Leaving Los Angeles

Our journey begins in Los Angeles on March 1, 2003. It is hard to believe that, after almost 3 years of planning and anticipation, it is time to begin this incredible adventure. We are excited and anxious all at the same time. During the day on Saturday, our fellow travellers are busy arriving from their hometowns across the country. Each new arrival is an opportunity to greet old friends and to make new ones. Saturday evening, a farewell dinner is given in our honor by the VVA California State Council.

Harvest, Ed and Barbara Shields at the VVA dinner. Barbara is the daughter of Marvin Shields, US Navy Seabees. Marvin was killed in action at Dong Xoai and is the only Seabee to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

Jeanette and Eddie Chervony, daughter and grandson of Sgt. Eddie Chervony, join us at the dinner. Jeanette and Eddie are supportive and helpful to the group throughout the weekend. In thanks and love, we held a remembrance ceremony for Sgt. Eddie Chervony at Khe Sahn, near where he served and died.

Kelly Beatty and Harvest at the Saturday night dinner. Kelly is the daughter of SP4 William Fennell.

The "kids" of the Southern California Chapter of Sons and Daughters In Touch get together at the LAX Sheraton Hotel on Sunday, March 2nd, before leaving for the airport.

At 8:00 PM on Sunday, the teams start leaving the hotel for LAX. We are very excited to get the trip started. Our expert trip organizers help us to move easily through the screening of our bags. Soon, we are at the gate waiting for time to depart. Our flight, on Singapore Airlines, is scheduled to leave at 11:30 PM. Despite the late hour and the long journey ahead, no one is sleepy. We are ready to get on the "party plane". Below, left, Harvest's cousins, Gayle and Connie, wait to board. On the right, our flight attendents arrive. We are soon to discover that Singapore Airlines offers incredible service. The crew are attentive and the food good (for airline food). We have individual videos at our seats, though we spend much of our time visiting with each other.

Ed looks sleepy after a long time on the plane

Our flight takes us from Los Angeles to Taipei, Taiwan. After landing in Taipei, we disembark while our airplane refuels and is cleaned. After a quick chance to stretch our legs, we are back on the plane for the flight to Singapore. Our layover in Singapore is a bit longer. Some of us use the time to take a shower and change clothes. As we boarded our new plane, we are on the last leg of the long air journey. Next stop- Saigon.

Finally someone says "There's land below". Below we can see the Mekong Delta area of Vietnam. As our plane lands at Than San Nhut Airfield in Saigon, we break out in cheers and laughter.