Mr. Phil, as his Vietnamese friends call him, is an American Vietnam Vet who volunteered to enilist in 1964 because he believed it was the right thing to do. He was an orphan who struck me as a somewhat naive youth. He was a chain smoker who had a very heavy Boston accent, a receding chin, bad teeth, and a wandering eye for pretty girls. I sat down with him because it was the only way I could sit outside and enjoy my papaya shake and I was glad I did.

Mr. Phil served in Danang which is right near the DMZ (demilitarized zone separating the north and south. This is where a lot of action took place.) He was a communication specialist which according to him means that he carried a radio for South Vietnamese Rangers. There were only 3 other westerners in his unit.

Here is the story that Mr. Phil told me.

His commanding officers had a take no prisoners policy. If someone was caught, they were killed. He saw bound & gagged men, women and children shot in the head.

This upset him greatly and he refused to do it. He was called in to his commanding officer and he explained what he was taught about the treatment of POWs by handing his commanding officer a card of instructions provided by the US Army. The officer ripped it up and told him that either he did as he was told or he would be on the other end of the gun.

Somehow, he managed to get transfered to some sort of office duty in Danang after 6 months. He actually loved Vietnam and had many Vietnamese friends. He often went with them to Hue. He actually wanted to finish his service in Vietnam but his commanding officer denied his second request for an extension of his tour of duty in Vietnam because he said that his behavior with his Vietnamese friends would get him killed when he wasn't even in action.

And so, he finished up his service in Kentucky. I asked how he was treated when he returned and he told me that when he reported to his draft office in the Boston area which he had to do after his service was over, he was physically attacked by protestors.

I think Mr. Phil's instant and lasting love of Vietnam as an American soldier make him a bit of an anomoly. He said that most of the Vets he meets that come back do it to exercise their demons. He had one friend who spent nine years looking for the remains of a friend (which were actually found). As an aside, the US gov't is still spending millions of dollars each year funding the MIA search teams that work with the Vietnamese on something called the Joint Task Force. I've heard two stories so far about how badly the marines on this assignment behave. Apparently, they get into a lot of bar fights.

But I digress. Back to Mr. Phil.

Mr. Phil moved to Vietnam 16 months ago and wanted to become a citizen which he can't do. He lives in Danang which is known throughout Vietnam to have one of the most corrupt police forces. All of the expats who live their have to pay them off so that they are not harrassed.

Mr. Phil refused to pay them off and has had a lot of problems. The reason he as in Saigon is because he can't return to Danang because his friends told him that the police will find a way to deport him.

It is interesting to me how much he loves Vietnam. He had a foster child here who stole from him and every landlord he has had has tried to extort money from him. He also has a girlfriend of 26 years at home who he spoke of with great affection. I'm not exactly sure what drove his decision to come here or to stay, but he really seems to love it.