Young men in harm's way

It was only after the ceremonies and dinners and storytelling were over, after the final handshakes and well wishes, after the sincere exchange of promises to build new relationships out of former enmities, that Richard Hartnack found the down- time to begin serious reflection on the importance of his trip to Vietnam.

As he sat, thinking it over on the long flight home, he says he began "to get it," to understand what made his return to Vietnam important and "fascinating" and "touching" all at once.

Hartnack told The Nugget, "During the air war over Vietnam, it was entirely possible to lose your life at a young age. This was the time in our lives when everything lay ahead - family, career, friends, more education - everything. A rational person wouldn't do it day after day, but we all did because of the unwritten, unspoken contract we had with our fellow aviators. We all showed up to do the job because if we didn't someone else would have to carry our share.

"On both sides, we trained, we went in harm's way. On the American side for a year. Then we went home. Indeed, we did it for each other more than for any other reason.

"The Vietnamese pilots we met were there for the duration. However long or difficult the war, they were in it until it ended or until they were killed or injured so badly they couldn't fly anymore. I realized that, despite the differences between our countries at the time, these guys were stand-up men like the guys I flew with. They would have killed us in a New York second given the chance 45 years ago. But the same is true of our guys. We all had a chance to discuss events where that happened, and good men on both sides died - too young.

"In the end, after all the death and destruction, things have worked out pretty well. Vietnam is a very successful country. The values of the people there are very close to the values of Americans after World War II. They just want to live in peace, make a home for their families, improve their standard of living, enjoy daily life, see their children and grandchildren grow and succeed and have better opportunities than they had.

"For them the war was worth it. I am glad it's turned out this way."