Remembrance of

the Fall of Saigon

April 30, 2023 - Westminster, CA - USA

An outstanding activity (April 30, 2023), meeting with the Vietnamese-American students and community at the Museum of the Republic of Vietnam in Orange County, CA. How lucky I was to be invited and asked to give a lecture during the BLACK APRIL (Fall of Saigon, April 30, 1975) event.

As I began my lecture, I could see their engagement and interest grow. Their reactions reflected their genuine desire to comprehend the hardships endured by the boat people and the profound impact of the Vietnam War. It was truly rewarding to witness their enthusiasm and willingness to expand their knowledge on such a crucial topic.

Mr. Christopher Le,

the executed soldier's son (left),

Mr. Tony Bui,

City of Westminster

Commissioner (middle),

and me (right)

A hero, musician, and well-known singer

Dr. Huỳnh Văn Chỉnh, a Vietnamese Marine Corps physician from the former Republic of Vietnam, was giving remarks during the event. He bravely served at the intense Quang Tri battle in Vietnam during the "Red Fiery Summer" of 1972. His heroic efforts and sacrifices will forever be remembered and honored.

Predict the future

One day, he left his family, went into hiding, and then headed to a coastal province to plot a grand escape plan, not only for him but also for his loved ones to be free from the communist darkness. A year later, he came home and took 24 relatives, including his siblings, wife, and 3-year old son, to flee the totalitarian regime of Vietnam. For the next 10 days, they crossed the South China Sea high sea, surviving without adequate food and water, and eventually resettled in America. Over the next ten years, he worked through the U.S. immigration bureaucracy to bring the remaining 19 loved ones from Vietnam to the U.S.

black blue and yellow textile
black blue and yellow textile