Prawit reflects on his life as a soldier during Vietnam War
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan opened up on his Vietnam War experience in a rare walk down memory lane during an exclusive interview to Nation TV.
Prawit, a former commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, said he had never expected to be in the high position he holds now. In his younger days, Prawit said he thought he should take part in wars whenever possible so that he could get promoted.
Prawit recalled that he was stationed in Phu Phan district of Sakon Nakhon province for eight months after his graduation from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy.
The young Prawit decided to register himself for the Vietnam War. Before he took part in his first operation on a foreign battlefield, he underwent six months of training in Kanchanaburi province.
Prawit said that in Thailand, soldiers had mostly fought gun battles, but in Vietnam the soldiers were supported by aircraft. He said one of the key principles to avoid an offensive was to minimise visibility. He added that his experience in Vietnam had taught him real life lessons of war, and of how to live with each other.
He downplayed the hardships he had to face, saying they were unavoidable as he had chosen to be a soldier.