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•ISoldiers home from the war tellaswasjf-\lt;6Begging, apathy, povertyBy VERNA BERG Begging children, apathy and111 health — these are the mem. orles which haunt Bill Maier, son of Mr, and Mrs. E. John Maier, upon his return fromBILL MAIERHome from VietnomEvening Nfwi photomilitary service in Vietnam.“Everywhere you look, you see apathy, he said. “The natives don’t llvej they just exist, There is no ambition. And it's a wonder they aren't sick all the time. There Is no sanitation or regard for personal health. But you can't tell how wide, spread illness Is. The Vietnam, ese look sick all the time.Maier, who spent a good partof his year in Vietnam in the back country of Quang Tri pro. vince, was amazed at the lack of concern for infection. Flies are everywhere and no one pays any attention to them. Open sores, of which there are many, are covered with the Insects. The only medical care any of the natives receive is supplied by the American military, says Maier.'♦Every once in a while we would round up all the natives needing attention. A Navy doc. tor would look at them and do his best to help. The water is bad there, and the food isn't much better. They live almost entirely on rice and fish. They all seem to have livestock, cows and pigs, but they never eat meat.Homes are crude shacks. Cooking Is done outside over an open fire. Hay and twigs are the fuel which is added a bit at a time as a meal Is prepared.The people, though simple and uneducated, seem to realize the Americans will not hurt them. When the North Vietnamese Army comes, the natives desert their villages.“But when we come to clean up, they return, says Bill. “They aren't worried about us. hi fact, that’s how we can tell if the enemy is nearby. Then, we do not see children running about and playing.The story of progress Is a bit different near the roads and where the natives come in con. tact with Americans. In these areas, houses are better, usually built of C-rat Ion boxes. Villages are reconditioned and living standards are a bit more advanced.Bill, who graduated from Port Angeles High School in 1966 with Bob Ruddell and Jim Bond, left for Vietnam the same month his friends did, February of 1967. He was sent to Lima Com. oanv. 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines,Friend or foeabout 10 miles south of Da Nang.For 10 months he was in this approximate area, the same in which Ruddell and Bond were serving, He did not get to see Bond, but once when he heard Ruddell was nearby, he hitched a ride on a road grader and the two had a visit for about an hour.Bill’s uncle. Lt. Col. Daniel Maier of the Army, was with intelligence near Saigon. He managed to talk with Bill by telephone twice during his nephew's tour there.During his last months in Vietnam, Bill was sent to the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade,stationed mostly in ihe areaaround the Qua Viet River, north of Da Nang.“There was definitely increased concentration here,” says Maier. “The NVA was all around us. We didn't see too many Viet Cong. You can spot them when they're there. They don’t wear a regular uniform and they don’t have Chinese weapons. They use U, S, car. bines, captured from the SouthVietnamese.During his last month, Maierby JAMES COOK, JR.Sgt. Robert Akin of Neah Bay is presently on a 30-day leave after a year's lour of duty In South Vietnam. Akin will finish his Army duty in Fort Benning, Georgia.While In South Vietnam, he was In Shurang Valley with Char, lie Co., 35 Engineer, lBth Brigade, 45 Group. After Charlie Co., he went to LZ-Uplift landing zone where he served for about nine months. Akin then went into Namo Reach, Just north of Da Nang, for one month.During his tour of duty, Akin was promoted three times, from private to Buck Sergeant. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Akin, Sr., also of NeahBay, He went to school In Neah Bay.In a brief interview, Akinhad this to say:What were your feelings about South Vietnam when you first reached there?was sent to permanent bunkers at Khe Sanh. And March 16 he left Da Nang for the U. S. He arrived In Port Angeles Monday and is visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. John Maier.Of course, there has been a reunion with his friends, Ruddell and Bond. The three return to Camp Pendleton about theAnswer: At first I fell l had to be there. After being there a while, I found It a little difficult to associate with the people.Why was this difficult?Answer: You couldn't really tell whether they were your friends or not, because the Viet Cong people were mostly of the village. You eouldn't be In the village alone at night, but in the daytime, sometimes,you would have more protection. After they became friendly,most of them still had doubts about the GI being there, be. cause they didn’t like the idea of being moved out of their homes.they could, a more democratic life. TheyWhen morale was low, what try to get Into the peoples*caused this?Answer: By change of command. NCO leaders thought of ism. their men more than of themselves.Did they have a change of command very often?Answer: Only once did they change the command while I was there, but NCO leaders were changed quite frequently.Did you know of the GI taking drug?the GIs wereminds that the life of democ racy Is better than commun-,How was the morale of the GI in South Vietnam?Answer: The morale waspretty good to begin with. We had good leaders; they triedAnswer: Yes, taking drugs.Very often?Answer: Yes.Why?Answer: Just to be a little bit relaxed, I suppose, and to try to forget where they were at, and what they were doing.How do you know this?Answer; Because I asked them how they felt, and I had seen some take it.m t/Ml aWhat do you think of the South Vietnam leaders?Answer: I think they are trying to get the people to leadHOME FROM ,Sgt. Robe** Akini ^
Newspaper Details
Port Angeles Evening News
Port Angeles, Washington, US
Sun, Mar 24, 1968
Page 13
Full Page
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WA, USA 28 Sep 2020
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