Our family lived in the northern area of metropolitan Saigon alongside a community cemetery where many displaced people from the countryside built ramshackle housing. They fled to the city to avoid being bombed by Allied forces. Here the Vietnam Mennonite Mission established a community center in 1964 which included a large elementary school, a clinic, English classes for students, and classes for teenagers to learn trades. Even though this area was off-limits for American GIs due to lack of security, we felt safe for we were known by our neighbors.
I found two folded rain-stained letters.
Our family was on home leave during the 1968 Tet Offensive when the Viet Cong attacked cities throughout the country. Their forces seized this cemetery area. Allied forces bombed the area destroying hundreds of houses. Our staff personnel were able to provide services to many affected families. Our family returned late 1968 when I worked with the rebuilding program.
One day in January 1969 I opened the small mailbox inside the entrance gate of the community center which we seldom checked. Inside I found two folded rain-stained letters. Both carried the seal of the local sector of the National Liberation Front, the political front of the Viet Cong. I hurried home to translate them.
“anyone who purposely goes against the common advancing movement” would suffer “appropriate punishment”
The one letter was addressed to “Miss Bit,” the woman in charge of our social service program, insisting that she be more careful to treat all people fairly, warning that “anyone who purposely goes against the common advancing movement” would suffer “appropriate punishment.” Miss Bich was not greatly concerned by the letter; she said that she had received similar comments from other people in the community.
The other letter, obviously written later, was warm with praise to our Mission for the charitable work of our organization in giving relief and providing lumber to rebuild hundreds of houses. But it also warned of drastic action if harmful actions of staff members were not corrected. We changed no policies, and received no further letters from “the other side.” We were pleased that they recognized these services came from a Christian Church organization.