A glimpse of the real Vietnam

The walk up to Camp Carroll

Malcolm McInerney writes about being off the beaten track!

The photograph is not spectacular or iconic in nature but it is my favourite from the trip because it reminds me of a very special time of our group experience and connection with Vietnam, the real Vietnam. It is also in a location that has such a tragic and important place in the history of the American War in Vietnam.

The photograph is of the group walking up the 3 kilometre steep track to Camp Carroll, the US artillery base only 16 kilometres from the DMZ of the war years.The 3rd Marine Division of the US Marines occupied Camp Carroll from 1966 until 1970 when the South Vietnamese Army took occupancy of the camp until they were over-run by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) in 1972. The camp had 80 artillery pieces, with 175mm guns able to fire a 150-pound projectile 32,690 meters. After being taken in 1972, US B-52 bombers pummelled Camp Carroll in an effort to deny its use to the North Vietnamese. However, the NVA removed the 175mm guns from the camp before the strikes could occur. Ironically, these guns were later used against the South Vietnamese army forces.

On April 2, 1972, Camp Carroll surrendered, and a white flag was raised over the main gate of the camp. Colonel Gerald Turley, the senior U.S. advisor to the ARVN was to say that the “surrender of Camp Carroll to have been one of the most emotional war scenes ever recorded in Vietnamese history”.

Thousands of US Marines and ARVN troops served at Camp Carroll between 1966-1972 and the camp has an important place in story of the Vietnam War. However, today there is nothing there but crops and a Memorial to the NVA troops at the top of a winding country track. 

The extensive Camp Carroll US artillery base during the war - only pepper and rubber trees there today.

Forty six years after the day Camp Carroll fell into the hands of the North Vietnamese, we were there in this beautiful and peaceful place with no evidence of the past traumas and suffering. Yes, it was hot and humid and the walk was exhausting – all good, but what was really amazing was the variety of houses and cropped land that we walked through on the road. People waved, dogs barked, insects buzzed, cows wandered up the track, people passed us carting produce on their shoulders, scooters whizzed past going somewhere in haste and kids came out to play – things that we could only experience in such an atmospheric place because we were finally off the beaten tourist track. It was a glimpse of the real Vietnam that we were experiencing - a glimpse enhanced by the late afternoon sun going down and people heading home on the track after another hot and humid day in the Vietnam countryside. 

We were all so exhilarated when we reached the top (although a few of the adults wore pained expressions) because as a group we had achieved a tough hike to the NVA Memorial. However, once there and reflecting on the history of the area, how could we even consider the walk tough compared to what the soldiers of all sides would have experienced whilst based at Camp Carroll all those years ago. 

Well done to all, not one complaint and a group experience that I will always treasure from this trip.

Yes, I know I have broken the task rules and put in two photographs but ... they are such great photographs of you all!