Uong has written an extraordinary story (autobiography). He had been a unified Vietnam special forces soldier I urge others to read it. I won't spoil it with a recount of all in it. However, one anecdote.
Uong was in a tree in Cambodia as part of Vietnam's invasion to oust the Khmer Rouge. His best friend and commanding officer was with him. In another tree was communication equipment Uong was in charge of. Below them was an overwhelming Khmer Rouge force who was looking for them. Any moment, the Khmer Rouge might look up and find the special forces group. The unit was going to move on, but the communications equipment was on another tree. Uong's friend ordered Uong to retrieve it by going down from the tree, as jumping from branch to branch would make the Khmer rouge unit look up. It was the dry season. Uong's friend made the order at gun point. Uong climbed down.
A Khmer soldier saw Uong and Uong simultaneously levelled his rifle and pulled the trigger. It jammed. There was an explosion and Uong was concussed. Coming too, Uong was alone. His unit was gone. The Khmer had gone. Uong would eventually be captured by the Khmer Rouge, and his life spared because of the gun jam and because he pretended he was an ordinary soldier who could not speak or understand Cambodian. He was three years a prisoner, chained to a tree. He was five years a refugee. Over eight years, Uong had changed from atheist to Christian. His mother had been told he was dead. His friend had thought he was dead. Every year, his friend would leave a chicken meal sacrifice for him. And then Uong went to see him. Because forgiveness is important.
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