Tom

Tom worked the same tour I was on at the 24^th Evac. He was a Vietnamese civilian who, from what I understand, was a former ARVN soldier who had been wounded. He had a significant limp when walking which I believe was wound related. His duties included cleaning our area just outside of the ER, help getting wounded GI’s off the choppers and other duties. He spoke only a few words of English and was overall just quiet, did his work and read a newspaper if there was any time.

I got along very well with him as did everyone else. And although he spoke only a few words of English there were several times he would be chatting away with me in Vietnamese what seemed to be a story of some sort he wanted to tell. I could not help but laugh along with him as he was so animated and laughing when telling his story and I had no clue what he was saying.

One night I was the only one working. I think it was due to others being sick due some type of spreading eye infection. Of course, we got calls coming in regarding mass casualties and were going to have several choppers coming in with the wounded. I sort of panicked wondering how I was going to be able to get them all in once the chopper landed. He knew I was panicked, came over and put his hand on my shoulder and said “No Sweat”. I felt a little embarrassed and calmed down. When the choppers were coming in I grabbed anyone I could to help, even a GI who was outside. After things settled down and all the casualties were in, the soldier I recruited outside came over to me and said something like “Need any more help son?” I looked over and saw that this guy was a very high ranking officer. I was shocked but did get out a no thank you sir and smiled and said some type of nice comments to me and then left.

One night I had to go to the other side of the hospital and Tom came along to help with whatever it was I had to do. All of a sudden he took my hand, held it, and kind of swung our arms back and forth, laughing and chatting away as we walked. I was embarrassed and worried someone would see this. Later I asked our interceptor if Tom liked guys. He wanted to know what I meant and I told him what happened. He told me that Tom really liked me, that I was kind to him and that I liked everybody. He said the hand holding fell into their custom. He also told me Tom was married and had a number of kids. He told me of mistreatment Vietnamese have had, mistreatment from the French before us as well as from some of the Americans now in their Country.

Tom was there my entire tour and I’m not sure I had the chance to tell him goodbye. I left suddenly, right at the end of my tour, due to emergency leave. I often wonder about him, especially what happened to him after the Americans left and what his fate was. After all, he was a former ARVN and worked for the Americans.