Customer Reviews

Lighting Candles: Hospital Memories of Vietnam's Montagnards

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"Lighting Candles" captures well the flavor of a difficult yet rewarding time. One correction is in order: on page 106 it is noted that I was captured with Ed Baker by the NVA. Ed and George Christian, a superb doc who came later, were the ones captured. I had left by then.

John Taylor

Hilary Smith and the Montagnard Hospital in which she worked repaid a small part of the huge debt that we owe to our most loyal allies. Led by our Special Forces, the Montagnards contributed half of all gound combat intelligence (CMH Publication 90-23, Department of the Army.) The Montagnards saved thousands of American lives and returned many more thousands safely to their loved ones in the United States.

Whenever we visited her hospital, we were amazed by the intense energy of Pat Smith and her team, who dedicated a large part of their lives to the practice of medicine under extremely difficult conditions. We all felt a very deep affection for her despite the brusque "strictly business" manner enforced on her by the enormity of her humanitarian labors.

Her story of the village chief, and his quiet dignity despite his intense worries about the future of his people bring back many painful memories of the dignified and unselfish Montagnard leaders with whom my advisory team and I worked. They gave us so much. Without them my team and I might not have survived Vietnam.

The inspiring work of Hilary and Pat Smith helped to pay the enormous debt which we, as Americans, owe to our most loyal allies. She and Pat represent the very best of America. Hilary's book is a "must read" for those who seek an understanding of the human dynamics of our struggle in Vietnam, and its terrible cost.