Thursday, March 8, 2018

South Vietnam Before 1975 II

Dalat. Not a picture one would associate with Vietnam. View from the Palace Hotel.

Emily and Virginia in the kid's pool at the Embassy in Saigon.

The main pool.
 
Boy and Girl Scouts in the park in front of the Presidential Palace before 1975.

6 comments:

  1. Passed through the edge of Dalat (on foot) as we did many patrols around the area. It seemed to be a vacation/tourist area for the Vietnamese and definitely had many beautiful women in the area. Would have loved to have free time there but that was not in the cards for us grunts.

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    1. Thanks and where were you stationed?

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    2. First out of Phan Rang but mostly out of Phan Thiet and later out of Phu Bai near Hue. I think I roamed over a good share of the northern half of the country. The 101st moved around quite a lot.

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    3. The 101st moved around quite a lot.

      Similar to the ARVN Airborne who were flown as one unit to the current hot spot. After Tet '68 I had to keep the 101st at 105% strength regardless of the strength of other units. As you probably know legs were sent if not enough qualified Airborne.

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  2. The contrasting Vietnam cultures and lives during the 60s continues to confuse and sadden me.
    Very interesting and poignant photos, and much appreciated.
    A good friend, now passed, was a 2-tour vet beginning in '67 (?) spoke of the twin lives of Vietnam. He spoke quite fondly of his non-combat time; equally confounding.
    I would like to research the topic to aid in perspective. My memories of the era are colored by the putrid reporting and editorializing of the time.
    My thanks once again.

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    1. Thanks and if you are interested in going there, I plan on visiting there next November.

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