Action on the Kwai

The motion picture “The Bridge on the River Kwai” had more of a jungle setting than the real bridge.

I made the trip in an elongated canoe to reach a mango plantation owned by the family of a student our family sponsored at the University of Washington. His name was Khien, and he became a real member of our family. He was loved by everyone. Khien already had his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and...