What memorabilia/souvenirs have you kept from your military service? What special meaning do these have for you?:
One Dollar and Five Dong
I met Binh outside the Black Cat bar in downtown Vung Tau, Vietnam. He was a Vietnamese marine and had just returned from firefight missions in the Delta. We often met like this to have a few beers and shoot the shit.
“Hey, Binh,” I said as he walked up.
“Xin ch’o, Uptoe.” Outside the door to the Black Cat stood a ragged little boy with a tin can begging for coins. I found a couple of coins and dropped them into the can. Binh did the same. Inside the bar, we sat down and I looked at him. “Binh,” I said, “Why did you give him money? You don t make that much.”
He grinned at me. “Uptoe give money, Bihn, too, give money.” He was silent for a moment, then said, “Binh know boy. Family kill by VC one year ago. Boy not beg money, not eat. Maybe find food at GI garbage place.”
“You’re a number one guy, Binh,” I said.
“You number one GI, Uptoe. I give you something. Binh reached into his pocket, pulled out a five dong note, signed it and tore it in half. He gave half to me. “After war we tape together and buy Ba-muoi-ba beer, okay, Uptoe?”
I took a dollar MPC from my wallet, tore it in two, signed it and gave Binh half and had him sign my half. “You’re on, Buddy,” I said.
