A JOURNEY OF THE HEART 
An editorial comment from Bill McDonald

Going back to Vietnam after 35 years was an emotional and spiritual adventure. I had no idea of waited for me, or how I was going to react being there again. I went to Vietnam with 3 other veterans - calling ourselves "the Peace Patrol" - named by our leader and guide, David Gallo, from San Francisco. The other two men were Richard Webster from Illinois, a retired Army officer; and Robert Reese, from Atlanta, Georgia. All of these men had served with the Big Red One, out of the III Corps Area, were I had been with the 128th Assault Helicopter Company. The Tomahawks had supported the operations of the 1st Infantry Division out of Phu Lio and Lai Khe. 

We each had our own personal reasons for going - each looking for some healing and closure to a very important part of our young lives, that took us to Vietnam over 30 years before. Richard was trying to finish a book on his experiences there. This was going to be the final chapter to his book. Robert was not sure what he expected, but he found himself experiencing a healing process, just as I was. David had been running trips for veterans for several years taking them back to their old battle grounds and base camps. He had established himself as a rather expert guide, for returning veterans. He also has become a consultant to many American companies trying to do business in Vietnam. On this trip, he stayed several more weeks, after I had left, to work on a deal to try and bring a mono-rail transportation system to Hanoi and Saigon. 

I was on this trip to find some closure and also to help The World Peace Rose Garden Organization find a place to establish a new peace garden in Vietnam. I had also offered to check on the progress and take photos of the new Sharon Ann Lane Foundation Medical Clinic in Chu Lai (Just south of Da Nang). It was my hope that I could assist their fund raising efforts by bringing them more attention by adding them to my website experience. Personally, there were many spiritual and emotional issues I was going to have to face - these were the unknown part of my trip and perhaps, the one part that caused me some fear. I had no clue to what I was going to feel when I went back to my old base camp at Phu Loi - which was now a training camp for the People's Army of Vietnam. 

What we found in Vietnam was not what we had expected at all; the country had opened it's arms to us in every way. Where ever we traveled we were made to feel very welcomed by the people and even by government officials. We got mobbed by groups of students when we went sightseeing - they all wanted to speak to us "Americans". They didn't want to talk about the war, or why we fought it over 30 years before; that war was not a issue to this new generation (67% of the population of Vietnam was born after the end of the war.) they were more interested in our lifestyle. They asked us questions about our jobs, homes, cars, family, and things of social interest to them. Never did any of them ask us directly about the war. We were the ones who brought it up when we told them we had been their over 30 years before. 

The country of Vietnam has healed in many ways - some very obvious, like the re-growth of all those defoliated forests and jungles  - and the building of new roads, bridges, electrical wiring to all the outlaying villages, new homes, schools, churches, factories and even amusement parks. But the people - are the biggest change. Their smiles and the attitude about life and the "living in the now moment" is very refreshing. They do not spend their time complaining and bemoaning all that has happened to them and their country from all the decades of war. Almost everyone has  family members or friends, who were still missing from the wars - or killed - but they deal with today and do not seem to publicly harbor any past grievances. They have learned to deal with life by moving onward  - by forgiving the past - but not forgetting it - and this allows them to be fully engaged in the present moment. 

I was impressed at how the old veterans of the South - the ARVN - handled their fate. Most all of them had spent some time in the "re-education camps" after the war ended in 1975. Some of them were there from 2 years to 10 years. However, most all of them are functioning and working and living their lives, as best they can. Of course, lots of them have not had the opportunities for good jobs, yet, they as a group, did not seem on the surface, to be bitter about it; they will tell you that they have had to deal with life each day - as it was dealt to them. There seems to be an acceptance of their "karma" and they do not consider themselves as victims. The move forward each day and try not to continue looking backwards at their lives.

I learned another lesson there - and that was how the people in Vietnam have separated the individual soldiers, who fought against them - from the their governments; be it French, or American - they respected other old warriors for their fulfillment of their duties and their bravery. Loyalty to one's country is respected - and they can keep that perceptive when dealing with the veterans, they have fought against over the many long years of their history. That is why we were able to embrace each other in their villages and homes, throughout the country. We meet and were invited to join in fellowship with many former Viet Cong and NVA veterans - some of them very high ranking officers. We were honestly welcomed into their world - as respected and honored guests. This was the biggest shock of all to me - how the barriers of old war and all the anger can fall so quickly and quietly. When we meet these former enemies there was a brotherhood of understanding and appreciation for each other that was mutual.  There was a common understanding for what each other had suffered and endured as a young man fighting in the war. There was a bond that only old soldiers could ever understand. It was real - it was honest and it was healing!

I am now back - but I am not the same as before my trip. I have seen peace at work in Vietnam. I have felt the love of the people in that country - and I was impressed by all that I saw and felt. The war is over - and it is now time for all of us to move onward and live in the present - by not forgetting the past - just forgiving it and allowing one to reside in the NOW. 

Please read more of my experiences on the trip by going to that new part of my website - where I will be updating with photos and comments for the next several months. There is much to say - and it is very difficult to put my feelings down in words. Some of what I am feeling has no words - and some things, are 180 degrees from where I stood prior to making this journey and I am still sorting it all out. So - as I evolve and assimilate the experience of this journey, I will be putting those thoughts on my website - hope that my sharing this experience will in some way open up that understanding to other veterans as well.    

Bill with Vietnam author and writer, Richard Webster

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