Daily Travel Updates

19 March 2003
From Tony Cordero, the son of Major William E Cordero, KIA, June 22, 1965.

To all of our supporters, the weary SDIT delegation has returned safely from Vietnam!

As posted before, much of our journey mirrored the Vietnam experience of our fathers.  The reception we received upon arrival at LAX should have been a copy of what took place in the 60's and 70's. 

A friendly face, a cold soda, a warm burger and an honest "Welcome Home" is what we received, and what the veterans deserved when they returned from Vietnam.

For 16 days, we worried about the looming separation anxiety that would occur when we headed in different directions at the end of our journey.  The "Welcome Home" reception was just the right tonic to help ease that worry.

A very large "thank you" is owed to each person who made this happen. 

It's great to be home. 

Peace,

Tony 

See pictures of the Welcome Home Party on the SDIT web site.

Mama's more nervous than a polecat on a stormy night. She said her goodbyes to me today. It's been 38 years since she hugged a loved one and sent them off into the wild green jungles of Southeast Asia. She didn't say so, but I know she wishes I weren't going on this trip.

"There's war breaking out all over the world," she said.

That's Mama's way of saying: "I'm scared I won't see you alive again." (Continued on separate page)

Click here to read the rest of this letter and more letters from Karen.
Click here to read the letter from Karen Mar  5
Click here to read the letter from Karen Mar  6
Click here to read the letter from Karen Mar  7
Click here to read the letter from Karen Mar 10
Click here to read the letter from Karen Mar 11
Click here to read the letter from Karen Mar 12
Click here to read letter 1 of 2 from Karen Mar 16
Click here to read letter 2 of 2 from Karen Mar 16
Click here to read the letter from Karen Mar 17

Sunday...

Hi there...sorry I haven't written sooner. There are 6 computers in the hotel and they are VERY slow! We have also been going non stop since we arrived. The first day we toured Saigon...the traffic is insane, but fluid. The next day we went to the Delta on a boat and ate a whole fried elephant ear fish for lunch...oh, and we had "wine"...more like moonshine--cherry, rice (like sake) and snake( they soak a snake in alcohol...it is the Viagra of Vietnam...yeah, that's what we all need when we're away from home for so long!!) After dinner we went to the top of the Caravelle Hotel for drinks...there was a pretty good band playing American music. (Continued on separate page)

Click here to read the rest of this letter and more letters from Cindy Rheinheimer.
Click here to read the letter from Cindy Mar 12 16:01
Click here to read the letter from Cindy Mar 12 22:19
Click here to read the letter from Cindy Mar 18 16:42

Hello my family ...

I tell you, this trip has been one amazing experience after another! I still cannot get over all I am seeing and doing. Today we went to the Mekong Delta ... rode in a boat across the river, saw lots of floating markets, went into a village along the river to watch them make rice popcorn (extremely primitive experience), wound through very narrow parts of the Delta (Jim, a Vet was explaining how this was prime ambush territory during the war). (Continued on separate page)

Click here to read the rest of this letter and possibly more letters from Cammie Geoghegan Olson.
 

5 March 2003 09:26:28
From Janice Brazil, the daughter of MSGT Charles E. Hosking Jr., KIA, 21 March 1967.

Dear Friends,

I can't believe I am here in Vietnam. All day I've had that feeling. It's hard to express just how incredible it feels to be here after so many years since the war, since the death of my father.

The theme of our trip is "Honor, Peace, and Understanding." We've come to honor our fathers, to appreciate the peace, and to understand the people and what happened. There are so many stories each of us has, stories of loss and sadness. Yet we tell them matter of factly and there is great healing in listening and in telling. (Continued on separate page)

Click here to read the rest of this letter and possibly more letters from Janice Brazil.