Saigon Notes

 

ANNOUNCEMENT/////////This begins a little Legacy Project from the war in Vietnam (and Cambodia.) It will  digitize and upload one man's experiences and observations, especially those recorded in the very controversial (and independent) column, SAIGON NOTES, and the earlier series, ETCETERA that appeared in the Saigon Post.  These comprise over 150 articles under the byline 'DANIEL CAMERON.'  Later I may add some of the "well-behaved"  reportage done for NEWSDAY, THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES and finally for CBS after its entire staff fled in the famous panic during the 'Story of the Decade,' i.e. the Fall of Saigon (including the  in-house  story that remains in the CBS Memory Hole to this day.) 

 

In general the period covered ranges from late 1969, when President Nixon began to 'Vietnamize' the Democrats' war, gradually phasing out US forces, to the fateful Spring of 1975, when most Americans were gone, Nixon had been Watergated out of office, and Congress refused emergency aid to the South Vietnamese as Hanoi's Communist Army rolled South, less than two years after the famous Paris Ceasefire and Peace Accords of Nixon's Henry Kissinger and Hanoi's Le Duc Tho.

 

The digitizing project will start today with the very first SAIGON NOTES (September 28, 1970) reproduced at http://www.gringoman.com / These re-printings will be somewhat redacted for clarity.   The originals are  full of typos. (Unfortunately, the Chinese typesetter sweating in his underwear in a wartime basement  did not have even a GED in English.)

 

Note to ideologues of any stripe: In Saigon everyone read these columns and not a few were offended, especially members of the crack Saigon press corps, like NEWSWEAK. If you are not offended right away, just be patient. Of course I wouldn't write exactly like this today, being slightly more civilized. I certainly wouldn't be so mean to a poor Gloria Emerson, late of the NY Times. But the historical record compels me, in the main,  to stick to the original, even when it offends even me. (Typo-cluttered originals are microfilmed somewhere or other by someone or other.)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

 

                               

 

1970. NOTICE: 'Saigon Notes' by Daniel Cameron makes its debut in The Saigon Post starting Monday, September 28. The columns will be a regular feature on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The views expressed in the column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Saigon Post.

 

                                        SAIGON NOTES

                     ENTER SIR ROBERT

Great Britain's distinguished Southeast Asia man, Sir Robert Thompson, advisor to President Nixon and author of NO EXIT FROM VIETNAM, returned to Saigon recently.

Discreet, as ever.

 

                                       EXIT JAMES STERBA

 

James Sterba of the NY Times is probably one of the finest young reporters in Vietnam, Now that he's going home very soon, we hear that he's spending much more time at the pinochle table than in briefing rooms. Sterba completed a very good article recently about the G.I. use of marijuana and drugs in Vietnam. But persons who read both claim that he may have been surpassed by 'STEEL POT IN A MARIJUANA CONVOY' which appeared in the little old Saigon Post, September 18 and 19. Sorry 'bout that, Jim. But nobody will hear about it Stateside, or in JUSPAO's Vietnam Round-up. No sweat.

 

                                        DIAMOND DADDY DILEMNA

 

Now that a Stateside diamond salesman is going to take over The Overseas Weekly,the outfit's local staff may have to do some uncomfortable soul=searching. Indications are that Diamond Daddy plans to castrate the hard-hitting publication, turning it into a respectable eunuch which he feels will make friends with military commanders and money with G.I.s The current staff may have to go along with Diamond Daddy or face unemployment. In such a dilemna, what would you all do, buckeroos?

 

                                         CLYDE AND CHARLEY

 

According to senior North Vietnamese defectors, the word coming down from COSVN headquarters to all echelons and branches is: economize, economize, economize. The Allied sweeps into Cambodia and the closing of the Sihanoukville port to Red supplies have painfully damaged Red logistics. The problem is compounded by China's unwillingness to let Russian supplies enter North Vietnam through China, which may quadruple the Kremlin's transportation costs. It's reported that in An Xuyen and Dinh Tuong Provinces of South Vietnam, Red forces are being directed to use their AK-47's only under specific orders. The non-automatic weapon is now the common weapon, using less ammo.

 

                                          FOR MISS GLORIA EMERSON

 

"The concept of trying to help  others is an alien one to most Vietnamese, who distrust such attempts."

This New Yorker insight is from a September 14 NY Times article by Miss Emerson. The article was about social welfare or charity projects in Vietnam. Miss Emerson's smug, reckless generalization about Vietnamese character was either deliberate slander or sheer obtuseness. We prefer to think she is intelligent (aren't NY Timers by definition intelligent?) so we'll suggest slander. We don't demand unusual perception and  insight from US correspondents, but we hope for basic education. Gloria, dear, maybe you were just confusing "trying to help others" with the concept of organized charity? Maybe you know that organized charity is a peculaiarity mainly of the Anglo-American world? You've been around a little, haven't you? Most of the world, dear, sees the practice of philanthropic NY socialites  in a slightly different way than you may see them. Your description may get by with New york provincials, but what about others?

 

 

 

Comments

[new york yankees authentic jersey]

Your blog has the same post as another author but i like your

better.You seem to be very professional in the way you write.

[jim thome jersey twins]

this was a really quality post. Took me awhile to read all the comments, but I really love the article?

Hi! I’m impressed,

[clay matthews jersey]

I like everything positive. I’m on this website since the first day of its existence and I have never seen anything negative on it. This website is made by people, who think positive and who have many things to tell others. I love this website, I always get positive emotions from it and I can stay here the whole days and nights!

[New York Giants Jerseys]

Do you really all so sweet and considerate with others, plus read your blog post is a fantastic joy. And thats a huge return! Dan and I will enjoy your guidance, we should do in the future. Our market is a long distance, which means that your tips are good to use.

[wholesale shoes]

i just didn't want a kindle at first, but after receiving one for christmas i'm completely converted. It offer genuine benefits over a book, and makes it so much more convenient. i would definitely recommend this item:

[UGG Boots Sale]

You in fact make it seem so effortless together together with your presentation nonetheless I locate this subject to be in fact 1 factor that I think I??￥d by no means recognize. It appears too complicated and very broad for me. I'm seeking forward on your subsequent put up, I will try to get the dangle of it!fake oakley sunglasses
replica oakley sunglasses
ugg boots
ugg boots sale
moncler sale
moncler down jackets
MAC makeup
wholesale MAC makeup
ugg sale
ugg boots clearance
moncler jackets
moncler outlet
fake oakley sunglasses
replica oakley sunglasses
wholesale MAC cosmetics
ugg boots sale
uggs outlet
MAC cosmetics wholesale
MAC makeup wholesale
MAC cosmetics
uggs sale
cheap uggs boots

[paul smith]

Merci beaucoup pour votre article.

[Nike Sko]

Tidligere brakt til deg Nike SB nå endelig har en ytterligere beskjed, er Nike SB om felles samarbeid i dette elegante spesielle sko og HUF.

[Amira Condelario]

Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon everyday. It will always be exciting to read content from other authors and use something from their websites.

[Lidia Gonya]

Hi there! I just want to offer you a huge thumbs up for your great info you have got right here on this post. I am returning to your site for more soon.

[Randee Mcgurl]

I absolutely love your website.. Excellent colors & theme. Did you create this site yourself? Please reply back as I’m looking to create my very own site and would like to know where you got this from or what the theme is named. Thank you!

[Gaynelle Breslow]

This is a good tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere. Brief but very accurate info… Thanks for sharing this one. A must read post!

[Cheryle Mabe]

This is a topic that is close to my heart... Many thanks! Where are your contact details though?

[Josefina Candlish]

Pretty! This was a really wonderful article. Thanks for supplying these details.

[Zonia Lias]

Good article! We will be linking to this great post on our site. Keep up the good writing.

[Roxanna Shows]

The next time I read a blog, Hopefully it does not fail me as much as this one. I mean, Yes, it was my choice to read, nonetheless I truly believed you would probably have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of moaning about something you could fix if you weren't too busy looking for attention.

[Lenita Oehmig]

I'm very happy to uncover this site. I need to to thank you for ones time just for this wonderful read!! I definitely liked every bit of it and i also have you saved to fav to look at new information on your site.

[Amy Standlee]

I was extremely pleased to uncover this site. I want to to thank you for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely savored every little bit of it and i also have you book marked to look at new things on your website.

[Vada Hodermarsky]

I was able to find good information from your content.

[Nancey Lujan]

I want to to thank you for this good read!! I certainly enjoyed every little bit of it. I've got you book marked to check out new things you post…

[Georgina Fogarty]

A motivating discussion is definitely worth comment. There's no doubt that that you ought to write more on this issue, it may not be a taboo matter but generally people don't discuss these subjects. To the next! Best wishes!!