to have met these young men and just remember those crazy, unpredictable moments we shared and how fortunate I am that our paths crossed. Not everyone can have an experience such as this.
So, to my brothers, I pass off warm thoughts of friendships past. I’m thankful that we shared friendships, even if only for a brief time. Please know that you are always in my thoughts and prayers.
