Memories of My Faraway 1970 Thanksgiving, and a Prayer

Long ago and far away (50 years ago and on the other side of the world), my Thanksgiving 1970 was spent in the Central Highlands of Vietnam in an Army mess hall. It had the classic elements: turkey, dressing, potatoes, and gravy, but it was certainly not a festive meal. No relatives around to share the meal, no connection.

Yes, I did eat with some guys I’d been working with for a few months, but what remained of the 4^th Infantry Division was scheduled to leave Vietnam and be redeployed to Colorado. In that sense, there was anticipation among my comrades who were the administration company for the entire division. What was going to happen to all of us? We were shortly to turn over to the South Vietnamese Army this strategic base camp built near a mountain pass on a major trade route. As part of the withdrawal, various units within the division were to move by convoy to a temporary site on the coast where we would be dispersed and reassigned.

The preparations for that big move made that dinner problematic. The mess cooks on that Thanksgiving day were not focused on the meal, but rather on preparing to pack up and leave. Understandably. They did a good job with what they had, but the meal, as I remember, was more utilitarian than festive. About 10 days later, I was on a two-and-a-half-ton truck in a convoy to the coast. Once at our destination, we were set in temporary billets.

It was there in Qui Nhon a few nights later that I had one of my most memorable meals in Vietnam. Three of us borrowed a jeep one evening and drove it to the docks and a merchant marine bar that served us steaks, fries, and beer. Talk about a taste explosion after months of mess hall mystery meat. Forget Thanksgiving or other holiday meals. That’s the one that I remember.

For me, the Vietnam story has a happy ending. Within days, the Army decided that since I had only about six weeks left on my enlistment, I was sent home early, rather than being reassigned to another unit. On the evening of December 7, 1970, I was aboard the freedom bird back to Seattle. A day later, I was back in Boston.

Thinking back to those days prompts me to encourage you this Thanksgiving to think about the 10,000 men and women currently deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq and say a silent prayer of thanks to them. Those in Afghanistan are serving in America’s longest war because our government, representing U.S. citizens, dispatched them there. When you’re thinking of things to be thankful for today, I ask you to include them. They’re away from family and friends serving their country. It’s a lonely feeling. Believe me. I know.

The photo on this blog is of me in 1970 in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, sandbagging our hooch for protection against incoming fire.

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