Back to Vietnam

[gemmer]

Back in country after 44 years. My wife and I have been here for almost two weeks. We flew into Tan Son Nhat. While taxiing I saw 5
UH-1Hs lined up, intact and apparently flyable. Engines covered with a tarp and blades tied down per SOP. Next to a hanger wall were 4
dismantled MI-24s. Further down, an intact,perhaps flyable AN-2 and a C-47 fuselage in faded camo. Along an old flight line, we could see the footprints for the revetments. At Phu Bai airfield, now Hue International, where I flew with the 101st, nothing exists of the military installations. Totally gone and grown over. We did find the road that ran down through the compound and a few remnants
of what looked like bunkers. Quang Tri airfield is gone, but the footprint of the active is still there. Marble Mountain is one big bare patch except for maybe 10 blast shelters closest to the ocean. There's a road going to Hoi An along the beach right where the airbase ended. Khe Sanh's runway is grown over. They have a museum there and several VNAF aircraft on display. UH-1H, CH-47A and a C-130. Just about every static display you see of captured VNAF aircraft have been repainted and given US insignia. Helicopters have ARMY
painted in white with USAF star and bar insignia.

Duane

[Zac Yates]

Fascinating stuff, gemmer! A friend of mine just came back from two weeks over there but isn't a historical buff at all so I haven't pestered her for pics.

As a returning vet, how did you find the experience?

[gemmer]

Fascinating stuff, gemmer! A friend of mine just came back from two weeks over there but isn't a historical buff at all so I haven't pestered her for pics.

As a returning vet, how did you find the experience?

Quite good. There is a very young population here so there is little reference to the war, and the older people have put it behind them. We were treated very well by people of all ages who were fully aware that I'm a vet. An interesting note; while in Da Nang, we met a former Marine who now lives there and works with kids who have birth defects due to Agent Orange.

Duane

[gemmer]

Update.

Spent some time around Da Nang. Got a closeup look at the perimeter around Marble Mountain.
There are a few new buildings scattered about, mostly small hotels. The remains blast shelters are all on the east side of the field. Da Nang airbase now Da Nang International is an active VNAF airbase using a number of US blast shelters. I saw a number of Mig 21s some of which appeared to be in storage but also quite a few that were obviously on active service, along with a lesser number of
SU-22s. All a/c were painter overall sky blue.

Duane