Saigon Shuffle: Vietnam War Stories

Life had become a game of chance. Personal destiny was arbitrarily based on ‘the luck of the draw’. Where was your number in the draft lottery? If chosen, where would you go or what would your job assignment be? Life or death was riding on your placement in fate’s randomly shuffled deck…

The US government controlled the Saigon Shuffle. Thousands of young men were forced to line up, count off and Hurry Up And Wait while newly minted soldiers were dealt assignments. Their lives were randomly cast about like numbered pasteboards distributed to eye shaded players in a smoke filled room. Since government had unquenchable needs, the deck was refreshed on a monthly basis. Some unlucky players were dealt into loosing hands. They cashed out way too early. Other times providence smiled on participants. Ultimately, survival was just a case of being lucky…

Select Images from Dominic's Vietnam photographic portfolio contributions include:
Richard M. Nixon Memorial Library Yorba Linda, CA www.nixonfoundation.org
First Division Museum at Cantigny Wheaton, IL www.rrmtf.org/firstdivision/
National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum

(Includes Chicago's 1986 Welcome Home Veterans Parade)
Chicago, IL www.nvvam.org
Library of Congress' Veterans' History Project Washington DC www.loc.gov/vets