Carter home correction The house you have identified as Jimmy Carter's is not. I believe it is the secret service facility outside the former President's true home.
Gentle comment No critisism intended, merely a gentle correction, but Arthur's family name was La Salle & not Le Salle, which I am sure was an unfortunate typo. I was a childhood friend of Arthur & his dear mother Jeanne LaSalle.
MY PRIVILEDGE I WAS PRIVILEDGED TO HAVE KNOWN ARTHUR LA SALLE FROM CHILDHOOD & REMAINED A FRIEND FOR YEARS. UNFORTUNATELY WE LOST CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER IN OLDER YEARS. HE WAS A GREAT HISTORIAN, PRESERVATIONIST & A DESCENDANT OF THE GREAT LA SALLE OF HISTORY. THE SOUTH LOST A TRUE SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN & PRESERVATIONIST WITH HIS DEATH.
I was at FT Riley in 66 and the 3/5 Cav was formed and I along with a lot of BIA's became Cav Troopers. I knew Col Sidney Hazzard and met up with him one time after I was out of the Military at a VA Hospital. Yep they called him Hap Hazzard. He was always volunteering us for special details Lol...I was also with Command Sgt Major Sisto M Cicuzza, Ed Chambers and many more but all of these guy's were top notch....
Conflict I just finished reading this blog from beginning to end. I feel like I\'ve just read a mystery novel, an intriguing biography, a post mortem psychological evaluation (a common assessment for suicide completers). I would like to visit Springfield Plantation, which I will elaborate on later.
But first, I can\'t help but comment on the conflicting submissions about Mr. LaSalle. Brilliant and exceptional people can suffer mentally or emotionally. There is no doubt that Mr. LaSalle was an astute, yet \"eccentric\" historian. The issue is his personal proclivities. My grandfather was the most honest and ethical man I have ever known. He sang in the church choir for over 50 years and was very active in the church. He worked for the same company his entire adult life, and was highly respected by all who worked with him, including the owner. He took care of his family, to include his mother and sisters. He was always the one to step in and make sure everyone had what they needed. He taught me to have manners, common sense and empathy. He was my major male role model and I loved him without condition.
Unfortunately, he was a pedophile.
He was a kind and giving man with a tortured psyche. My whole family has been through hell as a result of sexual abuse. The man who always took care of us also betrayed us--it has been so confusing. I don\'t care how smart someone is, how dedicated someone is, how much of a \"southern gentleman\" a man is, sexual abuse is sexual abuse. Historically, abuse has been allowed to continue and be passed down through generations precisely because it was dismissed, diminished or covered up to protect the perpetrator. Well, I don\'t care if you are a Yankee or a Southerner, victims need to be acknowledged for their healing to take place. I have healed and am able to see Mr. LaSalle as I see my grandfather. My family believes that my grandfather was abused as a child, passing it down to us. This does not absolve his actions, but it helps us see him as a whole person, the good the bad and the ugly.
Now, why I would like to visit Springfield Plantation--I would like to see if I experience the same sense of being back in time that some of the bloggers expressed. I love touring historic homes and imagining what it was like to live there in a time gone by.
Springfield Plantation Dear Sally,
I am amazed at the responses to this blog. Thank you for your input. It is an amazing place, amazing man and thanks for helping to understand him.
Kent
Our visit to Springfield plantation My husband and I stopped at Springfield in July of2004, Mr Lasalle spoke of the history of the home and then left us to wander about as we wished, I do have to comment that as he spoke we had a hard time understanding his accent. I enjoyed the visit but noticed the clutter of books and newspapers in all rooms. That was sad, also the 30 or 40 cats hanging around outside curtailed our exploring the slave quarters. I would love to have seen it in its heyday.
I slept in this room I was there from the 4 of october and slept 4 nights there whit my boy friend.
These small and lovely guest house have to be known by people who don't whant to pay to much and stay in a comfortable and friendly place. You have price from 120 000₫=6$ to 160 000=8$ for two, you have choise between a fan or an air conditionner and if you alone it's only100 000₫=5$!
I love it.
Jennifer from Canada
Message for Linda Converse Hey Kent,
I met Linda and her daughter on a flight from Milwaukee to NYC yesterday while she was en route to Milan. We chatted the entire flight and I was really inspired by her. I regret not getting her contact information because after reflecting on our conversation, I'd love to tell her how awesome she is. If you could pass my email onto Linda, that would be great.
Thanks so much,
Chad
Hello Chad, Sorry to tell you that Linda has passed away 22 Nov. 2011 from brain cancer. It has been quite awhile since she and my daughter June took that trip to NYC.
Yours,
Kent
Vung Tau Was last there with my son Nov 2012, originally there 70-71 out at the airfield. This time we spent a bit of time in Saigon/HCM city, flew up to Hue spent a few days looking at the area, out to Khe Sanh, down to Da Nang etc. Then flew back down Sth and got the ferry down to Vung Tau (Vungers as we called it). Vung Tau now looks like the Gold Coast to me here in Australia. Was last there at Vungers back in 95, and it has certainly changed since then. We did two climbs one up Marble mountain at Da Nang and then up to see the Jesus statue at Vungers. There is no indication at all of where the Australians were at 1ALSG, at Back Beach, or the Air Force out at the airfield. Very little left of where the Australians were at Nui Dat, North of Baria.
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Nice to read about another Veteran's return to Vietnam Hello Kent
Just discovered your blog and am really enjoying your posts from Vietnam. My husband is also a veteran and we return to Vietnam annually to do volunteer work. Catch our blog at http://ebtovietnam.blogspot.com. Would love to correspond to exchange stories.
Elaine
I thank God and your church for helping me survive the life which i could had been doomed from the war. I am glad that i learn how to use the computer by now because i don't want to be left behind. I am glad to know how much you care for the people like me who was set aside from the normal world because we looked different and had bad living condition. Forever i am indebt to you and God. Sarah/Muon
Ps; Thanks for letting others know where to find me and you.
Dr. DeRamus in Marion, AL Hello Mr. Converse,
I enjoyed reading your blog entry about traveling through Selma and Marion. I grew up in Marion and my mother worked for Dr. DeRamus for many years. His house that you have pictured on your blog was the home that he lived in when he passed away. It neighbored my parents' property. I remember the house that he lived in when you visited him for Thanksgiving in 1966. It was located on Centerville Street and the gentleman who drove the mule pulled wagon was a regular sight on that street.
A helping hand for Thien An Orphanage There is a new website, www.clidreamstore.com, just launched in hope of helping poor children all over the world. Right now it has a lot of orphanages including Thien An as its targets for people to donate gifts to those places. Please visit the site to see what I'm talking about and spread the word if you can. Thank you!
Danang Catholic Church I drove past this beautiful church twice each day for 18 months, September 1967 through March 1969. The church was not open to military personnel. Thank you for having the pictures of the interior. I have hoped to return to Danang and visit the church.
Monkey Mountain I spend two years there, from 72-73. I would to find a diamond shaped Monkey Mountain patch[ has monkey on it and you wear it on your shoulder. The scenes you show here look very nice there now. I hope they are all living well and without all the problems of the past.
locate local Catholic hamlet 1968-1969 combined action program USMC Hamlet of waton I am sure I am not spelling this right. It was a Catholic village in the rocket belt protecting DaNang. Can you assist. It was located West of the city.
Thank you
Chuck Myers, Corpsman USMC
bong son , binh dinh library There is an email circulated in my group about " Pat & Kent ( no last name" about their disappointment ( cost , name “Bong Son – Lucky Star Library and Learning Center”, function : school instead of libray and dedication) with the library they paid for in Bong son , Binh Dinh .
Is it a true story?
Hello The email you talk about sounds like it originated from the last LOVN, Library of Vietnam trip. I was not on that trip and I am not officially associated with LOVN. I understand they had a Ken in their last group who donated money to build a library and was disgrunteled with something which I understand that all the feathers have been smothed. My email address is: kentconverse2005@yahoo.com
Please send me the email your talking about. If you want to talk to Chuck Theuech the EO of LPOVN, just google it and you will find his contact info.
Have a good day.
Kent
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This is my 12 visit to Vietnam
My current mission in Vietnam is going to the home villages of all my neices and nephews that have helped me in Vietnam
In 2005 I biked from Hanoi to Saigon. Probably the greatest trip I ever experienced.
I look forward to returning to Vietnam and enjoying the people and land of Vietnam.
I will be staying with my former Rotary Exchange Student Trang and her husband Huan and daughter Sarah.
I keep a bike at Trang's house and will be biking around Saigon on short trips.
The cover photo is me biking the Red River Islands near Hanoi.... full info
Jim Kilgore
non-member comment
Carter home correction
The house you have identified as Jimmy Carter's is not. I believe it is the secret service facility outside the former President's true home.