I'm touched by this message below and still digesting it. Thank you, Bill Burris.
Hello Colonel Dalat,
Lan Dalat
My name is Bill Burris. You don't know me, and I don't know you, but we have met. I came across your name when I was reviewing the biography of Captain Dan Pederson, and learned that you were on the boat that the USS Ranger rescued back in 1981, you were probably a young teenager at the time. That was a long time ago, and for all these years, I always wondered what happened to the refugees once they got to the United States. A few days ago, I decided to research the rescue. You are the only one I found (via Capt Pederson's biography).
You see, I was on the Police Force for the USS Ranger when the rescue occurred (we were called Master at Arms back then). I was a very young sailor in my first tour. I met every one of you, all 138 of you. It was an honor and pleasure to spend the evening watch with your people for those three days we were together. It was an extreme pleasure meeting such wonderful people who, with such passion, wanted nothing more than the chance at freedom. No language barrier would break that mutual understanding. I am extremely pleased to see the results of that rescue, now that I have seen positive outcome in hearing your story. Most of the sailors on the carrier did not get to see or even meet the refugees (it was the job of the Master at Arms to keep your area secured and cleared from non-police personnel). And at any given time, there were usually about 3 to 5 of us who were on watch. It does not seem like 34 years, but is sure has been.
As an appreciation to your contributions and service, I would like send you something. It's not much, but I am one of the few people who have photographs of the rescue. They are old and scanned, they include the rescue itself, some pictures of some of the refugees on the ship, and the departure to the buses in the Philippines. They bring back memories of a very special day in both of our lives. There are only a few, but I would like to forward them to you, by email or as a link, which ever you would like. If you would like me to send these photos to you, please let me know, via this facebook personal message, and it would be an exceptional privilege for me to do so. And if you know of any others from that day, please feel free to share these photos with them, or I can forward the photos to them directly if you would like.
Congratulations on your successful Army career, and I hope your future continues to shine brightly for you and your family.
Sincerely,
Bill Burris,
U. S. Navy Retired,
Lemoore, California.
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