A Romantic Interlude?

Once again, I’m discussing my first book “The Advisor, Kien Bing. South Vietnam, 1969-1970; A Novel” with emphasis on the individuals that were really a part of the story.

I’ve chosen not to use real names, particularly for my Vietnamese counterparts. Even though many may have passed away, I prefer not to identify them to avoid potential retribution from the current government against them or their families.

For Americans, I’ve used aliases to protect those who may not want to be linked to the events in the novel. However, I used real names when it’s crucial to the story and the individuals are deceased.

Who was WAC Captain Murphy? Was “Katherine Stewart” real or fictional?

Both women were real people I met in Vietnam. During my Military Intelligence Officer Basic Training at Fort Holabird, Maryland, I met Captain Gayle Meyers. As our ‘den mother’, she ensured we followed the rules. We often saw her at the Officers Club after classes, and we became good friends.

Immediately after my graduation, I was deployed to Vietnam. Upon completing my training at Vũng Tàu, I encountered Gayle in Saigon. Gayle assisted me in securing accommodations whenever I visited the city. The primary focus of the ‘romantic love story’ revolves around Gayle’s friend, Jonnie C.

“Katherine Stewart” is a fictitious name, but the character in my book is loosely based on a young woman named Jonnie C., who was a good friend of Gayle. Jonnie was a Red Cross worker in Saigon, responsible for training young women who were arriving in Vietnam to work with the American Red Cross as ‘Donut Dollies’. There was a notable age difference between me and Jonnie, as well as Gayle, and there were no romantic relationships involved. Jonnie had lost her fiancé in Vietnam and seemed to be experiencing survivor’s guilt, attempting to cope with her loss by serving in Vietnam. Jonnie always seemed unhappy and engrossed in her sorrow. But Jonnie loved to dance and occasionally she and Gayle and I would visit some of the dance clubs in Saigon and it was a joy to see her lighten up and enjoy herself. I believe that I developed a ‘crush’ on both of these women, but in reality, I was the little brother that tagged along with them when I got to town.

Gayle and Jonnie were approximately eight to ten years older than I was. While they may have had their own romantic experiences in Saigon, they did not involve someone significantly younger like me. Nonetheless, we remained good friends during my first tour to Vietnam.

The inclusion of the girlfriend in the narrative serves as a means to explore a coming-of-age story. It portrays two young individuals, distant from their homes, navigating life and the possibility of love amidst the stressful environment of war. Additionally, this character provides an opportunity for the writer to incorporate more ‘war stories’ into the novel through their constant correspondence.

A writer based in the DC area, who is a friend of my son, suggested that incorporating an element of romance into the story could enhance its appeal. He noted that including a love story can make the novel more engaging for female readers, thereby broadening its market beyond just action-oriented themes.

Another aspect of the “romantic” portion of the novel involves the protagonist’s wife and her untimely death at the beginning of the story. This was inspired by a poignant story I encountered while hiking the Appalachian Trail several years ago. During that time, we met a gentleman who had recently lost his wife to breast cancer and embarked on the hike as a means of coping with his grief. Much like the protagonist, he had moved out of the house they had shared for many years and found himself recounting their life story to his grandchildren as he packed. The grandchildren were particularly interested in hearing about the photo albums that he and his wife had meticulously maintained over the years.

The “footlocker” was used to convey to his grandchildren a portion of the story about the relationship that developed between their grandparents in Vietnam. It also introduces the reader to the war stories he shared with them at the beginning of the book.

Like our ‘hero’ I did manage to get into Saigon occasionally during my tour in Vietnam. However, after visiting the PX and the pool, I spent the vast majority of my time at the education center continuing my civilian education. Our commander had a policy that we were all to get out of our Province at least once a month, but he highly encouraged those of us without a college degree to take advantage of free educational opportunities that were available.

In my upcoming post, I will address several military personnel mentioned in my book. In particular, I will elaborate on my relationship with Mr. John Paul Vann and Colonel Dave Hackworth, as well as other senior personnel referenced in the text.

For more information visit my website: ptaylorvietnamadvisor.com