New Year 2019, An outline of my Forward

 When you find yourself writing the forward to your own book it means you’r not famous or rich, thankfully your a little mature in age, aware as a human being these two facts could be your greatest assets of all.  

  This picture of our world to me best shows my reality today, simply because it is our reality. This is our home and we our human beings living-out our lives on this beautiful, remarkable planet, the only one we can see with all our technological advances, we call it earth - we call it home.

I share my life with other very openly because I feel a desire, an obligation to do so.The most dramatic of events that do belong to and effect humans have been mind, also the most rewarding aspects with challenges, a very human story starting from the most normal of beginnings to go on to live out an extraordinary life with challenges, with rewards from life it's self. Our deepest emotions have been experienced & lived to the extremes, all have been mind. Most important however is whats been learned, if I learned nothing by live my life what use is their to tell the story ?

This 2019 makes a 12 year effort made in writing this book, Yes it's been complacated, it's been done while still living and learning. Fifty plus years ago I came very close to having my life taken from me, it fucus my mind, my emotions, it made me to think different. It filled my head with crazy thoughts many would say.Today we our still living out our lives a bit crazy to me. Today I have my experience in and about life with maturity as my witness, where to begin. After a year + in the hospital to recover from wounds recieved I returned to the war at it's highest level of intensity with No job, No connections, and very little money ? 

Today of course I understand it was because at home in the USA in 1967, everyone around me were busy, they were work, buy houses, make money and plan for the future, they did not know event it was on the TV every night, opposition to the war was starting in be heard, but the people for the most part, they were taking care for Themselves, event my Dear Mom said, Yes, it looks like the end is near but the Lord will take care of us. Oh how long ago that was and how quickly the time has past. Today so much has changed and yet taking care for ones self is so popular, so normal, event our leaders today most talk about self, not about others, not about our higher thoughts and understanding. Today of course my Mom's gone and most of my brother too.

The times our different, accumulated knowledge is vast and available to so many, connection and communication our so different and so very vast. Yet the two wolves of our human nature fight on, (Me Or Us) ? The Great remarkable fact is that finally the signs can be seen, our starting to showing them selves, the young in general our grasping reality of all the open knowledge of today, 70% of the world is under 30 years old. The time has come when women of our world our standing up and being counted and progress is being made. The young, Female and Male will be just fine, I say trust yourselves and your instinks, you lead it's your time and the world needs your thinking and you.  

I share my story to you for one reason only, I comprehend that simply by changing our thinking, we can and do change everything about ourselves, our actions as a people, as human beings. I dare not or wish for you to think like me, My only hope is that you will think ! That you will find the courage to think openly and honestly on facts, on reality, on the accumulated knowledge of today. That you will be quitily listen to your deepest wishes and hopes.

To those in my generation I want you to know in many ways, I'm la lot ike you, I'll quot the songs of Simon and Garfunkel, (The Sounds of Silence) 

Because a vision softly creeping, Left its seeds while I was sleeping, the vision that was planted in my brain, Still Remains. 

Ten thousand people, maybe more. People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening, People writing songs that voices never share. And no one dared, Disturb the sound of silence.

"Fools", said I, "You do not know. Silence like a cancer grows, Hear my words that I might teach you. Take my arms that I might reach you" . But my words, like silent raindrops fell, And echoed in the wells of silence.

And the people bowed and prayed. To the neon god they made, And the sign flashed out its warning, In the words that it was forming. And the sign said:
"The words of the prophets are Written on the subway walls, And tenement halls
And whispered in the sound of silence."

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I could tell you the true story of another one of their songs, I attempted to learn it, and still sing it today. (HomeWard Bound) I learned it from someone becoming a friend only to die near by the next day in my final battle.

What I would rather close this New Years post with is the Song (What a Wonderful World) by Lious Armstrong. Because thats how I found and saw our world, this life. When I think about, Whoa, to have lived this remarkable life at this remarkable period of history, all because one guy that did the right thing when doing the right thing came to him, to have been born with desires and the courage to live, to have found an open mind in the shadows of blindness. To have been allonwed to exist at this period of history leaves me with only one feeling.   Thankfulness !     

Richard L Iverson

Remember Happiness is Oh so simple, that a grateful heart is the beginning of wisdom, that Effort is essential for anything worthwhile in life !

vidanusa@mac.com

             

An anoccment - Leasons learned

Just making the announcement I returned to Vietnam to complete my book, to put the final touches on the story about my life, more accurate is to tell about what I learned living a very remarkable life.  

I left San Diego on the 10 of October a day after I was able to vote early at the voting center in San Diego. Yes, I will say that if America dose not vote to put a check on Mr Trump, we as a people deserve what ever befalls us. Not just the 50% that cast their vote but the 50% that wear to busy to vote in our democracy. I’m not sure witch group I’m the most disappointed with, those who voted out of negativity or those that have so little respectful for our democracy or our simply a little insane. When you live in a hard won democracy and disregard it by not event voting you run a 100% at rick of loose it !

Now in Vietnam I could add a video of the kids and children play in the park, the modern sky-line of the rapid advancement of Vietnam. Pictures of delicious natural food eaten or the smiles on the faces of many with less stress then in America. Vietnam a nation where 75% of the people our under 30 years old. I’m always being asked by college kids to do an interview for a school project, or maybe an excuse to practice English ?

The interviews our all pretty basic, I surprise them in the interview with my number one reason why I love Vietnam today, I always say because of the fact their our (NO GUNS). Event few Policemen have guns, if so they our seldom seen. No advertisement or talk about Gun’s, so the concept of a shooting not event contemplated. The difference is Great ! These kids can’t contemplate a nations where such things our common, it's not event possible for them to understand. Nothing is more rewarding to me then this. I was hear 50 years ago in the American war when their were millions of guns and devices to kill others with. Today -0- in public, this tells me so much about who the Vietnamese people our verses us in America ! The young can’t conceive and our surprised by my statement because they never think about such things. 

A point about my book it's not so much about the life I lived as what I learned living it, an example of my writings and things learned. 

I learned a long time ago in life that people our all different. One of the big difference I noticed over time was that for some people they have a need to Judge the others, as if it was an article of faith, or a necessity for their life, while for others it was not. This difference in people has been seen so often over time it simply was impossible to not see it as one of the basic difference in people. Today I simple call or realize it’s because of peoples insecurity with-in themselves. 

To me it’s essential for man kind in our world of 7-Billion people, in our interconnected world of advanced communication, of depended commerce and travel. We have to train our selves, educate our selves, our children to this fact. (We must have respect for and genuine expectance of each other as human beings first). This before anything else is necessary for us to advance, to survive, to create a world better then what I found just 72 years ago.    

This simple thought, it's not based on any religion but basically a human feeling, a higher thought of humanity, something man-kind must understand to move forward, to overcome so many of our ill’s, our real world problems. 

After all it’s this other concept (That somehow another human being could be worth less then ourself's, is less then ourself that's at the heart of so much despair, of so much harm and pain yet today). Yes all religions preach it but it’s simply a higher thought of humanity. After all it was Human’s that created all the different Gods and belief systems. No God created any human-being, we simply evolved as stand alone bio-logic beings, members of the human race, and that in it’s self is very special.         

 

Richard L Iverson

Remember: Happiness is Oh so simple, that a grateful heart is the beginning of wisdom, that Effort is essential for anything worthwhile in life !

vidanusa@mac.com

My Me To Moment / # Why I did Not Report

Yes, a combat experienced Marine, a Survived of Close Encounter Combat both my reality's, yet less then an year out of the hospital form wounds I to was raped, then I buried the event for years.  

I will make this as brief as I can, I am writing a book of raw history in the first person, two years ago I told brief details to family members because I didn't want to shock them 48 years later. In writing this I do use words of that time, my thinking at that time.

I left the military hospital after a year as when my wounds healed up, then I was medically retired as a Marine, spent a year + working and searching when I decied to return to Vietnam. I took military space avalable seat to Hawaii, stopping their because the military had canceled those seats on to Asia due to the Tet offensive of 1968, I held up to wait in Hawaii. Work in Hawaii came easy doing hot tar roofing, cheap housing was at the YMCA near Waikiki, things were going well. I took the opportunity to go bar hopping on weekends, drink was in-fact therapeutic for me, it enhancing my openness, friendliness and the ability to relaxed and to think clearer the next day. 

At a bar someone purchased a drink for me, on drinking it suddenly I became like a rag doll, totally helpless, still silently mobil, my memory became very foggy, however later aware that I was being raped by a man. Waking up in a cheap hotel room alone, my ID cards and money was still their. The feeling of being filthy, feelings I didn't understand, aware today it’s called being violated, I felt overwhelmed, me unable to process it really, I was simply decussated and angry. I shower to remove the stench, nothing cooled my emotions or anger, most witch was directed at myself. On returning to my room at the YMCA it still went on. I did pray, read my bible, cursed, but in the end, the comfort came only with one thought. (I would kill the bastard), this brought relief, it also brought more crying, praying and reading my bible. In the end comfort came in that thought, I could / I would kill the bastard that had done this to me. 

So I planned out the perfect murder, created a cover story, pretending to being sick the night before I had picked, called the pastor at the church I went to, made plans as cover for church and bible study on the coming Sunday. Purchased flip-flops to wear so no one would notice my 2 inch build-up on my show used for my short left leg, purchased a gun off Hotel Street, the ruff area of Honolulu. I went to work, but told no one, a week later on Saturday nite I went out the window of the YMCA with my 38 stub-nose revolver with a few shells to kill.

Only while walking to the area of the bar did it dawn on me his face was not clear to me, his sent still a strong memory but his face was not. I convince myself I would remember him when I saw him. At the bar I sat outside, emotions ran strong, I attempted to change course. I went into the bar, search the tables, the bar area, went to the bathroom, left because I simply could not find the man in my cloudy memory. 

Out side again I sat across the street again stressed out, two men came out or by, they were holding hands and obviously were gay. I thought to myself the bastard that had raped me had to be gay, my knowledge and background was anyone that would raped another man had to be gay. I thought to myself, I'll just kill these two gay bastards !

As suddend as that thought cross my mind, another thought came also. (I had killed before, Yes). But I had never killed in anger with hatred, in war I had seen many things, more then once in that period I had did things attempting to help, to protect innocents. Now I was contenplating to kill innocents, this overwhelmed me, my mind ask Why ?

A life time of values and experiences filled my head, one realization came to me and that was my salvation, my main survival tool was that I had never lost it in combat. (I had never hesitated and I had never overreacted, went over the edge). This was the key to my recovery. I had never allowed pure hate or revenge to rule me. In fact it was in war my awareness of everything became so real, it had in fact made made me question things, made me more human. Yes, verses in the bible, vengeance is mind saith the lord, many verses were also easy to recall, after all my background was a Lutheran farm boy that had become a marine, many things and my reality all came together. 

At some point I walked away, coming to the Ala Wai canal that wrapped behind Waikiki, at the time not so built up, their were areas of weeds along the side. I went into one the high weed areas, sat and thought, slowly getting a hold of my emotions. I removed the bullets from the gun, throw them into the water, then the gun, throwing it as far as I could. Deep lesson in life filled my mind, like who I was and would be seem to burn into me. I thought about why was I on my way back to Vietnam, how I would move forward, many things seem to settling into my thinking, my understanding of myself and others were force feed into my thinking with a dose of reality, as had happen before truths settling into me, using the best logic I could muster, very late I return to the YMCA. 

On purpose or sub-conciiously I buried the whole experience deep inside, not just the event but the hate also, the self center concept, the humiliation, the pride and replaced it with a commitment to learn and understand. I was 100% commitmented to go on living life, to allow nothing to defeat me, including myself. Of course life has a way of giving us blessings and challenges, with-in two years my best friend at the time was also my boss at a large company in Okinawa, Japan. A  guy I was always attempting to hook up with a nice girl, then he told me, (Richard damit, stop it, your my friend, you don't know it but I'm Gay). In life their is no flash of light, no remarkable protective cloud to protect you when you simply go forward in life openly, only your mind, your personality, your values, no it's in your action at work and pleasure, in hardship and your joy, you simply face challeges and excepting rewards that come, but how you live your life out is by the chooses you make day after day.  

The thought of reporting this illegal rape to any authorities or friends, it simply was never considered. Yes, I admit there were other things in my life to deal with, being rape was for me unbelievable and so wrong in my mind. Because of that I had allowed myself to sink into hate and revenge. Was it pride, was it my fault or was it just a nasty-evel man,  it discussed me. I dug deep into my mind, my emotions, my belief system, every aspect of my being and decided I would once again just go forward and live my life and strive to know about myself and others. 

This week Bill Crosby was sentenced to jail for years of crimes agains others, on every TV the issue of sexual assaults is being talked about, all has not been lost on me. The truth is when I read the accounts of Crosby's accusers over the years, story after story of women who drank one glass of wine and turned into rag dolls with no ability to resist anything, of spotted memories. There stories were so much like what had happen to me, the truth these accounts comforted me in a strange way. To wait years to tell anyone also understood by me. Yes, thier is a part of me that felt happy to see this washed up, nasty old man going off to jail, justice has a sweetness about it. Naturally I was think I shouldn't feel happy, however he shows no sense of remorse, he showed no humanity, no sense of regret for the pain and damage he has inflicted on others. Yes, Justice has a sweetness about it.

It's sad, Yes the reality is in our world thier our many uncaring people, men have always been number one with-in our human history, often some men it seems showed little to no sense of empathy toward others, some men carry this ugly concept of women as less, as if they themselves never had a mother that carried them to birth and then cared for them. However the reality is it's part of our history, became the concept of most all belief systems, man is first and women less to serve then in many ways.

I have to add 3-things to be truthful. 

1: There is personally no reward for me to share this so publicly. I long ago came to peace with both ugly sides of this event I'm shareing with many because it will be in my book, it’s was part of my fate in life. Also just maybe it might be helpful to someone else thats been abused and suffered at the hands of others. 

2: I consider myself a very peaceful person, however when I see in-justice, outright harm inflicked on others by anyone, part of my very being wants to fight against it. Today it’s obvious to me, this issue of assault’s on others in many forms is a serious problem, women and everyone must fight in many ways to overcome and change the thinking and culture as Americans, in my mind as humans beings. It’s not just whats happing in American, we live in a new age where what you our see and read today is seen and heard everywhere in the world, times our change rapidly, it’s about time for the human race to move forward on this very important issue.  

3:  # Why I did not repot.  To event ask the qustgen (why) to me shows a lack of empathy toward others, a lack of compassion, a lack of respect and a level of ignorance to reality in the year 2018, we our at a different point in history. Yes, my reasons to not report was wrapped up in pride, a belief system, allowing myself to concentrated only on myself. The victims of all assaults, rape and abuse have their own reasons to not report, their level of tolorence, their own burdens, personalities and the fact no one wants to hear or believe them. We do all share one thing, what ever the reason, it's seem easyer and our human in-stink is to bury it deep inside. Women in particular have a bigger problem, that problem is in human history, in most cultures and belief system is a fact, the systems were set up and works against them as a women. My life today is built around reality and logic, I except the fact I’m simply a human being, my life today is dedicated to attempt to leave this world better then I found it. My logic tells me to make the world better, women must take their place as equal humans beings, of course logic tells us it has to be with-in their particular place in life, in this world with-in their social system in our world, however as equal human beings to men on all levels of law and social norms.   

Richard L Iverson

Remember Happiness is Oh so simple, that a grateful heart is the beginning of wisdom, that Effort is essential for anything worthwhile in life 

vidanusa@mac.com

   

   

   

   

     

My Personal Overview of Reality

This is page one of my web-site, vidanusa.com , writen maybe 6-7 years ago, to me makes more sense today. Un-changed because technology has changed, me with out the skills or time to learn them. This my guide post in life and in writing my book today, along with what I observed in life !

Vi-Dan USA      (For the People)                                         

Established to share our Thoughts - Reflections - Knowledge - Wisdom and experience gained in living our lives. A series of publications to promote understanding between people, to help each other to face and solve real problems. To promote good will and encourage all to think deeper about their lives and our world . 

Author: Richard L Iverson. 

This picture of our blue planet is a great way to look at our world, helps to understand that we are all but one human race, each a unique individual, but one humanity. We all share the same right to be here, to enjoy and live by the fruits of the earth. Through out human history efforts have been made to keep us so afraid of the other, to fear and then to hate others, a learned emotion for humans. This is our human history and reality ! 

The long road of human evolution / development has changed our morality, awareness and thinking toward each other. The technological advancement gains over time creates change, the devices we use in our daily lives today. It's the micro revolution, the information age, we our connecting in communities and the world over. To my logic this means the future is very positive, we simple have to in-brace the change. 

Change is a fact of all life, what was before will not be in

the future. Today we understand knowledge dose in-fact 

multiple, that education with tolerance is essential. 

To me this picture is a fair and logical thought: 

THIS IS HOW ANYONES GOD SEES OUR WORLD !

The point many are missing, all bases of power will be challenge or changed by the fact that the power is shift toward the masses of people everywhere, that the people will have a seat at the table. The real challenge for those in positions of power with plenty will be to understand equality, when is enough - enough. More important what is the point ! On the side of the masses of people it will be how to create change using the rule of law and order to created the rules, policies, and laws we will move forward under.

Equality for all dose not match our human spirit. However In-Equality has always been man-kinds downfall, certainly the ability to have the opportunity to learn & participate (education), the right of all people for the basics of food, shelter, medical care of our time. If we can't provide that, it has to always be the goal of humanity. This is to me what it means to be human ! This depends on what priorities we as individual people demand. Our we today at that point on human evolution and development ?

I believe today, if we look, we can see that in our world their are limits, we have to share our world with all living things and people. On a personal level for people it will mean dose more and bigger bring what all have long desire, the ability to provide for their family, share love, to have good health, a meaningful productive life and to know joy / happiness, to me it is that simple. 

I believe life has seasons, in each we live out our lives according to each with our abilities and awareness. If we reach maturity I do believe for a content and meaningful end of life season, that is found in giving back to our world, sharing with others, time or money. This effort to leave this world just a little better then we found it, the rewards our great, is part of being a human being. To be responsible to our home the earth, to have human kindness for others, sharing and helping one another is powerful, sometimes called human LOVE ! 

My Hope: That you will enjoy this web-site, the photos, book reviews, and my blog, of course that you will purchase my books. 

My 1st book is about our health, diet, exercise. "This Works for Me" The little book that can change your life. By use the information in it I changed my body, health, able to feel great with high energy yet today to live out my life.

Please go to the page. "This Works for Me".

After eight years of effort coming in the 1st quart 2016, the memories of my life, "Vi-Dan USA". A Vietnamese word witch means "For the People", it will tell the unvarnished history of one life lived, unknown history and the meaning of it today. It dose reflex on the times and events lived, telling the story of my time on this earth. To be open and honest is important in living out life, also when looking at ourself's, our history, this is how we advance as a people. (visit the photo page fore a peak at that life, things it will tell).

Thank You Very Much.                                                        

Richard L Iverson    e-mail at vidanusa@mac.com 

Happiness is oh so simple, a grateful heart is the beginning of wisdom, that Effort is essential for anything worthwhile in life.

(Have a nice day)

This is Why I Write !

This week our nation Honored the passing of John McCain, it was fitting and in line with what all nations do for leaders that forwarded the spirit and goals of their nation. This man has did that for a life time, in life & death exhibit the best of our nation and it’s institutions. 

It also showed the true contrast witch we all should see it for what it is, and the reactions to the passing of John McCain. I’ve on purpose keep contact with a wide verity of people with totally different concept then mind. They having their own feelings on so many things, I hope people don’t miss the meaning of this passing of a Great man, a great representative of our nation's politic's and military, our establishment, flaws and all but very fitting and good. 

McCain was one part of our great experiment called democracy, he came from a family of Admirals, the establishment so to speak, but as I have try to explain as a people, as human beings it’s best that humanity uses the rules and laws in place to face the future. vidanaus.com page one. 

People in the USA and world wide our in this period of change unlike at any time in modern history, change based on reality of demographics, and because of technology and general knowledge now in the hands of the masses. Change is coming on the most basic aspect of the systems that our world was built on. On watching this week of Honoring an American hero somethings were clear to me and many will be surprised what I saw, not mentioned or missed in this event and deflection point of our national history. 

From right to left wing news outlets, many showed the prison, (Hanoi Hilton). The average American thinking it was built to house the prisoners witch goes to the heart of the point, our democracy and our involvement in Vietnam. The Hanoi Hilton was built by the French to keep a hold on their 100+ years of colonial rule. Today it’s a museum, less then 5% of the museum is dedicated to the American war ( what Vietnam calls the 10 years war with the USA), rather the museum is about the 100 + year of Colonization of Vietnam and the resistance. The flat stone surfaces with metal leggings, the small cells with chains and metal devices to hang or put prisoners in extreme position to punish were shown but my point is that it was design by the French, built by Vietnamese labor and used to punish any resistants to the control of the Vietnam people by a colonial power for years. 

Also not shown was the guillotine sitting in a particular setting, the large metal plate like knife with an angle shape used to behead nationals when punishment was done or thought not enough to change peoples thinking about freedom and the meaning behind colonialism. First a women's comments. 

On my own personal visit to the Hanoi Hilton in 2009 at the age of 62, much older and wiser, this at the time when I started to write my book, I saw all, the most striking thing I saw was a statement made by a women, an occupant of the prison. made to the colonial court in 1931 (I’m determan to accept any action that our assigned to me. I’m not the one who founded communism ! Communism was created by the circumstance or the oppression of the capitalist in this world that harms the interest of the workers and peasants). Of course a few countries still call themselves communists but the reality is it’s a proven failure, like all ism’s. Humans have search for and used several systems to evolve. Today it’s capitalism that proven to work best, (not new), however if not controlled becomes a system thats not friendly to democratic norms and good for the masses of people. 

I have contemplated my own book about a rather unsural life, so wrapped up in many of same things as John McCain's, going to war 52 years ago. I and McCain ended up effected by it, this changed us because of the experience. I’ve know many from that experience, me from the enlisted grouping, a son of farmers, many like me were simply called to duty by the draft or patriotic feelings but we all served in the same cause, each handles that experience in their own way, I was simply lucky and found my way by living, by searching and finding the reality in life. We all share certain history, some have different view points witch is so normal, so right being from a free country. 

My point is that their were 100’s of thousands / millions of men in this war, the Vietnamese and their allies, our nation and our allies all also served in this crazy war. Most the regular men that saw and experience to much war, inhumanity to follow humans, killed and were hurt for ever. Most of these men / women of all nations have already died, often without a so glorious life or send off ! Their our only a few chooses for men of battle when war is over, when peace comes. For me it was the radical concept of asking why, for many it was to wrap their lives in the flag, others there into their belief system, other simply become lost in a world moving forward so fast. 

These types of experience continual to this day in our war’s of choose ! For me in the end, it turned out ask the question, why, to except fact's based on the reality of accumulated knowledge, on science, on technology, on history, and on human principles. The worrier that gradated me from 15 feet below me, then charged me in plain sight to shoot at point blank into my heart, missing because I desperately turn for my rifle, shooting me through the side. He gave his life because a Marine 30 feet above us shot him with a more powerful M-14. The important point is he was 10 / 20 / at the most 300 miles form his home village or farm overland, across the mountains and valleys. I was 12,000 miles from home across our largest ocean, their to fight and kill for someone else’s thinking, me with my limited knowledge, understanding and powerful concepts. 

This is a fact ! Today we our still locked into this pattern of national thinking, Frankly I choose to become more human, excepting of reality. My logic tells me after watching this last week, tho so normal for a great nation and fitting for it’s people, it’s simply not enough to meet the future as Americans or for humanity as we move forward at this period of history. So much has changed, so much will change regardless if we our ready or not, the accumulation of knowledge and technology because of our evolution as human beings. Yes, we our still shackled by different parts of our of our human nature, basic in-sticks of self first. Yes, we must keep alive this remarkable experience called democratic representative government, it is to me and others (The light on the hill, the best hope for humanity), it has proven to give the masses of people there best hope for freedom, conditions to grow and a opportunity for a better life.                      

The point is the world is changing fast and will, the really big issues, well their still the same issues that has always pledged humans. Big issues our not settled, history of course is written by the winner, the reality is colonialism was in no way, never was and never did match democratic principles. Capitalism is a economic system and proven to work best so far but must be controlled. If not it takes over, it’s the nature of capitalism and is like all ism’s in that position and becomes dangerous to democracy. Why I wrote page one as a overview of my thinking, written several years ago. It’s this continual move to create a more democratic nation and world that's my hope, I see this as the best way to prevent yet another version of power to emerge from this struggle with-in mankind.

Today event larger issues our smoldering in the background because of the fast forward of this period of history, this knowledge and awareness is being force on humans reality, based on technology & science with facts, this change coming and hear, it's in-fact normal. I call it reality, we will have to face and except reality, it’s part of our evolution as humans. History shows we built our world based on several systems and belief system, when we simply could not comprehend things, we simply created Gods and powers beyond and greater then us. In doing so we created the bases needed to progress as a species but like all human things it has to progress with the overall evolution of humanity. 

I very much agree with John McCain on so many of his values, on comprehending we our all but bit players in our national and human history, that living is it’s self, is the meaning of life, with me also opening saying every aspect of my life has been wonderful. The truth for me, with not better words, I was simply so dam lucky. 

I have nothing but Honor for John McCain, with no malice or disrespect for belief systems or the history of America, all history is or should be used to learn lessons. So this reason I push to tell my story because the challenges and facts our far deeper. I found other truths, truths beyond my widest imagination, these realities have been tested and evaluated by myself and thats all any human truly has, what he experience. John McCain represented the establishment and did it well, a far larger number of people that served and sacrificed in all wars come (yet today) from my background, most from the poorer families of all country. I’ve said it before, will say it again, both American and Vietnamese and others that served there nations in that war our already dead, dyeing way to young because they saw to much, suffered to great and once the war was over, the world had little help for them to live out their lives. They were the foot soldiers, from villages in Vietnam and small communities across our country and inter cities, from other nations. Their ability to get and have support when needed simply was not their. 

This is the history of war, wars that always end, life always goes forward. The point is John McCain never had to be concerned if he had money for rent, his next meal, if his car would break down, these our experiences also and very real. In Vietnam some efforts were made but way inadequate, so the foot solders simply suffered alone and died, this is the reality of all wars. This the point, some never seeing a war we should get into, with me understanding war is the most worn out tool of human history, always creating more problems then it solves, all war end so the enfaces has to be on self defense, on being oh so weary of all wars. Like all things under a democratic system, this also must be shared by all. 

Our people going to want to read and think about these things with serious thought, well some. Many today our comfortable, live in this free democracy, the opinion and feeling of many our very different. In democracy our thinking is form by our lives lived, we form governments based on our feelings and hopes, hopefully under the laws of men, set up by the people chosen to represent them. History shows us that humans always look for a savor to fix all, both in belief systems and in politic, humans have often backed strong men from brutal dictators, to kings, and politicians of all strips, simply out of fear or deeper resentments. So with reality hitting humanity directly in the face with natural changes based on our evolution on all fronts, it will be a challenging times ahead. 

This is the reason I believe in Democracy so much, a system of government that allows for the input and must also have the policies that helps the masses of people, the concept of equality under the law, of a fair slice of the pie so to speak in the wealth and riches of every nation, this I sense we must always be the goal, attempting to be meet. This is why I struggle to tell my story event it runs counter in a nation and world that lost in this concept of capitalism and me first. Equality between men is of course a dream, In-Equality has always been mankind's down fall. 

However today education, awareness and evolution has and dose go forward, what was impossible to contemplate a short time ago is excepted, our thinking, our understand, our compassion has reached new hight’s and lows, many of those who begot our many religious belief’s would be pleased by how far mankind has come. My only hope is that I might share my experiences and what I learned, how I learned to except reality. 

In other words the whole story of America needs to be shared spoken of, my story is more tied to the masses. The deep facts I found our also a fact, realities like the facts we our all simply human beings of one human race or species. We live on this singular fragile blue planet and event with our telescopes can find no other like our planet, at least not Yet. This reality in the formed by many things like science, based on knowledge and facts witch will increase, in-fact these multiplies, and Yes, by shear logic. It’s simply the reality of our period history of human beings and our continual evolution. 

It’s best in my opinion that humans use this accumulation of knowledge and understanding to face the reality of our times. I hope my story might in a small way help us as a nation and as human beings as time moves forward. It’s the only thing I have that I can share now, clinging to this concept of (Leaving this world a little bit better then I found it). 

  

Richard L Iverson

vidanusa.blogspot.com

Remember Happiness is Oh so simple, that a grateful heart is the beginning of wisdom, that Effort is essential for anything worthwhile in life !

vidanusa@mac.com

ANONCEMENT CONCERNING THE BOOK (VI-DAN (FOR THE PEOPLE) !

VI-DAN (FOR THE PEOPLE)

ANNOUNCEMENT MADE:

A few days ago was the 8th of August 2018, I find it a good time to post my intention concerning the publishing of a book about my life following up on a life time of desire and almost 11 years of effort. I Always intended it to be raw history in the first person leading toward the personal side of a long life. Written, edited and published my myself. I have decided that instead of do it myself I will sale the movie and publishing rights to an established publishing company or studio, why because technology, marketing and the world in general has moved on so much, changed so much, event my self made web-site impossible to update because I built it with iWeb, no longer used. I’ve gotten older, money is never enough and my abilities our less on some fronts, not greater.

Why mention 8 August to announce this, well because it’s 52 years ago August 8th, 1966, that I was a 19 years old into my 8th month of to much combat in Vietnam as a member of E-company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines 3rd Marine Division. On this date we went on a hurried up operation with my platoon of (about 40 men) to help extract out a 4 man Force Recon team of the USMC. We landed & they worked there way to us and the extraction begin, in the end I & 19 Marines became stuck on that hill top, deep in the DMZ or demilitarized zone separation the two waring parts of Vietnam, North and South. 

The extraction begin at about 5:00 Pm, the incoming firing from the enemy became so heavy that the helicopters could not land, the last chopper out was hit bad and almost didn’t get off. The whole operation had started maybe 4-5 hrs before, but at this moment 20 Marines were stranded on a hill, we were being attached by a battalion of 300 North Vietnamese solders, a battalion that discover they had a group of marines surrounded, so this was the beginning of the sustained attach that would go on until the morning of August 9th. The first assault on our small hill was ferrous and intense, their was no time to plan for anything, only to react & move or be killed. Somehow in this blind fury I decided to go off the hill to fire into a blind spot, a sharp drop-off on one side of the hill from witch hand-grenades were being tossed with great effect and deadly results. I know it was unsustainable, I charging off the hill toward the enemy lines, then while lay down firing into the blind spot, I didn’t see or hear a head-grenade that land next to me, going off and shattering my left femur boon from my hip to the knee. I will not go into details now but with-in a min or a few seconds, who can say, a North Vietnamese (true worrier) charged me from the brush 15 feet below me, reaching me and shooting into my chest area at the same time I made a desperate attempt to turn and retrieve my rifle. His bullet entered my side, passing out my upper back, a clean shot hitting no bones or vital organs, the powder burn to this day as noticeable as the bullet entry. 

That worrier gave his life in his attempt to kill me, dying instantly from a bullet from a M-14 fired by my fellow marines above me about 30 Ft. The details of that event will be in my book, their was a time frame of about 8 to 10 mins of intense battle before I heard the voice of my friend Doug Van call out to me, Richard - Richard, I called back (I'm hit, I can not move), (it was for me like the empire state building was sitting on top of me). Doug said hold on I’m coming to get you !!! In the time it took Doug to call out, then come get me, was close to 8-10 mins. In that time frame I came to the realization of my condition and applied my own web belt to as a truncate to stop or slow the bleeding, another action left for the book. Doug came to me, crust, flipped me over and pulled me slowly sideways up the hill about 60 feet, while the marines laid down cover fire. Doug of course had the biggest part in saving my life, not only saving my life, most-likely saving me from a horrific death while enemy solders, who would have keep me alive a while, to sing or squeal later like an injured pig to the marines in the dark in this deadly battle to the death. It’s impossible to know the timeline but helicopter gunships were in support at about the same time. 

Marion F. Sturkey was the pilot of one of those helicopters, laying down support fire at ground level, his helicopter gun-ship was shoot up bad, he was shot through the foot, his co-pilot shot in the chest, somehow he got his copter and crew back to Dong Ha, the Marine base where high level generals were assessing the movement of the large numbers of north Vietnamese solders directly coming across the DMZ. In life Marion went on to do several jobs, fly for several companies in the oil field and then became an author of 13 books, his last book is a well research and written book called (No Greater LOVE, The Groucho Marx Battle) It details my final battle. This book is available on line from Heritage Press International. Marion contacted me a few years back from records, they're our a few former marines still alive, much of my time is covered by historic records, Doug Van who gave me the opportunity to struggle on to live, basically saving my life is also still alive. 

I have to say many Marines did extraordinary things, our Captain, Howard V Lee made an effort to lead a small relief force in, of witch only he and 1or 2 others made it to our hill. He received the Congressional medial of Honor for his efforts. Doug Van my friend was awarded the Navy Cross with a combat-V, Doug a quit American hero who’s friends and neighbors never event heard the story of his actions I found out when I spent a week with him 36 years later when we finely talked about that night, we had meet a few times after the war but never really talked about it, lost connection for many years, Doug was wounded about a month later, completed is enlistment, then finished his degree become a Captain in the USMC to fly, then got out and flow jets for airlines, now retired. Doug confirmed many things that were cloudy memories when we finally talked about that night. Medials of course only represent the actions of many. The Captain was one fox hole over from me after arriving, I heard him shout over the radio about need of supplies, then a grenade went off and I heard the Captain once again report, I’ve been hit. I have also meet with Captain Lee, now a retired Lt/Corneal. We talked about things only he and I know about, about my friend Rodney James a black private, often in trouble over small bull shit, but a real marine, the Captain agreed. You see Rodney had died in my arms a couple weeks earlier in operation Hastings while a medic attempted to do a field trac-anmey (cut open his wind wipe to breath) on him, it mean a lot to me the Captain had the same memory of Rodney. 

 http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3338/lee-howard-v.php, 

It should be noted about this famous battle, one other remarkable hero, that was Major Vincil W Hazelbaker, the volunteer pilot that flew Captain Lee and his 12 or so men into our hill just after dark, dropping the Captain and 2 men off, but had to drop the other men a little further on, he realized maybe by of radio that the Captain was off toward our hill top, that the other marines were to far away to make it. So he in a hale of incoming turned back picking up all of them, cuticle back to kick out ammunition toward the hill top. That same Major Hazelbaker then volunteered to take another helicopter back-into the battle with water and ammo. On this attempt, just as he was landing his helicopter, it got hit by a rocket into the tail section. The battle at that moment again was very intense. The Major was wounded and his Co-pilot killed. The marines scrambled to unload and pass out supplies. The 16 hrs were not a single battle, different periods of intense battle to periods of dead silence, flares were drop that turned out not a great idea, finally the gunships of the day in modified C-130’s I believe, came and laid down cover, event in those days able to cover an area with bullets, the shells casing kicked out was like rain down on top of us, something I remembered and confirmed it by Doug Van some 35 years later, (they hurt like hell, I had to put my helmet on, I don’t know what you did Doug said) 

Doug did place me in a small hole, then took up a position near my hole defending his part of a small kind of 360 circle the marines had created. The battle would go on for another 16 hrs (It was not one event as stated, but many different, from savage fighting to dead quit as men attempted to kill one another). Our band of 20 marines were out of range for artillery support, in the dark on a mountain top with clouds coming and going (like in Hawaii if you have ever visited), in an area of the DMZ we were not as Marines event support to be, to be honestly, I could not event tell you the number of marines that survived, details of such things our simply of little interest to me, or the guns or weapon system used. The truncate I had applied ended up being my only medical care except Doug retrieving water off a dead enemy solder killed at his hole, tossing the canteen of swap water to me, you see two things must be said, a marine fighting for his life in tropical conditions consumes water, a man bleeding to death like me also basically thrust to death. 

I tell this story on my blog, linked from Facebook and other media links for two reasons, first it’s my reality, told open and truthful, the need for me to sell my story instead of publish it myself a hard but necessity to share my story. Today is the anniversary of not just my final battle, but something much deeper, I look at it as the birthing of my second life, you can call it reality or awareness or what ever. Like all birthing, it was hard, the new life but a babe, but very real, with me, not event aware of it arrival, so my life did struggle with many aspects and concepts from my first life, that all American farm boy, God fearing 100% marine who became a worrier, I had to learn & except many things over the years.

I’m not only a survivor beyond anyones understanding of that fact, I’m also a member of that club of few who have know whats called (close encounter combat) and lived, where men look into the eye of the enemy and do anything / everything to kill the other. Doug Van who beyond any question had the largest part of saving my life among hundreds of marines on the ground and in the air, and Yes my own efforts. To comprehend that one man saved your life is an extraordinary fact to live with, makes for a complex yet respectful bond and friendship thats complex. Doug did not do what he did because we were such close friends, we were only becoming friends, he had not a single thought about marine history, the star spangle banner / flags, we have talked about it and he will say yet today (I must of had a brain fort) ! However what I have taken from it is this, Doug Van on that day 52 years ago (Did the right thing When doing the right thing came to him). A simply and unexplainable action of good, that saved my life.

I’m a survivor but that in it-self is complex, this thing has shown its self in many ways witch I can’t explain hear, I will simply say Doug’s actions became a command, a necessity for me in living out my life, (To do the right thing When the doing the right thing is an option for me) It’s been played out in my life in many different ways, maybe besides just wanting to know and understand, it's one of the reasons after a year in the hospital and another year searching I returned to Vietnam at the hight of the war Jan 1969 and stayed until it end in 1975, then worked in the evacuation of Saigon until 2 days before the final fall of Saigon. Doing the right thing when it presenting its self to me has brought me Great rewards, Love and purpose, it’s also brought some challenges, heart break and disappointment and can be costly in times & money, 90% has been a blessing and 10% a little challenging. For me Personally it was Doug, that one person that save my life, in life I’ve found were never really free if you're going to sincerely live out your life, be a responsible member of the human race. We do have responsibilities, duties, jobs, examples to set and many things we have to do to be productive and worthy of this think called life. Maybe one of the reason’s I’m such a supporter of women everywhere, they our the greatest teachers & example, they have babies and 99% of the time live out their whole lives dedicated to their child’s well being, so many lessons can be had by the love and acts of mothers. I’m so grateful I had the great teacher I had in Doug, and the many - many teachers I have meet and had come into my life. 

So my book Vi-Dan (For the People) USA is not so much to praise or glorify war, the Marines or anyone, including my self, of course the true story of 50 years of rather extraordinary, adventurous and often joyful moments with feeling of deep love has to be told, for me it so often lead to what I learned by living this extraordinary life. I feeling I’ve had the most wonderful life any man could have, a life that's left me with a sense of deep awareness, of contentment. Of course it's a very personal human story, one I have no shame in telling, of course it's the only thing or can do to hopefully leave this world a little better then I found it. Simply share my story as raw history in the first person, hopefully confirm that (Doing the right thing when doing the right thing comes to you is a great way to live life). If man-kind could live out their lives a little more with this thought, I can’t help but believe it would make for a better world. 

I do have a not so great web-sit, done by of iWeb, me unable to event update or fix. vidanusa.com It dose have page one that explains my hope or understanding of reality, it has 700 real pictures, page 6-takes you to my blog. vidanusa.blogspot.com 

Will someone buy or help me publish this very down to earth book, so wrapped up in an American story, Oh did I mention the young Vietnamese girl I meet and married 48 years ago is still my wife & life long mate. The things I experienced our not hard for me to share. I did forget to finish high school, completing 1 day as a junior. I did get a Doctors degree in the humanities from pay close attention to life, earnestly attempt to understand others & event with an open mind, reading often about history and current event, learned something everyday and still seem to, I found after 52 years of searching and living its time to report my findings. I’m not so sure if everyone is ready to hear or except reality. The lesson I learned our not popular, today we live at a time great knowledge avalable to people, it's a time when published knowledge multiplies, technology dose also, mankind is at the threshold of the Greatest change that it has ever pass through, it’s happening faster then ever in human history. History tells us humanity our not great in excepting change, however we have evolved, our thinking, sensitivity and awareness has also evolved, what was unthinkable a short time ago today is excepted as a reality. I am a very optimistic person and always have been. 

I do know I lived at one of the most remarkable periods of history, I was born on a small farm in Iowa, went to a one room school, in fact walked a couple miles to school, went bare food in the summer because we got one new pair of shows each year. I eat 100% self grown food or food made by my mother, learned very young everyone had a job. When my family left the farm for Fort Collins CO. it was only natural to work out side the home, at 11 years old I started to work outside the home, I having the distinct history of being the first one in the family to have a job, such things normal & essential for ex-farms working as janitors, cleaning folks and cook. 

My first airline flight was to marine boot camp in San Diego, however I ended up fly all around the world all my life, every month while in the oil industry I flew half way around the world for work, only one of many rather unusual and adventurous things in my life. But the question is will anyone buy my book, would it make a good movie, that is unknown. Almost every aspect of my unusual life is in the records of the military, maybe the CIA, and company records. But frank reality may scare many, I hope my generation read it, I already know if I do have readers it will be mostly the women of the world and the young, 25 years old and younger because they have something very powerful, open minds and a desire for reality. 

Of course many will push back, disagree with what I learned in life, many may attempt to misinform others, hide the truth as I observed it. To be truthful about what I observed on several touchy subjects will not be easy for a publisher so it has to be one with the right intent. If anyone knows of a person with the ability and talent to help me forward my efforts please do let me know, I do appreciate any and all help. I can be contacted at vidanusa@gmail.com 

Personally the point is it’s the anniversary of my re-birthing, this one moment in time many will also be remembered by a few others. I will not give up my dream but except that I need help to share my story, a story I believe should to be told, it could be helpful for many. I understand at this time our nation is pass through a strange period of history, event a distasteful period of American history to me but it's also reality. Stay tuned is all I can say. Also a big shootout to all Marines and in particular the Marines serving in 1966 in the i-corp area of Vietnam, I can only say I understand your feeling and emotions, event if Ur take and thinking may be different then mind !!! Our numbers our small in comparison to the size of our nation, men and women that do serve and have served their country, simply because it was a duty or calling in life. 

Although I have disagreement with chosen leaders of our nation, not my first on some policies of our government & military, it’s conceived mission at the time, it’s way of operations at time. I Love our country & Arm Forces, the fact is yet today they US military turn out these incredible young folks to do the work and carry out the mission of our country. I retired as a Corporal E-4 at $54. per month 51 years ago, this gave me the opportunity and privilege to be close to the US military over the last 50 years, made it possible for me to do several thing unattainable without being a retired marine. One of my great privileges is being on a base and the young men and women say good morning / afternoon Sir, they have no concept of my history or service, yet I sense their respect for me as a retired member of the service. Our military is very large, an institution on to its self, has been and can be a great instrument in our on going progress as a nation, the training and spree decor that comes only from serving ones nation. I say that although I’m one that a-hordes pure nationalism, playing king of the hill, war’s of choose, but recognize the reality and good of a great nation and it's institutions that's made mistakes but has created so much good at times in history !                     

I am an American, my life and lively hood is wrapped up in my country, my second life was born in Vietnam, I feel and consider Vietnam my second home. The world has become my home and I’ve found good and bad in every nation that I’ve ever visited, including our own. I learned that event before being an American, I’m a stand alone biological human being after my own first birthing, this is the most rewarding of all the things I learned, also I must add I have found that Love is the most powerful force with-in any person, human Love is powerful, it’s more powerful and longer lasting then greed, and the many of the other human in-stinks humans follow. And that why I’m such an optimistic person, why I feel it would be good to tell the story of my life, want I leaned by life it, how I came to realities. 

This I hope in some small will help me to leave this world just a little bit better then I found it, a thought I've carried all my life !!! 

Richard L Iverson

Remember Happiness is Oh so simple, that a grateful heart is the beginning of wisdom, that Effort is essential for anything worthwhile in life !

vidanusa@mac.com