Laurens Wildeboer will return to Vietnam next month to return poetry to the mother of Phan Van Ban, a Viet Cong Soldier. Photo: Simon Schluter

On 18 March 2012, the Age published an article by Tom Hyland called, Poem to go home in spirit of peace.

The article tells the story of Vietnam Veteran, Laurens Wildebour, who found a poem during the Vietnam War which had been written by a Viet Cong soldier titled Letter in Spring. It was addressed to “my love who is at home”.

”I just looked at it”, says Laurens, and “immediately felt the humanity behind it. It just added to my perspective, looking at the great pen work and the beautiful writing.”

The Vietnamese soldier, Phan Van Ban, died during the War in March 1969. Laurens returned to Australia and for the next four decades kept Ban’s handwritten poetry, another book with details of his life and a scarf which he took from the battlefield where Ban was killed.

Next month, ANZAC month, Laurens will return to Vietnam for the first time. He will return Ban’s personal items to his mother in Hanoi.

When asked him why he was returning to Vietnam, Laurens said, “”It’s very difficult for me to say. It’s just something I have to do, to try to find maybe some peace, if you like, because I haven’t had much peace.”

Laurens’ wife Roni wants him to make the trip, but concedes, ”I’m worried for him. But I’m hoping he’s going to have a huge epiphany. I’m hoping he’s going to get there and go, ‘Oh, it’s beautiful’. I’m hoping it’s going to give him some peace.”

To read the full article, “Poem to go home in spirit of peace”, click here.

The full article details Laurens’ time over in Vietnam, how Ban, the author of the poem, was identified and his family tracked down.

Letter in Spring, by Phan Van Ban, January 1968.

The Poem – Letter in Spring, by Phan Van Ban, January 1968

I have been away from you for so long.
Spring has come and gone for some times.
To my love who is at home.
Joy must be all around you now.
I am writing to you at the dawn of New Year.
Back at home you are trembling with cold.
Coldness is also what surrounds me now.
Don’t cry but think of me always.
Remember our silent gaze on the day we parted.
You said goodbye with your sad tears.
Yet now I have seen springs come and go.
I miss you so.
I miss our fatherland rising against enemies.
American ships got shot and burnt.
The invaders are buried in black mud.
And here I am standing at the front line.
New Year comes with the battle clarion.
We march all night to celebrate New Year.
Amid apricot scent to replace peach blossom.
The camouflage is trembling on my body.
With Each step on our way to victory.

The Vietnam Swans’ 2012 ANZAC Friendship Match

The Vietnam Swans will host our 3^rd Annual ANZAC Friendship Match on 21 April in Vung Tau. The match is designed to respect the fallen on all sides during times of war, celebrate modern day, vibrant 2012 Vietnam – and to welcome all returning veterans.