From Quang Tri: Americans wish for peace

There is a generation of Americans who lived through the war in Vietnam, which left them with many unforgettable memories. After the United States and Vietnam normalized diplomatic relations in 1995, more and more Americans came to Quang Tri, where they deeply felt what happened and wished to close the past, looking forward to the future for the sake of peace for humanity through the stories below.

A new school built from a dream

The road leading to Ra Man Village in Xy Commune of Huong Hoa District is a very long distance and rough. Still, it used to be a vital transport route from North to South during the resistance war against the US to save the country.

Ra Man is a small village of ethnic minorities in the Quang Tri Province border region, which is a dozen meters away from Vietnam’s neighboring country of Laos. Although located in such a solitary area, Ra Man Village is sometimes bustling because children welcome special guests from other hemispheres.

Robert Spindel and his wife, Barbara Spindel, cut the ribbon to inaugurate Ra Man Kindergarten - a project funded by themselves. Photo: Tung Lam

From far away America, Robert Spindel, a lecturer at the University of Washington, and his wife, Barbara Spindel, a retired high school math teacher, came to the border region of Vietnam with a special mission: Cutting the ribbon to inaugurate Ra Man kindergarten which they funded. The school has a sign named after John Seel - a very close friend of Robert Spindel.

Spindel said that John Seel was an excellent law student. War was something he did not want to participate in, but he had to obey the government’s military order and died after only four days in Vietnam. John Seel’s wife was a preschool teacher. They didn’t have children yet, but they both loved children and education.

Barbara Spindel said that building schools would help heal some of the wounds local villagers suffered from the terrible war. "We hope infrastructure for education will help local children have a better life like our children in America."

The American citizen diplomatic delegation, including veteran Kem Hunter and Major Chuck Casey, US Marine Corps Defense Attaché in Vietnam, prepare to plant trees in the 17 Parallel area. Photo: Tung Lam

Talking about John’s wish, Spindel said John died when he was very young. At that time, the couple had not yet had children. "I know the couple wanted to have children, and that makes us immediately think of the children in this Ra Man Village as their children."

To make his friend’s dream come true, Spindel and his wife sponsored the construction of Ra Man Kindergarten through the Vietnam PeaceTree organization as a way to ease the pain and commemorate John, their close friend, who died during the war in Vietnam.

“With this school, we are delighted and touched that we have realized our friend’s dream,” Barbara Spindel said emotionally.

Planting “peace” trees in Paracell 17

A US diplomatic delegation visited Parallel 17 - the line temporarily dividing the North and the South, along the Ben Hai River to the north of Quang Tri Province. It is now a symbol of the Vietnamese people’s thirst for peace and reunification.

The tight handshakes of American veterans and Vietnamese veterans when they coincidentally met at Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery to commemorate fallen heroes. Photo: Tung Lam

Among them was Kem Hunter, a US army veteran from 1968 - 1969. Hunter spent a lot of time fighting in Quang Tri, but unlike before, this time he returned without guns and bullets, but only with shovels and hoes to Vietnam to plant “peaceful” trees.

Speaking at the tree planting ceremony, Hunter said he was very proud to be one of the first Americans to grow trees representing peace at the Parallel 17 in Quang Tri Province. Hunter said: "I think planting trees in this area is a symbolic action, showing the country’s reunification and that the people of Vietnam and the United States are working together to make this country a good place, contributing to making the world a better place."

Healing the wounds and mending the hearts of those who have gone through war is also the purpose the Peace Tree Organization often deploys during its diplomacy trips to Vietnam, not only for Vietnamese but also American veterans, helping them to subside what they did in their past, connect and strengthen the relationship between Vietnam and the United States.

Gary Brynjulfson - an American veteran, offering incense at Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery. Photo: Tung Lam

Planting peace trees in Hien Luong - Ben Hai, the American diplomatic delegation respectfully lit incense sticks to commemorate the Vietnamese people who sacrificed their lives for the country. For American veterans, they return to Vietnam to better understand the war, the people and the land where they fought, to heal and move forward.

“We really want peace”!

The road to Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery in Linh Truong Commune, Gio Linh District, Quang Tri Province, is crowded with vehicles and visitors, including American veterans who fought in Vietnam. They all lit incense sticks to commemorate the Vietnamese soldiers. They - American veterans carrying the message “for peace” - all seem to have their own thoughts when they set foot in this place.

"When I came here, I felt painful and sorry for what my country did here. There are still many remaining bombs and mines, as well as victims of Agent Orange. In America, among veterans, there are also many people who suffered from the consequences of war, but that is only a small number compared to that in Vietnam. However, I also feel happy because you have overcome the consequences of war very well", Vince Dijanich, a US veteran, said.

American veterans carry shovels and hoes to plant “peace” trees in the diplomatic delegation crossing the Hien Luong Bridge. Photo: Tung Lam

Gary Brynjulfson, a US veteran who joined in the American war in Vietnam more than 50 years ago, said he always wondered whether he should return to this land. He got the answer during his trip to Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery. "It’s so good that the war is over. But I want to affirm that our return is necessary. We came here as a group of “veterans for peace”; we want peace, no war"!

“Want peace, don’t want war!” At the resting place of more than 10,000 martyrs who fought and died on Truong Son Road, many handshakes were held in a chance meeting between American and Vietnamese veterans who were on the other side of the battle line. The tight handshakes showed healing, sharing the losses caused by war and the wish for humanity to live in peace forever.

Tung Lam – Tra My