Post Script Richard Lennon, Captain, USMC 1803 (Amtrac Officer), was in Vietnam in 1968 with the 1st Amtrac Battalion located at Camp Kistler at the mouth of the Cua Viet River. Here is his narrative of a trip back to the Cua Viet in 1996: In 1996, I returned to Vietnam to revisit the Cua Viet and other sites in the DMZ region. My trip was arranged through a travel agent with offices in Hong Kong and Hanoi called Sundance Travel which put together all the details, including a guide / translator, a vehicle with driver, transportation within Vietnam and hotel reservations. Just initially hearing from a travel agent by fax in Hanoi was a mind boggling experience. I had spent almost 30 years believing that anyone from Hanoi must be "the evil empire." Absolutely untrue. The trip took me from Singapore into Hanoi, with a view from the plane off the coast of Vietnam going north over Danang and the mouth of the Cua Viet. I was put on the Reunification Train to Hue in the evening for a 16-hour trip overnight. We crossed through the then-DMZ area and over the Ben Hai River during the early morning hours, and many things became recognizable from that point. We made a quick stop in Dong Ha, then continued on south to Hue for a visit. We spent almost two days touring Hue, and the Citadel in particular, before heading north to Dong Ha. Dong Ha has replaced Quang Tri as the provincial capital. Working out of a fairly basic motel on Route 1 in "downtown" Dong Ha, I spent several days touring most of the DMZ region, including USMC bases at Khe Sanh, Carroll, the Rockpile, and Dakrong Bridge. I essentially covered all the familiar places on Routes 1 and 9 just south of where the DMZ had been. Finally, it was a trip back up the road to Cua Viet, into the area that had served as Camp Kistler, and its northern outposts of C-4 and Ocean View. I was immediately met by the local police, who look amazingly similar to the Vietamese Army! Cua Viet is viewed as a strategic port location and therefore houses a garrison of local police. I was brought to police headquarters to meet the Chief and to answer some basic questions as to why I was there and what I wanted to see. I explained my trip and shared some pictures from 1968 --- at which point, he realized we'd been there at about the same time. He'd been a teenager we placed in a nearby resettlement village with his family. 1996 Road Sign 1968 Road Sign The approach to Cua Viet Vietnamese Police greet Richard upon arrival 1996 view of the river entrance 1968 view of the river entrance The most striking change (and perhaps the only one since 1968) is the four story lighthouse that now sits on the beach. There, along with the police chief, I was greeted by the lighthouse keeper for a tour of his building and surrounding area. The three of us walked and talked (through my interpreter) of our experiences of many years ago. We returned to the lighthouse for a mid-afternoon snack of some cold cuccumber and white "wine," cut with the blood of a sea snake! Thanks, but I didn't need to know that! Lighthouse and guardshack at the mouth of the Cua Viet River - 1996 1996 foot bridge to Camp Kistler location 1968 foot bridge to Camp Kistler The NSAD loading ramp location in 1996 The NSAD loading ramp location in 1968 Next day, I'm back on the train in Hue and going north to Hanoi all by myself, arriving 6 a.m. at the downtown train station. Finally, out to the airport, through customs (easy), and onto a Vietnam Airlines aircraft--a 767, no less. In retrospect, the best trip of my life. My mindset is changed, and the memories are of a new, more positive Vietnam. The people are warm and interested in visiting Americans. And even though I traveled by myself, I had absolutely no concerns about the trip at any time.

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