March 28th 10pm
Woke up to another day of hard rain. We stayed overnight at the Pacific Hotel in Danang. City of one million, home of a US airbase during the war and the site where the "first landing" of US soldiers in Vietnam occurred to guard that airbase. This weekend will be the 40th anniversary of liberating Danang. Supposed to be a big fireworks celebration. The flag of Vietnam flies everywhere, a proud people recovering and building a future. The war may have ended 40 years ago, but effects are still apparent in the eyes and bodies of the young and old. We ended the day in Hoi An where there was a small parade of decorated bicycles and motorbikes.
This morning we traveled by van to a small village area west of Tam Ky to visit The, so that Neil could speak with her, check on how she was doing and deliver her supplies and some financial support. Currently The lives with her son; she is 93 years old. Her daughter, Son who died a few years ago, was aided by Neil in 1968 when she was only 12 years old after Neil saw that she had a traumatic war injury to her left leg. This prompting him to carry her to get medical help from the US. Only a mother's love and care for her daughter could have spawned the loving, warm and appreciative glowing smile that I saw when she greeted Neil. It is amazing to see such deep gratitude originate from the tragedy of war. It gives one hope.
We also visited Duong, a south Vietnam soldier who served with the 196th. He lost both legs above the knee in 1971 and has lived alone since. Neil had previously helped get his home fixed up and provided carts for him to move around in. I could also see a deep gracious reverence radiate from his face when he expressed his appreciation to Neil for the gifts that made his hard life better. Both of these visits were powerful and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to share them with Neil.
Woke up to another day of hard rain. We stayed overnight at the Pacific Hotel in Danang. City of one million, home of a US airbase during the war and the site where the "first landing" of US soldiers in Vietnam occurred to guard that airbase. This weekend will be the 40th anniversary of liberating Danang. Supposed to be a big fireworks celebration. The flag of Vietnam flies everywhere, a proud people recovering and building a future. The war may have ended 40 years ago, but effects are still apparent in the eyes and bodies of the young and old. We ended the day in Hoi An where there was a small parade of decorated bicycles and motorbikes.
This morning we traveled by van to a small village area west of Tam Ky to visit The, so that Neil could speak with her, check on how she was doing and deliver her supplies and some financial support. Currently The lives with her son; she is 93 years old. Her daughter, Son who died a few years ago, was aided by Neil in 1968 when she was only 12 years old after Neil saw that she had a traumatic war injury to her left leg. This prompting him to carry her to get medical help from the US. Only a mother's love and care for her daughter could have spawned the loving, warm and appreciative glowing smile that I saw when she greeted Neil. It is amazing to see such deep gratitude originate from the tragedy of war. It gives one hope.
We also visited Duong, a south Vietnam soldier who served with the 196th. He lost both legs above the knee in 1971 and has lived alone since. Neil had previously helped get his home fixed up and provided carts for him to move around in. I could also see a deep gracious reverence radiate from his face when he expressed his appreciation to Neil for the gifts that made his hard life better. Both of these visits were powerful and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to share them with Neil.
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