This image courtesy of the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) War Remnants Museum (Bảo tàng Chứng tích Chiến tranh) Facebook page. I felt compelled to write what ended up being a nearly 5,000-word essay about Don Luce and his life. After I heard about Don's passing via a LinkedIn post by Jim Laurie, I thought … Continue reading The Man Who Exposed the Truth About the Tiger Cages: Donald Sanders Luce (1934-2022)
us war in vietnam
Donald Sanders Luce (1934-2022), RIP
Don Luce at Niagara Falls (Photo credit: Ted Lieverman) It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Don Luce at the age of 88 in Niagara Falls, NY. This 6 December 2022 obituary by Seth Mydans of the New York Times (NYT) is an eloquent and fitting tribute to Don and … Continue reading Donald Sanders Luce (1934-2022), RIP
Of Spirits, Martyrs & Legends: the Magic & Sorrow of Vietnam’s Côn Sơn Island
Here's my latest essay for CounterPunch. The tomb of Võ Thị Sáu A short up-and-down overwater flight from Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport and, voilà, you’ve arrived. While your destination is just off the coast of southern Vietnam, it may as well be another world. In less than an hour, you are transported from the … Continue reading Of Spirits, Martyrs & Legends: the Magic & Sorrow of Vietnam’s Côn Sơn Island
“Qualities incomprehensible to the ‘think tank’ specialists”
Below is an excerpt from Ho Chi Minh - An Appreciation by Wilfred Burchett. It was published in 1972 but its relevance in 2020 is obvious. It would be interesting to have a discussion, especially with young Vietnamese, about their interpretation of Burchett's wartime reflections. Thanks to his son, George, for the heads-up. If it … Continue reading “Qualities incomprehensible to the ‘think tank’ specialists”
“Da 5 Bloods” & the USA’s Ongoing Failure to Overcome Its Past
Da 5 Bloods is timely, powerful, educational and important. Says Netflix, which is airing this movie and has a lot at $take with a production budget of $35–45 million, one of Spike Lee's more expensive movies. Here's one nod in the company review to the Vietnamese, routinely neglected in US portrayals of the US War … Continue reading “Da 5 Bloods” & the USA’s Ongoing Failure to Overcome Its Past
An International Educator in Viet Nam 
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