The pictures below were sent by Phuong Minh T. Nguyen.
Click on them to enlarge.
GROUP 155 SUBIC
BAY SOS
POEM WRITTEN BY PHUONG MINH T. NGUYEN
It was a scorching summer
of 1990
My family became Vietnamese refugees
Six people had to leave Vietnam by boat
156 people with hope in a hot summer day
And in a chilly summer night
My family became Vietnamese refugees
Six people had to leave Vietnam by boat
156 people with hope in a hot summer day
And in a chilly summer night
Seven excruciating days in the open sea
There was no land in sight
The food and water supplies were all gone
Then suddenly the engine broke.
And the children were crying
On the seventh day in the middle of nowhere
As we went closer, the dots got bigger and clearer
Oh we realized they were in fact big ships
The ships belonged to the heroic Americans
Coming for us... to rescue us, 155 people
We were supposed to be 156
people
But one fell into the ocean and drowned
We were taken to a big
ship that had helicopters
On board we were served delicious food
Everyone of us had clean drinking water
Some were on i-v treatments due to dehydration
On board we were served delicious food
Everyone of us had clean drinking water
Some were on i-v treatments due to dehydration
Refugee camps were all closed in 1989
And my boat was found in 1990
The USS Peleliu LHA-5 captain had to call the United States
To see if we should go to Guam
But since the Philippines still accepted refugees
All of us 155 refugees were granted asylum in PFAC Palawan
Yes, we were happy and so lucky to be alive
Never forgetting the American government ship
The heroes that gave us a second chance
The never dying memories that we have to keep
We were victims of the Vietnam Civil War
We searched for freedom and we took a risk
What a terrible war that led to senseless deaths
What a terrible war that led to senseless deaths
The Civil War in Vietnam is over
We've been given an opportunity to start over
Let's
heal ourselves and promote peace to make the world better
And
the boat stories we should forever remember
Group
155 Subic Bay could be the clue to the future
I
hope we learn my brothers and sisters
PHUONG MINH T. NGUYEN WROTE:
ReplyDeletePhilippines is an amazing country that helped refugees for 26 years. We want to thank the teachers who taught us English and the Vietnamese volunteer teachers who taught us science, math, chemistry, etc...in our native language. We understand the history of Vietnamese. How the Viet nation was born more than 4000 years ago. Generations after generations facing the pain of wars. We hope and always pray for world peace. When people live in countries like the United States of America, Australia, Germany, France, England, and Canada and become successful citizens who have good jobs, they work very hard and send money and medicines to their relatives in Vietnam. We thank the UNHCR who always strives to help refugees. Without the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, we would go nowhere. Thank you to the world for helping all refugees in Asia. You are always our heroes.
Phuong Minh T. Nguyen
Westminster, California
Rick Barret writes:
ReplyDeleteA profile in courage and hope. God bless you and your fellow refugees. America is lucky and grateful to have such wonderful and brave people living here.
Rick Barret
La Mirada, California