Return from Vietnam
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- November
- 17
As you read this, my father and I are on our way back to the United States. But our journey continues: I have several Vietnam-reported stories scheduled to run in The Journal News this week, and I will continue updating this blog daily for at least a few more weeks. (There’s quite a lot of material I haven’t touched on, including photos, videos and audio recordings from the various places we visited, by ourselves and with the group.)
As we left our hotel for our flight to Japan, four wedding receptions were taking turns posing for photographs in the lobby, and one band was singing “Why, Why, Why Delilah” so enthusiastically, it drowned out the usual noise of all the honking cars and motorcycles whizzing through Ho Chi Minh City.
Last time my father left Vietnam – also en route to the U.S. through Tokyo – he took this book of matches as a souvenir from Camp Alpha, the processing center in Saigon where soldiers coming into or leaving Vietnam spent a night prior to going to their assigned unit or back to the states.
Hi Nicole,
I am finially getting a chance to sit and write to you. I meant to throughout this whole series and of corse, not that you are practically home I am just now getting the chance. Oh well, better late than never. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I have been following this since day one and I enjoyed your articles immensley. My father ( John Mastandrea ) went with his brothers at the Local 333 chapter for his first return to Vietnam back in 2005. He was ready to go back…35 years to the day after leaving. He started his “recovery” about 8 years ago or so and goiing back to Vietnam was the icing on the cake. As I am sure you feel the same, words cannot describe how proud I am of my Dad. For his strength then, and strength now to go back and relive and rehas….and to recover. To be able to witness his change before my own eyes has been amazing all in itself. I am sure returning with your dad has been that and then some. Anyway, good luck, I look forward to “reading on” about your journey together.
Kindest regards,
Denise M Bowler
Hi Nicole,
I am finially getting a chance to sit and write to you. I meant to throughout this whole series and of corse, now that you are practically home I am just now getting the chance. Oh well, better late than never. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I have been following this since day one and I enjoyed your articles immensley. My father ( John Mastandrea ) went with his brothers at the Local 333 chapter for his first return to Vietnam back in 2005. He was ready to go back…35 years to the day after leaving. He started his “recovery” about 8 years ago or so and goiing back to Vietnam was the icing on the cake. As I am sure you feel the same, words cannot describe how proud I am of my Dad. For his strength then, and strength now to go back and relive and rehash….and to recover. To be able to witness his change before my own eyes has been amazing all in itself. I am sure returning with your dad has been that and then some. Anyway, good luck, I look forward to “reading on” about your journey together.
Kindest regards,
Denise M Bowler