*Marine Monument above in 1970.
Saigon Police Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Long marched to the *Marine Monument [seen partially above] in downtown Saigon, saluted, stated "It is finished," then committed suicide, a single shot to the head with a .45.
A trip to Saigon in 1970 by photographer Jerry Bosworth yielded a small cache of black-and-white images that vividly depict a city in flux.
Even though little is known about their author, the street photos are considerably high-quality for the era.
More @ Saigoneer
What did Lt. Colonel Nguyen Van Long mean by "It is finished"?
ReplyDeleteThere was still fighting going on in Vietnam in the 70's.
I kind of like the black and white photos the best.
That was in the last days of Saigon in April 1975. I just posted it as accompanying info. Thanks.
DeleteReminds me of
Prayer: Something I Had Forgotten About Concerning The Last Days of Saigon
https://freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2016/03/prayer-something-i-had-forgotten-about.html
From my friend Bill Lemon: "First, I will certainly pray for ............ Although I am no longer a good Episcopalian (sort of like I am pissed at the GOPe), I have recently recharged my Christian batteries and while I don't attend a brick and mortar meetings, I do pray- hard and often. (Anyone with children should get used to praying). I recall you and I prayed in the Cholon Church (at the end of Tran Hung Dao) during the last day's of Saigon. The key is not to focus on ourselves but the soul of others."
"The key is not to focus on ourselves but the soul of others."
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and selfless. Thanks. Hard to imagine what Van Long
was thinking and hopelessness.
Yes and I was going to post the Suicides of April 30th but something is wrong with my NamSouth blog so I'll do it when it returns. Thank.
DeleteHere it is and thanks.
DeleteTHE SUICIDES ON APRIL 30, 1975
https://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=21&highlight=suicides
were there any Viet units that went gorilla and underground after the fall? I looked but can not find any mention. NVA closed all comm. during that time period. Or no one has written about it.
DeleteThanks - very interesting. Reminds me of the Japanese
Deletewho flew their planes into the ships. There was a word
for it.
were there any Viet units that went gorilla and underground after the fall?
DeleteYes there are some identified on my site NamSouth and here's one for starters:
My Friend, NAGO And Drew Dix, CMOH Winnerhttps://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=26&highlight=nago
One of his warrior's, Bao, went into the hills to continue fighting the Communists after the end. Years later, the Communists told Bao's sister that if he and his men turned themselves in, then they would grant them amnesty. Unfortunately, he believed them, and when he came to Chau Doc to surrender, they immediately took him to the marketplace and promptly executed him. Drew Dix ends his book with the follow words.
"It was a humiliating way for a warrior to go and I often think of him!"
Thanks - very interesting. Reminds me of the Japanese
Deletewho flew their planes into the ships. There was a word
for it.
Thanks.