Loomis, Steven, IC3

Yes, on 9/11 (2003) I dropped through the clouds and back into Saigon. Like I did once before, back in June of 1970. All in all, not much had changed. Enough so that it gave me the creeps, but, after revisiting it the dreams have stopped.

I managed to take some interesting photographs. A few "before and after" shots are posted in my album.

Viet-Nam, in my opinion, was one of those places you had to experience first hand. You know the phrase... "You had to be there"... to understand what I felt.

edit... I recently received an email asking how I felt about returning and seeing my old shipyard and how did it effect me. The truth is, in general I felt despair. I tried not to dwell on it, to think of all the lives lost, a cause unfulfilled. My answer about the shipyard itself was less emotional... I wrote:

Chief,

I worked in the shipyard in Saigon (1970/1971) for the entire year I was in Viet-Nam, so, it was about the most important place in my life and I found out a lot of it's history while I was there. However, going back seemed the furthest thing from my mind. But, it played on my mind, almost an obsession I guess you might say. I started researching for photos of the yard about ten years ago. I drew the layout from memory and as I would get bits of information I would compare it to my layout. I was pleasantly surprised at just how accurate I had been after all those years.

Then, as the list of places I wanted to see grew shorter... Saigon was put on the list. In 2003 my wife and I flew to Singapore and spent a few days getting our biological clocks in order. With visas in our passports we set off for Saigon. It was as amazing as it had been the first time but this time I had my wife with me. It proved to be a wonderful experience, showing my wife of 25 years, a place that had been so important in my life.

Then there was the shipyard. It was heart stopping. NOTHING HAD CHANGED. I felt like I was in a time warp. Everything was still there. I hadn't prepared myself for this and I was stunned. I asked for permission to enter the yard. It is still a military outpost so the answer was a stern NO. I did manage a few photos through the main gate before being run off.

I even paced off the entire length of the wall of the main gate to measure it. Then, I went down to the docks and rented a guy and his speed boat. At a safe distance we speed along the length of the yard as I shot dozens of photographs. Again, the river side of the yard looked just like it did when I worked there. I even managed to photograph one of our old LSTs, the Maricopa County, as she stood tied to the north pier.

All in all, it was pretty exciting. Of course there have been changes. On the north-west area of the yard a large new building stands where our ordnance repair shop and motor-pool had been. Away from the river, the west wall, has a highway running on the other side. It had butted up against the Saigon Zoo back when I worked there.

The whole yard is slated for demolition. It may have already started. It will become condos and a park. Good luck. If they really clean it up... environmentally... it should take them about a decade!!

I have no plans of returning. I can now Google-Map the place and get a satellite view, that's OK.

Thanks for asking.

Steve

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Just how did it end ?

I served on active duty from July 1969 to June 1973, with a tour incountry from June 1970 to June 1971. As a member of a Naval Advisory Unit we were very aware of the issues surrounding "VIETNAMIZATION". We had a timeline and our pullout was inevitable. However, with that said, our support was suppose to be part of the deal... as you all know Congress deserted the South Vietnamese and left them to suffer defeat.

Yeah, I'm pretty bitter, but after a couple of trips to Singapore, one which took me over Vietnam airspace, I decided to return for a last look and walk down memory lane. I dropped through the clouds and landed in Saigon on 9/11 2003.

For convenience I'd hired a driver and guide and on the first full day we drove around the city sights. When I needed batteries for my camera we stopped at a small shop along Nguyen Hue Blvd, pronounced Win Way, near where the old USO had been. My Guide followed me in and I asked him to take me past the shipyard.

His eyes kind of lit up and he asked me if I'd been there before. I told him I used to live here, when I was in the Navy, and worked in the shipyard. We were out of earshot of our driver he mentioned that he had also worked in the shipyard as a Marine and asked me not to mention anything in front of the driver.

Whenever we were away from the car and driver we had a chance to talk and he told me of the six years he'd spent in the re-education camp after the fall of the South Vietnamese Government. He told me the Vietnamese Naval Headquarters, near the old shipyard, had become apartments for loyal party members.

And then toward the end of our time together he dropped what I consider a lovely bombshell . . . that the Viet Cong had gotten nothing for all their efforts. Considered traitors to their own country, in the end they were left empty handed. After all, nobody trusts a traitor.

How fitting. I was truly grateful to him for sharing that with me. It, in itself, had made the trip worthwhile.

If that doesn't bring a smile to your face you weren't there. WELCOME HOME BROTHERS. JOB WELL DONE.