We had full day looking at Cu Chi tunnels 44 miles out of city center (Saigon) took about 2 hrs to get there and 1 1/2 hrs to get back – we saw villages of former revolutionary fighters, French rubber plantations where bombing remnants still remain 3 decades later. This trip focused on the Vietnamese fighters who lived and fought from underground tunnels with thick roofs capable of withstanding the weight of tanks or impact of bombs- a military guide showed us tools and weapons used by guerrillas –tunnels had hospitals, kitchens, most unbelievable thing I ever saw – we were standing in a jungle type area with guide – he brushed off debris from
the ground, lifted a piece of rock about 24 by 24, jumped in (he was about 5’7”” 130 lbs) pulled rock over his head covered with leaves and he was
gone – up he came about 50 feet away – one of our military bases was built over one of the tunnels – US had not a clue – – one of the guides made the comment your Marines ate too much hot dog,
hamburgers, could not get in tunnels – your Marines like fat water buffalo - – they ask you to make no comments "any disparaging references made to past foes of the government may be deemed offensive" – of course these kids (guides) were all born after the war – they would steal things off of the US bases and put around tunnels so when US dogs came sniffing they only smelled familiar smells so no reason to alert– soap, coffee etc – not VN spices etc – picture of beautiful young VN girl 19 yrs old in black and white picture in Cu Chi camp –honored for killing more Americans in Cu Chi area than anyone else – as I said it was sobering reliving a tragic civil war - Joanna