You say it best Richard, the deja vu feeling of presently encountering a faraway but still vivid past right in front of you. Love the smiles and the deep meaning of the simple words you use. Hope you are doing well.
I too served my tour in the Central Highlands. It's interesting how you described your intellectual and emotional sides, and how they almost compete with one another. I spent a great deal of time learning how to cope with my PTSD. One of my Psychologists explained that many of our memories of traumatic situations are suppressed and hidden away into our subconsciousness, where they exist mostly in our emotions. They are not always at the forefront, and we go about our lives quite well most of the time so, even with PTSD, we can deal with life daily, but on do so an intellectual level. But occasionally, (often for some, less often for others), the subconscious pushes those more traumatic memories to the forefront and, those who did not deal well with PTSD, have a difficult time dealing with everyday life. You find yourself in that place, as you said, where you feel, "...get ready, the shit is going to happen." We both left friends and acquaintances in forests, the fields, the Buffalo trails, and the Montagnard Villages of the Central Highlands, and I believe that a part of us will always rest there with them. Luckily, many of us have learned how to cope with those emotions, and how to let that intellectual sides take command, so we can carry on. (Without those damned salt tablets or that damned Malaria pill!) I know this is an older posting, so I hope you are doing well, and enjoying life as much as I've learned to. of not. God bless you and yours. From one "brother" to another.
I was in the USMC for six long years, each one longer than the previous one. I wasn't in the illegal conflict in Vietnam, but I had a relative who was. His stories of Vietnam and the people there had a profound effect on me, mostly because he was a man I respected more than any other. He never had a bad word to say against the people of Vietnam, in fact, he identified with them more than he identified with the other US soldiers because he was half Native American and half English American and looked more Native American than a white person. Anyways, he told me about the terrible food he had to eat in the jungle (rats) and about how he didn't want to go, but volunteered because he thought uncle spam wouldn't send him if he did that. He was wrong, of course because the US gov't doesn't give a shit about the soldiers, they're all expendable resources the same as a bullet or grenade. So, after I finished in the Marine Corps, I wanted to meet the people he had told me about. Now, after 15 years living amongst them, I know much more than he was ever able to know about them. I also know more than the maker of this video does about the country of Vietnam and I love it here. I love the people, the weather, the geography, the flora and fauna... the only thing I don't like is the westernization that is happening now. Had we never started shit with Vietnam, we would have won their hearts regardless of communism. That's a fact! Conquer your fears man and come back and get to know the people that never were really your enemy.
Was there a “fort Compton” somewhere in the central highlands? The reason I searched for this video, I’ve got an old photo of a Huey full of troops flying out and on the back says “fort Compton, central highlands 69 or 70” but I can’t find any info of it existing, thanks.
Seriously....why was the man there the first time...and why is he there again having a documentary on himself? Makes no real sense anymore than the draftees who "had to go" and had "no other choice"... but ended up signing up for another tour. I'm not watching this. I hope he talks about the crimes committed against the South and North Vietnamese people by US forces there. And...let's not forget crimes by US servicemen against US officers...also known as "fragging". This guy doesn't need a trip to Vietnam and a damn documentary. He, and the rest of the veterans need to just be thankful they dodged a bullet from the people they went to kill. Move on. Again buddy...YOU were an invader and aggressor in that war. The Vietnam war did NOTHING for America but feed it's military/industrial complex and give it a 5 year inferiority complex after the war was over.
Its good to know that the beautiful environment of Vietnam is still healing Vietnamese and Americans
You say it best Richard, the deja vu feeling of presently encountering a faraway but still vivid past right in front of you. Love the smiles and the deep meaning of the simple words you use. Hope you are doing well.
Bless you Richard, I was in the highlands, but I could never go back.
Been there as well! No intentions of returning! Many nights and days of fighting!
I have no desire to go back.
Powerful video, thanks so much for putting these together!
I too served my tour in the Central Highlands. It's interesting how you described your intellectual and emotional sides, and how they almost compete with one another. I spent a great deal of time learning how to cope with my PTSD. One of my Psychologists explained that many of our memories of traumatic situations are suppressed and hidden away into our subconsciousness, where they exist mostly in our emotions. They are not always at the forefront, and we go about our lives quite well most of the time so, even with PTSD, we can deal with life daily, but on do so an intellectual level. But occasionally, (often for some, less often for others), the subconscious pushes those more traumatic memories to the forefront and, those who did not deal well with PTSD, have a difficult time dealing with everyday life. You find yourself in that place, as you said, where you feel, "...get ready, the shit is going to happen." We both left friends and acquaintances in forests, the fields, the Buffalo trails, and the Montagnard Villages of the Central Highlands, and I believe that a part of us will always rest there with them.
Luckily, many of us have learned how to cope with those emotions, and how to let that intellectual sides take command, so we can carry on. (Without those damned salt tablets or that damned Malaria pill!)
I know this is an older posting, so I hope you are doing well, and enjoying life as much as I've learned to. of not. God bless you and yours. From one "brother" to another.
I’m enjoying your adventures. Thank you! I want to do this.
I was in the USMC for six long years, each one longer than the previous one. I wasn't in the illegal conflict in Vietnam, but I had a relative who was. His stories of Vietnam and the people there had a profound effect on me, mostly because he was a man I respected more than any other. He never had a bad word to say against the people of Vietnam, in fact, he identified with them more than he identified with the other US soldiers because he was half Native American and half English American and looked more Native American than a white person. Anyways, he told me about the terrible food he had to eat in the jungle (rats) and about how he didn't want to go, but volunteered because he thought uncle spam wouldn't send him if he did that. He was wrong, of course because the US gov't doesn't give a shit about the soldiers, they're all expendable resources the same as a bullet or grenade. So, after I finished in the Marine Corps, I wanted to meet the people he had told me about. Now, after 15 years living amongst them, I know much more than he was ever able to know about them. I also know more than the maker of this video does about the country of Vietnam and I love it here. I love the people, the weather, the geography, the flora and fauna... the only thing I don't like is the westernization that is happening now. Had we never started shit with Vietnam, we would have won their hearts regardless of communism. That's a fact! Conquer your fears man and come back and get to know the people that never were really your enemy.
Was there a “fort Compton” somewhere in the central highlands? The reason I searched for this video, I’ve got an old photo of a Huey full of troops flying out and on the back says “fort Compton, central highlands 69 or 70” but I can’t find any info of it existing, thanks.
I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A SPECIAL FORCES CAMP IN GIA NGHIA,I THOUGHT THEY WERE ONLY ALONG THE BORDER LIKE
PLEI ME FOR EXAMPLE
tran minh tam I was at B-36 at Long Hai located near the beach.
Gia Nghia, Bu Gia Map were often heard of.
Fire base, St. George. anyone?
Bill Smeltzer
👍
Seriously....why was the man there the first time...and why is he there again having a documentary on himself? Makes no real sense anymore than the draftees who "had to go" and had "no other choice"... but ended up signing up for another tour. I'm not watching this. I hope he talks about the crimes committed against the South and North Vietnamese people by US forces there. And...let's not forget crimes by US servicemen against US officers...also known as "fragging".
This guy doesn't need a trip to Vietnam and a damn documentary. He, and the rest of the veterans need to just be thankful they dodged a bullet from the people they went to kill. Move on.
Again buddy...YOU were an invader and aggressor in that war. The Vietnam war did NOTHING for America but feed it's military/industrial complex and give it a 5 year inferiority complex after the war was over.
1 to 20 kdr, cope harder
@@awkwrdly_socl Have no clue what you're saying. Try complete sentences.
@@topgeardel you can't understand basic acronyms? Sad.
The US had a 20 to 1 kill to death ratio in vietnam, absolutely demolishing those little guys
@@topgeardel "have no clue" lacks a subject, making it an incomplete sentence, ironic. Try learning basic English before you talk