PORTLAND, Ore. - The Oregon National Guard concluded a State Partnership Program workshop this week in Portland, Ore., with its new state partner, Vietnam.
The Vietnam delegation visited several locations throughout Oregon to include a trip to the Oregon Capitol in Salem, where they met with Gov. John Kitzhaber and several state legislators.
Lt. Gen. Tran Quang Khue, deputy chief of general staff for the Vietnam People's Army, led a delegation of 14, who included experts in law, marine shipping, military science, finance planning and investment, and international relations.
Senior Col. Nguyen Xuan Kien, vice director of military medical department of the Vietnam People's Army, was also a part of the delegation.
The workshop also included experts in several fields including academics, economics, port and maritime security, search and rescue, and humanitarian aid.
"There are three of us here who in 1969 were on opposite sides of very serious circumstances," said Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees, adjutant general, Oregon, referring to himself, Dr. Blair Craig, program manager for joint directorate of military support, and Lt. Gen. Khue.
Earlier in the day, Craig showed Rees and Khue a map of the region in Vietnam where the two generals had been on opposing sides during the Vietnam War in 1969 — Rees as a 24-year old troop commander, and Khue as a young combat engineer. They both recalled battles in the same areas on the map.
"We see a better way ahead, where people can share understanding and common goals in a peaceful and cooperative way, and perhaps all the sacrifice will have been for good in the long term for both countries," said Rees, "We have come a long way in 44 years."
The partnership between the Oregon National Guard and Vietnam was made official in November 2012. Oregon currently has both Vietnam and Bangladesh as its state partners.
The State Partnership program complements broader U.S. engagement with Vietnam in pursuit of shared priorities such as disaster relief, education, health, trade and the environment.
The program directly supports the broad national interests and security cooperation goals of the United States by engaging partner nations via military, socio-political, and economic conduits at the local, state, and national levels.