An old American soldier looking for Vietnamese at Detroit

'I am Japanese. ... but why?'
I was surprised, and replied immediately.

'Oh. Are you?'
The gentleman said.
'Excuse me, but you didn't look like them.'

He turned his face and took a look at other Japanese in the restaurant. Many of them were still waiting for the waitless to come with expression of discontent. Some of them were complaining with loud voices.
While, the only one waitless in the restaurant walked slowly like deliverately.

Yes. I didn't want to be like them. So, it was a good thing form me that he thought I shouldn't be Japanese.
'But why Vietnamese? During my stay here America, some people asked me if I am Chinese or Korean, but no one asked me if I were Vitenamese befor.'

The gentleman said. 'I want to find Vietnam people.'

He was retired soldier. Once upon a time he went to Vietnam war.
His team had a big trouble. He was injured, and was lost in a jungle with no foods.
Local Vietnam people have found him at a jungle. They treated his wounds, gave him foods.
He could recover and could go back to America.

'I still regret that I could not say "Thank you" to the Vietnam people who helped me at that time.'
That's why he was looking for Vietnamese. He just wanted to say "Thank you".

After years, I sometimes recall him, and think if he is still looking for Vietnamese people to say thank you.