European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 29, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Retired Gen. To Nguyen clap says the United states underestimated Vietnam. Gen Giap remains defender off socialism by George Esper the associated press in. To Nguyen Giap is like the old Soldier of the British War Ballad who never Dies but Only fades away he is 82 now this legendary Warrior who Defeated the French at Dien Ben Phu and held off half a million american troops a decade later. My spirits still Young my heart still remains Young he says. To prove his Point he arises each Day at 5 . And exercises for an hour. He wields Little Power today in a new Vietnam that has borrowed some ideas from its old adversary the United states for an Economy that is changing course from communism to a Western style free Market. His hair is White and he still wears the four red stars of his glory Days across the collars of a military tunic. He is animated when he Speaks spreading his arms to show distance waving his fingers for emphasis. I was a journalist when i was 18 and that is Why i understand the curiosity of journalists he tells a reporter during an interview with the associated press. He prefers speaking in French. But at the end of the interview As he bid his guest Farewell he spoke his Only words of English haltingly Best wishes to  this engaging manner his smile and wit mask the ruthlessness that resulted in the deaths of thousands who opposed communism in North Vietnam after world War ii. Despite his being shunted aside he still implores the communist party line and is still the advocate for a renovated socialism As he puts it which incorporates the Best ideas other nations have to offer. He wants reconciliation with the United states after a Savage War during his watch that Cost the lives of nearly 60,000 americans and As Many As 2 million vietnamese. Cap declined to give out any official figures but did not Challenge the 2 million estimate. He said the majority were civilians but in mobilizing for War Cap Drew no distinction Between them and soldiers. Vietnam bears no grudges he says and the United states should lift its Trade embargo and establish diplomatic relations with Hanoi. The vietnamese people Only wish peace and Friendship he says. I am surprised president Clinton who is very intelligent is still maintaining a policy which is obsolete. We always wish Friendship and cooperation Between the two  Cap says Vietnam waged the Long War to bring peace. You can Call me a general of War and at the same time you can Call me a general of  in his View the United states underestimated Vietnam. Americans thought they were coming to wage a War against a Young and very badly equipped army but the Pentagon did t understand the War was not Only against one army but against an entire nation. President to Chi Minh said it was a National War of All the  he outwitted America s Fleet of warplanes including the mighty b52 bombers he says by jamming their radar and setting up fake targets acc decoys. The b52s Are bombing Here but we Are there he says cutting an imaginary line with his hands. They Are bombing a fake target of course. You understand i cannot Tell you everything he says with a smile. In retrospect he says the lesson of Vietnam for the United states is this in spite of All the Gigantic military and economic Force you cannot win Over the spirit the wish for peace and  he Speaks Well of his old foe ceh. William c. Westmoreland praising him for his education and military knowledge and calling him a hero of world War ii. Gen. Westmoreland has the sense of responsibility to carry out his task As entrusted by his government. But he s just like other generals who were Defeated partly because of himself personally and partly because of the policy of aggression of the . Government he could win the War against the German fascists but when he came Here he was against a whole nation.". When the .-backed South vietnamese government fell and the North captured Saigon it was Gen. Van Tien dung chief of the general staff who was hailed As the hero. Giap was dropped As defense minister in 1986 and from the policy making politburo two years later. Some insiders say it was because of his age. Others say his vitriolic personality and disagreements with other leaders proved his downfall. Still he is busier than Ever he says studying development policy for the country and visiting factories and other enterprises both state owned and private. Asah old revolutionary How does he View the abandonment of communism in much of the world and the switch to a free Market Economy in Vietnam i am learning Good experiences from abroad even from capitalism from the soviet Union from China from Japan and from the Usa. We Are learning from you through technology. We Are going to apply what is suitable to Vietnam. Socialism is a Mountain a Hill. You know the target. But How to go the Way. You go your Way i go my Way to reach the target. I am going to  americans extend hand of Friendship by the associated press Myrl Allinder never prayed to god to save his life nor to kill the enemy when he was flying missions Over Vietnam More than 20 years ago. I was praying for peace he said. Allinder recently journeyed half Way around the world with 13 other Florida and Georgia residents to Vietnam with the Friendship Force seeking to mend the wounds of War. The Friendship Force an Atlanta based organization promotes Friendship among nations through exchanges of citizens. This was its first delegation to Vietnam. During the we Klong stay the americans toured Hanoi and the Countryside and held a thanksgiving Day Celebration thursday with their vietnamese hosts. The Friendship Force said a similar vietnamese delegation would visit the United states next year. I examined my heart every Day in flying recalled Allinder who served two Tours in Vietnam As a Marine corps Pilot during the 1960s. "1 prayed for my Wingman. I prayed for North Vietnam every Day that i was  Allinder 58, retired from the Marine corps in 1987 after 29 years of service. He had not Given any thought to returning to Vietnam until recently. His daughter a reporter for West new radio in Atlanta called him to Tell him that she was thinking about going to Vietnam with the Friendship Force. She wanted to know if he had any ideas about interviews. Boy my heart just jumped he said. During the group s visit Allinder hoped to. Visit his old bases in Danang and Chu Lai in Central Vietnam. I d just like to see if there s any remnants or anything left he said. Allinder helped Rescue 300 montagnard orphans ranging in age from 2 to 16 from the mountains near the laotian Border in 1969. Their parents had been killed in the War. But he does t really expect to find any of them. He also helped build an Phan Thi Nga Center serves Mary Thibaudeau Leader of the Friendship Force a vietnamese style Turkey dinner. A orphanage and a school in Tam by in the same Region. I Don t have some of the real grievous wounds that Many of our veterans do he said. I m really coming to serve. I Admire the vietnamese spirit. And i d like to do something to help the children. I work with teen agers in the summer. I d like to talk to the vietnamese government about letting me bring Over a team of about 30 teen agers and build them an orphanage or a school or see if there is some project we could do next summer or the summer of 1995." monday november 29, 1993 the stars and stripes 19