Greetings, My Friends,
It’s hard for it all to sink in this thick noodle of mine, but a dream that has been in the making for a very long time becomes true at 0600, April 21st, 2004. All of you have played a part in teaching me that it was possible and that I could do it by just putting up with me. For that, I thank you with all of my heart.
Tomorrow morning, I start the first leg of my journey to Los Angeles. From LAX, I’ll head to Oceanside to visit the family that adopted me so many years ago. I’ll spend the day with the Sullivan Family. Reggie was my mentor and my friend and his wife Jennifer was my mentor and my sister. Their children are my children. When I got back from Vietnam and discharged from the Corps, the Sullivans taught me how to live, laugh and grab every second right through the pain of discrimination and war. I haven’t seen them for twenty-five years. Today, Reggie’s a minister and I’m sure that Jennifer is still everybody’s sister. So it’s a good idea to begin my walk back to the past by first seeking my family’s comfort and advice. It will be a lovely day for tears of real.
Thursday, at noon, I’ll board a Korean Air flight that after a short lay-over in Seoul, will deposit me into Hanoi. For the next 19 days, I’ll walk the walk that began almost 40 years ago. After a couple of days in Hanoi, I’ll catch the train to Hue, DaNang, and Hoi An. While staying at these familiar haunts, I’ll visit locations from my past and I know, from many of yours as well. I’ll go to Dong Ha, Con Thien, Khe Sanh, Camp Carroll, Quang Tri, Hill 55, An Hoa, Dai Loc and float the Thu Bon to a certain bank. I’ll set down my chair, light up the spirit pipe, visit the memories of long ago, and talk to old friends and enemies.
Some good people here in Helena have created a web site that will allow everyone to travel along with me. It should be up and running tomorrow and I’ll be able to send daily sitreps with photos. You’ll be able to send me messages at tnnhud@fastmail.us. Please fill free to pass this on to anyone that you feel may like to go along. There will be three days that there won’t be a report. Those are the days immediately following my visits to old haunts. I intend to spend those days sitting quietly with the memories.
Thank you all for helping me to get to this good point.
S’lan go foil,
Tom
