Prompted by a second glass of wine, Clifford’s dad said, “The way I treated my son, pushed Cliff into that war, I wouldn’t blame him if he accused me of intentionally wrecking his life.”
February 27, 1997
Go Abroad!
Shell-shocked letters from Vietnam to San Diego
Quentin Young, Ruth Harkness, and the pandas in China
It’s easy to see why Su Lin became a big zoo attraction. In newsreel footage, the panda clowns amicably in a basket, then chews on her keeper’s arms and grabs at his legs like an oversized cat.
November 29, 1990
Vietnam vets tell their favorite Vietnam books; San Diego booksellers do the same
Veteran Readers The first three Vietnam Vets whom I asked, "What novels about the Vietnam War have you read?" hadn't read many. All three served in the Marine Corps, all were in boot camp in …
June 29, 1989
Admiral Zumwalt called us McHale’s Navy.
I awakened late and sat on the edge of the litter, feeling like crap. I had no idea what time it was. My watch was gone. It was probably lying in the road outside the …
April 9, 1987
Unruly sailors in a makeshift navy: the war on the Mekong
"Serenko, Michael J., Navy!” “Here, Sir!” “Your flight leaves at midnight. Get your shots over there!" "Yes, Sir!" Yes, Sir, shit! I thought to myself. I took care of it myself while I was on …
April 2, 1987
Adrift at sea, capture by pirates, rescue by the UN, and start of Boat People S.O.S. Committee in San Diego
Thuy told me, "They set up a trap with armed soldiers along the trail to your camp. I felt something was wrong, but it was too late to turn back."
May 22, 1986
From Saigon to San Diego: a tale of survival.
They locked me in a metal box that was just big enough for one person to lie down in. I stayed in that miserable box for nine days.
May 15, 1986
I ran into Hilltop High classmate on R and R flight from Bien Hoa to Sydney
Fear and death are still the ties that bind.
June 20, 1985
SEALs fight in Vietnam and in Coronado bars
The time is the late ’60s and it is a typically quiet afternoon at the Coronado bar, the Tradewinds. Suddenly the tranquility is disturbed when a group of 20 to 25 young Navy midshipmen enter …
April 2, 1981
Whither the San Diego Peace Movement?
It was back in 1970 at the mostly long-haired White Whale in La Jolla when I got my first peace handshake. My thumb caught him on the palm and he squeezed the tips of my …
November 9, 1972
Vietnamese, Living Here
I got these orders to Vietnam, you see. They said to report to "Coronado, San Diego" for training. I was afraid, and full of doubts (am I really going to kill innocent peasants?) But I …
October 19, 1972