NUGYEN TAI DAO

By James Guy written 1993

Beta’d by JoLayne 5/01

This is an original story of the Vietnam War. The author copyrights content and story.

"Bravo Three, this is Bravo Six, come in. Bravo Three Bravo Six, come in." The radio crackled over and over. The radio was on the back of the RTO but he made no attempt to answer. He was unable to. He was lying face down in a stream with a bullet in his head. His comrades were sprawled up and down the stream, which ran red. Fifteen Americans and twenty-five Viet Cong had met and died on what was now hallowed ground. Paid for by the men and women who now lay dead.

One man and one woman had survived this battle. An American man and a Vietnamese woman. They had continued shooting until they realized they were the only ones left alive. Dean had stopped firing first and waited until the enemy stepped forward with weapon ready. She stared at the carnage and then took off her hat, letting her long hair hang loose and set her weapon down. She sat down and cried until she realized she was not alone. She looked up and saw Dean sitting ten feet from her with his weapon ready. As she reached for her AK-47, Dean’s weapon barked and spewed 5 rounds into the AK-47. "Don’t, Dong Lai," he yelled.

Nuygen Tai Dao looked at Dean and knew she was about to meet her ancestors. In perfect English said, "Go ahead and kill me. You cannot hurt me. I am proud to die here with my comrades."

Dean looked at her. "There has been enough killing today. Nothing was won by either side and a lot of good people paid the price." He lowered his M-16 and walked to her carefully. He stretched out his hand. "Truce?" he asked.

She took his hand. "Truce."

Dean slung his weapon over his shoulder and started carrying the dead from the stream to the bank. He carried VC and American alike as Nuygen watched him. "Why do you lay them side by side, yours and mine?"

"In war they were enemies, but in death they are brothers."

"You are a strange soldier." She slung her weapon and started helping. "You fight well and hard but you are tender with the dead. I have never met anyone like you."

Dean replied, "If we could all put our hatreds aside we could have peace for all."

When their task was finished, Dean found some C-Rations and handed one to Nuygen. "It is not great, but it is food. We both need to eat." He handed her a P-38 can opener and a plastic spoon. She watched him open his can then followed suit.

Dean watched Nugyen eat. She was a very attractive young woman who only had one disfigurement; the AK-47 slung from her shoulder. "How old are you?"

"I am eighteen. How old are you?"

"I am nineteen, going on forty. War does that to you. I have been here six months but it seems like forever."

Nugyen thought about that. She was becoming intrigued with this young American. "I have been fighting since I was sixteen. My father fought the French when he was my age but he hated the idea of taking orders from Hanoi. The White Mice (Vietnamese Police) came to our village one day and started terrorizing the villagers. My father told them to leave us alone. The White Mice killed him as an example. Then the ARVIN (Army of the Republic of Viet Nam) came and raped my mother and sister before killing them. A soldier grabbed me, but I got away. I grabbed his bayonet and stuck it in his groin. I ran from the village and stumbled upon a cadre of Viet Cong. These men and women laying here became my family. Why are you Americans helping the South Vietnamese?"

Dean thought about what she had said for a long time. "My ancestors once fought against tyranny and made us a free people. For three hundred years, my family has fought for my country and against all enemies. When my country called me, I came. The politics of the war are something a soldier does not think about."

"Bravo Three this is Bravo Six come in," the radio crackled again. Dean looked at the radio.

"We can not stay here. My people will come in force and it will be bad for you."

Nuygen nodded, "My people will also come and it would be bad for you also."

Dean also nodded. "I must head back to my base and you must go to your camp, each of us to fight another day." Dean got up and started walking down the stream.

"No. We must go this way." She left the stream and headed away from the battle zone.

The two enemies traveled for over an hour until they came to a trail and stopped. An old woman and young child sat by the side of the trail. The old woman was clearly dying. Nugyen asked the old woman, "Grandmother, what has happened?"

"I am dying. I was taking my grandchild to my village but I am too weak to go on. Will you take her to my village? Her parents were killed by the army in a battle."

Dean, who spoke Vietnamese said. "I am sorry for your loss, Grandmother. We will take both of you." He bent down and picked up the old woman. He looked at Nuygen.

"Can you take the child, or shall I carry them both?"

Nuygen slung her weapon and picked up the child. The old woman pointed the way and the foursome set out.

The village was only four miles away and they made good time. As they reached the village, Dean realized he was in trouble. He saw the hatred and fear in the eyes as the villagers turned and ran. Suddenly five men and women, all carrying AK-47’s approached. Nuygen called, "Do not shoot. This American and I have a truce and it was he who insisted that we bring this grandmother and her grandchild here."

A man in an NVA uniform came forward. His rank was that of a major. "You are our enemy and should be our prisoner or dead. You must know this. Why did you risk your life for this old woman or did Nugyen force you?"

"No one forced me. It was the natural thing to do. Your comrade, Nugyen and I made a truce after we were the only ones left alive after a battle. We are both soldiers doing our job but that does not mean that we give up our humanity and compassion for the innocent."

The NVA major spoke English. "You are a very strange American, you came here helping an old woman, but you did not show fear and you do not show it now. We will surely fight and perhaps kill each other, but not here and not now. Nugyen, we will honor your truce for now. Come, we will eat and drink and then you can take your American down the road. Now I must know more about how this came to be and more about this strange American."

For hours the antagonists ate and drank and told their stories. They discussed their opinions on the war and why they were fighting. The NVA major had been schooled in France and Nugyen had gone to a Catholic school run by French nuns. Her mother had been French Vietnamese and Nugyen held French citizenship.

Dean had been schooled in Catholic grammar and high school. He had a year and a half of junior college. In the Army, he had spent six months learning Vietnamese. Impossible as it seemed, the enemies actually were beginning to respect each other. Honoring the truce and not disarming his enemy showed the NVA major’s respect.

It was late evening when the antagonists realized the hour. The major requested that Dean stay, as it would not be safe to travel at night. Nugyen stayed with Dean in order to insure that her comrades would also honor the truce.

Morning arrived and the village was in a state of excitement. Nugyen quickly told Dean that the Americans were in the vicinity and the VC had left the village. She was also leaving. Quickly she kissed him and left, leaving Dean to wonder about this young woman. They had slept on opposite sides of the room so the kiss was unexpected.

Dean gathered his gear and walked to the outskirts of the village to wait for the Americans. He did not wait long, as within five minutes, the point man came through the bushes. Dean was leisurely smoking a cigarette.

As the patrol approached, Dean went to speak to the Sergeant in charge. He explained that his patrol had been caught in an ambush and he was the only survivor. He told everything except his relationship with Nugyen and the VC. He told the Sergeant that there were no VC in the village and that the villagers had given him shelter. They were not to be bothered. A chopper was called in and the patrol pulled out leaving the village in peace. Two pairs of eyes watched the chopper leave. "A very strange people, these Americans," the major said to Nugyen.

A month later, Dean was again on patrol in a different sector. He had been on other patrols with only brief skirmishes. This patrol was different. His was the lead element of a company wide sweep to search and destroy. Dean had been promoted to sergeant and was leading the patrol. Along the way, the patrol lost most of their equipment and helmets. They wore boonie hats and carried only their weapons, ammo, water and first aid kits. Lost was a loose term, as they had buried the equipment.

This platoon was unique, as Dean was the only Anglo. The rest were American Indians from the swamps of Florida and Louisiana. They all wore moccasins, including Dean, and their weapons included M-16s and bows and arrows. They had abandoned the standard patrol procedures and had adopted a combination of VC and American Indian habits.

Three hours into the mission, the scout signaled for the patrol to go to ground. Cautiously they came upon a VC patrol having lunch. A sentry suddenly became aware of the Americans but could not see them. The VC opened up with their AK-47s but the response was unexpected. Several arrows flew to their marks and six VC fell dead. The VC kept firing as one by one the arrows picked them off. The firing stopped and the Americans moved forward. Dean found one man alive. An NVA major who was dying. In Vietnamese, the major spoke to Dean. "I told you we would fight again." then he expired. Dean quickly checked all the bodies, but no Nugyen.

As they searched the area, a blood trail was spotted. Dean and two men followed the trail until they saw movement. Dean pounced on the fleeing VC but the enemy did not struggle. The soldier had an arrow sticking out of his thigh. As the enemy was disarmed Dean found himself looking into the face of Nugyen.

Dean had told his men about his encounter with Nugyen. They understood and were somewhat curious about the young VC woman who Dean cared about. They knew without him saying it that he had fallen in love. Dean called the medic who removed the arrow and stitched the wound. Through all of this, neither Dean nor Nugyen spoke nor did they give any sign of recognition, but the platoon knew.

The RTO radioed their position and the body count. The platoon was ordered to move out toward a village nearby. A makeshift litter transported Nugyen as the wound might have reopened. The platoon arrived at the village without incident and secured it. After a usual search, the village chief was called forward. Dean informed him in Vietnamese that they had found a wounded woman and treated her. He asked the chief to give her a change of clothes since hers were bloody and torn. Within ten minutes Nugyen hobbled forward in different clothes. She handed Dean a package, her clothes, which Dean stuck in his rucksack.

A few minutes later another patrol arrived with an ARVIN interpreter. He proceeded to question the villagers and started getting rough with them, they kept saying they were not VC. The ARVIN told them that they had to give up someone and he did not care whom. If they did not turn over a villager, he would say they were VC. Then the Americans would destroy the village, kill the men and rape the women. Finally, Nugyen stepped forward and the ARVIN claimed a victory of his interrogation methods. He pulled out a pistol, intending to shoot Nugyen, but Dean grabbed the weapon. The Lieutenant was appalled. Dean told him what the ARVIN has said but the young officer would not believe him. The officer said he had faith in the ARVIN. Dean and his men surrounded Nugyen.

"Sir, we brought this woman to the village when we found her injured. She was not gunshot. She was on her way to Saigon to visit her father, who was a teacher." The ARVIN started to argue but then realized that Dean not only understood Vietnamese, they were speaking the language.

Dean brought Nugyen forward and explained that she was not VC. Nugyen told the Lieutenant, in English, the same story Dean had fabricated. She also said that the ARVIN was either VC or just plain bad. At this, the ARVIN began to run away while pulling his weapon up to fire. He did not get very far as ten M-16S ripped him apart. A search of his body found North Vietnamese money and fliers in Vietnamese saying that the people must kill the Americans. The matter was closed and the Lieutenant apologized to Nugyen. He said he realized that she was an educated woman and obviously not VC. He ordered the RTO to bring in a chopper and ordered Dean and his men to escort Nugyen to Saigon. Twenty minutes later they were flown out of the

village.

Nugyen did not understand these strange Americans. Twice now Dean had not killed her. His men had captured her, taken care of her, protected her and now were flying her to Saigon. If their positions had been reversed, they would all be dead or in cages.

Landing at Bien Hoa, Dean and his platoon escorted Nugyen to an orphanage run by French nuns. Dean asked the mother superior to take care of Nugyen until she recovered from her wound. He then had a long talk with the nun before he left. The war must continue.

For the next six months, Dean and his platoon were involved in many operations and had the highest body count in the company. They had few casualties, mostly minor wounds due to their unique way of fighting. Neither the VC nor the Americans caught on immediately, but there were a lot of VC dead from arrows. Finally, a body was discovered with an arrow still in it and the Americans knew immediately who was responsible.

Because of the high body count and the fact that the VC placed a bounty on his platoon, Dean and his men were shipped to Europe to complete the rest of their tour. None of them were ready for discharge immediately. They would spend the next year in Germany as a unit. They became very close and took many trips across Europe whenever the chance arose. Several times they went to Paris.

On one of these trips, Dean went to the cathedral of Notre Dame. He found it beautiful but very cold. Not like some of the churches he had visited in the past. As he walked along the Seine, he heard a voice call him by name. He turned and saw a very attractive Vietnamese woman in her mid twenty’s dressed in the traditional Ao Dai. He had never seen her before. "Are you the soldier who fights with arrows?"

Dean was startled.

"And who is asking?"

"Come and see," was the reply. The woman turned and walked to a car. Typical government car. Dean was wary but intrigued, so he got in. The car sped away and came to the North Vietnamese embassy. As the car stopped for the gate to open, Dean jumped out. "There is no way that I am going in there. If I go in, I will never come out. If I did come out, the US government would be all over me. Now who wants to see me?"

"I can not tell you, you will have to see for yourself."

"Whoever wants to see me can come to the US embassy. That way I know I will be safe."

"I understand, we will meet you at the US embassy in one hour. The embassy is that way," she pointed down the street.

Dean went immediately to the US embassy and spoke to the Marine guards on duty. He explained what had happened and advised them to be on the alert. On hour later a non-descript Peugeot pulled up. Eight Marines were standing by inside the gate. The woman stayed in the car, but a second woman exited. It was Nugyen. As she entered the embassy grounds the car pulled away.

"I wanted to thank you for getting me out of Vietnam. Mother superior told me you asked her to do this. When I came here I had no where to go so I went to the North Vietnamese embassy and they gave me a job. When they found out you were in Paris, they told me to contact you and saw they wanted you to meet with them so they could thank you in person."

"Nugyen, I did what I did for you, not for them, there is no thanks needed or wanted from them this was a personal matter between soldiers."

An awkward silence set in.

"Nugyen, do you still believe in the cause you were fighting for? We are both out of the war. Have you ever thought about defecting?"

"Dean, I am all mixed up. I did believe in the cause until I recently discovered some papers explaining what the north intended to do to the South when they take over. What they plan is even worse than what the White Mice did to my father. I have no family left and I can never go back to the South and have no wish to go to the North. Being in Paris, I have found out what true peace means. When I found out you were here, I asked permission to contact you. The embassy people were elated. They became angry when you refused to come into the embassy. You were right not to come in. I found out they planned to arrest you as a war criminal and smuggle you to the north and put you on trial, before they executed you. You and your men killed a lot of VC and NVA regulars with your bows and arrows. The woman who you spoke to was a friend and she helped me get out of the embassy. She said I should defect and that is what I want to do."

Dean took Nugyen to the Marine duty officer who escorted them to the Ambassador. An hour later, Dean was on his way back to his base. He did not see Nugyen again. Within twenty-four hours, he and his platoon were on a C141 headed for a new assignment. Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

Two months into his new assignment, Dean was summoned to the commander’s office. He saluted the colonel and stood at attention.

"At ease, Sergeant" I have a new assignment for you since you speak Vietnamese and have been there. Some delicate information has been brought to me by my son, who has just arrived on leave, from Paris." He pressed the intercom. "Send him in."

The door opened and a marine officer walked in. It was the duty officer from the embassy.

Dean saluted, which was returned. They shook hands. "Nice to see you again, captain,"

"Sergeant, you brought a delicate situation to me the day you came to my embassy. I am returning the favor." He went to the door and motioned for someone to come in. In walked Nugyen dressed in American clothes. In her suit, she looked very American.

"Please meet Natsu Kim." the Captain closed the door. The colonel came forward.

"Sergeant, I believe you know this young lady. The rest of your platoon has already left the army and are back home. You are the only one here who really knows this young lady and her real identity. She has been offered relocation to anywhere she wants to go, but she requested to see you first. You are the only American she really trusts and knows. Only a few people at the embassy and you know her background and only the four of us in this room know her whereabouts."

Natsu came to Dean. "I have been studying your country and your way of life. It is so much different than mine is and I still have much to learn. You spared my life twice and helped me. I want you to teach me."

"Natsu, what do you know about me? Do I have a wife and family, do I have a girl friend?"

Fear showed on the girl’s face. "No, I did not think about that, I only thought about your kindness to me. I am sorry, I will leave now and not trouble you again." She started to turn.

"I believe there is an Asian custom that if you save some one’s life, you are responsible for that life forever. You saved my life and you are responsible for me," grinned Dean.

"That is true. But you saved my life twice and by that, you are responsible for me also."

"I guess we have no choice but to be together." He continued, "I have no wife or children and no girlfriend. But I do like a young woman who I have known a very short time and would like to know better. Will you have dinner with me, Natsu?"

Natsu was frozen in place for a moment until what Dean said sunk in. She flung her arms around his neck. "You beaucoup Dinkdao GI. I would like to try what you call tacos for dinner. I got tired of escargot in Paris," she laughed.

Dean was given a vehicle and an assignment to instruct Natsu about the United States. Dean went to the motor pool and was assigned a jeep. During the day, they studied American government and history. Occasionally they drove to the mountains around Tucson and Phoenix to sample civilian life. Natsu eventually learned how to drive a car. On weekends they hiked the hills around the base and the Superstition Mountains. Finally, Dean took her to the high line trail on the Mogollon Rim. As usual they enjoyed the hike but this time they took camping gear. It was the first forest that Natsu had been in since she left Vietnam.

Natsu marveled at the differences and sometimes the similarities. Most hikers would travel about ten miles a day. As soon as they set foot on the trail, they moved out quickly. The old training took over and they found that they had traveled almost twenty-five miles by evening. Finding a suitable campsite, instinct took over and they made a cold camp a short distance from the trail.

Natsu took their sleeping bags and hooked them together into one. They had never slept together. The only kissing were the two times that Natsu had kissed Dean. Dean busied himself with preparing their cold rations. As they were eating, Dean asked Natsu how her new name came about.

"My father’s name was Kim and I looked in the computer dictionary of oriental names. Natsu means "summer" in Japanese and it was summertime when we first met at the river. I could not very well have an American name but most Americans can not tell the difference between Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean or Chinese. I thought it would help stop a lot of questions."

"That is true but a lot of GI’s can spot a Vietnamese easily, especially those who spent a lot of time in Asia. With your command of English and your looks you could pass for a mixed race or even American Indian."

After they cleaned up the camp, Natsu came to Dean.

"We have a way to travel and we must get some sleep." With that she removed her clothes and climbed into the sleeping bag. Dean followed suit. Even in the summer time, the evenings were cool but two warm bodies lying side by side took the chill away. Dean was nervous and it was obvious that Natsu felt the same. Dean had not made a move toward her when she turned on her side to face him and kissed him. This time their lips met and this time they continued until they eventually fell asleep holding each other.

Dawn broke and as the sun filtered through the trees, the two travelers were five miles down the trail. Three days later, they were back at their starting point having hiked the entire trail and returned. As they packed their gear in the jeep, Natsu hugged Dean and he her.

Dean reported for duty the next morning and was met by the colonel. "It has been six months since you began teaching Natsu. It is now time for her to choose where she will live. Do you have any idea where she wants to go?"

"I am not sure, can I tell you this afternoon after I talk to her?"

The colonel continued, "Personally I hate to see her leave. By the way, sergeant, your enlistment is up soon, do you plan on re-enlisting?"

"I will tell you this afternoon, colonel." Dean saluted and left.

Dean and Natsu spent the morning discussing their choices. After lunch they met with the colonel. Natsu spoke first.

"Colonel, I have much to be thankful for and for all the kindness that has been shown to me. First the American embassy, your son and you. I have finally met someone and have fallen in love, something that I would never have dreamed possible in my homeland. Dean, you saved my life more than once. If we had not met, I probably would be dead now. Will you marry me?"

The colonel broke out laughing. "She sure became Americanized quickly."

"Yes. To both questions. Colonel, I wish to stay in the army but I have several

questions. You know Natsu’s background. What will happen to my security clearance and postings? I do not wish to be a grunt all my life. I want to transfer into military intelligence."

"Dean, I only know that Natsu was brought here by my son and had her name changed. I know she is Vietnamese, but other than that, I have no clue who or what she is or was."

Dean eyed the Vietnam combat ribbons on the colonel’s shirt and the pictures of the colonel in Vietnam.

"This may be hard for you colonel, since you are a combat veteran. Natsu was known as Nugyen Tai Dao and she was a member of a VC cadre. Her cadre wiped out my platoon as we wiped out her, until only the two of us were alive. We decided that we had had enough killing that day and called a truce." He went on to tell the colonel all that had transpired. When he was finished, Natsu told the colonel her story.

"I am glad you did not tell me sooner. I lost a lot of good men and friends as I know Dean did also. I have gotten to know Natsu and my heart has softened. If I had known first, I might not feel the way I do now. I can see why you thought I knew, since my son brought her here."

Then the colonel leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette. A silence fell on the trio. Finally, the colonel went to a locked file cabinet. He came back with a file marked top secret. "This file is almost empty. It refers to another file that is marked ‘for the presidents’ eyes-only’. There is nothing in this file that would effect your security clearance, sergeant. What you two have told me will never leave this room. Natsu, if it had been me instead of Dean, I would have killed you or you me. A higher power brought you two together. It is not for me to judge. If I had been in your position, I probably would have fought also. My family has a history of fighting the U.S. government. My grandfather fought at Anteitam, Chancelorsville and Gettysburg. But he wore Confederate Grey not Union Blue."

Dean interrupted, "Natsu, he was known as a Johnny Reb or rebel. Colonel, my family also fought in those battles but they wore blue."

"Natsu, I would be very careful who I told the truth about your background. There are many would not understand. On the other hand, Japan and Germany have become our friends and allies since the end of World War II. By the way Dean, you need my permission to marry if you intend to stay in the army and you have it. I just received my orders and I am transferring to an intelligence post myself, and I will request that you come with me. Who knows, I may get a star out of this next post."

"Colonel will you give me away?" asked Natsu.

"It would be an honor.".

Several years went by. Dean and Natsu were married and Dean stayed in the army. They never had any children but not by choice. After fifteen years of marriage and many attempts to have children, Dean and Natsu became ill. Both were diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease. The doctors were dumb founded. They could explain one but not both with the disease. Dean found the answer in a book written by an admiral and his son. He went to the doctors with the reason but by then it was too late for either of them. Bullets and bombs had been unable kill Dean or Natsu, but the war eventually would.

Six months later a man in army dress blues and bearing a star stood in front of a grave stone. He stood there a very long time. Then he saluted. "I salute you both Dean and Natsu, my friends." He turned smartly and left.

The headstone gave their names and dates along with the following:

DEAN AND NUGYEN (NATSU)

ENEMIES IN WAR, LOVERS IN PEACE

BELOVED HUSBAND AND WIFE

VICTIMS OF THE VIETNAM WAR

FELLED BY AGENT ORANGE

MAY YOU REST IN PEACE