Neil Hannan's 2017 Vietnam Trip: April 9, 2017 1145 Vietnam Time Da Nang

While Thong is in Hoi An on a guiding assignment, I'm taking some hours to catch up the blog and restructure my schedule. I had my itinerary, lodging included, nailed down until a glitch two days ago tossed a monkey wrench into my plans. Tomorrow I will travel via train or bus to Hue, as scheduled. But, everything changes thereafter. The plan was to travel from Hue to Dong Ha/Nhi Ha. However, I was informed two days past that the twenty female piglets won't be available until April 22. So, now my plan is to travel to Dong Ha April 20 with a departure of April 23. Writing tablets will be distributed to Nhi Ha school kids April 21, with piglets the following day.

Yesterday a car was hired for the purpose of traveling to the LZ Colt area for visits to The, Duong, and Thua. Duong, who lost both legs serving in the 196th Light Infantry as a Kit Carson Scout, was the first stop. Considering his disability, he seems to be doing OK. The TV, fan, and rice cooker that we have gifted are working well. He is regularly taking the vitamins and joint meds that I provided last year. The water well, 71 meters in depth, that we had drilled last summer has proven to be an obvious benefit to Duong. Rather than a pressure-sensitive switch, which I had requested, a manual switch was installed. Regardless, he has plenty of good water. I left him with in excess of a year's supply of ibuprofen, vitamins, and a triple-acting joint supplement. I also provided food treats and cash. Duong will notify Thong in two months regarding the effectiveness of the joint supplement.

The next stop was to visit Son's mother, Lady The. This dear lady is hanging in there fairly well for 95 years of age. Like Duong, The has been diligent in her consumption of the vitamins and other supplements provided last year. In my view, her mobility is diminished from last year. But, she wishes to continue to use her old stick for walking, discarding my offer of a walker. In addition to food treats and a supply of vitamins, ibuprofen, and joint supplements, I presented Lady The with enough cash to purchase food for some months. I insisted that Thong emphasize to Phung, her son, that the money is intended solely for the benefit of The. She was expecting a doctor's visit that afternoon. Phung obliged my request to transport me via motorbike to Son's grave, where I lit incense.

It was a short drive down a narrow path to Thua's house, where my smiling comrade awaited. He, too, served with the 196th Light Infantry. Thua's health seems to be very good and he has little complaint. It was two years ago that he first mentioned joint pain. So, last year he was given vitamins, ibuprofen, and a joint supplement. Again this year, Thua was given a supply of these vitamins/supplements. However, this year I brought a new triple-acting joint supplement, which my research shows to be superior. He will advise Thong in two months as to its effectiveness. Food treats were given, much to the delight of hovering children. I also happily served as the delivery person for a generous monetary gift from an American 196th Infantry veteran who had served with Thua during the war. Thua is a humble, hard-working, unassuming, appreciative, and honorable man.

With the visits completed, we headed back on the 1 1/2-hour drive to Da Nang. En route, we stopped at the main gate to former LZ Baldy, which is now an active Vietnamese military base. Following many months in the field, I was stationed at Baldy as a perimeter guard on bunker #8 until my time to head home.

Thong and I have been invited to have dinner tonight with a student and her parents. The student is studying the English language, so it will be interesting.

Although not relative to yesterday's activities, I've included a photo of LZ East that was taken from the train two days past.

It's off to Hue tomorrow....

Neil