Maps of Reconciliation, the winter 2007 issue of MANOA, was guest-edited by Barry Lopez, recipient of the American Book Award and numerous other literary prizes. The issue features work about Australia, Cambodia, China, India, Viet Nam, and elsewhere. Among the nonfiction pieces is “Wandering Souls,” by Wayne Karlin, a writer and Viet Nam vet who teaches at the College of Southern Maryland. “Wandering Souls” recounts the story of the return of personal belongings to the family of Hoang Ngoc Dam, a North Vietnamese soldier and medic who was shot by American soldier Homer Steedly Jr. in March 1969. Rather than leave Dam’s belongings in the hands of military intelligence, Steedly brought them with him to the United States and stored them.
Steedly as an infantry lieutenant in Viet Nam (left) and as he is today.
After making contact with Karlin through another Viet Nam vet in 2005, Steedly turned the belongings over to Karlin and asked him to deliver them to Dam’s family. Below are some of the photographs taken of the meeting between Karlin and Dam’s family and of the restoration ceremony; the images are by George Evans, a fellow vet who accompanied Karlin on the trip to Viet Nam.
Dam’s brother Cat is given Dam’s belongings, which were wrapped in Viet Nam’s flag.
George Evans pays his respects at the altar.
Karlin (back) with family members, who wear white headbands in mourning.
For more images and information, see Swamp Fox
