Readers' Comments (2)

51. I am engrossed so far, but I want to study it more, before I reply. It's done very well, and shows a different perspective that certainly little has been written about the many soldiers of the South Vietnamese army who served with distinction. Unfortunately, because of the often negative news media reporting, these unsung heroes were not often mentioned---only the units that didn't perform well were deemed newsworthy at the time, such was the nature of the Vietnam war. It was a people's war, not a conventional war, and the military often had to fight with one hand behind its back because of politics, which made it unpopular, and in the end, unwinnable, but not because of gallant men like your older brother. (Don Rast, Baton Rouge, La. Nam 69-70-72).

52. I can't tell you how thrilled I was to find and read your web page. Your brother was a great general and a genuine hero to his country. You are to be commended for creating this work to document and preserve his honorable service to his country.

The dedication and work of men like General Hieu has been overshadowed by stories of less honorable, less courageous officers who unfortunately often became the stereotype for ARVN leadership. These men did not have the high standards General Hieu lived by, and many used their military career for greed and corruption. Some were also cowards.
There is a parallel here because a similar distortion about the war exists here in the states, and left unchallenged, it is literally becoming the accepted history of the war. Because of their liberal political views, the news media, Hollywood and academia have teamed up to perpetuate the image that we were wrong to be in Viet Nam, that our intentions were not honorable, and that we did great harm to the country of Viet Nam.
They have taken every opportunity to paint American soldiers in Viet Nam as malcontents, drug addicts, drunks, misfits and (worst of all) indiscriminate killers of innocent women and children. This image is perpetuated in movies, in the news and on college campuses, and to those of us who served it wounds greatly. They have taken some isolated incidents (which happen in all wars) and portrayed them as the norm. Well it was not the norm. The drug and alcohol problems were self-policed because our lives depended on each other. And we went out of our way to protect the lives of Vietnamese civilians...many times at our own peril.
Unfortunately, movies like Apocalypse Now, Platoon and Coming Home have become the accepted image of the war for most people here in the states. These movies dishonor both ARVN and American participation in the War and make people like General Hieu, General Westmoreland and the rest of us look like war criminals.
Fortunately there is one college trying to preserve the factual history of the war and not the politically correct version. Texas Tech University has set up a "Vietnam Center" for preserving this history, and many of the faculty are actual Vietnam veterans. My guess is they would be interested in your brother's story. I hope you will contact them.[...] I was stationed at LZ Betty, Phan Thiet for the entire year of 1968. From your description alone, I know I would have liked him. Thank you for your web page and keep up the good work.
[...] I was wondering if you had considered writing a book about your brother's life. I think it's a story worth being told. (George Nunnemacher).

53. Thank you for the nice visit to your brother's page. As an advisor in Viet Nam, I ran across many like your brother who was very dedicated to the country and it's people. Just looking at a photo is one thing, but having lived among your countrymen was for me a great pleasure. The unfortunate thing is the country did fall and many brave people gave their lives for the country and freedom. I am glad to see you have celebrated your brother's death in the spirit of the living, Nothing can ever take away his and your families greatness. There will come a day when history will correct what happened. We can only pray we are here to see it. (John W. Bill Andrews, Sgt Major, USA Retired, Mystic, CT).

54. The ARVN had many competent officers at the regimental level and down, but at the divisional level and up, many generals were not competent. The command of a division and a corps requires competency in strategy and general staff. Many generals only knew how to attack as a buffalo, and lacked strategy(i.e. Operation Lam Son 719, Highlands withdrawal of II Corps). I greatly admire the competence and virtue of general Hieu, who had the ability to command with strategy at the divisional level and up. (Pham Khiet, NJ).

55. I know that your brother has helped you a great deal in accomplishing your home page, but I also believe that your talent as a researcher, an organizer, and especially a writer, plays the key role in its success too. Therefore why not start on the book on General Hieu now and he will be the collaborator. You have surprised everybody with your ability to build a beautiful garden out of a dump yard, as shown in your webpage. Now we are waiting for the next surprise. (Anonymous, VA).

56. I have entered your Homepage and taken a look. It's great that you are able to preserve all those documents! Thank you for providing me with all this information. The reading of your page brings back memory of my dad who died 28 years ago, it's so touching. I will support your Homepage. Keep it up! (Bao Tram, Paris).

57. I visited your site. It is very well organized, loads very quickly, and is easy to navigate. Most of all, it is a fine tribute to your brother, and serves very well to honor his memory. (Cheryl Boswell).

58. This website is one of the websites I have bookmarked for easy return, because it contains a quite amount of documents and valuable historical documents. I have shown this website to a group of my Dalat Military Academy classmates, which included a General. Seizing this occasion, if you are the person who has the authority, I would like to ask your permission in lending a hand in terms of circulating the documents contained in your website into mine, as well as publishing them in magazines and periodicals currently issued in Houston that I have good connection with. It's a token of my own appreciation toward a General well respected of the ARVN.

As an Officer, graduate of Class 16/VNMA, I chose to serve the country with the Marine Corps continuously 13 years amidst the battlefields, living in hardship together with the foot soldiers, had ample opportunities to participate in numerous military operations all over the 4 Tactical Regions, and thus I witnessed numerous injustice incidents in the army. Therefore, I greatly admire those Officers of the ARVN who were able to preserve their pride, integrity and fortitude while they held power and money in their hands, which would easily permit them to benefit for themselves and their families. Those are some of my thoughts that I would like to share with you.
[...] Your website is so rich, before I intended to create a separated webpage to divulge it in different parts, I realize I would destroyed its richness. I have linked your website to mine (http://www.thwy.net/FreeVN/) for the readers to enjoyed it in its entirety. On the front page, I entitled it "ARVN Heroes". (Tran Van Hien, Houston).

59. This is my third visit to your web site, I really like the work you have produced. Also this is the first contact I have made with a Vietnamese person since 1967. By the way I think I may have served with your brother in Bong Son in 1967. I was in country from Nov. 4, 1966 to Nov.1, 1967 with the 8th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. I'm sure I participated in the "Eagles Claw" Operation. Your Home Page is full of interest for me and I will be visiting again, I have forwarded it to some of my Vietnam buddies as well. By the way I know Simpson St., in the Bronx. It was part of the 41st Precinct (Fort Apache) 20 years ago. I am very happy to see through your efforts it is making a come back... (Bill Sillery).

60. I was very pleased with your brother's history and it made me feel proud that we worked together in Vietnam. Stay in contact with me I have friends who may get this history published for the P.B.S. T.V. stations.

[...] I am working with Veterans Groups across the US. (Robert Douglas).

61. I have learned some things from this site that I was not aware of. I appreciate it and please stay in touch. It is a very informative site for me in particular. If you are interested, please visit my home page site http://homepage.netspaceonline.com/~cu31/index.html.(Herschel Hoy).

62. Hey, I visited your webpage and what I found is really amazing. It's pretty funny how a lot of kids my age do not realize the importance of the people who went before us and the people who fought in the Vietnam War that gave their life up for the generation of today. Most of us in our brand name clothes and other factors of enjoyment of the American life today tend to forget that everything that we have till this day is due to the fact that people like General Hieu gave his life for us back in the days. My dad fought in the Vietnam War, he was a pharmacist in Phuoc Long, one day he was telling me about all the stuffs that went on in our country when I wasn't born about the honor of some of the Generals back in the day that would kill themselves rather than give up to the communist. That is something which I admire immensely. General Hieu unfortunately didn't have the opportunity to fight for the South Vietnam before the war ended because of his assassination but I know that from his character and from what you said of him in this webpage he is a truly admirable character and would probably kill himself rather than be arrested by the communists. Anyway, I just want to say congratulation for such a great website, I wish there were more information on stuffs like that so I can learn more about the people that went before me. I was born in the United States so I don't know much about Vietnamese history, but I wish I could learn more, if you know anything about any website or anything like that please send me the address. I would sincerely appreciate it. (Paul KD)

63. I applaud your memorial to your brother, perhaps there is another way to obtain the information from the CIA/Government in regards to the death of your brother, one must not give up until a satisfactory explanation is given, do you travel back to Viet Nam? Please let me know I may be able to give you another avenue of information... (Fred).

64. As a Marine infantry soldier, and eventually became a squad leader, I personally want to thank all the ARVN soldiers who worked together with the U.S. Military in helping preserve freedom in Vietnam. As a husband and father of 3 children I pray everyday for forgiveness for having to kill. When as a young person growing up, as we were taught one of the ten commandments was Thou Shall Not Kill. I pray for all the men and women and children who died in your country. It's been over 30 years since I've been there but I can remember still like it was only yesterday. Some of the areas I remember the most was Phu Bai-Quang Tri Province, Nam-Pen, Bun-Laul, Ka-suon and of course Danang. We need to pray for peace in the World everyday, remember united we stand, divided we fall.

[...]Reading about the death of your brother: He was truly a hero my friend, and I believe his death was no accident. God our creator tells us who should ever lay his life down for another shall have eternal life. I believe that with my whole heart, Tin your brother is in heaven with Our Creator. He will always be in my prayers from this day forward, your brother in Christ,...stay in touch, great site...(Tony 3/5 Lima Co 1st Marine Division).

65. Thanks a lot for the address to your webpage. I haven't got a very good computer, so it's a little hard for me to get around on the net. I haven't read it all yet. I am very sorry about your Brother. I am a Police Officer with 25 years service, and from what you write, it sure wasn't an accident or a suicide. I lost a whole Platoon on Hamburger Hill, I wasn't with them that day or I wouldn't be writing this. I also lost my only Brother to an airplane crash in 1989 here in the States. At least your Brother lost his life for a honorable cause, my Brother 's death was stupid. My Platoon's death was unnecessary. (Danny L. Crafton).

66. You can count the number of competent ARVN Generals on your fingers. General Hieu is one of them. Today accidentally I surfed in General Hieu's Page, I was very touched, moved and angry whenever I re-read articles about General Hieu's death. We hope that General Hieu's death will be clarified in the near future. So that every body knows about General Hieu's biography, exploits and merits, we have linked General Hieu's page to our 79bn/Rangers' page, hope you don't mind. (on behalf of 79bn/Rangers, Huynh Van Chau, http://www.td79bdq.org/).

67. I have visited your tribute to your brother, and found it to be very educational. I have taken the liberty of adding a link to you from my Table of Contents page (www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/7648/index.html). I have seen very few sites where one may learn about the ARVN. (Linda).

68. The chronological order of the articles would be of great help to readers.

Your new articles containing new information or old information assembled in a different way to create a better understanding of the facts help the public obtain a clearer picture of anh Hieu and a more adequate understanding of how the facts are related to one another.
As you gather more pertinent and more factual information from your correspondence with various people involved in the events, your articles gain more historical weight. (Tri).

69. Your website was most sobering. I left Vietnam when I was a very young teenager. The exploits of VN soldiers and officers weren't very impressive by my reading of American soldiers and by my family. For years I have tried to hold my standards as a paratrooper in the US Army to be higher than my peers so that I could erase the stigma with ARVN soldiers. To prove that a VN warrior is on par with many and better than most. I've learned a lot since my youth. I know now that there are honorably warriors in the rank of ARVN. Too bad the rest couldn't be like these heroes. I am honored to walk in the shadows of the General. Of Tran Hung Dao. Of Ngo Quyen. Of Le Loi, Le Lai.

I have but a small token dedication to US and VN Airborne Forces at my homepage: www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Gorge/7460. (HT Dang).

70. I thank you for your invitation to visit the website about your brother. I am always interested in hearing about fellow veterans. Your brother appears to have been a great soldier and a great man. Is it possible that I may have run into him in either the US basecamp at Bearcat or Long Binh? Did he at one time wear a large Bowie knife at his side? I seem to recall briefly meeting a person of identical appearance and impressive stature during my tour (which was June 1968 to June 1969.) Again thank you for the invitation, I am sure that your brother is honored by your actions. (John Spizzirri).

71. We too, as vets, would like the truth about many things but all we get are lies from the government. History will tell, it always has. Sorry about your brother, I'm sure he was a GOOD man, that's why they killed him...I really enjoyed the pictures. (Manuel Alvarez).

72. We have visited ARVN General Hieu. He was the pride of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. We will link his website to ours. We wish you much success in the new year. (Nguyen Manh Cuong, Con Ong Magazine).

73. I was stationed in South East Asia, mainly in Thailand during the Viet Nam "war". Very close to the Thai, Cambodian, Lao boarder. I am sorry that your brother is gone. I have two brothers. Your (the Vietnamese) people showed great strength and endurance and still do. At 19, I grew up in South East Asia. A day does not go by that I am not there. A day does not go by that I don't miss my friends who gave their lives for what they believed in. They are here however. Your brother is also here. In the wind, their voices carry through. What we must never forget to do is take the time to listen. Good luck in your quest for the truth. Believe it or not, it will prevail. (Josiah Tyzzer).

74. Whilst I understand your determination to get to the bottom of this event and to publicly expose any criminal activity by anyone in relation to the General's death, I would not hold out any hope of being absolutely convinced of any findings you have or will uncover. Twenty five years buries a lot of sins. Also this was about the time of the fall of Saigon. I suppose you have tried asking the Vietnamese Government if they have any information. The correspondence between you and the American military is classic. Good luck.

PS the Makarov pistols (and re-conditioned Colt .45s still in air tight sealed plastic) have been on sale here in Australia at one gun shop I attend. I was told that the Colts (and lots of other stores) were from Vietnam and were captured by the North Vietnamese forces. There were other Russian pistols also on sale from Vietnam. Apparently of no further use to the Government and were sold to get foreign currency. They were in Australia as they were forbidden to be sold in the USA as they are still considered US property and would have been confiscated. (Noel Lewis).

75. I was very impressed with you web page. You really put together a nice package. I can see that your deep love for your brother has motivated you to present this compelling story. (Dylan Gilbert).

76. The web page probably took you a lot of time to design and implement it. I took a quick look at your web page and felt sad about the story. As a soldier, a witness, a "re-educated" inmate and a victim in that lost war, I felt very sorry of your great loss. We lost the war because of the corrupt government, lousy leadership and the bad allied who served mostly for their interests. You and your family are probably restless on pursuit of the truth of your brother's death. I hope that some days with your effort, the truth will come out and the suspected should be brought to justice for their crime so that your Brother can rest in peace. General Nguyen Van Hieu was already gone but his feats and word should be told, praised in ARVN's military history, and inherited by his grandchildren. I wish that the issue like this can be solved and never happens again. It appears that I can sense His Spirit of Courage and Heroic Acts in this world. On occasion of the Vietnamese New Year, I hope you and your family have a better life on this opportunity land. Thanks for sharing. (Le Thien Si).

77. Joe Hertel, president of the Viet Nam War Museum, had forwarded your e-mail to me several weeks ago, however, due to illness and a trip, I have not been able to update our pages until now. I was quite impressed with your web-site, and have linked to it from the Museum's links page which is routed from its main page at: http://members.aol.com/mraffin/vnmuseum.htm. Congratulations on a very fine web site. (Michael J.M. 'Doc' Raffin, 1st. Bde., 5th. Infantry Div. [Mech], Quang Tri Province, 24 July 1968 - 29 March 1969).

78. Thank you for an e mail...with the www. page address of your brother, it is quite an interesting one... I am curious, what make you to send it to me? I am nothing important, but my family having a trouble time in Vietnam War... We lost good men, and one of them is POW (Lt. Gene. Robinson Risner, USAF) I am sure you know the history of his... Well, ... I wish we did won the war ... but conflict in our mainland and our moral is so low... I am sorry that we failed to save Vietnam... but, someday Vietnam will return to the Democracy or Republic with capitalism view in the future, so do not give up the hope... blend your culture to our culture, to be an American is to have many cultures into one, SMILE! (Dewey Charles Mosshart the fourth, Owner of La Mossa's Cafe).

79. With the aftermath of the Vietnam war, I totally lost faith in all of our past leaders and even today community leaders. Your brother story is like a fresh morning shower which awake my beliefs and senses of patriot spirit of a free Vietnam. The insight and info are well taken. Finally I proudly have some one to show to my children as a hero and role model. Thanks. (Julian Duy Tran, http://www.bflat.com/).

80. Congratulations!...Your site definitely qualifies for the "Critical Mass Award". A very nice site, good design, great photos, and your content is informative, entertaining, presented well and easy to access. A worthy tribute and a positive contribution to the Web. Thanks for helping make the Web a mor interesting, and attractive place to visit. I really enjoyed my visit to your site and will return again when time permits. (Bill Darling, http://rio.atlantic.net/~bdarl).

81. I have read almost all your page that I found very interesting. Tell me how long did it take you in terms of preparation in order to get so much information on your brother? You ought to love him immensely to be able to achieve such a task. I sympathize with your eagerness in wanting to know the truth about his death and I am terribly sorry that no one is able to help you clarify this mystery... It's sad, me too concerning my uncle - General Nguyen Viet Thanh - who was honest and died as such. A helicopter accident, similar to General Phan Dinh Soan, General Do Cao tri, what do you think?... The Vietnam war had killed my youth and also of so many others, and what is happening now? Do you know that young Vietnamese called us "Nguy Quan" (evil soldiers): and why? Because we had lost the war and we are living exiles with our memories and our dreams of vengeance. Forgive me, Mr. Tin, for speaking like this. There is too much loss and too much blood for absolutely nothing! Look at our country nowadays, what is going on. The cycle is starting again??? My family is now scattered all over, I had lost a brother who was trying to escape in 1978. I had lost 145 brothers in Lam Son 719 and Quang Tri operations. I was lucky to survive to this day and am able to talk to you, I am a Lucky Guy, Mr. the professor...Yes I like your page and I like your brother General Hieu's purity. I salute and respect him as a soldier and a genuine one... (Thai Thuc Hoang Minh).

82. I am so impressed with General Hieu's History and am proud of him along with your family. Currently I am with the Nha Ky Thuat (Commandos) Group. I will go through your homepage information and I will try to get the information to you. (Hoa Pham).

83. Been up all nite just seen your letter Web site. It was great. Talk to you later, going to get some rest now. (Ed, Co.B, 25th AVN BN, 25th Division, Vietnam 1966 to 1970).

84. I am impressed by General Hieu. I have been in the United States since I was a child, and I am extremely interested in Vietnam history---Past to present. I have read a lot of books regarding the Vietnam War and read past history over the net. When I read the Vietnam War books, I only heard about Ho Chi Minh and his legions. I am also impressed by him. It is no matter who fought for who, but it is a matter if they have the heart of loving Vietnam. Thanks. I have put your page as link in my page: http://underworld.fortunecity.com/sonic/202/world.html. (Anh T. Bui).

85. I am pleased to read about the valiant and honorable actions of your brother. I am currently a cadet at the United States Military Academy and the information about your brother's leadership qualities are indispensable. For many years, I have been quite interested in the Vietnam War and it is rare to find something remotely flattering about an ARVN general. It seems as though the information regarding the great men of the South is buried in history. I am glad to know that men like your brother made the sacrifice of so many of America's sons worthwhile. I cannot help but to feel a great deal of compassion upon reading about General Hieu. I am sorry that Vietnam was lost and I am increasingly more dismayed that our government refuses to learn the lessons of that long and bitter war. Again I thank you for this important information. If there are others who are willing to listen, I will definitely show them this website. (CDT Travis Cole, CO. H-1, USCC).

86. Well Tin, this was a good page to look at. Your brother certainly had a great career in the ARVN. During my time in Vietnam with the Australian Army, I spent time with the 2/52 or 53rd ARVN at Trang Bom and were with them during the 1968 Tet. We were attached along with American Advisors. Capt Probart and Sgt Nance. Probart was killed in June/July.

I feel sorry for you with the CIA attitude and the lot that goes with it. The Vietnam War was a dirty War, uncouth, and the casualties are still being felt event to this day. I have changed so much since Vietnam. I feel sorry for the families who were caught up in the cross fire and when I looked at some of your brother's photos, some things rushed back to me. You should cherish his family photos, of his wife and children, those beautiful daughters and cherish his achievements and experience. [...] Keep searching, keep pestering the FOI and the CIA, write to the President, get on to your local congressman/woman, but keep fighting. (Nick Quigley).

87. Thank you for the invite to your brother's page, very nicely done. I am sorry your brother was murdered. I left my youth and my heart in Nam! It haunts still, the beauty and the horror. This was a "corrupt" war in which no one won!...I am sorry. (Pete, 25th div- 1968).

88. By now, you have become a US Citizen I would think. And if this is the case, you have representatives you elect to represent you in Washington, D.C. One thing you should know, your vote does carry a good deal of clout in this society. You might try to contact your senators and/or congressmen concerning any questions you have about your brother's assassination. I am not saying it will do any good, but it certainly can do no harm. And, if anyone can impose the freedom of information act, it is your representative. On the other hand, if you have not gotten naturalized as a citizen of this country, some of the laws may not pertain to you, especially if they may infringe on national security matters. My wife is from Saigon (Cho Lon) and I am a 13 year veteran of Vietnam, 38 year veteran of the US Army... Now some things I do know about the US military complex...they do not "cover" up things as you may think. They do not give out information freely, but that is a different matter. Sometimes they will not give truthful information for other reasons, but somewhere the truth is there about your brother's death. If the US was involved in anyway, and you just have to keep digging.

My mother was killed in a military hospital in 1952. It was originally classified as a suicide on her death certificate., but I did a lot of digging, and not 4 months ago I finally realized the true cause of her death was not suicide, but accidental death. It is a very long story, but what it came down to is that my mother began feeling ill one day and asked a neighbor to take her to the hospital where we were stationed...My father was an officer in the Navy. Well, the hospital was full of people who had come down with the flu, the base was very small and the hospital only hat 15 beds...so my mother was admitted and put on a Gurney in a storage closet where they kept cleaning supplies...mops, brooms, etc. The nurse who put her there left her with a glass, tissues, etc. and had left to get her a container of water. In the meantime, a janitor lady entered the room/closet and put a container of cleaning fluid on the shelf next to the tissues and glass that were left by the first nurse. My mother evidently thought it was the water the first nurse had brought her, and accidentally took a drink of it and went into shock and died. I was finally able to prove that it was not a suicide, but accidental homicide. It had been 46 years plus between her death, and my getting the correct reason published and a new death certificate issued...releasing life insurance to my father who is now retired and living half a mile from me. It just takes persistence, dogged tenacity and the grace of God...but everything will come out.[...] Take care, luck be yours and God bless till next we meet! (James D. Prior 1).

89. Thanks for allowing me to visit General Hieu's Homepage. I was in 3rd Corps in 65, when Thuan was still there. I have pity for him and am sad for our country around that historical period. Even if we died, the enemies of history still survive. So long and once again thanks. (Pham Dinh).

90. Thank you for the invitation to visit the website dedicated to your brother. He seemed to be a fine, honorably man and your country lost a fine patriot when he was assassinated. I haven't had much time to read the information on the site but I plan to in the future. Good luck to you. (Vic McPhee, US Army Vietnam Veteran).

91. A very Honoring site, as well as informative and incredibly factual. I haven't made it through the whole site yet but it is a bookmark and I intend to share it with other Veterans. In my doing so if you receive negative feedback I would appreciate a forward, I promote cooperation and understanding. I'm sure my Email address (remfcommand@in-tch.com) explains it all.

P.S. I hope you can understand my shortness with my last message. I have and am involved with a lot of different issues regarding Veterans and Homeless in Montana and I like to make sure that I at least show the courtesy of a return reply when folks contact me. I will take the time to look over and read your web site in its entirety. I will tell you right now I was honest about my initial statement - I am impressed - I have already spoken with two other combat Veterans that agree with the statements made in your site and feel that your efforts are very honoring. And to be quite honest with all the effort it took and the BS involved to get recognition for the Women's Memorial. Maybe one day in America we will see recognition for all those that gave their lives for the masses. (Rick Salyer).

92. I have not had time to fully digest the pages you have invited me to look at, but what I have had time to look at has interested me greatly. I thank you for including me in your mailing list. I guess you got my name from a military mailing list of some sort e.g. achtung panzer, but I do thank you because I am fascinated by all aspects of Vietnam including the pre-colonial era as well as the later wars.

You present a very interesting perspective, Americans are very fond of blaming their military failures on ARVN incompetence (and outright collusion with the NVA). I have always felt this to be unfair and believe that the performance of ARVN forces in the battles of 1972 showed what the country was capable of, despite endemic corruption and disinterest at political and senior military level.
My own personal background is as follows: my father was a member of an elite British military unit known as the S.A.S. whose training includes jungle warfare (unlike their American equivalents). His unit has been involved successfully in counterinsurgency operations in Malaya, Oman and Northern Ireland to name but a few.
Personally I was a student of military history at King's College London. I would like to contact you again after I have fully read the information about your brother. (Iain Houston)

93. I visited your site due to the email I got from Doc Stewart listing Vet sites. GREAT SITE!! You might be interested in viewing my husband's site. He is a Vietnam Vet, class of 67-68. Jump on in and see Gunner Jim's Airborne website: http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/2501/Gunner.htm. You also might be interested in Point Man's website. I am the webmaster. The url is: http://pointmanintl.org/. (Cat Jimerson).

94. I have visited the website honoring your brother, General Nguyen Van Hieu. It is a wonderful tribute to this brave soldier and to the many brave Vietnamese soldiers and civilians who fought against the communist tyranny. You may be interested in reading an article I wrote for the US Army Air Defense Center's "ADA Magazine Oneline: last winter, about my experience as a young Army Lieutenant at Khe Sanh on the DMZ in early 1968. You can read it online at: http://147.71.210.21/winter98/khesahn1.htm. (Bruce Geiger).

95. Thank you for this site. My salute to our Brave ARVN Comrades In Arms. (LRSMV, U.S. Army Sergeant Major. Aug 67- Aug 68 RVN.).

96. I have just finished reading your pages in honor of your brother. You have much to be proud of him. I hope you will not give up the search for the truth in his death. His story should be televised on one of the many television news shows (i.e. 20/20). I became interested in Vietnam web sites in search of more information on my father. I'm very glad to have visited your site. By the way, you have beautiful gardens! A lot of work was done there, too. Thank you very much. (Kisten Hatcher).

97. Thank you for inviting me to visit your webpage honoring your brother and family. I was a dog handler with the Air Force at Cam Ranh Bay in 1970 to 1971. I shall always think fondly of the Vietnamese people who tried to make me feel at home while away from home as a 19 year old boy. God bless you. (Steve Janke).

98. I am a combat Vietnam veteran, serving as a Gunner with USMC Helicopter Squadron HMM-262, Phu Bai and Marble Mt., Republic of South Vietnam, January 1970 - January 1971. I received your e-mail yesterday, and proceeded to spend the greater portion of this morning visiting your website dedicated to your brother, Major General Nguyen Van Hieu. Thank you for the invitation to visit this website, and for the experience it provided me.

I was an enlisted U.S. Marine during my tour of duty in Vietnam. I volunteered for duty in Vietnam and flew 413 aerial combat missions as a Gunner aboard my squadron's CH-46 helicopters. The greatest number of those missions involved medical evacuations of U.S. Marine and ARVN casualties as well as troop insertions and extractions in support of ground combat operations in the I Corps region of South Vietnam. I went to South Vietnam in support of one of my country's allies to defend it against the communist threat of NVA and Viet Cong invasion from Vietnam. In short, I went to help defend your country's right to exist as a free and independent nation. I left South Vietnam in 1971 believing that America was abandoning its ally, South Vietnam; and, that the only true victory I accomplished in SouthVietnam was that of saving as many lives as I could personally touch in the performance of my duties in that conflict. I left South Vietnam believing that the struggle to preserve your country's freedom was lost in large part because of the general incompetence and corruption of your civilian, government and military leaders.
Keep in mind that as a Marine Helicopter Gunner, more times than I can count I would evacuate wounded and killed American Marines from LZs, remote camps and bases that were wounded or killed RETAKING the same military terrain that had been secured by American Marines and then turned over to ARVN troops and officers. The course of the war from this American Marine's perspective: 1) Marines die securing a position, village or base camp, 2) Marines turn over secured positions to ARVN force, 3) More Marines die RETAKING the same positions now lost by ARVN forces overrun by NVA and/or Viet Cong forces.
I cannot speak for my Commanding Officers and Pilots. Rarely did they discuss such matters with we enlisted non-com's. However, I can tell you that we enlisted Marines left South Vietnam feeling that we were backing an ally who's house was not in order, and who's own armed forces lacked the competence, commitment and valor to succeed in a struggle we were being asked to sacrifice, bleed and die for.
The website you have dedicated to your brother on the one hand confirms this perspective. On the other hand, it also provided me a fresh view of at least one General in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam that possessed the courage, competence and commitment to keep his country free, and to perform his command responsibilities to the best of his abilities, which evidently, were excellent and extensive.
The sincerity and straight forwardness of the presentation of your brother's life and service to your country is one you should take pride in. His legacy as one of South Vietnam's great generals and patriots will be correctly perpetuated by the telling of his story at the ARVN General Nguyen Van Hieu's Home Page. (W. Dale deBord, http://www.calweb.com/~ddebord).

99. I was very touched when I was reading the pages about General Nguyen Van Hieu. Although he was not my immediate commander, I have always known him to be honest, virtuous, classy and highly competent. I have also always admired and loved him - one of the few who had served the country and our people with all his abilities, with his heart, his mind and his strength. It was unfortunate that rare individuals such as him had to live isolated in a vast world because it is hard to find "a soul-mate", they have to deal with difficulty not only against "enemy" but they must also deal with "friends" - those fighting at the same front-line. It was unfortunate that a man with such a good heart as General Hieu had to die of a sudden death and shrouded in mystery.

"Since the creation of the world, great generals can rarely be seen surviving until old ages." That's the fate of someone great.
Although more than 20 years have gone by, the past of a glorious and pathetic military time I thought had vanished, now have resurfaced in me by the reading of these pages dedicated to General Hieu. Past memories reappeared in my mind like a rerun movie bringing back pleasant, happy, heart-breaking, humiliating reminiscences while I still served in the military until the day I was reduced to be a vanquished soldier forced to waste his health and his youth in re-education camps...
As a soldier who has served and fought under the same flag of a free Vietnam as General Hieu, although it's a little late, I light up an incense stick in my heart to commemorate General Nguyen Van Hieu and pray that his soul rests in peace. I also present my condolence to General Hieu's father - Mr. Nguyen Van Huong - my unbending inmate friend in camps 15NV, 16NV and Z.30D, and to Mr. Nguyen Van Tin and General Hieu's family. (Vo, Bronx, #3 Ben Bach Dang).

100. Thank you for referring me to your home page. I viewed it and read about the General. It was very nicely done, as well as being very complete. I share some of the comments made in your Readers' Comments section. Perhaps if there were more Generals on BOTH sides like General Hieu, the outcome would have been different. (Dan Bayes, former 101st Airborne Div, 1969-70 RVN).

Section 1: 001 - 051.
Section 3: 101 - 150.
Section 4: 151 - 200.
Section 5: 201 - 250.
Section 6: 251 - 300.
Section 7: 301 - 350.
Section 8: 351 - 400.
Section 9: 401 - 450.
Section 10: 451 - 500.

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