In 1960, U.S. advisers to the South Vietnamese military initiated a dog program, aiming to use sentry dogs for base protection and scout dogs for tracking the Viet Cong. From 1965 to 1970, Pleiku Airbase, now the airport, employed 26 dogs, humorously nicknamed “Four Footed Radar,”. On October 29th [1965], twenty-five of us received orders …
Author Archives: Will Holland
Painting a Picture of the Pleiku City in 1962: Dusty sun, Muddy rain
In 1962, Pleiku buzzed with the onset of US operations[1]. As the war escalated, this city would transform into a key battleground, changing rapidly in response. But in 1962, Pleiku remained a tranquil oasis for the Republic of Vietnam in the wild highlands. Join me as we journey back in time with photos and quotes …
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The Significance of Montagnard Bangles
Jewelry plays a significant role in the cultures of the space of gong culture, including items like beaded bracelets, necklaces, metal belts, jingle bracelets, ear plugs, earrings, and torques. As in most cultures worldwide, this jewelry can be worn for purely aesthetic reasons or can hold deeper meaning for the individual on a personal level …
Pleiku Jackets
The history of the type of jacket called a “Pleiku Jacket” starts in the aftermath of the Second World War. At that time, the remnants of parachute capes found new life as they were transformed by American soldiers into what came to be known as souvenir jackets. These jackets, inspired by baseball jackets of the …
Pleiku Tea – A History
As a self-proclaimed tea nerd, it’s quite an oversight on my part that I haven’t delved into how deeply Pleiku’s identity is steeped in tea until now. Tea production in this region is a cornerstone of Pleiku’s identity today, with roots tracing back to the era of French colonization. Setting the Scene Our tale begins …
BSL in the Classroom
There’s a school of thought in English foreign language teaching known as TPR (Total Physical Response), advocating the use of physical actions to aid learning. One day as I pondered over suitable actions for my classroom, a revelation struck me – all the actions I could possibly need were already well defined: sign language! And …
Some Much Needed Rain
In three distinct periods of my life, rain has brought unexpected joy. In primary school, it meant a lunch break of indoor play with Lego; during my stint at the carboot sale, it signaled a day off. And now, seated in a cozy café with Yumi and her Auntie “Green” Xanh, the heavens open above …
Awayday and the Mekong Delta
Somehow I managed to live in Saigon for a year without checking out nearby tourist attractions. So when my employer dangled the carrot of a free flight for an awayday and by coincidence my cousin Henry decided to drop into Vietnam, well, it was high time to rectify my lack of exploring. So, with the …
Ling Tơhan
Gia Lai Folk Festival 2024 This weekend was the Ngày hội văn hóa các dân tộc tỉnh Gia Lai which was a celebration of the indigenous peoples of Gia Lai province. Each of the province’s 14 districts sent a village to represent their culture. They put on displays of crafts, music and dance. There was …
Quy Nhon and Plei Boi
Quy Nhon for Easter Our Easter holiday kicked off bright and early at 7am when the car rolled up to whisk us away. Packed inside were Yumi, three excited aunts, a cousin, myself and two other partners, and our ever-patient driver. We were headed to Quy Nhon city. Taking first the infamous Mang Yang pass …
Eastward Ho! 