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The ‘Ordinary Life’ of Americans In Saigon – 1964

New York Times – September 27, 1964

SAIGON.

LAST November, when all the world’s newspapers were full of the coup in South Vietnam, the deaths of President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu, the second-graders in Room 7 of the American Community School of Saigon decided to put out their own newspaper. CLICK HERE to read more …

Thank you to Mike for finding this article.

As always, you are welcome to leave your Comments below.

Bob

5 comments to The ‘Ordinary Life’ of Americans In Saigon – 1964

  • George Baggett

    With interest I’ve been reading about the coup and how Lodge facilitated the conclusion resulting in the death of Diem and his brother. I assume some of you were in Saigon because of diplomatic and CIA related families. It must have been somewhat traumatic to leave Saigon by forced evacuation, though I’m skeptical of the rationale for the “mission” before the coup, I am surprised by how few people know this history. It is clearly complex, and we live in an era of too much information to comprehend complexities, but I assume many of you know about things that happened during this period and deep in you hearts, other than swimming and cars and love that got away, you know America is painfully ignorant of our history of involvement. I’m also assuming some of your parents may have worked for the CIA during this time. I mean no harm to memories, but welcome inciteful discussion.

  • Mimi

    Goerge is right in saying that history always has dark little corners. The american, the french, the vietnameese all have skeletons in their closets. I am sure most of us know that, read about it, discussed it or even wrote about it.
    But I don’t think this blog’s purpose is to discuss whatever our respective countries did right or wrong. I may be wrong, but I had the feeling from the start that it was meant to help childhood friends reconnect after many decades. Whatever our parents did or did not do, whoever they worked for or against is not,- it seems to me-for us to relate or judge here.
    The VN war had many of us suffer, in many different ways: some of us lost loved ones, others lost a country.
    But what we share in common is not a war, it is the years we call in french the flowers of age. That we were lucky, spoiled, blessed, I agree. But that is the way it was, I am glad it was so, and their is no guilt feeling attached, at least for me.:)
    hugs to all.
    xxx mimi

    • Admin

      Mimi – thank you for your comments. Yes, you are correct regarding the purpose of our Blog. It’s purpose is not to debate the VN war or the politicial environment surrounding it, etc. But, rather to reconnect, stay connected, share our memories, create new memories and enjoy our special bond – 🙂

      Peace and Hugs
      Bob

      PS: I always thought the French Flowers were lovely – LOL – 🙂

  • Mike Erickson

    Just a little comment. I have forwarded to Bob articles I have found that mentioned ACS, because I thought readers might be interested in any historical records (at least insofar as news articles) that mention the school. Frankly, I never really thought about the content of the actual articles or the accuracy of the reporting.

    • Admin

      Mike – The articles you forwarded to me (some I’ve posted on here, and some yet to be posted) are very much appricated by myself and I’m sure other Saigon Kids. I’ve posted them on here ‘un-cleansed’ with no regard to the accuracy of the reporting and/or there policial content simply to provide the information they contain about ACS and Saigon Kids. Each little shread and bit and piece of information (as found in these articles) helps us in reconstructing the history of ACS for which, until now, there has been no recorded history compiled (to my knowledge, anyway).

      Mike, thank you for the time and effort you’ve put in searching for information about ACS and Saigon Kids. The results of your efforts are very much appricated by all Saigon Kids.

      Bob

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