My Road from Saigon

Brian Staley

Description

Personal revelations include:- The Vietnam War and Peace Talks- Jeremy Thorpe and the criminal cover up- Campaign for Gurkha justice and Peace Foundation*Joanna Lumley said 'This book sets out the extraordinary life experiences of a man who is so modest. And those experiences and achievements are truly splendid in their breadth and depth. In his early life, they range from flying as a reporter on a combat mission over Vietnam and being blown out of bed by a rocket to playing a key role in the eventual peace process in that beautiful country. And later in life through to helping our Gurkha heroes and dedicating his life to national and community politics. This is both a testament to a remarkable life and an inspiration to the reader.'*'I read the book from start to finish in a day, and found it absolutely fascinating.' - Dr Seth Thevoz of Oxford University.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Memoir

Informations

• Publié par: The Conrad Press
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 0001
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781839780097
• Langue: English

Extrait

My Road from Saigon
Brian Staley


‘I read My Road from Saigon from start to finish in a day, and found it absolutely fascinating... The long-overdue appearance of Staley’s memoir ensures that many previously-missing pieces of the puzzle have finally reached print. It is not a neutral account, but it is all the more powerful for it... Coming away from this memoir, you can’t help but admire his integrity and persistence.’
Dr Seth Thevoz MA (Cantab), MA (Lond), PhD (Warw), FRHistS. Associate Member, Nuffield College, Oxford.
‘Brian was like so many of us, a young idealist recruited to the Liberal Party in the 1960s, in quest of a more just world and especially around opposition to the Labour government’s supine support for the U.S. war in Vietnam. That was to lead him to surprising places and unexpected encounters.’
Michael Steed (President of the Liberal Party 1978-79.)
‘ My Road from Saigon is the story of a life lived to the full, authored by a man who looked to do the right thing, not the easy thing. I commend it.’
Neal Lawson , Director of Compass/ Progressive Alliance.
‘ My Road from Saigon by Brian Staley is breathtaking. The scope is global and the courage outstanding. Not many of us, however peace minded and active would have had the courage to fly out to Vietnam in the middle of that awful war.
Brian’s post Vietnam work on behalf of the Gurkhas and for the Liberal Party, is well worth a future book on its own.’
Bruce Kent , C.N.D. and peace campaigner.
‘Brian Staley is a political idealist, realist and activist. As a young man, during the Vietnam War, while those from more privileged educational backgrounds marched and carried banners, Brian took himself to the front-line in Vietnam. There, supporting himself by ad hoc journalism, he befriended and earned the trust of many on all sides of the conflict. This book tells the remarkable story of the one-man peace mission of a young British man in which he helped, very nearly, to broker a political way out of the impasse. Later, back in Britain, Brian was involved in domestic Liberal Party politics and played a courageous role in uncovering the moral rottenness within the party during the Jeremy Thorpe era. More recently Brian has been providing much valued support for the Gurkha Community living in Britain. The book might read like fiction, but extraordinarily, it is all true!’
Ted Harrison , Former BBC Religious Affairs Correspondent and Presenter of ‘ Does He Take Sugar? ’ the campaigning programme for the disabled.
‘I have known Brian Staley since 2003 and he has always been hard working and kind. He is one of the pioneers of the Gurkha Justice Campaign and has worked tirelessly for the community. He has held the position of chairman of the Gurkha Peace Foundation and is currently Vice President. He has worked beyond the call of duty, is one of the most genuine of men and is universally loved by Gurkhas.’
Bhim Raj , Chairman of the Gurkha Peace Foundation and a leader of the Campaign for Gurkha Justice.
‘Running like a thread through this book is evidence of Brian’s total commitment to peace, justice, and the upholding of what is right. I am so glad he has drawn together here proof of a life lived in single-minded pursuit of those objectives.’
Martin Vye , Liberal Democrat County Councillor 1989-2017. Former Lord Mayor of Canterbury.


My Road from Saigon
Published by The Conrad Press in the United Kingdom 2020
Tel: [phone] www.theconradpress.com [e-mail]
ISBN 978-1-839780-09-7
Copyright © Brian Staley, 2020
The moral right of Brian Staley to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved.
Typesetting and Cover Design by: Charlotte Mouncey, www.bookstyle.co.uk Cover design created with authors own images and: Saigon - AO DAI (Bicylces)- Photo by John Post 1967-68 from Flickr CC BY 2.0; Vietnam War protestors march at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. on October 21, 1967 cortesy of The Lyndon B. Johnson Library; Air Force HH-3E Jolly Green Giant helicopter by Expert Infantry Flickr CC BY 2.0
The Conrad Press logo was designed by Maria Priestley.


Foreword
M y Road from Saigon describes three dramatic periods of my life: the Vietnam War and subsequent peace negotiations; working with Jeremy Thorpe and Cyril Smith just as the scandal was emerging and setting up the ‘Campaign for Gurkha justice’ and the ‘Gurkha Peace Foundation.’
My testimony and dialogue may not be verbatim but it is as accurate as memory allows and much is verified by previous articles, statements and publications.
As a political based memoir contentious views are mine alone but may reflect upon those seeking a greener ethical foreign policy and the need for community values.
Brian Staley
January 2020


Acknowledgements
F irst, I must pay tribute to my long-suffering family and friends who provided moral strength during a turbulent life. Any achievements described in this book are not mine alone but built upon a foundation of a faith in the innate goodness of the human spirit.
Those I was able to confide in strengthened my resolve to overcome adversity. They include Ted and Helen Harrison, Dr Adrian Pointer, James Cameron, Frank Allaun, Fenner Brockway, John Holmes, Sheila Kesby and numerous others. I recall a conversation with Leonard Cheshire, V.C. who encouraged me to create the first of two charities that I was to help construct. The first was for Vietnamese orphans and the second the Gurkha Peace Foundation.
I would like to thank the Hanoi Government for agreeing with my suggestion to release the names of American P.O.W.s held in north Vietnam through Ted Kennedy. This led to meaningful talks which led to the eventual withdrawal of Americans from Vietnam. The inspiring story of Vietnamese neutralists such as Professor Nhon who risked their lives on numerous occasions for peace and reconciliation is revealed in this book.
Last but not least the ‘Band of Gurkha Brothers’ plus their supporters is an on-going story that I am proud to be involved with. Bhim Raj, Gopal Giri, Deb Pun, Prem Limbu, Peter Carroll, Joanna Lumley, Virginia McKenna, Charlotte McCaul, James Walker, Pat Todd, Angela Maxted, Amanda Cottrell, George Koowarree and Stanley Jones are the nucleus of a growing number of supporters for the Gurkha Peace Foundation. Twinning schemes with projects in Nepal including the handicapped and blind schools are now linked by Skype and the hope is that the fact that Gurkhas serve in eight out of sixteen United Nations Peace Keeping Missions will receive the recognition that they richly deserve.
A huge vote of thanks is due to those who have helped me bring these revelations to light in this publication. John Parker, Geordie Hayward and his team at Hayward Design & Print and James Walker are due special mention in proofreading, editing and design.
Indochina



My Travels Around Vietnam 1968 - 1973
Saigon: capital of South Vietnam until 1975 and then renamed Ho Chi Minh City
Long Binh: largest American base in Vietnam east of Saigon and close to Binh Hoa
Can Tho: city in centre of the Mekong Delta near the jungle base where I kept my head down while I was reported missing November 1969
My Tho: city south of Saigon where I was blown out of bed by a Viet Cong rocket May 1969
An Thanh: south of Saigon where I and a colleague survived an attack by the Viet Cong and on this road from Saigon I experienced gas for the first time December 1968
Cu Chi: the American base where I experienced gas for the second time. After the war it was revealed that the VC had tunnels and bunkers underneath the American Base October 1969
Dong Tam: the American base six miles inland from My Tho
Vung Tàu: favourite coastal resort eighty miles from Saigon
Nha Trang: coastal city north of Saigon and main base for training officers of the South Vietnam forces. April 1969
Tay Ninth: city on the border with Cambodia east of Saigon which has a cathedral for the Cao Dai, a religion similar to the Bah Hai, amalgamating all the leading religions
Border area with Vietnam and Cambodia and Laos in the north where the Montagnard hill tribesmen used to live and the area known to Americans as the Ho Chi Minh Trail
Hue: just south of the DMZ which was the traditional capital and scene of one of the bloodiest battles in 1968
Hanoi: capital of North Vietnam and from 1975 capital of a unified Vietnam
Vientiane: capital of Laos
Phnom Penh: capital of Cambodia


My Road from Saigon Timelines
Personal Timeline
1939 - Brian Staley Born in Deal
1962 - Joined Liberal Party
1964 & 1966 - Became parliamentary agent for Canterbury Constituency
1967 - 1968 - Elected to national policy forum of Liberal Party
1968 - Flew to Vietnam in September for first visit of 18 months
1970 - Returned to Britain in March
1970 -1975 - Involved with Paris Peace talks in London, Paris and Vietnam
1970 - 1973 - Two further visits to Vietnam
1974 - For one month of February worked professionally for the Liberal Party as the Kent coordinator preparing for the General Election.
1975 - After the fall of Saigon in May worked for the Liberal Party and became the Membership Director of the National Liberal Club.
1979 - Withdrew from professional politics after the acquittal of Jeremy Thorpe. Became founding chairman of the Federation of Small Business in Canterbury and District and chaired large public meetings for some of Mrs Thatcher’s ministers.
1990 - 1993 - Became Liberal Democrat constituency chairman for three years
2003 - Started the Campaign for Gurkha Justice by introducing the Gurkhas to Peter Carro