CAP ST JAQUES
At the mouth of the Mekong Delta, on the coast of the South China Sea, is a place that the French called Cap St Jaques, the Vietnamese name is Ving Tau, it was a popular holiday resort for the French. In order that we had a place to spend some free time, or as the Americans would call it R & R (Rest & Recreation), a house was procured in Cap St Jaques for our use as a holiday centre. Groups of about ten would go down-river to spend a week relaxing in the sun. I was in the first party to go and as the road was closed because of guerilla activity we went by riverboat. Small launches were used to ferry people up and down the River Mekong piloted by a local boatman. We got under way but had not gone far when the engine sputtered and died. Try as we may it was of no use, that engine had given up the ghost. The problem then was how to proceed. Out of the blue came our rescuer, a French destroyer heading for the open sea. I never thought I would be hitching a lift on a destroyer but they stopped and took us aboard. Our Adjutant who was with us could fortunately speak French so we were able to continue our journey and they dropped us at Cap St Jaques.
The beach at Cap St Jaques was my idea of a tropical island. A long stretch of white sand fringed with palm trees and the waters of the South China Sea crashing on the shore. A perfect playground which I am sure the French made good use of during their period of occupation. My friends, the David brothers had a house at Cap St Jaques, and when I told them I was to spend a week there they asked if I would find out what condition the house was in. So I made some enquiries to find the house had been used by the Japanese during the war and was in quite good condition.
Our first night at the Cape was memorable. Our Commanding Officer invited the group out to dinner and arrangements were made for us to go to a small Vietnamese restaurant down at the beach. The scene was like something out of a Hollywood film. The dining- room, if one could call it that, was a typical bamboo "basha", just like the bamboo huts we used as living quarters. A low wall of bamboo about 3 feet high surrounded the area with tall bamboo poles at each corner holding up a roof made from leaves of bamboo.
The Adjutant had ordered the meal and when we were all seated the owner of the restaurant brought in the first dish. What the affect was on the rest of the party I don't know by I was amazed. There on a huge platter was the biggest lobster in the world, it was massive. When it was placed on the table it looked as though it had just come out of the sea. It was complete with all its antennae. It was a shame to break up that beautiful beast of the sea.
The meal was a great success and the final dish put the finishing touch to it. In came the Chef with another platter, this time it had a Crêpe Suzette on it ,which was placed on the table, brandy poured over it and woosh!, Crêpe Suzette flambé. One could say "A good time was had by all".
With hindsight I must say that I feel guilty at the thought that whilst I was enjoying this magnificent meal and the whole of that week at the coast, the people of Vietnam were fighting for their very existence. I hope that when I got home and played my part in the campaign for Peace in Vietnam I was able to alleviate in some small way the pain and suffering that was inflicted on those beautiful people. That I was a part of that infliction will haunt me for the rest of my life.