One of our
other functions at Ca Lu was providing a medical
civilian action program, known as MedCAP. A squad
of marines and I would go out to the villages and offer to treat cuts and
scratches and other minor things. I had a Polaroid camera which I would
give to a Marine to shoot photos of me taking care of the folks.
Photographer was CPL Tony WILLIAMS.
The
Montagnards are darker skinned, and have different customs and language
than the Vietnamese. They are also known as Bru
and occupy the mountainous areas near to and in Laos. Even though they were
discriminated against by the Vietnamese they exhibited more pride and
self-esteem.
Fortunately
one of the inhabitants of the village was a young man who told me he had
gone to school in Hue, but had recently returned to his family. He spoke
Vietnamese, French, and a little English. He was very happy to act as our
interpreter.
|