Lost at sea: Vietnamese family reunites with the men who rescued them

After the fall of Saigon in 1975, more than a million desperate people fled Vietnam. Many escaped in small boats, including Vietnamese immigrant Lauren Vuong. Now a successful attorney, she's accomplished a lot in the four decades since then but one goal remained elusive: finding and thanking the men who rescued her at sea. Don Dahler reports.
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[@HuyNguyen-bd1pn]

Thank you all America people that was accepted us Vietnamese to USA

[@youknownow1948]

I helped rescue Vietnamese and Cambodian boat people spring of 1975. We took them back to Grande Island, Philippines. There they were given medical attention, food and necessities. Once recuperate they were transported to many countries, many to America. This was one of my proudest moments while serving in the Navy. I am 73, grew up in an orphanage in Kentucky and was so very poor as a child. I love this country as do those I helped to get here.

[@williamdavidberry8473]

I was on the USS Parsons (DDG-33) when we rescued Vietnamese boat people in 1979 and again in 1980. To see the squalor, hunger and thirst on the boats was heart wrenching. This story brought tears to my eyes and reminded me that I'd been part of something good. Thank you.

[@felyhiggins1584]

I was on a Navy destroyer in 1983 off the coast of Vietnam. We rescued 68 people and I can remember what a great feeling it was.

[@quangb9080]

I too am a boat person from 1977! I used to be embarrassed about it but now I'm proud to be one of millions of boat people from Vietnam!

[@MinhvuLy]

I am not ashamed to admit I cried listening to her poignant and eloquent description of how grateful she is.

[@RJTF]

SHE SAID IT. I love her metaphor of the hyphen as a bridge- not a divider

[@DonML83]

There are no words to express my gratitude to American people. America opened her arms to accept and welcome me from the refugee camp.

[@chobanco3574]

I am an old man but I still cried every time I watched. I also escaped in a small fishing boat. We were lost at sea for 8 days. During this time I had a tiny cup of muddy water a day and this was all I had. I did not go to the restroom once. I think my body was in the early stage of shutting down. Had we not seen the US and Indonesia oil refinery I would only last for a couple of days. Oh well, FREEDOM is NOT FREE. I am an engineer and this is my story I like to share.

[@therabbitnews9362]

I'm a refugee too. When marines were killed by the bomb in Beirut, I told myself that it was time to pay back to AMERICA. They brought us and gave us a new life. I joined the US Marine Corps. I gave up my good paying job.

[@craigkeller]

I’m a 70 year old retired construction worker, crying my eyes out.

[@racerd9669]

As a Vietnam veteran , how I wish we could have saved all the people of south Vietnam, such wonderful people.

[@pepeaguilar2205]

I served aboard the USS Robison (DDG-12), and we rescued two groups of Vietnamese refugees in December of 1980 (one of them known today as "Boat 262"). I was 20 years old at the time. Certain haunting images, especially the burials at sea and the starving children, are part of who I am. My only regret was not being able to do more for them. Those days I walked among heroes...Vietnamese and American.

[@FORTHEBY_BY]

When I was 13 I loved in a small, very white, very Catholic town in the Midwest. Our church supported some Vietnamese refugees and brought them to live in our town. It was the first time I saw Asians. I was in awe. I loved their beautiful church outfits, glowing long black hair, beautiful faces and skin-just everything about them. We used to go to their home and play with our new classmates. I remember how different the food smelled and trying to learn Vietnamese words. It was so much fun and made a whole lot of difference in my life and made me want to travel the globe-which I did!

[@bigteep]

As a Vietnam veteran 67, welcome to our great country. Like all countries it's not perfect but it's people like you that make it even better. Welcome.....Blessings to you and your family.

[@dvt6481]

“My heritage is Vietnamese and America is my home”.... Thank you my sister for representing us boat people .🙏🏼

[@christiangreathouse9946]

She said it so well... I am Vietnamese cause it's my heritage but I am an American cause it's my country... may God bless her and the men who saved them...

[@aliciao.5731]

These men are true angels and Christians. The Vietnamese family is beautiful!!!

[@lgarcia67]

One of my ex-bosses was a Vietnam vet. He was actually part of a special ops group. He had the most harrowing stories about Vietnam. He was very traumatized. Yet he was absolutely dedicated to helping the Vietnamese community and immigrants in general. A very kind hearted man. To this day I still talk to him even though he is retired. I’m happy that we crossed paths.

[@brian1801]

How can you not love these people? Both the rescued and rescuers represent the best of what it means to be an American.