Jim Hollenhorst

Initial Shock Waves

I left for Vietnam two weeks after my wedding in western Minnesota. I arrived “in country” on July 4th, 1971.

When the plane’s door opened at Bien Hoa Air Base, the blast of heat and humidity was like walking into a steam bath. It was difficult to breath at first. (Shock #1).

I was wide-eyed as I watched the weary-looking but happy faces waiting to board the same plane which was their “freedom bird” for their trip back to “the world”.

As the bus crossed the river into Saigon the stench revealed that the river was also an open sewer.

After a couple of days at the replacement depot, I was designated to go to the 525th MI Group at MACV headquarters at Tan Son Nhut for further re-assignment. As the bus crossed the river into Saigon the stench revealed that the river was also an open sewer. (Shock #2)

The reduced speed of the bus approaching an intersection indicated an issue ahead and the armed escorts readied their weapons. But what was ahead was not threatening, it was (Shock #3”)

There was a human body lying in the middle of the intersection with bicycles, Honda 50’s and cyclos not slowing and their drivers barely glancing while going around it. It did however appear the poor soul had been hit a few times.

Welcome to a city in the midst of war.