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Request from a Magazine in Hanoi - Apollo 11

July 2019

    From:  Jim White

   Dated:  July 13, 2019

Subject:  Information on AFVN Coverage of Apollo 11 Moon Landing?

Dear Mr. Quang
I sent your request to the members of the AFVN Yahoo Group asking for their assistance.  Perhaps you have already heard from Rick Fredericksen who sent his blog (story) about the coverage of Apollo 11.  While, overall, our information about past AFVN broadcasts is limited, Rick's story is about as complete and accurate as you probably will be able to find.   A photo of the TV set used for the Apollo 11 news is at https://www.afvnvets.com/firchow-95.html .
Admittedly, I am somewhat surprised that "our enemy" of years ago is interested in AFVN today.  Maybe that only proves that soldiers on both sides listened or watched AFVN.
Respectfully,
Jim White

    From:  Quang Nguyen Tuan

   Dated:  July 17, 2019

Subject:  Information on AFVN Coverage of Apollo 11 Moon Landing?

I'm very sorry for a bad mistake in my previous email. The name of the former presenter in my last letter is Mr. Bob Young, whose account is also included in Mr. Fredericksen's article. I hope you will forgive me for this mistake.
Thank you sir,
Quang

    From:  Jim White

   Dated:  July 17, 2019

Subject:  Information on AFVN Coverage of Apollo 11 Moon Landing?

Quang,
No problem about the name mixup.  I do that all the time.
Glad that I could be of help.
Jim W

    From:  Quang Nguyen Tuan

   Dated:  July 17, 2019

Subject:  Information on AFVN Coverage of Apollo 11 Moon Landing?

Dear Mr. Jim White and Mr. Jerry Nelson,
My name is Tuan Quang Nguyen and I am a reporter for Tia Sang magazine, a reputed magazine covering science and technology, based in Hanoi, Vietnam.
First, I would like to express my gratitude for the hard works of you and other (sic.) ARVN (AFVN?) veterans on this site, which help record a very important part of history.
With the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing approaching, we are doing an article on the history of Apollo 11 mission coverage in Vietnam. I have come to learn that AFVN did broadcast this event through its channels in July 1969. Therefore, I would like to ask you if you could give us some information related to the coverage from your archive. This could be memoirs of AFVN staffs and members or pictures related to this event.
I promise our magazine will fully cited the sources and quotes from you without alteration if printed.
Thank you very much sirs,
Sincerely,
Nguen Tuan Quang
Tap chi Tia Sang/ Bao Khoa hoc Phat trien
70 Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi

Website: www.tiasang.com.vn; http://khoahocphattrien.vn


    From:  Jim White

   Dated:  July 13, 2019

Subject:  Information on AFVN Coverage of Apollo 11 Moon Landing?

Dear Mr. Quang
Thank you very much for your help to my inquiry. I have received contact from Mr. Fredericksen as well as Mr. Jim White, who was the AFVN presenter in Tuy Hoa at the time. Their accounts and photos are amazing and has greatly helped my article. I promise we will include theirs and your sources in my acknowledgements.
Though most people in the North did not have access to radio, not to mention television at the time, but nowadays I can tell that younger people would love to learn more about history of early media development in the country. That's why I think it could be a good opportunity to let people know more about AFVN and its works.
In my own opinion, I could say that I'm glad the war has long passed and both countries has again became good friends and partners. The event of the Moon Landing, once a more or less politicized issue, has returned to its supposed meaning - a celebration of human's achievement in space. There are much celebrations on Apollo 11's 50th anniversary in Vietnam nowadays as you could find, on the media as well as in multiple events (last June, former NASA administrator Charles Bolden visited Vietnam in a series of events on space exploration, with the participation of many students and scientists from both HCMC and Hanoi).
Thank you sir and wish you a nice day,
Sincerely,

Quang

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