AsiansOfMixedRace.com Interview
Jim Stewart

Jim Stewart has persevered through times of adversity. He conquered his biggest challenge, the memory of leaving his daugther behind in Vietnam. Jim talks about conquering his second book.

AMR.com: The original title of The Angel From Vietnam was The Ghosts Of Vietnam. Why did you change the title?

JS: Well, after publishing my book I realized that women buy most of the books. The original title and photo of only me on the cover in combat gear lead the buyers at book signings to ask if it was a "war book" and if it was about "PTSD", post-traumatic-stress-syndrome. I had to explain that it was neither and usually got a sale. So, I decided to change the cover, put my daughter on it, with the same picture of me in the back ground. As for the title, I think it fits quite well with the ending. Far more than the word "Ghost" did. Just a learning process of a new author, actually.

AMR.com: How important was it to you to write this book and what did you hope to accomplish with The Angel From Vietnam?

JS: After my "experience" in the end of the book, I just knew I had to sit down and tell the story. It's not the typical blood and guts Vietnam War story. I wanted the younger generation to see/feel how we were brought up and to understand that there was stereotyping of we vets who served. I hope I also conveyed the innocence of our time.

AMR.com: How did you feel when your book won the Winner of the 2005 Distinguished Honor Award from Military Writers Society of America?

JS: Well, for a guy who barely got out of high school, and who rarely attended in his senior year, it felt pretty good. It proves that you can succeed, regardless of your past.

AMR.com: Your book gives a different perspective of the Vietnam War. What were your expectations of Vietnam as well as your fellow soldiers?

JS: To tell you the truth I never heard of Vietnam until I found out I was going there. Most of us in those years didn't read the newspaper, there wasn't 24 hour a day news, so "Vietnam, what's that?" There were no real expectations. We got together, bonded, and that bond continues today.

AMR.com: You were an MP in the war. For those who don’t know, what is the job of an MP and what your job specifically during your time in Vietnam?

JS: MPs did a lot of things. For me it started as basically tower and gate guards, then went to convoy escorts in full combat gear, town patrol (lots of that), river patrol and escort. I really enjoyed being a "city cop" in Saigon, loved the "thrill" of convoy escorts.

AMR.com: You carried the pain of leaving your daughter behind for seventeen years. Then you met Carmen and everything seemed to get better. How important was Carmen’s love and support in the search for Phuong?

JS: Carmen was completely supportive and understanding. She's a great Catholic girl whom I love dearly.

AMR.com: Even with PBS doing a special on you, you had problems in the beginning finding your daughter. You were finally put in touch with a contact. Can you talk about the events that led to the phone calls with Dao and Mai?

JS: Well, I found Dao first by doing a Google search after learning her last name. She then contacted Mai that day and I was talking to her the next day on the phone about my daughter. Thanks to the internet.

AMR.com: Can you describe the moment you heard “Don’t worry, Papa, everything is okay?”

JS: Well, I think back on that and the Lord plays tricks on your mind just to leave doubt as to the afterlife. I know it happened, but today it seems like it was a dream, even though I was sitting up in my chair, alone in the kitchen. Strangely enough I saw my daughter (or a young girl) in my house and when I told my son of this his answer was, "I've seen her, too." How's that for eerie?

AMR.com: With all the adversity you faced, if given the chance would you do it over again?

JS: Oh, no. I would never change my four years in Vietnam. I cannot change the past. It put me where I am today. To do so would mean I'm not with Carmen. I believe that. Fate.

AMR.com: Because of your search for your daughter, have you worked with other vets in search of their children?

JS: Yes. People have contacted me through my Military Police web site. If you look at MYSPACE you'll see a young Amerasian Yen who has been frantically searching for her father. I've even helped American kids find their father. One girl saw an MP on my site who she said thought was her father and, sure enough, turned out it was and they were reunited.

AMR.com: You are working on another book. Can you talk about it?

JS: Yes, two pages so far, lol. I have the entire idea, sort of, after meeting an American Indian in a little town in the high desert of California. He just struck me. It's going to be based on him being a "ghost," ex-Vietnam Vet, and going back to Vietnam. It's going to be tricky, but I hope/think I can pull it off.

AMR.com: There are similarities between the Vietnam War and the War in Iraq. What are your sentiments about the unfair criticisms of those who fought in the Vietnam War as well as those fighting in Iraq?

JS: Well, the press stinks. How's that? We decimated the VC after TET, but you would have thought it was a victory for them. We left Vietnam, with no "peace for honor" and the slaughter of over a million Cambodian/Vietnamese that was started by the communist. Seems we're headed down that same track by a bunch of self serving politicians and their accomplices in the press.

AMR.com: In your opinion, the best way to end the War in Iraq?

JS: By fighting it right, but that appears to be too late now. It has become bogged down in politics, political correctness, and mis-information. All of which are an injustice to our great troops. When ever I hear of a death of a troop now I get sick. They are the best the country has.

AMR.com: Do you think because of John McCain’s military background, if elected President, he can put the USA back on the right course? If not, who out there do you believe can do the job?

JS: I will hold my nose and vote for McCain. We have seemed to have lost our way, afraid to say. Our politicians are nothing more than the elite who look down their noses at the working class, are very crafty and dividing us. I know there is evil in this world, believe that my country is fundamentally honorable and really get worried when I hear all the negatives coming out of our politicians mouths. We'll never get back to being the great country we are until we stop damning ourselves. Divide and conquer should be a badge worn by every politician we have as that's about all they know how to do. We are getting no real answers, just rhetoric.