LETTERS

Best Christmas gift in Vietnam

Posted 12/16/21

To the Editor, 

I served with the 101st Airborne Division 1968 – 1969 in the northern part of Vietnam close to the DMZ.  The higher ups referred to the region as I Corp.

We …

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LETTERS

Best Christmas gift in Vietnam

Posted

To the Editor, 

I served with the 101st Airborne Division 1968 – 1969 in the northern part of Vietnam close to the DMZ.  The higher ups referred to the region as I Corp.

We spent little time in Camp Eagle, which was the headquarters of the 101st and served as our base camp.  Mail call was rare when you were not in base camp.  Remember that this was before cellphones and computers.  There was no instant communications.  You always anticipated a letter from family and friends with updates of life back home.  If you were lucky you received a package. It might even have cookies or brownies.  These were always appreciated, especially when you were not in base camp.  Thus, mail call was a special time.

 While serving my tour, part of our company was sent to run daily mine sweeping duties.  Once the road was cleared, convoys would transport troops and munitions to various areas in the northern region of Vietnam.  Our small base of operations from November – January was alongside a Navy Seabees’ compound.  One of the big differences between the Seabees and the Army was the comforts.  The Seabees being a construction battalion, built full fledge compounds.  Their accommodations included good places to sleep, kitchens with dining areas, recreation areas, a movie night every so often and more. The Seabees were very hospitable to us.  When we could, we used their hot showers, enjoyed their recreation areas, and ate in their galley.  This was a far cry from C-rations and no entertainment short of the guy next to you, talking endlessly about his girlfriend he left behind.

As busy as we were, home and family was always on our minds, especially around the holidays.  Thanksgiving and Christmas was especially hard being so far away from home.

You might recall that the holidays often brought Bob Hope and USO shows to the troops in Vietnam.  But that was only to the safe locations.  I cannot recall ever seeing a USO show.  Our locations were not that safe.  We never got the time off to see any of the shows or the Go Go girls that were featured.

Back to our assignment alongside the Navy Seabees’ compound and the reason for this writeup.

Thanksgiving came – The Seabee cooks prepared a feast for their folks and us; turkeys were roasted, potatoes were mashed, pies were served.  They even had ice cream.  Following the meal, they showed a movie.  The101st folks thought we had died and gone to heaven. 

With Christmas right around the corner I thought it could not get any better than this and was hoping to stay at this assignment for a longer period.

Our company jeep arrived over the next week or so with our mail.  Remember, mail call was rare when you were not in base camp. They called my name hand me a round film reel canister with a movie film inside.  In the canister a card reads something like – Merry Christmas Fred.  It was from a local Providence TV station.  I think it was Channel 10.  Now comes the dilemma.  What does the movie contain?  How do I get to view it? I certainly cannot reel to reel it through the barrel of my M-16 rifle.

Over the next week, I finally decide to bring it to dinner to the Seabee galley hoping it’s a movie night and they might take a chance and run it through their projector.  Things got better.  We had a good hot meal, and they showed a movie.  I stayed for the movie.  After the movie I approached the Seabee technician.  I asked to have it played explaining that I had no idea what it was or anything.  Some of the Seabees started to leave after the movie but saw the technician was starting to thread the new film so they turned around to watch what was next.

Low and behold -to my surprise and bewilderment up comes my family all looking nervous in the TV studio on the black & white screen with a festive Christmas holiday background.  My mother started it off with a big “Hello Fred we miss you”.  My two brothers give me a similar greeting and waves followed by my sister.  They finish with “We miss you, please stay safe and think of us at Christmas”.  “We are thinking of you in Vietnam”.  “Merry Christmas”.  They probably said a few more things but I cannot remember.  It was the thought that counted.  The whole thing lasted a minute or two.

I begged the Seabee to play it a few more times because it was so short and I didn’t want to miss anything.  I had a tear in my eye.  I looked around and most of the Seabees also had tears in their eyes also.  It was a powerful Christmas greeting in a place so far from home and the Best Christmas Gift Ever that you could receive in Vietnam.

I pray for all service men and women “Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth wherever you are stationed”

Fred Faria

Fred grew up in Warwick attending Lockwood Junior High School and Veterans Memorial High School. He went on to Rhode Island College, but after two years, took a break and went to work for Newport Creamery. At that point, it was 1968, he was drafted and assigned to the 101st. Airborne Division. “I was proud of that,” he said explaining that his father, John, served in the 101st. during World War II. On returning to Rhode Island, Fred went back to Newport Creamery and under the GI Bill attended the Culinary Institute of America in New Haven and the University of New Haven. He was recruited by the founder of the Johnson & Wales College Culinary Arts program where he climbed the ranks from instructor to professor and chairman of the food service management department. After 40 years at J&W. He now runs his own training and consulting business, Faria Associates. The photo was taken in 2014 when he was awarded the State Historic Preservation Award for Volunteer Service.

Faria, Vietnam

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