After almost 18 months of planning, we are heading to Vietnam! We’re flying to Seattle for the night and then off to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) by way of Seoul.
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to go to Vietnam to see the place that took my dad’s youth and innocence. In May 1965, Daddy arrived in Vietnam as a member of the US Marine Corps. During his time there, he was part of Operation Starlite, the first battle conducted by only American troops against the Viet Cong. While in Vietnam, Daddy was exposed to Agent Orange but it wasn’t until 2015 (50 years later) that we learned what that exposure meant. In October 2015, he was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia which has been linked to Agent Orange exposure.
While we know this trip will be bittersweet at times, we know Daddy will be looking down on us smiling as we honor him, his memory and his commitment to our country. Over the last 18 months, there have been so many signs along the way that were Daddy saying “go to Vietnam, you have my blessing”.
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