Ameriasians - Story of Kien Nguyen and Trista Goldberg

2015 marked the 40th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, ending the Vietnam War. Many of the American soldiers who served in Vietnam left behind children they fathered. Some were abandoned in Vietnam, others were adopted here in the United States. What happened to these forgotten children? Correspondent Mike Gilliam provides an exclusive report and interviews Kien Nguyen, Author of “The Unwanted,” and Trista Goldberg, Founder of Operation Reunite, a non-profit organization that provides DNA tests to help reconnect birth parents to their Amerasian children.
Show: Asian American Life
Aired: November 2015

[@mahlina1220]

I was very moved when I read Kien's book. His stories still influence me even well over 10 years after reading it. Amazing book, and I'm also glad he wrote about the inhumane mistreatment and killings of the African Amerasian kids in Viet Nam. Kien highlights the nuances of class and inequality, racism, and taboo topics most people will not like to discuss, in a narrative so vivid and intense.

[@traciwallerstein8808]

Read all three books and still have them. I wish Kien would write another book. Fantastic writer with an incredible story to tell.

[@SamShakya]

Thank you for sharing. The Unwanted was a very emotional and powerful read. I will have to check out his other books.

[@kitfranzman4860]

Very grateful you you have shared your life. You are wanted here.

[@dtmorris6157]

I watched this video a week ago. I am back here after reading Kien's book since, to say that I highly recommend people to read his book. His story is heartbreaking and it represent so many other Amerasian stories. I wish him and his family the best for the future.

[@anthonynguyen6658]

I remember my mother ripped the AC out of the bedroom and sold it for food and just a few years before we had servants in our house. I had read The Unwanted and I can relate to Kien's story. I went back to Vietnam for the first time in 35 years in 2022 and have been returning to visit every year since. All the trauma and painful memories are now my battle scars, they remind me from now on, that everything ahead is a walk in the park.

[@DonML83]

Hi Kien- I read your book right now. I am.so happy that you are successful in America.

[@harryedwards2444]

I truly hope this presentation may possibly help a close friend of mine find an answer to who the father may be. Thanks

[@shoakman]

Powerful segment. I wonder if the host is of Amerasian descent as well?

[@MrKOKILANDIA]

I'm reading The Unwanted, and about to finish it. I just watched this video to learn more about Kien Nguyen, and I'm very excited I was able to look at pics of him and his family. SPOILER! I just learned he was never reunited with his father, which I thought it would eventually happen in the story.

[@maryaltshuller717]

Wow, what a story! My late husband came out of the old Soviet Union whose parents didn't ask his opinion about leaving the USSR.

[@thhdhn2]

The Vietnamese Communists not only mistreat the Amerasians, but they also do the same to Vietnamese Christian, south Vietnamese official and their families, and those who escaped Communist North Vietnam to South Vietnam in 1954.

[@BPD1586]

2:23 that is so sad...however; I'm sure he had the last laugh and went on to a better life.

[@vietnameseboatpeople]

Does anyone know how we can get in touch with Kien? THE UNWANTED is one of our favorite memoirs.

[@chokodiakbear3041]

Try contracting the his book publisher first and go from there.

[@angelicaarascon3832]

Where can I find contact information for this author? Would love to send a letter.

[@sc81838]

There are Amerasians in Japan too, but were not compensated or given immigration rights by the occupational authorities.

[@yeoj1925]

there's a lot of Amerasian in the Philippines as well who were not given US immigration rights

[@tomsd8656]

But Japan didn't become communist. If Vietnam had not been plagued with communism, there would not have been an exodus of refugees. Amerasians did not suffer as much because of their mixed race as the fact that Việt Cộng invaded the South and implemented an inhumane system.

[@robertcao8484]

I do believed those individuals!

[@Chrs264]

Good for your family but in the Philippines we are really left alone with the USA and the Philippines

[@davedrifter416]

Funny how the fortunes of the Amerasians have changed over the years. Once shunned and mistreated they are now admired. The Vietnamese/Asian culture is slowly changing. They are becoming more accepting. I served in VietNam and used to pass by an orphanage that housed some mixed race children. Some of their stories are amazing. I did write to Kien years ago and kindly got a reply. His story is that of the indomitable human spirit. Not all have been so lucky but it’s great to hear these feel good stories. For those who look on these children as the product of sin, shame on you. Christ would welcome them all into his house…you maybe not so eagerly!

[@Happy_HIbiscus]

dude, this is cool

[@michaelahrens404]

America is wonderful. Isn't it!

[@einodebmiel4050]

he's totally Vietnamese face features except his hair

[@rachelvu8356]

eino debmiel tbh if I saw him on the street I’d think he’s full Vietnamese because some of my family members have wavy hair

[@musk-eteer9898]

LOL, I have a Mexican buddy who looks just like him

[@ThanhDOng-mc3lh]

I am a by-product of Amerasian. As a young child, I too do not like Vietnamese or White. But as I grew older, I do look a lot like my Mom. Sometimes it's better to look either Vietnamese or White, but not both. The teasing, the racist comments, the non-fit-in would kill you inside.

[@ThanhDOng-mc3lh]

@@musk-eteer9898 - Funny, a lot of People think I am Mexican or Spanish too.

[@cheradatsripaoraya1631]

@@ThanhDOng-mc3lh I am thai but ido not like rasist but I like amerisian they r handsome and beautiful, now a day.

[@frankordonez2826]

We're all humans it doesn't matter the color or race

[@moohummadsriyos2073]

Vietnam. Vietnam.

[@oohhboyy2600]

danm vietnamese genes seem to dominant

[@invisiblerevolution]

Asians have tbe strongest gene traits, if you ask me.

[@robhill3378]

I wouldn't have left y'all

[@nelsonnguyen2794]

Hey that my ant

[@career5690]

Who is? Kien’s mother?

[@powerpriest8083]

Both children have white fathers

[@buckrogers7901]

I am ashamed to say that I remember an incident in the UK similar to this guys incident when a woman was told “stay away, he is a by product of america, he may bite you”. My incident thank goodness has nothing to do with this war however both myself and my sister where visiting a local river in the uk with our parents for a walk. An Asian family (Indian, Sri Lankaian or maybe even Pakistan) were at the river and feeding ducks / swans with their children and immediately offered and gave bread to myself and sister with our parents approval which was nice of them. However when we got back to my grandmothers house and the episode was discussed we told to wash our hands with soap and hot water as we should not of touched these things from “those filthy people”. Unfortunately the Parents agreed so we did as we were told not understanding why. Anyway years later the memory is still there and it ain’t a good memory because of the attitude shown against people doing a normal nice thing etc. I’m sure that this deviates from the whole video but it is my belief it just shows that bigotry let alone racism was there then and it is unfortunately still around now. NO I am not part of a snowflake generation / woke generation but it simply shows how a memory can affect things even 45 years later.

[@mss4822]

those are the kids of the sin! why people should care about them that much?!

[@chuckcuttress2991]

I was in vietnam first in the army then as a contractor. I was a door gunner while in the army when I got out in1968 I tried college could not find a job I was drawn back to vietnam in 1969 I met my wife had three children and a step son I brought them all back to the u.s. they are all beautifully as well as my grandchildren it was meant to be I feel terrible for the kids that were left there everyone of them should be brought to the states

[@ramonaking56]

You are the only evil person I see here.

[@ReadingIsLife1908]

Idiot! What a nasty comment

[@Johnwick-vv4cj]

M SS bet u was a mistake too

[@sherriparra6751]

M SS what an ugly thing to say.these kids are humans being.they did not asked to be born. But they were ,all children are blessings.

[@jeyjetuethcyrj7547]

This Americans soldiers drilled this Vietnamese girl and abandoned them after the war ended

[@davedrifter416]

Not all abandoned them,some didn’t even know they were fathers. Others like a friend of mine married his girl. There wasn’t the easy process then, that there is now.