“A Level Of Absurdity”: War And Corruption In Vietnam

Juris Jurjevics deployed to Vietnam and was assigned to C Company, 43rd Battalion in the 1st Signal Brigade at Kontum, but spent very little time there before being assigned to a remote outpost in Cheo Reo, in what was formerly Phu Bon province, in the Central Highlands. Shocked by the austere defenses of his camp, he found the corruption staggering. Supplies intended for the troops or for Montagnard auxiliaries rarely reached their destination, or arrived in significantly reduced quantities. He noticed that everything in Vietnam was for sale, and extortion through tribute was widespread. While in Vietnam, he felt a bond with the Montagnards, but noticed the South Vietnamese disdain for the mountain people. Returning home, he felt detached from the majority of American youth, and did not advertise the fact that he was a Veteran, although he has noticed a shift in attitudes the recent years. In this interview, he talks about his work as an editor and writing a novel, “Red Flags,” based on his experiences in Vietnam. He describes the camps at which he was stationed, and provides his assessment of the character of the Montagnards and the South Vietnamese. He discusses the corruption he observed within the American and Vietnamese forces, and in the local politicians and nongovernmental organizations. Finally, he reflects on how the Vietnam War changed him and the country.