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On May 26, 1966, a Buddhist set himself on fire at the US consulate in Hué, South Vietnam. From the article:
"The Struggle Movement in Da Nang collapsed, although it continued in Hue. On May 26, a large crowd attended the funeral of the Vietnamese officer who was killed after firing at General Cao’s helicopter. Afterward, the crowd burned down the U.S. Information Services Library. Over the next few days, three Buddhists doused their robes with gasoline and set themselves on fire. Tri Quang, the Buddhist leader, went on a hunger strike to protest American support for the Saigon regime and interference in Vietnamese affairs."
"The Struggle Movement in Da Nang collapsed, although it continued in Hue. On May 26, a large crowd attended the funeral of the Vietnamese officer who was killed after firing at General Cao’s helicopter. Afterward, the crowd burned down the U.S. Information Services Library. Over the next few days, three Buddhists doused their robes with gasoline and set themselves on fire. Tri Quang, the Buddhist leader, went on a hunger strike to protest American support for the Saigon regime and interference in Vietnamese affairs."
The 1966 Buddhist Crisis in South Vietnam
Posted from historynet.com
Vietnam War
World History
American History
Military History
Religion
Posted 3 y ago
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That photo made most of the news at the time but the act had little impact on US involvement.
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The US never learned from the Vietnam disaster. Our policies both Republican and Democrat look like the policies of a failed nation. When I read recently about a US Army major trekking up in the mountains of Afghanistan with a suitcase full of dollars; dollars to get the influence of a tribal chief; surprised his gift of US tax money fell on the chiefs deaf ears because the tribal chief did not need the money, he already had all he needed, he did not need more money. Or a friend in the past who was a paymaster in Vietnam paying local rewards for heads of so called communist party leaders in Vietnam. Kinda like collecting money for scalps of Indians.
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1LT Voyle Smith
Cpl Archie H. - Thanks but no biggie. Just did what I thought was right. Very grateful to have survived more or less intact.
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Cpl Archie H.
1LT Voyle Smith - Today service to an ideal larger than ourselves because trivial it seems to me by most Americans. Living in Europe I had dinner with a man who was retiring as a US Army Colonel. A humble soft spoken gentle man who could not hear what I was saying. I sensed he had a hearing problem so I clapped and said you must have been in artillery. To my not so surprise he was an Artillery officer. His loss of hearing was a big deal. HE WAS TOO PROUD TO WEAR A HEARING AID
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1LT Voyle Smith
Been there Cpl Archie H. I’m deaf as a post in my right ear. The missus keeps raggin’ on me to get a hearing aid, but I ignore her yelping. I just turn my right ear to it and can’t hear what she’s sayin’. The VA says they’ll give me one if I ask for it but I haven’t bothered.
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1LT Voyle Smith
You’re very kind, Brother Cpl Archie H. Service was a privilege and I have no regrets. Would do it all over again if asked. But now that I’m 80 years old, it’s doubtful that anyone will ask.
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