For a peaceful Vietnam: Vietnamese love affair

But it’s not about the battlefield. It is a wartime love story. There is happiness, there is sadness. There is separation, mCool and peacefulH.

Reunited after 40 years

In 1971, when he arrived in Da Nang, Rich Allen was only 19 years old and was assigned to the M48 tank combat crew. One time, Rich met Huynh Thi Huong, a girl the same age as him, and the two fell in love at first sight.

“We got to know each other seriously. When the day to return to the US approached, we completed the procedures and papers for Huong and me to return to the US. But soon after, there was intense fighting, and we were ordered to leave. Da Nang immediately. After a tearful but also hopeful farewell, I left Vietnam. The US military had almost left Vietnam at this time. When I returned to America, I had no way to contact I lost touch with my fiancee. Then I learned that Huong could not send me letters and she also burned all the documents related to the US,” Mr. Rich said.

Unable to contact Huong, Mr. Rich lost heart and despaired. He said his heart yearned to return to Vietnam and he tried many ways to get orders to return, but all efforts were unsuccessful.

“At that time, I heard the announcement that no one was allowed to return to Vietnam, because the war had ended for the Americans. I was extremely disappointed because there I had a love,” Mr. Rich repeated many times. from “life goes on” – life goes on. He still has to live. For that reason, he tried to bury his memories of Vietnam.

Only 40 years later, Mr. Rich’s mother gave him a letter she had received. It read: “Dear Mr. and Mrs. Allen. I hope you read this letter with the same joy I felt when writing it and I very much hope you can help me find my father. I was born in Vietnam in 1972…”.

When leaving Vietnam, Mr. Rich did not know that Ms. Huong was pregnant.

Rich and Huong’s daughter was born, named Lena and took her mother’s last name. When she was 16 years old, Lena immigrated to Texas (USA) thanks to the US immigration policy for Vietnamese children born to American fathers (Amerasian Homecoming Act, roughly translated: Homecoming Act for Amerasian Americans – PV). Even though she came to America, Lena did not have any information about her father, other than the words “San Jose CA” written behind the photo of Joyce Alice (Rich’s mother) that Mr. Rich had given to Huong.

Rich flew to Texas and reunited with his daughter. “When we met, we knew there was no doubt about our blood relationship, only an indescribable joy. Lena had spent decades trying to find her father. But Huong could not see that reunion. Huong was passed away 20 years ago from cancer. We have never seen each other again. Huong has never set foot in America,” he said emotionally.

Rich father and son reunited after 40 years apart, returning to Vietnam together in February 2016. When he returned to Da Nang, memories rushed back to his mind.

“I suddenly found myself again when I was 19 years old. When I breathed that still familiar air, I felt like I had returned home. From then on, my journey was mixed with reminiscing about the memories of the past. death and new adventures. I returned to Vietnam a few months later and from the end of 2016 decided to stay until now,” Mr. Rich said, adding: “My daughter Lena is still alive. in Dallas, Texas. Meeting my daughter again completely changed my life. I began to dream about Vietnam, not a nightmare fate. I never understood what those words really were until I looked back at my life.”

The responsibility is not over yet

Living in Da Nang again is also a special experience for him. Mr. Rich said what impressed him most was the peaceful, respectful and warm way people treated him. During his time in Da Nang, no one criticized him or his country for the past war. That peace always made him feel secure.

“I received kindness and tolerance. I feel grateful and happy when I see the Vietnamese people I meet are focusing on the present and the future instead of the past. Even the veterans from Vietnam Bac, whom I met at ceremonies and events, also welcomed me as a brother. We shared with each other what happened during the war. The war was truly terrible, there was so much suffering soldiers and civilians suffer. As a member of VFP 160, my views reflect my belief in the importance of peaceful solutions instead of war,” Mr. Rich said.

Mr. Rich shared that he chose Vietnam to live the rest of his life and do well the mission of VFP 160 as an effort to give back. Currently, VFP 160 aims to promote peace and overcome the consequences of war in Vietnam, focusing on supporting victims affected by Agent Orange and landmines.

“Our organization raises US awareness of this problem in Vietnam. We raise funds and lobby the US government to participate in solving it. In Da Nang, we spent 5 years to fix it.” remnants of Agent Orange. In addition, we also host an annual tour for veterans. This is to maintain connection and continue to remind everyone in America that we have responsibility in Vietnam and that responsibility has not ended yet,” Mr. Rich said.

In Mr. Rich’s opinion, the US and Vietnam relationship is at the highest level. He believes that successive generations in Vietnam will continue to develop their homeland and train themselves to become global citizens. (to be continued)