hannan2022vietnam.blogspot.com

Well, I have transferred from DaNang to Hoi An and am in the final days of this journey. I have been to the beach once and am trying to unwind from a busy, rewarding, and successful trip. A girl who walks the beach selling souvenirs stopped at my chair, offering this and that. Interestingly, she sold a fan to my daughter, Katie, four years ago.   Quiet and peaceful: I have found a nice massage place a mere one minute from my hotel...just $8 for 60 minutes. I might go back this evening.  Soon I will post a trip video for you....  

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 ...

Well, I made it back to DaNang and have been doing some nosing around with Thong on his motorbike. Thanks to Damn Guide's extensive knowledge of Vietnam War history, fire bases, battle sites, installations, etc,  we were successful if our quest today. This photo is relevant to yesterday's tribute to SSGT Gene Morrison. Explanation to follow today. I still need to detail Friday's chicken delivery and visits with a few folks. It's been busy. Tomorrow my intent is to get transport to nearby Hoi An, where there will be time to settle down, take a breath, and get caught up. I shall return!

I would like to pay tribute to Staff Sergeant USMC Gene F. Morrison, a fellow Versailles, Ohio resident. In 1968 SSGT Morrison was a member of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team at Dong Ha Marine Combat Base, located in Vietnam's I Corp, near the DMZ. Following an enemy rocket attack on the base Ammunition Supply Point, explosive ordnance was scattered throughout the area. On May 26, Morrison's team was assigned the task of organizing the munitions that had been strewn about. When picking up an 81mm mortar round, it exploded in his hands, causing severe burn and shrapnel wounds. SSGT Morrison was airlifted to the U.S. Naval Hospital in DaNang, where he was treated and sent on to the 106th General Hospital in Yokahoma, Japan. Even with burns over 90% of his body and severe shrapnel wounds, Morrison fought hard and kept a positive attitude. However, he could not rally and died on June 3, shortly after receiving the last rites from Chaplain Lt. Col. H. J. McKenna.  SSGT Morrison...

Yesterday was a full day with distribution of 750 more chickens and visits with Ms. Hanh, Mr. Thuong, and Mrs. Vac. I met with Khanh, his wife, and father-in-law today and am expecting Khanh to come back any minute. Here are a couple photos from yesterday. I will have full details tomorrow!  With Khanh and Chicken Recipient                                                          Mr. Thuong & Mother  With Vy and Ms. Hanh I have much to report, including a tribute to a Versailles, Ohio Marine who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Tomorrow 750 chickens 🐔will be distributed to very poor families in Hương văn and Hương vân commune, Hương trà Town, Thua Thiên Hue province. Khanh will pick me up at 0700 and we'll go to work. I'll keep you updated! That brings our total on this trip to 2,225!!!! 🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔...

Well, Nhung picked me up early yesterday morning in advance of my 1000 hours departure for Hue. With some extra available time, she took me to a small, private school to interact with the kids. In Dong Ha, with limited  tourism, folks seldom have the opportunity to interact with Americans. We visited all three classrooms, where I had a good time attempting to teach numbers and animal names in English. Just before 1000 hrs. the taxi arrived, I said goodbye to Nhung, and was on my way. The water buffalo near town seemed to be having a good morning. I recall that they certainly didn't care for G.I.s during the war...at least A 3/21 196th G.I.s! They were used by the NVA and VC to transport weaponry and supplies. We were neck and neck with a a Vietnam Railways passenger train for some time. The track pretty much follows National Highway 1. I observed many bicycles and motorbikes transporting a variety of items. It's amazing how resourceful these folks are. Arriving in Hue, I check...