The Fury of War

Chapter 1 – My Mother Has the Classified

Documents Concerning U.S. POW/MIA
Vi e t n a m i s a c o u n t r y l o c a t e d i n t h e M a i n l a n d S o u t h e a s t A s i a , a r e g i o n o f p e n i n s u l a s a n d
i s l a n d s . S a i g o n i s t h e c a p i t a l c i t y a n d c o m m e r c i a l h u b o f Vi e t n a m . T h e c o u n t r y h a s a
p o p u l a t i o n o f m o r e t h a n 9 0 m i l l i o n i n h a b i t a n t s c a l l e d Vi e t n a m e s e .  
Near Saigon, the Mekong Delta region contains rivers, swamps, and islands. The Gold
Nuggets River in Saigon and the Mekong Delta River join to form a single channel flowing
out to Thienchua International Seaport, which is situated at the beginning of the ocean, on
the coast of the south China Sea. Cruise ships and merchant ships come into the port always.
C u C h i D is t r i c t i s n e a r S a i g o n . t h e d i s t r i c t i s t h e l o w e s t p l a c e o n E a r t h i n t e r m s o f f e e t
b e l o w s e a l e v e l . T h e D e a d Va l l e y r u ns t h r o u g h t h e d i s t r i c t .  
T h e D r a g o n K i n g d o m i s a n e i g h b o r i n g c o u n t r y o f Vi e t n a m . Yu l u i s t h e c a p i t a l c i t y o f
D r a g o n K i n g d o m . T h e c o u n t r y h as a p o p u l a t i o n o f m o r e t h a n 1 . 9 b i l l i o n i n h a b i t a n t s c a l l e d
D r a g o n e s e . T h e m i l i t a r y h e a d q u a r t e r s a n d t h e f a m o u s H e a l t h & Wi s d o m G a m e M a r k e t a r e i n
Yu l u .
Yu l u a n d S a i g o n s h a r e a c o m m o n b o r d e r. T h e G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r f l o w s t h r o u g h S a i g o n .
Vi e t n a m e s e a n d D r a g o n e s e c a n c r o s s t h e H e r c u l e a n B r i d g e s p a n n i n g o v e r t h e r i v e r, t o c o m e
a n d g o b e t w e e n S a i g o n a n d Yu l u .  
T h e D r a g o n M o u t h S i n k h o l e i s l o c a t e d i n t h e G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r, a n d t h e n e a r b y D r a g o n
Wa y C a v e s t r a d d l e s t h e r i v e r. T h e D r a g o n K i n g d o m h a s c l a i m e d p o s s e s s i o n o v e r S a i g o n a n d
t h e G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r, a l l b a s e d o n t h e m e r i t s o f t h e w o r d “ D r a g o n ” b e i n g p a r t o f t h e
n a m e s o f t h e s i n k h o l e a n d t h e c a v e s i t u a t e d i n t h e r i v e r.
F o r a s l o n g a s h i s t o r y i s r e c o r d e d , t h e D r a g o n K i n g d o m a n d Vi e t n a m h a v e w r a n g l e d o v e r
the territorial status of Gold Nuggets River and Saigon.
T h e Va g a b o n d C h a r a c t e r s (V C s ) t r a i n i n t h e D r a g o n K i n g d o m . T h e y h a v e d u g e x t e n s i v e
n e t w o r k s o f t u n n e l s r u n n i n g u n d e r n e a t h t h e g r o u n d f r o m Vi e t n a m t o t h e D r a g o n K i n g d o m .
T h e t u n n e l s f o r m t h e l i n k o f V C s u p p o r t b as e s f o r V C g u e r r i l l a a c t i v i t y.
I n Vi e t n a m , t h e t u n n e l s a r e h e a v i l y c o n c e n t r a t e d i n t h e u n d e rg r o u n d o f S a i g o n , C u C h i
C i t y, A s s as s i n J u n g l e , I r o n Tr i a n g l e F o r es t , a n d t h e D e m i l i t a r i z e d Z o n e ( D M Z ) n e x t t o
Saigon. All these places are in the Cu Chi Region.  
T h e V C s l a u n c h e d g u e r r i l l a w a r f a r e a g a i n s t t h e Vi e t n a m e s e . S o t h e Vi e t n a m e s e A r m y
f o r m e d a n a l l i a n c e w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n A r m y, t o f i g h t a g a i n s t t h e V C s a n d t h e i r h a r b o r i n g h o s t
Dragonese.
The VCs often remove the tires from the American military trucks, cut the tires into
s a n d a l s , a n d t h e i n n e r t u b e s i n t o s t r a p s . T h e V Cs d o n ’t w e a r m i l i t a r y u n i f o r m s , b u t t h e y w e a r
pajamas and truck tire sandals, making them look like farmers.  
T h e V C s l i v e i n t h e t u n n e l s o n t h e Vi e t n a m e s e s i d e . T h e y us e t h e t u n n e l s a s u n d e rg r o u n d
routes to transport communications and supplies. They lay booby traps in the tunnels to
capture their enemy soldiers. From the tunnels, they launch surprise attacks on the American
A r m y a n d Vi e t n a m e s e A r m y a n d a f t e r w a r d d i s a p p e a r i n t o t h e s a f e t y o f t h e s p r a w l i n g n e t w o r k
of tunnels.
 
I flick my eyes open and listening for a few minutes, I realize I’ve been awakened by the
sound of footsteps pattering outside. I glimpse at my alarm clock standing on my nightstand,
r e a d i n g 3 : 4 3 A .M .  
I sit up on my bed placed directly under the wrought-iron window that dominates the front
wall. I put my face to a lower corner of the window and letting go of the breath I’ve been
h o l d i n g , I l o o k o u t o f t h e w i n d o w.  
I s e e f a c e s p e e r i n g i n t h r o u g h t h e w i n d o w, a n d a l s o s e e t h e V Cs p a c i n g a r o u n d a l l o v e r t h e
front yard.
The front door is kicked open and it bangs against the wall and the VCs rush into our
house. I turn on the light.  
A V C g r a b s m e b y t h e h a n d a n d y a n k s m e o ff t h e b e d . “ W h e r e ’s t h e s u i t c a s e c o n t a i n i n g t h e
c l a s s i f i e d d o c u m e n t s r e l a t i v e t o U . S . P r i s o n e r s o f Wa r a n d M i s s i n g i n A c t i o n ? ”
M o m a p p e a r s a t m y b e d r o o m d o o r. “ P l e a s e l e a v e m y d a u g h t e r a l o n e . S h e k n o w s n o t h i n g o f
this. The suitcase is there on top of the kitchen cabinet.”
I recall clearly I’d never seen the suitcase on top of the cabinet before.  
The VC Lieutenant Commander straightens his posture and stands with both his arms
outstretched. He turns to look at the suitcase with a look of triumph on his face, and barks,
“ S t a n d b a c k , e v e r y o n e . C o m r a d e M a r i n e G u n n e r, t a k e t h e s u i t c a s e d ow n . ”
T h e V C G u n n e r s l o w l y t a k e s t h e s u i t c a s e o ff t h e k i t c h e n c a b i n e t , s l i g h t l y t i l t i n g t h e
s u i t c a s e a t a n g l e s , a n d t h e r e ’s a w e i r d t h u m p i n g s o u n d o f s o m e t h i n g r o l l i n g a r o u n d i n s i d e t h e
suitcase.
T h e V C G u n n e r L o w e r s t h e s u i t c a s e a n d r e s t s i t o n t h e f l o o r, s a y i n g , “ C o m r a d e L i e u t e n a n t
C o m m a n d e r, T h e r e ’s a s t i c k b o m b i n s i d e . ”
T h e V C L i e u t e n a n t C o m m a n d e r g e s t u r e s t o w a r d s a V C w o m a n c o m r a d e c r o u c h i n g d ow n b y
t h e s u i t c a s e . “ C o m r a d e We a p o n s D e t e c t i o n S p e c i a l i s t , a r e y o u a b l e t o o p e n i t ? ”  
The specialist picks up the suitcase lock with a paper clip and opens the suitcase lid. She
m o t i o n s w i t h h e r h a n ds t o w h a t ’s l y i n g i n s i d e t h e s u i t c a s e . “ W h a t i s t h i s s u p p os e d t o m e a n ?
All we want to do is just find the POW/CIA documents, but instead, we’ve ended up with a
bamboo flute.” 
  I b o u g h t t h e b a m b o o f l u t e a s a s o u v e n i r o f m y s c h o o l t r i p t o t h e G r e a t Wa l l o f D r a g o n
Kingdom. I rack my brain to remember whether I put the flute in the suitcase.  
 T h e t r i u m p h i n h i s f a c e t u r n e d i n t o m a l i c e , t h e V C L i e u t e n a n t C o m m a n d e r g r o w l s , “ We ’ v e
g o t i n t e l l i g e n c e a l l w r o n g . U s e l e s s V C I n f o r m e r. A f t e r a l l , s o m e o n e s e l e c t e d b y m e s h o u l d
h a v e w h a t i t t a k e s t o f u l f i l l t h e V C P a r t y ’s e x p e c t a t i o n s . I ' l l l e t t h e us e l e s s i n f o r m e r k n o w
w h a t s t uff I ’ m m a d e o f . ” H e w a v e s h i s h a n d a t h i s c o m r a d e s a n d s t o r m s o u t o f o u r h o us e ,
followed by the comrades.
A t t h e b o t t o m o f o u r d i r t d r i v e w a y, a m i m o s a t r e e s t a n d s o n o n e s i d e o f t h e d r i v e w a y. L E D
light fixtures installed on top of the poles standing by the tree illuminate the whole area of
our house. 
F r o m t h e w i n d o w, I w a t c h t h e V C s w a l k a w a y a n d c o m e u p t o t h e j e e p s p a r k e d h a p h a z a r d l y
b y t h e t r e e . A m a n h o ps o u t o f t h e n e a r e s t j e e p , w a l k i n g o v e r t o t h e V C L i e u t e n a n t
C o m m a n d e r.
D r a w i n g t h e a t t e n t i o n o f o u r n e i g h b o r s g a t h e r i n g n e a r b y, t h e V C L i e u t e n a n t C o m m a n d e r
g r a b s t h e m a n ’s s h i r t b y t h e c o l l a r a n d k e e p s j a b b i n g h i s f i n g e r a t t h e m a n ’s f a c e a s h e
s p e a k s . T h e m a n j u s t s t a n d s w i t h h i s h e a d h u n g l o w a s h e l i s t e n s t o t h e c o m m a n d e r.  
I see American Military Police jeeps coming from the direction of the Army National
M i l i t a r y C e m e t e r y. T h e V C s a l l h o p b a c k i n t o t h e i r j e e p s a n d p u l l t h e m o u t o f t h e p a r k i n g
s p a c e , t h e e n g i n e s s u rg i n g a t a w i l d h i g h s p e e d a n d t h e t i r e s s c r a p i n g a g a i n s t g r a v e l a s t h e y
d r i v e a w a y.  
The tiled wall behind the kitchen cabinet splits open along a perpendicular caulk line, and
in the opening, Mom stands holding a stack of what looks like document papers.
“Mom did you…And the wall?” I stammer but shut up when I see Mom gesture for me to
keep quiet. Then she says, “It would be better not to talk about this here. Now go back to
sleep, Mai.” 
The light goes dark behind the wall.

The Fury of War

Chapter 2 – Climb Tree to Go to School
I w a k e u p t o t h e s o u n d o f m y a l a r m c l o c k g o i n g o ff , t h e r e d d i g i t a l n u m b e r s o n t h e c l o c k
r e a d i n g 7 : 0 1 A .M . I ’ m l y i n g c u r l e d u p u n d e r a w a r m b l a n k e t a n d m o s q u i t o n e t . I t u r n o n m y
b a c k a n d c r a c k o p e n o n e e y e . T h e r e ’s s o m e t h i n g d i ff e r e n t a b o u t t h e b a c k y a r d . B a n a n a s ! A
huge bunch of ripe bananas hangs on the tree.  
Our home looks like a military barrack. One side of the house bumps up against a high
c o n c r e t e w a l l . I t e x t e n d s f r o m t h e f r o n t o f t h e h o u s e t o t h e b a c k , a n d s t i l l m i l e s f a r t h e r a w a y,
a l l t h e w a y t o t h e b o r d e r b e t w e e n Vi e t n a m a n d D r a g o n K i n g d o m .  
When you walk right inside the house, there are two beds and a table with two stools, then
n e x t i s t h e l i v i n g r o o m . Ta k e a f e w s t e p s , a n d y o u ’ l l b e u n d e r a n o p e n - a i r c o n c r e t e b a c k y a r d
with a water tank attached to the wall. In front of you is the cooking area with a roof of
c o r r u g a t e d t i n s h e e t s , a n d w i t h t o o l s , f i r e p i t s , a n d p o t s a n d p a ns .
 I had dug a banana shoot bud out of the Assassin Jungle and planted the bud beside the
water tank. 
A banana tree starts out as a shoot bud that first grows straight up into a tube. The top
one-third of the tube unfurls to form the first leaf, and the bottom two-thirds remain furled
to become the initial tree trunk. A banana leaf can grow to be twice as big as me! After the
f i r s t l e a f h a s c o m e , a l l o t h e r l e a v e s c o m i n g a f t e r i t i s d e v e l o p e d i n t h e s a m e w a y, w i t h t h e i r
bottom two-thirds rolled around the growing trunk.
A ruby bulb rounded like a very long egg with one pointed end serving as the tip of the
b u l b , h a s g r ow n o u t o f t h e t o p o f t h e t r e e t r u n k , a n d t h e b u l b h a s g r o w n i n t o b a n a n a s . N ow a
bunch of sunny bananas has come out on my tree when I least expect it.    
I h o p o ff m y b e d , r u n t o t h e w a t e r t a n k , a n d c l i m b o n t o i t . I p i c k a p e r f e c t l y r i p e b a n a n a ,
t h e n r u m m a g e i n a n e a r t h e n w a r e c r o c k t o f i n d o n e r e m a i n i n g b o i l e d c a s s a v a . N ow I h a v e
banana and cassava for breakfast, a total treat. What should I do with all these ripe bananas
before they go bad? Definitely make something to sell!
M o m s a y s f r o m h e r b e d , “ I s a v e d t h e s h r i m p l o m e i n f o r y o u . W h e n I c a m e h o m e y e s t e r d a y,
you had gone to sleep instead of waiting up for me to return. Do you want to eat before going
to school?”
I ’ m r u n n i n g l a t e f o r s c h o o l a n d a f r a i d t o f a c e M is s M y L a i . S h e t e a c h e s h i s t o r y a n d
E n g l i s h , v e r y s t r i c t l y. S h e w o u l d l a s h a t h i c k r u b b e r r u l e r o n t h e k n u c k l e s o f h e r s t u d e n t s
w h o a r e l a t e . I s a y, “ I ’ l l e a t b a n a n a a n d c a s s a v a . D i d y o u s e e t h e b a n a n a s ? H o w i s i t
possible?”
Mom comes out and stands beside me, smiling. “Green bananas have been there, hidden
under the leaves. They must have turned yellow overnight.”
I r i n s e m y m o u t h w i t h s a l t w a t e r w i t h o u t b r us h i n g m y t e e t h . I t h r o w o n m y s c h o o l u n i f o r m ,
scoop up my schoolbag, and slide my feet into pink plastic sandals.
M y f r i e n d , H o a , c o m e s b y m y h o u s e t o c o l l e c t m e s o t h a t w e c a n g o t o s c h o o l t o g e t h e r. S h e
h a s j u s t t r a n s f e r r e d t o m y s c h o o l . To d a y i s o u r f i r s t d a y o f s c h o o l .  
S h e m o v e s aw a y i n a h u r r y, s a y i n g , “ C a t c h u p , M a i . B e t t e r t o c u t c l a s s t h a n t o c o m e t o
M i s s M y L a i ’s c l a s s l a t e . ”
I t r y t o c a t c h u p t o h e r, a n d o n c e g e t t i n g n e a r h e r, I r e a c h f o r h e r s h o u l d e r. I s a y, “ Wa i t ,
H o a . We c a n q u i c k l y g o t o s c h o o l b y w a y o f a s h o r t c u t e n a b l e d b y t h e b a n a n a t r e e i n m y
b a c k y a r d . We c l i m b u p t h e t r e e a n d g e t o n t o p o f t h e h i g h w a l l . T h e n c l i m b d ow n t h e s t a r f r u i t
t r e e o n t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e w a l l t o g e t o n t o t h e r o a d . We g o t o t h e p a r k n e x t t o S t . Vi n c e n t
C h u r c h , g o t h r o u g h t h e a l l e y b e h i n d t h e c h u r c h , a n d c o m e u p t o t h e s c h o o l f e n c e . We c a n
c l i m b t h e f e n c e t o g e t i n t o M i s s M y L a i ’s c l a s s r o o m . ”  
H o a f l i n c h e s . “ To o m u c h c l i m b i n g . I d o n ’t w a n t t o r u i n m y n e w s c h o o l u n i f o r m . C o u l d n ’t
y o u o ff e r m e a m u c h m o r e s e n s i b l e c h o i c e t h a n c l i m b i n g u p y o u r b a n a n a t r e e t o g o t o
school?”
I s a y, “ I k n ow t h e r e i s n o c h o i c e b u t t o c l i m b . ”
 Hoa says, “I’ve resigned myself to running all the way to school, and to submit to being
l a s h e d o n t h e k n u c k l e s b y M i s s M y L a i ’s r u b b e r r u l e r. B u t w a i t a m o m e n t . G e e , l e t m e t h i n k
a m i n u t e . O h , l e t ’s c l i m b t h e t a l l b a n a n a t r e e ! ”    
We g o b a c k t o m y h o u s e . H o a t u r n s a n d s m i l e s a t m e , g e s t u r i n g f o r m e t o l e a d h e r t o t h e
backyard.
I climb onto the water tank, followed by Hoa. A peppermint plant poking through a crack
in the wall, I pluck a stem and chew on it. I pull myself up on a banana leaf, but it would be
much easier barefooted. I scramble on the smooth leaf and finally get on top of the wall,
s i t t i n g t h e r e w a i t i n g f o r H o a a s s h e f u m b l e s a r o u n d o n d i ff e r e n t l e a v e s . S h e f i n a l l y c o m e s u p
o n t o p o f t h e w a l l , o u t o f b r e a t h a s s h e s i t s d ow n b e s i d e m e .  
We g r a b s t a r f r u i t t r e e b r a n c h e s t o c l i m b t o t h e g r o u n d . W h i l e H o a s t r u g g l e s t o g e t d o w n ,
t h e t w i g s s h e ’s c l u t c h i n g s n a p , s e n d i n g h e r t u m b l i n g d o w n a l o n g w i t h t h e s t a r f r u i t s a n d
landing on her butt. 
S h e d u s t s o ff t h e s e a t o f h e r b l a c k p a n t s , s h a k i n g h e r h e a d i n d i s g us t . “N o , l o o k w h a t y o u
did, Mai!”
I s t i f l e a g i g g l e s o t h a t s h e d o e s n ’t g e t a n g r i e r w i t h m e , s a y i n g . “ T h a t ’s n o t m y f a u l t . I ’ m
trying to save our knuckles.”
S h e p u r s e s h e r l i p s . “ O h , I d o n ’t k n ow. I ’ d r a t h e r g e t m y k n u c k l e s l a s h e d t h a n h a v e t h e
seat of my pants soiled on my first day of school.”  
I’m trying to get up my courage to tell her that the back of her white shirt is also soiled,
but I decide not to point that out. I let go of the branch and drop to the ground, landing on
my hands and feet. 
“ Yo u ’ r e u p a t r e e , e h , g i r l s , ” A b o y s a ys .
T h r e e o t h e r b o ys r o a r w i t h l a u g h t e r. “ O h , w o w, t w o g i r l s u p a t r e e . ”
“ I t ’s a b o u t t i m e s o m e o n e t o l d t h e m o ff f o r t h e i r b u l l y i n g b e h a v i o r, ” I s a y.
Hoa walks up to them, staring them down, saying, “No, we’re down a tree. What do you
s e e u p a t r e e n ow ? S t u p i d b u l l i e s . ”
I r u n u p t o H o a , a n d p u l l i n g h e r b y t h e h a n d , I s a y, “ L e t ’s g e t a w a y f r o m t h e m . I ’ m s u r e
they will deck us.”
We k e e p o n r u n n i n g t o s c h o o l b u t s t o p w h e n w e s e e a l o t o f k i d s s t a n d i n g a t f o o d s t a n d s o n
t h e r o a d s i d e s . M y s t o m a c h g r ow l s w h e n I s e e a g i r l l i c k a b a n a n a c r a c k e r a n d t h e n t h r o w i t
a w a y. I f e e l r e g r e t a s i f I t h r e w i t a w a y m y s e l f . W h e r e d i d I l e a v e m y b a n a n a a n d c a s s a v a
b r e a k f a s t ? I ’ m g o i n g t o m a k e b a n a n a c r a c k e r s t o s e l l w h e n I g e t h o m e t o d a y.  
We t r o t i n s i l e n c e t h r o u g h t h e a l l e y b e h i n d t h e c h u r c h a n d c o m e u p t o t h e s c h o o l f e n c e .
T h e r e ’s a b o m b c r a t e r a t t h e f e n c e . A t t h e e d g e o f t h e c r a t e r, w e h o l d u p t h e b a r b e d w i r e f o r
each other as we crawl under the bottom to get into the schoolyard.  
O u r s c h o o l i s a c t u a l l y a c l o s e d m i l i t a r y b a s e . T h e o p e n - a i r p a v i l i o n s o n t h e b as e h a v e b e e n
c o n v e r t e d i n t o c l a s s r o o m s . We a p p r o a c h o u r c l a s s m a t e s s t i l l s t a n d i n g w i t h M is s M y L a i i n
front of our classroom. Many other students are walking away from the school.
 “ D o n ’t w e h a v e s c h o o l t o d a y ? ” I s a y.
T h e g i r l w h o h a s l i c k e d h e r b a n a n a c r a c k e r a n d t h e n t h r o w n i t a w a y s a y s , “We ’ r e a l l o w e d
t o g o h o m e . A b o m b f e l l o n t h e g r o u n d d u r i n g t h e n i g h t . F o r t u n a t e l y, n o o n e w as h e r e . ”
N o o n e h u r t . N o s c h o o l t o d a y. H o a a n d I w a l k h o m e .

Chapter 3 – I Bathe in the River

I t ’s a m a z i n g o u r f i r s t d a y o f s c h o o l h a s b e e n c a n c e l e d d u e t o a b o m b h a v i n g d r o p p e d a f e w
meters away from the classrooms. I try to figure out how I shall pass the time until I have to
d o m y c h o r e s f o r t h e d a y.  
At home, I change into my patched outfit. I’ve maintained the outfit by patching the
blouse and pants with durable fabrics, doubling the patches serving as pockets. Some kids
u s e d t o m a k e j o k e s a b o u t m y u n us u a l f a s h i o n , b u t n o w t h e y e v e n t h i n k m y p a t c h e d o u t f i t i s
c o o l , a l t h o u g h t h e y w o u l d n ’t d a r e w e a r t h e s a m e .
I h e a d o u t f o r t h e G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r, m a i n l y t o b a t h e i n t h e r i v e r.  
T h e S k ys c r a p e r Tr e e s t a n d s o n t h e r i v e r b a n k . T h e t r e e h a s s w e e t j u i c y f r u i t s c a l l e d
I n r i m a n n a c o m i n g i n m a n y c o l o r s . T h e t r u n k i s a t l e a s t f i f t e e n m e t e r s i n d i a m e t e r, a n d a b o u t
1 9 5 m e t e r s t a l l , w i t h t h e b r a n c h e s g r ow i n g s i d e w a y s a l l a r o u n d a n d a l o n g t h e t r u n k . S o m e
l o w e r b r a n c h e s h a n g d o w n s o l o w t h a t t h e i r t i p s d i p i n a n d o u t o f t h e w a t e r, t h e s u b m e rg e d
leaves twirling in the circular ripples, and small gleaming fish nibbling on the leaves.  
Perching on the treetop, I can see the activities in the streets of Saigon. Pedestrians, food
vending carts, motorcycles, tourist cyclos, bicycles, cars, and buses zigzag between one
a n o t h e r. Tr u c k s l o a d e d w i t h a m m u n i t i o n , m i l i t a r y t r u c k s c a r r y i n g s o l d i e r s , a n d a r m o r e d
f i g h t i n g t a n k s a l s o m o v e i n t h e c i t y t r a ff i c , m a k i n g S a i g o n l o o k l i k e i t ’s i n v o l v e d i n m i l i t a r y
operations.   
The children jump up to catch the low branches, which swing them out until they let go of
t h e b r a n c h e s a n d p l u n g e i n t o t h e w a t e r. T h e y s w i m f a s t t o t h e o p p os i t e b a n k , d o a f l i p t u r n ,
swim back, and scramble back up the tree, foamy water dripping onto friends trailing them
f r o m b e l o w. T h e y k e e p r e p e a t i n g t h e p r o c e s s .
After playing with friends on the tree, I slip away to go to my bathing haunt bordered by
f e n c e s o f h e d g e s a n d t r e e s , a t a n o t h e r s e c t i o n o f t h e r i v e r. M i l k y Wa y G a l a x y v i n e s c l i m b u p
t h e t r e e s , s p r e a d a l o n g t h e b r a n c h e s , a n d h a n g d ow n f r o m t h e b r a n c h e s t o t h e g r o u n d . T h e
hanging vines form curtains hiding my bathing haunt.
I h a d c h os e n t h i s s i t e f o r m y o w n b a t h i n g , b u t a t f i r s t , t h e r e w as n o e a s y w a y i n o r o u t o f
my bathing haunt. I made a narrow gap at the bottom of the hedge by hitting on the twigs,
until a gap opened up wide enough for me to crawl in or out of my bathing haunt.  
I scamper along the hedge, looking for the gap. Could it be behind this elm tree branch? I
d r a g t h e b r a n c h o u t o f t h e w a y, a n d t h e r e i t i s . I l o o k a r o u n d t h e a r e a a n d s e e n o o n e , t h e n
although a bit unnerved by the hiccup, I crawl through the gap to get into my bathing haunt.  
 I s t a n d i n t h e r i v e r, f e e l i n g a l l e x c i t e d s e e i n g g l o w i n g r o c ks a c c u m u l a t e d a b u n d a n t l y i n t h e
r i v e r b e d t o d a y. I c a l l t h e r o c k s g l o w i n g g e n t l y “ b a b y M o o n s , ” a n d t h e r o c k s s h i n i n g b r i g h t l y
“ b a b y S u ns . ”  
A t t h e f o o t o f m y b e d , I ’ v e p i l e d t h e m o o n r o c k s i n o n e c o r n e r, a n d t h e s u n r o c ks i n t h e
o p p o s i t e c o r n e r. T h e y s h i n e 2 4 / 7 , s o w h e n I g o t o s l e e p a n d d o n ’t w a n t l i g h t , I p us h m y
blanket with my feet to cover them. When I’m in a poetic mood, I let the moon rocks shine,
but cover up the sun rocks, and when I want a sunny bedroom, I let the sun rocks glare.  
O n t h e d a ys w h e n t h e b i g S u n d o e s n ’t c o m e o u t i n t h e s k y, a n d I h a v e t o s t u d y, I t a k e a f e w
sun rocks and put them on my study table so that I can study in their light.
The jasmine plants shed their white flowers into the water flowing over the rocks. Aloe
Ve r a p l a n t s g r ow o n a s a n d y p a r t o f t h e r i v e r b a n k . A t t h e e n t r a n c e o f t h e n e a r b y D r a g o n Wa y
cave, there’re icicle-shaped pink limestones.  
I c r u s h a b a b y S u n a n d a b a b y M o o n a n d a p i e c e o f l i m e s t o n e t o g e t h e r i n t o a p o w d e r. I
c o m b i n e t h e p o w d e r, m i n e r a l - r i c h r i v e r w a t e r, m a s h e d j a s m i n e f l o w e r s , a n d A l o e Ve r a p u l p ,
and knead the mixture with my fingers to make a paste.
Cleaning your body with this paste makes your skin clear and smooth, and makes you smell
a s i f y o u ’ v e j u s t b e e n w as h e d w i t h e x p e n s i v e s o a p . A l s o w h e n y o u r u b t h e p a s t e o n y o u r
cheeks, even if you have sunken cheekbones, you’ll look like you have exquisite high
cheekbones praised by beauty seekers.  
I m i x t h e p as t e t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e j u i c e o f a r e d d i s h I n r i m a n n a t o m a k e e y e s h a d o w a n d
smear it on my eyelids. I look into the water and see my brown eyes under the stunning
e y e s h a d o w, f r a m e d b y m y s h i n y b l a c k h a i r. I s a y t o m y s e l f , “ Wo w, G l o w i n g G o d d e s s !
Marvelous!”
I ’ l l m a k e c o s m e t i c s t o s e l l . B u t I n e e d t o m a k e s u r e t h e m a k e u p w o n ’t c a u s e a r a s h o r m a r
t h e s k i n . I w o u l d n ’t l i k e t o h a v e y o u c o m e a f t e r m e ! B u t I n e e d t o l e a r n f i r s t h o w t o
m a n u f a c t u r e m a k e u p i n l a rg e b a t c h e s , i n c a s e I g e t m a n y c u s t o m e r s , a s m a k i n g c o s m e t i c s o n
t h e r o c k s w o n ’t d o s o w e l l i n t h e b us i n e s s . T h e r e ’ r e c o n s e q u e n t l y m a n y t h i n g s t o l e a r n , a l s o
m a n y p o s s i b i l i t i e s . I d o n ’t e v e n k n ow w h e r e t o s t a r t .  
Mom combed my long shiny hair smooth and put it into two braids, and put rubber bands at
t h e e n d o f t h e b r a i d s t o h o l d t h e m . I r e m o v e t h e r u b b e r b a n d s , s l i p o ff m y s a n d a l s a n d l a y
t h e m o n t h e r i v e r b a n k , a n d p a t t e r i n t o t h e w a t e r. I s u b m e rg e m y s e l f i n w a t e r, w e a r i n g m y
outfit, and the braids unravel and my hair hangs loosely down over my shoulders.  
I ’ v e f i n i s h e d b a t h i n g , g e t o u t o f t h e w a t e r, s i d l e a l o n g t h e h e d g e t o g e t t o t h e g a p a n d
crawl through it to get out of my bathing haunt.  
I ’ m a f r a i d t h a t I w o u l d l o s e f a c e i f a n y o n e s e e s m e b a t h i n g i n t h i s m a n n e r. I m u s t s a v e
face for makeup advertisements, tout my clear smooth skin, and influence people to buy my
c o s m e t i c s . N o b o d y w o u l d b u y m a k e u p f r o m a l o s t - f a c e b e a u t y m a k e r.  
S u n c o m e s d ow n t h r o u g h t h e t r e e s ’ b r a n c h e s t o s h i n e o n t h e f a l l e n l e a v e s o n t h e g r o u n d , I
lie down on a heap of crackling leaves, to dry myself in the sun before going home. I watch
the baby birds’ heads bobbing in a nest in a tree. Hearing the baby birds chirping for worms
f r o m t h e i r m o t h e r b i r d , I f e e l h u n g r y. U m , t h a n k s , b u t n o t h a n k s . I ’ m n o t h u n g r y f o r b i r d y
food..

Chapter 4 – Wonder Who This Woman Is

A f t e r h a v i n g t a k e n a b a t h i n t h e r i v e r, w h i l e I ’ m s t i l l l y i n g d o w n o n a p i l e o f l e a v e s t o d r y
m y s e l f b e f o r e g o i n g h o m e , I f e e l s l e e p y a n d d o z e o ff .  
“ H i M a i ! G l a d I f o u n d y o u , ” a w o m a n s a ys i n a c h i r p y v o i c e .
W H AT ! I l i f t m y s e l f u p i n t o a s e a t e d p o s i t i o n . A w o m a n i s s t a n d i n g b e s i d e m e , s m i l i n g .
D e s p i t e s c a t t e r e d s t r a n d s o f g r a y a m o n g h e r j e t - b l a c k h a i r, h e r s k i n h a s t h e s m o o t h n e s s o f
youth.
H a ! S h e ’s t h e o l d w o m a n w h o s e l l s a l l k i n d s o f m e r c h a n d i s e , i n c l u d i n g f r e s h l y b r e w e d
c o ff e e a n d t e a , a t G o o d C h o i c e F l e a M a r k e t l o c a t e d o n t h e s i d e o f K h e S a n h r o a d l e a d i n g t o
C u C h i C i t y.  
B u t w h y i s s h e h e r e ? I t ’s h a r d w o r k w a l k i n g t h r o u g h t h e u n d e rg r ow t h t o g e t h e r e . S h e
might have been watching me coming here, and even have discovered my bathing haunt. Also
thinking about who else might have come here, I’m nervous and upset. Where will I go for
bathing after this?
I t u g a t m y d a m p b l o u s e c l i n g i n g t o m y b o d y. “ E x c u s e m e , m a ' a m , b u t a r e y o u O K w i t h
plodding over the rough ground?”
S h e s a y s , “ D o n ’t w o r r y, I ’ m s o us e d t o p l o d d i n g a r o u n d h e r e , s o I n e v e r t h i n k a n y t h i n g
a b o u t i t . B es i d e s , y o u g e t u s e d t o i t a f t e r a w h i l e . ”  
S h e h a n d s m e a s q u a r e p a c k a g e w r a p p e d i n b e i g e p a p e r, w i t h a h a n d w r i t t e n n a m e M A I i n
pink letters on it, saying, “I really have come here to give you this. I hope you’ll like it.
Open it and see the contents.”
I r u b m y h a n d s a g a i n s t t h e f a l l e n l e a v e s , t o r u b t h e d i r t o ff m y h a n d s , a n d t h e n t e a r o ff t h e
w r a p p i n g p a p e r. S h e h a s g i v e n m e t h e v e r y t h i n g I n e e d - a n e w o u t f i t c o n t a i n e d i n a c l e a r
plastic bag with adhesive on the flap. I want to take it home right away to show Mom.  
The woman beams with satisfaction when I accept the clothes with delight and an
e n t h u s i a s t i c e x p r e s s i o n o f g r a t i t u d e . S h e s a y s , “ Wa i t a m i n u t e . I i n t e n d e d t o t e l l y o u t h a t t h e
G o o d C h o i c e F l e a M a r k e t i s h o s t i n g t h e ‘Wo r l d ’s G r e a t e s t Ya r d S a l e . ’ T h e r e ’ r e a l o t o f
unusual things that would pique your interest. Come and have fun.”  
“ T h a n k y o u f o r l e t t i n g m e k n o w, M rs . u h … , ” I s a y. “ E x c u s e m e , b u t I d o n ' t e v e n k n o w
your name!”
Wi t h p a i n i n h e r v o i c e , s h e s a y s , “ I ’ m s o r r y. F o rg i v e m e . I t b o t h e r s m e t o k e e p m y n a m e
s e c r e t f r o m y o u , b u t I c a n ’t r e v e a l m y n a m e . ”  
“ W h a t s h o u l d I s a y t o m y m o m w h e n s h e a s k s m e w h o g a v e m e t h e c l o t h e s ? ” I s a y.
“ I g u es s y o u c o u l d s a y a n o l d w o m a n v e n d o r a t t h e f l e a m a r k e t g a v e t h e m t o y o u , ” s h e
says.  
 Upon reaching home, I dash to where Mom sits, cooking. I stop behind her and flap the
c l o t h e s b a g o n t h e t o p o f h e r h e a d . “ Ta D a ! M o m , l o o k w h a t I g o t ! ”
“Why are you home already? Who’d you get this from?” She peels open the flap of the
bag. 
I giggle. “There was a bomb at the school overnight, and school was dismissed, so I played
a t t h e r i v e r. T h a t n i c e o l d w o m a n v e n d o r a t t h e G o o d C h o i c e F l e a M a r k e t c a m e a n d g a v e
b r a n d - n ew s t o r e - b o u g h t c l o t h e s t o m e ! ”
“Beautiful. Put them on,” Mom says.  
I’ve put my new clothes on, and come out to show Mom. She brushes her hand up and
d o w n t h e f a b r i c , s a y i n g ,   “ I t f e e l s s o f t a n d s i l k y. ”
I change back into my patched outfit to do chores around the house. I carefully store my
new clothes..

Chapter 5 – Saigon Food Vendor

Mom makes food for me to sell. While I’m peddling food on the street, Mom catches up
with other work and makes dinner for us. She also cooks food for customers’ parties, for
w h i c h I ’ m a g r e a t h e l p e r. O n t h e o c c a s i o n s w h e n M o m i s t o o b u s y t o f i n i s h m a k i n g a l l t h e
f o o d s f o r m e t o s e l l i n t h e d a y, I f i n i s h m a k i n g t h e r e s t .
Mom brightens up, saying, “Oh, I’m glad you’ve come home. I need to prepare food to
c a t e r f o r a p a r t y, s o y o u h a v e t o f i n i s h m a k i n g t h e r e s t o f t h e f o o d y o u n e e d f o r y o u r f o o d
s a l e f o r t o d a y. ”
I’m ready to make banana crackers with the sunny bananas from my tree. I whip out the
c l e a v e r f r o m i t s h o l d e r, c l i m b o n t o t h e w a t e r t a n k , a n d h a c k a t t h e t h i c k s t e m o f t h e b a n a n a
b u n c h w i t h t h e c l e a v e r. T h e b u n c h c o m e s d o w n h e a v i l y o n t o t h e w a t e r t a n k a n d t h e n s l i d e s
d o w n o n t o t h e f l o o r. I t r y c o u n t i n g t h e b a n a n a s b u t k e e p l o s i n g c o u n t a n d h a v i n g t o s t a r t a l l
o v e r, s o I g i v e u p .
I climb over the high wall, get down to the ground on the other side of the wall, and dig up
cassava roots. There is no possibility of lugging the roots over the wall. I search along the
f o o t o f t h e w a l l , c l a w i n g o u t t h e d i r t a t a n y l i k e l y h o l e I f i n d . Tw o l o o s e b r i c k s s t i c k i n g o u t
of the wall, at a level with my backyard, I pull the bricks out and pass the cassava roots
through the opening.
B a c k i n t h e b a c k y a r d , I p e e l t h e b a r k o ff t h e c a s s a v a r o o t s , a n d w a s h t h e m , t h e r o o t s
looking slick white after having been washed. I fill the big copper cauldron halfway with
w a t e r, t h e c a u l d r o n h a n g i n g f r o m a n o v e r b u i l t c h a i n . I p u t k i n d l i n g s t r a w s i n t h e f i r e p i t
supported on a tripod, stoke the smoldering embers, and high flames flare up. I pick up the
cleaned cassava one by one and put them in the cauldron, the boiling water raising bubbles
each time I drop cassava in.
I add sweet potato flour to the boiled cassavas and pound the mixture into dough. I make
smooth dough balls out of the dough.  
 I can make ten crackers out of each dough ball. On a well-floured cool table surface, I roll
out a dough ball to a long rectangle sheet. Then I cut out ten dough circles for ten crackers
f r o m t h e d o u g h s h e e t . To c u t o u t e a c h c i r c l e , I p l a c e t h e l i d o f a s m a l l c o o k i n g p o t o n t h e
dough sheet and cut out the circle by moving the pointed tip of a bamboo stick around the
l i d ’s e d g e .  
A f t e r e a c h g r o u p o f t e n c r a c k e r s h as b e e n c u t o u t , I p l a c e s l a n t - c u t b a n a n a s l i c e s o n t h e m ,
and then I brush them with ginger syrup. I lay the moist crackers on a rectangular wooden
frame crisscrossed with bamboo laths.  
After having used up all the dough, I climb up the water tank and bring the frames up to
t h e k i t c h e n ’s r o o f t o p , a n d I l a y t h e m o u t f l a t i n a s i n g l e l a y e r o n t h e r o o f t o p , t o d r y t h e
crackers in the sun.
Since this is my first time making banana crackers, I basically have fumbled along the way
a n d r u i n e d m a n y b a n a n a s . A l t h o u g h I ’ m a l i t t l e f r u s t r a t e d , h o w e v e r, I ’ m j u s t g l a d t o h a v e
f i g u r e d o u t a w a y t o us e t h e r i p e b a n a n a s , t h e y e l l o w h u e o f w h i c h h a s h a u n t e d m e s i n c e I
first discovered them on my tree.
Mom throws charcoal chips into a small fire pit and makes a fire. She roasts the dried
crackers over the smoldering fire, flipping and turning them to roast evenly until they reach
a golden brown.
I h a v e t o m a k e Vi e t n a m e s e s p r i n g r o l l s . H o a a n d Ti n c o m e j u s t i n t i m e t o m a k e s p r i n g r o l l s
with me. 
A g o o d s p r i n g r o l l i s c r i s p y i n t h e c r u s t a n d m o i s t i n t h e f i l l i n g . Yo u o n l y n e e d t o c h e w
l i g h t l y, a n d t h e w h o l e t h i n g b r e a k s u p i n t o m o r s e l s . A s y o u c h e w, y o u c a n h e a r t h e c r u s t
crackle like crinkling tinfoil, and feel the juice from the filling swapping around in your
mouth. While eating a spring roll, you can smell the delightful aromas of an outdoor farmers’
market and see in your mind the ingredients that go into making the rolls: mushrooms, beans,
herbs, lettuce, crabs, shrimps, hens, ducks, roosters, cows, pigs.  
But the secret ingredient to the good taste of my spring rolls is the freshly picked
c r a b m e a t f r o m t h e c r a b s c a u g h t f r o m t h e f i e l d b e h i n d m y h o us e .  
H o a a n d Ti n a n d I r u n a l o n g t h e b a s e o f a w i n d i n g h i l l , a n d w e c o m e t o a n a r e a o f a
s t r e a m b e d f u l l o f r o c k s w h e r e t h e c r a b s g a t h e r. We p r y t h e m o ff t h e r o c k s w i t h m e t a l r u l e r s ,
t h e c r a b s f l a i l i n g t h e i r p i n c e r s c l a n g i n g a g a i n s t t h e r u l e r s . We c o l l e c t t h e c r a b s i n t o a r a t t a n
basket. 
I ’ v e s t e a m e d t h e c r a b s , a n d H o a a n d Ti n p i c k t h e m e a t f r o m t h e m . I p u t l e a n p o r k , c h i c k e n ,
a n d b e e f o n a t h i c k c h o p p i n g b o a r d . Wi t h a c l e a v e r i n e a c h h a n d , I a l t e r n a t e l y m o v e m y
hands up and down, chopping the meat until it becomes a paste. The dried mushrooms have
been soaked in water and drained. I mince the drained mushrooms.  
I n t o t h e m i x i n g c o n t a i n e r, I p u t c r a b m e a t , m i n c e d m u s h r o o m s , m e a t p a s t e , s h r e d d e d
carrots, bean sprouts, shredded yucca roots, Indian taro, and softened vermicelli noodles, two
d o z e n e g g s , f i v e t a b l e s p o o n s o f s u g a r, a t e a s p o o n o f s a l t , a n d s e v e n s h a k e s o f g r o u n d b l a c k
p e p p e r. I p o u r a b o t t l e o f b e e r i n t o t h e m i x t u r e , t h e n g l a n c i n g a t H o a a n d Ti n t o s e e i f t h e y
a r e w a t c h i n g , I s t i c k o u t m y t o n g u e a n d t u r n t h e e m p t y b o t t l e u ps i d e - d o w n a b o v e t h e t o n g u e ,
to get the last drops. I mix the ingredients all together by hand.
M o m c u t s t h e r i c e p a p e r s h e e t s i n t o q u a r t e r s f o r b i t e - s i z e d r o l l s a n d s h o w s Ti n , H o a , a n d
m e h o w t o m a k e t h e r o l l s . To m a k e e a c h r o l l , s h e f i r s t s o f t e n s a p i e c e o f r i c e p a p e r w i t h b e e r,
because beer makes the spring roll skin crispier when fried. She scoops a tablespoon of the
f i l l i n g m i x t u r e o n t o t h e s o f t e n e d r i c e p a p e r, f o l d s t h e r i g h t a n d l e f t s i d e s i n , f o l d s t h e b o t t o m
edge up, and keeps rolling from there to form one spring roll.  
O u r r o l l s a r e n o t a s n e a t l y r o l l e d a s t h e s a m p l e o f M o m ’s w o r k .  
M o m p u t s o n h e r a p r o n t o f r y t h e s p r i n g r o l l s i n a l a rg e w o k f i l l e d w i t h s i z z l i n g v e g e t a b l e
o i l . S h e s t i r s t h e m w i t h a p a i r o f l o n g c h o p s t i c k s u n t i l t h e y t u r n t o a p l e a s i n g g o l d e n b r ow n .
H o a a n d Ti n s a m p l e a w h o l e b u n c h o f s p r i n g r o l l s , a n d M o m l e t s t h e m .
I g a t h e r a l l t h e g o o d i e s w e ’ v e m a d e f o r t h e d a y o n t o m y v e n d i n g t r a y, l a y i n g t h e m o u t
n e a t l y i n t h e i r p r o p e r g r o u p s . T h e t r a y ’s l o a d e d w i t h s p r i n g r o l l s , b r o i l e d s h r i m p p a s t e
wrapped around sugarcane segments, tapioca coconut pudding served in a plastic cup, and
r i c e c r e p e s f i l l e d w i t h s h i i t a k e m u s h r o o m s a n d r o as t p o r k .  
Wi t h t h e t r a y f u l l o f g o o d i e s o n m y h e a d , m y h a n d s b a l a n c i n g t h e t r a y i n p l a c e , I w a l k a l l
o v e r t h e p l a c e i n S a i g o n t o p e d d l e t o p a s s e r s b y. Wi t h i n j u s t t w o h o u rs a l l t h e f o o ds h a v e b e e n
completely sold out.  
I plan to spend the rest of the day catching up on my homework.
Hoa shows up at my house as I start doing homework. She says, “I guess you want to go to
t h e ‘ Wo r l d ’s G r e a t e s t Ya r d S a l e , ’ d o n ’t y o u ? ”

Chapter 6 – The VC Recruit Kids to Serve as

Their Spies
H o a a n d I a r e o n t h e w a y t o t h e “ Wo r l d ’s G r e a t e s t Ya r d S a l e . ” F r o m t h e b a c k o f m y h o u s e ,
we cross the field full of swaying red poppies and get on Highway 1, keep walking on the
h i g h w a y, a n d t a k e t h e f i r s t e x i t r a m p . A t t h e b o t t o m o f t h e r a m p , w e g e t o n K h e S a n h r o a d ,
w h i c h l e a d s t o C u C h i C i t y, a n d w a l k a h a l f m i l e d o w n t h e r o a d . We c o m e u p t o a s i g n s a y i n g
“Good Choice Flea Market.”  
 The market is situated about 50 meters back from the right side of the road. The dirt
c a u s e w a y r u n n i n g f r o m t h e r o a d s i d e t o t h e f l e a m a r k e t i s s p r e a d o v e r w i t h s t r a w. T h e m o v i n g
f o o t s t e p s a r e p r e s s i n g t h e s t r aw i n t o t h e m u d d y e a r t h .
We s t o p b y a t a b l e c a r r y i n g c o o k i n g t o o l s a n d t r i n k e t s . I t t u r n s o u t t h e t a b l e b e l o n g s t o t h e
o l d w o m a n . S h e s a ys , “ H i M a i ! A n d M a i ’s f r i e n d ! D i d y o u f i n d a n y t h i n g f u n t o d a y ? Yo u
k n o w, t h e r e i s t h e m a i n a t t r a c t i o n o f T h e M o n k e y s r o c k ’ n r o l l b a n d p e r f o r m i n g o n s t a g e o v e r
there.” 
 Hoa looks toward the outdoor concert stage. “OK, we’ll go over there and watch it.”
B e f o r e w e w a l k a w a y, I s p o t a m e t a l w e d g e w i t h a n i n t e r e s t i n g d e s i g n o n t h e t a b l e . “ W h e r e
in the world did this come from?”
T h e o l d w o m a n s a y s , “ We l l , I f o u n d t h e w e d g e i n a h o l e i n t h e S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e t r u n k . I
t h o u g h t I c o u l d s e l l i t t o d a y. A l l r i g h t , y o u c a n h a v e i t . ”  
“ T h a n k s , h ow m u c h d o I o w e y o u f o r i t ? ” I s a y.
“ W h y, I w o u l d n o t t h i n k o f t a k i n g a n y m o n e y, ” s h e s a y s .  
I drop a quarter into a ceramic bowl on the table. Then Hoa and I run to the music stage.
I h a n d t h e w e d g e t o H o a a n d b u y t h r e e b a g s o f s p u n s u g a r c o t t o n c a n d y. I g i v e h e r t h e p i n k
candy bag, save the blue one for Mom, and keep the rainbow color one for me.  
H o a l o o k s a t t h e w e d g e . “M a i , l e t ’s g o t o t h e S k ys c r a p e r Tr e e . We s h o u l d f i n d m o r e
i n t e r e s t i n g t h i n g s i n i t s t r u n k . We c a n c o m e b a c k h e r e a f t e r w a r d .
T h e r e a r e h o l e s l a i d a t r a n d o m s p o t s a l o n g t h e G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r ’s b a n k s . We c o m e u p t o
a boy banging a hammer on the end of a metal wedge, to drive it into the ground. As we stand
w a t c h i n g h i m , h e s t a n d s u p , r u n n i n g h i s f i n g e r s t h r o u g h h i s h a i r. H e w e a r s t r u c k t i r e
sandals. 
“ H e y, w h a t a r e y o u d o i n g ? ” I s a y.  
H e s a y s , “ P u n c h i n g Tr a p H o l e s i n t h e g r o u n d f o r t h e V C s . T h e y s e t b o o b y t r a p s a t t a c h e d t o
r o l l i n g a n d f a l l i n g m e c h a n i s m s i n s o m e h o l e s , t o c a p t u r e A m e r i c a n a n d Vi e t n a m e s e s o l d i e r s .
The VCs also rig other holes with trip wires that would overturn buckets of live scorpions in
such a way that the buckets land upside down to fit neatly over the heads of their enemy
soldiers.”
H o a s a y s , “ O h , y o u m u s t b e k i d d i n g ! H ow c a n t h e V C s b e s o r u t h l e s s ? B y t h e w a y, y o u
wear truck tire sandals, so you’re a VC?”  
“ A r e l u c t a n t V C , ” t h e b o y s a ys .
“ W h a t ’s y o u r n a m e ? ” I s a y.
“ M y n a m e i s Ti n , ” t h e b o y s a y s .
“ M y n a m e i s M a i , ” I s a y.
H o a s c r u n c h e s u p h e r n os e , s a y i n g , “ M y n a m e i s H o a . W h e r e a r e y o u l i v i n g ? ”  
T h e b o y k e e p s g l a n c i n g a r o u n d . “ I ’ m l i v i n g u n d e rg r o u n d . ”
H o a a n d I r u n a w a y. Tu r n i n g h e r f a c e o v e r h e r s h o u l d e r t o w a r d Ti n , s h e s h o u t s , “ Yo u a r e
d o i n g b a d t h i n g s , b u t y o u t a l k a b o u t t h e m i n a n u n c o n c e r n e d m a n n e r. ”  
H e r u n s a f t e r us , a n d o n c e h e g e t s n e a r u s , h e s a y s , “ T h e V C s h a v e k i d n a p e d p e o p l e ,
i n c l u d i n g c h i l d r e n , h o us e t h e m i n t h e C u C h i t u n n e l s , p u t t h e m t o w o r k , a n d t r a i n t h e m t o
f i g h t a g a i n s t t h e A m e r i c a n a n d Vi e t n a m e s e s o l d i e r s . I ’ m a k i d n a p p e d k i d . I n e e d y o u r h e l p t o
get the kidnapped people free. Please come back, I want to talk to you.”  
I s a y, “ B u t y o u a r e o u t o f t h e t u n n e l s n o w. W h y d o n ’t y o u r u n a w a y t o f r e e d o m , a n d h e l p
get other kidnapped people free?”
Ti n s a ys , “ T h e y a l s o h a v e m y m o m , b u t I d o n ’t k n o w w h e r e s h e i s n o w. T h e y t o l d m e t h a t
i f I r a n a w a y, t h e y w o u l d t a k e h e r a w a y t o w h e r e I w o u l d n e v e r s e e h e r a g a i n . ”
  H o a s a y s , “ B u t y o u s a i d t h e r e a r e o t h e r k i d n a p p e d p e o p l e w h o m u s t b e f r e e d . A r e n ’t y o u
concerned for them?”  
Ti n s a ys , “ T h e V Cs o f t e n m o v e t h e k i d n a p p e d p e o p l e a r o u n d . I t ’s v e r y d i ff i c u l t t o f i n d o u t
their exact locations in the tunnel mess.”  
H o a t u r n s t o l o o k a t m e , p u s h i n g h e r h a i r o u t o f h e r e y e s , s a y i n g , “ I d o n ’t b e l i e v e h i m . H e
m a y b e t r y i n g t o s t a l l u s u n t i l t h e V Cs a r r i v e a n d c a p t u r e us . ”    
“ I t s o u n ds l i k e h e ’s t e l l i n g t h e t r u t h , ” I s a y.  
H o a s a y s , “ T h e n w e m u s t g e t h e l p t o g e t t h e m f r e e . T h e k i d s s h o u l d n ’t d o h a r d l a b o r, b u t
t h e y s h o u l d b e a b l e t o p l a y f r e e l y. ”  
Ti n l e a d s u s t o c o m e u p t o a b us h , a n d t h e t h r e e o f u s s i t d o w n b e s i d e i t , e a t i n g t h e c o t t o n
c a n d y f r o m H o a ’s a n d m y b a g s , c h a t t i n g v e r y p l e a s a n t l y.  
Ti n s t u ffs a h a n d f u l o f c o t t o n c a n d y i n t o h i s m o u t h , s a y i n g , “ Yu m m y y u m m y c o t t o n
candy!”
Hoa points to the very small holes dug all over the place along the riverbank. “What are
those holes for?” 
Ti n s a ys , “ T h e y ’ r e V C C o m m u n i c a t i o n H o l e s , a n d I ’ v e a l s o d u g t h e m . T h e y g o u p f r o m t h e
roofs of the tunnels to the riverbanks’ surface. The VCs give candies to kids who act as their
spies.” 
H o a s a y s , “ A h , I k n o w. U p o n s e e i n g A m e r i c a n s o l d i e r s c o m i n g , t h e k i d s p i e s s c a t t e r t o t h e
C o m m u n i c a t i o n H o l e s , w i t h e a c h k i d c r o u c h i n g d ow n b e s i d e a h o l e . T h e k i d s f o r m h o l l o w
tubes with their hands, with two hands put together to form a tube. They place the hand tubes
o n t h e h o l e s , p u t t h e i r m o u t h s o n t h e h a n d t u b e s , a n d s p e a k i n t o t h e m , ‘A m e r i c a n s o l d i e r s a r e
coming.’ 
“The VCs immediately pop out of the ground, and climb up the tree and take up position to
attack the American soldiers.”  
I giggle. “Kids prefer to act as spies for the American soldiers because they get fresher
candies. When the American soldiers are coming, they hold bags full of candies in front of
them. 
“The kid spies quickly poke stick markers with mini flags into the edge of the holes. A
m a r k e r, w i t h a l e m o n - y e l l o w f l a g w i t h t h e w o r d ‘S u s p e c t e d ’ w r i t t e n o n i t , i n d i c a t e s t h e V C s
m a y n o t b e i n t h e t u n n e l s u n d e r n e a t h t h e h o l e . A m a r k e r, w i t h a r e d f l a g w i t h t h e w o r d
‘Confirmed’ written on it, indicates the VCs are surely in the tunnels underneath the hole.”  
Ti n p l u c k s a g r a s s b l a d e p o k i n g o u t o f b a r b e d w i r e , s a y i n g , “ U . S . f o r c e s h a v e t r a i n e d s o m e
A m e r i c a n s o l d i e r s t o f u n c t i o n a s s o - c a l l e d “ Tu n n e l R a t s . ” T h e y w o u l d n a v i g a t e t h e c r a m p e d
t u n n e l s t o s c o u t f o r t h e V Cs .
“ M o s t A m e r i c a n s o l d i e r s a r e t o o b i g t o f i t i n t o t h e t u n n e l e n t r a n c e s . To b e c o m e Tu n n e l
Rats, the American soldiers must go on a diet, and train until their muscles are slack but
t o u g h l i k e l e a t h e r, t h e i r b o n e s a r e p l i a b l e , a n d t h e y m u s t e x e r c i s e t o g e t e n d u r i n g s t r e n g t h s o
that they can wiggle down the twisting tunnel entrances.”  
I s a y, “ I k n ow. W h e n t h e Tu n n e l R a t s s e e o n l y a f e w V C s i n t h e t u n n e l s , t h e y Tu n n e l R a t s
pull the VCs out of the tunnels and capture them.
“ B u t w h e n t h e r e a r e w a y t o o m a n y V C s , t h e Tu n n e l R a t s w i g g l e b a c k u p t o g e t b a c k
outside and inform their leader of the VCs’ locations in the tunnels. The leader radios for the
Marine from the U.S. 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to come and round up the VCs.”  
Ti n s a ys , “ T h e 3 1 s t M a r i n e E x p e d i t i o n a r y U n i t w o u l d t h r o w r e d s m o k e b o m b s i n t o t h e
c o n f i r m e d h o l e s , t o m a k e t h e t u n n e l s u n d e r t h e h o l e s h a z y s o t h a t t h e V C s c a n ’t s e e t h e i r w a y
around to get away into the network of undisturbed tunnels.
“ T h e r e d s m o k e r o u t s o u t t h e V C s f r o m t h e t a rg e t e d t u n n e l s , s t a i n s t h e V Cs r e d s o t h a t
they come out glowing red like a ruby in the sun. Then the kids remove the markers and
collect their candies.”
  H o a s a y s , “ W h a t ’s s o s p e c i a l a b o u t t h e S k ys c r a p e r Tr e e f o r t h e s o l d i e r s ? ”
Ti n s a ys , “ F i g h t i n g o f t e n t a k e s p l a c e i n t h e a r e a s u r r o u n d i n g t h e t r e e . Yo u c a n s e e t h e
grass there looks trampled, and the bark on the tree is splintered by bullets.
“The VCs ambush the American soldiers walking to the mess hall in the area to eat. Both
sides struggle to take over the tree because they can snack on its juicy Inrimanna fruits
during a break from fighting.”   
I s a y, “ S o m e t i m e s , K i d s t h r o w t h e I n r i m a n a f r u i t s a t o n e a n o t h e r w h i l e p l a y i n g o n t h e t r e e .
B y t h e w a y, w h y i s t h e r e s m o k e s m e l l i n g o f c o o k i n g f o o d c o m i n g o u t o f s o m e h o l e s ? ”
Ti n s a ys , “ S o m e t u n n e l s a r e a c t u a l l y t h e l i v i n g q u a r t e r s f o r t h e V C s . T h e y m u s t c o o k f o o d ,
a n d t h e c o o k i n g s m o k e w o u l d g i v e aw a y t h e a r e a i n w h i c h t h e t u n n e l s a r e c u r r e n t l y
inhabited. 
“The VCs must prevent the smoke from giving away the inhabited tunnels, so they install
r a n g e h o o ds i n t h e c o o k i n g a r e a s i n t h e t u n n e l s . T h e h o o d s a r e f i t t e d w i t h v e r t i c a l d u c t s ,
w h i c h a r e c o n n e c t e d t o h o r i z o n t a l d u c t s t h a t e x t e n d a t l e a s t t w o m i l e s aw a y f r o m t h e
inhabited tunnels. 
“The horizontal ducts come out of the ground, and the smoke is vented onto farms, into
food stalls at markets, and even into civilian homes.”  
I s a y, “ N o w o n d e r. T h e r e i s a n u n a c c o u n t e d - f o r v e n t c o m i n g o u t o f t h e w a l l b y t h e h e a d o f
m y b e d . O n e t i m e a t a r o u n d 2 : 0 0 a . m . , I s aw s m o k e s m e l l e d o f c o o k i n g f r o g l e g s a n d s p i d e r
plants coming out of the vent when I tossed and turned trying to fall asleep.”
Ti n s a ys , “ T h e A m e r i c a n t r o o p s g o a f t e r t h e v e n t i l a t i o n h o l e s w i t h s u s p i c i o u s s m o k e
coming out of them, to hunt for the VCs.”  
Hoa says, “The American Marines won the Battle of Saigon against the VCs. They
c e l e b r a t e d t h e i r v i c t o r y b y g r i l l i n g h a m b u rg e r s o n H a m b u rg e r H i l l , w h i c h w a s n a m e d f o r
having wild fat cows roaming on it, and the meat came from the cows.  
“Lieutenant General Melvin Stilwell saw smoke wafting out of a ground hole. He chopped
d o w n a t r e e b r a n c h a n d c u t a l l t h e t w i g s o ff i t t o m a k e a l o n g p o l e . H e p o k e d t h e p o l e i n t o
the hole, and the pole went in clear all the way down the hole. He shouted into the radio,
‘ A i r l i f t a b u l l d o z e r t o H a m b u rg e r H i l l . ’ ”  
Ti n s a ys , “ T h e A m e r i c a n M a r i n e s e x c a v a t e d a c r a t e r a t t h e h o l e w i t h t h e b u l l d o z e r, b u t
found no VCs underneath.”
“ O h , y o u k n o w t h e s t o r y, Ti n ? ” I s a y.
“ O f c o u r s e , L i e u t e n a n t G e n e r a l M e l v i n S t i l w e l l i s m y d a d , ” Ti n s a y s .  
“ W h a t ! S o y o u r n a m e i s Ti n S t i l w e l l ? ” H o a s a y s .
Ti n n o ds , l o o k i n g s a d . “ B u t d o n’t t e l l a n y o n e e l s e a b o u t t h i s , O K ? B y t h e w a y, t h e r a i n
f i l l s u p t h e c r a t e r, a n d t h e V C s h a v e i n s t a l l e d p i p e s r u n n i n g f r o m t h e c r a t e r t o t h e t u n n e l s , t o
draw water from the crater into the tunnels.”
“ O h , n o w I s e e , ” I s a y. “ S o m e t i m e s I c o m e h o m e a f t e r d a r k a f t e r p e d d l i n g f o o d , a n d s p o t
the VCs sneaking out to the crater to take a bath.”
Ti n s a ys , “ D o y o u k n o w t h a t H a m b u rg e r H i l l i s l o c a t e d n e a r t h e S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e ? W h e n
darkness falls, unexplained incidents occur around that area.  
“ D o n ’t p r o w l a r o u n d t h e r e a f t e r t h e m i d n i g h t c u r f e w. I f y o u ’ r e s t i l l o u t p a s t t h e c u r f e w,
the American Military Police will take you to a holding jail, but the VCs will put you into a
c a m o u f l a g e d t r u c k , a n d t a k e y o u t o t h e C u C h i t u n n e l s f o r a l o n g s t a y. ”
H o a s a y s , “ Wi t h o u t a r e g u l a r j o b , t h e V C s m a k e t h e i r l i v i n g b y p i l f e r i n g e v e r y t h i n g i n a
g u e r i l l a m a n n e r. T h e y p i l f e r f o o d , p i g s , c o w s , c h i c k e n s , a n d k i t c h e n u t e n s i l s f r o m t h e l o c a l
inhabitants. They take fruits and vegetables, and whatever the farmers grow in the fields.”
Ti n s a ys , “ I k n ow w h a t t h e V Cs d o w i t h t h e p i l f e r e d i t e m s . T h e y s e l l t h e m a t r o a d s i d e
m a r k e t s . Yo u c a n s e e p e d d l e r s w e a r i n g t r u c k t i r e s a n d a l s t e n d s t a l l s p i l e d h i g h w i t h s t o l e n
goods. When the VCs see American Military Police patrolling the market to scout for the
VCs, they kick their truck tire sandals under the stalls and stand barefoot.”  
A t t h e s o u n d o f c o m i n g f o o t s t e p s , Ti n g r a b s a t t h e b u s h b e s i d e u s a n d p u l l s t h e t w i g s
aside, revealing a hole under the roots. “Get in, Mai and Hoa. I dug the hole for hiding.”
A f t e r H o a a n d I h a v e g o t t e n i n t h e h o l e , Ti n c o v e r s i t b a c k u p w i t h t h e t w i g s .
A m a n ’s v o i c e s a ys , “ W h y a r e y o u n o t w o r k i n g , b o y ? ”  
Ti n s a ys , “ I h e a r d t h e s o u n d o f a h e l i c o p t e r. I ’ v e b e e n w a t c h i n g t o s e e i f i t ’s a U .S . A R M Y
h e l i c o p t e r, t o i n f o r m y o u g u y s . ”  
A w o m a n ’s v o i c e s a y s , “ H e ’s b e c o m e s u s p i c i o u s . Ta k e h i m a w a y f r o m t h i s a r e a , a n d p u t
him in an isolated tunnel, where the cooking smoke vents out of the well-concealed
ventilation hole set directly on the tunnel wall, which is actually the retaining wall for the
G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r ’s b a n k . ”
We s t a y s i l e n t a n d w a i t i n t h e h o l e . W h e n i t ’s q u i e t o u t s i d e , I s a y, “ H o a , I t h i n k t h e y ’ r e a l l
g o n e aw a y. L e t ’s g e t o u t a n d g o f i n d Ti n . ”
We r u n p a s t t h e h o l e t h a t Ti n w as d i g g i n g . T h e h a m m e r s t i l l l i e s b e s i d e t h e m e t a l w e d g e
lodged in the hole. I try to pull the wedge out, but it sticks fast in the hole.
 Chapter 7 – The VC Demand Ransom to Set Us Free
H o a s a y s , “ M a i , f r o m w h a t t h e V C w o m a n s a i d b e f o r e Ti n w a s t a k e n a w a y, I g a t h e r t h a t t h e
V C s w o u l d p u t h i m i n a t u n n e l b e s i d e t h e r e t a i n i n g w a l l f o r t h e r i v e r ’s b a n k . I r e c a l l s e e i n g a
r e t a i n i n g w a l l n e a r t h e H e r c u l e a n B r i d g e . L e t ’s g o t h e r e . ”
We w a l k a l o n g t h e r e t a i n i n g w a l l , p e e r i n g a t t h e w a l l f o r a n y h o l e w i t h s m o k e c o m i n g o u t
of it, but seeing no suspected hole.
H o a s a y s , “ L e t ’s s t i c k t o t h i s a r e a f o r n o w, b u t l o o k f o r s m o k e c o m i n g o u t o f t h e g r o u n d . ”
  “ I t ’s a g o o d i d e a , ” I s a y. “ T h e p r o b l e m i s h o w w e c a n f i g u r e o u t w h e r e t o f i n d t h e
v e n t i l a t i o n h o l e l e a d i n g b a c k t o t h e t u n n e l w h e r e Ti n i s s t a y i n g ? ”
H o a s a y s , “ We f a c e t h e d a u n t i n g t a s k o f f i g u r i n g o u t h o w t o f i n d t h e r i g h t t u n n e l , b u t F i r s t
t h i n g s f i r s t , l e t ’s t r y t o f i n d a h o l e w i t h s us p i c i o u s s m o k e c o m i n g o u t o f i t . ”
We c o m e u p t o a s p o t w h e r e w a t e r i s g u rg l i n g o u t o f a t u b e g o i n g t h r o u g h t h e r e t a i n i n g
w a l l . N e a r b y, s m o k e s m e l l e d o f c o o k i n g f o o d i s s q u i r t i n g o u t t h r o u g h t h e l e a v e s o f a l o w
tree, its branches hanging down to the ground. Hoa pokes her head into the leaves, saying,
“The smoke is coming out of a ground hole!”  
I p u l l o n t h e l e a v e s , a n d a l e a f y b r a n c h c o m e s a w a y f r o m t h e t r e e e a s i l y. I m a k e a h o l l o w
t u b e o u t o f m y h a n ds , a n d p l a c i n g i t o n t h e g r o u n d h o l e , I s p e a k i n t o t h e h a n d t u b e , “ Ti n , a r e
you in there?” 
N o a n s w e r.  
A s w e t u r n t o l e a v e , Ti n ’s v o i c e c o m e s o u t o f t h e g r o u n d , “ T h e V C s h a v e g r o u n d e d m e f o r
t e l l i n g y o u g u y s a b o u t t h e i r s e c r e t a c t i v i t y. Yo u g u y s g e t a w a y f r o m w h e r e y o u a r e , n o w. B e
c a r e f u l . D o n ’t g e t c a u g h t . ”    
I s a y, “ Ti n , I s t i l l h a v e a f u l l b a g o f c o t t o n c a n d y. C a n I g i v e i t t o y o u ? ”  
Ti n s a ys , s o u n d i n g g l a d , “ O h , s u r e . T h a n k y o u . S t u ff i t i n t o t h e h o l e a n d p us h i t d o w n w i t h
a s t i c k . T h e n g o aw a y. ”  
I stick the blue cotton candy bag in the hole, and Hoa pokes the bag down the hole with a
stick. 
A m a n s a ys i n a r a p i d - f i r e r i ff f r o m t h e u n d e rg r o u n d , “ W h a t ’ r e y o u d o i n g i n t h a t c o r n e r ?
W h o ’s t a l k i n g t o y o u ? ”
Ti n y e l l s , “ I ’ m u n c l o g g i n g a v e n t h o l e , a n d t a l k i n g t o m y s e l f . ”
A t t h e s o u n d o f s t o m p i n g f e e t , Ti n s c r e a m s , “ T h e V C s a r e c o m i n g o u t ! G o ! ”
B e f o r e w e c a n r u n a w a y, a m a n V C a n d a w o m a n V C r u s h f o rw a r d , p o i n t i n g t h e i r g u ns
t o w a r d us . I h o l d u p t h e w e d g e . P i c k i n g t h e s t i c k b a c k u p a n d g r a b b i n g a h a n d f u l o f s t o n e s ,
H o a h o l d s t h e m o u t t o w a r d s t h e V C s . S h e s w i n gs t h e s t i c k a t t h e m a n , h i t t i n g h i s g u n m u z z l e .
I s a y, “ P l e a s e l e t u s g o , a n d t h e b o y, t o o . ”
T h e m a n s a y s , “ Yo u c a n p a y r a n s o m t o V Cs , a n d w e ’ l l l e t y o u t h r e e g o . ”  
I turn to Hoa, saying, “Do you have any money with you?”
“ F i v e d o l l a r s , ” H o a s a ys .
 T h e w o m a n s a y s , “ N o t e n o u g h . I w a n t f i f t e e n d o l l a r s . T h a t ’s t h e d e a l . ”  
“ I d o n’t h a v e t h a t m u c h m o n e y, ” I s a y.
T h e m a n ’s f a c e h a r d e n s a s h e s a y s , “ Ta k e i t o r l e a v e i t . P a y t h e r a n s o m o r g o a w a y. ” H e
g r a b s H o a b y t h e a r m . “ N o , y o u c a n ’t g o a w a y. We ’ l l p u t y o u t w o t o w o r k . ”  
T h e w o m a n s n a t c h e s m y s h o u l d e r. “ S o y o u s t a y, t o o . ”
“ Wa i t , l e t m e g o . I ’ l l g e t t h e m o n e y, ” I s a y.
The woman turns to Hoa, saying, “All right then, you’ll stay here until your friend comes
back.”
“ H o a , I ’ l l b e q u i c k , ” I s a y.
T h e w o m a n s a y s , “ A l l r i g h t t h e n , w e ’ l l s e e y o u b a c k h e r e . D o n ’t l e t u s w a i t t o o l o n g . ”
I r u n h o m e . M o m ’s b u s y i n t h e b a c k y a r d . I d a s h t o m y b e d r o o m , t h e n r u n t o t h e f l e a
market.
“ C o m e o u t a n d s e l l w h a t y o u d o n' t n e e d , ” a p e d d l e r s a y s i n a c o n v i n c i n g t o n e . S h e c a r r i e s
her wares in two baskets, each hung from an end of the bamboo pole balanced across her
s h o u l d e r.
“ M a ’ a m , H ow m u c h c a n I g e t f o r t h i s b r a n d n e w o u t f i t ? ” I s a y.
“Fourteen dollars and fifty cents,” she says.
I r e p e a t t h e p r i c e t o m y s e l f , d i s a p p o i n t e d , b u t t h e r e ’s n o t i m e t o h a g g l e . I a c c e p t t h e
m o n e y a n d h a n d o v e r m y p r e c i o u s o u t f i t . I h o p e t h e o l d w o m a n w i l l u n d e rs t a n d .
The VC woman has taken the ransom money from me and motions her hands towards the
r o c k s . Ti n a n d H o a c o m e o u t o f a c a m o u f l a g e d s w i n g d o o r s e t i n a s t a c k o f l a rg e r o c k s , w i t h
a teenage VC holding a rifle pointed at their backs, the man VC covering the door back up
with leafy branches. 
Ti n l o o k s a t t h e V C s w i t h a d e f i a n t f a c i a l e x p r e s s i o n , a n d t h e n g r a b s H o a b y t h e h a n d a n d
pulls her towards me. 
“ L e t ’s g e t a w a y f r o m t h e V Cs , q u i c k , ” H o a s a y s .  
“ I n e e d t o g o b a c k t o t h e r i v e r b a n k t o r e t r i e v e t h e w e d g e , ” Ti n s a ys .
“ G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r r e g i o n i s f u l l o f m y s t e r i e s , ” I s a y.  
Ti n r e m o v e s t h e m e t a l w e d g e f r o m t h e h o l e w i t h t h e h a m m e r l y i n g b e s i d e i t . T h e n a m e
TO M i s e n g r a v e d o n t h e w e d g e . I p u l l t h e o t h e r w e d g e o u t o f m y p o c k e t , a n d t h e n a m e
MARK is engraved on this wedge. The two wedges look identical in structure.
Ti n s a ys , “ I f o u n d t w o w e d g e s i n a C u C h i t u n n e l , o n e h a v i n g t h e n a m e M A RK o n i t , a n d
t h e o t h e r h a v i n g t h e n a m e TO M . I h i d t h e M A R K w e d g e i n t h e S k ys c r a p e r Tr e e t r u n k a n d
u s e d t h i s TO M w e d g e t o d i g h o l e s f o r t h e V C s . I g u e s s M a i i s h o l d i n g t h e M A R K w e d g e t h a t
h a s c o m e f r o m t h e t r e e ’s t r u n k . ”    
I s a y, “ I s u p p o s e y o u ’ r e r i g h t b e c a u s e I ’ v e g o t t e n t h e M A R K w e d g e f r o m a n o l d w o m a n .
S h e s a i d s h e f o u n d t h e w e d g e i n t h e S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e t r u n k . ”    
Ti n s a ys , “ M a i , w o u l d y o u l i k e t o k e e p t h i s TO M w e d g e , t o o ? ”
I s a y, “ O h , T h a n k y o u , Ti n . I ’ d l o v e t o k e e p b o t h w e d g e s . L e t ’s g o t o t h e S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e
to play with other kids.”
“ A n d t o c e l e b r a t e Ti n ’s f r e e d o m , ” H o a s a ys .
We ’ r e h e a d i n g t o t h e S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e . U p o n h e a r i n g o t h e r k i d s ’ l a u g h t e r e c h o i n g f r o m t h e
t r e e , w e p i c k u p o u r p a c e . We s k i p , s k i p , d o d g e , s k i p , d o d g e , a n d s k i p , s t r i d i n g o v e r r o c k s
a n d d o d g i n g l o w - h a n g i n g b r a n c h e s . We j o i n o t h e r k i d s c l i m b i n g u p t h e t r e e , d r o p p i n g i n t o
t h e r i v e r, a n d c l i m b i n g b a c k u p t h e t r e e .

Chapter 8 – We Must Outwit Them

I’ve decided to try my hand at making cosmetics to sell. I’ve finished collecting a bag full
o f t h e i n g r e d i e n t s i n n a t u r e , t o b e us e d i n m a k i n g c o s m e t i c s . I ’ m l u g g i n g t h e b a g t o t h e G o l d
N u g g e t s R i v e r w h e r e H o a a n d I h a v e p l a n n e d t o m e e t u p , s o w e c a n g o t o m y h o us e t o m a k e
c o s m e t i c s t o g e t h e r.  
I’ve reached the riverbank. As I’m about to go through a line of trees, I spot a hundred-
d o l l a r b i l l l y i n g o n t h e g r o u n d , w i t h t h e b i l l ’s o n e e n d t i l t e d s l i g h t l y u p a t a n a n g l e b y a
transparent white fishing line.
I’m afraid the bill would be taken by someone else before I could get my hand on it. But a
hundred-dollar bill lying on the ground is too good to be real, so I’m beginning to have an
uneasy feeling that someone is trying to pull a trick on me.  
I r e m a i n s t a y i n g i n p l a c e a n d s t a r e a t t h e b i l l . T h e r e ’ r e m a n y f o o t s t e p s f a c i n g d i ff e r e n t
d i r e c t i o n s a l l a r o u n d t h e b i l l . I d o n ’t k n o w i f I s h o u l d j u s t g o a h e a d a n d s n a t c h i t u p a n d
i m m e d i a t e l y r u n a w a y. I s a y t o m y s e l f , “ S t o p w o r r y i n g a b o u t i t a n d g o f o r i t . ”  
But all I do is keep staring at the bill until I can make out a fishing line with its bottom
end attached to the underside at the end of the bill, with the line running away from the bill,
over a tree branch, and across a road.  
M y e y e s t r a c e a l o n g t h e f i s h i n g l i n e , a n d I l a n d m y v i s i o n u p o n a n i s o l a t e d h o us e , w h i c h i s
s e t a m o n g t h e p a p a y a t r e e s , j u s t a f ew m e t e r s b a c k f r o m t h e r o a d . T h e h o u s e i s m a d e o f
straws mixed in mud, with a roof of palm thatch.
A s I ’ m t r y i n g t o d e c i d e w h e t h e r t o c o m e o u t a n d t a k e t h e b i l l , H o a r us h e s i n l o n g s t r i d e s
towards the bill, carrying a thick wad of lottery tickets.
Hoa and her mom have fallen on hard times after her dad left his family for a girl working
i n S a i g o n B a r. H o a h a s r e s o r t e d t o s e l l i n g l o t t e r y t i c k e t s a f t e r s c h o o l t o h e l p h e r m o m m a k e
ends meet.
H o a s t o o p s d o w n t o p i c k u p t h e b i l l , w i t h h e r f a c e t u r n i n g t o w a r d t h e h o u s e . I ns t a n t l y s h e
d r o p s t h e b i l l a n d l i f t s h e r s e l f u p i n t o a n u p r i g h t p os i t i o n .  
T h e h o u s e ’s f r o n t d o o r o p e n s , a n d t w o b o y s , w h o m I r e c o g n i z e a s t h e b u l l i e s w h o t e a s e d
Hoa and me when we climbed my banana tree to go to school, come out of the house and dash
towards Hoa. 
Hoa turns in my direction and throws her wad of lottery tickets, and it lands among the
persimmon trees.
I drop down on my knees, put my head in between the tree trunks, and peer down at the
bases of the trees. I retrieve the wad of lottery tickets and a clear plastic bag containing
money tied to the wad with a rubber band.        
The bullies come up to Hoa and shove her toward the house. The door opens, and they push
Hoa in, and then the door closes.
I s t a m p m y f e e t i n d i s m a y. W h a t c a n I d o t o h e l p H o a ? I ’ v e t h o u g h t o f r u n n i n g a w a y t o g e t
h e l p f o r h e r, b u t I h a t e t o l e a v e h e r h e r e w i t h t h e b u l l i e s . I d a s h a r o u n d a n d f i n d a s m a l l h o l e
where a swarm of fire ants crawling around. I put the lottery ticket wad and the money bag in
the hole, snatch handfuls of grass and cover the hole with it. The ants crawl up out of the
grass.
I c o m e u p t o t h e d o o r a n d s t a n d o u t s i d e l i s t e n i n g . F r o m i n s i d e t h e h o us e , a b o y s a ys , “ G i v e
o v e r t h e l o t t e r y t i c k e t s a n d a l l y o u r m o n e y t o us . D o n ' t e x p e c t t o g e t o u t o f h e r e w i t h o u t
giving in to our demand.”
  I p o u n d o n t h e d o o r a s c o n f i d e n t l y a s I c a n . I k n ow f r o m p e d d l i n g t h a t w i t h m e a n p e o p l e ,
I m u s t a c t a s s e r t i v e l y, o r e l s e t h e y m a y t o y a r o u n d a n d g i v e m e t r o u b l e .
T h e d o o r o p e n s a c r a c k a n d a b o y s a y s , “ O h w o w, l o o k a t w h o ’s h e r e ! W h a t d o y o u w a n t ? ”
“ L e t t h e g i r l o u t , ” I s a y.
T h e d o o r o p e n s w i d e r, a n d t w o o t h e r b o y s l o o k o u t a t m e . “O h , y o u ’ r e a p o o r g i r l . G o
a w a y. ” T h e d o o r s l a m s s h u t i n m y f a c e .
“ I w o n ’t u n l e s s y o u r e l e a s e t h e g i r l , ” I s a y.
T h e d o o r o p e n s a g a i n . “ O h y es ? W h a t w i l l y o u d o i f w e d o n ’t ? ”
“ I w i l l r e p o r t y o u t o t h e p o l i c e , ” I s a y.
“ D o n ’t y o u d a r e r e p o r t o n u s , o r y o u ' l l b e s o r r y ! B y t h e t i m e y o u c o m e b a c k h e r e , w e
w o n ’t b e h e r e . ”
I t u r n t o l o o k a r o u n d t h e a r e a s u r r o u n d i n g t h e h o u s e a n d s e e n o o n e . T h e n I s e e Ti n c o m i n g
through the trees, carrying a toolbox.
I t h a s b e e n a n i n s u ff i c i e n t t a c t i c f o r t h e Tu n n e l R a t s t o g o i n t o t h e C u C h i t u n n e l s t o s c o u t
f o r t h e V C s . S o t h e Tu n n e l R a t s i n i t i a t e d t h e “ O p e n A r m s P r o g r a m , ” t o e n c o u r a g e t h e V C s
a n d t h e i r s u p p o r t e r s t o d e f e c t t o t h e s i d e o f t h e A m e r i c a n A r m y a n d Vi e t n a m e s e A r m y.  
Ti n h a s p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e p r o g r a m , a n d t h e Tu n n e l R a t s h a v e off e r e d Ti n a j o b a s a
Tu n n e l s D e t e c t i o n S p e c i a l i s t , t o c o m e u p w i t h a m e t h o d t h a t c o r r e c t l y i d e n t i f i e s t h e t u n n e l s
with VCs living in them.
I r u n u p t o Ti n , p o i n t i n g t o t h e h o us e a n d s a y i n g , “ T h e b u l l i e s a r e h o l d i n g H o a i n t h a t
h o u s e , a n d t h e y h a v e d e m a n d e d t h e m o n e y a n d l o t t e r y t i c k e t s s h e h a s w i t h h e r. B u t s h e h a d
thrown them over to me, and I’ve hidden them in a fire ant nest.”
“ H o w m a n y b u l l i e s a r e i n t h e r e ? ” Ti n s a ys .
“ I t h i n k t h r e e , ” I s a y.
Ti n s a ys , “ T h a t h o u s e i s a n a b a n d o n e d V C p o s t . I k n o w w h a t t o d o t o r e s c u e H o a . Yo u g o
k n o c k o n t h e d o o r a n d d i s t r a c t t h e m w i t h t a l k s , w h i l e I g e t i n t o t h e t u n n e l u n d e r t h e h o us e
a n d m a n a g e t o g e t H o a o u t b y w a y o f t h e t u n n e l . ” Ti n r u ns a w a y i n t o t h e w o o d s .
I d i g u p H o a ’s m o n e y b a g , t a k e s o m e c o i n s o u t o f t h e b a g , a n d p u t i t b a c k i n t o p l a c e . I
walk up to the door again and knock on it.
T h e d o o r o p e n s a n d a b o y s a y s , “ Yo u ’ v e b e e n h e r e b e f o r e , b u t w h a t a r e y o u b a c k f o r ? ”  
I s a y, “ I h a v e t h e g i r l ’s m o n e y b a g , a n d I ’ m g o i n g t o g i v e i t t o y o u s o t h a t y o u l e t h e r g o .
B u t I w a n t t o t a l k t o a l l t h r e e o f y o u . Wo u l d y o u a l l p l e a s e c o m e o u t h e r e a n d t a l k t o m e ? B u t
y o u m u s t s t a y a t a d i s t a n c e f r o m m e , a n d I w i l l t h r o w t h e m o n e y t o y o u a n d r u n a w a y. ”
T h e y c o m e o u t a n d s t a n d f a c i n g m e i n a l i n e i n f r o n t o f t h e d o o r.
I s a y, “ Yo u s t a y w h e r e y o u a r e w h i l e I w a l k a w a y, a n d o n c e I g a i n s o m e d i s t a n c e f r o m y o u ,
I’ll throw the money bag to you.”
At about fifty feet distant from them, I throw the bag containing ten quarters wrapped in a
p i e c e o f p a p e r f a r a w a y f r o m t h e m , a n d t h e y r u n f o r t h e m o n e y.
A s t h e b o y s r u n t o w a r d s t h e m o n e y b a g , I s e e Ti n a n d H o a w a v e f o r m e t o c o m e t o t h e m
f r o m t h e b a c k c o r n e r o f t h e h o us e .  
W h e n I j o i n Ti n a n d H o a , w e r u n i n t o t h e w o o ds a n d k e e p o n r u n n i n g u n t i l w e ’ r e s u r e t h e
b u l l i e s c a n ’t f i n d u s a n d s t o p .
H o a s a y s , “ T h a n k y o u g u ys f o r s a v i n g m e . T h e y d e m a n d e d I h a n d o v e r t h e l o t t e r y t i c k e t s
a n d m o n e y. W h e n I s a i d I d i d n ’t h a v e t h e m , t h e y s l a p p e d m y f a c e . ”
I s a y, “ O h , y e s . D o y o u k n o w w h e r e y o u r l o t t e r y t i c k e t s a n d m o n e y a r e ? ”
Hoa says, “I threw them to you. I saw you lurking behind trees, and figured it was better
you get them, instead of the boys. I am smart, you see?” she taps at her temple.  
I s a y, “ I k n ow y o u ’ r e s m a r t . B u t w h y d i d y o u p i c k u p t h e 1 0 0 - d o l l a r b i l l w i t h o u t f i r s t
l o o k i n g a r o u n d o u t o f c a u t i o n ? Ye s , I g o t y o u r t i c k e t s a n d m o n e y a n d h i d t h e m i n a n es t f u l l
of fire ants. I used a little of your money to lure the bullies out of the house.”  
We t a k e t h e l o t t e r y t i c k e t s a n d m o n e y b a g o u t o f t h e n e s t o f f i r e a n t s .

Chapter 9 – A Rich Woman Haggles Over a Few

Pennies
I load up my food vending tray and go out to crowded places to sell food. Soon I have only
s i x c r a c k e r s l e f t o n t h e t r a y.  
A w o m a n i s i n t h e p r o c e s s o f c l o s i n g d o w n h e r s h o p f o r t h e d a y. S h e h a s a f i v e - s t o r y
building built in French country style, with a balcony with ironwork railings on each upper
floor from the second floor and up. The building sits on a corner of Freedom Square, on the
s i d e f a c i n g t h e p o p u l a r S a i g o n B a r.  
A jewelry store, with its dominating front wall made of glass, is situated on the ground
f l o o r. I n s i d e t h e s t o r e , a c h a n d e l i e r g l o w s w i t h d a z z l i n g g l e a m s , a n d i n t h e s h o w c a s e s ,
h a n g i n g g o l d n e c k l a c e s g l i t t e r, a n d d i a m o n d s s p a r k l e o n t h e i r t r a y s .  
 All around the outside of the building, stalls on wheels, protected from the weather by
c o l o r f u l c a n v a s r o o f i n g , c a r r y h o u s e h o l d g o o ds , s h o e s , f a b r i c s , p o p u l a r l i q u o r s i n t h e w o r l d ,
and fruits and vegetables. 
Her workers are busy wheeling the stalls into the storehouses inside the building, while
she stands looking on and bossing them.
I i m a g i n e s h e us e s t h e g r o u n d l e v e l f o r t h e b us i n e s s a n d e n j o y s f o u r b i g o p e n f l o o r s f o r
h e r f a m i l y. I w o u l d p u t m y n e w m a k e u p b u s i n e s s o n t h e g r o u n d f l o o r, t h e s i t t i n g a n d k i t c h e n
a r e a o n t h e s e c o n d f l o o r, m y b e d r o o m o n t h e t h i r d f l o o r, a n d M o m ’s b e d r o o m o n t h e f o u r t h
f l o o r. I w o u l d k e e p t h e t o p f l o o r e m p t y f o r D a d t o u s e a t h i s d i s c r e t i o n i f h e e v e r r e t u r n s .
I s a y, “ I h a v e o n l y s i x c r a c k e r s l e f t t o s e l l . Wo u l d y o u p l e a s e b u y t h e m , m a ’ a m ? S o I c a n
go home.” 
“ I a l r e a d y h a d d i n n e r, ” s h e s a ys , f r o w n i n g .
“But the crackers are for a snack.”
“How much do you want for them?” she says, her face relaxed into a closed-mouth smile.
“ I ’ m s e l l i n g t h e m f o r f i v e c e n t s a p i e c e n o w. I t w a s t w e n t y - f i v e c e n t s a p i e c e , ” I s a y.
S h e s a y s , “ H ow a b o u t f i v e o f t h e m f o r f i f t e e n c e n t s ? I d o n ’t w a n t t h e o n e t h a t i s c h i p p e d
o ff a n d s a g g i n g a t t h e e d g e . ”
“ O K , ” I s a y.
She removes the safety pin which holds the top edges of her blouse pocket securely
t o g e t h e r, t a k e s o u t s o m e c o i n s f r o m t h e p o c k e t , a n d c o u n t s t h e m i n t o m y p a l m . S h e s a y s ,
“Oops! I pay a nickel too much.” She quickly plucks a nickel out of my hand, and drops the
nickel back into her pocket, again the safety pin securing the pocket closed.
I wrap five crackers in a lotus leaf piece, wondering what need she has to haggle. In
Vi e t n a m , c h i l d p e d d l e r s a r e s o c o m m o n t h a t n o o n e f e e l s s o r r y f o r t h e m .

Chapter 10 – Where the Cows Go

I lie on my back on the floor in my living room, with my legs up against the wall and my
feet resting on the windowsill, studying for a school assignment assigned by Miss My Lai.
T h e a s s i g n m e n t i s t o b e d o n e i n E n g l i s h . T h e a s s i g n m e n t i n c l u d e s w r i t i n g a n es s a y o n t h e
Battle of Saigon and later reciting the essay in front of the class.
I h a v e n ’t s t a r t e d w r i t i n g t h e e s s a y, b u t n o w l y i n g o n m y b a c k o n t h e f l o o r, I r e c i t e m y
improvisation of the Battle of Saigon in English.  
I hear kids’ voices coming from the front of my house, and look out of the window to see
w h a t ’s g o i n g o n . I s e e m y n e i g h b o r ’s k i d s s i t t i n g a l o n g t h e t o p o f m y c o n c r e t e f e n c e , s o I
s a y, “ W h a t a r e y o u g u y s s i t t i n g h e r e f o r ? ”  
“ We l i k e t o l i s t e n t o y o u s p e a k i n E n g l i s h . I t ’s s o c o o l y o u c a n s p e a k E n g l i s h w i t h o u t
skipping a beat. Can you tell us the easiest and best way to learn to speak English?”  
I s a y, “ D o n ’t s w e a t i t , I ’ l l t e a c h y o u t o s p e a k E n g l i s h a l m o s t a s w e l l a s n a t i v e . B u t t a k e
n o t i c e , I o n l y s p e a k E n g l i s h i n a m e c h a n i s t i c m a n n e r o f a p a r r o t , r a t t l i n g o ff t h e B a t t l e o f
S a i g o n , r e c i t i n g i t b u t h o p i n g n o o n e w i l l a s k w h a t m y w o r ds m e a n . ”
T h e y s a y, “ B u t i t ’s s t i l l c o o l t o b e a b l e t o s p e a k E n g l i s h i n a n y w a y, s o p l e a s e t e l l us h o w
to do it.”  
I s a y, “ W h e n y o u h a v e t o l e a r n t o s p e a k a f o r e i g n l a n g u a g e , s a y i t o u t l o u d b e c a u s e s a y i n g
i t i n a w h i s p e r w i l l t a k e l o n g e r t o s t a m p w o r d s o n y o u r m e m o r y. B y s a y i n g i t o u t l o u d , y o u
m a k e t h e s o u n d s w i t h y o u r m o u t h , h e a r t h e s o u n ds w i t h y o u r e a r s , a n d g e t t h e w o r d s i n t o
y o u r h e a d t o l e a r n h o w t o s p e a k q u i c k e r. I t e l l y o u w h a t , t h a t ’s h ow i t w o r ks f o r m e . Tr y i t
for yourself.”
T h e y s a y, “ A r e y o u s u r e w e c a n l e a r n t o s p e a k E n g l i s h t h a t w a y ? ”
I s a y. “ H e y ! I t' s f r e e a d v i c e . I f i t d o e s n ’t w o r k f o r y o u , y o u d o n ’t g e t y o u r m o n e y b a c k
b e c a u s e y o u d i d n ’t p a y m e i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e . ”
We s c u r r y i n t o M is s M y L a i ’s c l a s s r o o m . S h e s t a n d s l o o k i n g d ow n a t h e r w a t c h a n d
h o l d i n g u p h e r r u b b e r r u l e r a t t h e r e a d y, t o s m a c k o u r k n u c k l e s w i t h i t f o r b e i n g l a t e . S h e
counts, “Seven, six, five,…”
Ti n s a ys , “ We ’ r e f o u r s e c o n d s e a r l y. ”  
Wi t h a s m a l l s m i l e o n h e r l i p s , M i s s M y L a i l o w e r s t h e r u l e r a n d l a y s i t d o w n o n h e r d e s k .
Clapping her hands, Miss My Lai says, “Hand in your essay on the Battle of Saigon, then
come up one by one in front of the class and recite it in English.”
H o a ’s t h e f i r s t o n e t o w a l k u p a n d p u t h e r h o m e w o r k o n t h e t e a c h e r ’s d e s k , a n d t h e o t h e r
s t u d e n t s d o t h e s a m e . Ti n h a s j u s t j o i n e d o u r s c h o o l , a n d h e a l s o h a n d s i n h i s h o m e w o r k .
Miss My Lai looks on, twice glancing towards me, but I remain sitting. I’ve missed handing
i n t h r e e h o m e w o r k a s s i g n m e n t s s o f a r t h i s y e a r. B u t I h a v e a g o o d m e m o r y a n d a l w a y s d o
well with reciting and saying out loud my homework.
I’ve finished reciting my improvised essay on the Battle of Saigon, and the whole class
c l a p s l o u d l y.  
Miss My Lai claps fast, a broad smile on her face. “Cool speech! Now answer the question.
W h e n t h e c o w s a r e n o t r o a m i n g f r e e l y o n H a m b u rg e r H i l l , w h e r e d o t h e y g o ? ”
I ’ m s t u m p e d b y t h e u n e x p e c t e d q u e s t i o n . H o w d o I k n o w w h e r e t h e c o w s g o ? I d o n ’t
r e m e m b e r M is s M y L a i s a y i n g a n y t h i n g o n t h i s s u b j e c t i n c l a s s . I r e c a l l t h e p a r t a b o u t
L i e u t e n a n t G e n e r a l M e l v i n S t i l w e l l o r d e r i n g a b u l l d o z e r d e l i v e r e d b y a i r t o H a m b u rg e r H i l l ,
a n d t h e n h a v i n g a c r a t e r d u g w i t h t h e b u l l d o z e r, t o e x p o s e t h e V C s l i v i n g i n t h e u n d e rg r o u n d
t u n n e l s . H a m b u rg e r H i l l l i e s i n t h e C u C h i d i s t r i c t , a n d m a n y t u n n e l s a r e d u g u n d e r i t s
g r o u n d . I c a n o n l y g u e s s t h e a n s w e r. “ T h e c o w s g o i n t o t h e C u C h i t u n n e l s . ”
M i s s M y L a i i s s o d e l i g h t e d t h a t s h e j i g g l e s h e r f e e t w h i l e c l a p p i n g . “ Ye s , t h e y g o i n t o t h e
tunnels through the camouflaged swing doors set in the rocks.”
Ti n s a ys , “ H o w d o e s M is s M y L a i k n ow t h i s ? A f t e r M a i a n d H o a h a d p a i d r a n s o m m o n e y t o
t h e V C s , t h e y r e l e a s e d m e b y l e t t i n g m e g o t h r o u g h a s w i n g d o o r i n t h e r o c ks . ”
I g l a n c e d o w n a t M is s M y L a i ’s f e e t . G o o d t h i n g s h e ’s n o t w e a r i n g t i r e s a n d a l s .
 M i s s M y L a i g r i n s . “ M a i r e c i t e d a n e l o q u e n t s p e e c h a n d g a v e t h e c o r r e c t a n s w e r. I g i v e
M a i 9 8 o u t o f 1 0 0 p o i n t s , w i t h t w o p o i n t s s h o r t f o r n o t h a n d l i n g t h e w r i t t e n e s s a y.
Ti n h a s f i n i s h e d r e c i t i n g h i s e s s a y, a n d M i s s M y L a i g i v e s h i m 1 0 0 p o i n t s w i t h o u t a s k i n g
h i m a n y q u e s t i o n s . A f t e r H o a i s d o n e r e c i t i n g t h e e s s a y, s h e s t a n d s , w a i t i n g .
M i s s M y L a i s m i l e s . “ I n t h e B a t t l e o f S a i g o n , t h e V Cs w e r e t r y i n g t o a m b u s h t h e A m e r i c a n
s o l d i e r s f r o m u n d e r t h e g r o u n d s u r r o u n d i n g t h e S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e . T h e V Cs g a v e c a n d i e s t o
kids and told them to point the American soldiers to go toward the tree so that the VCs could
attack the American soldiers. But why did the VCs lose the battle?”  
Hoa says, “The kids had accepted fresher candies from the American soldiers and taken
their side. The kids tied ropes to the tree branches, and they told the American soldiers to
climb onto the tree by way of the ropes. After waiting for a long time, the VCs came out of
t h e g r o u n d a n d m o v e d t o t h e t r e e . T h e A m e r i c a n s o l d i e r s j u m p e d d ow n f r o m t h e t r e e a n d
attacked the VCs.”
Miss My Lai nods. “The VCs ran away to a swamp full of alligators, but they had to cross
the swamp to escape. There were star fruit trees going all the way across the swamp. The
VCs feared getting eaten alive by the alligators, so they surrendered. What could they
possibly have done to escape across the swamp?”
Hoa is stuck by this question.
I r a i s e m y h a n d , s a y i n g , “ I w i l l a ns w e r t h e q u e s t i o n i f I a m a l l o w e d t o . ”
Miss My Lai nods, saying, “Go ahead and answer the question, Mai.”
I smile. “They could climb up the star fruit trees and move across them, to get to the other
e n d o f t h e s w a m p a n d e s c a p e f r o m t h e r e , h o p i n g t h e b r a n c h e s w o u l d n ’t s n a p . ”
Ti n l o o k s a t m e . “ B u t t h a t w o u l d s t i l l p u t t h e V Cs a t r i s k o f f a l l i n g t o t h e a l l i g a t o r s . I t
w o u l d b e s a f e r f o r t h e V Cs t o g o t h r o u g h t h e s w i n g d o o r s s e t i n t h e r o c k s , t o g e t i n t o t h e C u
Chi tunnels, which are everywhere.”
M i s s M y L a i l o o k s a t Ti n w i t h h e r e y e s w i d e o p e n a n d h e r m o u t h d r o p p e d . “ Wow, c h i l d r e n ,
y o u a l l g a v e g o o d a n s w e r s . I g i v e M a i 9 9 p o i n t s , H o a 1 0 0 , a n d Ti n 1 0 1 p o i n t s . ”

Chapter 11 – The VC Engage in Fierce Shooting with

the American Soldiers
H o a , Ti n , a n d I a r e g o i n g t o t h e “ Wo r l d ’s G r e a t e s t Ya r d S a l e . ” We j o s t l e o u r w a y a m o n g
rows of merchandise, and then come up to the midway area where the rides and carnival game
booths are set up in rows.  
We s t o p a t o n e g a m e b o o t h , w h i c h o ff e r s a w i n n e r t h e b e s t r ew a r d o f a b i g f l a t - s c r e e n
h i g h - d e f i n i t i o n T V. I n t h i s g a m e , t h e p l a y e r s m u s t p i c k u p t h e g i a n t s q u i d f r o m a t a n k w i t h
an extra pliable fishing rod, which has a triangle-shaped iron hook attached to it by a string
and put the squid in the next tank.   
It costs 15 cents each time you play the game. I paid 15 cents and played one time, but
l o s t . I ’ v e p a i d f o r Ti n t o p l a y t w o t i m e s , b u t h e a l s o l o s t . H o a h a s l o s t t w o t i m e s , b u t o n t h e
t h i r d t r y, s h e g e t s t h e s q u i d t o c u r l i t s t e n t a c l e s a r o u n d t h e h o o k ’s e d g e s . S h e g e t s s o e x c i t e d
a n d f l i n g s t h e p o l e t o o h a r d , a n d t h e s q u i d f a l l s s m a c k i n g o n t h e t a n k ’s e d g e , s l i d e s o ff i t ,
and lands flopping on the sandy floor almost dying.
  T h e g a m e ow n e r s t a r e s a t H o a . “ Yo u ’ r e n o t p l a y i n g a n y m o r e . I a bs o l u t e l y f o r b i d i t . ”
“ Ti n , w h a t s c h o o l d o y o u g o t o ? ” I s a y.
“ I d o n’t g o t o s c h o o l n o w, ” Ti n s a ys .
“ I s u p p o s e y o u w a n t t o g o t o t h e s c h o o l w h e r e M a i a n d I a r e g o i n g , d o n ’t y o u ? ” H o a s a y s .
“ O h , I ' d l o v e t o ! ” Ti n s a y s .  
  T h e t h r e e o f us s c a m p e r t h r o u g h t h e g r a s s a n d g e t o n t h e n e a r e s t w a l k i n g p a t h . I r o n
Tr i a n g l e F o r e s t i s o n o u r l e f t . A v o i c e c o m e s t h r o u g h a l i n e o f t a l l t r e e s a t t h e e d g e o f t h e
f o r e s t , “ To m , h a n g o n , h e l p i s c o m i n g . I ’ l l g e t y o u o u t o f h e r e . ”  
To g e t t o t h e t r e e l i n e , w e m u s t c r o s s a f i e l d o f s w o r d g r a s s . B e c a u s e t h e g r a s s b l a d e s h a v e
s e r r a t e d e d g e s t h a t p r i c k t h e s k i n , w e b r e a k t w i g s o ff a h i b i s c u s p l a n t a n d u s e t h e t w i g s t o
p u s h t h e g r as s b l a d e s a s i d e a s w e w a l k t o w a r d t h e t r e e s .  
We l o o k t h r o u g h t h e t r e e s a n d a t a g r o u p o f A m e r i c a n s o l d i e r s g a t h e r e d i n a c l e a r i n g i n t h e
f o r e s t . A s o l d i e r i s h o l d i n g a w o u n d e d s o l d i e r, w h os e h e a d r e s t e d o n h i s c o m r a d e ’s t h i g h . T h e
w o u n d e d s o l d i e r i s u n r e s p o ns i v e , f o a m t r a i l i n g d o w n t h e s i d e o f h i s l i m p m o u t h , h i s e y e s
rolled up into his head so that only the white of the eyes is visible.  
T h e t e n d i n g s o l d i e r p u l l s o u t a f o l d e d p a p e r f r o m t h e w o u n d e d s o l d i e r ’s s h i r t p o c k e t .
Wa v i n g t h e p a p e r t o u n f o l d , h e l o o k s a t i t , s a y i n g , “ T h i s p a p e r s h ow s t h e n a m e ‘To m ’ a s t h e
recipient of the Medal of Honor from the United States government.”
A M E D E VA C B l a c k H a w k h e l i c o p t e r, p a i n t e d w i t h t h e R e d C r os s m a r k i n g s o n i t s b e l l y a n d
s i d e , d es i g n e d t o e v a c u a t e w o u n d e d t r o o p s , h o v e r s i n o n e s p o t i n t h e a i r w i t h o u t m o v i n g , a t
t r e e t o p l e v e l , i t s r o t a t i n g b l a d e s g l i s t e n i n g i n t h e s u n . A s o l d i e r h a n gs o n i t s l a n d i n g s k i d b y
one hand, waving his other hand to the ground soldiers, saying, “The helicopter cannot touch
d o w n u n d e r s n i p e r f i r e . B r i n g h i m t o t h e h e l i c o p t e r. ”  
Empty hammocks are hanging on the defoliated trees in the clearing. A soldier drops a
hammock from a tree, and the rescuers put the wounded soldier in it.
The paramedics are carrying the hammock, with another paramedic moving alongside it,
h o l d i n g u p a n I V b a g a b o v e t h e w o u n d e d s o l d i e r, t i e d t o t h e h a m m o c k a n d n o t m o v i n g a t a l l .
T h e p a r a m e d i c s m a k e t h e i r w a y t o w a r d t h e h e l i c o p t e r.
R o p e s a r e d r o p p e d d o w n f r o m t h e h e l i c o p t e r. T h e A m e r i c a n M a r i n e s f a s t - r o p e d o w n t o t h e
ground from the helicopter by way of the ropes. The Marines have hooked the hammock
carrying the wounded soldier across two ropes, and the hammock is pulled up. Then the
Marines fast-rope back up to the helicopter by way of the other ropes.     
A group of stationary trees move, then they fall to the ground. The VCs burst out of the
f a l l e n t r e e s , a n d c h a rg e t o w a r d t h e h e l i c o p t e r, as t h e y s h o o t a t i t w i t h m a c h i n e g u n s . Wi t h t h e
hammock carrying the wounded soldier and the two Marines dangling on the ropes outside
t h e h e l i c o p t e r, i t l i f t s s t r a i g h t u p a n d s w e r v e s a w a y t o w a r d t h e M e k o n g D e l t a R i v e r, f i r e
b l a z e s f l y i n g t o w a r d t h e h e l i c o p t e r.
A s s o o n a s t h e e v a c u a t i n g h e l i c o p t e r i s o u t o f h a r m ’s w a y, T h e A m e r i c a n s o l d i e r s o p e n f i r e
on the VCs.

Chapter 12 – I Am Pulled Up into a Tree

B e s i d e s s e l l i n g f o o d , I w o r k f o r t h e s e a f o o d m e r c h a n t s o f s m a l l b us i n e s s e s . T h e y o f t e n
h i r e k i d s t o m a r k o u t t h e b a s k e t s c o n t a i n i n g t h e c h o i c e s t s e a f o o d f o r t h e m t o b u y, a n d t h e y
pay the kids tiny wages. On the days when fishing boats come back from the ocean into the
d o c k , k i d s l o o k i n g f o r m e n i a l w o r k h a n g a r o u n d o n t h e q u a y, t o b e h i r e d o n t h e s p o t b y t h e
merchants. 
F r o m t h e C u C h i m o u n t a i n t o p , I i d e n t i f y t h e b o a t s c a r r y i n g a l a rg e c a t c h o f s e a f o o d , b a s e d
on the number of baskets filled with seafood in the boats, when they are still at a distance of
a b o u t 3 m i l e s . W h e n t h e s e b o a t s c o m e n e a r, I j u m p d o w n i n t o t h e w a t e r a n d s w i m o v e r t o
them. 
At each boat, I clamber up its side planking, get into the boat, and mark all the baskets
containing the choicest seafood. I mark each basket by dropping an object, which I can later
i d e n t i f y as m i n e , o n t o p o f t h e s e a f o o d i n t h e b a s k e t .   I r e p e a t t h e p r o c e s s o f m a r k i n g s e a f o o d
on each boat. 
T h e m e r c h a n t s , a f t e r e n j o y i n g t h e i r b r e a k f a s t a n d c o ff e e i n t h e b e a c h h u t s , w a g g l e o v e r t o
the quay to pay for the baskets marked by their hired pickers.  
Unusually after marking the basket I have selected, I would Stand with the other dripping
k i d s , w a i t f o r m y m e r c h a n t b os s t o f i n i s h l o a d i n g h e r b o a t w i t h t h e n e w i n v e n t o r y, a n d s l a p
60,000 dongs in my hand (that's about 3 U.S. dollars).
H o a a n d Ti n h a v e a s k e d m e t o t r a i n t h e m o n h o w t o i d e n t i f y b a s k e t s c o n t a i n i n g t h e
choicest seafood and mark them for the seafood merchants.
In my carefree mood inspired by the quiet and peaceful nature, I saunter along Ho Chi
M i n h Tr a i l w i t h a s p r i n g y s t e p a n d w i t h m y a r m s s w i n g i n g . A t h i c k r o o t r u n n i n g f r o m t h e
Assassin Jungle all the way into the trail, I step up on the root to cross over it. As I stand on
t h e r o o t , t h e w i n d b l o w s s a n d i n t o m y e y e s , a n d I t o d d l e o n t h e r o o t a n d s l i p o ff i t , l a n d i n g
on my feet on the other side of the root.  
The ground vibrates when I land. I’m standing on a spread-out fishnet partly buried under
dry leaves and scattered piles of dirt. The flood must have washed the net here, or some
f i s h e r m a n m u s t h a v e d i s c a r d e d i t . B u t h ow s t r a n g e i s t h e w a y t h e n e t i s l a i d o u t o n t h e
ground? 
W h a t ’s h a p p e n i n g ? T h e n e t i s c l o s i n g u p a r o u n d m e i n i r r e g u l a r, j a r r i n g m o v e m e n t , d i r t
clumps falling out between the knots of the net. I fumble in the net and get angry as my
limbs keep getting stuck in the tangled cords. I claw at the cords to rip them so that I can get
out, and yelp at the stinging pain in my fingers, worrying that I’ve cut my hands.  
AHHH!!! I’m up in the air and pulled into the Assassin Jungle and up a tree.

Chapter 13 – American POW/MIA Camps Are

Up in the Jungle Trees
Tr a p p e d i n s i d e a n e t h a n g i n g f r o m a f i g t r e e , I l o o k t h r o u g h t h e n e t a n d s e e a t h i c k r o o t
running from the treetop to the ground, across the ground, and all the way into Ho Chi Minh
Tr a i l . T h e r o o t m u s t c o n t a i n a s p r i n g m e c h a n i s m t h a t h a s p u l l e d t h e n e t c a r r y i n g m e u p t h i s
tree.
I look around me and through the mass of leaves. The light filtering into the tree reveals a
m a n i n a r m y f a t i g u e s l y i n g o n h i s b a c k i n a h a m m o c k , m a d e o f t h e s a m e m a t e r i a l as t h a t o f
my net. The hammock is hanging on the same tree where I’m staying.
I could feel my heart pounding as I peer through the dimness and see a soldier snoozing in
t h e t r e e , h i s h a n d s t i e d t o t h e h a m m o c k ’s e d g e s , a n d h i s s h a c k l e d f e e t c l a d i n a r m y b o o t s
s t i c k i n g o u t o f t h e t o r n h a m m o c k c o r d s . We ’ r e n o t a l o n e – t h i s t r e e i s f i l l e d w i t h h a m m o c k s
carrying soldiers.
I survey beyond the tree and see more hammocks hanging on the surrounding trees. In the
d i s t a n c e , t h e S k ys c r a p e r Tr e e s t a n ds h i g h a n d m a j e s t i c a g a i n s t t h e c l e a r b l u e s k y. I w o n d e r i f
H o a a n d Ti n a r e s t i l l w a i t i n g f o r m e a t t h e q u a y, o r i n t h e n e t s h a n g i n g i n s o m e o t h e r t r e e s ,
o r e v e n i n t h i s v e r y t r e e . I c r y o u t i n d i s t r e s s , “ H o a . Ti n . ” N o a n s w e r.
I stare at the man. “Can you at least try to get out of the hammock and help me please?”
He remains silent and lying still, his closed eyelids fluttering and his chest moving up and
down. Once, he flicks his eyes open and then quickly closes them.
My feet are above his head, so I kick toward it, but the taut net prevents my foot from
r e a c h i n g i t . H e ’s s o w e i r d . M a y b e h e t h i n k s I a m h i s e n e m y, a n d t h a t o n l y t h e o t h e r p e o p l e
lying in the hammocks are his allies in the fight. But I’m standing in a standing hammock, so
I ’ m h i s a l l y, t o o . H ow c a n h e r u d e l y i g n o r e a n ew c a p t i v e ? I b o u n c e o n m y f e e t a n d s l a m m y
f o o t d ow n o n h i s h e a d , b u t m y f o o t ’s i m p a c t w i t h h i s h e a d h a s n ’t h a d a n e ff e c t o n h i m .    
He turns his face toward me and looks at me with such intensity that it makes me nervous.
He says, “Where’re your parents?”
I s a y, “ M y m o m , T h u , i s a t h o m e a n d p r o b a b l y h a s n o c l u e w h e r e I a m . M y d a d w a s a n
A m e r i c a n A r m y O ff i c e r, p r o b a b l y a P O W / M I A O ff i c e r. C a n I b e c a l l e d a P O W ? T h i s i s d u r i n g
t h e w a r, a n d I ’ m a p r i s o n e r o n a t r e e , s o I ’ m q u a l i f i e d t o b e n a m e d a P r i s o n e r o f Wa r. I s t h a t
right?” 
H e r u n s h i s p a l m o v e r h i s e y e s . “ I ’ m a n A m e r i c a n P O W. B u t w h a t h a p p e n e d t h a t y o u w e r e
pulled up the tree?” 
 I s a y, “ T h e V C s h a v e b o o b y - t r a p p e d m e w i t h t h e n e t i n w h i c h I ’ m s t a y i n g . ” I p a us e ,
d e c i d i n g i f I c a n t r u s t h i m . “ H a m m o c k s o n t r e e s a r e f o r w o u n d e d V C s . H ow d i d y o u g e t t h e
privilege of lying in a hammock hanging in a tree? Are you a VC spy?”
He shakes his head. “The VCs captured me after I had been wounded. They tied me up and
p u t m e u p h e r e . We ’ r e i n a V C Tr e e H o s p i t a l . O n l y w o u n d e d A m e r i c a n P O W s a r e h e l d i n t h i s
tree.”
“ O h , w h y w o u l d t h e y p u t m e i n t h i s t r e e h o s p i t a l ? ” I s a y.
H e t a k e s a h e a v y b r e a t h . “ P r o b a b l y t h e y t h i n k y o u ’ r e a n A m e r i c a n k i d s p y. ”
I s a y, “ B e i n g a s p y m a y b e a g o o d i d e a , c o m e t o t h i n k o f i t . I l o v e t o b e a C I A s p y s o t h a t I
c a n us e t h e C I A’s i n t e l l i g e n c e t o f i n d m y d a d . H o w d i d y o u g e t w o u n d e d ? ”  
He scrunches his forehead, and then looks at me very carefully again, but this time in a
r e l i e v e d m a n n e r. “ I n O p e r a t i o n C r i m p , T h e U .S . E a g l e S u p p o r t h e l i c o p t e r s h a d s p r a y e d
h e r b i c i d a l c h e m i c a l A g e n t O r a n g e i n t h e I r o n Tr i a n g l e F o r e s t , t o r e m o v e t h e l e a v e s f r o m t h e
t r e e s a n d p l a n t s , d e s t r o y V C s ’ c r o p s , a n d i m p r o v e o b s e r v a t i o n o f V C a c t i v i t y.  
“There were no shadows for the VCs to hide in, so they cleared out of the forest. I moved
i n t o t h e f o r es t , a l o n g w i t h a C o m b a t E n g i n e e r u n i t a n d a S a p p e r u n i t , o f t h e U . S . M a r i n e
Corps. The Combat Engineers had cleared a path through a minefield, and the Sappers were
detecting and disarming mines, to create a safe path for troops and equipment.  
“ T h e V C s a m b u s h e d us f r o m t h e u n d e rg r o u n d t u n n e l s , f r o m w h e r e t h e y s h o t r i f l e s u p
t h r o u g h t h e g r o u n d h o l e s . We s c a t t e r e d a n d r a n t o w a r d t h e t r e e s t o t a k e c o v e r. A s h r a p n e l
s h e l l e x p l o d e d . F o r t u n a t e l y, t h e f o r c e o f t h e b l a s t o n l y t h r e w m e i n t o t h e r i c e p a d d y i n t h e
Assassin Jungle.”
“ Yo u w e r e l u c k y y o u d i d n ’t g e t k i l l e d , ” I s a y, t h i n k i n g t h i s w o u n d e d P O W a n d t h e
w o u n d e d s o l d i e r i n t h e I r o n Tr i a n g l e F o r es t m a y b e t h e s a m e p e r s o n . “ I s y o u r n a m e To m ? ”  
H e s a y s , “ To m a n d L i e u t e n a n t G e n e r a l M a r v … u h … M a r v i n … W h a t ’s h a p p e n i n g i n m y h e a d ?
One moment I remember in detail, but the next moment recall in snatches. What did you ask
m e ? To m f e l l … c a p t u r e d . I t r i e d … B u t h e w as … d e a d . N o t . . . ”
I c a n ’t b e l i e v e w h a t I ’ m h e a r i n g . “ W h a t w e r e y o u t r y i n g t o d o w i t h To m ? ”
He breathes hard. “Some Combat Engineers and Sappers had waded out of the rice paddy
a n d m o v e d i n t o t h e f o r e s t . O n e m o m e n t To m w as a h e a d o f t h e m , a n d t h e n e x t m o m e n t h e w a s
on the ground being attended by the engineers. He must be dead.”
I s a y, “ N o , h e w a s s t i l l a l i v e , a n d f l o w n b y h e l i c o p t e r t o w a r d t h e M e k o n g D e l t a . ”  
T h e P O W o p e n s h i s e y e s w i d e . “ M e k o n g D e l t a R i v e r, We w e r e i n c a g e s i n t h e r i v e r. ” H e
closes his eyes, shaking his head and breathing fast. He remains quiet as if worn out from
talking.
“ W h a t h a p p e n e d n e x t ? ” I s a y.
H e o p e n s h i s e y e s , s c o w l i n g . “ I d r o p p e d u n d e r w a t e r a t a n e d d y s i n k h o l e i n t h e r i c e p a d d y.
W h e n I r e s u r f a c e d , I s a w b u l l e t s w h i z z i n g o v e r t h e p a d d y. T h e r e s t o f t h e C o m b a t E n g i n e e r
U n i t a n d S a p p e r U n i t s c r a m b l e d t o g e t a w a y, t h e i r h a n d s p u l l i n g a l o n g a m e t a l c a b l e s t r u n g
a c r o s s t h e p a d d y.  
“ S t a n d i n g o n t h e d i k e o f t h e p a d d y, t h e C h i e f o f E n g i n e e r s s h o u t e d i n t o h i s r a d i o c l i p p e d
o n t o t h e b r e a s t p o c k e t , ‘ T h i s i s R i c e p a d d y P o u n d e r U n i t . We a r e a t t h e r i c e p a d d y i n t h e
A s s a s s i n J u n g l e . We ’ r e g e t t i n g a w a y f r o m t h e r i c e p a d d y. I n e e d a d us t - o ff f o r a w o u n d e d
t r o o p . M a r k t a rg e t t o i d e n t i f y f o r r e s c u e : T h e d i k e a c r o s s t h e r i c e p a d d y i n t h e A s s a s s i n
J u n g l e , o n t h e s i d e f a c i n g t h e I r o n Tr i a n g l e F o r e s t . O v e r. ’ ”
T h e P O W p a u s e s , a s i f l i s t e n i n g , a n d t h e n c o n t i n u e s , “ A S i k o rs k y H H - 6 0 W C o m b a t R e s c u e
Helicopter hovered over the dike while I was still at the sinkhole. I held my arms high and
waved. 
“ A p a r a t r o o p e r j u m p e d o u t o f t h e h e l i c o p t e r, a n d s i g n a l f l a r e s w e n t u p i n t h e a i r,
illuminating the area. I could only move by grabbing the rice stalks and pulling myself on
them toward the plane. A rope ladder was dropped down for me, and I reached my hand up to
catch it, but the helicopter flew away as shots rang out.”
“ D i d t h e p l a n e c o m e b a c k f o r y o u ? ” I s a y.  
His face turns red. “As the plane turned around and headed back, a VC hollered, ‘American
Down.’ Other VCs rushed out and swarmed over the dike, their guns pointing at me. I was
captured.”
“ W h y d i d t h e y t i e y o u r h a n d s a n d f e e t ? ” I s a y.
“They do that to all POWs, to prevent any escape attempt,” he says.
“ D o t h e y s t ow o t h e r t h i n g s o n t h e h a m m o c k s o r j u s t P O Ws ? ” I s a y.
“They also store spare medical supplies, machine guns, grenades, and mortar shells,” he
says.
“ W h y d i d y o u a c t a s i f y o u w e r e a d u m m y w h e n I w a s f i r s t p u l l e d u p t h e t r e e ? ” I s a y.  
A s m u g s m i l e c o m e s t o h i s f a c e . “ B r i n g y o u r e a r c l o s e t o m e s o t h a t I d o n ’t h a v e t o s p e a k
aloud,” he says, waiting.
I c r o u c h d ow n a n d t i l t m y h e a d , t r y i n g t o g e t m y e a r a s c l o s e t o h i m a s I c a n .  
He says, “I first acted in such a manner because I thought the VCs might be at the tree.
Whenever I have detected a hint of the VCs coming around to this tree, I pretend to be in a
f o g a n d g o c r a z y, t o a v o i d b e i n g q u e s t i o n e d . T h e y k e e p l o o k i n g f o r a c h a n c e t o i n t e r r o g a t e
me when I look alert. They would hold jangling dog tags before my eyes and watch for the
r e a c t i o n s t h a t g i v e m e a w a y.  
I t h i n k a b o u t D a d . H e m a y b e o n t h i s t r e e , b u t I d o n ’t k n o w h i s n a m e . I c a l l a l o u d , “ I s
t h e r e a To m o n t h i s t r e e ? ”
N o a n s w e r.
The POW opens his eyes. “The VC spies often sneak to the trees, carrying ladders. They
brace the ladders against the tree trunks, and climb up the ladders and perch on the rungs, to
eavesdrop on the POWs’ communications.”  
“ T h e y m a y b e e a v e s d r o p p i n g o n o u r c o n v e r s a t i o n r i g h t n o w, ” I s a y.
He nods and then shakes his head. “More likely they’re meeting to discuss the imminent
b o m b i n g , a i m e d a t t h e A s s a s s i n J u n g l e , b y t h e A m e r i c a n A r m y. ”
“ H o w c a n y o u b e s u r e t h a t a n i m m i n e n t b o m b i n g o f t h e A s s a s s i n J u n g l e i s c o m i n g ? ” I s a y. ”
He hesitates a moment, staring at me, and then says, “A VC eavesdropper sat astride a
b r a n c h t h i c k w i t h l e a v e s a b o v e m e , a n d h e w a s c a r r y i n g e l e c t r o n i c s p y i n g g e a r, w h i c h
c o l l e c t s r a d i o c o m m u n i c a t i o n s f r o m t h e U S I n t e l l i g e n c e R a d a r. T h e s c r e e n o f t h e s p y
e q u i p m e n t w as t i l t e d d o w nw a r d , a n d i t e n a b l e d m e t o s e e t h e i n t e r c e p t e d s i g n a l s i n d i c a t i n g
the American Army will soon bomb the Assassin Jungle.”  
O h , n o . N o t w i t h m e i n i t . W h a t i s M o m g o i n g t o d o i f I c a n n e v e r g o h o m e a n y m o r e ? I s a y,
“What are the VCs going to do with the POWs on the trees in the Assassin Jungle?”  
H e l o o k s t r o u b l e d . “ T h e V C s h a v e n ’t k n ow n t h a t I c a n u n d e r s t a n d Vi e t n a m e s e . I a l s o a c t a s
a n i n t e r p r e t e r. T h e V Cs t r e a t m e a s a l u n a t i c , s o t h e y u s u a l l y s p e a k i n Vi e t n a m e s e w i t h o u t
r e s e r v e w h e n I ’ m a r o u n d . I h e a r d t h e m s a y t h e y w a n t e d t o m o v e t h e P O Ws a w a y f r o m t h i s
area of the jungle before the bombing begins. This would be the second time they have to
transfer the POWs.” 
“ W h a t h a p p e n e d t h e f i r s t t i m e ? ” I s a y.  
He says. “In a joint special operations mission called Operation Ivory Coast, the American
Green Berets, Army Rangers, Delta Force, and Pararescue Jumpers joined in the mission to
r e s c u e U . S . P r i s o n e r s o f Wa r i n Vi e t n a m . T h e j o i n e d f o r c e s r e h e a r s e d t h e o p e r a t i o n a t E g l i n
A i r F o r c e B as e , F l o r i d a . T h e o p e r a t i o n i n v o l v e d a f l e e t o f 1 2 0 a i r c r a f t a n d 4 a i r c r a f t
carriers. 
“ O n t h e d a y o f t h e r e s c u e o p e r a t i o n , t h e A H - 1 Z Vi p e r A t t a c k h e l i c o p t e r s d r o p p e d U . S .
N a v y b o a t s i n t o t h e o c e a n a t T h i e n c h u a I n t e r n a t i o n a l S e a p o r t . T h e n t h e U .S . M a r i n e s a n d
Navy SEALs fast-roped down into the boats from the helicopters.  
“While descending from the helicopters, the Marines dropped flare bombs giving out
f l a m e s i n d i ff e r e n t c o l o r s , a n d s h o t r o u n d s o f b l a n k b u l l e t s r i c o c h e t i n g w i t h t h e a t e r s o u n d
e ff e c t s , t o s c a r e t h e V Cs o u t o f t h e i r w i t s .   A ls o , w h i l e t h e M a r i n e s d e s c e n d i n g f r o m t h e
h e l i c o p t e r s h o v e r i n g i n a l i n e , a n e x t r a - l a rg e A m e r i c a n f l a g r o l l e d o p e n a c r o s s t h e f a s t r o p e s .
On the flag, there was printed a silhouette of a prisoner of war before barbed wire and a
g u a r d t o w e r. T h e w o r d “ P O W / M I A ” a p p e a r e d a b o v e t h e s i l h o u e t t e , a n d t h e w o r d s “ Yo u A r e
N o t F o rg o t t e n ” a p p e a r e d b e l o w t h e s i l h o u e t t e .    
“The Combat Search and Rescue teams attacked the 12,000 VC troops, to draw them away
from the Hanoi Hilton Hotel, nicknamed the biggest POW Camp, situated on the bank of the
M e k o n g D e l t a R i v e r.  
  “ T h e C o m b a t S e a r c h a n d R e s c u e t e a m s f o u n d t h e c a m p e m p t y. T h e V C s h a d m o v e d t h e 5 0 0
POWs away from the camp and into the Assassin Jungle, put them in hammocks, and hoisted
the hammocks up into the trees with pulleys.”
I s a y, “ W h y d o y o u a c t s o i n d i ff e r e n t d e s p i t e t h e c o m i n g b o m b i n g ? D o n’t y o u e v e n c a r e f o r
the survival of your own, and of the others on the trees? Oh yes, your head must not be
working right from being wounded.”
 A v o i c e i n t h e t r e e s a ys , “ H e ’s b e i n g i n c o h e r e n t a g a i n , b a b b l i n g t o h i m s e l f a n d t a l k i n g
c r a z y a l l t h e t i m e o v e r t h e r e . P l e a s e d i s r e g a r d h i s s t o r i e s . T h e y ’ r e b a l o n e y. ”
Others join in putting him down for what they regard as foolish talking.  
I l o o k b a c k a t h i m . “ P l e a s e d o n ’t g i v e u p o n l i f e a n d f r e e d o m . N ow y o u r e a l l y n e e d t o g e t
y o u r h e a d t o g e t h e r a n d t r y t o f i g u r e o u t h ow t o g e t m e o u t o f t h e n e t . W h e n I ’ m f r e e f r o m t h e
n e t , I ’ l l t e l l t h e Vi e t n a m e s e A r m y C o m m a n d e r, a t t h e C u C h i A r m y B a s e , a b o u t t h e A m e r i c a n
POWs in hammocks hanging on the trees in the Assassin Jungle.”
H e j i g g l e s h i s h a n d s a n d f e e t . “ I c a n ’t b r e a k f r e e o f t h e s h a c k l e s . ”  
I s i g h . “ H a s t h e U . S . A r m y t r a i n e d y o u h ow t o g e t a n o t h e r p r i s o n e r o u t o f a n e t , w h i l e y o u
are lying in a hammock, wounded and restrained with shackles? When I get out of the net
w i t h y o u r h e l p , I ’ l l r u n t o t h e f i e l d h os p i t a l t o g e t h e l p f o r y o u . I ’ l l a s k t h e A m e r i c a n
A m b a s s a d o r t o i n f o r m P r e s i d e n t Tr u m a n a b o u t t h e A m e r i c a n P O W s b e i n g i m p r i s o n e d i n t h e
Assassin Jungle. No doubt President of the United States will order the Pentagon to send the
U.S. Special Operation Force Commandos to rescue the POWs.”
He says, “No I’ve never been trained in rescuing a prisoner from a net.”  
“ I g i v e u p ! ” I s a y, l o o k i n g a c r o s s t h e A s s a s s i n J u n g l e a n d t h e I r o n Tr i a n g l e F o r e s t t o t h e
S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e . T h e s o u n d o f r o p e s n a p p i n g m a k e s m e l o o k b a c k d o w n a t h i m .  
He looks cheerful, opening and closing his hand, saying, “I was able to get one hand free.”
H e t a p s h i s f i n g e r s o n h i s s h i r t p o c k e t a n d p u l l s o u t a c i g a r e t t e l i g h t e r. H e m o v e s h i s h a n d
h o l d i n g t h e l i g h t e r t o w a r d s m y f e e t , w i t h h i s t h u m b t h a t k e e p s f l i c k i n g o n t h e l i g h t e r.
“ W h a t ’ r e y o u d o i n g ? ” I s a y.
He says, “I’m trying to burn a hole in the net so that you can get out.”
The melting plastic cords splattering hot wax onto my feet, I yelp, “Ouch, you are burning
my feet.” 
T h e n t h e l i g h t e r r u ns o u t o f f u e l .
I j u s t r o l l m y e y e s a n d r e a c h i n s i d e m y p o c k e t . “Wa i t , I t h i n k I c a n c u t t h e n e t c o r d s w i t h
this metal wedge.”  
He stares at the wedge, unblinking. “Where did you get it?”
“ A n o l d w o m a n g a v e i t t o m e , ” I s a y.
“The old woman who lives near the Gold Nuggets River?” he says.
“ Ye s . Yo u k n o w h e r ? ” I s a y.
He says, “Oh, never mind. Did she tell you where she got the wedge?”
I s a y, “ S h e s a i d s h e f o u n d i t i n t h e S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e t r u n k , ”  
H e f r o w n s a n d s h a k e s h i s h e a d , s a y i n g , “ T h a t ’s n o t w h e r e i t s h o u l d b e . ” T h e n c o v e r i n g h i s
h e a d w i t h h i s h a n d , h e s a ys , “ C a n I s e e i t ? P l e a s e d r o p t h e w e d g e i n t o m y h a m m o c k . Tr y t o
avoid my head if you can.”    
I drop the wedge through the net without being able to aim very well, and the wedge lands
b e t w e e n h i s j a w a n d s h o u l d e r.
H e s t u d i e s t h e w e d g e , c h e e r i n g u p . “ T h i s w e d g e h a s t h e n a m e M A RK o n i t . I w o n d e r w h e r e
t h e o n e w i t h t h e n a m e TO M o n i t i s . ”
“ I h a v e t h a t w e d g e , t o o , ” I s a y. “ A b o y, k i d n a p p e d b y t h e V C s , us e d t h e w e d g e w i t h t h e
n a m e TO M o n i t , t o d i g h o l e s i n t h e b a n k s o f t h e G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r f o r t h e V C s . ”
“I want to see that wedge, too. Can you please throw it down?”
I throw the second wedge down.
H e l o o k s a t b o t h w e d g e s . “ M A RK a n d TO M a r e c o d e n a m e s . M A RK i s m y c o d e n a m e . TO M
is the code name of Lieutenant General Melvin Stilwell who fought in the victorious Battle
o f S a i g o n , o n t h e H a m b u rg e r H i l l . ”  
I s a y, “ O h m y G o d , L i e u t e n a n t G e n e r a l M e l v i n S t i l w e l l i s t h e d a d o f t h e k i d n a p e d b o y w h o
g a v e m e t h e TO M w e d g e . B u t w a i t , M A RK i s y o u r c o d e n a m e , s o w h a t ’s y o u r r e a l n a m e ? ”  
He scrunches his forehead and narrows his eyes. “My name is…,” he pauses, shaking his
h e a d . “ T h e V C s p u t m e i n t h e C h i l l i n g C h a m b e r, m a k i n g m e f o rg e t c e r t a i n d e t a i l s . ”
I s a y, “ S o i s i t p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e w o u n d e d s o l d i e r n a m e d To m a n d L i e u t e n a n t G e n e r a l
Melvin Stilwell is the same person?”  
He shakes his head with a look of frustration in his eyes. “At times, I get mixed up about
n a m e s a n d s e q u e n c e o f e v e n t s . Yo u ’ r e r i g h t . M y m i n d i s n o t w o r k i n g r i g h t . B u t w a i t , I j u s t
recall something else.
“ D r a g o n K i n g d o m h a d t h e d o c u m e n t s r e l a t e d t o t h e i r w o r k o f CO V I D v i r u s c r e a t i o n , a n d
t h e V C s h e l p e d t h e i r D r a g o n K i n g d o m h o s t s t o h i d e t h e d o c u m e n t s i n a C u C h i t u n n e l . To m
a n d I d i s c o v e r e d t h e l o c a t i o n w h e r e t h e d o c u m e n t s w e r e b u r i e d , a n d w e d r e w a m a p t o g e t h e r.
We m a d e t w o i d e n t i c a l w e d g e s a n d h i d h a l f o f t h e m a p i n e a c h w e d g e . We h i d t h e w e d g e s i n a
spot we thought hard to find, but they went missing.  
The Assassin jungle is plunged into darkness. I toss about in the net from the boredom,
p e e r i n g i n t o t h e d a r k n e s s , t r y i n g t o d e a l w i t h t h e u n k n o w n i n w h a t e v e r w a y I k n ow h o w, b u t
nothing is working. 
I d o z e o ff a n d w a k e u p m a n y t i m e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e n i g h t .  

Chapter 14 – I Jump Out of a Helicopter Fleeing

the VC
A t t h e b r e a k o f d a w n , f e e l i n g a b r e a t h o f c h i l l y w i n d o n m y f a c e , a n d i n m y s l e e p y s t u p o r,
I reach my hand out to grab the blanket to pull it over my head.  Feeling something strange
t o t h e t o u c h b r us h i n g a g a i n s t m y h a n d , a n d t r y i n g t o f i g u r e o u t w h e r e I a m , t h e n I r e a l i z e I ’ m
not in my bed, but in the net hanging on a fig tree in the Assassin Jungle. I flick my eyes
open and see my hand clutching the net cord, becoming wide awake.
All of a sudden I hear riot jeering coming from the direction of the rice paddy in the
jungle, and my eyes dart to the figures hurrying up out of the ground in a clearing, and I
r e c o g n i z e t h e m as V C s . T h e y r u s h t o t h e t r e e a n d s t a n d g a z i n g u p a t i t . T h e y g i b b e r i n
m o n o t o n e l i k e t h e y ’ r e r o b o t s . “ H e r e ’s t h e p e r s o n o f i n t e r e s t . ”
They must be mistaken. No one is interested in me.  
A VC girl winces, pulling her head down between her shoulders, her eyes blinking
n o n s t o p . S h e s a y s i n a c h o p p y v o i c e , “ T h e y ’ l l t a k e h e r t o t h e C h i l l i n g C h a m b e r, t o c h i l l h e r
u p j u s t a l i t t l e t o m a k e h e r t a l k . T h a t ’s w h a t t h e V C s d i d t o m e . ”
“ I d o n’t k n ow a n y t h i n g , ” I s a y.  
T h e V C L i e u t e n a n t C o m m a n d e r, w h o l e d t h e s e a r c h o f m y h o u s e i n t h e e a r l y h o u r s o f t h e
morning, in the hope of finding the POW/CIA documents, rushes to the tree. He wears truck
tire sandals, black khaki shorts, a bright green pajama top with a blue tie with slanting red
stripes, and a dark green cap with a red fabric star in the front. He looks at me and barks an
o r d e r, “ Ta k e t h e d e c o y t o t h e C u C h i t u n n e l s . ”
D e c o y ! H o w a m I a d e c o y ? D o e s i t m e a n t h a t t h e V C s w i l l us e m e t o l u r e m y d a d i n t o t h e i r
trap? If so, my dad has not fallen into the hands of the VCs?  
S u d d e n l y t h e P O W ’s h a m m o c k i s a d j u s t e d a n d h e h a n g s i n a n u p r i g h t p os i t i o n , h i s h a n d s -
free from being restricted by tethers.  
He pulls himself upward so that his face is at level with mine.  
 He slips the wedges into my hands, saying, “Keep them for me. In case I’ll still be alive,
I ’ l l g o l o o k f o r To m a n d y o u . ”
I slip the wedges into my pockets.  
H e l o o k s d o w n a t t h e g a w k e r s , b e a t i n g h i s c h e s t l i k e a g o r i l l a a n d y e l l i n g l i k e Ta r z a n .  
T h e V C l e a d e r s t a r e s a t t h e P O W. “ Ti e t h e l u n a t i c b a c k u p . ” H e g e s t u r e s w i t h h i s
o u t s t r e t c h e d a r m s f o r t h e o t h e r V Cs t o m o v e b a c k , a n d t h e n h e p o i n t s o n e h a n d t o w a r d m e
a n d f l i c k s i t d ow n w a r d .  
M y n e t d r o ps t o t h e g r o u n d a n d s t o p s j u s t a n i n c h a b o v e t h e g r o u n d .
The gawkers stare at me. “The girl in a net.”
“ P l e a s e l e t m e g o . I a l r e a d y p a i d t h e r a n s o m , ” I s a y.
T h e l e a d e r s m i l e s , a m e a n s m i l e c o m i n g f r o m t h e s l a n t e d - u p c o r n e r o f h i s m o u t h . “ Yo u
p a i d t h e r a n s o m , b u t t o t h e l e a d e r o f a d i ff e r e n t s e c t i o n o f t u n n e l s . N o w y o u p a y r a n s o m t o
me, or I’ll put you to work.”
“ C a n I w r i t e y o u a n IO U a n d y o u l e t m e g o ? ” I s a y.  
“ I d o n’t h a v e p a p e r a n d p e n r e a d y, ” t h e l e a d e r s a ys .
T h e V C s n u d g e m e t o w a r d a w a i t i n g h e l i c o p t e r, t a k i n g m e t o t h e C u C h i t u n n e l s . T h e a c r i d
s m e l l o f b u r n e d f u e l m a k e s m y e y e s w a t e r, t h e p l a n e ’s w h o o m p w h o o m p s o u n d d e a f e n s m y
e a r s , a n d t h e w i n d c r e a t e d b y t h e p l a n e ’s r o t a t i n g b l a d e s k e e p s b l o w i n g m e b a c k w a r d , s o I
h o l d m y h e a d s i d e w a y s a s I m o v e f o rw a r d .  
I t ’s a B l a c k H aw k h e l i c o p t e r. T h e V C s m u s t h a v e d ow n e d t h e p l a n e , c a p t u r e d t h e p i l o t a n d
t h e t r o o p s i n i t , a n d m a d e t h e m P O W s . T h e y m u s t h a v e p a i n t e d a b o l d r e d s t a r, o v e r l a y i n g t h e
painting of the Statue of Liberty on the side of the plane.  
I c r o u c h o n t h e f l o o r o f t h e p l a n e . A t t h e o p e n d o o r, t h e V Cs s t a n d g u a r d w i t h t h e i r
m a c h i n e g u ns p o i n t e d d o w n w a r d t o E a r t h . T h e p l u m e s o f w h i t e c l o u d , a g a i n s t t h e b a c k d r o p o f
t h e c l e a r b l u e s k y, f l o w a c r o s s t h e d o o r.  
W h e n t h e p l a n e f l i e s o v e r t h e C u C h i m o u n t a i n t o p , w h e r e I w as s u p p o s e d t o t r a i n H o a a n d
Ti n o n h ow t o m a r k s e a f o o d b a s k e t s f o r t h e s e a f o o d m e r c h a n t s , I s e e H o a a n d Ti n p a c i n g
around on the mountaintop. They look up and wave, and then turn away to look toward the
distance across the ocean.  
The plane hovers low over the American Airforce Base near the mountain. I spring to my
f e e t a n d b o l t t o w a r d t h e d o o r, m y f e e t h a r d l y t o u c h i n g t h e f l o o r. T h e g u a r d i n g V C s s w i n g
around, training their machine guns on me. As if an invisible hand lifts me, I find myself
ejecting out of the plane.  
When I fall out of the plane, the cold needles of wind sting my face and jab against my
b o d y. F l y o r d r o p . I c h o os e t o f l y. B u t w h e r e i s m y p a r a c h u t e ? I k e e p p r e s s i n g a t s p o t s a l l
o v e r m y b o d y, h o p i n g m a y b e I w i l l h i t t h e r i g h t s p o t , a n d a p a r a c h u t e w i l l s p r i n g u p a n d
bloom out full above me. 
I s c r e a m , “ A h h h ! D i r t y V Cs ! D i r t y V C s ! D i r t y V … Cs ! I w i l l t e l l o n y o u t h a t y o u k e e p t h e
POWs in the hammocks hanging on the trees in the Assassin Jungle.”  
My voice echoes so loudly that the people on the tarmac look up with their mouths wide
open.
I see the boats of the seafood merchants and drop myself into the ocean. I swim to a near
b o a t a n d c l i m b u p i t s s i d e f l a n k i n g , j u s t a s H o a a n d Ti n g e t i n t o t h e b o a t o n t h e o p p os i t e
side.

Chapter 15 - U.S. President Orders the Bombing

of the Assassin Jungle
It turns out I have dropped myself from the helicopter into the boat of my seafood boss. I
s a y, “ H i , B os s . L o n g t i m e n o s e e . W h y d o y o u a n d o t h e r m e r c h a n t s s a i l o u t t h i s f a r i n t o t h e
ocean, instead of waiting on the quay?”
M y b o s s s a y s , “ A c t u a l l y, w e ’ r e l e a v i n g . T h e f i s h i n g b o a t s a r e s t u c k i n a s t o r m o u t a t s e a ,
s o t h e y a r e n o t c o m i n g b a c k t o d a y. ”
“ Ye s , t h e y a r e . S e e ? ” H o a s a ys , p o i n t i n g t o w a r d t h e f i s h i n g b o a t s c o m i n g o v e r t h e c u r v i n g
surface of the ocean.
I point to the lead fishing boat made of black pearl. “Now we can swim to that boat.”
H o a a n d Ti n a n d I j u m p i n t o t h e w a t e r a n d s w i m t o t h e b o a t , a n d c l i m b i n t o i t . O n t h e
f l o o r, a l o u d s p e a k e r i s l y i n g b e s i d e a s p r e a d - o u t b l a c k f l a g p r i n t e d w i t h a w h i t e s k u l l a n d
c r o s s s w o r d s . H o a a n d Ti n a r e a l s o l o o k i n g a t t h e f l a g .
“ T h e r e ’ r e o n l y t w o b a s k e t s c o v e r e d w i t h s e a w e e d o n t h i s b o a t , ” H o a s a ys .  
“ L e t ’s m a r k t h e s e b as k e t s , ” I s a y.
 Ti n s h a k e s t h e b a s k e t s b y t h e h a n d l e s , a n d t h e s e a w e e d s l os h e s a r o u n d . I d i p m y h a n d a l l
the way to the bottom of each basket, and feel only seaweed.
I g r a b t h e l o u d s p e a k e r a n d s h o u t , “ L e t ’s g e t o ff t h i s p i r a t e b o a t . ”
I j u m p d o w n i n t o t h e w a t e r, f o l l o w e d b y H o a a n d Ti n . I h o l d t h e l o u d s p e a k e r a b o v e t h e
w a t e r w i t h o n e h a n d , a n d s w i m b a c k t o m y b o s s ’ b o a t w i t h t h e o t h e r. Ti n a n d H o a g e t o n t h e
boat, and then reach their hands down and pull me up.
“ G i v e us b a c k o u r l o u d s p e a k e r, ” a p i r a t e s a y s .
“ M a k e a p i r a t e s w i m o v e r a n d g e t i t , ” m y b o s s s a ys . T h e n s h e s t a n d s u p a n d s a ys i n t o t h e
l o u d s p e a k e r, “ A t t e n t i o n p l e a s e . T h e r e ’s a p i r a t e b o a t w i t h n u m b e r p l a t e 6 5 3 p a r k e d i n o u r
Delivery Express Lane.” 
T h e s u r r o u n d i n g b o a t s f i r e S O S r e d f l a r e s . T h e J o h n F. K e n n e d y A i r c r a f t C a r r i e r i s
s t a t i o n e d n e a r b y. I n f l a t a b l e l i f e r a f t s a r e f a l l i n g f r o m t h e a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r o n t o t h e w a t e r. T h e
l e a d i n g r a f t a n n o u n c e s o n l o u d s p e a k e r, “ We ’ r e c o m i n g u p t o t h e p i r a t e b o a t . ” T h e p i r a t e b o a t
s p e e d s a w a y.
I s p e a k i n t o t h e p i r a t e l o u d s p e a k e r, “ A t t e n t i o n a l l f i s h i n g b o a t s . We ’ r e o n b o a t n u m b e r
9 7 6 . We d o n ’t h a v e e n o u g h m a r k e r s t o m a r k a l l o f y o u r f i l l e d s e a f o o d b a s k e t s , b u t w e r e s e r v e
all the baskets you have.”
S e a f o o d m e r c h a n t s t r o t o v e r t o t h e q u a y, l o o k i n g h a p p y. M y m e r c h a n t b o s s s a y s , “ I t h o u g h t
I would have to go home empty-handed, but now I can go to markets with loaded seafood
baskets.”
M y b o s s a c t s a s a s e a f o o d b a s k e t s d i s t r i b u t o r, a n d p a y s Ti n , H o a , a n d m e a w a g e o f 5
dollars each.  
I s l a p m y f o r e h e a d . “ O h , H o a a n d Ti n , t h e V C s c a u g h t m e i n a f i s h n e t t r a p , a n d p u l l e d i t
into a fig tree in the Assassin Jungle. Hammocks carrying POWs were hanging on the tall
trees in the jungle. An American POW in a hammock in my tree told me that President
Tr u m a n h a d a u t h o r i z e d t h e b o m b i n g o f t h e A s s a s s i n J u n g l e . T h e b o m b i n g w o u l d b e s o o n . ”
H o a s a y s , “ L e t ’s q u i c k l y g o t o i n f o r m A m e r i c a n A m b a s s a d o r M a r t i n e B a i l e y w h o , i n t u r n ,
c a n i n f o r m P r e s i d e n t Tr u m a n a b o u t t h e A m e r i c a n P O W s b e i n g h e l d i n t h e h a m m o c k s h a n g i n g
on the trees in the Assassin Jungle.”  
O n o u r w a y t o t h e A m e r i c a n E m b a s s y, I s a y, “ O h , Ti n , I ’ m s o r r y t o t e l l y o u t h i s . T h e P O W
a l s o m e n t i o n e d L i e u t e n a n t G e n e r a l M e l v i n S t i l w e l l a n d t h e w o u n d e d s o l d i e r n a m e d To m , w h o
w a s b e i n g t e n d e d b y h i s c o m r a d e s i n t h e I r o n Tr i a n g l e F o r e s t . B u t t h e P O W ’s m i n d w a s n o t
w o r k i n g r i g h t b e c a u s e , a s h e s a i d , t h e V C s h a d p u t h i m i n t h e C h i l l i n g C h a m b e r, w h i c h
messed his mind up.”
“ R e a l l y ? D i d h e s a y w h e r e m y d a d m i g h t b e ? ” Ti n s a ys .
I s a y, “ N o , h e d i d n ’t . B u t h e d i d n ’t r e m e m b e r m a n y t h i n g s b e c a u s e h i s h e a d g o t m i x e d u p . ”
A t t h e A m e r i c a n E m b a s s y, M a r i n e S e c u r i t y G u a r d s a r e w a l k i n g a r o u n d t h e g r o u n d . I
b r i e f l y t e l l t h e m a b o u t t h e A m e r i c a n P O Ws i n t h e A s s a s s i n J u n g l e , a n d a s k t o s p e a k t o t h e
A m e r i c a n A m b a s s a d o r.  
 I tell Ambassador Martine Bailey that the American POWs are imprisoned in the hammocks
hanging on the trees in the Assassin Jungle. I also tell him that I was on a fig tree that served
as a hospital for the wounded American POWs. I ask him to help me talk directly with the
P r e s i d e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . H e d i a l s t h e W h i t e H o u s e n u m b e r 2 0 2 - 4 5 6 - 1111 , a n d a s ks t o
s p e a k w i t h P r es i d e n t Tr u m a n . A f t e r a w h i l e , h e h a n d s t h e p h o n e t o m e .
“ H i , P r e s i d e n t Tr u m a n , ” I s a y.  
“ Ye s , i t ’s m e . W h o a r e y o u ? ”
“ A n u n d e r c o v e r i n f o r m a n t , ” I s a y.
“What do you want to tell me?” he says.
I s a y, “ M a y d a y. S O S . P r e s i d e n t Tr u m a n , y o u r A m e r i c a n P O W s a r e i n t h e h a m m o c k s
h a n g i n g o n t h e t r e e s i n t h e A s s a s s i n J u n g l e , a t t h e a r e a f a c i n g t h e I r o n Tr i a n g l e F o r e s t .
P l e a s e d o n ’t b o m b t h e A s s a s s i n J u n g l e . M a y d a y. S O S . ”
P r e s i d e n t Tr u m a n s a y s , “ Yo u s e e m t o h a v e a n i n s i d e k n o w l e d g e o f o u r C I A c o v e r t
o p e r a t i o n s . Yo u a l s o c l e a r l y h a v e i n s i d e i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t a l l o w s y o u t o k n o w w h a t I w a n t t o
do. Hold on, let me check out your intelligence.”
H e g e t s b a c k o n t h e l i n e . “ Yo u g a v e m e f a l s e i n f o r m a t i o n . T h e r e a r e n o P O W s i n t h e a r e a
where you said they are. Commandos raided the jungle, but found only empty hammocks
h a n g i n g o n t h e t r e e s . N ow I c a n g o a h e a d a n d o r d e r t h e A s s a s s i n J u n g l e t o b e b o m b e d t o
s h r e d s , t o d e s t r o y t h e g r o u n d s f u r t h e r i n g V C s ’ g u e r i l l a a c t i v i t y. ”
“ E x c u s e m e , M r. P r e s i d e n t , y o u ’ r e c r a z y. ”
H e r a i s e s h i s v o i c e . “ I a m n o t c r a z y, b u t I ’ m a v e r y s t a b l e g e n i u s . A m b a s s a d o r M a r t i n e
Bailey has told me that you were held along with the American POWs in a tree hospital?”
I s a y, “ Ye s , I w a s i m p r i s o n e d i n a n e t h a n g i n g i n a f i g t r e e t h a t s e r v e d a s a h o s p i t a l f o r t h e
w o u n d e d A m e r i c a n P O W s . T h e V C s t o o k m e off t h e t r e e t o t a k e m e t o t h e C u C h i t u n n e l s .
W h i l e t h e y w e r e t r a n s p o r t i n g m e t o t h e t u n n e l s i n a c o n f i s c a t e d A m e r i c a n h e l i c o p t e r, I
escaped by jumping out of the helicopter and into the ocean. I’ll try to get more information
about the POWs’ whereabouts, and will call you back.”
P r e s i d e n t Tr u m a n s o u n d s a l i t t l e a n n o y e d , “ Yo u s o u n d v e r y y o u n g a n d i n e x p e r i e n c e d . H o w
old are you?”
I f I t e l l h i m m y a g e , h e w o n ’t t a k e m e s e r i o u s l y. “ T h i s i s a m a t t e r o f s p y s e c r e t . ”
“Are you a double-agent spy?” He says.
“ N o , I ’ m a s p y f o r t h e A m e r i c a n P O W s , ” I s a y.
He says, “OK, next time you must have valid information, or stop wasting my time.”   
I s a y, “ T h a n k y o u , M r. P r e s i d e n t . I ’ l l g a t h e r a c c u r a t e i n f o r m a t i o n , a n d p a s s i t o n t o y o u
when I get it.”
“I have a President's Busy Schedule, so you must have all your information accurate in our
next conversation.”
I d o n ’t h a v e t o c a l l P r e s i d e n t Tr u m a n b a c k . T h e P O W s a r e n o l o n g e r o n t h e t r e e s i n t h e
A s s a s s i n J u n g l e , a n d I d o n ’t k n o w w h e r e t h e y a r e .
 A s I g e t i n t o m y h o u s e , I h e a r M o m ’s s a n d a l s c l a c k i n g o n t h e f l o o r. “ M o m , I ’ v e c o m e
home.”
She comes in from the backyard and embraces me, crying. “Are you OK?”
“I'm OK. See, Mom?” I open my arms wide and turn my body around and around to show
Mom I’m unhurt.
After holding me for a while, Mom releases me. “Flee from the VCs by any means.”

Chapter 16 – Our Life in the Demilitarized Zone

(DMZ)
M o m a n d I l i v e i n t h e D e m i l i t a r i z e d Z o n e (D M Z ) s i t u a t e d i n S a i g o n . H o a ’s f a m i l y a l s o
lives in the zone. Their house is in the middle-class section, and our house sits between a
mansion and a high wall. 
Most inhabitants of the DMZ work hard to make a living. Our neighbors often gather at the
neighborhood communal area near the mimosa tree, and make mundane conversations that
b o r e y o u t o d e a t h , s o b o r i n g t h a t i t m a k e s y o u p r e t e n d t o h a v e a n u rg e n t b u s i n e s s , a n d
p o l i t e l y r u s h off t o a v o i d p a r t i c i p a t i o n .  
Coming back from school, I try to make my way through my lively neighbors' gathering in
front of my house.  
M r s . Ti n y p u t s o u t h e r h a n d t o s t o p m e , s a y i n g . “ I c a u g h t f i v e t u r t l e s t o d a y f r o m s h a l l o w
w a t e r a t t h e b a y. Tu r t l e m e a t g i v e s y o u a l o n g l i f e . ”
I p u s h m y w a y t h r o u g h t h e c r o w d t o g e t t o m y h o us e , s a y i n g , “ I h a v e a l o n g l i f e a h e a d o f
m e , s o I d o n’t n e e d t o e a t t u r t l e . O K , m a y b e s i x t y y e a r s f r o m n ow. B u t t h a n k y o u a n y w a y. ”  
M i s s L o a n h o l d s a t r a y p i l e d h i g h w i t h r o a s t e d l o c u s t s o u t t o m e , s a y i n g , “ H i , M a i . Tr y
s o m e r o as t e d l o c u s t s . T h e y h a v e n u t t y, b u t t e r y t a s t e o f a v o c a d o , h a z e l n u t , a n d c h o c o l a t e .
T h e y a r e h i g h i n p r o t e i n a n d l o w i n f a t a n d c o n t a i n n u t r i e n t s t h a t g i v e y o u e n e rg y a n d m a k e
y o u r h a i r s h i n y. Yo u c a n ' t g o u n t i l y o u ’ v e e a t e n a t l e a s t o n e o f t h e s e . ”  
I stare at the locusts. They have a slick body with powdery wings, hairy legs, beady
eyeballs, and antennas extending above the head of the insect. I’m hard-pressed to lower one
into my mouth by an antenna, keeping my eyes closed. I chew the locust one time and hold it
in my mouth. 
“ I t ’s s o g o o d , i s n’t i t ? Yo u c a n e a t a n o t h e r o n e f o r s u r e ! ” S h e s a y s .
“ N o m o r e , t h a n k y o u , ” I s a y, d u c k i n g u n d e r h e r t r a y a n d r u n n i n g i n t o m y h o u s e . I s p i t t h e
locust into the kitchen sink.
My neighbors scour the land for the furniture or TVs they need. I’m not interested in
spending time looking for discarded items. But I’ve heard that some people have made
i n t e r e s t i n g f i n d s w h i l e s c o u r i n g t h e l a n d .   S o I as k H o a t o g o s c o u r i n g t h e l a n d w i t h m e , t o
see what interesting things we can find.  
 A s w e s c o u r t h e w o o ds i n t h e D M Z , I f i n d a r u m p l e d a r m y p a r a c h u t e s t i ff w i t h d i r t . I s o a k
t h e p a r a c h u t e i n a s t r e a m , s p r e a d i n g i t o u t i n t h e w a t e r, a n d s c r u b i t c l e a n o f d i r t w i t h a r o c k .
I w r a p t h e w as h e d p a r a c h u t e o v e r a h o r i z o n t a l t r e e b r a n c h t o d r y.  
H o a s a y s , “ L o o k a t w h a t I f o u n d . A n a r m y c o m b a t h e l m e t , w i t h a P O W a n d M I A D o g Ta g
with a chain, tucked inside the helmet. Do you want to keep them, Mai?”
I s a y, “ Wo w, a P O W a n d M I A D o g Ta g w i t h t h e w o r d s ‘N e v e r F org o t t e n ’ e n g r a v e d o n i t .
I ’ l l t u r n i t o v e r t o t h e A m e r i c a n A m b a s s a d o r. ”  
A t h o m e , I f o l d t h e d r i e d p a r a c h u t e i n h a l f a n d s ew i t t o m a k e i t i n t o a b i g b a g . T h e n I
s t u ff r e m n a n t f a b r i c p i e c e s i n t o i t a n d s e w t h e s e a m o p e n i n g c l o s e d , t o m a k e a m a t t r e s s . I l a y
t h e n e w m a t t r e s s d i r e c t l y o n t o p o f m y f l i m s y o n e , a n d m y b e d i s b o u n c y.
T h e p o w e r i n t h e D M Z i s s h u t o ff a t 9 p . m . To n i g h t i s t h e “ F o o d N i g h t f o r t h e D e a d , ” a
c e r e m o n y w h e n p e o p l e o ff e r f o o d t o t h e i r d e a r d e p a r t e d f a m i l y m e m b e r s o r r e l a t i v e s .  
 My neighborhood kids hang out at the ceremony sites where the foods are placed, to steal
a n d e a t . I w o u l d n e v e r e a t g h os t - i n f e s t e d f o o ds b e c a u s e g h o s t s a r e a l l a i r, a n d I d o n ’t w a n t
a i r t o w a f t u p a n d d ow n m y s t o m a c h .
O n t h i s s p e c i a l e v e n t “ F o o d N i g h t f o r t h e D e a d ” t o n i g h t , I s t a y i n a n d r e a d . I d o n ’t w a n t t o
u s e t h e b a b y S u ns f o r r e a d i n g l i g h t , b e c a u s e m y l o i t e r i n g n e i g h b o r h o o d k i d s w o u l d w a n t t o
f i n d o u t w h e r e t o g e t t h e g l o w i n g r o c k s a n d f o l l o w m e t o m y b a t h i n g h a u n t . I d e c i d e t o us e
the light from fireflies. 
I c a t c h f i r e f l i e s a n d p u t t h e m i n a g l a s s j a r, w h i c h h as a l i d w i t h n a i l - p u n c h e d h o l e s i n i t .
When I hear a firefly ticking and see its light flashing among grass blades, I cup my hand
o v e r t h e f i r e f l y, a n d t h e n r e a c h t h e t h u m b a n d f o r e f i n g e r o f m y o t h e r h a n d t h r o u g h t h e
c u p p e d h a n d , a n d g e n t l y p i n c h t h e t a i l o f t h e f i r e f l y. I p u t t h e f i r e f l i e s i n t h e j a r, t h r o w i n g i n
some green grass blades for them to munch on.
I t ’s e e r i e t o r e a d g h os t s t o r i e s w i t h t h e f l i c k e r i n g l i g h t f r o m t h e f i r e f l i e s . T h e r e ’s a n
a b a n d o n e d h a u n t e d h o u s e i n t h e w o o d s b e h i n d o u r h o us e . A s I r e a d , I h e a r t h e g h o s t s ’ p a n i c
moaning running from the haunted house to the ground under my bed.
On this humid night, Mom and I like to watch the bright stars from our backyard. I stop
reading and sweep the floor of the backyard clean so that we can lie down on it to watch the
stars.
On the other side of the high wall, a pool shaded by mangosteen fruit trees is a breeding
g r o u n d f o r m o s q u i t o e s . T h e y l a y e g g s t h a t h a t c h i n t o l a r v a e , w h i c h g r ow t o b e c o m e
m o s q u i t o e s . I c r u s h l e m o n l e a v e s a n d f r u i t s t o g e t h e r a n d m a k e a n e ff e c t i v e n a t u r a l m o s q u i t o
repellent. 
M o m a n d I r u b t h e r e p e l l e n t o n e a c h o t h e r. S m e l l i n g l i k e l e m o n t r e e s , w e l i e d o w n o n t h e
f l o o r a n d w a t c h t h e b r i g h t s t a r s i n t h e d a r k s k y.  
G a z i n g a t t h e g l o w i n g s t a r s , I a s s o c i a t e w h i c h s t a r I w as b o r n u n d e r, w h i c h s t a r f o r D a d ,
a n d w h i c h f o r M o m . W h e t h e r m y s t a r i s l u c k y o r u n l u c k y, I c a n n o t d e c i d e . I c o ns i d e r m a y b e
i t i s l u c k y b e c a u s e M o m a n d I l i v e t o g e t h e r.
 “ M o m , t e l l m e m o r e a b o u t G r a n d m a a n d G r a n d p a , ” I s a y.
M o m s a y s i n a c h o k i n g v o i c e , “ G r a n d m a a n d G r a n d p a w e r e m e r c h a n t s . G r a n d m a w as f o n d
o f d i a m o n d s a n d h a d m a n y o f t h e m , s o m e a s l a rg e a s f i v e c a r a t s . T h e y o w n e d a m e r c h a n t s h i p
sailing in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. On each trading run, the ship carried imported
gourmet foods and liquors.
“South Korean Army and American Army units frequently carried out joint training
e x e r c i s e s a l o n g t h e u s u a l s a i l i n g c o u r s e o f G r a n d p a ’s s h i p . T h e N o r t h K o r e a n A r m y h a d b e e n
threatening to fire bombs on them.  
“ G r a n d p a ’s s a i l o r s w o r r i e d t h a t h i s s h i p c o u l d n o t w i t h s t a n d N o r t h K o r e a ’s b o m b i n g . B u t
G r a n d p a a s s u r e d t h e m t h a t h i s s h i p c o u l d b e a t t h e s ys t e m b e c a u s e i t w as b o m b - p r o o f e d w i t h
sturdy materials made in the USA.”
“ O h , n o ! G r a n d p a w a s t o o o p t i m i s t i c , ” I s a y.
Mom says, “When the ship moved across the sea channels of the North Korean Peninsula, a
sea mine exploded. Grandpa and his men went down with the ship into the ocean.”
I sob. “Then what happened to Grandma?”
Mom says, “On the day the bad news came, Grandma said to me, ‘Thu, the VCs will come
a n d s t e a l o u r p r o p e r t y. I h a v e a n i d e a t o h i d e o u r p r o p e r t y t i t l e a n d m y j e w e l r y i n s i d e
camouflaged rocks.’
“ H o w c o m e t h e V Cs h a d s o m u c h c o n t r o l o f t h e d i s t r i c t w h e r e m y g r a n d p a r e n t s a n d y o u
l i v e d ? ” I s a y.
Mom says, “My parents and I lived in the Ben Suc village, near the DMZ. The VCs
l a u n c h e d a m a j o r s u r p r i s e a t t a c k o n t h e A m e r i c a n a n d Vi e t n a m e s e s o l d i e r s m a i n t a i n i n g a n
o u t p o s t i n B e n S u c , o n a d a y t h a t t h e V Cs c a l l e d f o r a c e a s e - f i r e , c a u s i n g t h e A m e r i c a n a n d
Vi e t n a m e s e s o l d i e r s t o f l e e t o t h e D M Z .  
“The VCs had kidnapped the village chief of Ben Suc, set up a full governing apparatus of
their own in Ben Suc, and turned it into a strategic village for the VCs. In the first months
a f t e r t a k i n g o v e r B e n S u c , t h e V Cs c a l l e d s e v e r a l v i l l a g e - w i d e m e e t i n g s . E v e r y v i l l a g e ' s
inhabitants were ordered to attend all the meetings.
“ I n t h e m e e t i n g s , t h e V C s l e a d e r s us u a l l y o p e n e d w i t h g l o w i n g p r a i s e f o r t h e g o o d j o b t h e
V C s d i d d e f e a t t h e A m e r i c a n s a n d Vi e t n a m e s e s o l d i e r s , e m p h a s i z i n g , i n p a r t i c u l a r, t h e
disabling of tanks and the downing of helicopters. Then the VCs leaders followed up their
praise with impassioned speeches calling on the village people to work together with the VCs
in order to totally regain freedom from the Americans.”
I s a y, “ S o h o w w e r e t h e r o c k s c a m o u f l a g e d t o h i d e t h e p r o p e r t y t i t l e a n d t h e j e w e l r y ? ”
M o m s a y s , “ We c o l l e c t e d r o c k s i n t h e s w a m p y c r e e k o n o u r l a n d . I h o l l o w e d o u t t h e r o c k s ,
and Grandma put the jewelry and property title inside the rocks. She coated the rocks with a
s l i m y - l o o k i n g , b r ow n - g r e e n p a i n t , t o m a k e t h e m l o o k r u s t e d a n d m o s s y. We b u r i e d t h e s t u ff e d
rocks among the protruding rotten roots of a bare tree at the edge of the creek.”
I s a y, “ S o t h e V C s h a v e b e e n s t a y i n g i n y o u r m a n s i o n w i t h o u t g e t t i n g t h e p r o p e r t y t i t l e ? ”
 M o m s a y s , “ T h r e e d a y s a f t e r w e h a d h i d d e n t h e p r o p e r t y t i t l e a n d t h e j e w e l r y, T h e V C s
c a m e . I w a s o u t s i d e t h e h o u s e a n d h e a r d a v o i c e s a y, ‘ Yo u m u s t h a n d o v e r e v e r y t h i n g y o u
o w n t o o u r V C o rg a n i z a t i o n . W h e r e ’s y o u r p r o p e r t y t i t l e ? ’
“ G r a n d m a s a i d t o t h e m , ‘ I d o n’t k n ow w h e r e m y h u s b a n d p u t i t . ’
“ T h e n A V C s a i d , ‘ Ta k e h e r a w a y f o r i n t e r r o g a t i o n . ’ ”
I s a y, “ O h , p o o r G r a n d m a . W h e r e w e r e y o u w h e n t h e V Cs w e r e q u e s t i o n i n g G r a n d m a ? ”
M o m s a y s , “ I w a s o u t a t o u r b a c k y a r d f e n c e , c h a t t i n g t o a n e i g h b o r b o y. I w a n t e d t o c o m e
to Grandma, but the boy held me back and said the VCs would take me away too if I came in
t h e h o u s e . T h e n e x t d a y, m o r e b a d n e w s c a m e f r o m t h e V C s t h a t G r a n d m a h a d d r o w n e d w h i l e
swimming across a canal to escape.”
I s n i ff , b r u s h i n g t e a r s off m y e y e s , s a y i n g , “ V C s s t o p t a k i n g m y f a m i l y a w a y f r o m m e ,
a l r e a d y t h e f i r s t g r a n d p a t h e n g r a n d m a , t h e n n e x t m y … ”   I t r a i l o ff , n o t w a n t i n g t o i m a g i n e
what might happen next. “But then the VCs might be lying. Grandma might not have
drowned.”
M o m s n i ff s . “ W h o k n o w s ? T h e V Cs w o u l d d o a n y t h i n g . ”
“ H o w o l d w e r e y o u w h e n t h i s h a p p e n e d ? ” I s a y.
“I was eighteen.”  
I s a y, “ T h e V C s m i s s e d t h e h i d d e n t r e a s u r e . G r a n d m a ’s j e w e l r y w as w o r t h a l o t o f m o n e y.
W h y d i d n ’t y o u u s e t h e j e w e l r y t o b u y a b i g m o d e r n h o u s e ? ”
M o m s a y s , “ T h e V C s w a l k e d a r o u n d e a c h r o o m i n t h e h o us e w i t h m e t a l d e t e c t o r s , t o s e a r c h
for gold. They made me stay in the same room where they were searching, giving me almost
n o f o o d o r d r i n k f o r t h e e n t i r e t i m e . T h r e e V Cs s t o o d w a t c h i n g m y e y e s f o r m y r e a c t i o n s
each time a detector beeped.”
“ A n d a f t e r t h a t , t h e y c o n f i s c a t e d t h e p r o p e r t y ? ” I s a y.
“The VCs have been staying in the mansion since then.”  
“ W h e r e d i d y o u g e t t h e m o n e y t o b u y t h i s h o u s e ? ” I s a y.
“ I us e d t h e c a s h t h a t m y G r a n d p a r e n t s l e f t i n t h e b a n k . ”  
“ M o m , w h y d o y o u l i k e t o e a t t a m a r i n d s s o m u c h ? ” I s a y.
Mom says, “Although they are only elongated pods with a woody shell, they contain edible
b r o w n p u l p t h a t t a s t e s s w e e t a n d s o u r, a n d i s f u l l o f v i t a m i n C a n d a n t i o x i d a n t s . B e s i d e s ,
they remind me of your dad.”
M o m i s b e a u t i f u l a n d t h e b e s t a t c r a f t s . S h e i s a l s o a b i t f r a g i l e a n d a bs e n t - m i n d e d , a n d I
think it is because Dad is not here.
“How did you meet Dad?”
M o m s a y s , “ T h e A m e r i c a n E m b a s s y i n S a i g o n w a s h os t i n g a S p r i n g F l i n g p a r t y. I w a s
walking on the beautiful cobblestone walkway in front of the embassy and stopped when I
s a w p l u m p t a m a r i n d p o d s s w a y i n g o n t h e t r e e b y t h e e m b a s s y ’s f e n c e .
“ A v o i c e s a i d , ‘D o y o u w a n t m e t o p i c k s o m e t a m a r i n d s f o r y o u ? ’
“ I t u r n e d a r o u n d . A g a l l a n t A m e r i c a n A r m y O ff i c e r s t o o d l e a n i n g a g a i n s t h i s j e e p , l o o k i n g
handsome in the soft sunlight. I nodded.”
I s a y, “ S o y o u g o t m a r r i e d t o h i m j u s t b e c a u s e h e p i c k e d t a m a r i n d s f o r y o u . ( J us t k i d d i n g ! )
And how did Dad go missing?”
Mom says, “He often went on missions, and always came back. But he disappeared under
suspicious circumstances when you were only a month old.”
Now I’m sixteen. I’m desperate to know what Dad looked like and sounded like.
S o m e t i m e s I as k M o m t o d r a w a p i c t u r e o f h i m . I l i k e t o l i e o n m y s t o m a c h , w i t h m y l e g s
bent up at the knee, and draw Dad. I think I can remember Dad a bit, but I may be confusing
m y d r e a m s w i t h r e a l m e m o r i e s . P e o p l e s a y y o u c a n ’t r e m e m b e r t h i n g s w h e n y o u ’ r e t h a t l i t t l e .
I a l w a y s t h i n k a b o u t t h e t r a g e d y t h a t b e f e l l m y g r a n d p a r e n t s . I w o n d e r h o w d i ff e r e n t o u r
l i v e s m i g h t h a v e b e e n i f m y g r a n d p a r e n t s w e r e s t i l l a l i v e . I c a n ’t h e l p b u t i m a g i n e a l l t h o s e
r i c h e s d i s p e r s e d i n t h e w a t e r, w e a l t h e v a p o r a t e d i n a n i n s t a n t , a n d M o m b e i n g t h r o w n i n t o
rough circumstances. I work hard to help Mom out.  
Ly i n g o n t h e h a r d f l o o r, I t h i n k o f m o n e y - m a k i n g i d e a s i n d i s j o i n t e d s e q u e n c e , a n d w h a t
m o n e y c a n b u y. I f a l l a s l e e p b e f o r e g e t t i n g t o m y h o m e w o r k .

Chapter 17 – An American Marine Working

behind Enemy Lines
A t a c r e e k , t h e w a t e r g u rg l e s a s i f s o m e o n e i s w a d i n g i n i t . H o a , Ti n , a n d I f o l l o w t h e
g u rg l i n g s o u n d t o a c u l v e r t o n t h e o p p os i t e s i d e o f t h e c r e e k . We s i t d o w n o n a l o w p i l e o f
s m o o t h r o c k s a l o n g t h e c r e e k ’s e d g e . T h e S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e i s n e a r b y.
More bubbles come to the water surface, tall grass stirring and then having been parted,
t h e n a f a c e w i t h g l i n t i n g e y e s p o ps t h r o u g h t h e o p e n i n g i n t h e p a r t e d g r a s s . T h e f a c e i s
camouflaged with each eye underlined with a thick black stroke, and with curving green
s t r i p e s a l l o v e r t h e f a c e . We r u n a w a y.  
A f t e r r u n n i n g a f e w p a c e s , I s a y, “ S t o p ! T h e f a c e l o o k s f a m i l i a r, a n d I w a n t t o f i n d o u t
a b o u t s o m e t h i n g . I w as t r a p p e d i n f i s h n e t a n d p u l l e d u p i n t o a f i g t r e e i n t h e A s s a s s i n J u n g l e .
A P O W w as l y i n g i n a h a m m o c k h a n g i n g o n t h e t r e e , r e s t r a i n e d b y h a n d a n d l e g c u ff s . H e
t a l k e d t o m e t h e w h o l e t i m e . T h e f a c e c o m i n g t h r o u g h t h e g r a s s l o o k s l i k e t h e P O W ’s f a c e . ”
A s w e t u r n a r o u n d t o g o b a c k , s h o u t i n g v o i c e s r i s e f r o m t h e w o o ds , a n d t h e f a c e s i n k s
b a c k i n t o t h e w a t e r. We d a s h t o w a r ds t h e S k ys c r a p e r Tr e e , s n a t c h a t t h e l o w - h a n g i n g
branches and swing up them, and crash into the tree. The birds cease their chatters, monkeys
rush about, snarling and waving their front paws at us, and dogs ferociously bark from the
woods.
Hoa says, “I hope the noises from the animals and birds will not attract attention.”
T h e n o i s e s q u i e t d ow n i n a f e w m o m e n t s . We s i t o n t h e b r a n c h e s a n d w a t c h f o r t h e f a c e t o
r e a p p e a r.  
T h e f a c e r e e m e rg e s f r o m t h e r e e d s a t a d i ff e r e n t a r e a i n t h e c r e e k . I s a y, “ H e r e i t c o m e s
again.”
A n a r m y m a n s t a n d s u p i n t h e w a t e r. H e m a k e s a s m a l l m o v e m e n t a n d l o o k s t o w a r d t h e
S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e .
S a v a g e r o a r s c o m e f r o m t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e c e m e t e r y, a n d g u e r r i l l a s w e a r i n g t r u c k t i r e
sandals rush forward.  
T h e a r m y m a n t u r n s h i s h e a d t o l o o k i n d i ff e r e n t d i r e c t i o n s , a n d b o l t s a w a y i n t h e
d i r e c t i o n o f t h e A m e r i c a n E m b a s s y, i d e n t i f i e d b y t h e A m e r i c a n f l a g b i l l o w i n g o n t h e
flagpole. 
R e d t r a c e r b u l l e t s f l y i n g i n o n e s i n g l e l i n e t r a i l i n g h i m , h e r u ns t o t h e s t o o p a n d f l i n g s
h i m s e l f i n t o t h e G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r. B u l l e t s s t r i k e a t t h e w a t e r a r o u n d h i m a s h e s w i m s , a n d
t h e y p a s s c l o s e a b o v e h i s h e a d e a c h t i m e i t c o m e s o u t o f t h e w a t e r.
Hoa says, “Oh my God, do they have to use so many bullets on one man? Dirty VCs.”
“ T h e V C s a r e s u r e l y d i r t y, ” Ti n s a y s .
The man mostly keeps his head in the water as he swims, bubbles coming out of a hollow
g r a s s s t e m t h a t c o m e s s t r a i g h t u p f r o m h i s h e a d . T h e V Cs r u n a l o n g t h e r i v e r b a n k , s h o o t i n g
i n t o t h e w a t e r.
L o n g s t r e a k s o f b l o o d e x p a n d i n t h e w a t e r, t u r n i n g i t r e d , a n d t h e m a n s i n k s o u t o f s i g h t ,
v a n i s h i n g i n t h e w a t e r. W h e n h e c o m e s d i r e c t l y u n d e r t h e S k ys c r a p e r Tr e e , h e t u r n s h i s h e a d
s i d e w a y s a n d l o o k s u p a t t h e t r e e . We w a v e t o h i m , b u t h e d o e s n ’t w a v e b a c k .
T h e V C s t r o t a l o n g t h e r i v e r b a n k , l o o k i n g a t t h e r e d w a t e r. T h e l e a d e r s a y s , “ C e a s e
s h o o t i n g a n d r e t r e a t . We c a n ’t s e e h i m s h o o t h i m d e a d . ”
They turn around, swinging their rifles over their shoulders, and march away along the
r i v e r b a n k , s t i l l l o o k i n g a t t h e w a t e r.  
We s l i p d ow n t h e t r e e a n d g o i n s e a r c h o f t h e e s c a p i n g m a n .
A h e a d b o b b i n g u p a n d d o w n i n t h e w a v e s , I s a y, “ T h a t m a y b e h i m . ”
We j u m p i n t o t h e r i v e r a n d s w i m o u t t o h i m , b u t h e i s d e a d , f l o a t i n g f a c e d o w n .  
I move over and touch him, and detect light twitching in his arm. I poke him at his armpit
a n d f e e l h i m s t i ff e n u p . I s a y, “H e i s s t i l l a l i v e . Tu r n h i m o v e r o n h i s b a c k a n d s h o v e h i m t o
shore.”
We t u r n h i m o v e r. A s I t i l t h i s h e a d a b o v e t h e w a t e r t o k e e p h i m f r o m c h o k i n g , h e o p e n s
h i s e y e s a n d s t a r e s i n m y f a c e . “ Yo u a g a i n . A n d w h a t a r e y o u k i d s d o i n g a r o u n d h e r e ? ”
“ Tr y i n g t o f i n d y o u , ” Ti n s a y s .
“ A r e y o u r e a l l y O K , w i t h s o m u c h b l o o d l o s s ? ” I s a y.
H e s a y s , “ I r e l e a s e d r e d d y e i n t h e w a t e r s o t h a t t h e V Cs c o u l d n o t s e e w h e r e I w a s . ”
I s a y, “ Yo u w e r e u n h a r m e d , s o w h y d i d y o u l i e f a c e - d ow n i n t h e w a t e r ? ”
“ I t h o u g h t t h e V C s w e r e c o m i n g f o r m e , ” H e s a ys , t u r n i n g t o l o o k a t m e . “ I t r i e d t o p l a y
d e a d , b u t c o u l d n ’t b e c a u s e y o u t i c k l e d m e . ”  
 Then he says, “Thank you kids for saving my life by turning me over on my back.”
Ti n s a ys , “ We d i d n ’t s a v e y o u r l i f e . Yo u w e r e i n n o d a n g e r o f d y i n g o r d r ow n i n g . ”
T h e a r m y m a n s a y s , “ Yo u t u r n e d m e o v e r, a n d t h a t p r e v e n t e d m e f r o m b e i n g c h o k e d t o
d e a t h i f I s t a y e d l o n g e r i n t h e w a t e r. ”
“ Yo u a r e f u l l o f i t , ” H o a s a y s .
“ Te l l u s w h a t y o u a r e d o i n g h e r e , ” I s a y.
“ I t ’s s e c r e t , ” h e s a y s .
Ti n s a ys , “ I t h i n k y o u a r e a M a r i n e a n d y o u s p y b e h i n d t h e e n e m y l i n e s . Yo u t r y t o d e t e c t
the positions of the VCs, their bases, and their infiltration routes, so the Marine Corps can
block them up.”
The army man says nothing, just smiling.
I s a y, “ W h a t w i t h a l l t h e b u l l e t s w h i z z i n g a r o u n d y o u , y o u w o u l d n ’t s w i m a r o u n d h e r e
again to save your life, would you?”
The army man says, “I’ll think about that. He points to a wall that has the same make as
t h e h i g h w a l l a t t h e s i d e o f m y h o us e . “ I t ’s d a n g e r o u s a r o u n d h e r e n o w. Yo u k i d s s h o u l d g e t
out of here by climbing up the trees and get over that wall.”  
We g e t d ow n t o t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e w a l l , c r a w l t h r o u g h a b a r b e d w i r e f e n c e , a n d p l o p
d o w n o n t o a f i e l d o f d r y g r a s s . A t t h e s o u n d o f a n a i r p l a n e t a k i n g o ff , I l o o k a r o u n d a n d s e e
t h e s i g n o n t h e t o p o f a b u i l d i n g , “ Ta n S o n N h a t A i r p o r t . ”    
The American Army Base is next to the airport. Fighter airplanes and helicopters are
gathered on the ground. It looks like the Allied Marines are preparing for combat.
At the entrance gate of the American Air Force Base, an American Marine stands by his
jeep parked halfway on the sidewalk and halfway on the road. “Hi kids. Come over here for a
moment.”
We c r o s s t h e r o a d a n d c o m e o v e r t o h i m . I s t a r e a t h i s f a c e . “ Yo u ’ r e s t i l l a l i v e ! W h a t
happened to the other POWs in hammocks hanging on trees?”
“ I es c a p e d , ” t h e M a r i n e s a y s . “ B u t t h e o t h e r P O W s w e r e m o v e d s o m e w h e r e e l s e . ”  
I l o o k a t h i s c l e a n - s h a v e n f a c e , a n d Ti n a n d H o a a r e l o o k i n g , t o o .
T h e M a r i n e s m i l e s . “ D o n ’t y o u r e c o g n i z e m e ? I w a s a l s o t h e e s c a p i n g M a r i n e i n t h e r e d
w a t e r. ”  
S e e i n g h i m n ow m a k e s m e t h i n k o f m y d a d . “ E x c u s e m e , S i r. D o y o u k n o w o f a n A m e r i c a n
A r m y O ff i c e r w h o i s l o o k i n g f o r h i s d a u g h t e r ? ”
H e l o o k s a t m e , s h a k i n g h i s h e a d . T h e n h e p a t s m y h e a d , “ H ow o l d a r e y o u ? ”
“ I a m s i x t e e n y e a r s o l d , ” I s a y.  
H e s a y s , “ I h a v e a d a u g h t e r, a n d s h e i s l i v i n g w i t h h e r m o t h e r i n A m e r i c a . W h e n m y t o u r
o f d u t y i s o v e r, I ’ l l l e a v e t h e A r m y a n d g o b a c k h o m e t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . ” T h e n h e r a i s e s
his brows. “POWs in a cage! Immersed in the Mekong Delta River! He is there!”
“ W h o ’s h e ? D o y o u m e a n m y d a d ? ” I s a y.
But he only shakes his head.
 H o a s a y s , “ H e ’s g o i n g c r a z y. L e t ’s g e t o u t o f h e r e . ” S h e p u l l s Ti n a n d m e t o g o aw a y.
T h e M a r i n e p u t s o u t h i s h a n d t o s t o p u s . “ Wa i t , I h a v e s o m e t h i n g f o r y o u a l l . ”  
Ti n s a ys , “ Wa t c h o u t . H e m a y t r y t o d o s o m e t h i n g c r a z y. ”  
The Marine reaches into the back of the jeep, picks up cans of food, and drops them into a
bag. He hands the bag to me, saying, “This is for you all to share.”
I n t h e b a g , t h e r e a r e c a n s o f a r m y f o o d s : p i c k l e d h o t d o gs , h a m a n d c h e e s e , e g g a n d g r o u n d
p o r k , f r u i t c a k e , f r u i t c o c k t a i l , p e a n u t b u t t e r, a n d c h o c o l a t e .

Chapter 18 – I Didn’t Know I Had a Cousin

M o m a n d I w a l k i n t h e w o o d s b e h i n d o u r h o us e . A t t h e s i d e o f t h e r i v e r b e d w h e r e I c a t c h
c r a b s , a c o ff e e t r e e h e a v y w i t h b e r r i e s s t a n d s b e s i d e a n o a k t r e e .
M o m s a y s , “ I t w i l l b e n i c e t o h a v e a c u p o f f r es h l y g r o u n d c o ff e e , w i t h t h e a r o m a t i c b e a n s
from these berries.” 
I s a y, “ A n d b e t t e r y e t , I c a n m a k e c o ff e e w i t h t h e b e a n s f r o m t h e s e b e r r i e s , a n d s e l l t h e
c o ff e e . I w i l l as k t h e o l d w o m a n a t t h e f l e a m a r k e t t o l e t m e s e l l c o ff e e a t h e r s t a n d . ”
M o m s a y s , “ Wa i t h e r e , I ’ l l b e r i g h t b a c k . ”
S h e r u n s b a c k h o m e , a n d c o m e s b a c k h o l d i n g e m p t y r i c e s a c k s , s a y i n g , “ We ’ l l p u t t h e
c o ff e e b e r r i e s i n t h e s e b a g s . ”  
I t a k e t h e b a g s f r o m M o m ’s h a n d s , s a y i n g , “ M o m , y o u s t a y d ow n h e r e . I ’ l l c l i m b u p t h e
tree to pick the berries. Each time a bag is filled, I’ll drop it down to you.”
W h e n I g e t o n t h e c o ff e e t r e e , s q u i r r e l s a r e c h a s i n g o n e a n o t h e r o n t h e b r a n c h e s , c h a t t e r i n g
n o i s i l y. T h e y s c u r r y t o t h e h i g h e r b r a n c h e s , r a t t l i n g t h e l e a v e s . I p i c k t h e r i p e b e r r i e s a n d p u t
t h e m i n a b a g . W h e n i t ’s f u l l , I p u l l t h e s t r i n g s a n d t i e i t u p , a n d d r o p i t d ow n . T h e l o a d e d
bag breaks the leaves and twigs as it falls, and whips up a cloud of dirt when it lands on the
ground.
 Then I open the next bag, pick the berries and drop them into the bag.  
I have the last bag to fill. I peer at the higher branches to look for more ripe berries. A
squirrel sits on a branch thick with plump berries directly above my head. The berries sway
a s t h e s q u i r r e l p l u c k s t h e m w i t h i t s f r o n t p aw s , a n d e a t s t h e m e a t o f t h e b e r r i e s , d r o p p i n g t h e
c o ff e e b e a n s o n t h e g r o u n d .
I r e a c h m y h a n d u p t o t h e b e r r i e s . S c r a t c h , s c r a t c h . I s a y, “ We l l , r e a l l y ! A n g r y s q u i r r e l ! ”
Lucky for me, the squirrel scratches my sleeve, but not on my hand.
C l u s t e r s o f a c o r n s d a n g l i n g o n t h e o a k t r e e b e s i d e t h e c o ff e e t r e e , I y e l l , p o i n t i n g t o t h e
o a k t r e e , “ Yo u a r e o n t h e w r o n g t r e e , s q u i r r e l ! G o e a t t h e a c o r n s . ”  
The squirrel makes a high-pitched sound and chatters its teeth. Other squirrels come to
j o i n t h e a l e r t i n g s q u i r r e l , a n d t o g e t h e r t h e y m u n c h o n t h e b e r r i e s i n a d e f i a n t m a n n e r,
ignoring me.
I m u s t g e t r i d o f t h e s q u i r r e l s . I s t o m p o n m y b r a n c h t o s c a r e t h e m o ff , b u t t h e b r a n c h
s n a p s a n d h a n g s f r o m t h e b a r k t h a t h a s p e e l e d o ff t h e t r u n k b u t s t i l l c l i n g i n g t o t h e t r u n k . I
fling myself onto another branch, catching it with one hand. As I pull myself up on the next
b r a n c h , t h e b r o k e n b r a n c h b r e a k s o ff t h e t r e e a n d f a l l s t o t h e g r o u n d , s c a t t e r i n g t h e b e r r i e s .  
T h e s q u i r r e l s s c u t t l e t o t h e t i p s o f t h e b r a n c h e s o f t h e c o ff e e t r e e , f l i n g t h e m s e l v e s o n t o
the oak tree, and immediately gnaw away the shell of the acorns.
I f i l l e d t h e l a s t b a g , t i e t h e s t r i n g s , a n d d r o p t h e b a g d ow n . M o m p u t s a l l t h e c o ff e e b a g s
together at an almost hidden passage in a bush, at the side of the haunted house.  
A m o t h e r m o n k e y d a r t s o u t o f t h e b u s h a n d s t o p s i n f r o n t o f u s , i t s e y e s w a t c h i n g u s . I t ’s
h o l d i n g a b a b y m o n k e y i n i t s m o u t h , w i t h t h e b a b y ’s t a i l f l a p p i n g a t o n e s i d e o f t h e m o t h e r ’s
m o u t h , a n d t h e b a b y ’s t i n y h e a d p o k i n g o u t a t t h e o t h e r s i d e . T h e m o t h e r m o n k e y s p r i n t s t o
t h e h a u n t e d h o us e  
I start toward the passage. “Where does this passage go?”
“ B e l i e v e m e , y o u d o n’t w a n t t o k n o w. D o n ’t t e l l a n y o n e a b o u t i t e i t h e r, ” M o m s a y s .  
M o m ’s i P h o n e s t a r t s r i n g i n g , a n d s h e t a l k s o n t h e p h o n e . S h e t u r n s h e r p h o n e off , s a y i n g ,
“ M r s . L o a n i s i n u rg e n t n e e d o f a r o a s t p i g f o r h e r d a u g h t e r ’s w e d d i n g t o m o r r o w. S h e h a s
a s k e d m e t o m a k e a r o a s t p i g . We h a v e t o g o t o a p i g f a r m t o g e t a p i g . I ’ v e h i r e d M r s . Ta m
t o b u t c h e r t h e p i g . We ’ l l r o a s t i t t h i s e v e n i n g . ”
We t a k e a b u s t o t h e M e k o n g D e l t a a n d t h e n w a l k t o t h e f a r m k n o w n f o r s e l l i n g p i g s a t
g o o d p r i c e s . We p as s b y a f a r m e r s ’ m a r k e t , a n d i t ’s a t t h e e n d o f t h e m a r k e t d a y. T h e r e ’s a
pile of discarded vegetable trimmings and fish entrails on the ground, and a farmer wearing a
straw hat is shoveling the food waste onto his two-wheeled cart.
“ E x c u s e m e , S i r, w h a t d o y o u d o w i t h t h e f o o d w a s t e ? ” I s a y.  
“My wife turns food waste into slop for the pigs on our farm. Our pigs are for sale,” he
says.
“ W h a t ’s t h e n a m e o f y o u r f a r m ? ” I s a y.
He has filled up the cart, and starts pulling it away by the handlebars, saying, “Jungle
Vi e w F a r m . ”  
The farmer has left. As we stand looking around, a stout woman pushes a cart that carries a
j u t e b a g w i t h s o m e t h i n g w r i g g l i n g i n i t t o w a r d s u s . S h e s a y s , “Yo u c a n g e t t h i s p i g f o r
cheap.”  
I l o o k a t t h e f u r i o u s l y w r i g g l i n g b a g a n d i m a g i n e I w o u l d b e s u ff o c a t i n g i n i t .
“How much does the pig weigh?” Mom says.
“ I t w e i g h s 1 2 0 p o u n ds . I w a n t 3 0 d o l l a r s f o r i t . ” T h e w o m a n s a ys .
“ Wo w ! I t ’s a b o u t 2 5 c e n t s p e r p o u n d . Yo u s h o u l d b u y i t , M o m . ”
The woman smiles and points towards the foot of a nearby tree, saying, “I have one more
pig over there. If you want, you can get both pigs for $45.”
T h e b a g a t t h e t r e e d o e s n ’t w r i g g l e , b u t i t s h i v e r s .  
M o m p u l l s m e a s i d e , s a y i n g , “ M a i , s t a y h e r e w i t h t h e w o m a n s o t h a t s h e w o n’t l e a v e . I ’ l l
g o t o b o r r ow s o m e m o r e m o n e y f r o m A u n t B e b e , t o b u y b o t h p i g s , a n d i n c a s e w e r u n i n t o
m o r e g o o d d e a l s . B u t d o n ’t g o a w a y w i t h a n y o n e . R u n a w a y i f t h e r e ’s a p r o b l e m . ”
 I d o n ’t l i k e t h e l o o k o f t h e p i g k i c k i n g i n t h e b a g . I t w o u l d b e t e r r i b l e i f i t w e r e m e
fumbling inside of it. Maybe the pig is actually a kid. She may kidnap me, put me in a bag,
a n d s e l l m e o ff a t a n o t h e r m a r k e t . I d e c i d e t o s t a y a t a s a f e d i s t a n c e a n d b e r e a d y t o r u n a w a y
as soon as she starts to act weird.
I sidle away from her and move to the roadside to pick flowers, all the while keeping my
e y e o n h e r. B u t I m u s t t r y t o f i n d o u t w h e t h e r o r n o t a k i d i s a c t u a l l y i n s i d e t h e b a g . I c o m e
back to the cart, and prod the bag with my fingers, hoping whatever is in the bag will make
some sound, but it makes no sound. The woman is looking toward the road, and I put my face
c l o s e t o t h e b a g . W h a t e v e r i n t h e b a g k i c k s v i g o r o u s l y, a n d I r e c e i v e a k i c k i n t h e f a c e , r i g h t
a b o v e m y r i g h t e y e . Z i l l i o n s o f c o l o r f u l s t a rs s h o o t i n g o u t f r o m m y e y e i n t o s p a c e , I r e e l
back and rub my eye.  
T h e w o m a n p u t s o n e h a n d o n m y s h o u l d e r, p o i n t i n g h e r o t h e r h a n d t o t h e r o a d . “ O h , h e r e
she comes.”
I d o n ’t l o o k t o w h e r e s h e ’s p o i n t i n g . S h e m u s t b e t r y i n g t o g e t m e t o l o o k a w a y, a n d s n a t c h
me when I let my guard down. I squirm to break free of her hand and crawl away and spring
up as I catch some distance.  
I dash over to a group of women who are picking pawpaw fruits from the trees on public
land. They move their hands through the leaves and pluck the fruits, and put them in their
soiled fabric bags. As I come near them, they raise their eyes with a look that freaks me out.
I a m a f r a i d t h e s e p e o p l e a r e c o ns p i r i n g w i t h t h e p i g v e n d o r t o k i d n a p m e , s o I r u n a w a y.
They laugh out loud. Creepy!
I run without looking to see where I’m going. I stop when my head collides with
s o m e o n e ’s b o d y. I l o o k u p a n d s e e … “ M o m ! ! ! ” I w a i l .
Mom rubs my head, waving the money in my face. “Are you ready to help me make roast
pig tonight?”
I say nothing, just shaking my head. I feel bad for making us lose the opportunity to make
a good profit from the pigs.
Mom stoops and looks closely at my face. “Oh, you have a little bump above your right
eye. Are you OK? What happened? Is the woman still there?”
“ H e r p i g k i c k e d m e f r o m i n s i d e t h e b a g . L e t ’s g o b a c k t o s e e i f s h e ’s s t i l l a r o u n d , ” I s a y.
We h u r r y b a c k t o h e r, b u t s h e ’s g o n e .
M o m l o o k s u p s e t , h e r f a c e s t i ff e n e d u p , h e r l i p s p r e s s e d t i g h t t o g e t h e r, h e r m o u t h t u r n e d
d o w n a t t h e c o r n e r s . T h e n s h e o p e n s h e r m o u t h . B u t b e f o r e s h e s a y s a n y t h i n g , I p us h t h e
b u n c h o f f l o w e rs t o w a r d h e r, a n d s h e s m i l e s .
We s t o p a t f o o d s t a n d s , a r a r e t r e a t . M o m h a s a b ow l o f s t e a m i n g b e e f n o o d l e s o u p c a l l e d
Pho. I have a plate of steamed rice crepes wrapped around a filling of ground pork and
c h o p p e d m u s h r o o m s , g a r n i s h e d o n t o p w i t h b e a n s p r o u t s a n d c i n n a m o n b as i l . F o r
r e f r e s h m e n t , M o m g e t s Vi e t n a m e s e i c e d c o ff e e , a n d I g e t f r e s h c o c o n u t j u i c e p r e p a r e d b y
c h o p p i n g o ff t h e t o p o f a g r e e n c o c o n u t . I s u c k t h e r e f r e s h i n g j u i c e t h r o u g h a s t r a w,
f o rg e t t i n g a l l a b o u t s u c k l i n g p i g .
We ’ v e f i n i s h e d o u r l u n c h . M o m s a ys , “ I w a n t t o r e t u r n t h e m o n e y t o A u n t B e b e , a n d t h e n
w e ’ l l g o o n t o t h e J u n g l e Vi e w F a r m t o g e t a p i g . ”
A u n t B e b e l o o k s s u r p r i s e d u p o n s e e i n g u s . S h e s a ys , “ O h , T h u , y o u ’ v e c o m e b a c k h e r e
w i t h y o u r d a u g h t e r, m y n i e c e . A n d h i M a i , I h a v e n ’t s e e n y o u i n a l o n g t i m e . H o w y o u ’ v e
grown.” She embraces me.
M o m h o l d s o u t m o n e y, s a y i n g , “ A u n t B e b e , I w a n t t o r e t u r n b o r r ow e d m o n e y t o y o u . ”
Aunt Bebe straightens her posture and steps back. “Uh…Thu, why do you return the money
s o q u i c k l y ? D o n ’t y o u n e e d i t t o b u y t h e p i g s ? ”  
Standing with my head bowed and both my arms hanging at my sides, I turn to Aunt Bebe,
s a y i n g , “O h … A u n t B e b e , i t ’s m y f a u l t . M o m t o l d m e t o s t a y w i t h t h e p i g v e n d o r s o s h e
w o u l d n ’t l e a v e . B u t I w as a f r a i d s h e w o u l d k i d n a p m e , s o I r a n a w a y. ”
A u n t B e b e g i g g l e s , t a k i n g m y h a n d a n d g e n t l y p i n c h i n g m y c h e e k . “ W h e n I w as t h i r t e e n , I
w a s a l w a y s a f r a i d o f b e i n g k i d n a p p e d w h e n e v e r I w as l e f t a t h o m e a l o n e w h i l e M a m a w e n t t o
market.” 
She pulls out a ten-dollar bill from her shirt pocket and slides it into my hand. She turns
t o M o m , s m i l i n g . “ T h u , y o u c a n p a y m e b a c k l a t e r. O h , b y t h e w a y, d o y o u r e m e m b e r o u r
cousin Nina? She and her son have just moved from Da Nang and came here to live. Their
h o u s e i s o n l y t w o m i l e s a w a y. I f y o u a n d M a i w a n t t o g o v i s i t t h e m n o w, I ’ l l t a k e y o u t h e r e . ”
“ H o w o l d i s h e r s o n ? ” I s a y.
“ H e ’s s i x t e e n . H i s n a m e ’s N a m , ” A u n t B e b e s a y s .
I c a n ’t b e l i e v e t h i s . “ O h w o w ! I h a v e a c o u s i n . M o m , I w a n t t o v i s i t t h e m . ”
“ O h , y e s . L e t ’s g o n o w, ” M o m s a y s , l o o k i n g h a p p y.

Chapter 19 – a Secret Shortcut We Can Take to Make

It Quick to Get Home
Aunt Bebe skips into the street to hail a cyclo. The driver pedals his cyclo faster and stops
in front of us.
A u n t B e b e s a ys , “ P l e a s e d r i v e us t o M a r k e t S q u a r e f i r s t , a n d w a i t f o r us w h i l e w e s h o p . ”
A t t h e m a r k e t , I k e e p l o o k i n g a t t h e m a n n e q u i n s w e a r i n g g i r l c l o t h e s i n a s t o r e w i n d o w,
a n d M o m ’s a l s o l o o k i n g a t t h e w i n d ow. M o m p u l l s m y h a n d t o l e a d m e a w a y f r o m t h e s t o r e .
“ L e t ’s c o m e i n s i d e t h e s t o r e t o l o o k a r o u n d a b i t , ” A u n t B e b e s a ys .
A lady comes to the front of the store. “Hi, Bebe. Are you looking for any clothes in
particular?”
A u n t B e b e s m i l e s b r i g h t l y. “H i , S e n . H o w d o e s i t f e e l t o r u n y o u r o w n b us i n e s s ? M y n i e c e ,
M a i , a d m i r e s t h e c l o t h e s i n y o u r s t o r e w i n d o w, s o I t a k e h e r i n h e r e t o t a k e a g o o d l o o k
around.”
The owner looks at Aunt Bebe, and then at Mom. “I would like to show Mai the clothes
that just came in.” She takes my hand and leads me around the store. She takes a shirt and a
p a i r o f p a n t s f r o m t h e s a m e c l o t h i n g r a c k a n d h a n ds t h e m t o m e . “ I ’ m s u r e t h e s e w i l l l o o k
good on you. Please go into that fitting room over there and put them on.”
I come out and walk toward Aunt Bebe and Mom. They smile and nod.
Aunt Bebe pulls out some bills from her purse and gives them to the store owner while
l o o k i n g a t m e . “ M a i , t h e c l o t h e s l o o k g o o d o n y o u . K e e p t h e m o n . Yo u ’ r e g o i n g t o m e e t y o u r
cousin for the first time.”
M o m l o o k s a t A u n t B e b e . “ Yo u ’ r e b e i n g s o k i n d t o u s . ”
“ I t ’s a l l r i g h t , T h u . Yo u c a n p a y m e b a c k l a t e r, ” A u n t B e b e s a y s .  
T h e c y c l o d r i v e r d r o p s u s off i n f r o n t o f A u n t N i n a ’s h o us e , i t s f r o n t y a r d l o o k i n g l i k e a
landscaped park. Through the wrought iron gate, I see a plump woman sitting on a rock bench
u n d e r a w h i t e b e e c h t r e e , s i p p i n g c o ff e e . I n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e y a r d , a w a t e r f o u n t a i n f l o w s
i n t o i t s t e n b o w l s a r r a n g e d a t d i ff e r e n t l e v e l s . M a r b l e f r o g s a n d t u r t l e s a ff i x e d t o t h e b ow l s ’
edge spew water from their mouths, water lilies float in the bowls, and big gleaming goldfish
swim among the flowers.
A u n t B e b e c a l l s t h r o u g h t h e g a t e , “ N i n a , g u e s s w h o ’s c o m i n g ? H e r e a r e T h u a n d h e r
d a u g h t e r, M a i . T h e y c o m e t o v i s i t y o u a n d y o u r s o n . M a i i s s o e x c i t e d t o m e e t h e r c o u s i n ,
Nam.”
A u n t N i n a l o o k s u p , p u t s h e r c o ff e e c u p d ow n , a n d s c r a m b l e s t o g e t o n h e r f e e t , s m i l i n g
b r o a d l y. S h e o p e n s t h e g a t e a n d i m m e d i a t e l y p u t s h e r a r m s a r o u n d M o m a n d m e , a n d h o l d s u s
f o r a l o n g m o m e n t . T h e n s h e c a l l s t o w a r d a b o y s t a n d i n g i n t h e f r o n t d o o rw a y, “ N a m , c o m e
out here and meet Aunt Thu and your cousin, Mai.”
He comes and stands beside me. “Hi, Cousin Mai.”  
I stare at him. “Hi, Cousin Nam. I’m happy to meet you. Now I know where you live, and
I’ll ask Mom to come here to visit more often.”
A u n t N i n a s a y s , “ O h , y e s . P l e a s e d o . Yo u ’ r e w e l c o m e a n y t i m e , a n d w e ’ l l c o m e t o v i s i t
you. Please do come to our house.”
When we’re in the house, a maid brings out Mooncakes and tea served on a silver tea set.
A f t e r h a l f a n h o u r, M o m s a y s , “ I t ’s s o n i c e t o b e h e r e . We ’ d l o v e t o s t a y h e r e l o n g e r, b u t
I ’ m s o s o r r y t h a t w e a r e i n a g r e a t h u r r y t o d a y. I g o t a n o r d e r t o m a k e a r o a s t p i g f o r a
w e d d i n g t o m o r r o w. We c a m e h e r e t o b u y a p i g f o r r o a s t i n g . B u t w e ’ l l c o m e b a c k t o v i s i t y o u
a n o t h e r d a y, s o o n . ”
C o u s i n N a m s a y s , “ M a , w h y d o n ’t y o u s t a y h o m e w i t h t h e a u n t s ? I ’ l l s h ow M a i a r o u n d t h e
c i t y, a n d t h e n t a k e h e r t o g e t a p i g . ”
M o m p u t s m o n e y i n m y h a n d . “ P a y f o r t h e p i g w i t h t h e m o n e y. ”
W h e n w e ’ r e o u t s i d e , N a m s a ys , “ W h e r e d o y o u l i v e , M a i ? ”
“ N e a r t h e S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e b y t h e G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r. ”
Nam brightens up. “Oh, really? I know where it is. I’ve been there a few times with
friends. I even know a shortcut through a dried-up culvert to get there.”
 “ C a n w e g o t o t h e J u n g l e Vi e w F a r m t o g e t a p i g ? ” I s a y.
N a m s a y s , “ O k a y, s u r e . T h e f a r m i s o n t h e b a n k o f t h e M e k o n g D e l t a R i v e r. A f t e r w e g e t a
p i g , d o y o u w a n t u s t o w a l k i t t h r o u g h t h e s h o r t c u t t o y o u r h o us e ? ”
I s a y, “ Wo w, t h a t ’s a m a z i n g . O k a y, t a k e t h e s h o r t c u t . Wi l l w e w a l k t h r o u g h i t a g a i n t o g o
back to your house?
N a m n o ds a n d w a l k s t o w a r d a n o p e n s h e d , a n d p u l l s o u t a w o o d e n t o w c a r t w i t h w h e e l s a n d
p u l l i n g r o p e l o o p s . “We ’ l l p u t t h e p i g o n t h i s c a r t , a n d p u l l i t t h r o u g h t h e c u l v e r t . B y t h e
w a y, t h e M e k o n g D e l t a r e g i o n i s t h e l a n d o f a d v e n t u r e s . I ’ l l t a k e y o u o n a d v e n t u r o u s
excursions when you have more time.”
“ O h , C o u s i n N a m , I ’ l l m a k e t i m e f o r i t . A n d I ’ l l b r i n g m y f r i e n d s a l o n g i f t h a t ’s O K w i t h
you.” 
A t t h e J u n g l e Vi e w F a r m , a g i r l a b o u t m y a g e s t o p s p l a y i n g a n d y e l l s , “ M o m , y o u g e t
customers.”
A w o m a n c o m e s o u t o f a h o us e a n d w a l k s t o w a r d u s . T h e g i r l c o m e s a n d s t a n d s b e s i d e m e ,
grabbing my hand. “Do you want to go to a pigsty of Kobe pigs to pet them?”
I s c r u n c h u p m y n os e .   “ Yu c k , t h e y a r e t o o d i r t y t o p e t . ”
Her mom chuckles. “No, these are the specially raised Kobe pigs, and they must be kept
c l e a n a n d h e a l t h y, t o m a k e t h e g o o d q u a l i t y m a r b l i n g i n t h e i r m e a t .    
“ H o w m u c h d o e s o n e K o b e p i g c o s t i f I b u y i t ? ” I s a y.
“$450,” the girl says.
“ H o w m u c h d o e s o n e c o m m o n p i g c o s t ? ” I s a y.
T h e m o t h e r s a ys , “ $ 4 5 . T h e m a r b l i n g i n t h e m e a t o f a c o m m o n p i g i s n o t s o w e l l d e f i n e d a s
that of a Kobe pig.”  
I s a y, “ D o y o u r c o m m o n p i g s e a t t h e s l o ps c o l l e c t e d f r o m a f i e l d m a r k e t ? A m a n s h o v e l i n g
the slops at the market told me that.”
T h e w o m a n s a y s , “ Ye s , t o k e e p t h e c o s t s d o w n . ”
I b u y a c o m m o n p i g . We s e t i t i n a c r o u c h i n g p o s i t i o n o n t h e c a r t , a n d t i e i t s o t h a t i t c a n ’t
s t a n d u p . C o us i n N a m a n d I p u l l t h e c a r t b y t h e r o p e l o o p s i n t o t h e c u l v e r t . W h e r e t h e
p a s s a g e w a y i n t h e c u l v e r t s l a n t s d ow n , w e u s e o u r s t r e n g t h t o r e s t r a i n t h e w h e e l s f r o m
r o l l i n g t o o f a s t , t o p r e v e n t t h e p i g f r o m f a l l i n g o v e r. T h e c u l v e r t c o m e s o u t r i g h t n e a r t h e
S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e .
N a m s t a r e s a t t h e h i g h w a l l b e s i d e o u r h o u s e . “ Yo u k n o w, y o u r n e i g h b o r h o o d us e d t o b e a n
army base. Sometimes my friends and I come to play at this long wall, at a section a mile
f r o m y o u r h o us e . We d a r e d o n e a n o t h e r t o w a l k o n t h e w a l l . B u t I d a r e n o t w a l k o n i t a g a i n . ”
“ S o y o u w a l k e d o n i t b e f o r e ? ” I s a y.
“ Ye s , o n c e . I t o o k o n e s t e p , b u t g o t s c a r e d a n d s a t d o w n s t r a d d l i n g t h e w a l l . ”
I clap my hand, delighted. “At least it was the first step. Did any of your friends take more
than one step?”
“ Ye s , o n e f r i e n d d i d . T h e g u y c l i m b e d o n t o a t r e e a n d g o t o n t o p o f t h e w a l l . H e t o o k t w o
steps, and then grabbed a tree branch and climbed down it, crying.   
N a m l e a d s t h e p i g i n t o m y f r o n t y a r d a n d l e a s h e s i t t o a b i g r o c k i n a c o r n e r. “ Yo u c a n
keep this cart. I’ll make another one for myself.”
We t a k e t h e s a m e c u l v e r t s h o r t c u t t o g o b a c k t o N a m ’s h o u s e .
W h e n w e g e t b a c k , M o m a n d t h e a u n t s l o o k a t us . “ W h e r e ’s t h e p i g ? ” M o m s a ys .  
N a m s a y s , “ A t y o u r h o u s e , A u n t T h u . We w a l k e d t h e p i g t h r o u g h a s h o r t c u t t o y o u r h o us e . ”
Before we leave, Mom promises that we will come back to visit them again soon.
O u t s i d e t h e h o u s e , M o m s a y s , “ H ow d i d y o u t w o g e t t o o u r h o u s e a n d b a c k s o q u i c k ? ”
“ M o m , C o us i n N a m k n ow s t h e q u i c k e s t r o u t e t o o u r h o u s e . I t ’s t h r o u g h a d r i e d - u p c u l v e r t
t h a t b r a n c h e s off t h e M e k o n g D e l t a R i v e r. We w a l k e d t h e p i g h o m e u s i n g t h i s r o u t e . ”
Although Mom is reluctant, she agrees to take the shortcut to go home. When we get out of
t h e c u l v e r t , M o m i s s o d e l i g h t e d . “ I d o n ’t f e e l c o m f o r t a b l e g o i n g t h r o u g h t h e c u l v e r t , b u t
o n l y d o i t w h e n n e c e s s a r y. ”

Chapter 20 – Make Roast Pig

M r s . Ta m s t a n d s a t o u r d o o r. “ H i , M rs . T h u . I ’ m h e r e t o w o r k o n t h e p i g . ”
I n t h e p i g - r o a s t i n g b us i n e s s , y o u d o n ’t m a k e m u c h p r o f i t b y b u y i n g c l e a n e d p i g s f r o m
b u t c h e r s a n d r o a s t i n g t h e m . I ns t e a d , y o u b u y p i g s , a n d i f y o u d o n’t l i k e t h e m e s s y t a s k o f
b u t c h e r i n g , y o u h i r e n e i g h b o r s t o b u t c h e r a n d c l e a n t h e m . Yo u c a n p a y n e i g h b o r s f o r t h e i r
work with money or with the chitterlings from the pigs they clean. They can sell the
c h i t t e r l i n g s a t r o a d s i d e m a r k e t s . T h e y c a n s e l l p i g t a i l s , f o r l a rg e s u m s o f m o n e y, t o C h i n e s e
men who are bald in the front of their heads but still have a little hair in the back.
M o m s a y s , “ H i , M rs . Ta m . I ’ m g l a d y o u p r e p a r e t h e p i g f o r m e . C a n I p a y f o r y o u r w o r k
with the chitterlings?”
“ S u r e , M r s . T h u . C a n I t a k e t h e p i g t a i l ? ” M r s . Ta m s a y s .
I s a y, “ O u r p i g h a s a l o o s e - c o i l t a i l l o o k i n g l i k e a s t r e t c h e d s p r i n g . I d o n ’t k n o w i f a
Chinese man would wear a wavy tail for a pigtail.”
M r s . Ta m s m i l e s . “ T h e C h i n e s e m a n , t o w h o m I ’ m g o i n g t o s e l l t h i s s p e c i a l p i g t a i l , w i l l
dye it with gold dust and attach it to his little natural hair in the back of his head, and wear
it as a golden pigtail.”
M r s . Ta m u n l e a s h e s t h e p i g . I t d a r t s t o w a r d t h e b a c k o f o u r h o u s e , l i f t s i t s t w o f r o n t l e g s
and jumps over a wire fence, and plunges away into the woods. Our neighbor men are playing
p o k e r o u t d o o r, a n d t h e y j u m p o v e r t h e f e n c e t o c h a s e t h e p i g . A f t e r a b o u t f i v e m i n u t e s , t h e y
come back carrying the pig over the fence and into our backyard.  
T h e c l e a n e d p i g i s h u n g u ps i d e d ow n w h e r e t h e c i r c u l a t i n g c o o l a i r k e e p s t h e m e a t f r e s h .
M o m r u b s a m i x t u r e o f f i v e - s p i c e p ow d e r, c r u s h e d h e r b s , g a r l i c , b r o w n s u g a r, a n d s a l t i n s i d e
t h e p i g . I b r u s h t h e r e d f o o d c o l o r i n g o n t h e p i g ’s s k i n . T h e p i g i s a l l o w e d t o s t a y
undisturbed for at least two hours, for the meat to absorb the seasoning flavors before
roasting.
The roasting pit is eight feet wide and ten feet high and can roast up to three pigs at the
s a m e t i m e . T h e p i g i s h o o k e d h e a d - d ow n , a n d t h e h o o k i s h u n g f r o m t h e t h i c k i r o n b a r, w h i c h
i s p l a c e d a c r o s s t h e t o p o f t h e p i t . A t t h e p i t ’s b o t t o m , a r o u n d i r o n r i n g w i t h l e g s s t a n ds i n
the fire, and it holds a wide copper wok to catch the grease dripping down from the sizzling
p i g s . A s m a l l r e c t a n g u l a r o p e n i n g i n t h e p i t ’s w a l l n e a r t h e g r o u n d p r o v i d e s a i r c i r c u l a t i o n t o
keep the flames burning.
A r o a s t e d p i g f o r a w e d d i n g m u s t b e a b l e t o s t a y u p r i g h t w h e n i t ’s p u t o n a w o o d e n b o a r d .
W h i l e p r e p a r i n g t h e p i g , M o m h a d c u t t h e p i g ’s l e g j o i n t s s o t h a t t h e l e g s w o b b l e . A n d n o w
when she puts the pig on the board, it rolls over and rests on its side on the board.
S o m e o n e i s p a s s i n g b y o u r f r o n t d o o r, s o b b i n g . M o m r u n s t o t h e d o o r. “ Wa i t , Wa i t a
m i n u t e . P l e a s e c o m e i n m y h o us e . W h y a r e y o u c r y i n g ? ”
T h e c r y i n g g i r l s t e p s i n t h e d o o r w a y a n d s t a n d s w i t h h e r p r o t r u d i n g t u m m y. “ M y l a d y o f
t h e h o u s e t o l d m e t o l e a v e h e r h o us e b e c a u s e I ’ m g o i n g t o h a v e a b a b y. I ’ m a w e e k a w a y
f r o m d e l i v e r y, a n d s h e d o e s n ’t w a n t t o k e e p a m a i d w i t h b a b y. I d o a l l t h e h o us e c h o r e s a n d
r u n e r r a n d s f o r h e r. I h a v e n ow h e r e e l s e t o g o a r o u n d h e r e . ”
I b r i n g o u t t h e c h a i r f r o m m y s t u d y i n g t a b l e . “ P l e a s e s i t d ow n . ”
Mom makes her a plate of white rice topped with roast pork and omelet. “Where do you
t h i n k y o u c a n g o t o n ow ? ”
“ I w a n t t o g o b a c k t o m y p a r e n t s ’ h o u s e i n D a n a n g . B u t I h a v e n o m o n e y f o r b us f a r e . ”  
“How old are you?” Mom says.
“I’m sixteen, and my name is Bong.”  
M o m g e t s a c y c l o p a s s i n g b y o u r h o us e , t o t a k e t h e g i r l t o a b u s s t o p . “ B o n g , t a k e c a r e o f
y o u r s e l f a n d t h e b a b y. P r o m i s e m e t h a t y o u d o n' t d o a n y t h i n g r a s h . E v e r y t h i n g w i l l t u r n o u t
all right.”

Chapter 21 – An American Soldier Has Saved Me

from Being Bombed to Bits
I m e e t u p w i t h M o m a f t e r o u r b us i n e s s e r r a n d s , a n d w e h a v e l u n c h a t a s i d e w a l k c o ff e e
s h o p . S h e h a s b l a c k c o ff e e a n d t w o t a m a r i n d c u p c a k e s , a n d I g e t a c h o c o l a t e s t r a w b e r r y
milkshake and a slice of butter pecan pie.
M o m s a y s , “ I h e a r d o n t h e r a d i o t h a t t h e r e ’s m a j o r f i g h t i n g i n t h e M e k o n g D e l t a a r e a
t o d a y, a n d b o m b i n g h a s d e s t r o y e d m a n y b i g f a r m s . R e f u g e e s a r e l e a v i n g t h e i r h o m e s a n d
c o m i n g t o S a i g o n C i t y. We ’ l l g o b y t h e S a i g o n C e n t r a l R a i l w a y s t a t i o n , a n d l o o k a r o u n d t o
see if we can spot Aunt Bebe, or Aunt Nina and Cousin Nam among the refugees.”
I peer up the tracks toward an oncoming Saigon Express train, its wheels rolling fast. The
t r a i n s l o w s d ow n a n d s t o p s b y u s .
 T h e p a s s e n g e r s c a r r y i n g t h e i r b e l o n g i n g s o n t h e i r h e a d s g e t off t h e t r a i n a n d o n t o t h e
platform. Mom and I follow them into the train station.  
I w a l k u p t o t h e g i r l f r o m t h e J u n g l e Vi e w F a r m w h e r e I b o u g h t a p i g , a n d t a p h e r o n t h e
s h o u l d e r. “ E x c u s e m e , i s y o u r f a m i l y f a r m s t i l l t h e r e ? ”
“ N o , i t ’s g o n e , ” s h e s a y s , c r y i n g .
A b o v e t h e g a t e o f p l a t f o r m 9 , a s i g n s a y s R E F U G E E S . We c r o w d t h r o u g h t h i s g a t e , a n d g e t
inside the train station, and come to a lounge where people sit beside their strapped suitcases
a n d b a gs .
I look toward the far corner of the lounge. “Oh, there they are, Mom. Cousin Nam, Aunt
N i n a . A n d y a y, A u n t B e b e . ”
I r u n a h e a d o f M o m t o w a r d t h e m . C o u s i n N a m p u t s h i s a r m s a r o u n d m e , l i f t s m e o ff t h e
f l o o r a n d w h i r l s m e a r o u n d . M o m a n d t h e a u n t s e m b r a c e o n e a n o t h e r, c h a t t e r i n g a n d
laughing.
C o u s i n N a m p u l l s m e b y t h e h a n d i n t o t h e c o n c e s s i o n a r e a . H e b u ys a l l k i n d s o f f o o d a n d
drink. I gobble two sandwiches and drink up a bottle of refreshing sweet pennyroyal juice.  
M o m s a y s , “ W h y d o n ’t y o u a l l c o m e a n d s t a y i n o u r h o u s e u n t i l t h e b o m b i n g i s o v e r. N a m
can keep Mai company for a while. They get along well.”
“ M o m , o u r h o us e i s n o t g o o d e n o u g h f o r t h e m t o s t a y i n . A n d w e h a v e n o e x t r a b e d s , ” I
s a y.
“ I t ’s O K , M a i . I b r o u g h t a l o n g s l e e p i n g a i r b a g s , ” N a m s a y s .
T h e b r i d g e c r o s s i n g t h e G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r a t t h e S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e i s r u i n e d b y b o m b , a n d
p a r t o f t h e b r i d g e f e l l i n t o t h e r i v e r. T h e U . S . A r m y C o r p s o f E n g i n e e r s i s b u i l d i n g a d i r t
c a u s e w a y f o r a m a k e s h i f t b r i d g e . T h e y l e t u s g o o n t h e p a r t l y f i n i s h e d c a u s e w a y, t o g o t o o u r
house. 
As we enter our neighborhood, Hoa runs up to us. “Refugees are fleeing the Mekong Delta
c o u n t r y s i d e t h a t ’s b e i n g b o m b e d , a n d m o v i n g i n t o t h e w o o d s b e h i n d y o u r h o u s e . ”
“ W h a t ’ r e o u r n e i g h b o r s d o i n g ? ” I s a y.
“They’re digging trenches in the ground, and building bomb bunkers for the coming
b o m b i n g , ” Ti n s a y s , s h ow i n g u p b e h i n d H o a .
“ B u t t h e D M Z i s a n o - f i r e z o n e w h e r e b o m b i n g a n d s h o o t i n g a r e p r o h i b i t e d , ” I s a y.
H o a s a y s . “ H e l i c o p t e r s f l y i n g o v e r t h e D M Z h a v e a n n o u n c e d t h a t t h e V Cs h a v e r e m o v e d
the tires from the trucks parked in the American Army Depots, and that the VCs shot at the
guards while getting away with the tires into the tunnels under the DMZ ground.”
Ti n s a ys , “ N o w t h e V C s a r e b e i n g h u n t e d . T h e A l l i e d C o m m a n d O p e r a t i o n s c e n t e r h as
o r d e r e d t h e p e o p l e t o b u i l d b o m b b u n k e rs , a n d g e t i n t o t h e m b e f o r e b o m b s s t a r t f a l l i n g o n
the DMZ.”
Refugees are still moving into our neighborhood. On a motorcycle, a man sits in the front
with his hands on the handles, a woman holding a baby sits behind him, and then a little girl,
and then a little boy at the end. Their belongings are piled into the sidecars of the vehicle.
T h e l o a d e d m o t o r c y c l e m o v e s i n t o t h e w o o ds b e h i n d o u r h o u s e .
N a m , Ti n , H o a a n d I r u n i n t o t h e w o o d s . O n a p a t c h o f l a n d s u r r o u n d e d b y b a r b e d w i r e
f e n c e , e v a c u e e s p i t c h t e n t s w i t h r i c e s a c ks , b e d s h e e t s , a n d s h e a v e s o f p a l m l e a v e s , a n d f a s t e n
the tents to the pegs stuck in the ground with ropes. Mantle Lamps are hung from the tents’
c e i l i n g , a n d l o o f a h g o u r ds c o n t a i n i n g d r i n k i n g w a t e r h a n g o n p o s t s s u p p o r t i n g t h e t e n t s .  
M y n e i g h b o r k i d s a n d r e f u g e e k i d s g e t t o g e t h e r a n d p l a y, a n d c a t c h r a b b i t s a n d f i s h f o r
meat. Refugees are cooking food in the makeshift camp. Meat vendors bring the cows charred
by bombing fire in a van to the refugee camp. The van is parked in front of the haunted
h o u s e . T h e r e f u g e e s b u y t h e b u r n e d c o w s . N e a r b y, a t r u c k l i e s o n i t s s i d e , w i t h i t s t i r e s
missing and its metal water tank lying against a hedge.   
So many people crowding the neighborhood, but markets are not open because of the
c o m i n g b o m b i n g . I t ’s d i ff i c u l t t o g e t e n o u g h f o o d t o c o o k f o r a l a rg e c r o w d . T h e b e e f n o o d l e
s o u p c a l l e d P h o c a n b e c o o k e d i n l a rg e b a t c h e s , b u t w e n e e d b i g c o o k i n g p o t s .
M o m s a y s , “ We s h o u l d c o o k P h o w i t h t h e b u r n e d c o w s , us i n g t h e a b a n d o n e d w a t e r t a n k a s
a cooking pot.” 
We l d e r s c u t a n o p e n i n g o n t h e t a n k , a n d m a k e a l i d w i t h t h e c u t - o u t m e t a l s h e e t . P e o p l e
dig a ditch in a clearing in the woods, and set the empty tank on it. They put dry wood logs
into the ditch and make a fire. They put beef bones and meat into the tank, and fill it with
w a t e r f r o m t h e h os e s c o n n e c t e d t o t h e w a t e r t a n k i n m y b a c k y a r d .
A m e r i c a n a n d Vi e t n a m e s e M a r i n e s m a r c h i n t o o u r n e i g h b o r h o o d , a n d s t o p i n f r o n t o f o u r
house. A soldier reaches his water canteen toward me. “Please fill this up with water for me.”
Other soldiers reach their canteens out to other kids.
We f i l l t h e i r c a n t e e n s w i t h w a t e r f r o m o u r w a t e r t a n k . A s o l d i e r d r i n k s w a t e r f r o m h i s
c a n t e e n , a n d a s h e c l o s e s t h e l i d , a m o n k e y f l i n g s i t s e l f d ow n f r o m a g u a v a t r e e b y m y f r o n t
w a l l , a n d p e r c h e s o n h i s s h o u l d e r, i t s f r o n t p a w s r u m m a g i n g i n h i s h a i r.
“ I t ’s l o o k i n g f o r l i c e t o e a t , ” I s a y.
“Oh, you speak English very well. Can you get the monkey away from my hair?” he says.
I g e t a r i p e b a n a n a , a n d d a n g l e i t i n f r o n t o f t h e m o n k e y. I t r e a c h e s a p a w t o w a r d t h e
b a n a n a , b u t I t h r o w t h e b a n a n a a w a y, a n d t h e m o n k e y s c u r r i e s a f t e r i t .
S t r a w m a t s a r e s e t o n t h e g r o u n d , a n d t h e s o l d i e r s a n d c i v i l i a n s s i t i n g r o u ps o n t h e m a t s
and eat Pho.
T h e s o l d i e r s m a r c h a w a y i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e A s s as s i n J u n g l e .
M i l i t a r y a i r p l a n e s a r e f l y i n g i n a l i n e , a n d b o m b s a r e f a l l i n g f r o m t h e b o m b b a y d o o rs a t
the bottom of the planes.  
A paratrooper jumps out of a helicopter and the parachute carrying him swings and comes
d o w n t o w a r d m y r o o f t o p . T h e k i d s p u s h m e t o l e a d t h e m t o c l i m b o n t o t h e r o o f t o p . We w a v e
a t t h e d e s c e n d i n g p a r a t r o o p e r. H e c o m e s d o w n s o c l o s e o v e r h e a d t h a t w h e n h e s t a m p s h i s f e e t
down, I react by dodging my head. But the parachute swings away toward the Assassin
J u n g l e . We c l i m b d ow n f r o m t h e r o o f a n d r u n t o t h e j u n g l e .
 The ground soldiers have marched away from my neighborhood, and come to the jungle.
t h e p a r a t r o o p e r l a n d s o n t h e g r o u n d a n d j o i n s t h e m . To g e t h e r t h e y m a r c h f o r w a r d , b u t t h e
p a r a t r o o p e r b a c k s aw a y f r o m t h e g r o u p a n d d u c k s u n d e r a b u s h .  
We f o l l o w t h e t r a c k o f t h e p a r a t r o o p e r. M o m e n t s l a t e r, t h e s o u n d o f g u n f i r e c o m e s f r o m
the bush, followed by shouting, “Help! Alligator bit me.”  
W h e n w e p u l l h i m o u t o f t h e b u s h , o n e o f h i s p a n t l e g s h a s a b l o o d y h o l e i n i t . We p u t h i m
in his parachute, and carry the loaded parachute to the field hospital.
T h e d o c t o r a t t h e f i e l d h os p i t a l h a s f i x e d h i m u p . “ Yo u r w o u n d e d f o o t i s O K n o w, C a p t a i n
We b f o o t . ”  
C a p t a i n We b f o o t s i t s w i t h h i s b a c k l e a n i n g a g a i n s t a t r e e t r u n k . T h e k i d s s i t i n a s e m i -
circle in front of him. 
A b o y s a y s , “ C a p t a i n We b f o o t , w h y d i d y o u b a c k a w a y w h i l e y o u r p l a t o o n m a r c h e d
forward?”
C a p t a i n We b f o o t s a y s , “ U h … I s a w t h e b u s h a n d t h o u g h t t h e V C s m u s t b e h i d i n g u n d e r i t ,
so I dived into it to catch them.”  
Ti n s a ys , “ We r e n ’t y o u t r y i n g t o d e s e r t , s o y o u j u m p e d i n t o t h e b u s h t o h i d e ? ”
C a p t a i n We b f o o t s a y s , “ O k a y, h e r e ’s t h e d e a l . I j u m p e d i n t o t h e b us h b e c a u s e i t w a s w h e r e
I used to play as a kid.”  
I s a y, “ S o y o u w e r e r e l i v i n g y o u r c h i l d h o o d m e m o r y, a n d p a r a c h u t i n g i n t o a k i d
playground, and jumping into the bush. I understand.”
“But what happened to your foot?” Hoa says.
C a p t a i n We b f o o t s a y s , “ A n a l l i g a t o r b i t m e , a n d I t o u c h e d m y g u n a n d i t w e n t o ff . ”    
H i s p l a t o o n c o m i n g b a c k f o r h i m , a n d C a p t a i n We b f o o t s t r u g g l e s t o h i s f e e t , s a y i n g , “ G o o d
e v e n i n g S e rg e a n t M a j o r. ”  
T h e S e rg e a n t M a j o r s c ow l s a t C a p t a i n We b f o o t , s a y i n g , “ S o l d i e r s , p e r f o r m r u n n i n g
e x e r c i s e w i t h C a p t a i n We b f o o t s o t h a t h e c a n t e s t o u t h i s f o o t . I ’ l l p u t h i m f i r s t i n t h e f r o n t
line as soon as he can at least hobble.”  
A f t e r t h e e x e r c i s e , t h e s o l d i e r s m a r c h t o w a r d t h e G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r. W h e n t h e y r e a c h t h e
r i v e r, t h e y s t o p a t t h e w a t e r ’s e d g e .  
C a r r y i n g h i s b a c k p a c k l o a d e d w i t h a r m y e q u i p m e n t , C a p t a i n We b f o o t j u m p s i n t o t h e w a t e r.
Holding his rifle above the water with one hand, he paddles and kicks his way to the opposite
b a n k i n a f l a s h . T h e r e s t o f h i s g r o u p w a d e a c r o s s t h e r i v e r a t t h e s h a l l o w w a t e r, w i t h t h e i r
rifles raised over their heads. They take a long time to wade across to the other side.  
A s i r e n s o u n d s t o s i g n a l i m p e n d i n g b o m b i n g , a n d s e a r c h l i g h t b e a m s r e a c h a c r o s s t h e s k y. A
helicopter is broadcasting an order for the citizens of the DMZ to get into bomb bunkers. The
kids run back to the DMZ.
M y n e i g h b o r s h a v e f i n i s h e d m a k i n g b o m b b u n k e rs w i t h s a n d b a g s . I w a n t t o b e i n t h e
b u n k e r w h e r e t h e t e e n s s t a y. T h e y h a v e i P h o n e s a n d p o r t a b l e g a m e c o n s o l e s , s o w e c a n l i s t e n
to music and play games.
 The bombing comes while I’m searching for a bunker that I like. I jump into a bomb
b u n k e r c r ow d e d w i t h o l d w o m e n p l a y i n g m a h j o n g a n d s i p p i n g t e a s .   I l o o k o u t t h r o u g h a n
o p e n i n g b e t w e e n t h e s a n d b a g s a n d t h e b u n k e r ’s r o o f a n d s e e t h e s k y g l o w i n g w i t h f i r e .
“Oh my God! The doom of the end of the world,” a woman says, making the sign of the
Cross.
I move toward the entrance to get out, but the woman reaches her hand across in front of
m e , s a y i n g , “ Yo u c a n ’t g o o u t y e t . T h e b o m b s a r e f a l l i n g . ”
“ B u t I w a n t t o b e w i t h o t h e r k i d s , ” I s a y.
She hands me three French baguettes, saying, “Share these with your friends. And be
careful. Duck into any bunker when you have to.”
I g a t h e r t h e b r e a d l o a v e s i n t o m y a r m s , s h o u t i n g , “ T h a n k y o u , ” a n d d a s h o u t o f t h e b u n k e r.
C o u s i n N a m h a n gs o u t w i t h h i s f r i e n d s . I t ’s s o h u m i d i n s i d e o u r b u n k e r, s o Ti n a n d H o a ,
a n d I d r a g m y b o u n c y m a t t r e s s o u t a n d l a y i t i n t h e o p e n a i r. We l i e d ow n o n t h e m a t t r e s s . I
hear cracks of gunfire and the whizzing sound of flying bombs and feel the ground shaking
with the exploding bombs.
A s h a d o w o f a b o d y p l u n g e s t o w a r d us , a n d t h e t h r e e o f u s a r e s h o v e d d o w n a s l o p i n g
embankment. A bomb explodes at our mattress, blowing it to shreds.
M o m e n t s l a t e r, n e i g h b o r s c o m e t o u s . “ A r e t h e t h r e e o f y o u O K ? ”
“ We ’ r e O K . W h o p u s h e d u s ? ” H o a s a y s .
“I did,” A voice says.
Someone lifts a lamp toward the voice, and the lamplight reveals his face.
“ C a p t a i n We b f o o t , ” Ti n s a y s .
C a p t a i n We b f o o t t a k e s u s t o a v e n t i l a t e d b u n k e r. “ Yo u t h r e e s l e e p i n t h e r e t o n i g h t , ” h e
s a y s , w a l k i n g a w a y.

Chapter 22 – The VC Capture Us Again

O n o u r w a y t o s c h o o l , t h e r o a d i s b l o c k e d , s o H o a , Ti n , a n d I t a k e a p a t h a c r o s s t h e
E v e rg r e e n F o r e s t . T h e l i g h t s a t t h e t o p s o f t h e l a m p p o s t s a l o n g t h e p a t h s h i m m e r i n t h e f o g .
T h r o u g h d e n s e c l o u d s o f v a p o r, t h e V C g u e r r i l l a s m o v e a m o n g t h e t r e e s , t h e i r r i f l e s s w i n g i n g
above the back of their shoulders. A shot rings out, scattering leaves above our heads, so we
get behind a tree trunk.
Ti n l o o k s a r o u n d t h e t r e e t r u n k , s a y i n g , “ I d o n ’t s e e t h e g u e r r i l l a s n o w, b u t w e b e t t e r t a k e
a d i ff e r e n t r o u t e . ”
We g o t h r o u g h a r a v i n e b e t w e e n a p a r a p e t o f s a n d b a g s o n o n e s i d e a n d t r e n c h e s o n t h e
o t h e r, a n d c o m e o u t a t t h e N a t i o n a l M i l i t a r y C e m e t e r y.
We c o m e u p t o a t o m b s u r r o u n d e d b y w a l l s c a r v e d w i t h e l a b o r a t e O r i e n t a l d e s i g n s .  
H o a s a y s , “ L e t ’s m o v e o n . I t ’s t o o e e r i l y q u i e t a r o u n d h e r e . ”
Ti n s a ys , “ B u t f i r s t , l e t ’s c o m e i n t o t h i s i m p r e s s i v e t o m b a n d t a k e a q u i c k l o o k . ”
 We p u t o u r b o o k b a gs d o w n b e h i n d a b u s h a n d g o i n t o t h e t o m b . T h e r e i s a p i c t u r e o f a g i r l
on the headstone. There’re picture frames on the walls, and each frame contains a picture of
the same girl, along with a eulogy poem from her grieving parents.
I b e n d o v e r t o l o o k a t a s m a l l h o l e a t t h e b a s e o f t h e h e a d s t o n e . T h e s o u n ds o f t a l k i n g a n d
b u m p i n g o f b o d i e s a g a i n s t w o o d c o m e f r o m i n s i d e t h e g r a v e . I s a y, “ C o r p s es c o m i n g b a c k t o
life.”
Ti n s a ys , “ T h e V Cs m u s t b e s t a y i n g i n s i d e t h e c o ff i n s . T h e y d o t h i s w h e n t h e y a r e
p r e p a r i n g f o r t h e i r a t t a c k s o n t h e A m e r i c a n - Vi e t n a m e s e A l l i e d A r m i e s . ”
H o a s a y s , “ I h e a r d t h a t t h e V Cs c o m e o u t o f t h e c o ff i n s a n d k i d n a p p e o p l e w h o a r e v i s i t i n g
t h e c e m e t e r y. L e t ’s g e t o u t o f h e r e . ”    
When we get back out of the tomb, we see food set on a wooden table at the tomb entrance.
I s a y, “ T h e f o o d s w e r e n o t h e r e w h e n w e c a m e i n t o t h e t o m b . T h e r e a r e n o f o o t s t e p s o n t h e
g r o u n d , b u t l o o k , t h e r e a r e g r i m y h a n d p r i n t s o n t h e t a b l e ’s s u r f a c e . ”
“ T h i s c e m e t e r y g i v e s m e t h e c r e e p s , ” Ti n s a ys .    
We p i c k u p o u r b o o k b a g s a n d r u n a w a y.
Ta k i n g a l o n g w a y h o m e f r o m s c h o o l , H o a , Ti n , a n d I r e a c h a d o w n r i v e r s e c t i o n o f t h e
G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r. I s e e t h e w a t e r g l o w i n g , a n d l o o k i n g d ow n i n t o t h e w a t e r. I s a y, “ H o a
a n d Ti n , l o o k a t t h e g l o w i n g r o c k s i n t h e w a t e r. ”
H o a s a y s , “ Yo u t o l d m e t h e g l o w i n g r o c k s h a v e g r a d u a l l y d i s a p p e a r e d f r o m t h e p l a c e
w h e r e y o u ’ v e b e e n c o l l e c t i n g t h e m . M a y b e t h e w a t e r c u r r e n t c a r r i e s t h e r o c k s aw a y f r o m
your area.”
I s a y, “ A n d i t ’s p o s s i b l e t h e r o c k s a r e c a r r i e d t o h e r e . ” L e t ’s p i c k t h e s e r o c k s a n d w e c a n
make cosmetics to sell, huh?”
“ T h a t s o u n d s l i k e a g o o d i d e a , ” Ti n s a y s .
H o a s a y s , “ N ow y o u c a n b e a m a k e u p m a n u f a c t u r e r, a n d w e ’ l l b e y o u r e m p l o y e e s . ”  
I s a y, “ B u t I w i l l p a y y o u o n l y w h e n t h e m a k e u p i s s o l d . Is t h a t O K ? ”  
“ Wo w, i t ’s a d e a l ! ” Ti n s a y s .  
I r o l l u p t h e h e m o f m y p a n t l e g s a n d w a d e i n t o t h e k n e e - d e e p w a t e r. I s e e t h e r e f l e c t i o n o f
g u n m u z z l e s p o i n t i n g a t m e . A f r a i d t o l o o k u p , I k e e p s t a r i n g i n t o t h e w a t e r, a n d t h e n s e e
feet wearing tire sandals.
I l o o k u p , s w i n g i n g m y a r m s t o s h o v e a w a y t h e g u n m u z z l e s p o i n t i n g a t m y h e a d . Ti n a n d
Hoa stand under a pine tree on the riverbank, also with guns pointing at them.
“ I t ’s u n c i v i l t o p o i n t g u n s a t k i d s , ” H o a s a y s .
“ D o y o u e x p e c t t h e V C s t o b e c i v i l ? ” Ti n s a ys .
I s a y, “ N o , I d o n ’t e x p e c t i t . I f t h e y w e r e c i v i l , t h e y w o u l d n ’t b e c a l l e d Va g a b o n d
Characters.”  
T h e s a m e V C L i e u t e n a n t C o m m a n d e r, w i t h w h o I ’ m s o f a m i l i a r, s a y s , “ Ta k e t h e m t o t h e C u
Chi tunnels and put them to work.”  
Hoa says, “Oh, no! What do you have us do at the tunnels?”
Chapter 23 – The VC Put Their Kidnaped People
to Work
T h e w o m a n V C L i e u t e n a n t J u n i o r s a ys , “ T h e r e ’ r e a l o t o f t h i n g s t o d o i n t h e t u n n e l s . Yo u
c a n h e l p t h e c o o k s , g r o w c r o ps , m a k e t o f u a n d w i n e , d i g t u n n e l s , m a k e t r a p s a n d t i r e s a n d a l s ,
steal American supplies, and catch wildlife animals for meat.”
T h e V C L i e u t e n a n t C o m m a n d e r s m i r k s . “ Yo u c a n u s e e x p l o d e d a r t i l l e r y s h e l l s t o m a k e
spikes, and then use them to make booby traps. At first, you keep practicing on the same trap
until you get good at it.”  
The VC Lieutenant Junior says, “Every night before you go to sleep, you must write a
c o n f e s s i o n o f w h a t w r o n g s y o u ’ v e d o n e i n t h e d a y. I f y o u c o n f e s s , w e g i v e y o u e a s i e r j o b s t o
do. If you refuse to confess, we put you in the Chilling Chamber for a little bit, to chill your
head up so that you would confess.”  
I o b s e r v e t h e V Cs c a r r y i n g o u t t h e i r r o u t i n e a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e t u n n e l s . T h e w o m e n c o o k ,
wash dishes in earthenware basins, wash clothes, and feed their little children. The men stage
guerilla combats. The crouching girls dig into the earth walls with a short-handled garden
h o e , t o m a k e m o r e t u n n e l s , a n d p u t t h e d i r t i n p l a s t i c m i l k b o t t l e s w i t h t h e t o p c u t o ff . T h e
b o y s m a k e a i r p l a n e s f r o m b r o w n c o n s t r u c t i o n p a p e r, a n d p a i n t t h e m w h i t e . T h e y p a i n t t h e
word AMERICAN in block letters in neon orange on the planes and hang them dangling on
s t r i n g s f r o m t h e t u n n e l ’s r o o f . T h e y s h o o t t h e i r p r e t e n d r i f l e s m a d e o f t r e e t w i g s a t t h e p a p e r
airplanes while making the “boom boom” sound with their mouths.
The VCs set out supplies in front of me, and give me a piece of paper with hand-written
instructions on it, on how to make a trap. They hang around and watch me make a trap.
I t t a k e s m e 2 h o u rs t o m a k e a t r a p . I l o o k u p , s e e i n g e y e s g a w k i n g a t t h e t r a p , s a y i n g ,
“ O K , M r. V C L i e u t e n a n t C o m m a n d e r, t h i s t r a p i s a s g o o d a s I c a n m a k e i t . Tr y i t o u t a n d
see.”  
T h e V C L i e u t e n a n t C o m m a n d e r l i f t s t h e t r a p a n d t h e n g a z e s a t i t , e x a m i n i n g i t l i k e h e ’s
t r y i n g t o m a k e s u r e e v e r y t h i n g i s u p t o h i s s a t i s f a c t i o n . “ A n a w e s o m e t r a p . L e t ’s t r y i t o u t i n
a h o l e a t t h e S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e . ”
M a n y V C s g a t h e r a t t h e t r e e . T h e L i e u t e n a n t C o m m a n d e r g r a b s t h e t r a p b y i t s d o o r. “ O u c h !
My fingers are stuck in the unmovable door!”
A V C t e e n b o y p r i e s t h e m e t a l s p i k e s l o o s e w i t h a c r o w b a r, t o r e l e a s e t h e L i e u t e n a n t ’s
fingers.
The Lieutenant Commander scowls. “The trap has an impressive spring mechanism, but the
d o o r g e t s s t u c k . S t u p i d g i r l . K e e p w a s t i n g m a t e r i a l s . W h y c a n ’t y o u l e a r n ? I ’ l l p u t y o u t o
w o r k a t d i g g i n g t u n n e l s . Yo u h a v e t h r e e c h o i c e s f o r a d i g g i n g t o o l , a t e a s p o o n , a n i c e c r e a m
scoop, or a ladle.”
I s a y, “ I n e e d a l a d l e . A t t h e r a t e o f d i g g i n g a t u n n e l w i t h a n i c e c r e a m s c o o p , o r a
teaspoon, I’ll never finish and get out of the tunnels.”
A g i r l s a y s , “Yo u c a n ’t g e t a w a y f r o m t h e t u n n e l s b e c a u s e t h e y s e t t r a p s e v e r y w h e r e . I f
they caught you trying to escape, they’d put you in the fortified tunnels.”
H o a s a y s , “ M a i , c h o o s e t h e t e a s p o o n . Wi t h t h e V Cs , t h e r e i s n e v e r a n e n d t o w o r k . T h e
more you dig, the more digging you’re assigned. They make you dig until your hair turns
white.”
“ W h e r e d o I p u t t h e d i r t a f t e r I d i g i t u p ? ” I s a y.
L i e u t e n a n t J u n i o r s a y s , “ Yo u p u t t h e d i r t i n y o u r l u n c h b a g , a n d d u m p t h e d i r t i n a b o m b
crater outside the tunnels.”  
I s a y, “ G i v e m e a t e a s p o o n t h e n . I ’ l l t a k e m y t i m e d i g g i n g a t u n n e l a n d s p o o n i n g t h e d i r t
into a bag.”    
The Lieutenant Commander says, “I let you dig a new tunnel with a pair of chopsticks.
When you have finished with this first tunnel, you must dig the rest of the unfinished tunnels
l e a d i n g t o t h e u n d e rg r o u n d r a i l r o a d s . I f y o u d o a g o o d j o b , y o u g e t c a n d y. ”
“ W h a t ’ r e t h e u n d e rg r o u n d r a i l r o a d s f o r ? ” I s a y.
“ F o r m o v i n g t h e A m e r i c a n P O Ws a r o u n d , ” Ti n s a y s .
I s a y, “ Ti n , I d o n ’t t h i n k I c a n s u r v i v e d i g g i n g t u n n e l s w i t h a p a i r o f c h o p s t i c k s , o r a n y o f
the other tools the Lieutenant Commander has mentioned.”  
L i e u t e n a n t J u n i o r s a y s , “ Yo u m u s t d o w h a t y o u a r e t o l d , t o s u r v i v e . ”      
W h e n w e a r e o u t o f e a r s h o t , Ti n s a y s , “ We m u s t f i g u r e o u t s o m e w a y t o e s c a p e . ”
“ W h a t d o t h e y h a v e y o u d o , Ti n ? ” I s a y.    
Ti n s h r u g s h i s s h o u l d e r s . “ I h a v e t o m a k e s a n d a l s o u t o f t r u c k t i r e s . I m u s t h o l d w o r k s h o ps
to teach other kids to make sandals and camouflage them with green dye, to make them look
like leaves.”
“What kind of dye do you use to make green sandals?” Hoa says.
Ti n s a ys , “ I m e l t s o m e t i r e r u b b e r, a n d a d d g r e e n s e a w e e d p ow d e r i n t o i t . I b r u s h t h e g r e e n
liquid rubber on the sandals.”
H o a s a y s , “ T h e y p u t m e i n c h a rg e o f a g r o u p o f c h i l d r e n . We g o t h r o u g h t h e H o C h i M i n h
Tr a i l a n d t o t h e E v e rg r e e n F o r e s t t o s c a v e n g e f o r s u p p l i e s . We ’ r e o r d e r e d t o s t e a l s u p p l i e s
from the American Army Base in the DMZ.”
Hoa leads a whole bunch of children, and they climb up to a trapdoor in the ceiling of the
tunnel and get out from there. They come back carrying boxes loaded with used American
A r m y u n i f o r m s , a n d s e t t h e m d o w n o n t h e f l o o r. ”
“ W h e r e d i d y o u s t e a l t h e s e u n i f o r m s ? ” I s a y.
O n e k i d s t a n d i n g b e s i d e H o a s a y s , “ F r o m t h e S o l d i e r s F i e l d H o us e P o o l a t t h e E v e rg r e e n
Forest.” 
I s a y, “ W h a t a r e t h e V C s g o i n g t o d o w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n A r m y u n i f o r m s ? T h e y c e r t a i n l y a r e
not going to wear them, because they wear peasant pajamas.”
Ti n n o ds . “ I ’ m o r d e r e d t o h a n g t h e u n i f o r m s a t t h e c a m o u f l a g e d d o o rs a n d v e n t i l a t i o n
h o l e s o f t h e t u n n e l s . A m e r i c a n t r o o p s w a l k a r o u n d w i t h s n i ff e r d o g s a t a r e a s s u s p e c t e d o f
having tunnels. When the dogs smell the familiar American smell from the uniforms, they
d o n ’t b a r k . ”  
A woman walks in from a nook in the walls, carrying vegetables picked from the outside
gardens. “Since the three of you are new here, I want to introduce myself. I’m the cook of
t h i s t u n n e l . Yo u c a n c a l l m e M rs . H e n . I h a v e t h i r t y y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e i n F r e n c h c o o k i n g i n
restaurants, but ten years of grudging cooking in the tunnel.”
“ I f y o u b e g r u d g e w o r k i n g i n t h e t u n n e l , w h y d o n’t y o u j u s t l e a v e h e r e ? ” Ti n s a y s .
“ I m u s t s t a y h e r e f o r m y d a u g h t e r, ” M r s . H e n s a y s .
“ We r e y o u a n d y o u r d a u g h t e r k i d n a p e d ? B o t h o f y o u c a n e s c a p e w i t h us , ” H o a s a y s .
“ N o , I c a n ’t . T h e V Cs h a v e m y d a u g h t e r s o m e w h e r e e l s e , ” M r s . H e n s a y s .
“ H o w d i d y o u a n d y o u r d a u g h t e r g e t c a u g h t i n t h e t u n n e l ? ” I s a y.
M r s . H e n l o o k s u ps e t . “ We h a d i m m i g r a t e d t o P a r i s a l o n g t i m e a g o . We ow n e d f i v e
restaurants on Rue Bonaparte, one of the prettiest streets in Paris. My daughter and I came
b a c k t o Vi e t n a m t o v i s i t . T h e V Cs k i d n a p e d u s a n d t o o k us t o t h e C u C h i t u n n e l s . T h e y m a d e
m e s i g n t h e r e s t a u r a n t s o v e r t o t h e m . M y d a u g h t e r ’s n a m e i s M y L a i . S h e w a s t w e l v e y e a r s
old when we were kidnaped.”
“Does your daughter have a tiny mole on the side of her chin?” Hoa says.
“ O h , y o u ’ v e s e e n h e r ? ” M r s . H e n s a ys .
I s a y, “ M i s s M y L a i i s o u r h i s t o r y a n d E n g l i s h t e a c h e r. S h e t e a c h e s o u r c l a s s e s e v e r y o t h e r
d a y. S h e i s m e a n w h e n w e a r e l a t e f o r c l a s s a n d h i t s o u r h a n d s w i t h a r u b b e r r u l e r. S h e i s n o t
b e i n g h e l d c a p t i v e . Yo u m u s t g e t a w a y f r o m t h e t u n n e l w i t h u s , a n d c o m e t o s t a y a t m y
h o u s e . I ’ l l t a k e y o u t o s c h o o l t o s e e y o u r d a u g h t e r. ”
“I bet that Miss My Lai escaped from the tunnels through some swing door in the rocks,”
Ti n s a ys .
I h e a r t h e c l a n k i n g o f a t r a i n c o m i n g . “ A r e t h e y m o v i n g t h e A m e r i c a n P O Ws a r o u n d ? ”
M r s . H e n l o o k s a r o u n d a t t h e w a l l s . “ A c t u a l l y, n ow t h e V Cs a r e m o v i n g A m e r i c a n P O W s
i n t o t h e t u n n e l s . W h e n a t r a i n d r o ps t h e P O W s o ff a t s t a t i o n s i n t h e t u n n e l s , t h e V C s c o m e
out of the walls and whisk the POWs away to secret locations. But most of the time, when
t h e V C s g e t i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e i r s p i e s t h a t t h e Tu n n e l R a t s a r e c o m i n g t o r a i d s o m e
t u n n e l s , t h e y h e r d t h e P O W s o n t o t h e u n d e rg r o u n d t r a i n s , a n d m o v e t h e m a w a y. ”
“ W h e r e d o y o u g o f o r e n t e r t a i n m e n t i n t h e t u n n e l s ? ’ I s a y.
M r s . H e n s a y s , “ L e t ’s g o t o t h e E n t e r t a i n m e n t H a l l . ”
T h e E n t e r t a i n m e n t H a l l i s a c r a t e r. S t e p s a r e c u t i n t o t h e c r a t e r ’s w a l l , t o f o r m b e n c h e s f o r
s p e c t a t o r s . E a c h p e r f o r m e r h o l d s a g u n i n o n e h a n d w h i l e p e r f o r m i n g . M a n y V Cs h o l d t e a r
g a s c a n i s t e r s i n t h e i r h a n d s , t o u s e t h e m o n t h e Tu n n e l R a t s i f t h e y i n v a d e t h e c r a t e r.  
A f t e r o n e h o u r i n t o t h e p e r f o r m a n c e , a n a i r r a i d s i r e n s o u n ds . T h e p e r f o r m e r s d r o p t h r o u g h
t h e c r a t e r ’s f l o o r t o g e t i n t o t h e t u n n e l s u n d e r t h e f l o o r, a n d c a m o u f l a g e d t a r p s a r e p u l l e d o u t
t o c o v e r t h e f l o o r. T h e s p e c t a t o r s s c r a m b l e o u t o f t h e i r s e a t s a n d r u n i n t o t h e h o l l o w s i n t h e
walls. Mrs. Hen leads us through a tunnel entrance in the wall, and we get back to the
kitchen.       
Mrs. Hen smiles. “I’ll make butter pecan ice cream, with the milk of the cows roaming on
H a m b u rg e r H i l l . Ti n a n d M a i a n d H o a , y o u g o o u t t o p i c k p e c a n f r u i t s . ”
We g o t o a g r o v e o f p e c a n t r e e s . A s w e l o i t e r a t a h a t c h d o o r o n t h e g r o u n d , a w o m a n V C
y e l l s , “ M o v e b a c k . Yo u ’ r e a t a b o o b y - t r a p p e d e x i t . Yo u ’ l l s t e p o n t h e w i r e s t h a t t r i g g e r t h e
trap to pull you into a dungeon.”  
M r s . H e n c o m e s o u t o f t h e h a t c h d o o r. S h e l o o k s a t t h e o t h e r w o m a n w h i l e h o l d i n g t h r e e
trowels and a bucket toward us. “I give these tools to the children. I want them to go and
catch turtles for me to cook turtle soup.”
T h e o t h e r w o m a n s a ys , “ Tu n n e l s a r e d u g a t f o u r d i ff e r e n t l e v e l s . T h e f i r s t l e v e l i s c l o s e s t
t o t h e g r o u n d s u r f a c e . I t c o n t a i n s b o o b y t r a p s , a i r v e n t s , a n d f i r i n g p os t s w h e r e w e s h o o t u p
through the holes dug into the ground. The kitchens and sleeping quarters are on the second
l e v e l . T h e t h i r d l e v e l c o n t a i n s h os p i t a l s , t h e a t e r s , a i d s t a t i o n s , a n d r o o m s f o r m e e t i n g s ,
recreation, and socializing. The fourth level is at the bottom where the well, stream, and
e n t r a n c e s a r e l o c a t e d . We u s e b o a t s t o m o v e a r o u n d i n t h e s t r e a m .  
A l l t u n n e l s c o m e o u t a t t h e G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r, A s s a s s i n J u n g l e , a n d E v e rg r e e n F o r e s t .
S o m e s m a l l t u r t l e s l i v e i n t h e s t r e a m , b u t b i g g e r t u r t l e s s t a y i n t h e r i v e r. L e t ’s p a d d l e t o t h e
river to catch turtles. I love to eat turtle soup.”
We f o l l o w t h e w o m a n t o t h e b o t t o m l e v e l . S h e g e t s a b o a t o u t o f a r e c e s s i n a r o c k w a l l
a n d s e t s i t i n t o t h e s t r e a m . We p a d d l e t h e b o a t t o t h e r i v e r.  
T h e w o m a n s a y s , “ L o o k a t t h e t u r t l e s p l a y i n g a m o n g t h e r o c k s a t t h e w a t e r ’s e d g e . To
catch turtles, you grab them by their back shell.”
We p u t 1 5 t u r t l e s i n t h e b u c k e t a n d g e t i n t o t h e b o a t .  
T h e w o m a n s a y s i n t o t h e h a m r a d i o , “ Tu n n e l R a t s a t t h e c a m o u f l a g e d e n t r a n c e d o o r s ? I ’ l l
s e n d s i g n a l s t o o u r c o m r a d e s . C h i l d r e n , b r i n g t h e t u r t l e s t o t h e c o o k . Te l l h e r I m u s t g o o ff
o n d u t y, a n d t o h o l d o ff m a k i n g t u r t l e s o u p u n t i l I c o m e b a c k . ”
We b r i n g t h e t u r t l e s t o M r s . H e n a n d t e l l h e r w h a t t h e w o m a n h a s s a i d . M r s . H e n p u t s t h e
turtles in a tank.
A f t e r w e f i n i s h e a t i n g t h e i c e c r e a m , Ti n a n d H o a g o b a c k t o w o r k . M r s . H e n t a p s m e o n
t h e s h o u l d e r a n d m o t i o n s f o r m e t o g o t o a h i d d e n c o r n e r. “ G o b a c k t o t h e w e l l , a n d g e t m e
w a t e r f o r c o o k i n g . Tr y t o l o o k f o r e s c a p e w a ys . We n e e d t o k n ow w h e r e t h e y a r e f o r w h e n w e
need to escape.”
A note nailed to a wall reads: WELL. A bucket with a rope tied to its wooden bar handle
sits beside the well. I tie the free end of the rope to my waist, wind the rope around it, and
get into the well. I brace my feet and palms against the opposite sides of the wall, to avoid
f a l l i n g t o t h e w a t e r a t t h e b o t t o m f a r b e l o w. T h e r o p e u n w i n d s a n d t h e b u c k e t k e e p s
d r o p p i n g , a n d i t s t o ps d r o p p i n g w h e n t h e r o p e b e c o m e s t a u t . I m o v e d ow n w i t h m y f e e t a n d
p a l m s b r a c i n g a g a i n s t t h e w a l l u n t i l t h e b u c k e t d i p s i n t o t h e w a t e r. T h e n I m o v e u p t h e w a l l ,
with the filled bucket swinging on the rope, and get out of the well. I carry the bucket to the
k i t c h e n a n d p o u r t h e w a t e r i n t o a t u b , a n d a b a b y t u r t l e f a l l s o u t w i t h t h e w a t e r. I m a k e
repeated trips between the kitchen and the well until the tub is filled.
W h e n I ’ m d o n e g e t t i n g w a t e r, I g o b a c k t o t h e w e l l . T h i s t i m e I b r i n g a l o n g a s m a l l r a k e , a
p e n c i l , a n d s o m e b l a n k s h e e t s o f p a p e r. I r ow t h e b o a t t o t h e G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r, t o w h e r e
t h e S k ys c r a p e r Tr e e s t a n d s . I w i s h Ti n a n d H o a w e r e w i t h m e n ow s o t h a t w e c o u l d l e a v e
f r o m h e r e . I f I e s c a p e d n o w, t h e V Cs w o u l d m a k e t r o u b l e f o r t h e m a n d M r s . H e n . I d r aw a
m a p o f a p o s s i b l e e s c a p e w a y.    
When I come back to the kitchen, Mrs. Hen says, “I make good shrimp lomein. I can make
you a plate if you want.”  
“ I l o v e t o e a t s h r i m p l o m e i n , ” I s a y.
M r s . H e n s a y s , “ I n e e d c a t f i s h w h i s k e r s . Yo u t a k e 1 5 c a t f i s h , o n e a t a t i m e , o u t o f t h e t a n k
w i t h a g r e e n m a r k , c l i p o ff t w o - t h i r d s o f t h e l e n g t h o f t h e i r w h i s k e r s i n t o a c o l a n d e r, a n d p u t
t h e f i s h b a c k i n t h e t a n k w i t h a r e d m a r k , w h e r e t h e y w i l l s t a y u n t i l t h e i r w h i s k e rs g r o w
back.”
“ H o w l o n g w i l l i t t a k e f o r t h e w h i s k e r s t o g r o w b a c k ? ” I s a y.
“In two weeks,” she says.   
S h e s t i r- f r i e s t h e w h i s k e r s w i t h s o m e s h r i m p s , s c o o p s t h e c o n t e n t s o n t o a p l a t e , a n d p u s h e s
it toward me. 
“ W h e r e a r e t h e l o m e i n n o o d l e s ? ” I s a y.
“Catfish whiskers are used instead of lomein noodles.”    
I flip the slippery whiskers around with chopsticks. “Next time when I order shrimp
lomein at a Chinese restaurant, I’ll look carefully to make sure the noodles are not actually
bleached catfish whiskers.”
M r s . H e n s a y s , “ We d o n ’t h a v e m a n y f o o d c h o i c e s i n t h e t u n n e l s . I f y o u w a n t t o e a t m e a t ,
you can go catch a fowl at the edge of the Assassin Jungle. I’ll roast it for you.”

Chapter 24 – A Daring Escape from the Cu Chi

Tunnels

I stand behind a tree trunk, watching the chickens scratching the ground at the foot of the
w i r e f e n c e o f a h o us e . I r e a c h m y h a n ds o u t t o s n a t c h t h e n e a r e s t c h i c k e n w h e n a y o u n g l a d y
c o m e s o u t o f t h e h o us e , c a r r y i n g a c o n t a i n e r o f f o o d . T h e c h i c k e n s s t o p s c r a t c h i n g a n d r u n
a w a y.  
T h e l a d y i s s e t t i n g u p a s t a n d s e l l i n g o n l y r i c e s o u p s e r v e d w i t h a m i x o f d i ff e r e n t m e a t s .
S h e s e t s d o w n a c o n t a i n e r f u l l o f s h r e d d e d m e a t o n t h e c o u n t e r, a n d t h e n w a l k s b a c k i n t o t h e
h o u s e . I d a s h t o t h e s t a n d , a n d g r a b a h a n d f u l o f t h e m e a t a n d s t uff i t i n t o m y m o u t h . T h e
l a d y a g a i n a p p e a r s a t t h e d o o r, a n d I r u n a w a y.
She shrieks, “Who took some of the meat?”
H e r v o i c e s o u n ds f a m i l i a r, s o I s t o p a n d t h e n w a l k b a c k . “ O h , B o n g , t h a t ’s y o u . W h e r e ’s
the baby?”
Bong says, “Oh, Mai. I’m happy to see you again. My baby girl is in the house with her
g r a n d m a . We m o v e d f r o m D a n a n g t o h e r e . ”
I s m i l e . “ I f I w e r e n o t i n a h u r r y, I ’ d t a k e y o u a n d y o u r b a b y h o m e t o M o m . I ’ m s o r r y f o r
ruining your business by eating some of the meat.”
“ I t ’s O K . I ’ l l m a k e d o w i t h w h a t I h a v e , ” B o n g s a y s .
S h e l a d l e s t h e r i c e s o u p i n t o a b o w, p u t s a l o t o f m e a t o n t o p o f t h e s o u p , a n d p u s h es t h e
bowl toward me. “Go ahead and eat.”   
T h e b a c k y a r d o f B o n g ’s h o us e j o i n s t h e b a c k y a r d o f a b i g h o us e . A t r i b u t a r y o f t h e G o l d
N u g g e t s R i v e r r u ns t h r o u g h t h e o t h e r h o u s e ’s b a c k y a r d . T h e r e ’ r e g l o w i n g r o c k s i n t h e
t r i b u t a r y. I s a y, “ W h a t ! H ow d i d t h e g l o w i n g r o c k s g e t h e r e ? ”  
Bong says, “Climate Change has caused the Gold Nuggets River to push the glowing rocks
i n t o t h i s t r i b u t a r y. ”
“ C a n I t a k e s o m e o f t h e r o c k s h e r e ? ” I s a y.
B o n g s a y s , “ T h e r o c k s a r e o n s o m e o n e e l s e ’s p r o p e r t y. Yo u n e e d t o a s k t h e o w n e r. I h a v e
n e v e r s e e n t h e ow n e r, b u t I ’ v e s e e n t h e V C s r u n n i n g a r o u n d o n t h e p r o p e r t y. B u t w h y a r e y o u
interested in the rocks?”
“I want to make cosmetics with them, and sell the makeup.”
B o n g s a y s . “ I g u e s s n o o n e c a r e s i f y o u t a k e t h e m . I ’ d l i k e t o b r i n g m y b a b y t o s h ow h e r t o
y o u r m o m a f t e r I ’ m d o n e s e l l i n g t h e s o u p t o d a y i f i t ’s O K w i t h y o u . We ’ l l s e e y o u a t y o u r
house.”
I s a y, “ I ’ m s o r r y I c a n ’t b e h o m e t o d a y. “ T h e V C s k i d n a p p e d m e a n d m y f r i e n d s , H o a a n d
Ti n , a n d p u t u s i n t h e C u C h i t u n n e l s . T h e y h a d k i d n a p p e d a w o m a n a n d h e r d a u g h t e r i n t o t h e
t u n n e l s t e n y e a r s a g o . T h e m o t h e r, M r s . H e n , i s n ow a c o o k i n t h e t u n n e l s , a n d h e r d a u g h t e r,
M i s s M y L a i , i s n o w t e a c h i n g a t o u r s c h o o l . M rs . H e n h a s b e e n t h i n k i n g t h a t t h e V C s a r e
h o l d i n g h e r d a u g h t e r s o m e w h e r e e l s e w h e n h e r d a u g h t e r h a s a l r e a d y e s c a p e d . M r s . H e n , Ti n ,
H o a , a n d I w i l l e s c a p e t o g e t h e r. I m u s t g o b a c k t o t h e t u n n e l s n ow b e c a u s e i f I d o n ’t , I w i l l
c a u s e t r o u b l e f o r t h e m . P l e a s e t e l l m y m o m a n d M is s M y L a i t h a t w e w i l l b e b a c k s o o n . ”  
Bong hands me a package wrapped in banana leaves. “I saved some meat for you to take
back to the tunnels.”
I w a l k i n t o t h e k i t c h e n , Ti n a n d H o a a r e t a l k i n g w i t h M r s . H e n . I u nw r a p t h e p a c k a g e a n d
put it down in front of them.  
“ M r s . H e n , d o y o u k n ow o f a w o m a n n a m e d Ti e n S t i l w e l l ? ” Ti n s a y s .
Mrs. Hen says, “Oh, yes. I saw her in an area of fortified tunnels where there are glowing
rocks. Is she your mother?”  
 Ti n s m i l e s . “ W h e n w e g e t o u t o f h e r e , I ’ l l g o l o o k f o r m y m o m .   Wi l l y o u p l e a s e g o w i t h
m e a n d s h ow m e w h e r e y o u s a w h e r ? ”  
“ I ’ l l g o f o r s u r e , ” M r s . H e n s a ys .
T h e V C s w a l k i n o n us . T h e V C L i e u t e n a n t C o m m a n d e r g l o w e r s a t m e w h i l e p u s h i n g a
stack of blank sheets of paper toward me. “Our spies reported that an American POW had
c o m m u n i c a t e d s o m e s e c r e t s t o y o u . Yo u m u s t w r i t e a c o n f e s s i o n o f y o u r c r i m e s . ”
I s c r i b b l e r a n d o m a l p h a b e t s i n m e s s y h a n d w r i t i n g o n t h e p a p e r. M y w r i t i n g d o e s n' t m a k e
a n y s e n s e . I h a n d “ t h e c o n f e s s i o n ” t o t h e L i e u t e n a n t C o m m a n d e r.
H e l o o k s a t i t . “ Yo u r c o n f e s s i o n s o u n d s t r u e , b u t y o u h a v e m e s s y h a n d w r i t i n g , i g n o r a n t
girl. But you’ll get candy for your cooperation.”
I g o t o t h e w e l l a n d s e e a d o g s t a n d i n g a t t h e t u n n e l ’s e n t r a n c e . T h e d o g i s h o l d i n g a w h i t e
e n v e l o p e i n i t s s n o u t . I c o m e n e a r t h e d o g , a n d i t p u s h es t h e e n v e l o p e t o w a r d m y h a n d . I t a k e
t h e e n v e l o p e , a n d p a t t h e d o g o n i t s h e a d . T h e d o g w a gs i t s t a i l a n d r u n s a w a y. I r e a d t h e
w o r d s w r i t t e n o n t h e e n v e l o p e : To M a f r o m M y L a i .    
I run to the kitchen. “Mrs. Hen, you’ve got mail.”
M r s . H e n r i p s o p e n t h e e n v e l o p e a n d l o o k s a t t h e l e t t e r, h e r h a n d s s h a k i n g . “ M y L a i , m y
d a u g h t e r. T h i s i s h e r h a n d w r i t i n g . ” S h e h a n d s t h e l e t t e r t o m e , s a y i n g i n a c h o k i n g v o i c e ,
“Please read it to me.”   
Ti n a n d H o a c o m e o v e r a n d s t a n d b e s i d e m e , l o o k i n g a t t h e l e t t e r a l o n g w i t h m e . I r e a d ,
“ To M a f r o m M y L a i . Tu n n e l R a t s a r e e n t e r i n g t h e t u n n e l s s o o n . M a , M a i , Ti n , a n d H o a m u s t
escape from the tunnels, to avoid getting caught in an armed struggle. My drawings depict
t h e a c t i o n s y o u m u s t d o t o g e t o u t o f t h e t u n n e l s . Yo u m u s t c a r r y o u t t h e a c t i o n s i n t h e w e l l
in the bottom tunnel.”
T h e V C s a r e r u n n i n g a r o u n d i n t h e t u n n e l s , t r y i n g t o g e t i n t o h i d i n g . We g o d o w n t o t h e
b o t t o m t u n n e l , a n d i t i s d e s e r t e d . We f o l l o w M i s s M y L a i ’s i n s t r u c t i o n s .    
H o a s a y s , “ T h e f i r s t a c t i o n i s t o l e t a d o g g e t o n t h e h a n d l e o f t h e b u c k e t . B u t w h e r e ’s t h e
dog?”
T h e d o g t h a t d e l i v e r e d t h e e n v e l o p e t o m e a p p e a r s a t t h e t u n n e l ’s e n t r a n c e , c o m e s t o t h e
w e l l , a n d j u m p s o n t o t h e b u c k e t ’s h a n d l e . Ti n l o w e r s t h e b u c k e t h a l f w a y i n t o t h e w e l l , a n d
the dog jumps into a square hole cut in the wall.
I s a y, “ L e t m e t i e k n o t s o n t h e r o p e t o m a k e h a n d h o l d s a n d f o o t h o l d s . T h e n w e c a n t a k e
turns climbing down the rope and get into the hole in the wall.”
Ti n t i e s t h e f r e e e n d o f t h e r o p e t o t h e i r o n r i n g b o l t e d t o t h e w a l l a t t h e t o p o f t h e w e l l .
M r s . H e n c l i m b s d o w n i n t o t h e w e l l a n d g e t s i n t o t h e h o l e , t h e n H o a , t h e n I . We s t a n d i n t h e
h o l e w a i t i n g f o r Ti n t o c o m e d o w n . We s t a r t g e t t i n g w o r r i e d w h e n Ti n c o m e s i n t o t h e h o l e .
T h e h o l e o p e n s u p i n t o a w i d e t u n n e l . Ti n s a ys , “ T h i s i s t h e m a i n t u n n e l t h a t a l l o w s
cooking smoke from the kitchens of many tunnels to escape to the outside. This tunnel
b r a n c h e s o ff o n t o a g l o w i n g t u n n e l . ” I w a l k t o t h e e n d o f t h e g l o w i n g t u n n e l a n d l o o k
through the iron grate blocking the opening. I see my bedroom lighted by my baby Moons
a n d b a b y S u ns . I p u l l t h e b o l t o ff t h e g r a t e , a n d M r s . H e n , H o a , Ti n a n d I c r a w l t h r o u g h t h e
o p e n i n g i n t o m y b e d r o o m . We w a l k i n t o t h e l i v i n g r o o m , a n d B o n g h o l d i n g h e r b a b y g i r l ,
Miss My Lai and Mom turn and look at us.
I s a y, “ M o m , I f o u n d s u n a n d m o o n r o c k s a t a p r o p e r t y, w i t h i t s b a c k y a r d j o i n i n g B o n g ’s
b a c k y a r d . t h e r e a r e t a m a r i n d s h e l l s a t t h e b a c k y a r d f e n c e o f t h e p r o p e r t y. ”
When we are by ourselves, Mom says, “When we have the time, I’d like to go with you to
s e e t h a t p r o p e r t y. ”

Chapter 25 – People Get Sick by COVID

On our way home from school, Hoa says, “I want to grow banana trees in my front yard,
but the banana saplings are expensive. Where can I get some free saplings?”
“ G e t t h e s a m e t y p e t h a t M a i h a s , ” Ti n s a y s .
“ I s t a r t e d m y b a n a n a t r e e w i t h a s h o o t b u d I h a d d u g u p f r o m t h e A s s a s s i n J u n g l e , ” I s a y.
“ L e t ’s g o t o t h e j u n g l e t o d i g u p s o m e s h o o t b u d s , ’ H o a s a ys .    
In the Assassin Jungle, we come to the rice paddy dike, but a part of it has collapsed into
t h e p a d d y. S u n l i g h t c o m e s t h r o u g h a p a t c h o f d e f o l i a t e d t r e e t o p s a n d s h i n e s o n t h e d i k e . A
s o l d i e r i n b a r e b a c k s h o v e l s a n d t a m p s c o n c r e t e d e b r i s i n t o t h e c o l l a p s e d p a r t w h e r e i t ’s
unhindered by foliage. 
A h e l i c o p t e r h o v e r s o v e r t h e r e p a i r e d p a r t o f t h e d i k e . Wi t h a M a r i n e i n f u l l c o m b a t g e a r
s t a n d i n g a t t h e o p e n d o o r o f t h e h e l i c o p t e r, i t s w o o ps s t r a i g h t d o w n a n d l a n d s a c r o s s t h e
makeshift landing pad. The soldier walks up to the Marine, and they communicate using the
U . S . A r m y h a n d a n d a r m s i g n a l s . A f t e r a f e w m o m e n t s , t h e s o l d i e r b a c k s aw a y f r o m t h e
h e l i c o p t e r. I t l i f t s o ff t o w a r d t h e M e k o n g D e l t a .  
We t u r n t o l e a v e , b u t t h e s o l d i e r w a v e s f o r u s t o c o m e t o h i m . We w a l k o n t o t h e m a k e s h i f t
landing pad.
I s t a r e a t t h e s o l d i e r. “ Yo u w e r e t h e P O W i m p r i s o n e d i n a h a m m o c k h a n g i n g o n a f i g t r e e
i n t h e A s s a s s i n J u n g l e ! Yo u w e r e a l s o t h e d r o w n i n g M a r i n e ! W h a t h a v e y o u b e e n u p t o ?
He only chuckles. He reaches into his pants pockets and takes out an apple, a pocket knife,
and a military canteen. He cuts the apple in three and gives a segment to each of us, and then
he drinks water from the canteen.
“ W h a t a r e t h o s e c r e a t u r e s s w i m m i n g i n t h e p a d d y ? ” Ti n s a ys , p o i n t i n g d o w n t o w a r d t h e
water by our feet. 
The soldier beams. “They’re Signal crawdads. I train them. They can fade their color out
t o e v a d e c a p t u r e , o r t h e y c a n f a d e t h e i r c o l o r i n t o c o m e i n t o v i e w. T h e y k n ow w h e r e t o f i n d
me.”   
A t t h e s o u n d o f v o i c e s c o m i n g , t h e s o l d i e r d a s h e s i n t o t h e n e a r b y t r e e s . Tw o m e n p e d a l
their bikes onto the dike.
I s a y, “ A h , m y c o u s i n N a m . I h a r d l y r e c o g n i z e d y o u w i t h y o u r l o n g b i l l b a s e b a l l c a p p u l l e d
down low over your face. Where are you and your friend going?”
N a m t u r n s t o h i s f r i e n d . “ T h i s i s C h a n . We ’ r e o n a s c o u r i n g a d v e n t u r e . ”
C h a n s m i l e s . “ A c t u a l l y w e ’ r e g o i n g t o t h e D r a g o n Wa y c a v e t o c a t c h c r a w d a d s . ”
P o i n t i n g d o w nw a r d , H o a s a y s , “ N o n e e d t o g o t h e r e n o w. L o o k , g o o d i r i d e s c e n t c r a w d a d s
a r e r i g h t h e r e i n t h e p a d d y. ”  
  C h a n l i f t s a n e t h a n g i n g f r o m h i s b i k e ’s h a n d l e a n d s t a r t s p u t t i n g i t i n t h e w a t e r. B u t t h e
crawdads fade their color out.  
F r o m b e h i n d t h e t r e e s , t h e s o l d i e r s a y s , “ D o n ’t c a t c h m y c r a w d a d s . S i g n a l s , i t ’s O K t o
s h o w y o u rs e l f . ”  
T h e c r a w d a d s r e t u r n t o t h e i r c o l o r.  
H o a s n a t c h e s t h e n e t f r o m C h a n ’s h a n d a n d p l u n g e s i t a t t h e c r a w d a d s . S h e l i f t s u p t h e n e t
and swings it hard, scattering the crawdads onto the surplus concrete debris.  
I s e e m o r e c r a w d a d s l y i n g o n t h e i r s i d e a t t h e p a d d y ’s b o t t o m , a n d r e a c h m y h a n d s t o w a r d
t h e m . T h e y f l i p u p r i g h t a s i f r e a d y t o f i g h t , a n d c o m e t o g e t h e r t o s u r r o u n d m y s u b m e rg e d
hands. They fan their wide-spread tails up and down, splashing water on my face, and I keep
my eyes closed. When I feel no more water hitting my face, I open my eyes. The crawdads
are crawling away on land among the Asian red poppies.  
The soldier rummages in the concrete debris for the scattered crawdads. As he picks them
up, they glare at him with bulging green eyes, squinting at him with the black ink coming out
o f t h e i r h e a d s . W h e n h e f i n i s h e s p u t t i n g t h e m b a c k i n t o t h e w a t e r, t h e y d a s h a r o u n d i n a
c r a z y m a n n e r. H e t a k e s o u t a r e t r a c t a b l e r o d f r o m h i s p o c k e t , p u l l s t h e r o d t o i t s f u l l l e n g t h ,
and flips a switch on, and the rod glows with blue LED light. The crawdads grab the glowing
rod with their pincers, regaining their balance.
The soldier hoots toward the crawdads on the field of red poppies, “Signals. Get back in
t h e w a t e r. ”
T h e c r a w d a d s s c u r r y b a c k a n d d r o p i n t o t h e w a t e r.
I look at a wobbling bridge. It is made by joining tree branches to make two parallel
runners, lashing bamboo poles across the runners, and braiding vines to make the handrails.
T h e s o l d i e r b e a m s . “ I m a d e t h i s b r i d g e . I d o n ’t k n o w w h y t h e Vi e t n a m e s e w o u l d c a l l a
bridge of this type Monkey Bridge.”
I s a y, “ M y g r a n d m a t o l d m e i t ’s c a l l e d M o n k e y B r i d g e b e c a u s e t h i s k i n d o f b r i d g e i s s o
f l i m s y t h a t a s y o u w a l k o n i t , y o u m u s t c l u t c h t h e v i n e h a n d r a i l s , m o v e i n a s t o o p i n g p os t u r e ,
a n d b a l a n c e y o u r b o d y a g a i n s t t h e w o b b l i n g m o v e m e n t o f t h e b r i d g e , s o y o u d o n ’t f a l l o ff
it.”
T h e s o l d i e r n o d s . “ T h a t m a k e s s e ns e . A n yw a y, y o u k i d s c a n t a k e t h i s b r i d g e t o g e t t o t h e
D r a g o n Wa y c a v e , a n d g e t o n t h e m a i n r o a d f r o m t h e r e . ”
C h a n a n d N a m p e d a l a w a y. H o a , Ti n , a n d I c r o s s t h e b r i d g e a n d c o m e u p t o a l a g o o n
shaded by palm trees.
Ti n s a ys , “ T h e s o l d i e r s a i d w e w o u l d c o m e t o t h e D r a g o n Wa y c a v e . M a y b e w e ’ v e m i s s e d a
t u r n s o m e w h e r e . B u t I s o m e w h a t k n o w t h i s p l a c e . We c a n g e t t o t h e c a v e f r o m h e r e . ”  
H e l e a d s us t o s w i m u n d e r a b u s h s us p e n d i n g o v e r t h e l a g o o n , b u t w e c o m e o u t o n t o a f i e l d
with sparse trees, where some trees are cut and felled, and the stumps are left in place.  
Ti n s a ys , “ H e y ! We ’ r e s o l o s t ! B u t f r o m h e r e , w e c a n s e e Yu l u t o w n . ”
P o i n t i n g t o t h e b o r d e r f e n c e n e a r b y i n f r o n t o f u s , H o a s a ys , “ To o b a d w e c a n ’t c r o s s t h e
f e n c e t o g e t i n t o Yu l u . ”
I s a y, “ O K t h e n , w e c a n s t a n d h e r e f o r a l i t t l e b i t , a n d w a t c h a l l t h e a c t i v i t i e s g o i n g o n
across the fence.” 
A b u i l d i n g s t a n d s o n t o p o f N i n e L i v e s h i l l , a n d a s i g n o n t o p o f t h e b u i l d i n g s a ys “ L e v e l -
4 C O V ID L a b ” .  
Good Health Game Market sits in front of the hill. The market erupts in waves of shouting
c h e e r s a n d l a u g h t e r. N e a r b y t h e m a r k e t , a s e c u r i t y h u t s t a n d s o v e r t h e w a t e r a t t h e e d g e o f a
canal, which flows into a swamp, in which yaks wade with only their eyes and curved horns
protruding above the watery surface.  
At a meat stall, dangling on a rope tied to a tree branch, a butchered yak hangs in a head-
down position, with its head hovering over a thick chopping block. The butcher slips a
p l a s t i c b a g u p t h e y a k ’s h e a d a n d c u t s i t o ff , t h e b a g b o m b i n g d ow n w h e n t h e h e a d d r o p s i n t o
i t . H e h a n d s t h e b a g t o a w a i t i n g c u s t o m e r.  
A stall serves ready-to-eat specialty food. I try to count up all the dishes contained in
t r a y s o n t h e s e r v i n g c o u n t e r, b u t t h e r e a r e t o o m a n y d i s h e s t o k e e p t r a c k o f . O n a c a r t o n
board nailed to a wooden pole driven into the ground, the handwritten scribbles advertise the
animals used for meat in the dishes: endangered spotted civet, blue-tail ostrich, wet mink,
s n a p p i n g t u r t l e , S i a m e s e c r o c o d i l e , r i c e p a d d y b u ff a l o , a n d ow l . P r i c e s a r e l i s t e d i n U . S .
D o l l a r v a l u e f o r t h e s p e c i a l t y d i s h e s : P e k i n g w e t m i n k , $ 9 5 ; E l f O w l j e r k y, $ 7 5 ; p i c k l e d p a l m
c i v e t , $ 5 0 ; b r a i s e d c o b r a , $ 3 0 ; S i a m e s e c r o c o d i l e k a b o b , $ 2 5 ; b r o a s t e d r i c e p a d d y b uff a l o
p a w, $ 1 0 .  
At the same stall, the bar serves bat blood on tap, at $35 a shot. A van pulls up in front of
t h e b a r. T h e o w n e r l o o k s a r o u n d f o r a l o n g w h i l e , a n d t h e n m o t i o n s t o h i s h e l p e r s . T h e y
reach under the counter and pull out a rectangular cage full of horny scale pangolins, and a
triangular cage of dragon-faced bats clinging to the net. While the helpers load the cages
o n t o t h e v a n , t h e o w n e r w a l k s o v e r t o t h e v a n ’s d r i v e r- s i d e w i n d o w. T h e d r i v e r r e a c h e s a
s t a c k o f 1 0 0 - d o l l a r b i l l s o u t t h e w i n d o w, a n d t h e o w n e r t a k e s t h e m o n e y a n d s l i d e s i t i n t o a
pouch tied to his waist. He scurries to the bar counter and disappears under it.  
A b o y c o m e s o u t o f a h o u s e o n t h e Vi e t n a m e s e s i d e , w a l k s o v e r, a n d s t a n d s b es i d e u s . H e
s a y s , “ T h e y ’ v e b e e n h a v i n g t h e L u n a r M o n t h F e a s t f o r t h e l a s t f o u r w e e ks . I h o p e t h e y d o n ’t
get sick from eating all that raw meat and drinking the blood of wild animals.”  
 Red snakes are crawling on the ground. The workers skin the snakes, remove the meat
f r o m t h e b o n e s a n d s l i c e t h e m e a t i n t o a t u b . T h e y p o u r b a g s o f f r es h l o t u s f l o w e r p e t a l s a n d
Dragon Fire spices, a product of Dragon Kingdom, on the raw meat. They roll up their shirt
sleeves and put their bare hands in the tub to mix up the contents, the juice of the mixture
s o a k i n g u p t o t h e f o l d e d p a r t s o f t h e i r s l e e v e s . A b a l d w o r k e r, w i t h a b a n d a n a t i e d a r o u n d h i s
head, licks his fingers, saying, “Good! Serve up the Longevity Salad to the connoisseur
mob!” 
The trays of Longevity Salad are put on the serving tables with no refrigeration equipment.
C u s t o m e r s f i l l u p t h e i r p l a t e s w i t h t h e s a l a d , a n d g o a r o u n d a n d s i t d ow n w h e r e t h e y c a n . A t
a rock ledge, a man pulls out a bottle of Sake wine from his pocket, pours raw bat blood into
t h e b o t t l e , a n d s h a k e s i t u p . T h e n h e p o u rs t h e c o n t e n t s i n t o t h e g l a s s e s o f t h e p e o p l e
s u r r o u n d i n g h i m . W h i l e e a t i n g t h e s a l a d , t h e y c l i n k g l a s s e s a n d s h o u t , “ To y o u r h e a l t h a n d
w i s d o m , ” a n d t h e n d r i n k u p t h e i r g l a s s es .  
A woman among the group sways and lurches backward, clutching her chest. “Oh no, I
c a n ’t b r e a t h e . ”  
More people among the group clutch their chests, heaving, and coughing. Five of them are
c a r r i e d a w a y o n s t r e t c h e r s , w i t h t h e i r h e a d s f i t t e d t i g h t l y i n s i d e t h e e m p t y p l a s t i c b a gs o f t h e
Dragon Fire spices. 
A white van with a red cross painted on it rolls to a stop on the festival ground. Health
w o r k e r s w e a r i n g h a z m a t s u i t s j u m p d o w n t h e v a n . T h e y s w a b t h e n os t r i l s o f t h e p e o p l e a c t i n g
sick, to collect samples for testing.
A l o u d s p e a k e r a n n o u n c e s , “ S o f a r, t h i r t y t h o u s a n d p e o p l e a r e t e s t e d p o s i t i v e f o r C O V ID . ”  
P e o p l e a t t h e m a r k e t l o o k a t o n e a n o t h e r a n d g o i n d i ff e r e n t d i r e c t i o n s , l e a v i n g t h e t i e d - u p
alive animals flopping on the ground.

Chapter 26 – The COVID Comes from the Level-

4 COVID Lab
H o a , Ti n , a n d I g o t o T h i e n c h u a I n t e r n a t i o n a l P o r t , t o s e e t h e v i s i t i n g J o h n F. K e n n e d y
a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r. B u t w e ’ r e t o l d t h e a r r i v a l o f t h e c a r r i e r h a s b e e n p o s t p o n e d . A C o m e t C r u i s e
L i n e s h i p c a r r i e s p a s s e n g e r s t o a c o n c e r t i n Yu l u , a n d w e b o a r d t h e s h i p . I t c a r r i e s t h e
passengers to the concert at Health Game Market. While the concert is playing, we walk
around the market. Where the Lunar Month Feast has been held, the restrained animals are
still flopping on the ground since three days ago, and the trays of dried-up Longevity Salad
are still left on the serving tables.  
Ti n s a ys , “ T h e b a r o w n e r d i s a p p e a r e d u n d e r t h e c o u n t e r a f t e r h e h a d d e l i v e r e d t h e
p a n g o l i n s a n d b a t s t o t h e v a n d r i v e r. I w o n d e r i f t h e r e ’s a h i d d e n r o u t e u n d e r t h e c o u n t e r. ”
“ L e t ’s g o t h e r e a n d s e e , ” H o a s a ys .    
We s t a r t g o i n g b u t s t o p w h e n w e h e a r t h r o u g h t h e t r e e s p e o p l e t a l k i n g i n c a u t i o u s f e a r f u l
v o i c e s . I l o o k t h r o u g h t h e t r e e s . “O h , i t ’s o n l y C h a n a n d N a m w h o a r e t a l k i n g . ”
C h a n s a y s , “ I w o r k a s a t r a i n e e i n t h e L e v e l - 4 CO V I D L a b , a m a x i m u m s e c u r i t y l a b w h e r e
s o m e C O V I D v i r u s i s s u b m i t t e d t o u n d e rg o m a n y g e n e t i c m u t a t i o n s . M y w o r k i s t o r e s e a r c h
the development of a COVID vaccine.  
“ A c o l l e a g u e o f m i n e h a d d r o p p e d a b a s k e t c o n t a i n i n g v i a l s o f t h e l i v e m u t a t e d C O V ID
v i r u s i n t o a t e s t t u b e w a s h e r, a n d t h e v i a l s b r o k e . S h e r e p o r t e d t h e i n c i d e n t t o h e r s u p e r v i s o r.
“ H e a l t h O ff i c e r s s h o w e d u p , s h o v e d m y c o l l e a g u e i n t o t h e s e c u r i t y h u t o n t h e c a n a l n e a r
t h e m a r k e t , a n d s a i d , ‘D o n ’t b e a w h i s t l e b l o w e r. Yo u m u s t n o t t e l l w h a t h a p p e n e d . Yo u w i l l
cause social panic.’
“ S o m e p e o p l e w h o w o r k i n t h e l a b g o t i n t r o u b l e f o r s p e a k i n g u p a b o u t t h e CO V I D v i r u s
gaining the ability to spread from person to person. Since I work in the lab, I fear for my
s a f e t y. I f y o u d o n ’t s e e m e a g a i n , y o u k n ow w h a t m i g h t h a v e h a p p e n e d t o m e . ”
N a m s a y s , “ T h e r e ’s a v i r u s s p r e a d g o i n g o n , b u t t h e a u t h o r i t i e s d o n ’t w a n t a n y o n e t o h e a r
a b o u t i t . S o t h e y p r e t e n d t h i n g s a r e n o r m a l . I w o n d e r h o w t h e CO V I D v i r u s p a s s e d f r o m t h e
lab to the Health Game Market.”  
Chan says, “The water lines from the test tube washer lead out to the market, where the
water is also used in preparing food.”  
From the security hut, a guard is walking toward Chan and Nam, and they run away into
t h e A s s a s s i n J u n g l e . We r u n b a c k t o t h e d o c k , c r o s s t h e g a n g w a y, a n d g e t o n t h e s h i p .
A s o u r s h i p i s p u l l i n g s l ow l y i n t o t h e p o r t , a P o r t S e c u r i t y O ff i c e r s p e a k s o n l o u d s p e a k e r,
“ S a i l t h e s h i p b a c k t o Yu l u . A l l p a s s e n g e r s a n d t h e c r e w a r e t o b e q u a r a n t i n e d i n Yu l u , a n d
m u s t b e t e s t e d f o r CO V I D . ”
Crew members and passengers disembark from the cruise ship and walk to the quarantine
building. 
P e o p l e w h o s h o w s y m p t o m s o f b e i n g i n f e c t e d w i t h CO V I D a r e h o o k e d u p t o v e n t i l a t o r s
that measure oxygen level, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate.  
Ti n a n d H o a h a v e b e e n t e s t e d n e g a t i v e f o r C O V I D , s o t h e y h a v e b e e n a l l o w e d t o w a l k o u t
t h e d o o r. A H e a l t h Wo r k e r h a s c o l l e c t e d m y n a s a l s w a b s a m p l e f o r C O V ID t e s t i n g . I s t a r t
m a k i n g m y w a y t o w a r d s t h e e x i t d o o r i n a n t i c i p a t i o n o f a n e g a t i v e C O V ID t e s t , b u t s t o p u p o n
hearing the announcement: “The test reading machine is broken.”
I ' d p u t i t i n a r o o m w i t h o n e g l a s s w a l l f a c i n g t h e L e v e l - 4 C O V ID L a b .  
T h r o u g h t h e g l a s s w a l l , I s e e a w o m a n , w e a r i n g a p o n c h o e v e n t h o u g h i t ’s n o t r a i n i n g ,
walk-in stoop. As she comes near the wall, she lifts up her face and I recognize Mom. I wave
and smile, but she keeps on walking past the wall. I shout, “I’m in here, Mom,” but she
d o e s n ’t t u r n a r o u n d .  
I p o u n d o n t h e w a l l w i t h m y f i s t , a n d s h e p a u s es a n d t u r n s a r o u n d , b l i n k i n g h e r e y e s .
Suddenly her eyes grow wide, and she quickly runs back to stand in front of me. I put my
hands on the wall, and Mom puts her hand on mine on the other side of the wall.  
A policeman comes and brandishes a club at them, and points them toward a road. They
keep looking at me while backing away from the wall, tears streaming down their cheeks.
When they reach the road, they turn and wave toward me before disappearing around the
c o r n e r.  
I s i t d ow n o n t h e f l o o r, b l a m i n g t h e r e a d i n g m a c h i n e f o r u n t i m e l y b e i n g b r o k e n , a n d s o
p u t t i n g m e i n a b i n d . J u s t a s I ’ m a b o u t t o d o z e o ff , C h a n w e a r i n g a w h i t e l a b c o a t c o m e s i n
front of the glass wall and holds up a placard with a handwriting statement that says, “Mai,
y o u t e s t e d n e g a t i v e f o r CO V I D . Yo u ’ r e f r e e t o g o . G o t o t h e e x i t d o o r. ” T h e n h e r u ns a w a y
into the trees. 
I q u i c k l y m a k e m y w a y t o t h e d o o r, w a l k o u t o f t h e q u a r a n t i n e b u i l d i n g , a n d h e a d t o w a r d
t h e G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r t o g o h o m e . I s i t d ow n o n t h e r i v e r b a n k , b e s i d e a s i g n t h a t s a y s ,
“ F l o a t i n g Vi l l a g e . ” t h e v i l l a g e ’s i n h a b i t a n t s l i v e a n d m a k e a l i v i n g b y s e l l i n g f o o d a n d
p r o d u c e r i g h t f r o m t h e i r b o a t s . Ta l l p o l e s a r e s e t u p r i g h t f r o m t h e b o a t s , a n d o t h e r p o l e s a r e
s e t h o r i z o n t a l l y a c r o s s t h e u p r i g h t p o l e s . I t e m s r e p r e s e n t i n g w h a t ’s b e i n g s o l d a r e h u n g a l o n g
the horizontal poles.  
A boat has long noodle strings hanging from its horizontal poles, and I order noodle soup
w i t h P e k i n g d u c k f r o m t h e b o a t . T h e v e n d o r p u t s m y s t e a m i n g s o u p b ow l a n d c h o p s t i c k s a n d
a spoon on one end of a wooden plank that rests across the flanks of the boat. Then she
p u s h e s t h e p l a n k t o w a r d w h e r e I s i t u n t i l t h e p l a n k ’s e n d c a r r y i n g t h e s o u p a n d t h e e a t i n g
utensils rests on the riverbank. I pick up my order but keep the plank in place. When I finish
eating, I put the empty bowl and the eating utensils, and the money to pay for the soup on the
plank. The vendor pulls the plank back into the boat.  
I r e m a i n s i t t i n g o n t h e r i v e r b a n k , t a k i n g a l o n g l o o k a r o u n d a t t h e v a s t a r e a o f w a t e r. I
s q u i r m a t c a t c h i n g a g l i m p s e o f t w o f a c e s i n t h e u n d e rg r o w t h .  
H o a ’s v o i c e c o m e s f r o m t h e u n d e rg r o w t h . “M a i ’s j u s t s i t t i n g t h e r e . ”    
“ H e y, w h a t a r e y o u t w o d o i n g t h e r e ? ” I s a y.
Ti n s a ys , “ We ’ r e o n o u r w a y b a c k t o t h e q u a r a n t i n e c a m p t o a s k f o r y o u . W h e n d i d y o u g e t
out of there?”
I’m relieved. “I’ve just gotten here directly from the camp. Guess what, Chan managed to
get me out of there!”
Ti n s a ys , “ O K , y o u h a v e C h a n t o t h a n k f o r b e i n g a b l e t o b e h e r e n o w. H e s a i d h e w o r k s i n
t h e L e v e l - 4 C O V I D L a b . L e t ’s g o t h e r e t o c h e c k o n h i m . ”
A voice comes from the trees, “I’m here going to work.”
“ D o y o u m i n d i f w e c o m e a l o n g ? ” I s a y.
C h a n p a us e s , a n d t h e n s a y s , “ S u r e , y o u c a n . B u t w e s h o u l d b e v e r y c a r e f u l t o a v o i d d a n g e r
or trouble.” 
We r e a c h a f l o a t i n g g a n g w a y a n d c r o s s i t t o g e t t o t h e d o c k b e h i n d t h e L e v e l - 4 C O V I D
Lab. A sign hanging on the back door says, “Closed.”  
Chan swipes his electronic card key through the card reader on the wall, and we enter the
building. The door to the room where Chan works is wide open, but there are no lights on at
a l l i n t h e r o o m . C h a n f l i p s o n t h e l i g h t s w i t c h b y t h e d o o r, b u t i t d o e s n’t w o r k . S p i k e s o f
sunlight come through small glass panels set in the wall near the ceiling. He opens the grille
of a wall cabinet, saying, “This is where viral test tubes are kept.” But the cabinet has been
cleared out.  
Red light from the motion detector mounted near the ceiling starts blinking and an
e m e rg e n c y s i r e n s t a r t s s o u n d i n g . C h a n h e r d s u s t o w a r d a n a r r o w h a l l w a y. “ We m u s t g e t
through the security hatch cut into the ceiling, and from there, we can get to the outside.”
We p a t t e r o n t h e c e i l i n g u n t i l w e c o m e t o a h i s s i n g b r ow n w a l l , w i t h e l e c t r i c s p a r k s
splattering from the wall.
“ K e e p a w a y f r o m t h e w a l l . I t ’s e l e c t r i f i e d , ” C h a n s a y s .    
A metal ladder is perched against the wall, with the top of the ladder leaning against the
sill of a narrowly opened window on the wall. But the ladder is hissing, too.  
“ I s t h e l a d d e r a l s o e l e c t r i f i e d ? ” I s a y.
C h a n n o ds . “ I w o n d e r w h y t h e r e i s l i g h t i n t h a t n o r m a l l y i s o l a t e d c o r n e r. Yo u a l l s t a y r i g h t
h e r e w a i t i n g f o r m e . I ' l l g o a n d c h e c k . I' l l b e r i g h t b a c k ”
 Chan comes back carrying a box containing folders of documents on research and
d e v e l o p m e n t . H e s a y s , “ L e t ’s s e e i f w e c a n h i d e t h i s b o x s o m e w h e r e o u t s i d e o f t h i s
building.”
I see a folder labeled “COVID for biological warfare.”  
“ We c a n h i d e t h e b o x i n a n o o k i n t h e S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e t r u n k , ” H o a s a ys .  
I look up at a hole in the ceiling. A cage with rattling pangolins inside is placed blocking
p a r t o f t h e h o l e . I s a y, “ We a r e u n d e r t h e c o u n t e r o f t h e s t a l l b a r a t t h e H e a l t h G a m e M a r k e t .
The market is closed at this time.”
C h a n r o l l s a u t i l i t y l a d d e r o u t o f t h e c o r n e r a n d p l a c e s i t u n d e r t h e h o l e . C h a n a n d Ti n
c l i m b u p t h e l a d d e r a n d p u s h t h e c a g e o u t o f t h e w a y. T h e n w e a l l g e t o u t o f t h e l a b b y t h e
c e i l i n g ’s h o l e .  
We h i d e t h e b o x c o n t a i n i n g t h e C O V ID l a b ’s d o c u m e n t i n t h e S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e t r u n k .

Chapter 27 – The VC Capture Saigon

We w a l k o n a p a t h a c r o s s t h e E v e rg r e e n F o r e s t , a n d t h e l i g h t s a t t h e t o p s o f t h e l a m p p os t s
a l o n g t h e p a t h s h i m m e r i n t h e f o g . T h r o u g h d e n s e c l o u d s o f v a p o r, t h e V C g u e r r i l l a s m o v e
among the trees, swinging their rifles around. A rifle muzzle is pointed in our direction, and
a s h o t r i n g s o u t , s c a t t e r i n g l e a v e s o n a b u s h a b o v e o u r h e a d s . We g e t b e h i n d t r e e t r u n k s a n d
wait.
I l o o k a r o u n d t h e t r u n k . “ I d o n ’t s e e t h e g u e r r i l l a s n o w, b u t t h e y m a y s t i l l b e a r o u n d . We
b e t t e r t a k e a d i ff e r e n t r o u t e . ”
We g o t h r o u g h a r a v i n e b e t w e e n a p a r a p e t o f s a n d b a g s o n o n e s i d e a n d b u s h e s o n t h e o t h e r,
a n d c o m e o u t a t t h e N a t i o n a l M i l i t a r y C e m e t e r y.
A tomb is surrounded by walls carved with elaborate Oriental designs. I look at the
frangipani trees in full bloom around the tomb. “Frangipani flowers smell sweet in a way that
m a k e s y o u f e e l g l o o m y. B u t t h i s i s a n i m p r e s s i v e t o m b . ”
 “ L e t ’s m o v e o n . I t ’s t o o e e r i l y q u i e t a r o u n d h e r e , ” H o a s a ys .
“ B u t f i r s t , l e t ’s c o m e i n t o t h e t o m b t o t a k e a q u i c k l o o k , ” Ti n s a ys .
We p u t t h e b a g s d o w n b e h i n d a b us h a n d g o i n t o t h e t o m b . T h e r e i s a p i c t u r e o f a g i r l o n
the headstone. There’re picture frames on the walls, and each frame contains a picture of the
same girl, along with a eulogy poem from her grieving parents.
I b e n d o v e r t o l o o k a t a s m a l l h o l e a t t h e b a s e o f t h e h e a d s t o n e . T h e s o u n ds o f t a l k i n g a n d
of bumping of bodies against wood planking come from inside the grave. “Corpses coming
back to life.”
“ T h e V C s m u s t b e s t a y i n g i n s i d e t h e c o ff i n s , ” Ti n s a y s . “ T h e y d o t h i s w h e n t h e y a r e
p r e p a r i n g f o r a t t a c k s o n t h e A m e r i c a n - Vi e t n a m e s e a l l i e d a r m i e s . ”    
A t t h e t o m b e n t r a n c e , t h e r e a r e f o o d s s e t o n a w o o d e n t a b l e . I s a y, “ T h e f o o d s w e r e n o t
here before. There are no footsteps on the ground, but look, there are grimy handprints on
the surface of the table.”
“This cemetery gives me a creep,” Hoa says.   
We s t a r e a t o n e a n o t h e r, s n a t c h u p o u r b a g s a n d r u n a w a y.  
A n a l a r m i n g n e w e s c a l a t i o n i n t h e Vi e t n a m Wa r i s o c c u r r i n g . M o s t s c h o o l s w i l l r e m a i n
c l o s e d f o r t h e r e s t o f t h e s c h o o l y e a r.
 When we come around a bend in the road, I smell a sickening stench of a dead body and
see human limb bones slant up out of the fresh dirt on top of a concrete tomb set apart from
others. 
A w o m a n s t a n ds a t t h e f e n c e , w h i c h e n c l o s e s t h e f r o n t y a r d o f a h o u s e b y t h e c e m e t e r y.
S h e s a y s , “ M y h us b a n d a n d I h a v e l i v e d h e r e f o r 3 0 y e a r s . L a t e l y, t h e r e a r e a l o t o f n o i s e s
coming from the graves. Our Meals have been disappeared after they were set up on the
dining table, while the doors and windows were locked. For over a month, radio and TV
networks have been covering the VCs’ heightening activities, in preparation for their
u p c o m i n g a t t a c k s o n t h e A l l i e d a r m i e s , t o w r e s t p o w e r f r o m t h e Vi e t n a m e s e g o v e r n m e n t . I
s u s p e c t t h a t t h e V C s h a v e r e m o v e d b o d i e s f r o m t h e c o ff i n s , p u t a m m u n i t i o n i n , a n d s t a y i n
t h e v a c a n t c o ff i n s . ”  
A t a r e c t a n g u l a r c l e a r i n g w i t h t r a m p l e d g r a s s i n t h e c e m e t e r y, a g r o u p o f V Cs s i t s o n t h e
g r o u n d , w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n o ff i c e r s i n t e r r o g a t i n g t h e m .    
An American Lieutenant Colonel stands over the VC Lieutenant Commander on his knees,
whose fingers were stuck in a trap I made when I was in the Cu Chi tunnels. The American
Lieutenant Colonel says, “Noi, noi.”
The VC Lieutenant Commander remains on his knees.
“Again, I tell you to noi,” the Lieutenant Colonel says.  
The VC stirs but remains on his knees.
T h e L i e u t e n a n t C o l o n e l s h o v es t h e V C off h i s k n e e s , a n d h e f a l l s o n h i s b a c k , h i s b e n d e d
k n e e s h a n g i n g i n t h e a i r.
I t a p t h e L i e u t e n a n t C o l o n e l o n t h e s h o u l d e r. “ I k n o w y o u m e a n t t o s a y ‘ n g o i , ’ m e a n i n g t o
s i t d ow n , b u t y o u p r o n o u n c e d ‘ n o i , ’ m e a n i n g ‘ c o o k i n g p o t . ’ ”
T h e V C s a y s , “ Yo u s p e a k E n g l i s h , s o y o u c a n t e l l h i m t o p r o n o u n c e c o r r e c t l y. I t h o u g h t h e
c a l l e d m e ‘ c r a c k p o t , ’ a n d t h a t ’s w h y I d i d n ’t r e s p o n d . ”
P e o p l e a r e t r y i n g t o f l e e Vi e t n a m b e f o r e t h e V Cs t a k e o v e r t h e Vi e t n a m e s e g o v e r n m e n t .
Wi t h s o m a n y p e o p l e c r o w d i n g t h e s t r e e t s , I c a n m a k e g o o d m o n e y s e l l i n g f o o d o n t h e s t r e e t .
I ’ v e as k e d t h e o l d w o m a n , Ti n , a n d H o a , t o j o i n u s i n o u r k i t c h e n t o m a k e f o o d t o s e l l .  
On my way back from ordering food ingredients in Chinatown, I stop by the flea market, to
b r i n g t h e o l d w o m a n t o m y h o u s e f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e . T h e o l d w o m a n s t a n ds a t t h e g a t e o f m y
h o u s e , s a y i n g , “ H u h , T h u ! Yo u , y o u , y o u … a r e m y d a u g h t e r. ”
Mom sits in the kitchen, cooking. She leaps to her feet and runs to us, crying. “Ma, you’re
s t i l l a l i v e . A n d y o u ’ r e t h e o l d w o m a n a t t h e f l e a m a r k e t ? ” M o m g e n t l y p us h e s t h e s t r a y h a i r
s t r a n d s a w a y f r o m t h e o l d w o m a n ’s f a c e . “ O n l y a f e w g r a y h a i r s . M a , y o u ’ r e d o i n g w e l l . M a i
i s y o u r g r a n d d a u g h t e r. A n d M a i , y o u ’ v e g o t a G r a n d m a . ”
I s t a r e a t G r a n d m a . “ I k n e w s o m e t h i n g w a s n o t r i g h t a b o u t t h e V C s ’ r e p o r t o f y o u as
h a v i n g d r o w n e d w h i l e s w i m m i n g a c r o s s a c a n a l t o es c a p e . G r a n d m a , y o u ’ r e o n e t o u g h
cookie, and I’m so happy to have you back.”
We c e l e b r a t e o u r r e u n i o n w i t h t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h e D M Z . T h e r e a r e a l l k i n d s o f d i s h e s ,
P a d T h a i , f r i e d g r e e n p l a n t a i n , s p r i n g r o l l s , a n d j e l l y f i s h s a l a d , j u s t t o n a m e a f e w.  
We e m b a r k o n a n e w b u s i n e s s o f m a k i n g a l o t o f f o o d t o s e l l o n b us y s t r e e t s . T h e p l a n i s
f o r u s t o m a k e f o o d t o g e t h e r, f o r M o m t o s t a y h o m e t o c l e a n u p , s t o c k s u p p l i e s , a n d m a k e
d i n n e r f o r u s , f o r G r a n d m a a n d m e t o s e l l f o o d a t t h e A m e r i c a n E m b a s s y a n d A i r F o r c e b a s es ,
a n d f o r Ti n a n d H o a t o s e l l f o o d a t o t h e r p l a c e s .  
I get many customers. I’ve wrapped up two banana crackers, and while I hand them to a
g i r l , a r a d i o a n n o u n c e s , “ M o t h e r w a n t s A m e r i c a n M a r i n e s t o c a l l h o m e . Te m p e r a t u r e i s 1 0 5
d e g r e e s , a n d s n ow i s m e l t i n g a t t h e A m e r i c a n E m b a s s y. ”
I s a y, “ S n o w ’s m e l t i n g i n A p r i l ? C o u l d i t m e a n t h a t s n o w c o n e s a r e m e l t i n g ? M a y b e
t h e y ’ r e h a n d i n g o u t s n ow c o n e s a t t h e A m e r i c a n e m b a s s y. I ’ l l g o t h e r e a n d g e t s o m e . ”
A m a n c u s t o m e r w e a r i n g t i r e s a n d a l s s a y s , “ I t ’s a c o d e d m e s s a g e t o c o m m a n d t h e A m e r i c a n
M a r i n e s t o c o m e t o t h e A m e r i c a n e m b a s s y. T h e M a r i n e s f l y h e l i c o p t e r s c a r r y i n g Vi e t n a m e s e
r e f u g e e s f r o m t h e e m b a s s y ’s r o o f t o p t o t h e J o h n F. K e n n e d y a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r, w h i c h i s m o o r e d
in the South China Sea.”
“ H o w d o y o u k n o w t h a t ? ” I s a y.  
  “ B e c a u s e h e ’s a V C s p y, ” a Vi e t n a m e s e s o l d i e r c u s t o m e r s a ys .
O t h e r c us t o m e r s l o o k d o w n a t t h e V C ’s f e e t . O n e c u s t o m e r s a y s , “ N o w o n d e r. B u t w h y
does he smell like a dead body?”  
The VC slips away into a crowd of people.
T h e s o l d i e r c u s t o m e r s a y s , “ T h e V C s d r o p s n ow f r o m h e l i c o p t e r s . T h e s n o w c l o u d s u p t h e
a i r a t t h e e m b a s s y ’s r o o f t o p , h i n d e r i n g t h e e v a c u a t i o n o f t h e r e f u g e e s . T h e A m e r i c a n M a r i n e s
u s e f l a m e t h r o w e r s t o f i r e b a l l s o f f l a m e t o m e l t t h e s n o w. ”
 A w o m a n p as s e r b y s a y s , “ R i g h t n o w t h e y ’ r e e v a c u a t i n g t h e r e f u g e e s a t Ta n S o n N h a t
a i r p o r t . B i g a i r p l a n e s c a n l a n d a n d t a k e o ff f r o m t h e t a r m a c t h e r e . ”
I ’ v e s o l d o u t m y f o o d . I f i n d G r a n d m a a n d h a n d m y t r a y t o h e r. “ G r a n d m a , I ’ m g o i n g t o
t h e A m e r i c a n e m b a s s y, b e c a u s e I t h i n k I ’ l l h a v e a g o o d c h a n c e o f f i n d i n g D a d t h e r e . ”
On the streets, there are refugees carrying suitcases, farmers wearing tire sandals, with
guns tucked into their waistbands, and armed soldiers standing guard along the streets. The
A m e r i c a n E m b a s s y p r o v i d e s b u s s e r v i c e t o t h e r e f u g e e s s o t h a t t h e y c a n g e t t o t h e e m b a s s y.
A d o u b l e - l e n g t h b us s t o p s i n f r o n t o f t h e M a j e s t i c P l a z a h o t e l , w h e r e r e f u g e e s s t a n d w a i t i n g .
I follow them onto the bus. It moves a short distance and stops at a spot where soldiers are
filling a pothole, which lies across the lane divider on Saigon Boulevard. A crumpled light
pole sticks above the edge of the pothole, and the soldiers remove the light pole and fill the
pothole with rocky dirt. The people on the bus shout at the soldiers for them to move out of
t h e w a y.
“ Yo u ’ l l g e t t h e b u s s t u c k i f y o u r u n i t o v e r t h e p o t h o l e , ” a s o l d i e r s h o u t s .
T h e b u s b a c k s u p a n d r a m s i n t o t h e d i v i d e r. N o w t h e r e i s a l o n g g a p i n t h e d i v i d e r, a n d t h e
b u s m a k e s a U - t u r n i n t h e g a p a n d g e t s o n t o t h e o p p o s i t e t r a ff i c o n t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e
d i v i d e r. A r e g u l a r b us a l s o c a r r y i n g r e f u g e e s g e t s i n f r o n t o f t h e d o u b l e - l e n g t h b u s . Tw o m o r e
b u s e s c o m i n g o u t o f t h e a l l e y s j o i n t h e b us l i n e . A s h i n y b l a c k c a r w i t h a n o ff i c i a l - l o o k i n g
sign on the license plate moves up the exit ramp of a parking garage and stops at a closed
s t e e l g a t e . T h e g a t e l i f t s u p s l o w l y, a n d t h e c a r m o v e s o u t t h r o u g h t h e g a t e a n d g e t s i n f r o n t
o f t h e c a r a v a n o f b u s es .  
A Vi e t n a m e s e s o l d i e r s t a n d i n g g u a r d o n t h e s t r e e t p o i n t s a t t h e b l a c k c a r. “ T h a t ’s t h e c a r
carrying the American Ambassador and his entourage to the airport. Follow it and the buses
will be allowed to enter the airport.”
S u d d e n l y t h e l e a d b u s s w e r v e s a n d t h e n s t o p s . I t s w i n ds h i e l d h a s a h o l e w i t h s p i d e r- w e b -
type cracks around it. A military policewoman says from the street, “The driver of the lead
bus has been hit by a sniper's bullet. The driver is found slumped over the steering wheel.”
T h e p e o p l e i n t h e l e a d b u s g e t o ff a n d s c a t t e r o n t h e s t r e e t . T h e b us e s b e h i n d o u r b u s b a c k
a w a y i n t o a l l e y s . B u t o u r b u s m o v e s a h e a d a r o u n d t h e l e a d b us , t o k e e p u p w i t h t h e b l a c k c a r.
O n t h e T V o n o u r b u s , v i d e o f o o t a g e s s h ow t h e V C f i g h t e r p l a n e s d r o p p i n g b o m b s o n Ta n
Son Nhat airport. Debris strews along the runway and piles up on the tarmac. The ruined
t a r m a c a n d r u n w a y p r e v e n t a i r p l a n e s f r o m l a n d i n g a n d t a k e o ff a t t h e a i r p o r t . N ow h e l i c o p t e r s
l a n d a n d t a k e o ff f r o m t h e g r a s s f i e l d s a n d p a r k i n g l o t s o f t h e a i r p o r t , t o e v a c u a t e r e f u g e e s .
H e l i c o p t e r s a l s o l a n d o n t h e r o o f t o p s , l a w n s , a n d d e c k s o f s w i m m i n g p o o l s o f r e g u l a r h o us e s ,
to evacuate refugees.  
S u d d e n l y o u r b us s t o p s o n t h e s i d e o f t h e r o a d . A n o l d m a n o n o u r b us s a y s , “ G e t a m o v e
o n , d r i v e r, o r w e ’ l l b e l a t e f o r t h e e v a c u a t i o n a t t h e a i r p o r t . ”  
T h e d r i v e r s a y s , “ I w o n ’t d r i v e y o u t o t h e a i r p o r t n ow. M y f a m i l y i s a t h o m e r i g h t n o w
waiting for me, so I’ll drive by my house to pick them up. Then I’ll drive everyone to the
airport.”
T h e o l d m a n s a ys , “ N o t e n o u g h t i m e f o r a l l t h a t y o u w a n t t o d o . P e o p l e o n t h i s b u s , p l e a s e
g i v e t h e d r i v e r s o m e m o n e y. ”
M o n e y i s p i l e d u p o n t h e d a s h b o a r d . T h e d r i v e r s i t s u p s t r a i g h t , s m i l i n g . “ N ow I c a n t a k e
you anywhere you want to go.”
“ Yo u c a t c h u p w i t h t h e A m b a s s a d o r ’s c a r, a n d g e t u s t o t h e a i r p o r t , ” t h e o l d m a n s a ys .
The Military Police guards at the airport checkpoint do a military salute to the
A m b a s s a d o r ’s c a r a s i t m o v e s i n t o t h e a i r p o r t . B u t t h e y s t o p o u r b u s .
“ T h e y c o m e a l o n g w i t h u s , ” a v o i c e y e l l s f r o m t h e c a r.    
A s o u r b us f o l l o w s t h e c a r i n t o t h e a i r p o r t , t h e b o m b i n g s t a r t s a g a i n . T h e c a r t u r n s i n t o a
n a r r o w a l l e y, b u t o u r b u s g e t s o u t o f t h e a i r p o r t a n d h e a d s t o w a r d t h e S a i g o n h a r b o r. A t t h e
h a r b o r, p e o p l e g e t o ff t h e b us a n d g e t o n t h e b o a t s , t o b e t a k e n t o t h e a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r. T h e
d r i v e r t a k e s t h e p e o p l e w h o r e m a i n o n t h e b u s t o t h e A m e r i c a n E m b a s s y.    
A m e r i c a n M a r i n e S e c u r i t y G u a r d s a r e a t t h e f r o n t g a t e o f t h e e m b a s s y. O n e g u a r d s a y s ,
“ T h e E m b a s s y ’s R e g i o n a l S e c u r i t y O ff i c e ( R S O ) h a s i n s t r u c t e d u s t o a l l o w t h e r e f u g e e s w i t h
o ff i c i a l d o c u m e n t s t o e n t e r t h e e m b a s s y. A c c e p t a b l e d o c u m e n t s c a n b e a v i s a o r a R e f u g e e
Tr a v e l D o c u m e n t . P e o p l e w i t h o u t p r o p e r d o c u m e n t s m u s t s t a y o u t s i d e t h e g a t e . ”
The fifteen-foot wall surrounding the embassy is topped with barbed wire. The people
outside the wall climb on one another's shoulders, to get up to the top of the wall. The people
inside the wall climb up the wall in the same manner and pull the other people into the
e m b a s s y.
A w o m a n c a r r y i n g a b a b y s h ow s h e r t r a v e l d o c u m e n t t o a M a r i n e C o r ps M i l i t a r y P o l i c e
O ff i c e r a t t h e m a i n g a t e , a n d h e l e t s h e r i n . T h e n s h e t u r n s a r o u n d a n d h a n d s t h e b a b y a n d
travel document and money to another woman. The first woman inadvertently lifts up her
skirt, showing the hairy legs under the boxer shorts for men.  
T h e s a m e o ff i c e r g r a b s h e r b y t h e a r m , g r o w l i n g , “ Yo u a r e a m a n . Yo u h a v e m a n a g e d t o
b r i b e y o u r w a y i n t o t h e e m b a s s y. ” T h e o ff i c e r p u l l s t h e m a n t o t h e g a t e a n d p u s h e s h i m o u t .  
O u t s i d e t h e g a t e , p e o p l e c l i m b u p a n e l e c t r i c t o w e r, a n d g e t o n t o t h e t o p o f t h e w a l l , a t
s p o t s w h e r e t h e b a r b e d w i r e i s c u t a n d b e n t , a n d t h e n t h e y j u m p d o w n o n t o t h e e m b a s s y ’s
lawn. 
T h e M i l i t a r y P o l i c e s h o o t t h e i r g u n s u p i n t o t h e a i r. “ G e t d o w n . G e t d o w n . ”
I ’ m h a l f w a y u p t h e e l e c t r i c t o w e r, b u t w h e n I h e a r t h e m s h o u t f o r p e o p l e t o g e t d ow n , I
j u m p d o w n b e c a u s e I d o n ’t w a n t t o b e s h o t a t . I s t a n d a m o n g t h e p e o p l e o u t s i d e t h e m a i n
gate, my hand clutching its iron bars. Something jangles under my blouse, and I pull it out.
I t ’s a d o g t a g o n a b e a d c h a i n g i v e n t o m e b y H o a .  
T h e s a m e o ff i c e r r e a c h e s h i s h a n d o u t t h r o u g h t h e g a t e a n d t a k e s h o l d o f t h e d o g t a g .
“POW/MIA dog tag. A girl with a missing Dad. Go to the back gate and I’ll let you in.”
H e l e t s m e i n t h r o u g h t h e b a c k g a t e , a n d h a n d s m e a c h o c o l a t e b a r a n d a p i e c e o f p a p e r. H e
s a y s , “ I w r o t e t h i s p e r m i s s i o n l e t t e r f o r y o u t o b o a r d t h e h e l i c o p t e r o n t h e e m b a s s y ’s
rooftop.”
P e o p l e w h o a r e t o b o a r d t h e h e l i c o p t e r s m u s t w e a r a n a m e t a g . I g o i n t o a n e m p t y off i c e
i n s i d e t h e e m b a s s y ’s m a i n b u i l d i n g , r u m m a g e i n a d e s k d r a w e r f o r a b l a n k a n a m e t a g , b u t I
find none. I rip out a blank empty sheet of white paper from a pad. I fold the paper into a
r e c t a n g l e , t h e s i z e o f a n a m e t a g , a n d w r i t e M A I D O E o n i t w i t h a b l a c k m a r k e r. I p u t
adhesive tape on the back of the nametag, poke a safety pin through the tape, and pin the
nametag on my shirt.
T h e M a r i n e s s e a r c h t h e p e o p l e o n t h e e m b a s s y ’s g r o u n d f o r w e a p o ns , a n d t h r o w t h e m i n t o
t h e e m b a s s y ’s s w i m m i n g p o o l . T h e p o o l ’s b o t t o m i s a l r e a d y c o v e r e d w i t h g u n s , k n i v e s , a n d
barbed wire cutters.
G r a n d m a s t a n d s o u t s i d e t h e c h a i n - l i n k f e n c e a t t h e b a c k o f t h e e m b a s s y, l o o k i n g i n a t m e .
I s a y, “ G r a n d m a , t h e r e ’s a d i t c h f i l l e d w i t h d r y l e a v e s b e s i d e y o u . A g u a r d i s c o m i n g .
Please get in the ditch and cover yourself up with the leaves.”
T h e g u a r d s a y s . “ H e y, w h a t ' s g o i n g o n h e r e ? ”
A s q u i r r e l d a s h i n g o u t o f t h e d i t c h , a n d s c u r r y i n g u p a p i n e t r e e , I s a y, “ S i r, I ’ m p l a y i n g
with the squirrel.”
He shakes his head while walking toward the front gate. “No time for playing. Hurry up to
the rooftop. The helicopters can stop flying at any time soon.”
I s a y, “ G r a n d m a , p l e a s e g e t u p a n d g o a r o u n d t o t h e t a m a r i n d t r e e a t t h e f r o n t c o r n e r o f t h e
e m b a s s y, a n d w a i t f o r m e t h e r e . ”  
I c l i m b u p t h e t a m a r i n d t r e e , a n d p us h a l o n g b r a n c h d o w n t o a l e v e l w h e r e G r a n d m a c a n
reach it. “Grandma, please grab the branch and pull yourself up on it and get onto the tree.
T h e n y o u c a n c l i m b d ow n t h e t r e e a n d g e t i n s i d e t h e e m b a s s y. ”
In the chaos, looters take furniture, liquors, and refrigerators, and cart them out of the
e m b a s s y. Tw o w o m e n a r e a rg u i n g a b o u t a k i n g b e d . T h e e m b a s s y ’s l a w n i s n o w l i t t e r e d w i t h
broken jars of preserved food, tramped-on fruits, and empty carton boxes.
S m a l l h e l i c o p t e r s t h a t c a n c a r r y 2 0 r e f u g e e s m u s t l a n d o n t h e e m b a s s y' s l a w n , b u t b i g g e r
helicopters for 50 refugees must land in the parking lot. American Marines are lying on their
s t o m a c h a r o u n d t h e p e r i m e t e r o f t h e e v a c u a t i n g a r e a w h e r e h e l i c o p t e r s l a n d a n d t a k e o ff ,
with their machine guns pointing outward and their fingers on the triggers, at the ready to
shoot at attacking VCs. 
S p e c i a l s t a t u s r e f u g e e s a r e e v a c u a t e d o n t h e e m b a s s y ’s r o o f t o p . T h e y m u s t w a l k u p t o t h e
rooftop, and from there, they walk up the two rolling staircases standing side by side, and
g e t o n t o t h e h e l i p a d , a l a n d i n g a n d t a k e o ff p a d f o r h e l i c o p t e r s . Wi t h t o o m a n y p e o p l e u s i n g
t h e s t a i r c a s e s , t h e y ’ r e r u i n e d . Tw o m e t a l l a d d e r s a r e s e t i n p l a c e o f t h e s t a i r c a s e s .
To p r e v e n t t h e u n q u a l i f i e d p e o p l e f r o m g e t t i n g o n t o t h e r o o f t o p , t h e A m e r i c a n M a r i n e s
b o l t a n d l o c k a l l t h e u n r e s t r i c t e d d o o rs t o t h e r o o f t o p . T h e y p u t l a rg e f i r e e x t i n g u i s h e r s o n
wheels, wall lockers ripped from the walls, and heavy desks against the doors. They also lock
the elevators and the grill gates to the stairwells leading to the rooftop.
 Rumors are flying that the VCs are riding into the embassy on tanks, and would run over
t h e p e o p l e s t a n d i n g i n t h e i r w a y. T h e p a n i c k y p e o p l e o u t s i d e t h e m a i n g a t e r a m a f i r e t r u c k
t h r o u g h t h e g a t e , a n d s u rg e i n t o t h e e m b a s s y. T h e y b r e a k a l l b a r r i e r s , s w a r m i n t o t h e
staircases, and move up onto the rooftop.  
R o o f t o p e v a c u a t i o n i s n o w r e s e r v e d f o r t h e e m b a s s y ’s V IP s . M a j o r S t e v e L o n g r a d i o s t o
a s k f o r t h e 1 0 1s t A i r b o r n e D i v i s i o n t r o o p s t o c o m e a n d b o o s t s e c u r i t y a t t h e h e l i p a d w h i l e
evacuating the VIPs.
The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter lands on the helipad. The American Marines jump
o u t o f t h e h e l i c o p t e r, a n d s u rg e t h r o u g h t h e e m b a s s y b u i l d i n g a n d o u t t o t h e A m e r i c a n
Ambassador Martine Bailey hugging the tamarind tree.
T h e C o m m a n d a n t o f t h e M a r i n e C o r p s ( C M C ) r a i s e s h i s h a n d t o h i s f a c e i n a s a l u t e . “ S i r,
P r e s i d e n t Tr u m a n h a s g i v e n u s t h e o r d e r t o c a r r y y o u u p t h e l a d d e r s a n d p u t y o u i n t h e
h e l i c o p t e r, i f y o u r e f us e t o g o o n y o u r o w n t w o f e e t . ”  
The Ambassador clings to the tamarind tree with his arms around the trunk. “Oh, no. I
w o n ’t w a l k u p t h e w o b b l y t a l l l a d d e r t o g e t t o t h e h i g h h e l i p a d . I ’ m a d i p l o m a t , s o I w a n t t o
s t a y h e r e , a n d w h e n t h e V C s c o m e i n t h e e m b a s s y o n t a n k s , I ’ l l us e m y t a c t t o t a l k t h e m i n t o
moving back into the tunnels.”
The Marines tackle him to the ground, and stretch out his arms and legs. One Marine grabs
h i m b y h i s h a n d , a n d a n o t h e r M a r i n e c l u t c h e s h i s f o o t . To g e t h e r t h e y c a r r y h i m u p t o t h e
r o o f t o p , a n d t h e n c l i m b u p t h e t w o l a d d e r s , w i t h t h e a m b a s s a d o r ’s f a c e t u r n i n g o u t w a r d a n d
eyes shut tight. The Marines get onto the helipad and swing the ambassador into the landed
h e l i c o p t e r.    
  “ L e t ’s g o h o m e , ” G r a n d m a s a ys .
I s a y, “ G r a n d m a , I t h i n k I ’ l l h a n g a r o u n d h e r e f o r a w h i l e . M a y b e I c a n f i n d D a d h e r e . ”  
G r a n d m a a n d I a r e p u l l e d i n t o t h e h e l i c o p t e r, a n d w e j o i n t h e o t h e r r e f u g e e s c r o u c h i n g o n
t h e f l o o r. T h e A m e r i c a n A m b a s s a d o r c r o u c h e s d o w n b e s i d e G r a n d m a , c h a t t i n g w i t h h e r.
The last Marine jumps in, carrying with him the American flag that has flown over the
A m e r i c a n e m b a s s y. T h e f l a g i s f o l d e d a n d p u t i n s i d e a b r ow n p a p e r g r o c e r y b a g .
I g r i p t h e r i d g e s o f t h e m e t a l f l o o r, a n d p u l l m y s e l f t o t h e b a c k o f t h e h e l i c o p t e r. I l o o k
o u t o f t h e o p e n g a n g p l a n k a n d t o w a r d t h e G o l d N u g g e t s R i v e r a n d t h e S k y s c r a p e r Tr e e , t h e n
a c r o s s t h e o c e a n t o t h e h o r i z o n , t h e n d ow n t o t h e e m b a s s y ’s g r o u n d . Ti n a n d H o a s t a n d ,
l o o k i n g u p a n d w a v i n g . I s h o u t , “ Ti n a n d H o a , t e l l m y m o m t h a t G r a n d m a a n d I g o t i n t h e
h e l i c o p t e r b y m i s t a k e . We ’ r e a b o u t t o b e f l o w n t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . We ’ l l f i n d a w a y t o
come home soon. Please give this money bag to my mom.” I throw the bag down to them.
Ti n p i c k s u p t h e b a g . Ti n a n d H o a n o d a n d w a v e a g a i n , t h e n w a l k a w a y.  
T h e C o m m a n d a n t o f t h e M a r i n e C o r p s a n n o u n c e s o n l o u d s p e a k e r, “ P a n t h e r i s o n h i s w a y t o
t h e J o h n F. K e n n e d y a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r. ”
“Panther is my codename,” the ambassador says to Grandma.
T h e g a n g p l a n k a t t h e b a c k o f t h e h e l i c o p t e r i s d r a w n u p t o c l o s e . T h e p l a n e l i f t s o ff ,
slanting up high in the air and straightening into horizontal position. The helicopter lands on
t h e a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r ’s f l i g h t d e c k . T h e G o v e r n o r o f G u a m I s l a n d a n d t h e C o m m a n d i n g O ff i c e r
o f t h e a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r c o m e i n t o t h e h e l i c o p t e r.
The Marine puts down the bag with the American flag in it, leaps to his feet, and stands,
r a i s i n g h i s h a n d t o h i s f a c e i n a s a l u t e . “ T h e A m e r i c a n A m b a s s a d o r ’s o n b o a r d , t o o . ”
The Governor looks around. “Where is he?”
The ambassador raises his hand, grinning. A lady sitting with her arm around a poodle dog
raises her hand, too. “I’m his wife.”  
P e o p l e p a r t t o l e t h e r a n d t h e P o o d l e m o v e a n d g e t b es i d e h i m .
T h e C o m m a n d i n g O ff i c e r o f t h e a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r a n d t h e A m b a s s a d o r a r e s t a n d i n g o n t h e
f l i g h t d e c k . T h e C o m m a n d i n g O ff i c e r h a n d s a p h o n e t o t h e A m b as s a d o r, a n d s a ys , “ 5 0
A m e r i c a n M a r i n e s a r e l e f t b e h i n d o n t h e A m e r i c a n e m b a s s y ’s r o o f b y m i s t a k e . ”  
T h e A m b a s s a d o r s a y s , “ G i v e m e t h e l o u d s p e a k e r. ”
T h e a m b a s s a d o r d i a l s a m o b i l e p h o n e n u m b e r, a n d s p e a k s i n t o t h e l o u d s p e a k e r, “ A m e r i c a n
Marines, I salute your courage in tackling me to the ground, carrying me through the
American Embassy building and up to the rooftop, and then from there, deftly climbing up
t h e w o b b l i n g l a d d e r s t o t h e h e l i p a d , a n d l a s t l y, t h r o w i n g m e i n t o t h e h e l i c o p t e r. I ’ v e s e n t
back the same helicopter to fly you out.”  
T h e a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r i s c r o w d e d w i t h r e f u g e e s . T h e U . S . N a v y p e r s o n n e l p us h t h e r u i n e d
h e l i c o p t e r s o ff t h e f l i g h t d e c k a n d i n t o t h e o c e a n , i n o r d e r t o m a k e r o o m o n t h e f l i g h t d e c k
for other helicopters to bring in more refugees.

Chapter 28 – My Cool Grandma Can Fly a

Helicopter
T h e r e f u g e e s a r r i v e a t G u a m I s l a n d , a n d t h e y a r e h o us e d i n t e n t c i t i e s w h i l e b e i n g
processed for resettlement by the Refugee Processing Center (RPC). Most of the refugees are
r e s e t t l e d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , b u t s o m e c h o o s e t o r e t u r n t o Vi e t n a m o n a Vi e t n a m e s e
c o m m e r c i a l s h i p n a m e d T h u o n g Ti n . G r a n d m a a n d I d e c i d e t o r e t u r n t o Vi e t n a m o n t h e s h i p .
T h e r e t u r n i n g s h i p d o c k s i n a w o o d e d a r e a o n t h e b o r d e r b e t w e e n T h a i l a n d a n d Vi e t n a m .
There are landed helicopters parked in a clearing, and one of them has its engine running.
Men are unloading trunks from the helicopters and carrying them into the woods while
s i n g i n g p i r a t e s o n g s i n Vi e t n a m e s e .  
The helicopters now stand untended on the clearing.
I s a y, “ To o b a d . I f t h e p i r a t e s w e r e n o t t h e r e , w e c o u l d w a l k a c r o s s t h e b o r d e r a n d i n t o
Vi e t n a m , a n d g e t h o m e s o o n e r. T h e p i r a t e s m a y b e h e r e f o r a w h i l e . O u r f l i g h t t o t h e D M Z
w i l l b e f o u r h o u r s f r o m n o w. H ow a r e w e g o i n g t o p a s s o u r t i m e , G r a n d m a ? ”
“ I c a n f l y a h e l i c o p t e r, ” G r a n d m a s a y s .
 “So cool Grandma. How did you learn to fly a helicopter?”
G r a n d m a s a ys , “ I w as a f l i g h t i n s t r u c t o r b e f o r e I m e t G r a n d p a . O n e d a y, I l a n d e d a
helicopter on his merchant ship. He treated me to fine dining, gave me diamonds, and would
n o t l e t m e f l y o ff u n t i l I p r o m i s e d t o m a r r y h i m . I ’ l l t e l l y o u m o r e a b o u t t h i s l a t e r. B u t n ow I
can fly us home with a helicopter of the pirates.”
We b o a r d t h e h e l i c o p t e r w i t h i t s e n g i n e r u n n i n g . A n a i r t r a ff i c c o n t r o l l e r h a s g i v e n
Grandma a taxi clearance to proceed to the DMZ, “Everything looks normal. The next plane
i n l i n e i s c l e a r e d f o r t a k e o ff . ”    
“Uh-oh! The pirate helicopters are right behind us,” Grandma says.
“ Q u i c k , G r a n d m a , f l y a w a y f r o m t h e m , ” I s a y.
Grandma flies the helicopter without coordinates, making sudden turns. She takes the
h e l i c o p t e r u p h i g h a n d b r i n g s i t d o w n i n a n os e d i v e . S h e t u r n s t h e h e l i c o p t e r u p s i d e d ow n
and takes it through zigzags and loops and spins. She brings the plane to pass over
mountains, valleys, and the ocean with rolling waves.  
The helicopters flown by the pirates have caught up with the helicopter flown by Grandma,
f r o m d i ff e r e n t d i r e c t i o n s . S u d d e n l y H - 6 0 h e l i c o p t e r s f r o m t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f H o m e l a n d
S e c u r i t y s w a r m t h e s k y, o v e r p ow e r i n g t h e h e l i c o p t e r s f l o w n b y t h e p i r a t e s .      
G r a n d m a r a d i o s t h e A i r Tr a ff i c C o n t r o l , t o r e q u e s t a n u rg e n t l a n d i n g o n t h e D M Z . T h e A i r
Tr a ff i c c o n t r o l l e r d i s p a t c h e s m i l i t a r y s e c u r i t y h e l i c o p t e r s o v e r t o t h e D M Z . T h e l e a d i n g
s e c u r i t y h e l i c o p t e r a n n o u n c e s o n l o u d s p e a k e r, “ D M Z i n h a b i t a n t s , t a k e c o v e r f r o m t h e c o m i n g
c r a z y h e l i c o p t e r. T h i s p i l o t m u s t b e t r a i n e d b y t h e J a p a n e s e K a m i k a z e Te a m . ”
On the ground of the DMZ, our neighbors chop down trees with axes and clear a patch for
G r a n d m a t o l a n d t h e h e l i c o p t e r. G r a n d m a b r i n g s t h e h e l i c o p t e r d o w n t o t r e e t o p l e v e l , w i t h
t h e s p i n n i n g b l a d e s c l i p p i n g t h e t o p b r a n c h e s o f t h e t r e e s , a n d n e i g h b o r s d i v e o u t o f t h e w a y.
The helicopter teeters on the touching tops of a clump of trees. I climb down a tree and run
i n t o t h e a r m s o f Ti n a n d H o a .
I get a ladder and perch it against a tree trunk, and Grandma climbs out of the helicopter
a n d d ow n t h e l a d d e r. S h e s t a n d s o n t h e g r o u n d , r a i s i n g b o t h h a n d s h i g h a b o v e h e r h e a d ,
beaming at the applauding spectators.
“ C a l l 9 11 t o r e p o r t a c r a z y K a m i k a z e . ”
Fire engines and police cars come. The police have the helicopter towed to the police
station.
Ti n , H o a , a n d I d r a g o u r f e e t i n t o M is s M y L a i ’s c l a s s .  
“ Yo u a r e l a t e t o c l a s s , ” M is s M y L a i s a y s , w a v i n g t h e r u b b e r r u l e r.
Ti n s a ys , “ M i s s M y L a i , a n d p l e a s e d o n ’t h i t o u r h a n d s . ”
O t h e r s t u d e n t s r us h f o r w a r d a n d p us h t h e i r h a n d s t o w a r d t h e r u l e r.
“ I w o n ’t h i t m y s t u d e n t s ’ h a n d s a n y m o r e , ” M is s M y L a i s a ys , d r o p p i n g t h e r u l e r i n t o t h e
t r a s h b as k e t .
Ti n l i f t s t h e r u l e r o u t o f t h e b a s k e t . “ I ’ l l t h r o w i t aw a y m y s e l f , i n c a s e y o u c h a n g e y o u r
mind and hit us again with it.”
A f t e r c l a s s , Ti n t a k e s M i s s M y L a i b y t h e h a n d . “ Wo u l d y o u p l e a s e t a k e m e t o y o u r h o u s e
t o t a l k w i t h M rs . H e n a b o u t w h e r e m y m o m m i g h t b e ? I w a n t M a i a n d H o a t o c o m e a l o n g
w i t h m e i f t h a t ’s O K w i t h y o u . ”
“ I ’ d b e h a p p y t o , ” M is s M y L a i s a y s .  
I s a y, “ I t o l d m y m o m t h a t M r s . H e n s a i d t h a t s h e s a w Ti n ’s m o m i n a n a r e a w i t h f o r t i f i e d
tunnels and glowing rocks. I also told her that I found glowing rocks on the property behind
B o n g ’s h o u s e . M y m o m s a i d t h a t s h e w a n t e d t o h e l p f i n d Ti n ’s m o m a n d t o s e e t h e p r o p e r t y
with glowing rocks. Miss My Lai, can we go to my house to get my grandma and mom, and
then we go to your house together?”  
“ Ye s , I t h i n k m y m a w o u l d b e h a p p y t o s e e y o u a l l , ” M i s s M y L a i s a ys .
A t M i s s M y L a i ’s h o u s e , G r a n d m a s a ys , “ S i n c e M rs . S t i l w e l l i s h e l d a t s o m e p l a c e w h e r e
t h e r e a r e g l o w i n g r o c k s , a n d t h e b a c k y a r d o f t h e p r o p e r t y b e h i n d B o n g ’s h o u s e a l s o h a s
g l o w i n g r o c k s . L e t ’s g o t o t h e r e . ”
A s w e s t a n d l o o k i n g a t t h e p r o p e r t y w i t h g l o w i n g r o c k s , M o m s a ys , “ T h a t ’s o u r m a n s i o n
over there, the one the VCs have been staying in all these years.”
I s a y, “ I c a n ’t b e l i e v e i t ’s o u r m a n s i o n . T h e g l o w i n g r o c k s a r e i n o u r b a c k y a r d . N o w I c a n
h a v e a l l t h e r o c k s f o r m y c os m e t i c s , a n d m a k e a s m u c h m o n e y a s I w a n t . ”
We w a l k a r o u n d t h e m a n s i o n . I n s i d e t h e m a k e s h i f t c h a i n - l i n k f e n c e e n c l o s i n g t h e m a n s i o n ,
prisoners wearing orange jumpsuits move around.  
A p r i s o n e r s a y s , “ A t l e a s t w e c a n w a l k a r o u n d i n t h i s p r i s o n c a m p . I t ’s b e t t e r t o b e
imprisoned here than to be in hammocks hanging on the trees in the Assassin Jungle.”
I s a y, “ A h a ! S o t h e P O W s i n h a m m o c k s h a n g i n g o n t h e t r e e s w e r e m o v e d f r o m t h e A s s a s s i n
Jungle to here!”
A n o t h e r p r i s o n e r s a ys , “ Ye s , w e w e r e m o v e d f r o m t h e j u n g l e i n t o t h e C u C h i t u n n e l s .
W h e n t h e Tu n n e l R a t s i n v a d e d t h e t u n n e l s , w e w e r e m o v e d t o h e r e . ”  
One POW has his whole head covered in bandage, on which are left with two holes for
e y e s , o n e f o r n os e , a n d o n e f o r m o u t h .
Ti n s a ys , “ O h m y G o d , s h e m u s t b e m y m o m . I c a n r e c o g n i z e m y m o m f r o m t h e w a y s h e
moves when walking.”
T h e p r i s o n e r w i t h b a n d a g e - c o v e r e d h e a d c o m e s t o t h e f e n c e , a n d Ti n p u l l s H o a a n d m e t o
g o a n d s t a n d i n f r o n t o f t h e p r i s o n e r. Ti n s a ys , “ M o m , i s t h a t y o u ? T h i s i s Ti n . Yo u ’ r e
w o u n d e d b a d l y. ”
“ Ye s , I ’ m y o u r m o m , Ti e n S t i l w e l l . T h a n k G o d y o u ’ v e c o m e h e r e . I ’ v e b e e n l o o k i n g f o r
you. I’m not wounded at all. Mrs. Hen, a cook in the Cu Chi tunnels, told me that she
overheard some VC say that your dad is probably being held somewhere in this area. She
helped me to disguise as being wounded, so that I could stay in this prison, to look for your
dad.”
“ S o m y d a d i s a P O W ? ” Ti n s a y s .
 “ T h a t ’s w h a t M r s . H e n s a i d , ” M r s . S t i l w e l l s a y s .  
I s a y, “ M r s . S t i l w e l l , I ’ m s o s o r r y t o h e a r t h a t L i e u t e n a n t G e n e r a l M e l v i n S t i l w e l l f r o m t h e
H a m b u rg e r H i l l i s a P O W. B u t t h e r e a r e e i g h t o f us h e r e , i n c l u d i n g M r s . H e n , l o o k i n g f o r
you.”
Mrs. Stilwell says, “Since the VC Lieutenant Commander has been captured at the National
M i l i t a r y C e m e t e r y, t h e V C s h a v e r e t r e a t e d f r o m t h i s a r e a . B u t s o m e V Cs a r e s t i l l g u a r d i n g
this camp.”
M o m s a y s , “ I t s e e m s t h e r e i s a l a c k o f g u a r ds i n t h i s c a m p . L e t ’s g e t t h e s e P O W s o u t o f
here. All, follow me.”
M o m l e a d s us t o g o i n t o a t u n n e l r u n n i n g u n d e r o u r m a n s i o n . We ’ r e h u d d l e d t o g e t h e r a t t h e
foot of a wooden tower leading to the outside. At the top of the tower near the roof, the
window is slightly opened. Rays of sunlight come in through the opening. There are bird
n e s t s o n t h e b e a m s s u p p o r t i n g t h e r o o f , a n d s p a r r o w s f l y o u t o f t h e o p e n i n g . We a r e a b o u t t o
climb up the tower when bats fly smacking into the handle of a rake leaning against a wall. I
lunge toward the rake and catch it before it falls to the floor and makes noise.
“Hello comrades,” a voice comes out from a room.  
We c l i m b u p t h e t o w e r t o g e t o u t o f t h e w i n d o w. M rs . H e n g e t s s t u c k i n t h e w i n d ow, a n d
the people who have gotten to the outside pull her out.
I’m the last one to climb, and I swing myself up the tower and get outside.
We p l o p d ow n o n a g r a s s y g r o u n d j u s t t w o f e e t b e l o w t h e w i n d o w o n t h e o u t s i d e . T h e s u n
m a k e s a l o n g s h a d o w o n t h e g r as s , a n d I l o o k u p t o s e e t h e s t a t u e o f t h e Vi rg i n M a r y, w i t h
t h e t w i n b e l l t o w e r s b e h i n d h e r, a n d I m a k e t h e s i g n o f t h e C r o s s . We a r e o n t h e l a w n o f t h e
Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon. The bells are tolling, and people are walking to the church.
Mom leads the POWs to go through the hidden entrance in the rocks, near the haunted
h o u s e b e h i n d o u r h o us e , a n d t a k e t h e m i n t o a c a v e f o r h i d i n g .  
I t h a s b e e n o v e r a m o n t h s i n c e I l a s t c a l l e d t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . Wi t h a
f e e l i n g o f g r e a t s a t i s f a c t i o n a n d p r i d e , I d i a l t h e W h i t e H o us e n u m b e r 2 0 2 - 4 5 6 - 1111 o n m y
mobile phone.
P r e s i d e n t Tr u m a n s a y s , “ O h , y o u h a v e b e e n r a t h e r t a r d y i n r e s p o n d i n g t o m y r e q u e s t . D o
you have all your facts straight this time?”
“ H i , P r e s i d e n t Tr u m a n , I h a v e y o u r P O Ws , ” I s a y.
“ W h e r e a r e t h e P O W s ? ” P r e s i d e n t Tr u m a n s a y s .
“ I n t h e h a u n t e d c a v e u n d e r m y m a n s i o n , ” I s a y.
P r e s i d e n t Tr u m a n s a y s , “ A r e y o u t h a t r i c h ? I ’ v e a l w a y s t h o u g h t I ’ m a m a r t m a n , b u t y o u
a r e s m a r t e r t h a n m e . Yo u r s t o r y s o u n ds c r a z y, b u t y o u s o u n d c r e d i b l e . I ’ l l a w a r d y o u a K i d
Bravery Medal.”
I s a y, “ I d o n’t w a n t a m e d a l . I w a n t m y d a d b a c k . H e ’s a m i s s i n g A m e r i c a n A r m y O ff i c e r. ”
P r e s i d e n t Tr u m a n s a y s , “ I w a n t t o t a l k t o y o u i n p e r s o n , t o s e e w h a t I c a n d o a b o u t y o u r
d a d . I ’ l l h a v e y o u b r o u g h t t o t h e W h i t e H o us e . ”
 I s a y, “ Yo u m u s t a l l o w m y g r a n d m a a n d m o m a n d m y t w o g o o d f r i e n d s t o c o m e a l o n g ,
b e c a u s e I w o n’t c o m e t o t h e W h i t e H o u s e a l l b y m y s e l f . ”
“ A s y o u w i s h , f o r m i d a b l e g e n i u s , ” P r e s i d e n t Tr u m a n s a ys .    
I w a n t t o r e t u r n t h e w e d g e s t o To m a n d M a r k . I h o p e Ti n a n d I w i l l f i n d o u r d a d s .