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Nguyen Dan built the Ho Chi Minh Trail. -- Pierre Beauregard Photo
His name is Nguyen Dan (pronounced Wen Zan). He's 89 years old and
he's blind. In 1941 he fought the Japanese when they invaded Vietnam.
When the Japanese surrendered, the French returned and he fought them.
When the United States stuck its head into Vietnam affairs,
Dan fought them as well. In 1966, he was in charge of a project that
many military historians believe made what was then called North Vietnam
impossible to defeat --- he was in charge of building what would come
to be known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Despite the fact that the Laos
government had signed the 1962 Geneva Accords, the International Agreement on the Neutrality
of Laos and promised not to allow foreign armies to use its land, Dan says the Laos government gave a wink and a nod to
North Vietnam.
Because Vietnam had helped Laos in it's fight against
France, Laos agreed to look the other way and allow Dan's Engineer
Regiment to build the now famous, hidden highway through the mountainous
jungles of eastern Laos. Even though the U.S. dropped more bombs on
that part of Laos than they had dropped on Europe in World War II,
nothing could stop the North Vietnamese from sending hundreds of
thousands of soldiers, trucks, tanks, guns and munitions through Laos and Cambodia and into South Vietnam.
Dan described for us how U.S. aircraft poured Agent Orange over the
trail. They were soaking wet in the deadly goo. Then the rains came, he
said, and washed the Agent Orange into the streams --- streams they used
for bathing, cooking and even drinking.
It was the Agent Orange, the
doctors told him, that robbed him of his vision.
He welcomed us into
his home. We met his childhood bride --- the woman who also helped him
build the trail. He told us that he holds no animosity toward the United
States. He believes in peace. He asked me to tell the American people
that we should all live in peace. He told us that we are all residents
of the earth and that we are one. He called me his brother. He shook my
hand a dozen times and welcomed me in his Hanoi home whenever I wanted
to visit. I hope I can visit him again. After all, he's family. We're
all family.
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| Nguyen Dan built the Ho Chi Minh Trail. -- Pierre Beauregard Photo |
His name is Nguyen Dan (pronounced Wen Zan). He's 89 years old and
he's blind. In 1941 he fought the Japanese when they invaded Vietnam.
When the Japanese surrendered, the French returned and he fought them.
When the United States stuck its head into Vietnam affairs,
Dan fought them as well. In 1966, he was in charge of a project that
many military historians believe made what was then called North Vietnam
impossible to defeat --- he was in charge of building what would come
to be known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Despite the fact that the Laos
government had signed the 1962 Geneva Accords, the International Agreement on the Neutrality
of Laos and promised not to allow foreign armies to use its land, Dan says the Laos government gave a wink and a nod to
North Vietnam.
Because Vietnam had helped Laos in it's fight against
France, Laos agreed to look the other way and allow Dan's Engineer
Regiment to build the now famous, hidden highway through the mountainous
jungles of eastern Laos. Even though the U.S. dropped more bombs on
that part of Laos than they had dropped on Europe in World War II,
nothing could stop the North Vietnamese from sending hundreds of
thousands of soldiers, trucks, tanks, guns and munitions through Laos and Cambodia and into South Vietnam.
Dan described for us how U.S. aircraft poured Agent Orange over the
trail. They were soaking wet in the deadly goo. Then the rains came, he
said, and washed the Agent Orange into the streams --- streams they used
for bathing, cooking and even drinking.
It was the Agent Orange, the
doctors told him, that robbed him of his vision.
10 comments:
Your trek back to a place that forged you at such a vital time in your life has been as brave a trip as I can imagine. Your stories along the way have been like torches, illuminating corners of the world that few have seen, let alone had the chance to experience.
Thanks to you, Don, for those of us who have been lucky enough to read your posts, that is no longer the case.
Don,
This is some of your best writing ever, with a remarkable photograph. You are always able to find people who grow wisdom with age.
What an amazing experience and very emotional. You always seem to present very deep and moving pieces and I am personally very touched by all of this. Everyone in this world should hear Dan's story. Excellent work Don. Love you man.
Don,
Very moving story. Peace and Happiness is what most of us wish and work for. Your journey truly brings back memories from the past.
Dennis
I am sympathetic to Mr. Dan for his lost of vision; brought from our usage of Agent Orange.
However, I am very sorry for the Americans soldiers that were fighting this unwanted war. I served 4 years during that time and survived;unfortunately, my brother was not. He suffered for many years and succumbed to the effects of Agent Orange. May peace be with us all.
This is truly what life and compassion is truly about. I am heartened by this story, as we really need this to be an emphasis in a world so troubled by greed, tragedy and hardship.
Thank you, Nguyen Dan and Don!
I have several comments. The first is that I am privileged to have Don Ray call me his friend and I am just as privileged to call him my friend. People can make all the comments they want about either of us and the fact is they are commenting on what they see on the outside. I know Don Ray's heart and he is a good man in a world where that trait is becoming very difficult to find.
As to the builder of the Ho Chi Min Trail, what an important story to tell and thanks to Don for doing so.
Let us all learn from the lessons of history so we can stop being doomed into repetition. The fundamental notion of mankind is the ability to appreciate the value that others bring to us. All that finally matters in life is the relationships we have created and the bond of trust that arises from them. This is what Nguyen Dan is doing and it is what Don Ray is sharing. Thank you, Don.
May God bless your work.
Paul Curtis
What a beautiful person this man is, good job Don
Very interesting story, Don.
You're a great journalist!
Melanie P
Thank you for reading my stuff and for letting me know that it's either interesting or effective. I've posted another blog about Mr. Nguyen's wife. Her story is also amazing and inspirational.
We have been traveling for nearly 24 hours and just arrived at a hotel in Manila. I have a lot of work here before I head home on Sunday. I'll try to introduce you to the other story I'm working on.
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