Sunday, October 22, 2017

Vietnam, Part 4


The third person I spoke with had a completely different experience in the Vietnam war.  If you haven't seen the others in this series, you can read "Barry's" story here and "Jesse's" story here.

If you recall, I asked for each vet's year of birth, what year they went to Vietnam, and where they were stationed.  I also asked if they enlisted or were drafted.  Then I asked for some personal feelings about things they remember from the war.

Please be aware these stories were told in my own words, based on the information and facts each serviceman provided me. The names are fictitious, their stories are not.

Because this affects how I feel about Vietnam and how these veterans bared their souls, I'm adding it to Elke's theme, Landscapes of the Soul at Art Journal Journey. 

"Ted" may have been the most articulate of all the veterans I interviewed, even though he was unable to provide me with a lot of details of his time in Vietnam.


He did admit he spent time on a Naval base and visited Saigon.  He and his wife are vegetarians, so I suspect this is a photo he would enjoy from the market in Sa Dec, a town near the Mekong River.


I was quite surprised when he told me how little he was aware of what was going on in the states during this time.  It was almost as if he was disconnected with the outside world.



I began by sewing three pieces of heavy card stock together for my background.  This is the bobbin side and I used heavy black thread in hopes of helping the tension problems I seem to be experiencing.  Since "Ted" was in the Navy, I used my handmade chevron stamp on the blue portion of the paper.  I used white acrylic paint instead of ink.  I looked high and low for an anchor charm I bought a couple years ago, but gave up after I couldn't find it in a day's time.  The story was computer generated, and the black and white image was one I printed from my stash.  The colored image was from a travel magazine.

Thanks for joining me today at Art Journal Journey.   And thanks for your visit here, too.

20 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

Another very interesting page about this problematic time. Have a great Sunday, hugs, Valerie

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the linking again such an interesting heavy topic at Art Journal Journey!
Have a nice Sunday
Elke

Dortesjs said...

interesting great journal pages

froebelsternchen said...

One more of these stories! I am really happy you picked this special themes for making pages for Elke's theme! I very often think about World War I and II and am interested in Vietnam and Cambodia, recently watched the Angelina Jolie directed Cambodia story which has impressed me very much and made me think.
What I like to read about Ted is that since he is /was a more educated person he seems to made it much easier through this bad war, for me this is a particularly positive aspect.
Thank you for not only making a beautiful collaged page on which even the devided composition in black and light blue fits Ted's story perfectly in my mind,
but for the stories you shared here with us!
A fantastic idea for Elke's theme !
Happy Sunday my friend-
Just rain here today - another lazy indoor day for me!
oxo Susi

Lotte Kristensen said...

This is such an amazing project, it's so different from anything else I've seen, and really gives you food for thought! Looking forward to the next instalment!

Marfi-topia said...

beautiful and so creative. Very emotional.

Vicki Miller said...

Interesting topic Elizabeth. I was actually in the Army reserve here in Australia and lived for a time with a vet. He seemed very well adjusted about it, unlike a lot of his mates. We had a lot of demonstrations here as well and most people have been ambivalent about how they feel about veterans, even now.

Frannyaitch said...

Lovely page. I think it's great that you are immortalising these people in your work x

Lowcarb team member said...

What an amazing project.
Have a lovely Sunday

All the best Jan

Meggymay said...

Another great story to read about the way war has effected the folk who served their country. Ted seems to have been able to cope with the war and been able to make it his career. No two people are the same and this page compared to your other pages, shoe this so well.
Its a super page Elizabeth.
Yvonne xx

Barbara said...

I’m so glad I called in today because I’m really enjoying these posts. Happy Sunday, hugs Barbara

My name is Erika. said...

I think Ted's education and skills made it different for him. He was doing his job and he didn't need to do actual combat, I am guessing at least. Sounds like he loved the military and the chance to travel too. I really enjoy your take on this challenge over at AJJ. It has a lot of meaning, which makes it more important. Hapy rest of your weekend. Hugs-Erika

CJ Kennedy said...

Another interesting story. I can see how Ted could feel disconnected from The World. Being at sea is like being on another planet. Your world is your ship and shipmates. And looking from the deck of the ship in the middle of the ocean, all you would see is an expanse of water.

H.R. Bennett said...

A fascinating story. It really makes me wonder what is still classified nearly 50 years later.

Jeanie said...

You are compiling a wonderful historical record. Ted's story is interesting. I wonder if he knew little because he chose to know little. It might help make it easier to survive.

Birgit said...

This is beautiful what you are doing. I love that you are creating something in honour of 3 Vietnam vets. This man seems to be able to deal with the crap he had seen even though he really isn’t talking about it at all. I find many who have experienced war either talk about it or they never do and many have suffered with what they have seen and either became alcoholics, drug addicts or broke down from the ptsd. I like how you put in the mermaid in here as it fits with this story

Sandra Cox said...

Fascinating. Though, that is so disgusting about Agent Orange. What is wrong with people?
So Bleubeard is having a birthday Saturday?

pearshapedcrafting said...

30 years seems like a long time to be in active service! I enjoyed seeing this page! Hugs, Chrisx

craftytrog said...

Another interesting page Elizabeth! X

UplayOnline said...

Thank you for the linking again such an interesting heavy topic at Art Journal Journey!


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