Two weeks is not enough time to pull together what happened 40+ years ago and wrap it in a neat package with all the other things that have happened to us in our civilian lives. Vietnam just hangs out there refusing to drop off the radar. Some still rank it first on the list of traumatic events; for others, it has dropped to number three or four, but for all of us, it still seems to hold in the top three.
We are a day and a half from finishing the build, then after a day in Saigon, we'll return home. Most of us are beginning to think about coming back next year. The build will be much further North, in more temperate climes and near the site of many of the major battles where some of the guys served.
Studies have begun on the effects of Agent Orange and PTSD on the Vietnamese. Though not apparent on the streets, it is rumored that there is a high incidence of birth defects and other critical illnesses due to exposure to dioxins. Cu Chi, site of the famous tunnel systems, is now a young forest. In 1972, it was bare. Bomb craters covered the area, and Agent Orange had completely defoliated the trees. Much of the areas around Saigon are and were the same. What a price to pay to protect our headquarters--for both sides.
Of the 30 on the build, 16 of us served in country. Our assignments ran the gambit from clerk to search and destroy. Humor, perhaps sometimes inappropriate humor, hints that though most of the pain is gone there will always be at least a little remaining. As we laid bricks in the beating sun, a tedious, repetitive process, one of the guys uttered, “They came down a lot faster than they go up.” It will take a lifetime to ease the pain of what happened 40+ years ago.
Those on the build who served in country are:
Tom Chap, Army, MACV “D” Company Supply, Long Binh, 1970-71
Vic Romback, USAF CCK Taiwan, 776 Tactical Airlift Squadron, C-130 Loadmaster, 1966-70
Jim Forbes, Army, 2nd Signal Group, Aviation Detachment, Long Than North, 1969-70
Francis Love, Army, Platoon Leader, Infantry, Civil Affairs Psychological Operations Officer, 199 Light infantry Brigade, Long Binh, Nhe Be, 1966-67
Neal Pointer, Army, 21st Signal Corps, Long Binh, 1971-72
Dan Sauter, USMC, Ist Marine Air Wing (Wing Motor T), Mag 39 Fuel Truck Driver, 2nd Bn 23 Marines 4th Marine Division, 106 Recoiless Rifles, Reserve, 1968-70
djsnavion@aol.com
Steve Klarich, USN-CB, CBMU-301, Dong Ha, 1968-69
Gerard (Jerry) Brabant, Army, 1st Logistics Saigon Support Command, 520/537 PSC, Bien Hoa, 1970-71
C.E. Thompson (Ed), USMC, 3rd Marine Division, 11th Engineer Bn., Dong Ha, 1967-68
Roger Doyon, Army, 62 Transport, Lon Binh 1967-68
Richard (Doc) Small, Army, 1/505 3/82nd Airborne, Bn. Surgeon, 24th Evav Hospital, Long Binh, 1968-69
John L. Harris, USMC, (AKA Sgt. Harry) 1st Marine Division, 9th Combat Engineer Bn., Chu Lai, 1966-67
Jack G. Devine, USAF (SSGT) Motion Picture Editor, 600 Photo Sqdr. @ Phan Rang 1967; 601 Photo Sqdr. @ Takhli, Thailand 1968-69
Dud Hendrick, Army, 7th A.F. E.O.A., Mobile Team, Phan Rang, Tan Son Nhut, 1966-67
Neal, I am Cindy Romback, Vic's daughter. I was hoping that you could pass along a Happy Birthday from me to my dad. Tell him I love him and I'm proud of him as well as the rest of your crew. It takes a lot of courage to do what you all are doing, and I just wish I could be there with you all. Thanks!
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