Thus far in the podcast we are introduced to Mai Elliot, a middle aged woman who currently resides in Los Angeles. We also told of a second second person, another man who who was drafted into the Vietnam war. Their fates were intertwined through unusual circumstances. Their entire goal was to know the enemy’s way of thinking.
The podcast host also mentions that Vietnamese war was not fight over territory like usual wars. When America entered the war, very little was known about Vietnam. Enter the mysterious aforementioned man, Leon Grey, a Russian born man and linguist. He suggests finding out how the bombings are affecting the Vietnamese people. He puts in place a plan to capture Vietnamese guerrillas and involves Mai Elliot in his scheme.
Although Mai had a troubled past with the communists, she still set out to interview them. The interviews were gentle, and not intended to be intimidating. They would spend the greatest amount of time with willing interviewees, the interviews were often conducted under trees and the reporters would often share cigarettes with them. It was dubbed, “The Morale Project”.
“Wars require public justification.” the podcast host states. Leon Grey was key in placing the public’s favor towards the war. Enter Conrad Kellen, he came to Iran in 1964, he was a veteran. He encounters a random woman one day and she demands he transports her father’s artwork. At he first he refuses, then he eventually says yes. Turns out the art he was transporting was Marc Shagall’s.
Mai Elliot recalls a memorable interview she had with a communist, tall and intimidating overall, she was nervous. He too was, however as the interview went on, they both began to feel more at ease. She was taken aback by his demeanor. She had considered all communists to be thugs. Mai’s fear of the communists was however, far from alleviated.
Leon Grey was born in Russia, then had to flee to Germany, to France, and lastly, to America. He considers himself a professional refugee. In an interview, Conrad Kellen discusses Grey and says he considers all refugees opportunists, Kellen himself is also one. Kellen says it is his belief that they become opportunists out of necessity.
“One war was enough for me”, Kellin stated in his interview with Mai Elliot. Intelligence failures occur to human flaws and inability to make sense of things. Grey was recalled from Vietnam, his project and himself were discredited. Grey went on to become a professor in Florida. Mai eventually moved to America, and feels the war was wrong. Kellen also felt the war was wrong, and passed away in 2007. Although their work was honorable, it was mentally damaging and left them with mixed feelings.
Kaylee Holman 