Watching Sydney quickly disappearing into the distance felt as though he were viewing from outside the plane. He knew he was strapped in an aircraft heading for Saigon. Yet it seemed such a surreal situation, not helped by the whirlwind feel of the last couple of weeks.
Farewell to family and friends merged with briefing on what was expected of him. Now, as the jet soared higher, Joe took notice of his surrounds. Were these young Australians facing the unknown of Vietnam for the first time? Or, more likely, Joe decided, they were returning after home leave. More negative reports on this war were appearing in the press. The glory of victory, forecast for some years, was no longer being promoted. Stories were filtering through of young conscripts returning home to mental institutions.
Joe was awoken from his ponderings by a quiet, “You’re the new padre, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” Joe smiled in reply to his travelling companion, not failing to notice the scar on his right cheek. As he extended his hand he added, “I’m Joe. And yes, I’m new to Vietnam.”
His companion took Joe’s extended hand as he responded, “Good to meet you, Joe. I’m Hugh – officially Captain Brown – but this is no time or place for officialdom! I was in your position three years ago – coming to Vietnam with high hopes and dreams of fighting for freedom!” He paused, then continued angrily, “Freedom! Freedom when so many of our soldiers were conscripted. Freedom – what did we know before we blundered in!”
Joe felt uncomfortable. Hugh soon continued.
“Sorry mate. Shouldn’t have taken out my frustrations on you. So many of our young guys are being sacrificed in this unwinnable war! And, mark my words, when this is over we won’t be coming home to pats on the back, like at the end of other wars. Oh no! It will be a kick in the tail for us.”
Once again he went silent. At a loss for any answer, Joe too remained silent.
Minutes later Hugh looked over to Joe and smiled wanly. “Sorry, mate. Not the best of welcomes to the team. My anger and frustration boils over sometimes. Sorry you had to cop it.”
“That’s okay,” was Joe’s ready answer.
“I won’t blast any more for the rest of the journey,” Hugh promised.
He kept his promise. The rest of the journey their conversation covered their families and the work they had left behind in Australia.
Hugh showed special interest in Joe’s upbringing. “Farm life! Must have been great!”
“Certainly was,” Joe agreed.
“I had hopes of going on the land once,” Hugh continued. “Married a country girl. We ended up in business in a big country town – not a country farming town. It’s okay. We’ve done well. Own our own business – we’re both accountants – and our kids are now in late high school.”
Joe could see the tension fade, replaced by joy as he talked about his wife and family. Joe encouraged him to expand on the subject obviously dear to his heart.
“Yeah,” Hugh continued, “We’re lucky with our kids. A few teenage problems, but nothing major. They’re only a year apart, so they’ll both be off to Uni soon. And,” he smiled as he continued, “I have a gem in Mollie. She has kept both home and business going in my absence. When I received the call to duty we decided – a mutual decision – not to apply for exception, which I probably would have been given. We decided we would make this sacrifice for our country.” He stopped, fighting inner feelings. After a brief pause he continued, “No – I won’t go down that path again! It has been hard for us both – the hardest of all parting this time. But, one way or the other, it will be over soon!”
Joe waited for him to continue but Hugh remained tight-lipped.
Several minutes later he smiled at Joe, “Joe, I have done all the talking. Now, what about you? Are you married? Family?” Joe’s heart almost missed a beat. Married – if only!
“No,” Joe answered. “I’m a Catholic priest. We don’t marry.”
“Sorry!”
“Nothing to be sorry about. It’s a natural question. “I’m the youngest of four boys…”
Joe continued, briefly giving snippets of his family background and some of the experiences as CYMS chaplain.
Hugh answered quickly, “You know Joe, I think you will be one of the best things Vietnam has seen in many year.” He stopped momentarily as Joe remonstrated. “No. I mean it,” Hugh continued. “I think you have care and purpose. Heaven knows how our boys need some of that!”
Both men eventually drifted into a light sleep, often waking to the reality of the present, only to be lulled into a dream of hopes for the future.
A moment of panic seized Joe as the plane jolted to a stop. But it was dismissed almost as soon as it appeared.
“Okay, God,” Joe’s silent prayer. “Guide me! I’m in Your hands!”
“Make sure you have your papers ready,” Hugh advised. “You’ll see just how important it is if you mislay any,” he added.
As a big brother shepherding his young sibling on the youngster’s first day at school, Hugh guided Joe through all the check-points until together they had boarded the truck that would take them to the main camp at Saigon.
How could war be waging here, Joe thought, as they passed through lush, eye-catching countryside. The words of one of the songs of his early school days briefly came to mind, “All things bright and beautiful…” If only, he thought.
Soon they reached camp.
“Sorry we have to part here. The guards will direct you. Great to meet you, Joe. I’ll make sure I catch up with you later.” Hugh’s handshake was strong.
“Thanks Hugh.”
Well, here we go, thought Joe as he turned in the other direction.