Posted on 06/09/2005 7:52:22 PM PDT by neverdem
SEATTLE (AP) -- A Vietnam veteran's chance trip to a grocery store and his distinctive, almost shrill voice have reunited two friends who faded from each other's lives more than 30 years ago.
It happened a few weeks ago when Wesley Fisk, 63, was in the checkout line at a north Seattle store, chatting with friends. A diminutive man who was bagging groceries sidled up to Fisk and pulled on his sleeve.
''I used my quiet voice,'' said Thin Binh, 58. ''I said, 'Are you Fisk?'''
Fisk searched the man's face, found nothing familiar, and scanned down to his name tag. The name jogged his memory, and Fisk let out a yelp and clutched Binh as shoppers and puzzled workers looked on.
''The first thing I heard was yelling and then, 'I know you! I know you!'' said Danyella McAllister, a checker who was working a few feet away.
''The guy had such a grip on Thin. They almost hit the floor. It was clear they hadn't seen each other in a while. Then we heard it was since Vietnam. Everyone up front started crying.''
Fisk, who was a medic in Vietnam, was abruptly airlifted home to Seattle after injuring his knee in a fall in 1969. He had no time to say goodbye to Binh, an interpreter who helped Fisk's unit navigate the Vietnamese countryside while quietly steering them away from Viet Cong encampments.
For decades, Fisk believed Binh had been killed after the war for helping U.S forces. But Binh survived, married and raised a family. He moved to Seattle in the mid-1990s, with no idea that his old friend lived just two miles away.
Their paths didn't cross again until late March, when Binh recognized Fisk's trademark voice in the checkout line.
''When I heard it, I...''
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Great story!
Does seem to cause a certain misty irritation of the eye.
Good deal.
ping
Get your Kleenex out for this one!
A good news story from the NYT? Can I believe my eyes?
One of my very best friends, now deceased, was in Viet Nam in 1958 as a US Army advisor to officers at the Military Academy in Viet Nam. There he met and befriended a young Major who would later be a key General in the Army of South Viet Nam, during the later war in that country.
My friend retired from the Army due to ill health, in the mid 1960's and never returned to NAM.
Years later, in 1994, I think, my friend was at a dinner party at a large and very nice seafood restaurant in Virginia. And, WHO SHOULD APPEAR AS THE MANAGER OF THIS NICE PLACE?? Why, his old friend from Viet Nam. I cannot remember his name though..
Sadly, the re-union was not a pleasant one. His old friend was not all that glad to see him. My friend related that the old General was very sad looking.
My friend was in a very poor mood for days and days after this. He was very touched by this. He spoke of it with very much pain in his voice and seemed very upset.
Why is it that even when I read a heart-wrenching story from the NY Times I feel like I need to take a shower?
Wonder if they are/were Kerry supporters or Swift Vet supporters.
It's an AP story. Any paper could run it, not just the NY Times.
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Praise GOD that...
LOVE is the Only reality and that...
GOD is LOVE.
LOVE is returning to Vietnam.
http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm
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