History Is Written By The Winners

History is written by the winners. ~Alex Haley

Throughout our trip we would encounter reminders that the United States did not emerge the victor in what the Vietnamese call "The American War." In fact, both the United States and Vietnam came out of that conflict battered and scarred, metaphorically and literally.

Both my wife and I have strong family connections to people who served in the war. I have met people who spent time as prisoners of war. The bravery and commitment of any American who serves his country in armed conflict cannot be dishonored.

This post does not have any pictures accompanying it because there were many things we did not take pictures of. Anytime we encountered displays of destroyed American military equipment, we realized that there was American blood on exhibit. Out of respect to the over 160,000 Americans who gave their lives in service to their country, we do not have pictures of places memorializing the killing of Americans.