More in my series of old photographs from the years of 1968 thru 1970 while in Viet Nam. The above picture was taken the day we carried the clothes and food to the Genrang Orphanage. From left to right is Coloniel Kennedy, Lt. Titcomb, the sister in charge of the orphanage and Kim our friend and interpreter.
One of my hobbies while in Viet Nam was developing photos in the photo lab and sometimes one of the Vietnamese would bring me a negative and want me to make them a print. Usually I would also make one for my album as well. That's where this one came from. She was a waitress in our enlisted men's club and went with us to the orphanage that day.
Here is that same very pretty young lady holding a very special little girl. She had blonde hair and blue eyes making her even more of an outcast. Someone asked if I ever went back or wanted to go back. I have never been back but would leave tomorrow to be able to see Qui Nhon again and check on that orphanage. I have never stopped thinking about this special little girl and often wonder what happened to her.
This is Jim Rouse who worked in my unit and was holding a little girl that was dressed completely in new clothes for the first time in her young life.
Another of the photos I developed and this was one of the youngest of the helpers that took care of our quarters and everyone called her Judy.
Another one I developed of a pair of girls that worked in the enlisted men's club and this is Twiggy & Toe.
To close out today this is Chuck Douglas who was in my unit and developed a drinking problem. One night he was on top of our quarters drinking liquor and fell off the flat roof onto the cement below and had to be shipped out. Another sad story. I am enjoying this journey back in time and hope you folks like it as well.
These pictures and your comments are so moving, Odie. I so wish America had treated her verterans from Vietnam with the dignity and love you all deserve. Thank you for your service and thank you for sharing~
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures. I love the pretty girls and the little girl in a new dress. Orphanages are always sad.
ReplyDeleteThese are HQ photographs, Odie. They show us the faces of good people in a bad situation, especially the children. You can't help wondering what became of them in 40 plus years time. Considering their plight perhaps it's best that you don't know but you can always pray that things turned out well.
ReplyDeleteAnother very interesting account from your rich archive of memories. The faces shining out from each of these lovely photographs have a touching quality about them in combination with the reverently woven thread of your stories. I almost sense a longing coming through in your words. Those two years of your young life would have been vividly etched in your memory considering the harsh reality of the pervading circumstances.
ReplyDeleteIt would be special if you could return to that Orphanage Odie, but I guess things might be a little different now. ThaT little girl with the blonde hair - so beautiful and yet so different in that place where she was. Isn't it tragic about all the young children that had to be there, through no fault of their own. I'm sure what you saw there will remain with you always. My daughter went to the Romanian Orphanages for a year, and I went over there for a month to see the conditions for myself, and it really was all pretty tragic. Most of them also had deformities of some sort or another.
ReplyDeleteAnother wonderful post. These photos are beautiful and so wonderfully preserved. Thankyou for sharing
ReplyDeleteInteresting post Odie!
ReplyDeleteThese photos touched me so much. Thank you for sharing them with us. I remember the experts saying the most beautiful women in the world were from Viet Nam and I think they were right.
ReplyDeleteThese are awesome photos! Thanks for sharing, Odie!
ReplyDeleteI've really enjoyed hearing about your experiences in Vietnam and seeing these images. My own father didn't talk much about his experience there and I know it was painful for him so I never pushed. I truly thank you for sharing this, Odie.
ReplyDelete