After 46 Years...a Trip Back in Time, Part 5

by Glenn N. Holliman

Ha Noi and Ha Long, March 8, 2015
Continuing a trip back to my War and Youth

In Ha Noi we walked in the Old Quarter, after a massive breakfast with choices that included mango bread, banana bread, spring rolls and fried (lightly) rice noodles, passion fruit and dragon fruit.  And mango juice. Very delightful, different tastes.  I am back in Asia after 46 years....

Sights in the old quarter of Ha Noi.... 
My daughter Grace with the back pack 
and her father in the blue shirt standing.

  Below a shrine in a pagoda. Above, outdoors food and a funeral procession.

The congested electrical wires of Ha Noi 

Below, Glenn and Grace and war memorial. 

Be sure to see the monument at the end of this posting.

Another colorful shrine

 

Drizzle and 71f for the next few days...but not heavy rain and not all the time.  Humid however.  We walked this morning, visiting sites and shops; basically just looking and absorbing. Street scenes overwhelming with life and confusion, beauty, dirt and humanity.  Some areas struggling into 21^st century, especially where there is investment in commerce and government buildings.

Below, street scene and Karen Holliman in Vietnamese hat and basket carry

Food preparation in Old Quarter of Ha Noi

 

Back at hotel at noon, and then we board a shuttle to Ha Long.  

The hotel was filled with American tour groups...generally older,  well-mannered and, well, like me. Like the young fellow below who never thought of growing old when he took photographs in 1969.

 

Market scenes in 1969 outside of Saigon.



In 1969, and that well-mannered, now senior American, then age 22, standing beside another monument, not in Hanoi, but in Lai Khe, South Vietnam, a marker in honor the American soldiers who served in my 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, U.S. Army.  Our camp in the background.  Now in 2015, a business park!

 

Above, a memorial service for a fallen young lieutenant of the 2nd of the 28th, 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fire Support Base Oran, near Ben Cat, South Vietnam, February 1969

Below, the sun sets on the same artillery battery and infantry company in a war almost a half century ago.  A great sadness.

Next posting, more on the Vietnam of 2015 and memories of 1969.  In the meantime, consider the invitation below that will create some happy memories!

THE CHRISTOPHER HOLLYMAN, SR.

 HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Executive Committee

Tina Peddie (California) Jeanette Holiman Stewart (Texas), Allen Holleman (North Carolina), Glenn N. Holliman (Pennsylvania), Lynn Holliman (Texas) Glenda Norris (Alabama), Sue Jones (Wyoming), Joseph Parker (Texas), Denise Goff (Virginia) and Sandra Torbert French (Florida)

CORDIALLY INVITE YOU

TO

The Inaugural Meeting of the Society

at

SMITHFIELD

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY

VIRGINIA

MARCH 31- APRIL 2, 2016

FOR

A ONCE IN A LIFETIME TOUR TO THE CHRISTOPHER HOLLYMAN'S PLANTATION CA 1682

AND

OTHER HISTORIC HOLLYMAN SITES

AND

TWO DAYS OF SEMINARS

and Round Table Discussions

ON

THE HOLLYMANS of ENGLAND

AND

SUBSEQUENT MIGRATIONS

THROUGH OUT THE USA

PLUS

SESSIONS ON HOW TO TRACE YOUR HOLLYMAN DNA, THE MASSIVE FAMILY TREE (at www.Ancestry.com), HOLLYMAN WEB SITES, THE JAMESTOWN SOCIETY AND THE NEW HOLLIMAN ARCHIVES FOR HOLLYMANS (ALL SPELLINGS) AND ASSOCIATED FAMILIES!

For information and a complete schedule of the program and times, email Allen Holleman, Program Reservations, at jallen.holleman2@gmail.com or call (919-210-6862).