Telling it like it was!

January 29, 1968, The sunrise before TET 1968 , an Air Force Birddog glides quietly over jungle canopy. For a moment, the pilot’s attention is drawn away from the darkness and dangers lurking below, to the heavenly sunrise cresting the horizon.  It is astoundingly beautiful.  He can feel the sun’s warmth and it is easy to circle playfully, enjoying the freedom of flight.  He’s tempted to dance with a rising flock of birds aloft in cool morning air….

The young captain’s attention returns to the jungle below and he knows there is evil within that perpetual darkness. He does not know it is stirring with growing anger, hungry for its own body count and cares not whether that living morsel of flesh is friend or foe. Something seems wrong-- an uneasiness seems to rise from the Hues of green below as if a ghostly sentient-mist flowing over the horizon were drawn to the sun-warming air to snare him.  He cannot quite put his finger on the problem.

He circles in lazy-orbit, without thought as muscle memory flies the aircraft as if on auto pilot, and for a second spots movement below… and then it is gone.  A quick glance toward the flock of birds…and they too are gone…but the sunrise is still inspirational and he banks the small plane toward the light, away from the foreboding haze, and sneaks a peek at the photo of his wife and new daughter taped on the dash.

Both sides have announced a two-days cease-fire for the TET holiday. All is right with the world…for now.