Jan 16 11:00 AM (Alaska) Anchorage Airport

With a ton of luggage to wrestle, I've finally made it to the gate at Anchorage Airport 2 hours in advance of my flight. The trip will take me to Portland, San Francisco, Taipei, and finally to DaNang at 9 AM Jan 18. The first order of business will be to exchange U.S. currency to Vietnamese dong at Mr. Mann's shop. Then we will arrange a car/driver for the following day.

The trip to see Thua, Duong, and Phung, Lady The's son and Son's brother, consumes most of a day. It was from Lady The's hooch that I carried the wounded Son to safety in late-Feb '68. Finding Son down in 2010 was amazing. What a reunion! After carrying her to LZ Colt, I never learned if she had even survived. But, now Son and her mother are both gone. I will ask Phung to escort us to their graves.

 

Finding Son 2010
 

For now the focus is getting to Vietnam. I wasn't so excited about doing so as a young infantryman in Feb '68. I looked like a damn kid. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then.

Day of Arrival- Chu Lai Feb '68
 

The journey begins!     

Neil

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