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Tet Fireworks Saigon 2012Trying To Get Home After The Fireworks – Saigon Tet 2012by Robert Luke (1963-65) I still have my Gecko 64 year book and my school buddy and I (Clinton Leopard) were in Newsweek in the picture of us leaving the school during the 1965 evacuation. Clinton was carrying a Viet Namese wooden model boat and I am the one behind him. We my mom, brother and I eventually landed at NAS Miramar we were interviewed by the San Diego Tribune…Navy Wife Flees Vietnam…or something like that. It was the day Nat King Cole died as his picture is on the bottom of the page. I still have a nice scrapbook with pictures of the Coup, our homes, getting on the school bus with the MP and “white mouse” VN policeman. Grenade wire on the windows. ![]() The GECKO Year Book - 1960 - Sondra Ann Shankey is our Spanish-speaking friend; Such a pretty girl, an engineer, we cannot comprehend. We see instead for her ahead a modeling career; Or marriage to a rootin' tootin' Spanish buccaneer. I am so very sorry to let the Saigon Kids know that Sondra Shankey Ewell passed away on Thursday, January 5. She leaves four wonderful kids and their families, her husband, Mel, and her sister Vicky Shankey Ouellette, who has been an extraordinary tower of strength and love throughout Sondra’s illness. Sondra, Vicky, and I were very close friends in Saigon 59-61. Together we made a trip back a few years ago – I am very grateful that we had that chance. We also went to the Nashville reunion. Sondra loved seeing so many of you again then and having a chance to hear about your lives and adventures. She was a funny, loving, warm, beautiful and generous person, my much beloved friend, and we will all miss her so much. Please keep Vicki and the rest of the family in your thoughts. – Christy Kent
The First and Last Time I Saw Sondraby Frank Stoddard About two hours after I arrived in Saigon, a group of girls came to our house. They came to welcome me, and possibly to check out the new guy on the block. Sondra was one of them. About two weeks later I was dating her sister Vicky. One of the places we used to go was the Alhambra Theater where we would sit in the top right back corner. Some of you might remember the spot. Never far from where Vicky and I were sitting would be Sondra and Mike Parker. (Does anyone remember a movie at the theater? Lol) The Nashville Reunion had two music CD’s. One of the songs on a CD was “Sittin’ In The Balcony” by Eddie Cochran. The song was there for a reason. Whenever I hear that song, I always think of the Shankey sisters. After graduating from Gonzaga Prep., I returned to Saigon for summer of ’62. One morning my father told me that the Shankeys would be flying in to Saigon that day. My G.I. friend Jim and I got to Tan Son Nhat just as their plane landed. It was one of those rare moments at the Saigon Airport that had laughter rather than tears. Mr. Shankey invited Jim and I to come on over to their house. I have a lasting good memory of Mr. Shankey because he was always so gracious to me and always gave me respect. He was one of those guys that always had time to stop and talk with me, a teenager.. Jim and I got on Jim’s Triumph and followed the Shankey Taxis to their house. Do you remember those torrential rains? Well one of those hit! I still remember Sondra and Vicky’s laughing faces through the wet windows of the taxi. When we got to the house, Mrs. Shankey made us some hot tea. I remember Sondra telling me (in spite of being a totally soaked) that I looked like I’d matured a lot in the year (plus) since I’d seen them. Sondra, like her family was always so pleasant to me. I think that she was also very “blunt”, which is something I really liked about her. For some reason when I saw Sondra at the Nashville reunion, she did not tell me I’d matured since the decades since we had seen each other! Perhaps when you are a teenager it is a compliment!! But seeing the three gals again after all those years was just plain cooool! Shortly after the Nashville reunion, my wife and I flew to Boston. Christy met us at our hotel and we all jumped on the M.T.A. (Remember that song?) At the end of our stop, Sondra was waiting for us at the station. We all drove over to Vicky and Bob’s for an unbelievable lobster dinner. Sondra, Vicky and Christy (the Three Amigos) through their friendship with each other and their terrific outlook on live made the evening so fun! I do not remember what was said, but we all laughed a lot. So, the last time I saw Sondra is when she dropped us off at the train. We really never said goodbye. Maybe that is good. We were planning to meet them at a Spanish restaurant the next night, but my wife became ill and we left for Arizona without saying goodbye. I did not know Sondra’s husbands and kids, my thoughts go out to them. I do know Sondra’s BFF’s. My heartaches just with the thought of the emptiness and sorrow they must be going through. Do you remember when Kids would request and dedicate a song at a dance or on the radio? Well, I would like to do this now. I want everyone to listen to the song by the Bee Gees called “Massachusetts” for Sondra. Ironically, this version was sung but a few miles from where she was born.
I find it interesting how facts get distorted over time about historical events. Since 1975 there have been 100s,if not 1000s of articles, books, videos, movies, etc. created about this event – they all say the Bing Crosby version of this song was played over the radio in Saigon. The more research I do to find content for this blog site, the more distortion of facts I seem to encounter. I really wish those who attempt to document historical events would *verify* there information to determine what the *true* facts are before creating their masterpieces – *sigh* As always, you’re welcome to leave your comments below. Bob |
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