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James Murtaugh
Photo taken n April 1967 - south of Danang.
Jim at around 98 pounds - a real fighting machine!
Jim on his return trip to Vietnam in May of 2000 at Marble
Mountain
Jim at slightly over his fighting weight!
James Murtang is one of the featured veterans in the
documentary film being released this year (2003) - "Time in a Barrel". For
a look at a video clip click onto:
http://www.timeinthebarrel.com/
The film follows several returning veterans and some of their
sons back to Vietnam. Jim's journey is one of the featured stories in the film.
Leprosy Project
From Jim's emails he talks about one of his desired
projects.
Between Danang and Hue is one of the most beautiful places in all of Vietnam.
This place is also a leper colony. It was started by an American Baptist
minister. He went home as the war ended. The government can only help the people
there a little bit. Some NGO's have helped some. But life is very hard for them
and what they need is long term medical help so that some day the leprosy will
be gone. Many kids live there.
So this will be my project. To find on going care for them. When I return
from my trip I am going to write the Carter Center to see if they can help me
along. Another thing that would be great would be if the former President could
make a trip to Vietnam. He would be greeted warmly and it would give the
Vietnamese even more hope for a better future. Jim
Short Bio
I was in the US Marine Corps 'from 1964 to 1969. I
served in Vietnam 67 and part of '68 with "A" Co.1/3 3rd.Marine Division. We
were a special landing force (from Navy ships) and landed in VN on many, many
operations in northern SVN.
Trained 81mm mortars. Vietnam 60mm mortars,3.5 rocket launcher gunner.E-4.
Enlisted instructor The Basic School, Quantico,Va.Sgt.E-5.
WORK - IBM Corp. two years; Machine Operator, Metro North Railroad,31
years; Pipefitter, plumber, tinsmith, and foreman.
Returned to Vietnam in May 2000 with other vets and non-vets. Great
group of people.
Returned to Vietnam in December 2001 with mostly non-vets. Side trip
to Cambodia.
Will retire in four years from railroad.
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