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In the late 1960's I received, courtesy of the United States government, an all-expenses paid, extended tour of what was then known -- euphemistically, as it turns out -- as the Republic of South Vietnam. Unlike most of my colleagues, who viewed the monsoonal tropical forests of south-east Asia as some sort of "green hell," I immediately fell in love with the place. As a life-long avocational naturalist, I sensed that I was indeed being given an opportunity to study the natural history of a place that not many got to see. There was a catch, though. The rebellious indigenous types were continuously shooting at and attempting to blow me up!

I got to see Vietnam from two distinctly different perspectives during my year-and-a-half stay there. First as a combat infantryman with the First Infantry Division and later, after collecting one of those miraculous "million-dollar wounds," as a preventive medicine specialist with the 20th Preventive Medicine Unit of the 44th Medical Brigade.

The stories included in this site are an attempt to describe the feelings of a naturalist who just happened to be caught up in this unfortunate war. Many times I had to force myself to recall the final paragraphs of Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front, a chilling reminder not to get too enthralled in the overwhelming beauty of the place.

To access a story, click on the service ribbon to its left. As with all war stories, these must be prefaced with the admonition, "this really happened!"

	A Nap in the Sun - An unusual snake encounter at Fort Polk, Louisiana, prior to the war.
	Vietnam's Most Deadly Snake - Probably not what you might think!
	The F* You Lizard** - A tribute to an often heard but seldom seen denizen of Vietnam.
	Mac's Monkey Tale - An unusual ambush patrol, described by my friend, Mac McGowan.
	Krait! - A nocturnal encounter with one of Nam's most venomous snakes. By Bill McGighan