Assignment Vietnam

With apologies to baseball great, Mr. Yogi Bera, this book could have been titled "Deja Vu All Over Again" or as well "Coming Full Circle". This is compelling reading; where a young man experienced war in Vietnam, entered the foreign service and spent part of his career on the POW/MIA issue, becoming such an expert on Asia and US diplomacy with regard to Asia, that the Dept. of State chose the author for extraordinary missions to Thailand, Vietnam, and finally...China. This is the story of his and his family's hardships, and more important, their successes in reestablishing diplomatic negotiations with Vietnam, a country with whom relations with the US were severed after the war. It is a remarkable story, and one that is on-going. The relationship is growing daily, especially with Vietnam becoming a major manufacturer of goods, many of which, like China, end up here in the USA. Vietnam is making great strides in many areas, for example in Biotech, leather goods and so other areas. Bravo, capitalism!!

This book will furnish keen insight and understanding of the Vietnamese culture and mentality. Much can be understood by reading the accounts of negotiations between the two countries over facilitation, transportation privileges, and diplomatic accreditation.

Whether you are a student of world history, military affairs, eons-old Asian culture, or just someone who wants to relish this interesting , well-written and photo-rich book; this is a helluva good read.

The tale is told in a highly personal way, with solid descriptions of the frustrations and joys of the US diplomatic service.The author misses no opportunity to introduce some levity as it happened in his career. His wife, like all wives and spouses of persons in service to their country, gets to tell her story..also fascinating. Mr. Runckel gives much credit to other persons in and out of the US government including US expat businessmen as well as Vietnamese government officials and private citizens who are part of his "coming full circle".

It is not at all surprising that tourist bureaus in both countries are doing a booming business in arranging tours for many GIs who are returning to visit the battlefields where they instantly lost their youth, and sadly, their best buddies. This kind of ending is not unique as we find some of our best international fiends in Germany and Japan, our former enemies. Why should Vietnam be any different?

The author avoids politicizing this tome and says very little about the difference in political systems. And in saying nothing, this candid account says volumes about the ways of life as they are.

My heroes are those who have given every bit of their energy to the service of their country, family, and fellow-human beings. After reading this fabulous book, you will have no wonder about who the heroes in this saga were/are.

Recommended without reservation.

This is an important work that should be read by anyone interested in the realities of what it took on the ground to re-open full US Diplomatic Relations with Vietnam. Written in the first person, it delivers a view through the eyes of Chris and Soraya that would not otherwise be available to students of history or those interested in a career in the US State Department. As a career Foreign Service officer, assigned the important task of opening our Liaison Office, Chris had a unique vantage point from which to observe the ebb and flow of relations on both sides during this time of change and uncertainty. The narrative provides the reader with a down-to-earth and unbiased account of the events both big and small that unfolded during his assignment.

At the end, the narrative reveals a perhaps unavoidable, but unfortunate reality that as relations become formalized and the size of US Business and Diplomatic Presence grows we inevitably lose the intimacy and thus connection with the people so necessary to enable an informed foreign policy relevant to the current times -- a note of caution to our foreign policy practitioners. I highly recommend this important work for all those interested in foreign relations and the work of the our diplomats abroad.

Mr. Runckel provides a nicely balanced, behind the scene account of re-establishing diplomatic relations with Vietnam. He blends historical events with his and his family’s personal experiences and insights gained while living and working with the Vietnamese people. The result is a rich account of the human side and cultural aspects of building relationships so critical to success. The personal accounts of Soraya, Mr. Runckel’s wife, adds a “non-official” richness and flavor to the story. She demonstrates the dedication and sacrifices that families of diplomats and business people make to support their spouses working overseas.

The book is an excellent source of information for anyone engaged in or interested in developing meaningful business relationships with Vietnam. It shows that to build business relationships, or any other meaningful relationship building for that matter, understanding the cultural underpinnings is crucial. Assignment Vietnam is an enjoyable read, full of interesting anecdotes, human interest stories and facts. I highly recommend it.