Mama-san Han Pham

 

Mama-san Han Pham

 

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The day I arrived on Artillery Hill in Vietnam near Pleiku,
I was boldly approached by a Vietnamese lady in blue.
She said some things I could hardly understand then,
But I got that her name was Han Pham as she came in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mama-san Han Pham

 

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I had just moved in to my new hootch there on the hill,
She said she wanted to be my maid with her skill.
I asked her what she would do for me as my maid,
And how much she charged as arrangements we made.

I was in that hooch on the right with the end facing us across the street from the air section.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Han said she comes six days to the hill each week,
To polish my boots, and wash my clothes up so sweet.
And clean my hooch, make my bed, and wash my sheets,
And press my uniforms up so I would look so sleek.

Han rode to Artillery Hill six days a week with five other Mama-sans on a scooter like this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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She said I would have to provide her a few things,
Including boot polish and laundry soap for her fling,
Plus an electric iron and a wash tub that does not leak.
And she would charge me 10 dong (pisastre) a week.

Supplies I got Han initially.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This was less than 10 dollars a week so I said you’re hired,
But if you don’t show up here you will be quickly fired.
We shook hands and I got her stuff that she needed,
And our working relationship immediately proceeded.

This is a picture of Mama-san Han Pham in 1970 polishing my size 12 combat boot. You can the edge of her washing tub at the bottom of the picture. She was a very sweet lady.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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After a week she had done a very good job for me.
She asked if I could pay her in money from the military,
I said sure that’s no problem even if it was more cash.
As long as she continued good work as in the past.

One weeks pay for Han Pham in Vietnam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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After a couple of months we had become good friends,
And on days off I talked to her as she worked then.
She brought a small bag of rice each day she boiled,
With weeds she pulled beside the hooch as she toiled.

Han said the white rice with weeds she ate was quite tasty, but I couldn’t bring myself to try it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Then she would eat on the go until she got through,
Always squatting with butt low so effortlessly too.
She would lay a cloth on the concrete to press clothes,
And they looked good for Vietnam, I do suppose.

All the Mama-sans sat in that squatting position for hours as they worked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Occasionally when the water supply was out of line,
I used Hans tub and stored water to bathe just fine,
Her and her friends would peek at us sitting there raw,
And then giggle at us kind of giving us a little hee haw.

My face wasn’t quite that dirty, but you get the idea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sometimes Han wanted our post exchange things so cheap.
As items were much cheaper there than on the street.
So I often paid her in goods she used for family at home.
Rather than cash she could use in town on the roam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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When I left there I gave her a bonus as she took good care,
Of this young solider away from home over there.
Those ladies worked hard for the money they got.
Over there in that war zone that sometimes got hot.

I was indebted to Han Pham for keeping me looking and smelling good while I served my country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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By Bill

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks for reading Mama-san Han Pham,
Bill