The American advisers were very young, younger than average Vietnamese soldiers. In some cases, they didn't have enough experience in the jungle. But they were very bossy and always demanded us to do things their way, the American way. If we didn't follow their instructions, they always threatened us by cutting our supplies, or reducing our rations. They provided us with weapons, ammunition, and aid with so many conditions to make sure we did everything in their way.
Many of our operations were commanded by the American officers. And in an operation, we usually were ordered to “follow the Marines!” or to “cover the Americans!” or something like that. We felt like we were working for the Americans. The Vietnamese officers in our battalion and division commands didn't question the American advisers’ decisions because they needed ammunition, new equipment, and supplies for their troops. They used Americans like their supply officers or warehouse keepers. I can tell you that some of the Vietnamese officers were interested only in how to get money and supplies and tried to avoid the battles. Many ARVN soldiers also lost their interest in the war and left the service. Many of us felt that the war was designed by the American leaders in the White House for us not to win. They were only interested in America's victory, not the Vietnamese victory. We were fighting the American War in Vietnam.
Because of the large casualties and desertions, we received new replacements after each battle. You fought with different men next time. It was hard to know each other and form some sort of brotherhood. We offered cigarettes and candy bars to each other, and talked about our hometown a little bit. Usually, those who were in the army longer played a big brother role since we were pretty much the same age. The officers, medics, and cooks were the older guys in our company. They took good care of us. I remember one day, when they were cooking rice, we received an order to move out. The cooks didn't want to stop cooking and throw away the rice. They had four guys carry the rice cookers to continue their cooking during our march. It was really funny. As soon as we got to the new location, they served us a hot meal. They were nice and hard-working guys. They always cooked some special dishes to celebrate when no one from our company got killed or hurt after a battle. It was the best time.
Then, in early 1972, a group of the experienced soldiers in the Twenty-third Division was transferred to the Airborne Division. I was one of them. We were so happy because the Airborne was the best division of all the ARVN forces.6
I was assigned to C Company, Second Battalion. We were sent to Saigon for advanced training for three months. We learned how to ride on the helicopters, engage after landing, conduct night operations, and surprise attack behind the enemy lines. We also learned some new technologies.
We were trained and equipped in the image of our U.S. counterpart. We learned how to do things in the American way. We dressed like American soldiers, operated like Americans, and were treated as an American unit. That was the first time I had to learn English, since some of the equipment instructions and manuals were in English. We moved frequently from one base to another, but most of them in the cities, such as Da Nang, Thuong Duc, Tung Son, Hue, Deo Phu Da, and Phu Tuc.7 In many cases, our unit served as a rescue force to save or safeguard the other ARVN infantry troops. We usually stayed at one base for a few weeks, and then we were transported to another base. At Phu Tuc, we engaged against the NVA, the North Vietnamese infantry regiments.
The battle at Phu Tuc was a hard one. The NVA proved a better fighting force than the Viet Cong. We suffered heavy casualties, and were surrounded by the NVA for days. Finally, we were relieved by the U.S. Marines and returned back to Saigon. Then we transferred to other different places, such as Thanh Noi, Dang Thanh, Nam Giao, Deo Nong Nuoc, and Long Khang. Our airborne troops were transported to various bases.
After the American troops pulled out of Vietnam in 1973, the Airborne Division didn't perform as well as many had expected. We were an Americanized division, which had depended upon the American military system in South Vietnam. After the American withdrawal, we lost this highly centralized command and support system, including communication, transportation, and logistics. We suffered heavy casualties and lost a lot of equipment, but there were not much new recruits, nor new replacements.8
Memorial service of the Airborne Division in Oklahoma City in 2003.
The toughest battle for me was the one at Long Khang in 1975. One of the infantry divisions was under attack by the NVA at Long Khang. We were sent by helicopters into the fighting zone at night. For three weeks, we fought a tough defense against the NVA attack. I thought we would never get out of there.
After the battle, we transferred to Son Loc, Phuoc Ty, and Dung Tao. When we were stationed at Dung Tao, Gen. Cham Lan and Pres. Duong Van Minh ordered all the ARVN troops to surrender.9 We didn't know why, but we obeyed the order and stopped fighting.
After that, our unit just fell apart and everyone seemed on your own. I didn't know where to go. Many of my friends got on the trucks heading South, back to home. My hometown had already been taken by the Viet Cong and I heard about the Viet Cong's policy of punishing those who had served in the ARVN like me. I was afraid of going back home and serving jail time. Like the other men, I burned all of my military papers and photo pictures taken during my service.
I found a U.S. cargo ship and the sailors allowed some of us to board. I had no idea where I was going and what I would do after the war. All I wanted was to leave the country and avoid any punishment, since I didn't think I had done anything wrong as an individual Vietnamese. I had served my country and protected my people. Why do I have to go to jail for that?
After arriving in America, I didn't know where to go and what to do. I traveled with several others to Minnesota and worked on farms. I was kind of like a seasonal handyman and moved from one farm to another. I did anything they asked me to. Then I found a job in a local Coca-Cola bottling company. I have been working there ever since. I missed my parents, brothers, and sisters. I missed my hometown and my country, to which I never returned. The country I loved had disappeared long ago.
Chapter 3
Electronic Reconnaissance
vs. Guerrillas
Humble and shy, Lt. Nguyen Nhieu always used a low voice during the interviews and our conversations. Sometimes my recorder failed to pick up his words.1 That day, however, I couldn't believe my own ears when he told me that he was getting married the next weekend. “Congratulations” I loudly shouted, trying to overcome the background noise in the Chinese restaurant. “Tell me about the bride” I was excited and curious. “Her name is Nguyen Nhi” Lieutenant Nhieu said, still keeping his voice low. He showed me her photo. Big eyes and round face, Nhi is a nice looking and happy woman. Lieutenant Nhieu told me that she was well educated and had written a few books in Vietnamese. He gave me three of her recent publications at the dinner table.2 “All about the war” his voice got even lower. “You may like them. Not me. She is part of it. She lost her legs in the war, and she is in the wheelchair” I was shocked and became speechless. It was hard for me to imagine such a happy and intelligent woman rolling down the aisle in a wheelchair at her wedding.
Lt. Nguyen Nhieu received his college education and was admitted to a law school in South Vietnam. But the ongoing war interrupted his higher education and made him an intelligence officer in the ARVN Navy. He received his formal reconnaissance training both in South Vietnam and in the United States from the best instructors with the most up-to-date technology.3 The U.S. Navy provided technical support and trained Vietnamese officers for their intelligence mission.4 Lieutenant Nhieu's story is notable for its details in naval intelligence collection of the South Vietnamese Navy. As one of the largest navies in the world, the ARVN Navy had more than 1,400 ships and gunboats, with 42,000 soldiers and sailors—seemingly everything needed to fight against the NVA and Viet Cong along the coast and in the rivers. According to Lieutenant Nhieu, however, the ARVN Navy failed to play any significant role in fighting the Communist forces and defending South Vietnam during the