1
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[♪♪♪]
2
00:00:45,171 --> 00:00:48,883
RUSCH:
There's a place I've been
avoiding for a long time.
3
00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:55,807
It's been in my thoughts
for more than 40 years.
4
00:00:58,935 --> 00:01:03,982
what happened there long ago
set me on this path.
5
00:01:07,110 --> 00:01:10,113
There are still lots
of unanswered questions
6
00:01:10,321 --> 00:01:13,908
and I'm not sure I'll find
what I'm looking for.
7
00:01:16,494 --> 00:01:20,540
And this journey, it all
started with my father's story.
8
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[♪♪♪]
9
00:01:25,462 --> 00:01:27,964
We have made a national pledge.
10
00:01:28,173 --> 00:01:29,883
RUSCH:
My father was a pilot
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and he was shot down
during the Vietnam War.
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00:01:32,635 --> 00:01:35,221
LYNDON B. JOHNSON:
We did not choose to be
the guardians of the gate.
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MAN 1:
Communism is a threat
we cannot afford to ignore.
14
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WOMAN:
The spread of communism
is imminent.
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RUSCH:
I was just 3 years old,
and I never knew him,
16
00:01:44,814 --> 00:01:48,401
and he was missing in action
for a really long time.
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00:01:48,610 --> 00:01:51,905
LYNDON B. JOHNSON:
We do not want an expanding
struggle with consequences
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that no one can perceive.
19
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RUSCH:
My mom raised my sister
and I as a single parent.
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MAN 2:
A nation divided.
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MAN 3:
This war will have
ramifications
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00:02:00,497 --> 00:02:02,207
on this country
for generations.
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00:02:02,415 --> 00:02:07,462
RUSCH:
And we never really knew
if he was alive,
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00:02:07,670 --> 00:02:09,547
if he was a prisoner of war,
25
00:02:09,756 --> 00:02:12,717
or if he died that day.
26
00:02:12,926 --> 00:02:16,596
All American prisoners of war
will be released.
27
00:02:16,805 --> 00:02:19,057
MAN 4:
They will soon join
the army of the forgotten.
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RUSCH:
Over 30 years later,
29
00:02:21,184 --> 00:02:24,354
a search and recovery mission
identified the crash site
30
00:02:24,562 --> 00:02:26,314
and found my father's remains.
31
00:02:28,525 --> 00:02:33,404
And now I feel drawn
to go looking for answers,
32
00:02:33,613 --> 00:02:36,324
to a mystery that's been
with me my entire life.
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[♪♪♪]
34
00:03:07,063 --> 00:03:09,774
RUSCH:
I've been a professional
athlete for most of my life,
35
00:03:09,983 --> 00:03:14,028
and that involves
continually prepping, training,
36
00:03:14,237 --> 00:03:17,532
preparing for some sort
of adventure or race.
37
00:03:17,740 --> 00:03:19,951
I'm pretty much always getting
ready for the next thing.
38
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[♪♪♪]
39
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JUDY:
Rebecca, growing up, was
always attracted to challenge,
40
00:03:26,875 --> 00:03:29,961
and she was always
doing things outside:
41
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riding a bike, roller-skating,
42
00:03:31,921 --> 00:03:35,049
ice-skating on the pond,
riding ponies at the fair.
43
00:03:35,258 --> 00:03:37,844
we went camping all the time.
44
00:03:38,052 --> 00:03:41,181
It might have, at an early age,
started instilling the love
45
00:03:41,389 --> 00:03:44,267
of what you can appreciate
out there.
46
00:03:46,060 --> 00:03:47,896
[SCREAMS]
47
00:03:48,104 --> 00:03:50,315
ADAMSON:
Everyone who competes
at really extreme sports
48
00:03:50,523 --> 00:03:52,650
like adventure racing,
climbing, ultra biking,
49
00:03:52,859 --> 00:03:54,444
all these kind of sports,
50
00:03:54,652 --> 00:03:56,946
requires a very high
tolerance to pain.
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00:03:57,155 --> 00:03:59,699
And consequently,
to participate in these races,
52
00:03:59,908 --> 00:04:02,327
it was mostly by passion
and sacrifice.
53
00:04:03,661 --> 00:04:05,163
No matter how good you are,
54
00:04:05,371 --> 00:04:06,998
people who do these sports
have another job
55
00:04:07,207 --> 00:04:08,499
because they just
don't pay.
56
00:04:08,708 --> 00:04:11,544
Back to my other job,
riding bikes.
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00:04:11,753 --> 00:04:17,133
ANNOUNCER:
Four-time Leadville 100
champion, Rebecca RUSCH!
58
00:04:17,342 --> 00:04:20,386
BANNISTER:
Rebecca has become
a top athlete,
59
00:04:20,595 --> 00:04:22,764
whereas I went
into the Air Force,
60
00:04:22,972 --> 00:04:25,391
but yet you look
at our similarities.
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00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:27,727
We're both very, very driven.
62
00:04:27,936 --> 00:04:29,979
We both have
probably more energy
63
00:04:30,188 --> 00:04:31,940
than a lot of people
can tolerate.
64
00:04:32,148 --> 00:04:34,984
We're both on a path
to find our dad.
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00:04:42,242 --> 00:04:46,412
RUSCH:
All of my life, I've learned
if I prepare properly,
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00:04:46,621 --> 00:04:51,376
I can do almost anything
that I set my mind to achieve.
67
00:04:51,584 --> 00:04:53,962
But this challenge,
68
00:04:54,170 --> 00:04:56,256
this is totally different.
69
00:04:57,548 --> 00:04:59,342
[♪♪♪]
70
00:04:59,550 --> 00:05:02,971
My father's plane was shot down
over the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
71
00:05:03,179 --> 00:05:06,015
The trail is a massive
braided network
72
00:05:06,224 --> 00:05:09,519
that runs through Vietnam,
Laos and Cambodia.
73
00:05:09,727 --> 00:05:12,897
There are a ton of unknowns
I'm gonna need help with,
74
00:05:13,106 --> 00:05:15,900
so I'm putting together
a team with a support crew
75
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and a riding partner to piece
this whole thing together.
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00:05:19,153 --> 00:05:21,614
It'll be good to have somebody
that knows the area,
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00:05:21,823 --> 00:05:22,657
speaks the language.
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00:05:22,865 --> 00:05:24,200
MARTIN:
Yeah.
79
00:05:24,409 --> 00:05:25,952
I've known Rebecca
for over 10 years.
80
00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:27,704
She's had
a great deal of success
81
00:05:27,912 --> 00:05:29,580
as an athlete
in multiple sports.
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00:05:29,789 --> 00:05:31,207
This trip
is something different
83
00:05:31,416 --> 00:05:33,376
than anything she's done
previously,
84
00:05:33,584 --> 00:05:35,628
and I hope she finds
what she's looking for.
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00:05:35,837 --> 00:05:40,967
BAUER:
The logistics for this journey
are incredibly complex:
86
00:05:41,175 --> 00:05:42,510
the time on the bike,
87
00:05:42,719 --> 00:05:44,304
distance traveled,
the heat of the jungle.
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This'll be one of the more
difficult undertakings
89
00:05:46,764 --> 00:05:47,932
that Rebecca's gone through.
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00:05:48,141 --> 00:05:50,685
RUSCH:
My father's plane went down
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00:05:50,893 --> 00:05:53,646
on March 7th, 1972.
92
00:05:53,855 --> 00:05:56,482
My goal is
to find his crash site,
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00:05:56,691 --> 00:05:59,485
and be there on the anniversary
of his death,
94
00:05:59,694 --> 00:06:02,196
as my way to honor his memory.
95
00:06:06,117 --> 00:06:09,287
By riding my bike there,
I will see more,
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00:06:09,495 --> 00:06:10,872
discover more,
97
00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:14,959
fully immerse myself
in the place, in...
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00:06:15,168 --> 00:06:17,795
In some sort of way
to connect with him.
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00:06:20,173 --> 00:06:21,466
You driving?
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00:06:21,674 --> 00:06:23,634
I'll drive.
Okay.
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RUSCH:
This trip, hands down,
102
00:06:29,682 --> 00:06:32,143
will be the biggest
undertaking,
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00:06:32,352 --> 00:06:37,065
the most ambitious thing
that I've ever attempted,
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00:06:37,273 --> 00:06:40,526
and I hope I'll actually be
able to find his crash site.
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00:06:47,241 --> 00:06:50,119
MAN [AS STEPHEN]:
"June 5th, 1971.
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00:06:50,328 --> 00:06:53,873
"Dear Judy, Sharon, and Becky,
107
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"I left California on Tuesday
108
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"and spent 18 hours
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00:06:57,710 --> 00:07:00,880
"getting to the Philippines
via Alaska and Japan.
110
00:07:01,089 --> 00:07:04,175
"It is not a trip
that I would care to do again.
111
00:07:04,384 --> 00:07:06,677
"I have almost a week here
for survival school,
112
00:07:06,886 --> 00:07:08,679
"and then I'm off to Da Nang
and serious stuff
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00:07:08,888 --> 00:07:10,640
"for most of next year.
114
00:07:10,848 --> 00:07:12,225
"I'd like to hear from you
115
00:07:12,433 --> 00:07:14,227
"a little more often
about the children.
116
00:07:14,435 --> 00:07:17,105
"This is not easy for me
and that'll help.
117
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Be good. Steve."
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[BOMBS EXPLODING]
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[CROWD CHEERING]
120
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RUSCH:
In order to get to the site
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on the anniversary
122
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of my father's crash,
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we arrived in Hanoi
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during the Vietnamese New Year.
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I was anxious about
meeting my new teammate
126
00:07:38,835 --> 00:07:40,420
and embarking
on such a big adventure
127
00:07:40,628 --> 00:07:42,588
with a total stranger.
128
00:07:42,797 --> 00:07:46,134
But I knew that riding
with someone from this area
129
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could be a bridge to the
culture and really help me
130
00:07:50,054 --> 00:07:51,139
understand what went on here.
131
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[♪♪♪]
132
00:08:05,319 --> 00:08:08,030
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
When I heard about
this project,
133
00:08:08,239 --> 00:08:10,491
I felt excited,
134
00:08:10,700 --> 00:08:13,077
because, for the nation
and people of Vietnam,
135
00:08:13,286 --> 00:08:15,872
the Ho Chi Minh Trail
is a historical path,
136
00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,082
a link on the path
to independence
137
00:08:18,291 --> 00:08:20,251
and freedom
for our entire nation.
138
00:08:20,460 --> 00:08:22,753
And lots of Vietnamese
people's blood
139
00:08:22,962 --> 00:08:24,547
has been shed on this road.
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00:08:24,755 --> 00:08:29,135
It is indeed a journey
that I believe
141
00:08:29,343 --> 00:08:31,220
will be exciting
and meaningful.
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00:08:37,059 --> 00:08:39,145
[SPEAKS VIETNAMESE]
143
00:08:39,353 --> 00:08:40,855
[IN ENGLISH]
Hello.
[SPEAKS VIETNAMESE]
144
00:08:43,357 --> 00:08:46,736
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
I started biking when I was 16.
145
00:08:46,944 --> 00:08:49,280
I became a cyclist
and was determined
146
00:08:49,489 --> 00:08:52,533
to become
the best biker in Vietnam.
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00:08:52,742 --> 00:08:54,827
[TRAN QUOC TUAN
SPEAKS VIETNAMESE]
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00:08:55,036 --> 00:08:56,996
TRAN QUOC TUAN:
Huyen is an athlete
149
00:08:57,205 --> 00:09:00,291
who was an idol
in Vietnamese cycling.
150
00:09:00,500 --> 00:09:05,046
Because Huyen won four Southeast
Asia Games gold medals,
151
00:09:05,254 --> 00:09:06,839
in four consecutive events.
152
00:09:07,048 --> 00:09:12,053
For an athlete in Vietnam,
there has never been one
153
00:09:12,261 --> 00:09:14,805
who claimed such a record.
154
00:09:16,349 --> 00:09:18,184
[♪♪♪]
155
00:09:21,229 --> 00:09:24,023
NGUYEN:
After putting an end
to my competing career,
156
00:09:24,232 --> 00:09:27,151
I became a coach.
157
00:09:33,449 --> 00:09:35,243
I've heard a lot about
158
00:09:35,451 --> 00:09:36,994
the Ho Chi Minh Trail
since childhood.
159
00:09:37,203 --> 00:09:40,331
Not until now
does my dream of riding
160
00:09:40,540 --> 00:09:44,001
on the Ho Chi Minh Trail
come true.
161
00:09:44,210 --> 00:09:46,629
I am quite nervous,
but also excited about it.
162
00:09:46,837 --> 00:09:48,798
[HORNS BLARING]
163
00:10:03,771 --> 00:10:05,815
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
Hi, Rebecca.
164
00:10:06,023 --> 00:10:08,150
I was looking
for a long time.
165
00:10:08,359 --> 00:10:10,945
Hello, hello.
Hello, hello.
166
00:10:11,153 --> 00:10:13,447
Thank you for coming.
Thank you for having me.
167
00:10:13,656 --> 00:10:15,866
These are for you.
168
00:10:16,075 --> 00:10:17,577
Thank you so much.
169
00:10:17,785 --> 00:10:20,621
I'm very sorry because
my English is not very good.
170
00:10:20,830 --> 00:10:23,541
Well, my Vietnamese sucks,
so your English is better.
171
00:10:24,709 --> 00:10:26,085
So happy to meet you.
172
00:10:26,294 --> 00:10:27,753
Yeah, you too.
173
00:10:31,173 --> 00:10:34,093
[IN ENGLISH]
Rebecca, this is my father.
174
00:10:34,302 --> 00:10:35,845
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
This is Rebecca.
175
00:10:36,053 --> 00:10:37,763
RUSCH [IN VIETNAMESE]:
It's nice to meet you.
176
00:10:37,972 --> 00:10:39,932
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
Both my uncle and my father
177
00:10:40,141 --> 00:10:41,726
experienced
the American Resistance war.
178
00:10:41,934 --> 00:10:46,355
At that time,
America was our enemy.
179
00:10:48,899 --> 00:10:52,069
One big problem is how
180
00:10:52,278 --> 00:10:55,406
to overcome
barriers among people,
181
00:10:55,615 --> 00:10:58,075
to connect
their hearts and souls
182
00:10:58,284 --> 00:11:00,161
so they can
understand each other.
183
00:11:00,369 --> 00:11:02,163
[IN ENGLISH]
Happy New Year.
184
00:11:02,371 --> 00:11:05,166
RUSCH [IN ENGLISH]:
Thank you for making
all this food. It's beautiful.
185
00:11:05,374 --> 00:11:08,210
Huyen's father and my father
186
00:11:08,419 --> 00:11:10,796
indirectly fought
each other in the war,
187
00:11:11,005 --> 00:11:14,592
and it's extraordinary,
more than 40 years later,
188
00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:17,011
that we can all sit down
at the dinner table
189
00:11:17,219 --> 00:11:18,721
and share a meal together.
190
00:11:18,929 --> 00:11:22,516
Cheers. Happy New Year,
Happy New Year.
191
00:11:22,725 --> 00:11:24,852
RUSCH:
To a good journey. Yeah.
192
00:11:25,061 --> 00:11:26,687
[GLASSES CLINK]
193
00:11:26,896 --> 00:11:29,023
[♪♪♪]
194
00:11:31,776 --> 00:11:34,278
RUSCH:
Our last major challenge
before starting
195
00:11:34,487 --> 00:11:36,030
is mapping out the trail
196
00:11:36,238 --> 00:11:37,990
and trying to make sense
197
00:11:38,199 --> 00:11:39,700
of the complex route.
198
00:11:45,039 --> 00:11:47,875
Don Duvall is an American
living in Laos.
199
00:11:48,084 --> 00:11:50,336
He has spent
most of his life
200
00:11:50,544 --> 00:11:53,089
exploring and mapping
the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
201
00:11:53,297 --> 00:11:57,343
He is an essential part
of our expedition because
202
00:11:57,551 --> 00:11:59,011
he has really helped create
203
00:11:59,220 --> 00:12:02,264
the most historically
accurate route for us to take.
204
00:12:02,431 --> 00:12:04,600
DUVALL:
My background
is navigating sailing yachts
205
00:12:04,809 --> 00:12:06,811
around the world
for almost 15 years,
206
00:12:07,019 --> 00:12:09,522
and then I came
to Laos and started
207
00:12:09,730 --> 00:12:11,232
mapmaking and surveying
on a motorcycle
208
00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:13,109
on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
209
00:12:13,317 --> 00:12:14,819
My role here
with Rebecca's team
210
00:12:15,027 --> 00:12:16,987
is to help them
with navigation,
211
00:12:17,196 --> 00:12:21,033
provide GPS maps and local
knowledge and information:
212
00:12:21,242 --> 00:12:22,243
where we can camp,
213
00:12:22,451 --> 00:12:24,245
what rivers we can go across.
214
00:12:24,453 --> 00:12:27,415
I'm gonna assist them
as a guide,
215
00:12:27,623 --> 00:12:29,875
and also with navigation.
216
00:12:30,084 --> 00:12:31,752
[IN ENGLISH] Very long.
[PEOPLE CHUCKLE]
217
00:12:31,961 --> 00:12:34,380
DUVALL:
Yeah. Explaining to the ladies
about the trail,
218
00:12:34,588 --> 00:12:36,507
honestly,
I was a bit skeptical.
219
00:12:36,716 --> 00:12:38,968
I've been riding up and down.
There are tough places.
220
00:12:39,176 --> 00:12:41,679
No one's ever taken a bike
and done the full thing
221
00:12:41,887 --> 00:12:44,265
from start to finish.
222
00:12:44,473 --> 00:12:47,101
RUSCH:
First off, the mileage
is off the charts.
223
00:12:47,309 --> 00:12:48,853
we are attempting to ride
224
00:12:49,061 --> 00:12:52,106
more than 1200 miles
of unknown terrain.
225
00:12:52,314 --> 00:12:54,734
It should take
about three weeks.
226
00:12:54,942 --> 00:12:57,778
And to top it all off,
we're trying to find
227
00:12:57,987 --> 00:12:59,947
a more than
40-year-old crash site
228
00:13:00,156 --> 00:13:01,866
in the middle
of the dense jungle.
229
00:13:02,074 --> 00:13:03,659
DUVALL:
The site was already excavated.
230
00:13:03,868 --> 00:13:06,245
It's a large area to search,
a lot of jungle.
231
00:13:06,454 --> 00:13:08,164
There'd be
a very small possibility
232
00:13:08,372 --> 00:13:10,583
of any evidence of
the actual crash itself.
233
00:13:10,791 --> 00:13:12,626
The idea is,
you know, we'll have
234
00:13:12,835 --> 00:13:14,587
these guys
in a small support rig
235
00:13:14,795 --> 00:13:17,339
that we'll meet
at certain points along the way.
236
00:13:17,548 --> 00:13:18,883
DUVALL:
That's gonna take planning.
237
00:13:19,091 --> 00:13:20,342
RUSCH:
We're gonna sit down with--
238
00:13:20,551 --> 00:13:22,428
There's places
your bicycle can go
239
00:13:22,636 --> 00:13:24,889
that they won't be able to.
There'll be leap frogs.
240
00:13:25,097 --> 00:13:26,515
In between those places,
241
00:13:26,724 --> 00:13:28,267
we need to be
totally self-sufficient
242
00:13:28,476 --> 00:13:29,810
for bike maintenance,
243
00:13:30,019 --> 00:13:31,937
whatever might
come our way, so...
244
00:13:32,146 --> 00:13:33,939
Yeah, there'll be
some leap-frogging.
245
00:13:34,148 --> 00:13:35,441
We have
a little work to do
246
00:13:35,649 --> 00:13:37,485
to actually look
at your whole route
247
00:13:37,693 --> 00:13:40,780
and make a master plan
for the weeks ahead.
248
00:13:40,988 --> 00:13:42,740
[♪♪♪]
249
00:13:57,755 --> 00:14:00,049
RUSCH:
Yeah, easier. Yeah.
250
00:14:00,257 --> 00:14:02,718
We can grind down
the shoe a little bit.
251
00:14:02,927 --> 00:14:04,011
The watts down here.
252
00:14:04,220 --> 00:14:06,555
All right.
Zero watts right now.
253
00:14:06,764 --> 00:14:10,893
And then this screen over here's
got my little map on there.
254
00:14:26,367 --> 00:14:29,036
RUSCH:
My experience as a professional
athlete, you know:
255
00:14:29,245 --> 00:14:32,498
get from point A to B
as fast as humanly possible.
256
00:14:32,706 --> 00:14:34,166
And this is
a little different.
257
00:14:34,375 --> 00:14:38,087
So for this ride,
we're a team, okay?
258
00:14:38,295 --> 00:14:39,839
We are a team.
259
00:14:40,047 --> 00:14:43,050
I will always be beside you.
Okay.
260
00:14:43,259 --> 00:14:45,344
RUSCH:
I'm riding with a picture
261
00:14:45,553 --> 00:14:48,389
of my father in my backpack.
262
00:14:48,597 --> 00:14:51,559
And before
we started our journey,
263
00:14:51,767 --> 00:14:54,520
I really wanted
to share with Huyen
264
00:14:54,728 --> 00:14:58,607
that my reason
for being here is for him.
265
00:14:58,816 --> 00:15:01,777
It's not really about me.
It's to honor his memory.
266
00:15:01,986 --> 00:15:04,405
So I wanted to bring her in
267
00:15:04,613 --> 00:15:07,867
and really help her
understand why I'm here.
268
00:15:14,373 --> 00:15:16,500
Ready? Okay.
269
00:15:23,799 --> 00:15:28,596
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
In the past, I would
imagine a U.S. soldier
270
00:15:28,804 --> 00:15:32,391
dropping bombs
to kill my compatriots.
271
00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:34,143
I had never thought of
her father
272
00:15:34,351 --> 00:15:36,395
in the photograph
as an actual person.
273
00:15:40,149 --> 00:15:44,445
I thought that he was
just one of war's victims.
274
00:15:44,653 --> 00:15:46,864
Just like Rebecca's family.
275
00:15:59,710 --> 00:16:02,338
RUSCH:
After years of preparation,
276
00:16:02,546 --> 00:16:04,214
I'm nervous.
277
00:16:04,423 --> 00:16:07,217
I don't know what
we're gonna find out there,
278
00:16:07,426 --> 00:16:11,972
or whether or not we'll even
find my father's crash site.
279
00:16:16,018 --> 00:16:17,853
[♪♪♪]
280
00:16:21,899 --> 00:16:25,235
NARRATOR:
The Ho Chi Minh Trail is
a 10,000-mile-long network
281
00:16:25,444 --> 00:16:27,821
of interconnected
paths and roads
282
00:16:28,030 --> 00:16:30,366
crisscrossing the dense jungles
and rugged mountains
283
00:16:30,574 --> 00:16:34,620
of Vietnam,
Laos and Cambodia.
284
00:16:34,828 --> 00:16:38,457
The trail, named for Vietnamese
communist leader Ho Chi Minh,
285
00:16:38,666 --> 00:16:42,002
was primarily used to secretly
move military troops
286
00:16:42,211 --> 00:16:44,380
and supplies
during times of conflict...
287
00:16:47,049 --> 00:16:49,802
...most notably during the war
with the United States
288
00:16:50,010 --> 00:16:52,888
from 1964 to 1975.
289
00:16:54,807 --> 00:16:57,017
At that time,
a treaty temporarily
290
00:16:57,226 --> 00:16:59,228
split Vietnam
into two countries--
291
00:16:59,436 --> 00:17:01,480
North and South Vietnam.
292
00:17:01,689 --> 00:17:04,274
The communist North sought
to reunite the South,
293
00:17:04,483 --> 00:17:07,152
but the U.S. government
feared the Domino Theory,
294
00:17:07,361 --> 00:17:09,530
which could lead
to other communist takeovers
295
00:17:09,738 --> 00:17:11,615
within the region.
296
00:17:11,824 --> 00:17:14,368
In order to help South Vietnam
fight off the North
297
00:17:14,576 --> 00:17:16,161
and the spread of communism,
298
00:17:16,370 --> 00:17:19,957
the U.S. sent arms,
aid, and eventually troops.
299
00:17:21,166 --> 00:17:22,584
The North Vietnamese knew
300
00:17:22,793 --> 00:17:24,336
the Americans
had superior firepower,
301
00:17:24,545 --> 00:17:27,006
so they resorted
to guerrilla warfare tactics,
302
00:17:27,214 --> 00:17:29,258
while secretly
transporting supplies
303
00:17:29,466 --> 00:17:31,552
on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
304
00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:33,345
Initially,
the North Vietnamese
305
00:17:33,554 --> 00:17:36,432
primarily
used bicycles, troops,
306
00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:40,436
and even elephants to move
supplies along the trail.
307
00:17:40,644 --> 00:17:42,104
But as the war intensified,
308
00:17:42,312 --> 00:17:45,858
they realized
the trail needed to expand.
309
00:18:04,793 --> 00:18:08,088
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
My uncle and my father
tell about the war.
310
00:18:08,297 --> 00:18:14,428
The bomb
on Kham Thien Street in 1972.
311
00:18:14,636 --> 00:18:17,681
At that time
my father, every day,
312
00:18:17,890 --> 00:18:20,517
he go to Kham Thien Street
313
00:18:20,726 --> 00:18:26,190
and collect
a lot of bodies
314
00:18:26,398 --> 00:18:28,400
of many, many people,
315
00:18:28,609 --> 00:18:30,194
everywhere.
316
00:18:30,402 --> 00:18:32,571
And in my garden,
317
00:18:32,780 --> 00:18:34,239
there's a big hole.
318
00:18:34,448 --> 00:18:36,492
Now,
there's still a hole?
319
00:18:36,700 --> 00:18:37,785
NGUYEN:
Hole from bomb.
320
00:18:37,993 --> 00:18:39,745
RUSCH:
Why didn't he put dirt
321
00:18:39,953 --> 00:18:42,664
in the hole,
to make it go away?
322
00:18:42,873 --> 00:18:45,125
Because many fish
live there.
323
00:18:45,334 --> 00:18:47,127
The fish live
in the bomb hole?
324
00:18:47,336 --> 00:18:48,837
Yes.
In the crater.
325
00:18:51,673 --> 00:18:54,343
RUSCH:
You know, that same year, 1972,
326
00:18:54,551 --> 00:18:56,220
is the same year
my father died.
327
00:18:56,428 --> 00:18:58,055
My--
328
00:18:58,263 --> 00:18:59,765
Yeah,
your father died.
329
00:18:59,973 --> 00:19:01,183
'72.
330
00:19:26,792 --> 00:19:28,460
You need more food
to take with you?
331
00:19:28,669 --> 00:19:30,087
No. No,
it's enough.
332
00:19:30,295 --> 00:19:31,380
You have enough, okay.
333
00:19:31,588 --> 00:19:33,048
RUSCH:
It could go nose down more.
334
00:19:33,257 --> 00:19:34,341
MAN:
Yeah.
335
00:19:34,550 --> 00:19:36,718
[IN ENGLISH]
It's a vegetable.
336
00:19:36,927 --> 00:19:38,929
Very good for health.
337
00:19:39,138 --> 00:19:40,264
Very good.
338
00:19:42,891 --> 00:19:47,104
So you're back
a little less than a centimeter.
339
00:19:47,312 --> 00:19:49,022
All right, thank you, guys.
MARTIN: All right.
340
00:19:53,402 --> 00:19:56,321
[♪♪♪]
341
00:20:13,172 --> 00:20:14,882
RUSCH:
Okay. Let's go.
342
00:20:15,090 --> 00:20:16,091
How do I say it in--?
343
00:20:16,300 --> 00:20:18,385
[NGUYEN TRANSLATES
INTO VIETNAMESE]
344
00:20:18,594 --> 00:20:21,263
BAUER:
I'm guessing we can probably
catch them at 40K.
345
00:20:21,471 --> 00:20:24,391
And then
another 864 hours.
346
00:20:28,979 --> 00:20:32,107
[HORN HONKS]
Whoo!
347
00:20:32,316 --> 00:20:34,359
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
You can see the head.
It's a head.
348
00:20:34,568 --> 00:20:36,945
That's a head.
Do people eat the eyeballs?
349
00:20:37,154 --> 00:20:38,113
Yes.
Yeah?
350
00:20:38,322 --> 00:20:42,242
[♪♪♪]
351
00:21:05,432 --> 00:21:06,975
Here?
352
00:21:07,184 --> 00:21:08,310
[IN ENGLISH]
Excuse me?
353
00:21:08,518 --> 00:21:09,478
Hello?
354
00:21:09,686 --> 00:21:10,687
Excuse me?
355
00:21:10,896 --> 00:21:13,357
[SPEAKS VIETNAMESE]
356
00:21:13,565 --> 00:21:15,400
Oh, this one. Okay.
[SCOFFS]
357
00:21:15,609 --> 00:21:17,819
RUSCH:
There's not really
a line system here.
358
00:21:18,028 --> 00:21:19,863
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
Oh, where's my passport?
359
00:21:20,072 --> 00:21:22,366
Where's yours?
360
00:21:22,574 --> 00:21:24,284
Make sure nobody has it.
361
00:21:24,493 --> 00:21:26,787
Excuse me?
My passport.
362
00:21:26,995 --> 00:21:28,747
[♪♪♪]
363
00:21:33,585 --> 00:21:35,045
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
Thank you.
364
00:21:48,141 --> 00:21:49,726
RUSCH:
As soon as
we crossed the border
365
00:21:49,935 --> 00:21:52,145
into Laos, I felt different.
366
00:21:52,354 --> 00:21:54,314
It was really cool
to just look around
367
00:21:54,523 --> 00:21:56,191
and soak in the atmosphere
368
00:21:56,358 --> 00:21:59,069
and feel like I was finally
moving closer to my goal.
369
00:21:59,278 --> 00:22:02,197
Instead of just thinking about
it and dreaming about it,
370
00:22:02,406 --> 00:22:05,617
I was actually doing it
and making progress.
371
00:22:05,826 --> 00:22:08,578
[♪♪♪]
372
00:22:14,251 --> 00:22:21,174
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
So far, the biggest challenge
to me is my stamina.
373
00:22:21,383 --> 00:22:23,093
And the thing I worry about
the most,
374
00:22:23,302 --> 00:22:24,886
that I ponder a lot about,
375
00:22:25,095 --> 00:22:29,725
it's how to become
a real friend to Rebecca.
376
00:22:59,212 --> 00:23:02,174
MAN [AS STEPHEN]:
"Dear Judy, Sharon and Becky,
377
00:23:04,176 --> 00:23:06,511
"I'm what they call
the weapons systems operator
378
00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:10,223
"in the back seat of the F-4E
Phantom fighter jet.
379
00:23:10,432 --> 00:23:14,811
"What we're really called is
a GIB, for 'guy in the back.'
380
00:23:15,020 --> 00:23:17,606
"Aside from being responsible
for navigation,
381
00:23:17,814 --> 00:23:20,317
"we do just about everything
the pilot does.
382
00:23:20,525 --> 00:23:23,028
"We can carry just about
any type of weapon made,
383
00:23:23,236 --> 00:23:24,571
"but a normal load would be
384
00:23:24,780 --> 00:23:27,157
"about three tons
of bombs or napalm.
385
00:23:27,366 --> 00:23:29,159
"We generally
release that at speeds
386
00:23:29,368 --> 00:23:32,120
"ranging from
about 400 to 600 knots.
387
00:23:32,329 --> 00:23:36,041
"The ground really comes up
at you pretty fast.
388
00:23:36,249 --> 00:23:38,627
"I usually fly
about twice a day,
389
00:23:38,835 --> 00:23:40,921
"which is quite exhausting.
390
00:23:41,129 --> 00:23:42,923
"There is no such thing
as a day off.
391
00:23:43,131 --> 00:23:46,385
"We work seven days
a week all year.
392
00:23:46,593 --> 00:23:49,638
"It does make the time
go faster, however.
393
00:23:49,846 --> 00:23:52,557
Be good. Steve."
394
00:23:57,312 --> 00:23:58,980
Stephen was a heck of a guy.
395
00:23:59,189 --> 00:24:01,149
I can't call him Stephen.
He was Steve.
396
00:24:01,358 --> 00:24:02,818
Steve was a heck of a guy.
397
00:24:03,026 --> 00:24:04,403
He went to Vietnam.
398
00:24:04,611 --> 00:24:06,571
He didn't want
to go to Vietnam.
399
00:24:06,780 --> 00:24:08,448
Nobody wants to go to war,
400
00:24:08,657 --> 00:24:10,325
but it was his duty,
401
00:24:10,534 --> 00:24:13,495
and he was gonna do it
to the best of his ability.
402
00:24:13,703 --> 00:24:15,664
In Rebecca,
I see a lot of her dad.
403
00:24:15,872 --> 00:24:19,042
I see a lot of Steve
in a lot of different ways.
404
00:24:19,251 --> 00:24:21,002
She loves animals,
she loves pets,
405
00:24:21,211 --> 00:24:23,171
and her dad did too,
just adored them.
406
00:24:23,380 --> 00:24:27,759
She definitely has a wanderlust
the way her dad did.
407
00:24:27,968 --> 00:24:32,431
She definitely wants to do
things outside, not inside.
408
00:24:32,639 --> 00:24:35,559
I see those things,
and I see the seriousness.
409
00:24:35,767 --> 00:24:38,478
Steve was a serious guy,
he wasn't a goof-off.
410
00:24:38,687 --> 00:24:41,440
And Rebecca's got
a very serious mode,
411
00:24:41,648 --> 00:24:45,318
and her dad was
very much the same way.
412
00:24:45,527 --> 00:24:47,279
[♪♪♪]
413
00:24:53,994 --> 00:24:56,246
RUSCH:
One big climb
and then here a river.
414
00:24:56,455 --> 00:24:58,290
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]: Yeah.
Here maybe we buy
415
00:24:58,498 --> 00:25:00,250
some food and water.
416
00:25:00,459 --> 00:25:02,711
We need to really
get this secured down better.
417
00:25:02,919 --> 00:25:05,005
In fact,
I think I'm gonna pop this dude.
418
00:25:05,213 --> 00:25:07,007
RUSCH:
Meeting up
with the support team
419
00:25:07,215 --> 00:25:10,177
is taking more time
than I thought.
420
00:25:10,385 --> 00:25:12,304
We have a hard cutoff
421
00:25:12,512 --> 00:25:15,432
to get to the end of
the riding and get on a boat.
422
00:25:17,142 --> 00:25:18,602
Given the schedule
423
00:25:18,810 --> 00:25:20,103
and the goal
that I've set for us,
424
00:25:20,312 --> 00:25:21,813
we're gonna have to figure out
425
00:25:22,022 --> 00:25:23,732
a better rhythm
in order to make it
426
00:25:23,940 --> 00:25:25,609
to the crash site
on the anniversary.
427
00:25:25,817 --> 00:25:27,319
If we don't make this cutoff,
428
00:25:27,527 --> 00:25:29,196
that's gonna put us behind
the next day
429
00:25:29,404 --> 00:25:30,947
and the next day
and the next day.
430
00:25:31,156 --> 00:25:33,325
Time's ticking!
431
00:25:34,534 --> 00:25:36,995
[♪♪♪]
432
00:25:42,083 --> 00:25:46,421
It finally feels like this
is truly the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
433
00:25:46,630 --> 00:25:50,842
There's a simplicity to it.
The terrain is different.
434
00:25:51,051 --> 00:25:53,303
This is where I wanted to be.
435
00:25:53,512 --> 00:25:56,640
[THE BLACK ANGELS'
"TRUE BELIEVERS" PLAYING]
436
00:25:56,848 --> 00:25:58,475
RUSCH:
Whoo-hoo!
437
00:26:03,855 --> 00:26:05,232
RUSCH:
Nope. Yeah. This way.
438
00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:07,192
I just have to move the map.
439
00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:09,444
♪ In the month of August♪
440
00:26:09,653 --> 00:26:11,446
♪ Mary loves Sally the most ♪
441
00:26:11,655 --> 00:26:13,281
RUSCH:
Oh, my God, it's a lake.
442
00:26:13,490 --> 00:26:18,245
♪ Maybe Buddha is the true
Son of God's kiss♪
443
00:26:18,453 --> 00:26:22,207
♪ Maybe you'll never know♪
444
00:26:22,415 --> 00:26:26,711
♪ Whoo-hoo they sang
As they crossed the river♪
445
00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:27,712
♪ Whoo-hoo♪
446
00:26:27,921 --> 00:26:28,922
[WHOOPS]
447
00:26:29,130 --> 00:26:30,966
♪ As they prayed to Jesus♪
448
00:26:31,174 --> 00:26:35,220
♪ Whoo-hoo
The walls fell on Jericho♪
449
00:26:35,428 --> 00:26:37,472
♪ Well, who knows
Yeah, who knows♪
450
00:26:37,681 --> 00:26:39,558
♪ which birds will be left♪
451
00:26:39,766 --> 00:26:43,895
[RUSCH AND NGUYEN
WHOOPING AND HOLLERING]
452
00:26:44,104 --> 00:26:46,982
♪ Yeah, who knows which birds
Will be left♪
453
00:26:47,190 --> 00:26:50,819
[CRASH INTO BRUSH,
RUSCH GRUNTS]
454
00:26:51,027 --> 00:26:52,696
RUSCH:
Shit.
455
00:26:52,904 --> 00:26:55,282
I just got a vine on my neck.
456
00:26:55,490 --> 00:26:58,368
It stopped my bike.
Holy shit.
457
00:26:58,577 --> 00:27:01,705
The authentic jungle
took a bite out of me.
458
00:27:01,913 --> 00:27:05,375
I was-- Heh. Rode through,
basically a lasso. Err!
459
00:27:05,584 --> 00:27:07,711
I tried to strangle myself
on the trail.
460
00:27:07,919 --> 00:27:12,299
But yeah, it really did a number
on my neck and my face, so...
461
00:27:15,635 --> 00:27:19,055
[♪♪♪]
462
00:27:27,939 --> 00:27:31,151
[CHICKS CHIRPING]
463
00:27:38,491 --> 00:27:40,035
DUVALL:
The girls used a boat
464
00:27:40,243 --> 00:27:42,203
to go across
the Nam Theun II Reservoir,
465
00:27:42,412 --> 00:27:44,998
which is an area of the flooded
Ho Chi Minh Trail.
466
00:27:45,206 --> 00:27:46,166
RUSCH:
That way?
467
00:27:46,374 --> 00:27:47,792
Here is
an aluminum boat.
468
00:27:48,001 --> 00:27:50,170
This aluminum came
from the war days.
469
00:27:50,378 --> 00:27:52,047
This was fuel tanks
that were dropped
470
00:27:52,255 --> 00:27:54,090
by the jet fighters
over the Ho Chi Minh Trail
471
00:27:54,299 --> 00:27:56,635
while they were dropping
their ordnance.
472
00:27:56,843 --> 00:27:59,888
All this war metal was used,
even the bombs.
473
00:28:00,096 --> 00:28:01,514
Anything was used
by the villagers
474
00:28:01,723 --> 00:28:04,643
for whatever
they could fabricate.
475
00:28:04,851 --> 00:28:06,936
RUSCH:
Historically, the trail
went through there,
476
00:28:07,145 --> 00:28:10,607
so the choice was either
to ride all the way around,
477
00:28:10,815 --> 00:28:12,817
or enlist help to actually
478
00:28:13,026 --> 00:28:14,486
take a boat ride
with our bikes
479
00:28:14,694 --> 00:28:16,821
across the reservoir
to the other side.
480
00:28:18,740 --> 00:28:20,909
It was the first part
of the trail
481
00:28:21,117 --> 00:28:24,037
where there was
a physical representation
482
00:28:24,245 --> 00:28:27,082
right in front of me
of pieces of the war.
483
00:28:27,290 --> 00:28:29,417
And that specific boat
was actually an F-4,
484
00:28:29,626 --> 00:28:32,962
which is the plane
that my father flew.
485
00:28:39,844 --> 00:28:41,680
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
People in the war
486
00:28:41,888 --> 00:28:43,973
were very wonderful people.
487
00:28:44,182 --> 00:28:46,184
Always when a solider
488
00:28:46,393 --> 00:28:50,188
catches a soldier from U.S.A.,
489
00:28:50,397 --> 00:28:52,524
only they question.
490
00:28:52,732 --> 00:28:54,359
RUSCH: Yeah.
NGUYEN: They question them.
491
00:28:54,567 --> 00:28:56,653
Vietnamese people
are very kind.
492
00:29:00,740 --> 00:29:04,411
RUSCH:
It's been really interesting
to talk about the war.
493
00:29:04,619 --> 00:29:07,664
We call it the Vietnam War.
They call it the American war.
494
00:29:07,872 --> 00:29:10,625
And she has what
495
00:29:10,834 --> 00:29:12,335
I’m sure
her history books say
496
00:29:12,544 --> 00:29:14,796
versus what
American history books say,
497
00:29:15,004 --> 00:29:19,259
and I’m sure it's skewed,
and who knows what the truth is?
498
00:29:19,467 --> 00:29:20,719
Somewhere in the middle,
probably.
499
00:29:22,762 --> 00:29:24,472
One of my biggest fears
500
00:29:24,681 --> 00:29:27,434
in not knowing
what happened to my father
501
00:29:27,642 --> 00:29:29,519
was that
he was a prisoner of war.
502
00:29:29,728 --> 00:29:31,479
I had nightmares about it.
503
00:29:31,688 --> 00:29:33,565
There are accounts
on both sides
504
00:29:33,773 --> 00:29:38,737
of terrible treatment of
American and Vietnamese POWs,
505
00:29:38,945 --> 00:29:40,655
and I can't
even imagine how hard
506
00:29:40,864 --> 00:29:43,074
it must have been
for those soldiers.
507
00:29:44,617 --> 00:29:46,911
But across it all,
508
00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:48,747
she and I both feel
the same way,
509
00:29:48,955 --> 00:29:50,957
in that, at this point,
510
00:29:51,166 --> 00:29:53,585
there is no animosity
against the cultures.
511
00:29:53,793 --> 00:29:56,087
People are welcoming.
They're amazing here.
512
00:29:56,296 --> 00:29:58,548
And she feels
the same about Americans.
513
00:29:58,757 --> 00:30:01,301
There's none of that.
514
00:30:01,509 --> 00:30:03,928
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
I think to all Americans,
515
00:30:04,137 --> 00:30:07,891
whether they joined
the war or not,
516
00:30:08,099 --> 00:30:11,352
the war has gone
and so has the past.
517
00:30:11,561 --> 00:30:15,398
If possible,
I will do what I can
518
00:30:15,607 --> 00:30:19,527
to ease the pain of war.
519
00:30:19,736 --> 00:30:21,488
[♪♪♪]
520
00:30:37,295 --> 00:30:39,672
NARRATOR:
As the war escalated,
North Vietnam continued
521
00:30:39,881 --> 00:30:42,217
to improve
the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
522
00:30:42,425 --> 00:30:43,843
Soon it was able
to accommodate
523
00:30:44,052 --> 00:30:45,595
large convoys
of cargo trucks
524
00:30:45,804 --> 00:30:48,181
loaded down
with provisions and weapons,
525
00:30:48,389 --> 00:30:49,599
much of it provided by
526
00:30:49,808 --> 00:30:51,184
the Russian and Chinese
governments.
527
00:30:53,019 --> 00:30:54,813
Well aware
of the North's secret route,
528
00:30:55,021 --> 00:30:57,482
U.S. forces attempted
to halt the flow of supplies
529
00:30:57,690 --> 00:31:01,194
by creating strategic
choke points.
530
00:31:01,402 --> 00:31:02,904
But the North simply detoured
531
00:31:03,112 --> 00:31:04,739
the trail
around U.S. positions,
532
00:31:04,948 --> 00:31:08,076
moving it across the border
into Laos and Cambodia.
533
00:31:09,828 --> 00:31:11,579
The U.S. knew the trail
was being rerouted
534
00:31:11,788 --> 00:31:13,164
into neighboring countries,
535
00:31:13,373 --> 00:31:14,833
but were hesitant
to send ground troops
536
00:31:15,041 --> 00:31:16,668
into Laos and Cambodia
537
00:31:16,876 --> 00:31:19,212
because they worried that
China and the Soviet Union
538
00:31:19,420 --> 00:31:20,880
might respond by escalating
539
00:31:21,089 --> 00:31:22,757
their own involvement
in the war.
540
00:31:25,885 --> 00:31:27,720
So the American forces resorted
541
00:31:27,929 --> 00:31:29,556
to bombing
the trail from the air.
542
00:31:29,764 --> 00:31:31,516
[♪♪♪]
543
00:31:37,188 --> 00:31:39,732
Although the North Vietnamese
utilized thousands
544
00:31:39,941 --> 00:31:42,235
of anti-aircraft guns
to defend the trail,
545
00:31:42,443 --> 00:31:46,489
those early bombing raids
caused major damage.
546
00:31:46,698 --> 00:31:48,283
The North trail engineers
were forced
547
00:31:48,491 --> 00:31:51,077
to be resilient
and resourceful.
548
00:31:51,286 --> 00:31:53,413
whenever the Ho Chi Minh Trail
was damaged,
549
00:31:53,621 --> 00:31:55,206
they worked tirelessly
to repair it,
550
00:31:55,415 --> 00:31:58,126
and when necessary,
rerouted it elsewhere
551
00:31:58,334 --> 00:32:00,044
through the dense jungles.
552
00:32:25,528 --> 00:32:26,779
RUSCH:
You okay, Huyen?
553
00:32:26,988 --> 00:32:28,990
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]: Okay.
RUSCH: Okay.
554
00:32:29,198 --> 00:32:32,493
RUSCH:
Woo... Stickered vines.
555
00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:35,747
We're gonna be
scratched up tonight.
556
00:32:38,583 --> 00:32:40,752
If you see the trail,
let me know, Huyen.
557
00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:41,920
NGUYEN:
Yes.
558
00:32:46,633 --> 00:32:48,301
That's a big mushroom.
559
00:32:48,509 --> 00:32:50,011
[LAUGHS]
Very nice.
560
00:32:50,219 --> 00:32:53,431
If we get stuck here all night,
we can eat it for dinner.
561
00:32:53,598 --> 00:32:57,393
We have to stay generally south,
so it's just gonna just--
562
00:32:57,602 --> 00:33:01,147
We'll just
kind of stay south
563
00:33:01,356 --> 00:33:03,024
and hope for the best.
564
00:33:07,779 --> 00:33:11,032
RUSCH:
Oh, wait, yeah,
we have to go around here.
565
00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:12,992
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
566
00:33:16,412 --> 00:33:18,247
[RAIN PATTERING]
567
00:33:22,168 --> 00:33:26,381
RUSCH:
The physical beatdown
that the jungle takes on you
568
00:33:26,589 --> 00:33:29,884
makes any task that you have
exponentially harder.
569
00:33:30,093 --> 00:33:31,386
It certainly did ours.
570
00:33:31,594 --> 00:33:34,722
RUSCH: You okay?
Okay. I’m okay. Yeah.
571
00:33:34,931 --> 00:33:36,683
[♪♪♪]
572
00:33:41,062 --> 00:33:42,730
How do you like the sling?
573
00:33:42,939 --> 00:33:44,691
[LAUGHS]
574
00:33:44,899 --> 00:33:46,985
Going up towards a protected
area in the plateau,
575
00:33:47,193 --> 00:33:48,653
I was testing the bike out.
576
00:33:48,861 --> 00:33:51,114
I made the slightest mistake.
577
00:33:51,322 --> 00:33:53,866
The front wheel went out,
and when I hit--
578
00:33:54,075 --> 00:33:56,160
One of the most common
motorcycle
579
00:33:56,369 --> 00:33:58,121
and cycling injuries is
580
00:33:58,329 --> 00:34:00,498
a broken shoulder,
and I knew when I hit
581
00:34:00,707 --> 00:34:02,834
that my number was up.
582
00:34:03,042 --> 00:34:04,544
Not a good day for Don.
583
00:34:04,752 --> 00:34:06,462
You know how many
freaking kilometers I put on
584
00:34:06,671 --> 00:34:08,881
without a freaking injury?
585
00:34:09,090 --> 00:34:12,552
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
We had thought that he had
to discontinue the role
586
00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:15,138
of guide and interpreter
587
00:34:15,346 --> 00:34:18,141
for Rebecca and I
as well as the whole group.
588
00:34:18,349 --> 00:34:19,767
RUSCH:
Don was seriously hurt,
589
00:34:19,976 --> 00:34:22,020
and it's a minimum
of a day's ride
590
00:34:22,228 --> 00:34:25,231
to the nearest hospital
from where we were.
591
00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:27,316
He needed to undergo surgery,
592
00:34:27,525 --> 00:34:30,653
and that would have taken him
out of the trip entirely.
593
00:34:30,862 --> 00:34:32,613
So he refused.
594
00:34:32,822 --> 00:34:36,576
He decided to rejoin the trip
and just tough it out.
595
00:34:51,841 --> 00:34:53,176
NGUYEN:
Oh, very big hole.
596
00:34:53,384 --> 00:34:56,721
Yeah.
NGUYEN: Big hole.
597
00:34:56,929 --> 00:34:58,473
Big bomb.
598
00:34:58,639 --> 00:35:01,017
RUSCH:
This whole trail,
this whole section,
599
00:35:01,225 --> 00:35:02,018
there's a lot of 'em.
600
00:35:03,644 --> 00:35:06,022
The first bomb crater we saw,
601
00:35:06,230 --> 00:35:08,775
I didn't believe
that that's what it was.
602
00:35:08,983 --> 00:35:11,277
It was the first time of seeing
603
00:35:11,486 --> 00:35:13,946
really obvious
physical scars
604
00:35:14,155 --> 00:35:15,907
still left in the land
605
00:35:16,115 --> 00:35:18,076
and people
living amongst that,
606
00:35:18,284 --> 00:35:19,786
and living
basically right on top,
607
00:35:19,994 --> 00:35:22,789
right around
all these bomb craters.
608
00:35:24,707 --> 00:35:26,751
There was crater
after crater,
609
00:35:26,959 --> 00:35:30,630
and I actually couldn't fathom
the scope of the devastation
610
00:35:30,838 --> 00:35:32,799
and how many there were.
611
00:35:33,007 --> 00:35:34,759
[♪♪♪]
612
00:35:39,472 --> 00:35:41,140
Everywhere you look,
there's another one,
613
00:35:41,349 --> 00:35:42,975
there's another one,
there's another one.
614
00:35:43,184 --> 00:35:45,061
And I was asking Huyen
about them, like:
615
00:35:45,269 --> 00:35:46,938
"Why is that hole still there?"
616
00:35:47,146 --> 00:35:49,440
You'd think that the ground
would have filled in,
617
00:35:49,649 --> 00:35:51,818
but I guess it doesn't,
because in the rainy season,
618
00:35:52,026 --> 00:35:53,611
they fill with water
619
00:35:53,820 --> 00:35:56,697
and become these little ponds
and sort of ecosystems.
620
00:35:56,906 --> 00:35:59,742
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
Along the trail, there are
so many bomb craters.
621
00:35:59,951 --> 00:36:03,121
That really reflects
the harshness of the war.
622
00:36:04,914 --> 00:36:09,293
RUSCH:
It's upsetting to see them.
623
00:36:09,502 --> 00:36:11,587
I felt sorry
for the people who lived there.
624
00:36:11,796 --> 00:36:16,175
I felt sorry for my father
and the other pilots
625
00:36:16,384 --> 00:36:21,139
and the internal conflict
that they must have experienced.
626
00:36:21,347 --> 00:36:24,767
We knew one thing for sure,
that it was very painful.
627
00:36:24,976 --> 00:36:28,980
And I think that war
is the most cruel thing.
628
00:36:30,857 --> 00:36:33,776
And I still do not understand
what it was for.
629
00:36:42,785 --> 00:36:45,705
DUVALL:
Phanop Valley,
this was the main choke point
630
00:36:45,913 --> 00:36:47,582
because it was where
631
00:36:47,790 --> 00:36:49,667
the greatest concentration
of trucks were,
632
00:36:49,876 --> 00:36:55,548
so it was hit by fighters,
B-52s, continuously for years.
633
00:36:55,756 --> 00:36:56,549
Continuously.
634
00:37:04,307 --> 00:37:06,142
MARTIN:
There's a town
in the Phanop Valley
635
00:37:06,350 --> 00:37:07,393
near the border of Vietnam.
636
00:37:08,895 --> 00:37:11,063
I called it Bomb Town.
637
00:37:11,272 --> 00:37:14,358
And what we did there was...
638
00:37:15,526 --> 00:37:18,404
Wow, I mean, I-- Yeah.
639
00:37:18,613 --> 00:37:20,323
I couldn't describe it.
640
00:37:20,531 --> 00:37:23,492
One thing you want to notice
is how they're rounded off,
641
00:37:23,701 --> 00:37:26,579
and the jagged pieces
are missing up there.
642
00:37:26,787 --> 00:37:29,165
Because-- From this ordnance.
RUSCH: It got hit? Yeah.
643
00:37:29,373 --> 00:37:30,875
RUSCH: Yeah, yeah.
DUVALL: Yeah.
644
00:37:39,217 --> 00:37:41,427
MAN [AS STEPHEN]:
"Dear Judy, Sharon and Becky,
645
00:37:43,471 --> 00:37:46,390
"some of the anti-aircraft
from the bad guys over here
646
00:37:46,599 --> 00:37:49,227
"really water your eyes.
647
00:37:49,435 --> 00:37:53,189
"They use tracers so you can
really see it coming.
648
00:37:53,397 --> 00:37:56,567
"Most of the time, we've only
been getting small arms fire,
649
00:37:56,776 --> 00:37:59,862
"but I can do
without any of it.
650
00:38:00,071 --> 00:38:02,531
"You kind of lose inhibitions
about bombing these guys
651
00:38:02,740 --> 00:38:06,035
"when you know they're trying
to knock you out of the sky.
652
00:38:06,244 --> 00:38:08,037
"I have to brief shortly.
653
00:38:08,246 --> 00:38:12,500
"Give my love and lots of hugs
and kisses to Sharon and Becky.
654
00:38:12,708 --> 00:38:15,670
"I've got that 8-by-10 color
picture of them at my desk,
655
00:38:15,878 --> 00:38:19,131
"and it is a real comfort
to look at.
656
00:38:19,340 --> 00:38:22,260
Be good. Steve."
657
00:38:24,387 --> 00:38:26,222
[♪♪♪]
658
00:38:38,359 --> 00:38:40,027
DUVALL:
These circles
with an X through it
659
00:38:40,236 --> 00:38:42,321
are areas where
they were storing supplies,
660
00:38:42,530 --> 00:38:44,407
so very likely
this was a storage place
661
00:38:44,615 --> 00:38:45,825
along
the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
662
00:38:58,838 --> 00:39:01,549
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
I think many children
from U.S.A.,
663
00:39:01,757 --> 00:39:05,720
if they can see
what happened here,
664
00:39:05,928 --> 00:39:09,765
I think they don't want
to come here, came here.
665
00:39:18,649 --> 00:39:20,568
Get ready.
666
00:39:20,776 --> 00:39:21,819
Here it goes.
667
00:39:37,752 --> 00:39:39,003
They turn down here.
668
00:39:39,211 --> 00:39:40,713
Wow, this looks
like this road.
669
00:39:42,715 --> 00:39:44,925
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
People here are
very rich, I think.
670
00:39:45,134 --> 00:39:46,719
Big house.
Yeah.
671
00:39:46,927 --> 00:39:48,679
Yeah.
672
00:39:48,888 --> 00:39:50,765
If you dig through
this barrel here,
673
00:39:50,973 --> 00:39:53,267
you'll find all kinds
of interesting artifacts.
674
00:39:53,476 --> 00:39:54,769
Maybe some pickaxes.
675
00:39:54,977 --> 00:39:57,980
This looks like
springs from trucks.
676
00:39:58,189 --> 00:40:01,400
I don't know, but this is
igniter instructions in English.
677
00:40:01,609 --> 00:40:05,446
What? Yeah, okay. Yeah, this is
a parachute flare casing.
678
00:40:05,654 --> 00:40:07,531
Oh, cool. Look at that.
679
00:40:07,740 --> 00:40:10,409
That's amazing.
680
00:40:10,618 --> 00:40:13,913
RUSCH:
I feel sort of weird snooping
around everyone's houses.
681
00:40:14,121 --> 00:40:16,499
Like, you would
never do this at home.
682
00:40:16,707 --> 00:40:20,669
DUVALL:
You can go into many villages
and still find plates,
683
00:40:20,878 --> 00:40:22,421
utensils for cooking.
684
00:40:22,630 --> 00:40:25,091
Almost every village
along the Ho Chi Minh Trail,
685
00:40:25,299 --> 00:40:26,842
you'll find
a planter that's built
686
00:40:27,051 --> 00:40:28,719
from a cluster bomb casing.
687
00:40:28,928 --> 00:40:30,513
There's still
plenty of evidence around,
688
00:40:30,721 --> 00:40:31,889
and it will remain
for many years.
689
00:40:33,349 --> 00:40:35,935
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
Oh, a pagoda.
690
00:40:36,143 --> 00:40:39,355
RUSCH:
This place is sweet,
with the flowers and everything.
691
00:40:39,563 --> 00:40:42,149
Check that out.
Look at that drum.
692
00:40:42,358 --> 00:40:43,818
[IN ENGLISH]
Fly.
693
00:40:48,155 --> 00:40:49,824
Wow...
694
00:41:05,172 --> 00:41:09,260
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
Somebody collect it
and put it here.
695
00:41:11,554 --> 00:41:13,264
RUSCH:
When I was young,
696
00:41:13,472 --> 00:41:16,183
I remember that people
would hear my father's story
697
00:41:16,392 --> 00:41:19,687
and they would say to me,
"Oh, I'm so sorry.
698
00:41:19,895 --> 00:41:22,440
It must have been so awful
to grow up without a father."
699
00:41:22,648 --> 00:41:24,191
And I didn't really
understand that,
700
00:41:24,400 --> 00:41:26,652
because I was 3
when he was shot down.
701
00:41:26,861 --> 00:41:30,573
I was so young that
it was nothing that I knew.
702
00:41:30,781 --> 00:41:34,201
And it's taken me until now
703
00:41:34,410 --> 00:41:37,204
to be ready
to dig a little deeper
704
00:41:37,413 --> 00:41:39,206
and want to know more.
705
00:41:40,374 --> 00:41:41,834
Can we go?
706
00:41:45,212 --> 00:41:46,255
Yes, I know.
707
00:41:46,464 --> 00:41:47,798
I feel you.
708
00:41:50,009 --> 00:41:51,385
Let's go.
709
00:41:54,972 --> 00:41:56,348
Yes.
710
00:42:04,440 --> 00:42:07,193
In my dad's case,
711
00:42:07,401 --> 00:42:09,111
they did an excavation
712
00:42:09,320 --> 00:42:12,948
many years
after he was shot down,
713
00:42:13,157 --> 00:42:15,743
and they identified him
through teeth.
714
00:42:15,951 --> 00:42:20,873
So I went in
and they opened up the bag,
715
00:42:21,081 --> 00:42:22,750
and brought out
the two teeth,
716
00:42:22,958 --> 00:42:25,920
and showed me what the teeth
that were on the table were,
717
00:42:26,128 --> 00:42:28,589
and what
his x-rays looked like.
718
00:42:28,797 --> 00:42:31,050
It was no doubt.
I knew it was him.
719
00:42:32,718 --> 00:42:34,470
And my eyes filled with tears
720
00:42:34,678 --> 00:42:37,056
and I thought...
721
00:42:37,264 --> 00:42:39,308
"Wow, he's--
He's really home."
722
00:42:39,517 --> 00:42:42,686
Because you don't believe it
until you see it.
723
00:42:42,895 --> 00:42:47,191
And I thought, "How different
would our lives have been
724
00:42:47,399 --> 00:42:48,734
"if we knew
right at the beginning
725
00:42:48,943 --> 00:42:50,319
or doesn't it matter?"
726
00:42:50,528 --> 00:42:53,280
But I do know
that not a day has gone by
727
00:42:53,489 --> 00:42:54,782
that I don't miss him.
728
00:42:54,990 --> 00:42:57,159
Not a day goes by where
729
00:42:57,368 --> 00:43:00,120
I want to make sure
I'm making him proud.
730
00:43:04,083 --> 00:43:05,918
[♪♪♪]
731
00:43:08,337 --> 00:43:11,382
RUSCH:
Growing up, I didn't know
what happened to my father.
732
00:43:11,590 --> 00:43:15,970
I had reoccurring dreams
that maybe he was alive
733
00:43:16,178 --> 00:43:19,056
and he had another family
and was living over here.
734
00:43:20,641 --> 00:43:22,184
We would meet
in a coffee shop,
735
00:43:22,393 --> 00:43:25,563
and I would tell him
all about my life.
736
00:43:25,771 --> 00:43:27,773
And when
they found his remains,
737
00:43:27,982 --> 00:43:30,818
and I knew that he died
that day in the crash,
738
00:43:31,026 --> 00:43:33,946
I felt a strong desire
to come here
739
00:43:34,154 --> 00:43:35,447
and try to find out
740
00:43:35,656 --> 00:43:38,784
the circumstances
around his death.
741
00:43:38,993 --> 00:43:41,662
Yeah.
Yeah.
742
00:43:41,870 --> 00:43:43,330
I don't understand.
743
00:43:45,040 --> 00:43:47,251
To better communicate
with the locals,
744
00:43:47,459 --> 00:43:49,545
we enlisted Pahn's help.
745
00:43:51,714 --> 00:43:53,716
PAHN [IN LAO]:
I am one of the coordinators
746
00:43:53,924 --> 00:43:55,634
who guide the track,
747
00:43:55,843 --> 00:43:57,720
speak to local people,
748
00:43:57,928 --> 00:44:01,265
and translate between
her team and local people.
749
00:44:03,475 --> 00:44:05,019
DUVALL:
Each individual village,
750
00:44:05,227 --> 00:44:06,812
depending
on their ethnic background,
751
00:44:07,021 --> 00:44:09,440
has areas that are sacred
that have to be honored.
752
00:44:09,648 --> 00:44:11,525
So he would also check
quite thoroughly about that
753
00:44:11,734 --> 00:44:12,818
and inform us.
754
00:44:18,699 --> 00:44:20,367
RUSCH:
Just as we were about to leave,
755
00:44:20,576 --> 00:44:22,745
PAHN told us a monk
had been watching us,
756
00:44:22,953 --> 00:44:24,580
and wanted
to show us something.
757
00:44:30,169 --> 00:44:34,381
[IN ENGLISH]:
Pass through here slowly because
of the bombee in the ground.
758
00:44:34,590 --> 00:44:37,718
There are some bombee
under the ground.
759
00:44:37,926 --> 00:44:39,219
Walk here,
in his steps.
760
00:44:39,428 --> 00:44:40,971
Walk in the line.
761
00:44:41,180 --> 00:44:43,766
I didn't see
where he first stepped.
762
00:44:45,684 --> 00:44:46,935
Okay. Wow.
763
00:44:51,982 --> 00:44:53,317
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
What is it?
764
00:44:54,652 --> 00:44:55,903
A bomb.
765
00:44:56,111 --> 00:44:59,031
A part of bomb.
Avoid.
766
00:44:59,239 --> 00:45:01,492
PAHN [IN ENGLISH]:
You just step on it, it explode.
767
00:45:01,700 --> 00:45:03,452
Be careful here.
768
00:45:03,661 --> 00:45:05,412
[PAHN SPEAKING IN LAO]
769
00:45:09,958 --> 00:45:12,086
NGUYEN: Be careful.
[PAHN SPEAKING IN LAO]
770
00:45:18,842 --> 00:45:19,760
NGUYEN:
Ah...
771
00:45:21,512 --> 00:45:23,097
PAHN: Bombees.
[MONK SPEAKING IN LAO]
772
00:45:23,305 --> 00:45:25,766
[IN ENGLISH, TRANSLATING]
The plane drop it to ground,
773
00:45:25,974 --> 00:45:29,186
and then they do this.
774
00:45:29,395 --> 00:45:31,939
Also they have many,
many too.
775
00:45:32,147 --> 00:45:33,440
The "bombees."
776
00:45:33,649 --> 00:45:35,567
He only found it
about a month ago.
777
00:45:35,776 --> 00:45:39,113
A month ago he found it?
He found, yeah.
778
00:45:39,321 --> 00:45:40,447
Like
Vietnam.
779
00:45:40,656 --> 00:45:43,701
In Vietnam,
we have many.
780
00:45:43,909 --> 00:45:46,286
Thank you for showing us.
[MONK SPEAKING IN LAO]
781
00:45:46,495 --> 00:45:49,164
RUSCH:
There was an unexploded
ordnance right on the ground
782
00:45:49,373 --> 00:45:51,500
that the monk walks
every single day.
783
00:45:51,709 --> 00:45:53,627
I can't even imagine
what that's like.
784
00:45:53,836 --> 00:45:55,921
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
It was the first time
in my life
785
00:45:56,130 --> 00:45:58,382
I have ever seen a bomblet,
786
00:45:58,590 --> 00:46:02,219
and I knew it could go off
at any time.
787
00:46:02,428 --> 00:46:04,263
People's lives
were still threatened,
788
00:46:04,471 --> 00:46:06,974
though war has passed
for 40 or 50 years.
789
00:46:07,182 --> 00:46:09,977
I couldn't understand
Rebecca's emotions fully.
790
00:46:10,185 --> 00:46:12,062
She didn't express
her feelings to me,
791
00:46:12,271 --> 00:46:15,566
but I did feel
that she was holding in a lot.
792
00:46:25,784 --> 00:46:28,746
NARRATOR:
From 1964 to 1973,
793
00:46:28,954 --> 00:46:31,331
the U.S. intensified
their bombing campaigns
794
00:46:31,540 --> 00:46:34,960
along the Ho Chi Minh Trail,
especially in Laos.
795
00:46:39,381 --> 00:46:41,425
Determined to stop
the continuous flow
796
00:46:41,633 --> 00:46:43,927
of troops, weapons
and supplies on the trail,
797
00:46:44,136 --> 00:46:45,304
the U.S. conducted more than
798
00:46:45,512 --> 00:46:46,847
half a million
bombing missions
799
00:46:47,055 --> 00:46:48,557
over the course
of the war,
800
00:46:48,766 --> 00:46:50,768
averaging out
to about one strike mission
801
00:46:50,976 --> 00:46:52,519
every eight minutes.
802
00:46:54,313 --> 00:46:56,315
Approximately eight million
tons of bombs
803
00:46:56,523 --> 00:46:58,442
were dropped
over Southeast Asia
804
00:46:58,650 --> 00:47:01,695
with three million tons
dropped directly on Laos,
805
00:47:01,904 --> 00:47:05,407
making it the most heavily
bombed country on the planet.
806
00:47:06,909 --> 00:47:08,452
Nearly one-third
of those bombs
807
00:47:08,660 --> 00:47:10,287
failed to detonate
upon impact,
808
00:47:10,496 --> 00:47:12,122
leaving approximately
25 percent
809
00:47:12,331 --> 00:47:13,540
of the region littered
810
00:47:13,749 --> 00:47:15,292
with unexploded ordnances,
811
00:47:15,501 --> 00:47:18,378
also known as UXOs.
812
00:47:18,587 --> 00:47:21,423
Since the end
of the Vietnam War in 1975,
813
00:47:21,632 --> 00:47:23,926
it's estimated that
in Vietnam and Laos,
814
00:47:24,134 --> 00:47:28,722
more than 60,000 people have
been killed or injured by UXOs.
815
00:47:31,058 --> 00:47:33,185
MAN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
Because of the bomb
816
00:47:33,393 --> 00:47:36,271
left from the war,
I lost my eye.
817
00:47:36,480 --> 00:47:39,483
I lost my arm.
818
00:47:39,691 --> 00:47:44,071
WOMAN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
When we clear our farms,
that's scary.
819
00:47:44,279 --> 00:47:45,739
I’m scared,
but if we don't do it,
820
00:47:45,948 --> 00:47:48,242
how can we feed ourselves?
821
00:47:48,450 --> 00:47:50,202
NARRATOR:
Over the past 40-plus years,
822
00:47:50,410 --> 00:47:53,372
organized bomb removal teams
have been scouring the land
823
00:47:53,580 --> 00:47:56,208
carefully extracting
the bombs one at a time,
824
00:47:56,416 --> 00:47:59,378
and disposing of them
using controlled explosions.
825
00:48:02,256 --> 00:48:03,966
In addition to bomb removal,
826
00:48:04,174 --> 00:48:08,053
governments are working
to educate locals about UXOs.
827
00:48:08,262 --> 00:48:10,806
Especially at risk
are villagers who earn a living
828
00:48:11,014 --> 00:48:12,891
by recycling the scrap metal,
829
00:48:13,100 --> 00:48:15,811
and children who think
the bombs are balls or toys.
830
00:48:16,019 --> 00:48:17,729
BOY [IN VIETNAMESE]:
Maybe it's a bomb.
831
00:48:17,938 --> 00:48:19,106
Bring it out.
832
00:48:19,314 --> 00:48:20,816
Gently, gently.
833
00:48:22,776 --> 00:48:25,153
NARRATOR:
At the current pace
of UXO removal,
834
00:48:25,362 --> 00:48:26,822
it'll be more than 100 years
835
00:48:27,030 --> 00:48:28,365
before all the bombs
in the region
836
00:48:28,574 --> 00:48:29,825
have been
successfully cleared.
837
00:48:37,708 --> 00:48:39,543
[BEEPING]
838
00:48:45,757 --> 00:48:47,718
[♪♪♪]
839
00:48:58,353 --> 00:49:02,441
RUSCH:
In one of the villages,
we met an elderly lady
840
00:49:02,649 --> 00:49:06,403
who was alive during the war
and living there.
841
00:49:06,612 --> 00:49:08,822
PAHN [IN LAO]:
Good afternoon, ma'am.
842
00:49:09,031 --> 00:49:11,742
These girls are foreigners.
843
00:49:11,950 --> 00:49:17,873
Would you mind telling us
where people lived in the war?
844
00:49:18,081 --> 00:49:20,417
Can you tell them?
845
00:49:23,170 --> 00:49:27,132
[SPEAKING IN LAO]
We lived in the cave,
the forest.
846
00:49:27,341 --> 00:49:28,759
We lived in the mountain.
847
00:49:28,967 --> 00:49:30,385
PAHN:
During the war,
848
00:49:30,594 --> 00:49:35,432
how long did you stay
in the cave?
849
00:49:35,641 --> 00:49:38,226
Very long.
How long, days or months?
850
00:49:38,435 --> 00:49:40,979
Five to six years.
851
00:49:42,648 --> 00:49:45,734
[IN ENGLISH]
Also, she too is daughter.
852
00:49:45,943 --> 00:49:47,653
She was born
in the cave.
853
00:49:47,861 --> 00:49:52,491
[IN LAO]
She was born there.
Her brother was born there.
854
00:49:52,699 --> 00:49:54,576
RUSCH:
And I asked this woman,
855
00:49:54,785 --> 00:49:56,370
"Well, why did you come back
856
00:49:56,578 --> 00:49:58,413
to this place
that was devastated?"
857
00:49:58,622 --> 00:50:00,290
I mean,
their village is now built
858
00:50:00,499 --> 00:50:03,877
around a whole maze
of bomb craters.
859
00:50:04,086 --> 00:50:05,963
And she just simply said,
860
00:50:06,171 --> 00:50:09,007
"well, this is my home.
Where else would I go?
861
00:50:09,216 --> 00:50:11,927
I came home
because I live here."
862
00:50:12,135 --> 00:50:13,637
That was
really powerful for me,
863
00:50:13,845 --> 00:50:15,722
and especially, you know,
864
00:50:15,931 --> 00:50:17,265
I've lived out of my car,
865
00:50:17,474 --> 00:50:19,142
I've lived
all over the place,
866
00:50:19,351 --> 00:50:22,938
and haven't had a sense of home
for a lot of my life.
867
00:50:32,239 --> 00:50:36,118
The caves were essential
for survival during the war.
868
00:50:36,326 --> 00:50:39,788
They were used as shelter
from the bombing,
869
00:50:39,997 --> 00:50:42,582
for storing
ammunition and food,
870
00:50:42,791 --> 00:50:44,126
war room planning,
871
00:50:44,334 --> 00:50:47,379
and even shortcuts
through the jungle.
872
00:50:47,587 --> 00:50:50,340
Don found a cave
that we could pass through
873
00:50:50,549 --> 00:50:53,301
and meet up with the trail
on the other side,
874
00:50:53,510 --> 00:50:55,637
but since we are visitors
in this place,
875
00:50:55,846 --> 00:50:58,348
we have to abide
by the local customs
876
00:50:58,557 --> 00:51:01,143
to get permission
to go through the cave.
877
00:51:01,351 --> 00:51:03,687
[ALL SPEAKING IN LAO]
878
00:51:07,357 --> 00:51:09,359
RUSCH:
They drink the whole thing?
879
00:51:09,568 --> 00:51:11,361
Whiskey.
PAHN: Whiskey.
880
00:51:12,904 --> 00:51:14,531
Okay.
881
00:51:14,740 --> 00:51:16,116
Heh. Okay.
882
00:51:18,827 --> 00:51:20,370
It's good.
883
00:51:20,579 --> 00:51:22,664
Thank you.
884
00:51:22,873 --> 00:51:24,958
PAHN:
Also for good luck.
885
00:51:25,167 --> 00:51:26,293
What do I do?
886
00:51:26,501 --> 00:51:28,128
I just touch it?
Yeah. No, no.
887
00:51:28,336 --> 00:51:29,546
No. I eat it?
Yeah.
888
00:51:29,755 --> 00:51:32,299
RUSCH:
Oh, okay. Really small.
889
00:51:32,507 --> 00:51:34,593
Give me this small one.
Yeah. Okay.
890
00:51:34,801 --> 00:51:37,095
Also good luck.
[ALL LAUGH]
891
00:51:37,304 --> 00:51:38,805
The big one-- Heh...
892
00:51:40,640 --> 00:51:42,934
RUSCH:
No, the small one
is good, thank you, heh.
893
00:51:44,936 --> 00:51:47,564
Yeah, I have something
to tie it down with.
894
00:51:47,773 --> 00:51:49,232
Immediately after
the ceremony,
895
00:51:49,441 --> 00:51:50,859
Huyen and I
grabbed our bikes
896
00:51:51,068 --> 00:51:52,402
because we really wanted
897
00:51:52,611 --> 00:51:55,155
to get through the cave
before nightfall.
898
00:51:55,363 --> 00:51:56,531
Yup.
899
00:51:58,283 --> 00:51:59,659
Okay.
900
00:51:59,868 --> 00:52:01,536
I’ll get the paddles.
901
00:52:07,751 --> 00:52:10,587
[♪♪♪]
902
00:52:18,762 --> 00:52:21,348
It was the biggest cave
I've ever seen. Absolutely.
903
00:52:21,556 --> 00:52:24,893
And there's tons of caves
in this part of the world,
904
00:52:25,102 --> 00:52:26,561
and it's a big part
of the history
905
00:52:26,770 --> 00:52:28,271
of where people hid out.
906
00:52:28,480 --> 00:52:30,565
But also the explorer in me
was, like,
907
00:52:30,774 --> 00:52:33,735
"Okay, what's gonna be in here?
This is really exciting."
908
00:52:39,282 --> 00:52:40,742
It's slippery. Be careful.
909
00:52:40,951 --> 00:52:42,619
[GRUNTS]
910
00:52:42,828 --> 00:52:43,829
[YELPS]
911
00:52:44,037 --> 00:52:45,372
RUSCH: You okay?
NGUYEN: Yeah.
912
00:52:45,580 --> 00:52:47,374
It's really slippery.
Hold on to the boat.
913
00:52:52,963 --> 00:52:55,799
We have to take probably
at least two or three trips
914
00:52:56,007 --> 00:52:58,426
to move all the equipment
one by one.
915
00:52:58,635 --> 00:53:01,555
There was
a super-difficult portage
916
00:53:01,763 --> 00:53:03,723
of getting around rapids
917
00:53:03,932 --> 00:53:07,018
and boulder-hopping and moving
the bikes and the kayak.
918
00:53:08,895 --> 00:53:11,439
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
Two of us really struggled.
919
00:53:11,648 --> 00:53:13,191
I wasn't as strong,
920
00:53:13,400 --> 00:53:18,405
so Rebecca was always
by my side to support me.
921
00:53:20,615 --> 00:53:22,701
[RUSCH GRUNTS]
922
00:53:22,909 --> 00:53:27,247
RUSCH:
If these bikes survive this,
I will be shocked.
923
00:53:27,455 --> 00:53:30,500
We're gonna be here
till fucking 2 in the morning.
924
00:53:31,668 --> 00:53:33,670
Wait, wait. The pedal.
925
00:53:38,800 --> 00:53:41,011
[SHOUTS]
I’m pissed!
926
00:53:49,102 --> 00:53:51,021
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
The trip to the cave,
927
00:53:51,229 --> 00:53:53,273
it was lengthy
and gobbled up too much time.
928
00:53:53,481 --> 00:53:54,900
It took too much time,
929
00:53:55,108 --> 00:53:57,777
while Rebecca
always wanted to forge ahead
930
00:53:57,986 --> 00:53:59,946
to get to her dad
as soon as possible.
931
00:54:00,155 --> 00:54:02,699
And I really felt for her.
932
00:54:02,908 --> 00:54:05,744
RUSCH:
We had been in the cave
for almost nine hours.
933
00:54:05,952 --> 00:54:09,206
It was exhausting,
frustrating, and set us back.
934
00:54:11,958 --> 00:54:14,419
Huyen finally pointed out
the outline of a tree.
935
00:54:14,628 --> 00:54:16,254
That's where I was, like,
936
00:54:16,463 --> 00:54:18,882
"Oh, we made it out, we made
it out, we're outside."
937
00:54:20,383 --> 00:54:22,219
[♪♪♪]
938
00:55:01,174 --> 00:55:08,640
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
Rebecca and I were born
in very different cultures.
939
00:55:08,848 --> 00:55:11,768
RUSCH:
Have you been riding with these?
Carrying these the whole time?
940
00:55:11,977 --> 00:55:13,687
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
Yes. Yeah.
941
00:55:13,895 --> 00:55:16,439
[IN VIETNAMESE]:
However, very soon I found
942
00:55:16,648 --> 00:55:19,150
one thing in common
between us.
943
00:55:20,944 --> 00:55:22,904
She lost her father
when she was a child,
944
00:55:23,113 --> 00:55:27,284
and I lost my mom
since I was 8.
945
00:55:27,492 --> 00:55:31,663
we both have a family,
we have feelings,
946
00:55:31,871 --> 00:55:34,082
have fathers and mothers
that we've lost.
947
00:55:35,875 --> 00:55:37,419
RUSCH:
The first time
she talked openly
948
00:55:37,627 --> 00:55:39,296
about how close
she was with her mother,
949
00:55:39,504 --> 00:55:42,966
and I asked about her husband
who's also passed away.
950
00:55:43,174 --> 00:55:45,635
And that's
really recent as well.
951
00:55:45,844 --> 00:55:47,971
This was her opportunity
to kind of share
952
00:55:48,179 --> 00:55:50,390
a little bit more of her story.
953
00:55:50,598 --> 00:55:55,145
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
My life with two kids
has various difficulties.
954
00:55:55,353 --> 00:55:57,314
However,
it's my kids who give me
955
00:55:57,522 --> 00:56:01,109
strength
and motivation in life.
956
00:56:01,318 --> 00:56:03,903
RUSCH:
After sitting down
and sharing with Huyen,
957
00:56:04,112 --> 00:56:07,532
I realize that her daughter
is growing up just like me.
958
00:56:07,741 --> 00:56:10,952
we both lost our fathers
at a very young age.
959
00:56:11,161 --> 00:56:13,204
It really gave me
a better understanding
960
00:56:13,413 --> 00:56:15,081
of what
Huyen's going through,
961
00:56:15,290 --> 00:56:18,293
especially knowing how hard
it was for my mom
962
00:56:18,501 --> 00:56:20,879
to raise us
as a single parent.
963
00:56:24,466 --> 00:56:26,593
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
You are very strong.
964
00:56:26,801 --> 00:56:28,094
RUSCH:
Thank you.
965
00:56:28,303 --> 00:56:30,138
So are you.
You're doing awesome.
966
00:56:30,347 --> 00:56:32,349
That was
a gnarly couple of days.
967
00:56:34,142 --> 00:56:35,894
It all looks the same.
968
00:56:36,102 --> 00:56:37,854
I don't have my GPS rolling.
969
00:56:39,814 --> 00:56:42,692
Wow, it's not
a very good trail.
970
00:56:42,901 --> 00:56:45,445
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
Too much.
971
00:56:45,653 --> 00:56:49,407
[IN VIETNAMESE]:
So at that time I felt utterly
tired, drained and forlorn.
972
00:56:49,616 --> 00:56:51,785
After two strenuous days,
973
00:56:51,993 --> 00:56:55,455
I was exhausted
and I felt like giving up.
974
00:56:55,663 --> 00:56:57,332
More up. More hiking.
975
00:56:57,540 --> 00:56:59,501
I think it stays hard
for a little while.
976
00:56:59,709 --> 00:57:02,003
Yeah.
And then we'll see
Jason and Greg,
977
00:57:02,212 --> 00:57:04,339
but then we have 70
kilometers on the bike
978
00:57:04,547 --> 00:57:07,050
to reach our goal
of the campsite.
979
00:57:07,258 --> 00:57:10,053
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
I’ll try my best to follow you.
980
00:57:10,261 --> 00:57:11,805
RUSCH:
I thought it was
gonna get easier,
981
00:57:12,013 --> 00:57:13,473
but it doesn't look like it.
982
00:57:24,776 --> 00:57:26,486
[WHOOPS]
983
00:57:28,696 --> 00:57:29,739
Hey.
984
00:57:29,948 --> 00:57:31,491
Hi.
985
00:57:31,699 --> 00:57:33,034
Hi.
Hello.
986
00:57:33,243 --> 00:57:35,495
You guys spent
the night in a cave.
987
00:57:35,703 --> 00:57:38,206
We went through,
spent the night on the beach,
988
00:57:38,415 --> 00:57:41,000
then started the hike over
this morning.
989
00:57:41,209 --> 00:57:42,043
BAUER:
Yeah.
990
00:57:42,252 --> 00:57:43,586
RUSCH:
Lots of walking.
991
00:57:43,795 --> 00:57:45,547
MARTIN:
Today was all coming over?
992
00:57:45,755 --> 00:57:49,175
All hike a bike, just totally
over those mountains, like...
993
00:57:49,384 --> 00:57:50,718
BAUER:
Huyen, how are you feeling?
994
00:57:50,927 --> 00:57:53,012
My shoulders,
my arms, my legs.
995
00:57:53,221 --> 00:57:54,973
BAUER:
From your pack?
996
00:57:55,181 --> 00:57:59,644
Huyen's body is definitely
reaching for the reserves.
997
00:58:01,146 --> 00:58:03,106
MARTIN:
It sounds like a long time
998
00:58:03,314 --> 00:58:04,983
of being sweaty and wet.
999
00:58:05,191 --> 00:58:07,777
Rebecca definitely came back
with some battle scars
1000
00:58:07,986 --> 00:58:11,906
and some scratches, and seemed
to be a little slower.
1001
00:58:12,115 --> 00:58:14,200
It's 3:30, okay?
1002
00:58:14,409 --> 00:58:17,620
So no more than
20, 30 minutes here and we go.
1003
00:58:17,829 --> 00:58:19,289
ls that okay with you?
NGUYEN: Yes.
1004
00:58:19,497 --> 00:58:20,623
Cool. Awesome.
1005
00:58:20,832 --> 00:58:23,460
[PEOPLE CHATTERING
INDISTINCTLY]
1006
00:58:23,668 --> 00:58:27,505
Party.
I like it.
1007
00:58:27,714 --> 00:58:32,010
[MUSIC PLAYING, PEOPLE CONTINUE
CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]
1008
00:58:32,218 --> 00:58:34,304
RUSCH:
As we were about
to get back on the trail,
1009
00:58:34,512 --> 00:58:38,308
we heard a group of Lao
villagers laughing and singing
1010
00:58:38,516 --> 00:58:40,393
and having a great party.
1011
00:58:40,602 --> 00:58:42,687
And it was
such a welcome sight,
1012
00:58:42,896 --> 00:58:44,981
and it was exactly
what we needed
1013
00:58:45,148 --> 00:58:48,193
to lift our spirits
before the long ride ahead.
1014
00:58:49,777 --> 00:58:51,446
We can do this, right?
Yeah.
1015
00:58:51,654 --> 00:58:53,406
[MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING]
1016
00:59:15,136 --> 00:59:17,805
RUSCH:
I kind of wanted
to call a little team meeting.
1017
00:59:18,014 --> 00:59:21,559
Everyone's tired, sweaty,
getting heat rash,
1018
00:59:21,768 --> 00:59:25,647
and working super-long days,
and I just felt like
1019
00:59:25,855 --> 00:59:28,274
that I wanted to kind of
use the opportunity
1020
00:59:28,483 --> 00:59:33,154
to remind you why I’m here
and to thank you for being here.
1021
00:59:33,363 --> 00:59:35,907
My dad was a musician.
I don't know if you know that.
1022
00:59:36,115 --> 00:59:38,785
One of his favorite songs
is one that speaks to me
1023
00:59:38,993 --> 00:59:41,788
and sort of defines
how I've lived
1024
00:59:41,996 --> 00:59:43,665
my life
wandering around as well.
1025
00:59:43,873 --> 00:59:45,375
This is my father's voice,
1026
00:59:45,583 --> 00:59:47,877
and it's the only time
I've heard his voice,
1027
00:59:48,086 --> 00:59:50,797
'cause I don't remember it
from when I was a kid.
1028
00:59:51,005 --> 00:59:54,926
[STEPHEN PERFORMING
"I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER
(WHERE I'M BOUND)"]
1029
00:59:55,134 --> 00:59:57,428
♪ It's a long and dusty road♪
1030
00:59:57,637 --> 00:59:59,806
♪ And a hot and heavy load♪
1031
01:00:00,014 --> 01:00:03,518
♪ The folks I meet
Ain't always kind♪
1032
01:00:03,726 --> 01:00:05,687
♪ Some are bad
Some are good♪
1033
01:00:05,895 --> 01:00:08,231
♪ Some have done
The best they could♪
1034
01:00:08,439 --> 01:00:12,193
♪ Some have tried
To ease my troubling mind♪
1035
01:00:12,402 --> 01:00:14,445
♪ And I can't help but wonder♪
1036
01:00:14,654 --> 01:00:17,073
♪ Where I'm bound
Where I'm bound♪
1037
01:00:17,282 --> 01:00:20,201
♪ Can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound♪
1038
01:00:20,410 --> 01:00:22,704
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
Wow, a lot of people.
1039
01:00:24,289 --> 01:00:25,498
RUSCH:
Here we go.
1040
01:00:25,707 --> 01:00:27,000
Here we go.
1041
01:00:27,208 --> 01:00:27,959
[KIDS LAUGHING]
1042
01:00:30,044 --> 01:00:32,422
♪ well I've been
All around this land♪
1043
01:00:32,630 --> 01:00:34,757
♪ Just doing the best I can♪
1044
01:00:34,966 --> 01:00:38,344
♪ Trying to find out
What I was meant to do♪
1045
01:00:38,553 --> 01:00:40,471
♪ And the faces that I see♪
1046
01:00:40,680 --> 01:00:42,640
♪ They're as worried
As can be♪
1047
01:00:42,849 --> 01:00:46,519
♪ And it looks like
They're wondering too♪
1048
01:00:46,728 --> 01:00:48,980
♪ And I can't help but wonder♪
1049
01:00:49,188 --> 01:00:51,899
♪ Where I'm bound
Where I'm bound♪
1050
01:00:52,108 --> 01:00:55,361
♪ Can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound♪
1051
01:00:55,570 --> 01:00:58,114
DUVALL:
I don't know where they turned
wrong. I don't see tracks.
1052
01:00:58,323 --> 01:00:59,699
If you're not seeing
their tracks,
1053
01:00:59,907 --> 01:01:01,409
that'd be the only other way
they could go.
1054
01:01:03,995 --> 01:01:05,997
Whoo!
RUSCH: All right, we're out.
1055
01:01:06,205 --> 01:01:08,249
♪ So now I had
a buddy from home♪
1056
01:01:08,458 --> 01:01:10,043
♪ Till he started out to roam♪
1057
01:01:10,251 --> 01:01:14,213
♪ Last I heard he was out
By the Frisco Bay♪
1058
01:01:14,422 --> 01:01:16,299
♪ And sometimes
When I've had a few♪
1059
01:01:16,507 --> 01:01:18,384
♪ His old voice
Comes singin' through♪
1060
01:01:18,593 --> 01:01:22,388
♪ And I'm going out to see him
Some old day♪
1061
01:01:22,597 --> 01:01:24,932
♪ And I can't help
But wonder♪
1062
01:01:25,141 --> 01:01:27,518
♪ Where I'm bound
Where I'm bound♪
1063
01:01:27,727 --> 01:01:31,022
♪ Can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound♪
1064
01:01:31,230 --> 01:01:34,859
[IN LAO]:
When the planes came,
people came inside.
1065
01:01:35,068 --> 01:01:39,113
This was a house
and a kitchen.
1066
01:01:39,322 --> 01:01:41,282
♪ So if you see me passing by♪
1067
01:01:41,491 --> 01:01:43,951
♪ And you sit
And you wonder why♪
1068
01:01:44,160 --> 01:01:47,497
♪ You wish that
You were a rambler too♪
1069
01:01:47,705 --> 01:01:49,624
♪ Nail your shoes
To the kitchen floor♪
1070
01:01:49,832 --> 01:01:51,709
♪ Lace them up
And bar the door♪
1071
01:01:51,918 --> 01:01:55,963
♪ Thank your stars for the roof
That's over you♪
1072
01:01:56,172 --> 01:01:58,174
♪ And I can't help but wonder♪
1073
01:01:58,383 --> 01:02:01,010
♪ Where I'm bound
Where I'm bound♪
1074
01:02:01,219 --> 01:02:03,346
♪ Can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound♪
1075
01:02:03,554 --> 01:02:04,889
Once again.
1076
01:02:05,098 --> 01:02:06,724
♪ And I can't help
But wonder♪
1077
01:02:06,933 --> 01:02:09,310
♪ Where I'm bound
Where I'm bound♪
1078
01:02:09,519 --> 01:02:12,271
♪ Can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound♪
1079
01:02:14,482 --> 01:02:15,692
Thank you.
1080
01:02:15,900 --> 01:02:18,945
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDS]
1081
01:02:31,708 --> 01:02:33,543
[LAUGHING]
1082
01:02:41,467 --> 01:02:43,970
RUSCH:
What is this, Don? What is it?
1083
01:02:44,178 --> 01:02:46,055
DUVALL:
That's a seat
off an anti-aircraft gun.
1084
01:02:46,264 --> 01:02:48,641
Really?
That they found up in the hills.
1085
01:02:48,850 --> 01:02:51,269
RUSCH:
So they dragged
all this stuff back here?
1086
01:02:51,477 --> 01:02:53,521
[BOTH SPEAKING IN LAO]
1087
01:02:53,730 --> 01:02:55,565
RUSCH:
What's he telling you, Don?
1088
01:02:55,773 --> 01:02:58,484
DUVALL:
He's saying that this came
from the anti-aircraft gun
1089
01:02:58,693 --> 01:03:00,153
they found up in the hills.
1090
01:03:00,361 --> 01:03:02,196
RUSCH: Yeah.
They got the seat,
1091
01:03:02,405 --> 01:03:05,158
but all the rest of the metal
got sold to Vietnam.
1092
01:03:05,366 --> 01:03:06,534
RUSCH:
Oh.
1093
01:03:06,743 --> 01:03:08,119
This place
is a living history.
1094
01:03:08,327 --> 01:03:11,080
And it takes on
a whole other life
1095
01:03:11,289 --> 01:03:13,583
when it's right there
in front of your face.
1096
01:03:13,791 --> 01:03:16,377
It's a better use for it
here, now.
1097
01:03:18,546 --> 01:03:20,882
Just to chill
under this tree.
1098
01:03:31,768 --> 01:03:33,603
[♪♪♪]
1099
01:03:46,115 --> 01:03:48,951
[HELICOPTER WINGS WHIRRING]
1100
01:03:52,747 --> 01:03:54,248
NARRATOR:
Throughout the war,
1101
01:03:54,457 --> 01:03:56,626
the Ho Chi Minh Trail
remained a top priority
1102
01:03:56,834 --> 01:03:59,754
in the United States' battle
against North Vietnam.
1103
01:03:59,962 --> 01:04:01,798
By 1969,
1104
01:04:02,006 --> 01:04:05,927
the U.S. had 540,000 troops
on the ground in Vietnam,
1105
01:04:06,135 --> 01:04:08,095
yet they remained
unable to halt
1106
01:04:08,304 --> 01:04:11,182
the flow of supplies
along the trail,
1107
01:04:11,390 --> 01:04:14,644
so the U.S. continued
its relentless carpet-bombing
1108
01:04:14,852 --> 01:04:17,396
and even began spraying
the jungle with Agent Orange,
1109
01:04:17,605 --> 01:04:19,190
stripping the leaves off trees
1110
01:04:19,398 --> 01:04:21,150
to better spot
the trail from the air.
1111
01:04:24,904 --> 01:04:26,364
while the war raged on,
1112
01:04:26,572 --> 01:04:30,368
both sides continued
to suffer heavy losses.
1113
01:04:30,576 --> 01:04:34,288
By 1972,
the death toll was staggering.
1114
01:04:34,497 --> 01:04:38,459
Approximately 58,000 Americans
were killed,
1115
01:04:38,668 --> 01:04:42,922
hundreds of thousands of
Laotians and Cambodians died,
1116
01:04:43,130 --> 01:04:46,676
while three million Vietnamese
perished.
1117
01:04:49,428 --> 01:04:51,639
Meanwhile,
in the United States,
1118
01:04:51,848 --> 01:04:55,351
anti-war protests began
to erupt across the nation.
1119
01:04:55,560 --> 01:04:57,728
Responding to
an ever-increasing death toll,
1120
01:04:57,937 --> 01:04:59,981
many Americans
grew disillusioned
1121
01:05:00,189 --> 01:05:03,150
with their nation's
heavy involvement in the war.
1122
01:05:06,028 --> 01:05:07,864
[BEEPING]
1123
01:05:12,952 --> 01:05:14,787
[♪♪♪]
1124
01:05:19,166 --> 01:05:22,920
RUSCH:
Huyen and I are
very different people.
1125
01:05:23,129 --> 01:05:27,341
She is very talkative,
very curious,
1126
01:05:27,550 --> 01:05:30,553
and I tend to be
more of a private person.
1127
01:05:30,761 --> 01:05:33,431
It's probably good
because she actually gets me
1128
01:05:33,639 --> 01:05:35,474
to verbalize
some of the things
1129
01:05:35,683 --> 01:05:37,310
that are spinning around
in my head.
1130
01:05:37,518 --> 01:05:39,020
NGUYEN [IN ENGLISH]:
Many people,
1131
01:05:39,228 --> 01:05:44,859
many children, American,
Vietnamese, and Laos died here.
1132
01:05:45,067 --> 01:05:50,364
When I think about it,
and I feel unhappy,
1133
01:05:50,573 --> 01:05:56,787
and very lucky now
we can have a peace life.
1134
01:05:58,831 --> 01:06:01,584
RUSCH:
Ever since we got to this area,
1135
01:06:01,792 --> 01:06:06,839
I’m a little afraid
to see the place where he died.
1136
01:06:07,048 --> 01:06:08,841
I don't know
how I'll feel.
1137
01:06:09,050 --> 01:06:10,718
Yes.
1138
01:06:12,511 --> 01:06:14,555
RUSCH:
I knew the trip
would be unpredictable
1139
01:06:14,764 --> 01:06:17,183
and I would learn things,
1140
01:06:17,391 --> 01:06:20,061
like you said,
that I didn't expect, but...
1141
01:06:22,438 --> 01:06:25,399
I think I'm learning more
about myself than I expected.
1142
01:06:28,903 --> 01:06:34,033
Maybe the missing part
of myself is here.
1143
01:06:44,627 --> 01:06:47,880
MAN [AS STEPHEN]:
"Dear Judy, Sharon and Becky,
1144
01:06:49,840 --> 01:06:52,176
"I'm not looking forward
to this next year.
1145
01:06:52,385 --> 01:06:54,720
"I love the flying
and the airplane,
1146
01:06:54,929 --> 01:06:56,514
"but I don't like the job.
1147
01:06:58,182 --> 01:06:59,684
"Regardless of
any opinions I have
1148
01:06:59,892 --> 01:07:02,603
"about this war or any other,
1149
01:07:02,812 --> 01:07:04,397
"it is hard to think
about the killing
1150
01:07:04,605 --> 01:07:06,607
"that I will be doing.
1151
01:07:06,816 --> 01:07:09,402
"I try to rationalize and say
that it has to be done,
1152
01:07:09,610 --> 01:07:13,948
"but I can't see
any reason why.
1153
01:07:14,156 --> 01:07:16,325
"If anything
should happen to me,
1154
01:07:16,534 --> 01:07:19,370
"please don't let me die
to Sharon and Becky.
1155
01:07:19,578 --> 01:07:21,956
"That is very important to me.
1156
01:07:23,416 --> 01:07:25,501
"I'll close now.
1157
01:07:25,710 --> 01:07:27,712
"I've been rambling enough.
1158
01:07:29,213 --> 01:07:32,842
Be good. Steve."
1159
01:07:46,689 --> 01:07:48,315
RUSCH:
The original schedule
as planned
1160
01:07:48,524 --> 01:07:49,984
was to visit the crash site
1161
01:07:50,192 --> 01:07:53,112
on the anniversary
of my father's death.
1162
01:07:53,320 --> 01:07:56,782
we had a huge ride
in front of us.
1163
01:07:56,991 --> 01:07:58,826
We were late,
the clock is ticking,
1164
01:07:58,993 --> 01:08:02,413
but we pushed on
and we finally got to Ta Oy,
1165
01:08:02,621 --> 01:08:05,124
a small village really close
to the crash site.
1166
01:08:09,545 --> 01:08:11,881
DUVALL:
Yeah, for locating
the actual crash site,
1167
01:08:12,089 --> 01:08:13,591
we had historical documents
1168
01:08:13,799 --> 01:08:16,177
from the Joint Pacific
Accounting Command,
1169
01:08:16,385 --> 01:08:18,179
who'd actually
excavated the site
1170
01:08:18,387 --> 01:08:19,764
and had GPS coordinates.
1171
01:08:19,972 --> 01:08:21,599
we could match them up
with modern-day maps,
1172
01:08:21,807 --> 01:08:23,601
go in and actually find
the crash site,
1173
01:08:23,809 --> 01:08:26,145
with the help
of the local villagers,
1174
01:08:26,353 --> 01:08:28,773
who had actually been there
at the time.
1175
01:08:28,981 --> 01:08:31,859
If you go to the crash site
or go to Ta Oy,
1176
01:08:32,068 --> 01:08:35,321
we have to get permission
from Liban, the village chief.
1177
01:08:35,529 --> 01:08:37,281
The village chief.
1178
01:08:37,490 --> 01:08:40,076
RUSCH:
It's his land
where the plane went down,
1179
01:08:40,284 --> 01:08:42,870
and so we have
to follow that protocol.
1180
01:08:43,079 --> 01:08:45,081
It's just
the way that it works.
1181
01:08:45,289 --> 01:08:47,666
It's not like
faxing over a document
1182
01:08:47,875 --> 01:08:49,210
and signing it
and you're done.
1183
01:08:49,418 --> 01:08:51,045
It's like, you sit
on the floor with them,
1184
01:08:51,253 --> 01:08:53,672
and you drink
some mystery alcohol,
1185
01:08:53,881 --> 01:08:57,718
and it's-- You kind of be
in their environment.
1186
01:08:57,927 --> 01:09:00,012
RUSCH:
Logistics and difficulties
1187
01:09:00,221 --> 01:09:02,598
in finding
and contacting the chief
1188
01:09:02,807 --> 01:09:05,643
meant that we didn't get
to the crash site that day.
1189
01:09:08,521 --> 01:09:10,272
I was frustrated.
1190
01:09:10,481 --> 01:09:12,775
we were so close
to the crash site,
1191
01:09:12,983 --> 01:09:15,236
but now it was clear that
1192
01:09:15,444 --> 01:09:17,905
we were not gonna be there
on the anniversary.
1193
01:09:19,198 --> 01:09:21,075
[♪♪♪]
1194
01:09:30,543 --> 01:09:32,294
RAKESTRAW:
My name is Don RAKESTRAW.
1195
01:09:32,503 --> 01:09:33,963
I was in the other aircraft
1196
01:09:34,171 --> 01:09:36,924
on the morning
of March 7th, 1972,
1197
01:09:37,133 --> 01:09:40,636
in which I saw
Stephen's aircraft get hit.
1198
01:09:40,845 --> 01:09:45,641
This is my statement
as to what exactly happened.
1199
01:09:45,850 --> 01:09:48,144
"On the 7th of March, 1972
1200
01:09:48,352 --> 01:09:51,564
"Gunfighter 60 and 61
departed Da Nang Air Base
1201
01:09:51,772 --> 01:09:54,358
"to search for trucks
moving early in the morning
1202
01:09:54,567 --> 01:09:58,404
"on the route structures
in southern Laos.
1203
01:09:58,612 --> 01:10:00,114
"We sighted two trucks
1204
01:10:00,322 --> 01:10:02,950
"and called them out
to Stephen's aircraft,
1205
01:10:03,159 --> 01:10:06,036
"which also
had the trucks in sight.
1206
01:10:06,245 --> 01:10:08,914
"He called he was rolling in
on the target.
1207
01:10:09,123 --> 01:10:12,793
"A few seconds later, we notice
muzzle flashes on the ground
1208
01:10:13,002 --> 01:10:16,672
"and tracers from a triple A
gun, going what appeared
1209
01:10:16,881 --> 01:10:19,175
"to be right across
Stephen's flight path.
1210
01:10:21,177 --> 01:10:24,555
"I then saw a bomb explode,
and right after that
1211
01:10:24,763 --> 01:10:29,059
"I saw Stephen's aircraft
hitting the ground.
1212
01:10:29,268 --> 01:10:30,603
"In my estimation,
1213
01:10:30,811 --> 01:10:33,439
"Stephen's aircraft
was hit by ground fire
1214
01:10:33,647 --> 01:10:35,316
"which disabled the crew,
1215
01:10:35,524 --> 01:10:38,235
and they went in
with the aircraft."
1216
01:10:54,460 --> 01:10:57,463
RUSCH:
For one of the first times,
we actually halted.
1217
01:10:57,671 --> 01:11:02,092
And for me, it was a time
to organize my thoughts.
1218
01:11:04,970 --> 01:11:07,348
This country just moves
at a different pace,
1219
01:11:07,556 --> 01:11:09,141
different than America,
you know.
1220
01:11:09,350 --> 01:11:12,394
I was just
letting that happen.
1221
01:11:12,603 --> 01:11:14,313
Don was pouring over
his maps
1222
01:11:14,521 --> 01:11:17,316
and cross-checking
the GPS coordinates
1223
01:11:17,524 --> 01:11:18,984
with the military documents.
1224
01:11:19,193 --> 01:11:21,070
There's two different
points marked.
1225
01:11:21,278 --> 01:11:22,988
One of the actual GPS
coordinates
1226
01:11:23,197 --> 01:11:25,366
that they quoted
is right here,
1227
01:11:25,574 --> 01:11:27,785
and apparently
the other excavation site
1228
01:11:27,993 --> 01:11:31,163
would be down here.
They're separated by 500 meters.
1229
01:11:31,372 --> 01:11:33,207
It's a large area
and, well,
1230
01:11:33,415 --> 01:11:35,834
don't get
your expectations too high.
1231
01:11:37,586 --> 01:11:40,256
RUSCH:
PAHN came back with the news
1232
01:11:40,464 --> 01:11:44,009
that finally the village chief
was able to meet with us.
1233
01:11:44,218 --> 01:11:45,970
[♪♪♪]
1234
01:11:51,600 --> 01:11:54,270
[PAHN SPEAKS IN LAO]
1235
01:11:54,478 --> 01:11:56,105
[RUSCH SPEAKS IN LAO]
1236
01:12:00,818 --> 01:12:02,444
[IN ENGLISH]
This,
1237
01:12:02,653 --> 01:12:04,488
the head of the village.
1238
01:12:04,697 --> 01:12:05,739
Mr. Airh.
1239
01:12:05,948 --> 01:12:08,409
[PAHN SPEAKING IN LAO]
1240
01:12:10,911 --> 01:12:12,955
[AIRH SPEAKING IN LAO]
1241
01:12:22,798 --> 01:12:25,592
PAHN [IN ENGLISH]:
So this is his culture.
1242
01:12:25,801 --> 01:12:29,805
If guest come to visit,
have to have Lao whiskey.
1243
01:12:30,014 --> 01:12:33,058
First for the spirit
of the house.
1244
01:12:33,267 --> 01:12:35,853
RUSCH [IN ENGLISH]: Yeah?
PAHN: For take care our team.
1245
01:12:41,442 --> 01:12:43,235
How it taste?
1246
01:12:43,444 --> 01:12:44,820
[CHUCKLES]
Strong.
1247
01:12:45,029 --> 01:12:46,905
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
1248
01:12:47,114 --> 01:12:49,742
PAHN:
He heard from
the elder of the village.
1249
01:12:49,950 --> 01:12:53,662
Talked to him about...
1250
01:12:53,871 --> 01:12:58,167
plane crash in 1972.
1251
01:12:58,375 --> 01:13:04,757
In 2003, he go to join the team
to looking for the plane crash.
1252
01:13:04,965 --> 01:13:06,342
He was on the team
that went?
1253
01:13:06,550 --> 01:13:09,303
Yeah, he also join the team
for looking for...
1254
01:13:09,511 --> 01:13:11,138
Wow.
1255
01:13:11,347 --> 01:13:15,893
AIRH [IN LAO]:
When they excavated,
I joined them.
1256
01:13:16,101 --> 01:13:17,895
I worked as a laborer.
1257
01:13:18,103 --> 01:13:21,815
When we found something hard,
the Americans would come get it.
1258
01:13:22,024 --> 01:13:24,401
Then they told us whether
it was the bomb or plane debris.
1259
01:13:24,610 --> 01:13:27,946
It's incredible to meet somebody
who helped find my dad.
1260
01:13:28,155 --> 01:13:32,534
It was really important
for me and my family, so...
1261
01:13:32,743 --> 01:13:33,994
[SPEAKS IN LAO]
1262
01:13:37,206 --> 01:13:39,750
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
Mr. Airh told us what happened.
1263
01:13:39,958 --> 01:13:42,252
They screened to search
for the remains
1264
01:13:42,461 --> 01:13:45,589
such as bones, teeth,
or things like nails.
1265
01:13:45,798 --> 01:13:47,549
They found
and screened two teeth,
1266
01:13:47,758 --> 01:13:50,135
and they brought them
back to the U.S.
1267
01:13:50,344 --> 01:13:54,306
Luckily,
they were Rebecca's father's.
1268
01:13:54,515 --> 01:13:56,600
There was another pilot,
but he wasn't lucky.
1269
01:13:56,809 --> 01:13:58,102
He flew with Rebecca's father,
1270
01:13:58,310 --> 01:14:00,229
but his remains
were never found.
1271
01:14:00,437 --> 01:14:05,776
[IN LAO]
They shot the plane
from far away and followed.
1272
01:14:05,984 --> 01:14:08,529
[CONTINUES IN LAO]
1273
01:14:08,737 --> 01:14:12,533
[TRANSLATING]
After the plane dropped,
two Vietnamese soldiers,
1274
01:14:12,741 --> 01:14:15,953
one head of the village
at that time,
1275
01:14:16,161 --> 01:14:22,292
his father go to check
and see the dead person,
1276
01:14:22,501 --> 01:14:26,797
and they put
under the tree.
1277
01:14:27,005 --> 01:14:30,509
He'll show you
at the crash site.
1278
01:14:32,678 --> 01:14:35,305
[IN ENGLISH]
His father buried my father?
1279
01:14:35,514 --> 01:14:37,266
Yeah, his father.
1280
01:14:38,892 --> 01:14:40,144
Mmm.
1281
01:14:40,352 --> 01:14:41,478
[SNIFFLES]
1282
01:14:44,273 --> 01:14:47,401
[SPEAKING IN LAO]
It's okay, it's okay.
1283
01:14:47,609 --> 01:14:48,861
[CONTINUES SPEAKING
IN LAO]
1284
01:14:49,069 --> 01:14:50,195
Mmm.
1285
01:14:51,780 --> 01:14:54,867
And the tree is still there,
the exact tree?
1286
01:14:55,075 --> 01:14:57,369
It's still the same.
1287
01:14:57,578 --> 01:15:00,164
Still--
Still over there.
1288
01:15:00,372 --> 01:15:03,292
He will show you the tree.
1289
01:15:03,500 --> 01:15:05,335
Okay.
Yeah.
1290
01:15:11,258 --> 01:15:12,926
[♪♪♪]
1291
01:15:14,803 --> 01:15:17,055
RUSCH:
How I found him
and found this village,
1292
01:15:17,264 --> 01:15:19,766
there's no other explanation
than it was meant to be.
1293
01:15:19,975 --> 01:15:22,811
There's no other way
to explain it.
1294
01:15:23,020 --> 01:15:25,856
So, I mean, I sat there
in shock, and it's like,
1295
01:15:26,064 --> 01:15:28,066
"Okay, I’m ready.
Now we really have to go.
1296
01:15:28,275 --> 01:15:29,693
We have to go to this site."
1297
01:15:29,902 --> 01:15:33,447
[IN VIETNAMESE]
How blissful and
ecstatic she was.
1298
01:15:33,655 --> 01:15:35,407
[CONTINUES SPEAKING
IN VIETNAMESE]
1299
01:15:38,869 --> 01:15:43,081
A daughter who lost her father
since the age of three,
1300
01:15:43,290 --> 01:15:45,959
and in all those years
until she is 46,
1301
01:15:46,168 --> 01:15:49,171
she has always been longing
to return to her father
1302
01:15:49,379 --> 01:15:50,422
and reconnect with him.
1303
01:15:57,679 --> 01:15:59,515
[♪♪♪]
1304
01:16:15,948 --> 01:16:18,659
[CHATTERING IN LAO]
1305
01:16:20,661 --> 01:16:23,372
[IN ENGLISH]
He says... The tree
over there, you see?
1306
01:16:24,957 --> 01:16:26,625
RUSCH:
He pointed around the corner,
1307
01:16:26,833 --> 01:16:28,335
and you know,
at the top of the tree,
1308
01:16:28,544 --> 01:16:30,879
and kind of gestured that
1309
01:16:31,088 --> 01:16:33,298
that was the tree
that he was talking about.
1310
01:16:35,425 --> 01:16:38,512
How far we've come to be here.
1311
01:16:38,720 --> 01:16:42,099
And how many years
I've waited for this.
1312
01:16:42,307 --> 01:16:45,561
And now, this moment
was staring right at me.
1313
01:17:00,659 --> 01:17:05,914
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
It was a very strange tree,
very old.
1314
01:17:06,123 --> 01:17:10,586
I could sense
Rebecca's intense emotion.
1315
01:17:10,794 --> 01:17:12,963
And I thought she looked
at that tree
1316
01:17:13,171 --> 01:17:14,464
as if she was waiting for
1317
01:17:14,673 --> 01:17:16,883
her father
to emerge from the tree.
1318
01:17:23,682 --> 01:17:25,726
RUSCH:
"This journey
down the Ho Chi Minh Trail
1319
01:17:25,934 --> 01:17:27,811
"has brought me here
to meet you
1320
01:17:28,020 --> 01:17:30,397
"and stand in the place
where you died,
1321
01:17:30,606 --> 01:17:33,525
"where you died
for me and your country.
1322
01:17:33,734 --> 01:17:35,694
"You've spoken to me
through your songs,
1323
01:17:35,902 --> 01:17:39,072
"your letters and the way
you lived your life.
1324
01:17:39,281 --> 01:17:40,949
"You've given me
the gift of life,
1325
01:17:41,158 --> 01:17:42,743
"and the tools to live mine
1326
01:17:42,951 --> 01:17:47,748
"with compassion,
joy and curiosity.
1327
01:17:47,956 --> 01:17:49,833
"I know now that this,
1328
01:17:50,042 --> 01:17:52,669
"this is not an ending,
but a beginning,
1329
01:17:52,878 --> 01:17:55,255
"the beginning
of our relationship.
1330
01:17:56,632 --> 01:17:58,467
"I miss you, Dad...
1331
01:18:01,011 --> 01:18:03,180
"but now I know
you'll always be with me.
1332
01:18:03,388 --> 01:18:04,973
Love, Rebecca."
1333
01:18:12,314 --> 01:18:13,523
[SNIFFLES]
1334
01:18:13,732 --> 01:18:15,859
RUSCH:
I felt relieved.
1335
01:18:16,068 --> 01:18:17,319
I felt...
1336
01:18:20,656 --> 01:18:23,241
I felt close to him
for the first time in my life.
1337
01:18:26,203 --> 01:18:29,039
I felt like
he was really there.
1338
01:18:33,460 --> 01:18:36,588
And so I read him...
1339
01:18:36,797 --> 01:18:40,133
I read him my letter,
and spoke to him,
1340
01:18:40,342 --> 01:18:44,096
and uttered the words "Dad"
for the first time in my life.
1341
01:18:46,556 --> 01:18:48,558
[SNIFFLES]
1342
01:18:48,767 --> 01:18:52,562
And it felt good to say,
felt good to say, "Hi, Dad."
1343
01:18:55,732 --> 01:18:56,566
[SNIFFLES]
1344
01:19:11,623 --> 01:19:13,375
RUSCH:
So I left my letter in there,
1345
01:19:13,583 --> 01:19:17,337
and I left his MIA bracelet
that my mom had given me,
1346
01:19:17,546 --> 01:19:21,425
because he's not missing
for me anymore.
1347
01:19:21,633 --> 01:19:23,760
I finally found him.
1348
01:19:31,143 --> 01:19:33,478
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
I didn't see a strong athlete,
1349
01:19:33,687 --> 01:19:38,483
but a daughter
coming back to her father.
1350
01:19:38,692 --> 01:19:40,819
Just like she was saying,
"Dad, are you seeing me?
1351
01:19:41,027 --> 01:19:42,112
It's me."
1352
01:19:42,320 --> 01:19:45,115
Come on in, you guys.
1353
01:19:45,323 --> 01:19:47,492
AIRH [IN LAO]:
When I took Rebecca
to her father,
1354
01:19:47,701 --> 01:19:49,661
where the plane crashed,
1355
01:19:49,828 --> 01:19:56,376
I guess from her expressions,
she felt both sad and happy.
1356
01:20:03,383 --> 01:20:06,178
And then he showed
Rebecca the slide path
1357
01:20:06,386 --> 01:20:08,305
that the plane had taken
as it tumbled down the hill
1358
01:20:08,513 --> 01:20:10,974
to its eventual
resting spot.
1359
01:20:13,059 --> 01:20:14,936
RUSCH:
Oh, yeah, I see.
1360
01:20:16,563 --> 01:20:17,898
There's a huge trench,
1361
01:20:18,106 --> 01:20:20,484
goes as far as I can see,
1362
01:20:20,692 --> 01:20:22,819
just dug down
where the plane slid.
1363
01:20:23,028 --> 01:20:24,821
Yeah.
1364
01:20:25,030 --> 01:20:26,948
Oh, it goes a long way.
1365
01:20:27,157 --> 01:20:29,951
That made it real,
and even more magical,
1366
01:20:30,160 --> 01:20:32,412
because, you know that...
1367
01:20:32,621 --> 01:20:34,623
You know, that's the place.
1368
01:20:39,920 --> 01:20:42,380
No way.
1369
01:20:42,589 --> 01:20:43,924
And look
what he just found,
1370
01:20:44,132 --> 01:20:45,717
he just found
a couple of things...
1371
01:20:45,926 --> 01:20:47,302
Just...
1372
01:20:47,511 --> 01:20:50,972
What?
Yeah, he just picked them up.
1373
01:20:51,181 --> 01:20:53,600
I bet all up and down here
there's stuff.
1374
01:20:53,809 --> 01:20:55,977
MARTIN:
The impact site was
up the hill a ways,
1375
01:20:56,186 --> 01:20:59,189
and the plane had slid down
toward the tree,
1376
01:20:59,397 --> 01:21:01,983
and it had left
a pretty good scar
1377
01:21:02,192 --> 01:21:03,777
on the land
that was still there.
1378
01:21:03,985 --> 01:21:05,862
Wow.
1379
01:21:06,071 --> 01:21:08,198
Yeah, heh.
1380
01:21:08,406 --> 01:21:10,951
[CHUCKLES,
MUTTERS INDISTINCTLY]
1381
01:21:11,159 --> 01:21:12,619
Yeah.
1382
01:21:29,928 --> 01:21:36,101
AIRH [IN LAO]:
My feelings towards
the event that I met Rebecca,
1383
01:21:36,309 --> 01:21:38,144
I felt sorry for her.
1384
01:21:38,353 --> 01:21:41,481
I would go out
and find my father too,
1385
01:21:41,690 --> 01:21:44,734
if it was my father.
1386
01:21:44,943 --> 01:21:47,612
She came here
because she is a good daughter.
1387
01:21:51,408 --> 01:21:52,742
[RUSCH GASPS]
1388
01:21:56,746 --> 01:22:02,627
Laos or other nationality,
we are all human.
1389
01:22:02,836 --> 01:22:05,380
We have feelings.
1390
01:22:05,589 --> 01:22:07,424
I'm so happy
that we could help her.
1391
01:22:07,632 --> 01:22:09,676
I’m glad we came here.
1392
01:22:13,221 --> 01:22:15,056
MARTIN:
Absolutely.
1393
01:22:15,265 --> 01:22:17,183
As long as I am alive,
1394
01:22:17,392 --> 01:22:20,979
I will tell my children
not to cut down that tree.
1395
01:22:21,187 --> 01:22:22,814
I’m gonna
go back to the tree.
1396
01:22:23,023 --> 01:22:24,107
Okay.
1397
01:22:26,610 --> 01:22:29,112
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
Since Rebecca started
1398
01:22:29,321 --> 01:22:34,868
the journey back
to where her father died,
1399
01:22:35,076 --> 01:22:36,620
she was very persistent
1400
01:22:36,828 --> 01:22:41,249
and eager
to get there immediately.
1401
01:22:41,458 --> 01:22:43,835
Day after day, she became
more and more impatient.
1402
01:22:44,044 --> 01:22:45,587
She yearned for it.
1403
01:22:47,297 --> 01:22:50,091
And I believe
it was the biggest hope,
1404
01:22:50,300 --> 01:22:53,929
the cause for which
she did this trip.
1405
01:22:54,137 --> 01:22:56,389
It was to find the love
1406
01:22:56,598 --> 01:22:59,309
that she had not been granted
since her childhood.
1407
01:22:59,517 --> 01:23:02,270
[♪♪♪]
1408
01:23:10,528 --> 01:23:12,489
RUSCH:
Visiting him
and visiting the site,
1409
01:23:12,697 --> 01:23:15,492
it doesn't feel like
mourning of a death.
1410
01:23:15,700 --> 01:23:20,080
It feels like kind of a rebirth
of him, in a way.
1411
01:23:20,288 --> 01:23:21,957
I'm finding out
who this man was
1412
01:23:22,165 --> 01:23:25,669
that I never asked
the questions about
1413
01:23:25,877 --> 01:23:27,671
when I was younger.
1414
01:23:27,879 --> 01:23:30,882
But now that
that floodgate is open,
1415
01:23:31,091 --> 01:23:33,301
all that information,
all those songs,
1416
01:23:33,510 --> 01:23:35,887
those are things that,
as soon as I get home,
1417
01:23:36,096 --> 01:23:39,307
I'm gonna be digging into
with a hunger.
1418
01:23:42,060 --> 01:23:43,895
[♪♪♪]
1419
01:25:15,487 --> 01:25:17,322
[BEEPING]
1420
01:25:19,741 --> 01:25:23,244
Yay!
We have a welcoming party!
1421
01:25:23,453 --> 01:25:25,288
[PEOPLE CHATTERING
INDISTINCTLY]
1422
01:25:25,497 --> 01:25:28,500
So much has happened
in just a couple weeks here,
1423
01:25:28,708 --> 01:25:30,335
and now the mood
1424
01:25:30,543 --> 01:25:32,879
and the motivation
has certainly shifted.
1425
01:25:33,088 --> 01:25:34,547
And Ho Chi Minh City
1426
01:25:34,756 --> 01:25:36,341
is within
striking distance, really.
1427
01:25:36,549 --> 01:25:39,094
Even though my body
is starting to break down,
1428
01:25:39,302 --> 01:25:43,473
and I'm feeling the effects
of the trail, but we're close.
1429
01:25:43,681 --> 01:25:46,309
This seems so long ago
right here, heh.
1430
01:25:46,518 --> 01:25:48,186
Now we're down here,
1431
01:25:48,394 --> 01:25:50,105
and we're already looking
at the finish line.
1432
01:25:50,313 --> 01:25:51,564
[HORN HONKS]
1433
01:25:54,484 --> 01:25:57,529
RUSCH:
For the rest of the ride
through Cambodia and Vietnam,
1434
01:25:57,737 --> 01:25:58,905
it was like a blur.
1435
01:26:01,032 --> 01:26:05,787
A weight had been lifted,
and I felt free and happy.
1436
01:26:05,995 --> 01:26:08,331
I didn't expect
to feel that way.
1437
01:26:10,208 --> 01:26:12,710
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
After she saw bomb craters,
1438
01:26:12,919 --> 01:26:16,089
the local people's
hard and poor lives
1439
01:26:16,297 --> 01:26:19,384
along the Ho Chi Minh Trail,
1440
01:26:19,592 --> 01:26:26,266
I realized that she became
more and more open-hearted.
1441
01:26:26,474 --> 01:26:29,060
It felt to me that
she had changed significantly.
1442
01:26:30,436 --> 01:26:31,563
RUSCH:
All along the trail,
1443
01:26:31,771 --> 01:26:33,690
we talked about the war
1444
01:26:33,898 --> 01:26:35,358
and there wasn't ever
a discussion
1445
01:26:35,567 --> 01:26:39,821
of blame
or a political agenda
1446
01:26:40,029 --> 01:26:41,156
or anything.
1447
01:26:41,364 --> 01:26:42,824
we both shared
the same sentiment
1448
01:26:43,032 --> 01:26:44,576
that it was unfortunate
1449
01:26:44,784 --> 01:26:47,787
that so many people died
for something
1450
01:26:47,996 --> 01:26:49,622
that not everybody
understood,
1451
01:26:49,831 --> 01:26:52,500
and I still don't
totally understand.
1452
01:26:52,709 --> 01:26:56,504
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
After a very long journey
on Ho Chi Minh Trail,
1453
01:26:56,713 --> 01:26:59,883
seeing the harshness of the war
with my two eyes,
1454
01:27:00,091 --> 01:27:03,178
my opinion about war
became clearer.
1455
01:27:03,386 --> 01:27:06,639
I understand the biggest pain
of humanity is war.
1456
01:27:08,224 --> 01:27:10,185
RUSCH:
Ultimately, I go back again
1457
01:27:10,393 --> 01:27:12,061
to the letters
that my dad wrote
1458
01:27:12,270 --> 01:27:15,607
about war, explaining
how difficult it was
1459
01:27:15,815 --> 01:27:17,275
to drop bombs on people,
1460
01:27:17,483 --> 01:27:21,112
and how he didn't necessarily
understand why.
1461
01:27:30,330 --> 01:27:32,165
[♪♪♪]
1462
01:27:47,263 --> 01:27:50,141
RUSCH:
After riding every single day
for nearly a month
1463
01:27:50,350 --> 01:27:52,227
and covering
more than 1200 miles,
1464
01:27:52,435 --> 01:27:54,812
we were so relieved
to reach the finish.
1465
01:27:55,021 --> 01:27:56,731
[HORN HONKS]
1466
01:27:56,940 --> 01:28:00,443
You could really tell that
Huyen was excited to be home.
1467
01:28:00,652 --> 01:28:02,946
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
I felt cheerful and happy.
1468
01:28:03,154 --> 01:28:06,658
Through the last day
of the journey,
1469
01:28:06,866 --> 01:28:10,161
I could never have imagined
that I could be so strong.
1470
01:28:20,380 --> 01:28:22,131
RUSCH:
We rolled into the city center,
1471
01:28:22,340 --> 01:28:24,634
and there was a small patch
of green grass,
1472
01:28:24,842 --> 01:28:27,720
amongst all the cement
and the tall buildings,
1473
01:28:27,929 --> 01:28:31,140
and it was the grounds
of the Independence Palace.
1474
01:28:31,349 --> 01:28:33,268
This is the place where
1475
01:28:33,476 --> 01:28:37,397
two years after
the U.S. pulled out of Vietnam,
1476
01:28:37,605 --> 01:28:39,440
the North overtook the South,
1477
01:28:39,649 --> 01:28:42,485
ending the war
and joining the country
1478
01:28:42,694 --> 01:28:45,321
under one communist government.
1479
01:28:45,530 --> 01:28:49,701
[♪♪♪]
1480
01:28:49,909 --> 01:28:52,245
The whole crew
was there to greet us--
1481
01:28:52,453 --> 01:28:54,038
Greg, Jason, Don,
1482
01:28:54,247 --> 01:28:57,208
Huyen's family
and even my sister, Sharon.
1483
01:29:00,128 --> 01:29:01,379
Ah!
1484
01:29:01,587 --> 01:29:03,548
RUSCH:
Huyen's kids ran up to her.
1485
01:29:03,756 --> 01:29:06,134
They really couldn't
contain their excitement.
1486
01:29:06,342 --> 01:29:07,927
They haven't seen
their mom in weeks.
1487
01:29:13,975 --> 01:29:17,520
This trip opened my eyes
to really hold on tighter
1488
01:29:17,729 --> 01:29:20,523
to the people
that are still here with me,
1489
01:29:20,732 --> 01:29:24,277
before it's too late,
before they're gone too.
1490
01:29:24,485 --> 01:29:27,822
RUSCH:
I’m so glad you're here,
heh, heh.
1491
01:29:29,824 --> 01:29:31,617
I’m so glad you're here.
1492
01:29:34,412 --> 01:29:35,496
MARTIN:
Good job.
1493
01:29:35,705 --> 01:29:37,790
We did it, thank you.
1494
01:29:37,999 --> 01:29:39,709
MARTIN:
The physical objective
was to ride
1495
01:29:39,917 --> 01:29:41,586
the whole thing,
and she did that.
1496
01:29:41,794 --> 01:29:43,921
I think, emotionally,
it's probably been
1497
01:29:44,130 --> 01:29:47,216
more rewarding
than she had hoped for.
1498
01:29:47,425 --> 01:29:51,220
NGUYEN [IN VIETNAMESE]:
I think I'm lucky to see
such a woman in my life.
1499
01:29:51,429 --> 01:29:54,557
Not knowing
when we would meet again,
1500
01:29:54,766 --> 01:29:58,102
I feel so sad, that I had
to say goodbye to a sister,
1501
01:29:58,311 --> 01:29:59,645
a friend
who had shared difficulties
1502
01:29:59,854 --> 01:30:00,938
side by side with me.
1503
01:30:01,147 --> 01:30:03,316
Mr. Don,
thank you for everything.
1504
01:30:03,524 --> 01:30:05,777
Oh, what a great trip.
1505
01:30:05,985 --> 01:30:08,863
On my motorcycle, I can't say
I've ever done what they did.
1506
01:30:09,072 --> 01:30:10,573
Tremendous experience for me.
1507
01:30:10,782 --> 01:30:15,286
Probably one of the best things
I’ve ever done in my life.
1508
01:30:15,495 --> 01:30:19,957
[IN VIETNAMESE]:
I realized the war was over
and the war is still there.
1509
01:30:21,167 --> 01:30:25,671
when Rebecca found her father,
1510
01:30:25,880 --> 01:30:29,509
it was a source
of enormous happiness to her.
1511
01:30:29,717 --> 01:30:31,928
It was the feeling, I think.
1512
01:30:32,136 --> 01:30:35,640
That is
the healing pains of war.
1513
01:30:35,848 --> 01:30:37,517
Thanks for taking care
of my sister.
1514
01:30:39,560 --> 01:30:42,021
We need to heal
those wartime pains.
1515
01:30:42,230 --> 01:30:45,358
You did
such a good job.
1516
01:30:45,566 --> 01:30:48,945
And thank you for teaching me
how to slow down a little bit.
1517
01:30:54,534 --> 01:30:56,953
They call the Ho Chi Minh Trail
the Blood Road
1518
01:30:57,161 --> 01:30:59,539
because so many people
lost their lives here.
1519
01:31:00,832 --> 01:31:02,417
And while it's impossible
1520
01:31:02,625 --> 01:31:04,043
to completely erase the scars
1521
01:31:04,252 --> 01:31:06,170
left from the war,
1522
01:31:06,379 --> 01:31:09,924
we can honor the memory
of those who died here
1523
01:31:10,133 --> 01:31:12,385
by learning
from their sacrifice
1524
01:31:12,593 --> 01:31:14,554
and choosing to forgive.
1525
01:31:21,352 --> 01:31:23,479
If we can't learn to forgive,
1526
01:31:23,688 --> 01:31:26,732
we'll just end up
making the same mistakes.
1527
01:31:29,360 --> 01:31:33,197
[♪♪♪]
1528
01:31:37,076 --> 01:31:38,703
Over the past century,
1529
01:31:38,911 --> 01:31:42,832
our two nations have known
cooperation and then conflict,
1530
01:31:43,040 --> 01:31:47,336
painful separation,
and a long reconciliation.
1531
01:31:47,545 --> 01:31:50,756
If you consider
where we have been,
1532
01:31:50,965 --> 01:31:53,217
and where we are now,
the transformation
1533
01:31:53,426 --> 01:31:55,219
in the relations between
our two countries
1534
01:31:55,428 --> 01:31:56,637
is remarkable.
1535
01:31:59,140 --> 01:32:02,185
[♪♪♪]
1536
01:32:56,030 --> 01:32:58,115
STEPHEN:
This is another one
you can sing along to.
1537
01:32:58,324 --> 01:32:59,909
Everyone we sang for
1538
01:33:00,117 --> 01:33:02,703
has seemed to like it
a little bit at least. Ahem.
1539
01:33:02,912 --> 01:33:06,415
[STEPHEN PERFORMING
"I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER
(WHERE I'M BOUND)"]
1540
01:33:12,046 --> 01:33:13,756
Here's the chorus.
1541
01:33:13,965 --> 01:33:16,592
♪ Can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound♪
1542
01:33:16,801 --> 01:33:18,553
♪ where I'm bound♪
1543
01:33:18,761 --> 01:33:20,930
♪ Can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound♪
1544
01:33:21,138 --> 01:33:22,765
Try it.
1545
01:33:22,974 --> 01:33:25,226
♪ Can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound♪
1546
01:33:25,434 --> 01:33:27,061
♪ where I'm bound♪
1547
01:33:27,270 --> 01:33:30,606
♪ Can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound♪
1548
01:33:30,815 --> 01:33:33,109
♪ It's a long and dusty road♪
1549
01:33:33,317 --> 01:33:35,486
♪ And a hot and heavy load♪
1550
01:33:35,695 --> 01:33:39,198
♪ The folks I meet
Ain't always kind♪
1551
01:33:39,407 --> 01:33:41,367
♪ Some are bad
Some are good♪
1552
01:33:41,576 --> 01:33:43,911
♪ Some have done
The best they could♪
1553
01:33:44,120 --> 01:33:47,873
♪ Some have tried
To ease my troubling mind♪
1554
01:33:48,082 --> 01:33:50,126
♪ And I can't help
But wonder♪
1555
01:33:50,334 --> 01:33:52,753
♪ Where I'm bound
Where I'm bound♪
1556
01:33:52,962 --> 01:33:55,381
♪ Can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound♪
1557
01:34:05,808 --> 01:34:07,893
♪ well I've been
All around this land♪
1558
01:34:08,102 --> 01:34:10,229
♪ Just doing the best I can♪
1559
01:34:10,438 --> 01:34:13,816
♪ Trying to find out
What I was meant to do♪
1560
01:34:14,025 --> 01:34:15,943
♪ And the faces that I see♪
1561
01:34:16,152 --> 01:34:18,112
♪ They're as worried
As can be♪
1562
01:34:18,321 --> 01:34:21,991
♪ And it looks like
They're wondering too♪
1563
01:34:22,199 --> 01:34:24,327
♪ And I can't help
But wonder♪
1564
01:34:24,535 --> 01:34:27,371
♪ Where I'm bound
Where I'm bound♪
1565
01:34:27,580 --> 01:34:29,999
♪ Can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound♪
1566
01:34:41,552 --> 01:34:43,429
♪ So now I had
A buddy from home♪
1567
01:34:43,638 --> 01:34:45,348
♪ Till he started out
To roam♪
1568
01:34:45,556 --> 01:34:49,393
♪ Last I heard he was out
By the Frisco Bay♪
1569
01:34:49,602 --> 01:34:51,854
♪ And sometimes
When I've had a few♪
1570
01:34:52,063 --> 01:34:54,023
♪ His old voice
Comes singin' through♪
1571
01:34:54,231 --> 01:34:57,777
♪ And I'm going out to see him
Some old day♪
1572
01:34:57,985 --> 01:35:00,112
♪ And I can't help
But wonder♪
1573
01:35:00,321 --> 01:35:02,948
♪ Where I'm bound
Where I'm bound♪
1574
01:35:03,157 --> 01:35:05,701
♪ Can't help but wonder
where I'm bound♪
1575
01:35:14,710 --> 01:35:16,754
♪ So if you see me
Passing by♪
1576
01:35:16,962 --> 01:35:19,423
♪ And you sit
And you wonder why♪
1577
01:35:19,632 --> 01:35:22,968
♪ You wish that
You were a rambler too♪
1578
01:35:23,177 --> 01:35:25,096
♪ Nail your shoes
To the kitchen floor♪
1579
01:35:25,304 --> 01:35:27,181
♪ Lace them up
And bar the door♪
1580
01:35:27,348 --> 01:35:31,811
♪ Thank your stars for the roof
That's over you♪
1581
01:35:32,019 --> 01:35:33,646
♪ And I can't help
But wonder♪
1582
01:35:33,854 --> 01:35:36,482
♪ Where I'm bound
Where I'm bound♪
1583
01:35:36,691 --> 01:35:38,943
♪ Can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound♪
1584
01:35:39,151 --> 01:35:40,486
Once again.
1585
01:35:40,695 --> 01:35:42,196
♪ And I can't help
But wonder♪
1586
01:35:42,405 --> 01:35:44,782
♪ Where I'm bound
Where I'm bound♪
1587
01:35:44,990 --> 01:35:47,743
♪ Can't help but wonder
Where I'm bound♪
1588
01:35:49,745 --> 01:35:51,038
STEPHEN:
Thank you.
1589
01:35:51,247 --> 01:35:53,749
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
Thank you.