Following the emotional experience at the Knoll, we moved onto the site of Operation Union ll where on 2 June 1967, I was wounded in a large battle.  As we traveled there, deep off of the highway on a dirt road, we came across what we would call a subdivision! There in the middle of nowhere were all new homes built to the same code of all other Vietnamese homes, 15 feet wide and 60 feet long. We continued in the same direction, and came to a rice paddy that John and I felt sure was close to where  the 2^nd Platoon was pinned down all day and where I was wounded. With these two goals reached, we called it a day. When we got off the bus at the hotel, we presented Col. Tiep a gift. He again appeared to be very appreciative. We all shook hands and went our way. If I were asked if I would ever have the opportunity to shake hands with a former enemy officer I would have said, "No way!"   And I do believe that the colonel has changed; besides mellowing in his 74 years of life. He has met the American troops he once fought and has recognized our goodness.  While on the tour Doyle Glass was able to obtain interviews, pictures and video as well as to personally question Col. Tiep. One of the various comments the colonel made was that the war protests in the US gave encouragement to the NVA and Viet Cong.

The final lap of our trip was Saigon, an extremely busy place, with  a population of 11 million.  With about 7 million motorbikes, there is movement at all times on the streets.   While in Vietnam we learned from our local tour guides that corruption is rife in Vietnam. One can only get ahead by being able to pay off government officials. Another way to gain influence is to have the help of foreign investments. With the average annual earnings from $300-$600, a commoner has very little chance to move up the ladder of success. Religion is open but, if you are a government official and marry a Catholic or any other Christian, you lose your job. There is still dislike of the North by those in the South because of the slaughter that took place when the NVA moved south in 1975. I was not able to ask our guide in the DaNang area but the other two said they would like to live in America.. In fact our guide in Saigon had gone to school in the USA. One may own a car but all imported vehicles are assessed a 100% tariff!! In other words, a $50,000 vehicle costs $100,000!