webfact Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 American grandchildren seek Vietnam War era Thai sweetheart online Picture: Sanook BANGKOK: -- The grandchildren of a US serviceman from the Vietnam War are seeking a Thai woman after the couple fell in love but had to part. Before Larry Fravel died he produced a photograph of his Thai sweetheart who he met while stationed at the U-Tapao military air base in Chonburi. He told his relatives that he fell in love with her and was sorry that they never married. He had had to come back to America after his tour and never saw her again, reports Sanook. Now the relatives want to contact the woman - who would be around seventy years old if still alive - to tell her that Larry thought about her his whole life and still loved her. Their picture was posted on the Facebook page of Roads Go Ever On. The woman or her relatives were asked to contact that site. If they preferred not to contact the family they were asked to contact admin so that this could be communicated. The picture was believed to have been taken sometime between 1962 and 1972. The romantic story has been widely shared across social media. Source: Sanook -- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-01-23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somtamnication Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Hope the Thai husband doesn't mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Smith Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Prepare to be inundated with sick buffalo stories from the blue rinse brigade! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgordo38 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Just one of many sad stories of similar happenings during the war. A lot were born in Viet Nam of American fathers and I think they are discriminated against by their own people. The spigot opens and your seed is tossed upon the wind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluespunk Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 2 hours ago, webfact said: Now the relatives want to contact the woman - who would be around seventy years old if still alive - to tell her that Larry thought about her his whole life and still loved her. Must have been nice for the mother of his children... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Docno Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 6 minutes ago, elgordo38 said: Just one of many sad stories of similar happenings during the war. A lot were born in Viet Nam of American fathers and I think they are discriminated against by their own people. The spigot opens and your seed is tossed upon the wind. Thanks, but I didn't really need so 'visual' a metaphor... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gchurch259 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Sad, he could not get back ! Lady looks very nice, hope she had good life ! A lot of Airmen based all over Thailand during .the Vietnam Era, many married and returned here. Me, I came in 2004, have been lucky with my Wife ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Docno Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 2 minutes ago, Bluespunk said: Must have been nice for the mother of his children... I suspect she had no idea ... Many such stories emerged after WWII also. The relationships of our youth often hold more significance than they would otherwise merit. Add to that the stress and uncertainty of war and the exoticness of someone from another culture, and you have a recipe for a lifelong 'obsession' with someone. That doesn't mean you tell people who come into your life later on or that it even restricts your feelings for them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingstonkid Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Would the family not be able to cut the time frame down based on his rank? I hope that she is alive so that his family can find out more about their dad. Remember most servicemen do not talk about what happened during the war until near the end of their lives. I am sure this is something that his wife knew about although he may not have told her how much. Anyway it is kind of nice that they are actually attempting to honour what may have been his wishes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgordo38 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 (edited) 20 minutes ago, Docno said: Thanks, but I didn't really need so 'visual' a metaphor... Spigot a gentile word for something that I have heard detailed here in its crude form many times. Sorry to offend you. Seeing you use the word visual you must a keen pictorial memory like my own. Its a sad cross to bear. Vivid imaginations can run away at times. Makes ones brain like a picture show. Edited January 23, 2017 by elgordo38 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingstonkid Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 3 minutes ago, elgordo38 said: Spigot a gentile word for something that I have heard detailed here in its crude form many times. Sorry to offend you. Seeing you use the word visual you must a keen pictorial memory like my own. Its a sad cross to bear. Vivid imaginations can run away at times. Makes ones brain like a picture show. That bucket would have to be real big and open a lot for something spread on the wind to make a difference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgordo38 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 1 minute ago, kingstonkid said: That bucket would have to be real big and open a lot for something spread on the wind to make a difference metaphor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polonius Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Would love to read a follow-up on this bitter sweet story. BBC Radio One used to have this long-lost-love program packed with insane stories of people reunited or never reunited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smotherb Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 36 minutes ago, kingstonkid said: Would the family not be able to cut the time frame down based on his rank? I hope that she is alive so that his family can find out more about their dad. Remember most servicemen do not talk about what happened during the war until near the end of their lives. I am sure this is something that his wife knew about although he may not have told her how much. Anyway it is kind of nice that they are actually attempting to honour what may have been his wishes. His rank appears to be senior airman, E-4, three stripes. There were thousands of USAF E-4s in Thailand over the years 65-75. Perhaps more telling is his base, U-Tapao. The 4258th SAC Air Wing was stationed there from 66-75--they flew B-52s and KC-135s. It appears there may be an insignia behind her hair on his left breast.--may tell the difference between flight- and ground-crew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucegoniners Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 That's a lovely story. I hope they find her! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyberfarang Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Many American troops, some already married or having girlfriends back in the States, took on unofficial Vietnamese, Cambodian, Lao or Thai wives while being on active duty during the Vietnam war. Once their tour of duty was finished the troops abandoned these women, some pregnant or already born their children, and returned back to the States never contacting the women again. They preyed upon their innocence and naivety, the women believing their American soldier boyfriends were their white knights in shining armor, their protectors and would take them back to the States to a wonderful lifestyle. Back in those times America was an even more racist society then it is now, they considered the indo China peoples as gooks and a lower form of life. Even today there are children of these US troops who have zero chance of ever discovering who were their fathers and it`s all very sad. Maybe it is best if this lovely Thai lady is not found, not dredge up the past that perhaps these women would rather put behind them and let sleeping dogs lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacChang Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 All we need to know is what toothpaste she uses. We need to stock more of those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook23 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 25 minutes ago, JacChang said: All we need to know is what toothpaste she uses. We need to stock more of those. And which washing powder!! The colours of her shirt are so vivid !!!! The thai netizens should also pay attention to her lovely natural thai face and complexion!!! The beauty norm anno 2017 us MONSTROUS!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanukjim Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 To find the correct year just find out the year he was stationed here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pumpuy Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 15 minutes ago, Mook23 said: And which washing powder!! The colours of her shirt are so vivid !!!! The thai netizens should also pay attention to her lovely natural thai face and complexion!!! The beauty norm anno 2017 us MONSTROUS!!! I would prefer a robot ....! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrTuner Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Quite a smile. Don't see many of those anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lungnorm Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Why you not come back Daddy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivasamui Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 1 hour ago, cyberfarang said: having girlfriends back in the States, took on unofficial Vietnamese, Cambodian, Lao or Thai wives while being on active duty during the Vietnam war. Once their tour of duty was finished the troops abandoned these women, some pregnant or already born their children, and returned back to the States And Thais thought gravy train would go on forever (1955-1975), sent their daughters to work in bars, stopped investing in their children's education, followed the Americans ' example and abandoned their pregnant girlfriends all over the country...and look at the state of the country now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman20 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 What a waste of time thinking her about her all his life, he was properly just another customer, like most of the chumps that visit here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Get Real Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 What´s the point? She´s probably married, if still alive. Most probably she has not been thinking of him all her life. That would be a very strange coincident. He was married to another woman or more of them and had children. Seems to me that it´s an old story that just should be put to rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSF Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Well he couldn't have loved her and missed her that much, there was nothing stopping him returning to Sattahip after he was discharged and locating the girl. I first got to Sattahip in 1978 and I met several ex US military guys who were living there with their Thai partners. These were guys who had been stationed at U-Tapao, formed these relationships during their time there, then returned as soon as they got out of the military, which was generally only a year or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louse1953 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 23 minutes ago, vivasamui said: And Thais thought gravy train would go on forever (1955-1975), sent their daughters to work in bars, stopped investing in their children's education, followed the Americans ' example and abandoned their pregnant girlfriends all over the country...and look at the state of the country now! Yeah,a lot better off than the States know and with a leader who has a lot more respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louse1953 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 6 minutes ago, TSF said: Well he couldn't have loved her and missed her that much, there was nothing stopping him returning to Sattahip after he was discharged and locating the girl. I first got to Sattahip in 1978 and I met several ex US military guys who were living there with their Thai partners. These were guys who had been stationed at U-Tapao, formed these relationships during their time there, then returned as soon as they got out of the military, which was generally only a year or two. I knew a Yank in Korat that never went back,stayed with his new family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotchilli Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 2 hours ago, JacChang said: All we need to know is what toothpaste she uses. We need to stock more of those. I have an idea, it tastes salty but doesn't come in a tube !! You may not want to try it though !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook23 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 32 minutes ago, catman20 said: What a waste of time thinking her about her all his life, he was properly just another customer, like most of the chumps that visit here. Pro-jec-tion! There is love in thailand. But u have to deserve it. It doesn't come with money or looks. Believe it or not, it comes from the heart... it's not available in beer bars nor soapies.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.png.3b3332cc2256ad0edbc2fe9404feeef0.png)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now