Playboy, Robert Schwab III and 'Mai' -- what happened next?

[Connla Stokes]

Dear Old Hacks, 

I came across Robert Schwab III's name a few times over the years but this weekend, I actually got my hands on a hard copy of Playboy - June 1988 Issue with his feature 'Vietnam Love Story' (I skipped the Q&A with Chevy Chase but I might also read the David Foster Wallace story...). 

For those on here that don't know the tale, the story recounts Schwab's failed and wholly clandestine solo mission to return to Vietnam (sailing on a 17-foot long plywood boat, all the way from the Philippines) in 1985 to try and find Mai, who he had left behind, but promised he would come back for, in 1975. He basically figured the authorities in Vietnam would also be suckers for a good love story and, once he explained himself, they'd be okay with his audacious request to be reunited with Mai. They obviously just assumed he was a spy. After over a year of being held in captivity, he got out of VN, with diplomatic assistance, but he continued to try and find Mai...    

The Playboy feature ends with him revealing that he and 'Mai' were briefly reunited in a refugee camp (in an unnamed country), but he was 'just visiting' with the help of the US embassy...  

Do any of the Old Hacks know if Schwab ever saw 'Mai' again? Or anything else of the man in subsequent years / decades? 

Would love to hear more if anyone knows .... feel very free to email me directly if you prefer. 

Cheers,

Connla 

[Jack van Ommen]

Jack van Ommen reacted to your message:

---

From: vietnam-...@googlegroups.com <vietnam-...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Connla Stokes <connla...@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2023 9:33:04 AM
To: Vietnam Old Hacks <vietnam-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Playboy, Robert Schwab III and 'Mai' -- what happened next?

 

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Vietnam Old Hacks" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to vietnam-old-ha...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/vietnam-old-hacks/2153f538-cf93-4785-93b7-bc9ed5b8196an%40googlegroups.com.

[Denis Gray]

Hi Connla,

     I knew Robert quite well and we (AP) interviewed him once or twice.

     But the last I remember about him is that he went back to Atlanta after his Indochina days. I am almost sure he never married Mai.  He was a very nice guy but somewhat of  a lost soul and naive in many ways. Wherever he is, if he is still alive, I wish him well.

     cc'ing one of my AP colleagues, Grant Peck, who may know more. 

     All best, Denis 

 

    

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/vietnam-old-hacks/CO1PR10MB467301EDCA5463A5219F50DFB9D1A%40CO1PR10MB4673.namprd10.prod.outlook.com.