Back in Hanoi

   In the center of downtown Hanoi is a huge military base and headquarters of the Vietnamese Army. The base is surrounded by tall walls with armed guards at all gates. The buildings and walls are all the prerequisite yellow with red roofs. On one side of the base, facing a boulevard, is a large gate and entrance to the Army Museum. As we strolled in, soldiers were marching in formation and many high ranking officers walked briskly 

between buildings. I slowly raised my camera to photograph the marching soldiers, aware that unauthorized photography is  severely punishable. I noticed the commander of the marchers saw me and did nothing. I didn't want to push my luck, so only got one shot of Army personnel.

   The centerpiece of the museum is  an outdoor display of pieces of American bombers shot down over Hanoi. We sent B-52 planes over Hanoi for years, badly damaging the city and killing ( according to the Vietnamese ) over 80 thousand people. 

   The display of wreckage is made up of the pieces of 26 B-52's shot down over the city. The pile is huge, probably 70 feet tall. It was a shocking and sobering sight. I couldn't help but think of the men who died in those planes, and the others who spent years in prisons under terrible conditions, not to mention the innocent civilians who perished. It was a chilling reminder of that bloody war. 

   Karen found the whole scene too disturbing, I walked around alone,  in silence.