It's not impossible, there have been other soldiers who stayed in Viet Nam, either because they betrayed their country, were fugitives from US law, or simply fell in love with the place and chose not to leave. As I recall, we even discussed such a case here on the Zone a few years ago, we decided the man probably wasn't a traitor, just a voluntary expatriate. There have been other examples, too, other wars, other countries.

But something here doesn't add up. How could this round-eye have escaped the notice of the local authorities? He should have been rounded up and impprisoned. He would have been catalogued. As an American, he represented a liability to the Communists, someone they would have to explain or account for if he turned up later. Also, as an English speaker who presumably learned Vietnamese, he would have been valuable to his village and his adopted country as a translator and a teacher. English is spoken by many Vietnamese, particularly those with any education or who may have lived in US-controlled areas during the war. It just doesn't make sense he forgot how to speak his native tongue.

He trained a man in 1960 (when our involvement in Nam was insignificant), but wasn't lost until 1969. Does this mean he served 9 years there before he was reported missing? This story just doesn't add up.

And of course, the "conspiracy" angle sent up warning flags for me. Why is the US so keen on covering this up, after 44 years? How convenient. If you can't come up with a plausible story, its because there's a cover-up.

Sorry. I don't buy it.

PS, Welcome back, Buck. Ready to rejoin the vaunted, daunting, taunting Liberal Horde?