April 23, 2022 1045 hrs Alaska Time - Our 2022 Vietnam Humanitarian Program is Underway

 Welcome to my 2022 Vietnam Humanitarian Program blog! Check back for posts relating to this year's mission. I will be making frequent posts of day-to-day activity when on the ground in Vietnam. Thanks for your interest. We're helping & healing.

Neil





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Sept 12 1645 Vietnam Time - DaNang U.S. Naval Hospital-Gene Morrison

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Today Thong and I traveled by motorbike to seek out the site of the U. S. Naval Hospital in DaNang, where SSGT. Gene Morrison was airlifted subsequent to being severely wounded May 26, 1968. Thong had a general idea, but we poked around until finding it. The Vietnam-era building was replaced on the original foundation by a new hospital. The main gate to the new hospital is in the identical location of the U.S. Naval Hospital gate, through which Morrison would have been transported.  Site of U.S. Naval Hospital, DaNang, Vietnam SSGT Morrison's chopper would have landed on a helipad right about here. It has obviously not been maintained, but this is the pad. Then the wounded Marine would have been taken by ambulance a very short distance to the hospital.  Vietnam-Era Helipad for U. S. Naval Hospital, DaNang Here are the hangers for the helicopters at the U.S. Naval Hospital Helipad. We wanted to get inside the wall, but it's now a military installation of some sort and soldiers ...
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Sept 16 0830 Vietnam Time - Another Visit with Mr. Thuong

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After the Sept 9 chicken distribution, we drove a short distance to the house of Mr. Thuong. There were many banana trees en route. Just two years old when he fell into a fire, reducing his hands to mere stubs, Thuong has adapted amazingly well and can tackle about any task. He has a huge grove of papaya trees, the fruit of which is sold at local markets. He picked a few ripe ones for us. He also raises chickens and pigs. However, a swine disease has temporarily placed a halt on pig production. A vaccine has been developed but, much like the covid-19 vaccine for humans, it doesn't necessarily prevent infection. We took a look at the 50 chickens that he had received from us earlier that day. And it was a pleasure meeting Thuong's mother.   With handshakes & hugs, we were on our way to see Mrs.Vac.
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Sept 19 2325 Singapore Time - On My Way Home

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Well, I left DaNang Airport at 1155 and arrived in Singapore 3 hours later. The last time that I flew DaNang to Singapore was July '68. A huey was dropping off supplies to my field  company when someone hollered out, "Hannan, R & R."  I had had no clue if I would ever get an R & R or, if so, where it might be. I rushed to the chopper with my M-79 and pack and jumped on board. My head was still spinning as it lifted off and headed for Chu Lai. Then came a cold beer (something cold!), a shower (I had been in the field since Feb), and a haircut (longest my hair had ever been). From Chu Lai I believe that it was a C-130 that flew me to DaNang.   Leaving DaNang Air Base July '68 When standing on the tarmac in DaNang July '68, about to board a plane destined to Singapore for 5 days R & R, someone tapped me on the shoulder. To my surprise, it was Gary Davidson (aka G-Man) from my hometown of Versailles, Ohio. He was going on R & R in Taipei. What a coinci...
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