What? What were we talking about? Where'd I leave my car?
Yes, Bru was a dominant ethnic group, but not the only one we worked with - but I’m too damned old to remember.. Something like the Van Kew or Dan Ku?
The Dao, Hmong, Tay, Thai, and Nung were the most common tribal/ethnic groups, though we about as often thought of the locals by name of the nearest ville or camp designation, or the local characteristic- black head wrap, orange head wrap, 3 coins, etc, etc. Some tribes were big enough to be spread over several villages [and to rent out the young men as ruffpuff camp guards] others were mostly concentrated in one community. Tai, Muong, Khmer, Nung, and Hmong languages were the most common, but my crappy Wu Chinese would get me by with the Nungs...Cantonese or Mandarin would usually not.
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The last I heard of the clans from our old region, is those who weren’t annihilated after we left — fought on and evaded the Communists for DECADES before crossing into THAILAND seeking refuge....
Yep. The spooks who worked with the Hmong in Laos were decent enough to arrange relocation for a lot of those who had worked for us there...and when the congress cut off the money in 1975, were slick enough to fund the relocation *by other means.* most of the grunts and those on the SF teams didn't quite have the resources to pull that kind of evacuation off on that large a scale, but there've been numerous cases of guys getting their counterparts/translators/radio operators out.
I’ll never forget or forgive our betrayal of those gentle and loyal anti Communists.... I remember my shock at learning a significant minority of folks living in Quang Tri were Catholics. They were subjected to “special” treatment after we abandoned the country..
I don't expect that the CaoDaists around Tay Ninh or the Buddhist Hoa Hao fared much better. But the Diems were Catholic, and the Catholic church had been the largest land owner in the country, exempt from any government-ordered land reforms, and with their own private army to back their claims up.
Those who escaped alive — came with their weapons... That should be an object lesson to the “gun control” maniacs...
At the least it's a lesson in proper care for personal weapons- some have shown up with an M16 from three decades back still intact and functioning. In just a bit over two years in-country, I went through 4 M16A1s/CAR15s, and most of the time I was carrying a shotgun when ammo was around or an M14 [I went through 3 of them!] when I couldn't scrounge 12 gage. With an occasional greasegun, Swedish K or *other sterile* sometimes thrown in instead.
And, of course, it's our *gun control maniacs* who see themselves as the wardens of the reeducation and labor camps for those who would dare to oppose them. After all, Stalin said you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, and they want us to be the eggs.
Sorry to get back to you so slowly....
I was suspended AGAIN for profanity....
Now I ask you - who ever heard of a Jarhead worth his C’rats who could express himself without profanity...
However - in this case — I don’t think profanity was involved, but rather I must have insulted a Freeper who took liberties with my lack of patience for fools...
Now - back to the conversation:
I’m impressed that you could converse on ANY level with the Clans people.. We relied 100% on what I considered unreliable ARVN interpreter or the local “Civilian in Action” representative....
I was happy to hear you say a concerted effort was applied to attempt the rescue of as many as possible of our loyal allies.... I’ve not met anyone who had any information they could share on that subject -— and most brothers I served with were either killed, died, become senile or blocked the memory, refuse to discuss the times or have dropped out of contact.. Of our team — there are now only two more I know of who are still “fully functional” and in touch....
We don’t hear much.....
On weapons:
Once, we had to go to the rescue of our local “Civilian in Action” clown. During the rescue - a number of his “antagonists” were killed. While searching the corpses for things of interest, we found one who had a fully intact Thompson sub-machine gun with several 20 round box magazines! Only the Lord knows the history on that weapon and how it got into the hands of some freaking V.C. from across the border in Laos, looking for scalps... That ancient weapon had also been well cared for and became a tool we used for sweeping high grass or “abandoned” hooches to stir any ghost occupants....
On the Tribes:
I live in Kalifornicate.. In Fresno and Merced there is a sizable population of Hmong.. They have kept to themselves, mostly misunderstood by the folks there - and seemingly not being assimilated.. Very sad to see - Knowing of their great sacrifices and service to our warriors and their fight..
But the BIGGEST shock was when I ran into a large family group of Hmong in freezing and snow bound Minneapolis, Minnesota while visiting my son’s family there.... The colors and costume stood out against the snow and threw me back over 40 years! From a distance of at least 80 meters - the observant old man in the group noticed my gaze and the fact I had stopped walking to turn and look at him, and after my head nod and a simple hand gesture, the old man acknowledged and responded with his own hand gesture in the correct manner... I nearly cried at that gesture, and wanted to hug that old man and tell him how terribly sad I was that our government had lied and betrayed them....
Proving once again, I guess — that the bonds formed between warriors seem to trump all other bonds of race, ethnicity, religion or country of birth... For that instant - I felt closer to that old man and his family than I do to most of the stupid &*^%&*%*& who call themselves Americans in this era....
For all the “Americans” who look upon those simple people with disdain or contempt — I wonder how many Americans are capable of putting up the fight for THEIR freedom, rights and culture that those folks put up.....
Not an encouraging thought.....
I believe the weakness and softness of our society is what has made us an attractive target....