APRIL
29, 2017 WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM, SAIGON
This
afternoon marked my fourth visit to Saigon’s War Remnants Museum, formerly War
Crimes Museum. Although the name was changed some years back, the museum’s
theme remains unaltered. Being Saigon’s #1 tourist attraction, this place is always
very busy. The villainous theme
promoted at each of the many exhibits is quite obvious. There are many displays
involving U. S. weaponry, photos, purported facts and figures, and such. Many
of the claims presented are simply undeniable. I was here. I know. Respective to
some of the claims, though, I am not in a position to comment. It is obvious that the Vietnamese have
had their fill of intruding foreign governments, as has been experienced for
most of the last millennium. Of the hundreds of visitors, I was the only
obvious U. S. Vietnam War veteran. In fact, during this entire trip, I have
seen no other person displaying anything that would suggest veteran status…hard
to believe.
The walking route from the hotel to the War Remnants Museum took me right alongside the
Presidential Palace, HQ for the South during the war. Following the fall of
Saigon, it was renamed Reunification Palace. Have you seen the famous photo of
the NVA tank busting through the gate in 1975, signaling the end of the war? Well,
this is the place. When walking by
this gate, I observed that famous tank on display.
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| NVA Tank #843-Entering Presidential Palace Grounds 1975 |
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| # 843 on Display |
I took few photos at the museum, but here is what I have. My fellow infantry vets will recognize the weapons, claymore mines, aerial flares, and such. I carried an M-16 until June, when Larry McFadden and others were killed ...lost half my squad that night. The next morning we found Larry's arm with sleeve, dug a hole, and buried it. It was the best that we could do under the circumstances. Another enemy attack the following night resulted in my being the only man left in the squad. Having just survived Nhi Ha, it was a tough time. Anyway, once McFadden's M-79 combat damage was repaired, it was my weapon for the remaining months in the field. Allan Barnes, for whom was held a special remembrance at Nhi Ha April 21, also carried an M-79. Each M-79 man humped a minimum of seventy 40mm rounds, as I recall, plus his regular gear.
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| M-79 Grenade Launcher 40mm "The Thumper" |
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| M-79 Rounds |
That's it for now. I will write more later, as there's more on my mind.
Neil
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| Claymore Mines- We placed these each night after digging our foxholes and on night ambush positions. 750 pellets each, 180 degree blast. |
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| Aerial Flares |
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