A Vietnam War veteran identifies as Mohawk and carries the remnants of the conflict within him.
Rebooted Discussion
Everybody's got a yarn, they say. In line with the Danish concept of the "human library," we're sharing a series of portraits of "living books" - folks we borrow for a spell to hear their life story. Today, we're diving into the tale of Arthur Diabo, a Mohawk vet who fought in the Vietnam War.
At 18, Arthur Diabo swapped Brooklyn for Vietnam, joining the American Marines as an infantry soldier. But when he came back six months later, he had lost the use of his left arm.
"Growing up a Mohawk with a steelworker dad in Brooklyn was familiar territory," Arthur reminisces, "but factory life left me yearning for something else. When the opportunity to enlist in the U.S. Army popped up, I jumped at it. The idea of becoming a Marine had been a dream since forever."
Arthur Diabo seized his chance, signing up alongside his brother, both choosing to join the U.S. military. They underwent training, and Arthur earned an MOS code designating infantry duty.
"Infantry means battles on the ground, and while that's dangerous, I had a clear goal and was eager to serve," Arthur shares.
The Unsavory Reality of Battle
Life on the battlefield proved intense, as Arthur learned too well when a buddy stepped on a mine. "The raw horror of war hits you fast after experiencing your first death. Sadly, it was a friend who didn't live to see another day. He tripped on a mine that tore him apart. It left a lasting impact on me, but that's the chilling truth about war."
He continued fighting and saw action in May 1968, where shrapnel wounded his hand. June brought another, more severe injury - a bullet to the arm, fired by the enemy. Arthur plunged into a rice paddy and developed a severe infection, delaying his evacuation by the helicopter crews.
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My next stop was the Japanese hospital, where I spent a brief stint before being sent back to the good old States. Since then, I've regained only 30% of the strength in my battered arm.
Life Post-War
"Post-war life hadn't been easy, but life in Kahnawake seemed a welcomed change," Arthur says. He faced difficulties finding work in the steel industry and eventually found employment within the community's services.
Years passed, and Arthur's thoughts on the Vietnamese, his former enemies, started to evolve. "When I reflect on it now, I see parallels between my people and the Vietnamese, as both communities have fought battles for survival against foreign powers. The Oka Crisis of 1990 really brought that home to me."
Like many veterans, Arthur faces post-traumatic stress disorder, triggered by reminders of his experiences on the battlefield. But there's a silver lining - the American government has provided him with a veterans' pension, which has afforded him comfort.
Of his childhood Kahnawake, Arthur remembers the vibrancy of the community before the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway, which severed the community's connection to the river.
"I earned my stripes in the U.S. Army, but now I wouldn't consider putting on that starred flag again under current circumstances."
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- Arthur Diabo, a Mohawk veteran who fought in the Vietnam War and lost the use of his left arm during the conflict, found a connection with the Vietnamese people upon reflecting on their shared histories of fighting against foreign powers.
- Despite facing difficulties after the war, including post-traumatic stress disorder and trouble finding work, Arthur Diabo found a sense of peace returning to Kahnawake, his home community.
- In an unexpected twist of fate, French diplomacy played a role in Arthur Diabo's life when French politicians worked to diffuse the Oka Crisis in 1990, providing him with a new perspective on his former enemies.
- As a result of his service in the Vietnam War, Arthur Diabo now receives a veterans' pension from the American government, helping to provide him with a more comfortable life.
