BOB POTVIN BLOGGER: TEACHING ENGLISH TO ADULT VIETNAMESE

Sunday, December 10, 2017

TEACHING ENGLISH TO ADULT VIETNAMESE - MARCH 1967

It was Dr. Franklin J. Pepper (Dr. Pepper) who set me straight early on in my "Vietnam Sabbatical." He saw my two black eyes.I was a tyro collecting Combat Pay in Vung Tau.. the playground in the Orient Vietnam. Dr. Pepper's direction was sound: 'Potvin, do something good.' I did.. I latched up with the Vung Tau Cultural Center and volunteered to teach English to adults! This activity gave me something to do as I was learning the ropes of what it really was being a soldier.

As it was, I was assigned to the 36th Evacuation Hospital where war casualties were flown in from the field. Dust-Off choppers delivered the injured to the hospital. Doctors and nurses had their hands full trying to save lives. A Worcester girl, a RN, by the name of Sharon Werme and I swam in the South China Sea on Sundays. The ocean was like a tepid tub of bath water!

One week after I began zapping folks, Capt. John Underberg, Radiologist, said.."Ernesto Gaza was being brought in from the 345th Medical Dispensary to fill an E-6 slot at the 36th. I, in turn was 'drafted' to work at the 345th. It offered an E-5 slot. Sounded good to me.

Adjusting to a professional routine wasn't easy as I DIDN'T KNOW A THING ABOUT TAKING X-RAYS. I wrote MFSS at Fort Sam Houston requesting a textbook. My old 'girlfriend' Marie from VT obliged and I was tutored by a Californian.. maybe the name of ?

Gradually I learned and was promoted to E-4 Specialist Fourth Class. Underberg came down hard on me. ""More money... better films.!" All x-rays were hand-developed in a tiny darkroom hosting a red light. Developer, rinse, and fix and dry was the routine. It was my show and gradually I perfected my charge.

In late July I welcomed Captain James J. Villiotte -- a Massachusetts native. His wife was also In Country as a RN. Jim and I hit it off. No complaints. I later years he was at Memorial Hospital, Worcester. I distinctly recall when the Red Sox enjoyed The Impossible Dream. "Pandemonium in Boston" was the message over Armed Forces Radio. I ran into the Officers' Mess and shared my enthusiasm with the duo who were having lunch.

My English class lasted one month. Thom Cox, supply Sgt. returned from Australia R & R for a month and we connected big time. for 3 or 4 months we paired up in a fantastic mode and formed the I.G.J.P.B. (International Group of Jewish Prospectors and Beach Combers!) Cox had military inspections down pat. When the Colonel came around checking things out Brother Cox took out the glass jar filled with formaldehyde and a dead sneak. It worked every time (distracting the Bird Colonel!")

I even flew to Saigon with Cox and he showed me the garbage dumps in Cholon. A pecking order existed in sifting through U.S. Army garbage not to mention the stench. Talk about abject poverty! "War means progress, they say."

Cox left in August and I was lonely. I then became the Mail Clerk for my tiny unit of 15 soldiers. James Truelove and Carl Whitten come to mind along with James A. Threatte and 'Smokey' Stover. As the months went by I was gearing up for my R & R to Australia!

To be Continued

If you really want to see my life in Vietnam watch "GOOD MORNING VIETNAM.