Vietnam Stories: A Judge's Memoir

TC: have you ever been given any seeing that you have been right here in Vietnam? A: each person will get ribbons, sir. TC: I suggest anything unique, just like the Bronze superstar, or the Soldier's Medal, or maybe the nice behavior Medal? A: No, sir. TC: have been you given a letter of commendation out of your commanding officer or somebody else ahead of you have been scheduled to go away? A: No, sir. TC: ok. good now, let's speak about the case. the place did you get these dolls? A: From a guy in a Vietnamese bar, sir. TC: were you aware this guy? A: probably not, sir. I simply met him whilst I spent the evening in the home there. TC: Why did he provide you with these dolls? A: He requested me if I had any little sisters, and that i acknowledged definite, so he gave them to me. TC: the place is that this Vietnamese bar situated? A: In a few little village now not faraway from lengthy Binh. TC: are you able to be extra particular? what's the identify of this little village? A: i do not understand, sir. i could not even locate it if I went having a look. TC: good then, this guy. Did you spend it slow with him? A: definite, sir, we had a few beers and smoked a bit pot. TC: Did you study what his identify is? Bordes proposal some time, then responded. A: definite, sir. It used to be hello. TC: was once that his first or final identify? A: His first identify, i believe. TC: good, what used to be his final identify? Bordes suggestion back for a second, then replied hesitatingly. A: Si. TC: So your testimony is that you just have been with this guy named hello Si consuming beer and smoking pot in a home of excellent occasions, and, out of the goodness of his center, he gave you huge plastic dolls? A: that is precisely what occurred, sir. TC: Is there any method on the earth you may let us know the place lets locate hello Si, or someone who may understand him, in order that we'd take some time to get him into this court docket to testify? A: No, sir. TC: was once hello Si a Vietnamese? A: i do not be aware of, sir. TC: used to be he an American? A: i don't believe so, he could not communicate English rather well. He appeared like he can be a Vietnamese, or Cambodian, or whatever. TC: Did you set something into these dolls after the guy gave them to you? A: No, sir. TC: Did they're a bit heavy for 2 plastic dolls? A: i don't believe so. TC: i've got no extra questions. The protection counsel had no redirect exam. He did, although, make a movement that hello Si be subpoenaed as a witness. "Well, security counsel," I requested, "can you provide us any indication the place this guy may be stumbled on, or maybe the spelling of his identify? " "I do not know, sir. i feel the weight is at the govt to provide Mr. hello Si. " I denied the movement, including, "I don't imagine the proof warrants me to reserve usa military experts to behavior a look for Mr. hello Si, who will be a Vietnamese and doubtless lives someplace in Vietnam or perhaps Cambodia. " The security rested. The prosecution had not anything additional. I recommended the court docket, and Bordes used to be came upon to blame approximately fifteen mins later. i used to be no longer stunned in regards to the conviction, yet was once stunned on the pace during which the decision was once reached. After a passionate plea by means of the security tips, emphasizing the accused's loss of past convictions or punishment, the courtroom sentenced Bordes to be discharged from the military with a nasty behavior discharge and to serve six months confinement at challenging hard work.