A trip to remember: US congressman visits Vietnam in ode to late father

Phillips’ goal of visiting Vietnam was to reconnect with memories of his father, who died when he was just six months old.

The trip was coordinated by Le Cong Tien, deputy head of the Americas Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dean Phillips (R) shakes hands with Le Cong Tien, deputy head of the Americas Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after landing the Pleiku Airport in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips (R) shakes hands with Le Cong Tien, deputy head of the Americas Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after landing at Pleiku Airport in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

So far, Phillips and his team have spent time cycling and exploring Vietnam’s northern provinces where they have had a chance to experience the extreme warmth, friendliness, and hospitality of the local people.

Following his time in the north, Phillips visited Pleiku City in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai to learn more about his father, a U.S. Marine named Atur Pfefer, who died on the city’s Ham Rong Mountain on July 25, 1969.

Though Phillips never had the opportunity to meet his father, his grandmother often showed him photos and shared stories about his father.

Atur Pfefer (C), the father of Dean Phillips, in a file photo. Dean Phillips developed the photo and brought it to Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Atur Pfefer (C), the father of Dean Phillips, in a file photo. Phillips developed the photo and brought it to Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

“At the time, I knew that I would never meet him. My mission now is to learn about my father and the country where he died,” Phillips said while standing on Ham Rong Mountain near the site where his father’s helicopter crashed.

“I want to know his journey and missions at the time. I want to come to the place where he died, feel the smell of soil, and experience the stories so that I never forget them.”

With tears in his eyes, Phillips shared that he was only six months old when his father died and, though he never had the chance to meet him, he was able build a connection through recovered audio recordings.

“I still remember the first time I heard my dad’s voice on the recordings. That was the most memorable moment of my life,” Phillips said.

“In the recordings [sent to my mom] before he died, he shared his experience in Vietnam. He also said that he had taken photos with his friends in Pleiku, Vietnam.

“Listening to my dad’s voice was like a miracle prodding me to visit [Vietnam].”

Gratitude to Vietnam

With the help of two Vietnamese-born friends, agencies in Vietnam, and Gia Lai authorities, Phillips’ team was able to visit Ham Rong Mountain to retrace the steps of his father.

Upon reaching the mountain, Phillips met Pyek Rocham, a 61-year-old who lives in the area, and was able to show him the site of his father’s accident.

Though Rocham did not witness the crash of Phillips’ father, he was well aware of the incident and even visited the crash site several days later.

Dean Phillips (L) meets Pyek Rocham, who visited the site where Phillip’s father’s helicopter crashed in 1969. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips (L) meets Pyek Rocham, who visited the site where Phillips’ father’s helicopter crashed in 1969. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips holds a watch which belonged to his father. His father died with seven other U.S. soldiers after their UH-1H helicopter crashed into Ham Rong Mountain at 8:40 am on July 25, 1969. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips holds a watch which belonged to his father, who died with seven other U.S. soldiers after their UH-1H helicopter crashed into Ham Rong Mountain at 8:40 am on July 25, 1969. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Pyek Rocham shows Dean Phillips the site of the accident. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Pyek Rocham shows Dean Phillips the site of the accident. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

The day was spent with Rocham guiding Phillips and his team to the crash site, where the U.S. congressman buried photos of himself, his family, mother, and older brother.

“Family photos and a badge which carries the meaning of unity are buried here with my dad. My family and I will always be beside him now,” Phillips explained as he choked back tears.

In attendance at the short, mountainside ceremony was Hollywood star Woody Harrelson, who became acquainted with the congressman eight years ago and agreed to accompany him on the trip.

“I am extremely moved to join his trip to learn about his father’s memories,” Harrelson said.

Dean Phillips arrives at the site where his father’s helicopter crashed in 1969. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips arrives at the site where his father’s helicopter crashed in 1969. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips holds a sunflower branch to commemorate his father. “I think the two countries will show the whole world the meaning of reconciliation, making friends, and protecting lives, not taking lives, the respect for different political systems, and the respect for each other.” Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips buries some photos of his family under a coffee tree on Ham Rong Mountain. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips buries some photos of his family under a coffee tree on Ham Rong Mountain. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips (R) and actor Woody Harrelson embrace each other. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips (R) and actor Woody Harrelson embrace each other. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Before leaving the mountain, Phillips took a handful of soil to bring back to his mother and said ‘thank you’ to his U.S. friends, his new Vietnamese friends, and journalists.

“This may be the most meaningful moment in my life. As you know, my father and his fellows who died in 1969, as well as other American and Vietnamese soldiers, had families, siblings, and sons or daughters like me,” Phillips said.

“We have the same feelings and suffer from pains caused by wars. We have to serve our countries and love our countries, but no one likes war.

“I can see and feel what he experienced, and I understand how this war must have been. I love peace and Vietnam, and so do you.

“You are well aware, no one more than you, that you fought for peace and freedom from generation to generation.

“My current job is to remind the U.S. people about the war in Vietnam.

“Everyone needs to live in freedom and independence.

“This is the first and most important thing I will tell my family and friends in the U.S. – that we must fight for freedom.”

Dean Phillips takes a handful of soil from where his father died to bring to the U.S.. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips takes a handful of soil from where his father died to bring to the U.S.. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips (R) and actor Woody Harrelson pose for a photo at the site where the former’s father died in 1969. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips (R) and actor Woody Harrelson pose for a photo at the site where the former’s father died in 1969. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips expresses his heartfelt gratitude to two Vietnamese friends who accompanied him on his trip to Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips expresses his heartfelt gratitude to two Vietnamese friends who accompanied him on his trip to Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips hugs Vietnamese fashion designer Thuy Nguyen, who enthusiastically supported him during his time in Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Dean Phillips hugs Vietnamese fashion designer Thuy Nguyen, who enthusiastically supported him during his time in Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

First impressions

Woody Harrelson told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that this visit to Vietnam was his first journey to the Southeast Asian country.

Arriving in Vietnam, he was enamored with the friendliness and hospitality of the local people, especially those who recognized him and greeted him with a ‘xin chao’ (hello).

“As Phillips said earlier, people in our country know Vietnam through wars from the past, but when I come here, I feel that your country is beautiful and warm,” Harrelson said.

“Locals are warm and friendly and always smile.

“On this trip, we played volleyball and participated in many other activities, especially on International Women’s Day [March 8].

“This is an important experience to me. I feel a connection with Vietnam and look forward to returning one day.”

Actor Woody Harrelson arrives in Vietnam for the first time. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Actor Woody Harrelson arrives in Vietnam for the first time. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Woody Harrelson, born in 1961, is known for his role in Hollywood blockbusters such as Natural Born Killers, Zombieland, The Hunger Games, Now You See Me, and True Detective.

He has won an Emmy and been nominated for three Oscars. He has also directed several Broadway shows and acted in many plays.

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Dean Phillips, a 54-year-old U.S. Representative from Minnesota, recently arrived in Vietnam as part of a personal mission to learn more about his father and the time he spent in the Southeast Asian country.