Tran Nhan interview

Q: What would happen when you spoke with Americans about it? What would they say to you?

A: Well, talking to ah. … We don't talk much about the war. In case we are actually involved in that war. And nobody wants to see a war. So many casualties, so many innocent people killed. When we talk we just talk about generalities like life, good beer or movie mostly. We don't talk about the war.

Q: What effect did the American presence in the cities with all their money and hanging around bars? What effect did that have on Vietnamese people? What did you think about that?

A: Well, we have... We usually looked down on people … We have higher prestige. We respect people more, the intellectuals more. 'But since the arrival of U.S. troops then they have a lot of people get rich off the bases. So we just frown less upon those people than we usually do, on like prostitutes and bar girls. So there is a trend of accepting them as a social fact more than forcing them like we do before.

Q: Do you remember the first time that Americans were announcing they were pulling out of the war, the so-called Vietnamization. Did that have a big impact on your activity?

A: Well, personally yes. Because I was an interpreter so I'd be, I know I'd be assigned to another unit. So I would be transferred. That is the direct impact of the pullout.
And the second impact is when the Americans pulled out we hope we get their supplies, or whatever they spend on those American troops. And I felt, Gee, that's great, we're going to have a lot of ammunition to spend so we...