Letter: Story on Sean Flynn brought back memories

I found your story on Sean Flynn most interesting. It brought back memories.

I met Sean in Vietnam. Sean had a close friend, Dana Stone. They disappeared together in 1970.

I met Sean and Dana just before my first operation, Operation Cochise, south of DaNang in 1967. We were part of a group of journalists. Both men were known as being very brave, almost crazy brave. Sean was already in his hippie phase, long hair and all, but Stone had a more traditional look. DaNang was the jumping off city to the war's most dangerous region, I Corps.

We were together again in 1968. When I heard the men had taken motorcycles up Highway 1 from Saigon en route to Phnom Penh in 1970 I was concerned. It was not a trip I would have joined.

More:Memory Lane: Movie star's son had thirst for adventure

I went to Cambodia to work in 1971. By then, the trail seeking to find the men had gone cold. I made discreet inquiries with Cambodian authorities but nothing turned up. Ironically, almost a year to the day after their disappearance in 1970, I had the second or third worst day of my life (I keep a list), barely avoiding capture and death, when I was going down a nearby highway in Cambodia and almost fell into a Vietnamese trap on April 8, 1971.

I still frequent war zones (Ukraine in 2022) but no longer approach the sound of gunfire.

Some day I would like to return to Cambodia and resume the search for Flynn's and Stone's remains. I am one of the few left who still remembers that era. Palm Beach is a lot safer.

Andy MartinPalm Beach

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Letter: Story on Sean Flynn revived memories of wartime in Vietnam