In the book Going After Cacciato, what is the story of Li Van Hgoc?

Paul Berlin creates Van as the civilized and decent representation of the Viet Cong. Van speaks perfect English and turns out to be a victim of the war just as is Paul Berlin. Van is an excellent host, an educated man who represents a formidable enemy. Paul Berlin asks Van all the questions he has been saving up about the land, the people, the customs. Van does not answer directly because he cannot. The Lieutenant and Doc speak to Van as equals until he tells them they are prisoners. They then resort to calling him a gook, destroying his tidy cave and basically revert back to treating him like an animal again.