DEALING WITH THE PAST . . . They suffer with PTSD and many physical illnesses as we do. They didn't hold us in contempt. They honestly believed they were fighting for the freedom of their country. Coupled with that was the threat of death to their family and friends if they didn't join the VC. One thing became clear, they didn't hate us. Most fought out of fear of reprisal. They still live in fear and you realise that there is not a single family in Vietnam that the war didn't effect. My animosity towards the VC diminished and accepted that was just doesn't have casualties on one side only. Both sides suffer greatly. The gate at Nui Dat still remains along with SAS Hill. Fragments of tar along the air strip still remain, although you really have think back to visualize the airstrip and its surrounds. Just inside the gate was a rock left from the sixties marking the location of 4 Field Regiment LAD. As we gathered about this rock it gave me a good bearing on where my hutchy was located. As we stood at the rock it all fell into place – the good and the bad flooding back. Nui Dat had a major effect on me. It was a moving experience being back there. I wondered if I looked hard enough, I would be able to find the site of my tent. Doubt set in and I aborted the attempt. Time was against us and we headed off to Vung Tau. We visited the 'Back Beach' and headed past the giant 'Jesus" around the headland to the 'Front Beach' commercial area of the city. The communists have used the old air base as their commercial airport, well at least that's what it looks like. We found a Hotel run by Australian's and settled down to a good Australian lunch - rack of Lamb and baked spuds. It was heaven. For me the day was necessary. There were other places I would have liked to have gone back to (Dat Do, Binh Ba) etc. As we headed back to HCMC from Vung Tau, I remember reflecting on the day: …more…