Catamount (LSD 17) - Naval Cruise Book

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South Vietnam In November, the Catamount made her first visit to South Vietnam. We spent an afternoon in Da ' Nang, then steamed to Saigon, where we stayed for four days. South Vietnam became a country in 1954, after the war ended in Indo-China. Her Constitution was signed on 5 July 1954. F= Vietnamese sampan near Da ' Nang. The Saigon River bank — swamp. Quiet intersection in Da ' Nang. Vietnamese gir!. 17

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7 r -»• ■ Downtown, near the US Embassy. Refugee housing, Kov I thought you had a ricksha. ' Mary Soo ' s girls at work. 16

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Statue of the Trung Sisters, Saigon. Saigon ' s only Pagoda, Xa Loi. South Vietnam Congress During the four days in Saigon, we saw many tanks, jeeps, and advisors. Most shops and buses hod wire mesh OS protection from grenades. The French influence is unmistakable, from the wide streets to the bikini-filled pool of the Cercle Sportif. Since South Vietnam is a coun- try with a dancing ban, it was frustrating to listen to music without gyrating to the beat. Most agree that the South Vietnam girl is one of the most beautiful that we met. Old meets New.