American grandchildren seek Vietnam War era Thai sweetheart online

[14Stevie]

2 hours ago, brucegoniners said:

.That's a lovely story. I hope they find her!

I too find it a nice story!

A handsome man and a very beautiful Thai lady - they look so happy together in the photo.

The pros and cons of finding her have been debated - decent comments from both sides - but if the grandchildren want to find the object of their grandfathers love over all these years perhaps that is a sign of forgiveness for any disrespect to his American wife and a huge respect for him and what he so cherished.

I hope there is a happy ending but life just isn't that way.

Good luck to all.

 

[Suradit69]

3 hours ago, elgordo38 said:

American fathers and I think they are discriminated against by their own people.

"Their own people" meaning the Americans or the Vietnamese? "Their own people" would seem to be a 50/50 description regarding race and nationality.

[Prbkk]

2 hours ago, Polonius said:

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. 

 

Korea ran a similar show for families separated during the war. It was on until the last few years, maybe still going. Very sad and moving but also uplifting.

[smacks41]

2 hours ago, smotherb said:

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.

Depending upon when this picture was taken, back then he would have been either an A1c E-4, or a Sgt E-4.  The three stripes were an A1c up to Oct 1967, and in Oct '67, they became Sgt E-4.  The Senior Airman

rank didn't come in until June 1976.  The tan 1505 uniform he's wearing, was in effect throughout the '60s, up to around 1975.

[catman20]

44 minutes ago, Mook23 said:

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....

 

how the hell did you find it then? or are you a sexy man 

[Mook23]

35 minutes ago, catman20 said:

how the hell did you find it then? or are you a sexy man 

U obviously missed the part stating it doesn't come with looks.

Im a stallion in bed and in the kitchen... ???

[scorecard]

5 hours ago, Docno said:

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...

 

Maybe I missed it, if there any comment that they had a child / children together?

[madusa]

23 hours 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. 

Was it seed or wild oats?

[elgordo38]

4 minutes ago, madusa said:

Was it seed or wild oats?

Seed in general wild oats in Viet Nam. We were both young lads at one time reach back in time and draw your own conclusions. I guess there is a age and martial status comes into play and the name changes. 

[lonewolf99]

Why do they think or presume she is still shacked up in LoS ?

 

Maybe she went to America with another soldier/sailor/airman.....

too much romantic notion with Hollywood brainwashing that she spent her life pining over the guy in the photo.....life is not South Pacific/ Suzy Wong

 

How ironic would it be if she had moved to Laos/Cambodia  and stood on a bomb dropped by him or his crew ? Not outwith the realms of possibility... who knows ? But....

 

I hope she is alive and well in Las Vegas blasting her U.S. pension money down slot machines 

 

 

 

[Bluespunk]

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

Maybe I missed it, if there any comment that they had a child / children together?

i was referring to his wife and kids in the USA in my post, not any kids with the Thai "love of his life"...

Edited January 23, 2017 by Bluespunk

[grumpyoldman]

I think we can all agree, it's a super photo. I'm sure the man looked on that fondly wishing and wondering how life would have turned out had he followed the path with her.

[Howitzer]

This larry guy looks pretty asian. I wouldn't have known he was american and white were it not for his last name and nationality.

[elgordo38]

1 hour ago, grumpyoldman said:

I think we can all agree, it's a super photo. I'm sure the man looked on that fondly wishing and wondering how life would have turned out had he followed the path with her.

Your a hopeless romantic. I just hope he did not leave a child behind. The Americans would not bring them to America and the Vietnamese held them in contempt. They had a terrible life. Some years later received a lifeline from America from fathers that remembered them. 

[smew]

No matter who it is, always in life, we men think that the one that got away was the one true love and this reveation happens towards the end of life. if he stayed with her it would have been his US GF that his grandchildren would be looking for now? Totally  absurd, 

[jacko45k]

17 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Hope the Thai husband doesn't mind. 

He didn't mind in 1962.

[bandito]

Bad idea!

The woman is/was probably married and will have children and grandchildren in Thailand.

All they will do is disturbing a Thai family and that after so many years.

 

[diehard60]

I was here in 71 - 72. Got married and took her back. Now we are here to stay. If he really cared for her he could have done the same thing.

[bandito]

4 minutes ago, diehard60 said:

I was here in 71 - 72. Got married and took her back. Now we are here to stay. If he really cared for her he could have done the same thing.

 You're right and I comment you for that.

Good luck.

[catman20]

11 hours ago, Mook23 said:

U obviously missed the part stating it doesn't come with looks.

Im a stallion in bed and in the kitchen... ???

yes i understand you found love in Thailand well done im happy for you. i just wonder have you and people like you ever thought whilst you have found love and are besotted with your beautiful lady. I wonder if she feels the same way about you.

[NotThatGuy]

39 minutes ago, catman20 said:

yes i understand you found love in Thailand well done im happy for you. i just wonder have you and people like you ever thought whilst you have found love and are besotted with your beautiful lady. I wonder if she feels the same way about you.

Just because you can't find something does not mean other people can't. There are plenty of mixed couples that love each other and go through life and cultural hurdles just like couples from the same country.

 

There are many Thai women who understand western culture as well as foreigners that learn the language and get what it means to be Thai. For those people love is real. I would recommend you leave the bars for a minute or drop the pursuit of vagina and try to get to know some real Thais. You may find they are people just like you, going through life and doing their best to be good people.

Edited January 24, 2017 by NotThatGuy

[catman20]

5 minutes ago, NotThatGuy said:

Just because you can't find something does not mean other people can't. There are plenty of mixed couples that love each other and go through life and cultural hurdles just like couples from the same country.

 

There are many Thai women who understand western culture as well as foreigners that learn the language and get what it means to be Thai. For those people love is real. I would recommend you leave the bars for a minute or drop the pursuit of vagina and try to get to know some real Thais. You may find they are people just like you, going through life and doing their best to be good people.

first of all im not looking for love unlike u Cinderella, i dont drink or go to bars, ive lived here 17 year full time and i and i am very happy with my g/f however l like to keep things REAL  dont judge everyone by your own misconceptions. 

[Khon Kaen Dave]

catman20

You refer to the ferang people who come here as 'Chumps' may i ask how long you have been here? If you have been here for any length of time,then i assume you were celibate for all those years.If  you have been here only recenently,then i assume you have a long time gf that you found early in your life here.If that is so,how much of a 'chump' have you been in the keeping of her? Its all very easy to sit back and raise yourself above others,but i suspect that you may have been a 'chump' more often than you care to admit.

[mikiea]

On 1/23/2017 at 11:22 AM, Somtamnication said:

Hope the Thai husband doesn't mind. 

nothing good can come from this posting ...............

[oxo1947]

You guys can be quite harsh--I mean how long does a marriage last in the USA (or UK--Oz etc).

 

I have lived in a small town in Issan for the past 12 years (before that 8 in Pattaya) Our nearest beach is just below Hanoi about 210 miles as the crow flies--(or as the B52 flies) So yes big air base--long runways all built by America. I noticed when I first come here that Many Americans were here, or returning with their Thai wives, after retiring in America. So the marriage lasted even though-- one partner had been in a war zone, which can have its affects/ they had a mixed marriage in the west-45 years ago which would have had its stresses. Thai population in USA at that time would have been quite minimal no mobile phone/Skype/ etc etc..which would have left the Thai person quite isolated (compared with today).

 

I do not know why some guys seem to take such pleasure in degenerating  the entire female population with some of the sweeping remarks that I often read here.

[Mook23]

7 hours ago, catman20 said:

yes i understand you found love in Thailand well done im happy for you. i just wonder have you and people like you ever thought whilst you have found love and are besotted with your beautiful lady. I wonder if she feels the same way about you.

And once again ure so wrong. I am here since 97 and have never had a thai lady girlfriend. I am happily together with my farang gf for the last 15 years... 

[catman20]

1 hour ago, Mook23 said:

And once again ure so wrong. I am here since 97 and have never had a thai lady girlfriend. I am happily together with my farang gf for the last 15 years... 

i bet she a stunner, im properly so wrong there again also

[catman20]

7 hours ago, Khon Kaen Dave said:

catman20

You refer to the ferang people who come here as 'Chumps' may i ask how long you have been here? If you have been here for any length of time,then i assume you were celibate for all those years.If  you have been here only recenently,then i assume you have a long time gf that you found early in your life here.If that is so,how much of a 'chump' have you been in the keeping of her? Its all very easy to sit back and raise yourself above others,but i suspect that you may have been a 'chump' more often than you care to admit.

my friend i have been here 17 years full time, lived with some great Thai girls for many years in the past. now i choose to live alone. i have a long term g/f who i DONT live with she has a good job i dont sponcer her however i do pay for us when we go to the Maldives several times a year, i dont date hookers and dont     drink in bars,herd all the stories from all the chumps, millionaires, ex SAS and alike so i dont go to bars anymore because im done with listen to all the chumps and chumps stories. i hope this clears it all up for you and you can now give it some thought as  where you think you fit in re CHUMPS p.s Dave my girl lives in kk

Edited January 24, 2017 by catman20

[elgordo38]

1 minute ago, catman20 said:

my friend i have been here 17 years full time, lived with some great Thai girls for many years in the past. now i choose to live alone. i have a long term g/f who i DONT live with she has a good job i dont sponcer her however i do pay for us when we go to the Maldives several times a year, i dont date hookers and dont     drink in bars,herd all the stories from all the chumps, millionaires, ex SAS and alike so i dont go to bars anymore because im done with listen to all the chumps and chumps stories. i hope this clears it all up for you and you can now give it some thought as  where you think you fit in re CHUMPS

I  had to read it twice but get the gist of your message. 

[727Sky]

There were bonds formed back then that will never be forgotten no mater which path a life took after the war.

 

Many Xpats live in Thailand today because they were here over 46 ears ago and swore one day they would return..... or heard their fathers speak of Thailand and the Thai People in most favorable ways..

 

We have done some charity work at places who take care of abandoned children... Sometimes you can see the kids just want a hug and a place with caring parents they can call mom and dad.

 

Kids do not ask to be brought into this world or be abandoned or killed in someone's stupid war... But stuff just seems to happen... all over the world..