|
The Quang
Tri River bordered Ba Tanh on the south. Villagers
used the river to drink, wash, eliminate, and travel.
There was actually a
sanitation protocol in the villages along the river. Water was gathered up stream,
washing and bathing were done downstream from there. Their latrine was downstream
from there. Villages were far enough apart that the contamination was
diluted enough not cause health problems downstream for the locals, but
would cause severe dysentery with the Marines who enjoyed swimming in this
river.
The woman is carrying water
in 5 gallon cans which have had the tops cut off. Water for household use
was stored in barrels outside the home. We referred to the bamboo stick
used for carrying heavy loads as "dee-dee
sticks". Dee-dee meant "go or move
out" in Vietnamese. The NVA would also use dee-dee
sticks to carry cases of ammunition and supplies down the narrow trails in
the mountains.
|
