Navy heroes reunited with Vietnamese family they helped rescue in 1981

A young lookout on a U.S. Navy ship spotted what he thought was debris in the South China Sea. But it turned out to be 40 people fleeing communist Vietnam in the wake of the Vietnam War.

[@ducsieuma8884]

listen to the man at 2:20, "I saw American Flag, I knew that we are safe 100%". The is spirit and pride the Americans should get. Keep building this country ...

[@BeenSittin]

I believe its already built itself. Whats more important is, we carry on the legacy!

[@stephenc2481]

Even now, there are lots of people who would love to have an the opportunity, living in the US.!

[@Zaximillian]

...alongside good human beings like you.

[@daisylatu6196]

Yes, thank God for the Americans serving the nation, they got the spirit of love n compassion for human beings no matter what, God bless AMERICA.

[@johndavis9432]

You're absolutely right,but unfortunately a lot of people in this country don't feel that way and they don't know how lucky they are to be here.And remember what that young woman said: other ships from other countries saw them and just kept going.A ship from the United States Navy stopped and our men saved them.That says it all.

[@geoben1810]

Yeah a U.S. NAVAL Ship would NEVER just pass them by. As a proud U.S. NAVY veteran I salute the men who served aboard the good ship USS Ingersoll that day. ✌🇺🇸

[@fasteddie9055]

Nice work, swabbies !!!! I'm an Air Force Vietnam vet. Salutes !!!!

[@tomwagstaff139]

As a Vietnamese American I am eternally grateful and blessed to be in this great country. One of the greatest events of my life was becoming an American citizen. The veterans who served in the war gave me a life.

[@thecountdown4402]

🙏🙏🙏

[@sheepdawg6946]

Same here. Proud American with Vietnamese background. I will fight for this country til the day I die.

[@Vnexpress1203]

Tom Wagstaff Thank you for expressing this sentiment. I’m too forever grateful to America for given my family “heaven on earth” as she described it in the video. Thank you!

[@danor6812]

You're not a Vietnamese American. Like sheepdawg, you're an "American" of Vietnamese decent.

[@fasteddie9055]

Gracias mil means TY a 1000 times in Spanish.

[@sidartaaliwarga7267]

America... the closest to heaven on earth... As an immigrant myself, I agree with what she said. So please my American friends, brothers, and sisters, please do not take America for granted. Please understand how blessed you are for being an American. Yes, America is not perfect but she is really the best in the world.

[@concentratecorner1744]

I say this so often. People die everyday attempting to get here..then you have those kids who grew up in luxury and privilege talking about how its 'Amerikkka' and how horrible it is. They are going to turn one of the last sanctuaries on earth into another communist regime if we arent careful.. I wish we had more people like you and less who were born here yet hate it, you may be a immigrant but youre a real american because you love and respect what it stands for.

[@The-sg3ve]

@@concentratecorner1744 Don't worry friend.....................The infants cannot change what they need to make the changes they seek. They are self destructive. They only worry would come from the leftists on the hill and the conservatives that wear a false face.

[@stephenc2481]

Yes, the US is the best place to be. I am also an immigrant from VN.

[@nikot4410]

I feel your comment very deep in my heart. I’m also a grateful immigrant myself. I really appreciate my life here. My new home. This country offered me a lot of wonderful things to which I’m forever grateful 🇺🇸

[@mindybui6631]

This brought me to tears because that was how my mother, 2 older siblings and I were rescued 38 yrs ago. I was 4yrs old, the youngest of my siblings. An American Navy ship rescued us. I don't remember the ordeal but I am greatful every single day that I live in America.

[@yaimavol]

And Americans are grateful you had the opportunity to come here. God Bless and God Bless America!

[@dontworrybehappy1942]

@JM G U want the orange buffoon 2 come back n destroy this country 4 good ?

[@pastelpepe]

@JM G You right winged devils are destroying America as we speak

[@marpar3971]

amen

[@kanailal]

I was born and raised in the greatest nation on earth and my dad never let me forget it. I am very proud American.

[@jonburrows2684]

Please, never vote for demoncrats or your freedoms are over. Hope you can see that

[@HERAMANIGO]

@@jonburrows2684 sorry but it's the Republicans that are currently bringing the country to Fascism.

[@mikewrasman5103]

That's why the Vietnamese are the most patriotic of Americans.

[@tuanivando9634]

I am proud to be a Vietnamese-American!

[@HoaNguyen-bx8hl]

This is what AMERICA all about. Thank you

[@jlbpr00]

Yes I agree.

[@scrubby2116]

This is what being a human is all about

[@mariebelle3493]

How it should be but it's not

[@H.Rvenice]

Not all the time sadly

[@louiszepeda9254]

america at its, best

[@LV-fv8ss]

I was one of the boat people too.What a happy ending. Thank you America and all American sailors!

[@guitarmatricide4834]

I lost it when the woman cried saying “thank you” to the American sailor... The screen started getting blurry...

[@mikethemechanic7395]

This makes me smile so much. I am a Army vet and served under the last of the Vietnam veterans in 1993. I spoke to quite a few guys who would almost cry when they told me stories of leaving Vietnam and knowing they could not help anymore. I used to idolize the Vietnam war as a kid and wished I was there. I was stupid then and did not realize all of the hardships and families torn apart. My wife is a 1st Gen Lao American. Her family came to the USA in the 70s. They never talk about what happened. I am around Viet and Lao people constantly. They are the most generous people I have ever met. 😍 I live by Portland Oregon.

[@yaimavol]

It's hard to know what we were fighting for now so many years later. This is a country of sweet, gentle people

[@ericwynn6770]

Hello Mike, I am one of the boat people who came to the US in mid-1985 and have lived in SE Portland, OR until now. We were rescued by the US Navy as well. Cheers.

[@tswj]

the same thing happen to my hmong people even through i was born here in the US it still brings tear to my eyes when i see my hmong people still suffering from the war my dad was 12 and my mom was 11 when both sides of my family members got to Thailand and then they Emigrated to the US in 1985

[@jonmajarucon51]

Cant stop crying. Beautiful family. Beautiful American fighting men. This reminds us of our responsibility as a free nation with so much power to do good. God bless America.

[@markbrandon7756]

CAM ON for Help this NGUYEN Family ! CAM ON to this Family for being Great Vietnamese Americans!

[@bobetkalimutan8179]

That's way Our God always bless AMERICA👍👍👍👍

[@svtcontour]

This is how the attitude should be unlike today's climate with all the cry babies who live in a great place but complain non stop about non-issues. Very awesome video and reunion.

[@johnanderson8096]

You have made me Proud to be an American... and I needed that!!!!!!✌✌✌💙💛🧡💚

[@asiane]

Love love stories like this. AMERICA is still the one place for all. No matter what anyone says, Americans is still the land of love.

[@TheThemattyo1]

My Vietnamese friends are down to earth people . Their grandparents have some insane stories.

[@2ndhandSue]

My God - all those other ships just passed them by without even acknowledging that they had seen them, or calling their superiors to send out another ship specifically to rescue those 40 people. It's amazing how heartless some human beings can be towards other human beings. Half-starved, dehydrated, probably not destined to stay alive much longer, a Navy ship sees them and actually takes the time to turn their ship around and go back and pick them up. It looks like there are numerous successful people in that family now, and I suspect that all those children worked so hard in school to become successful so that would be the way in which they could thank the sailors on that ship. They didn't take their rescue for granted - they saw it for the tremendous miracle it was and they vowed to live the best lives possible in gratitude for the second chance at life that they had been given. Those of us who have grown up without ever hearing a gun being fired, or having to watch our fathers taken to jail time and time again, being able to sleep at night because there is nothing to fear - we have no idea what real life is like until we see a video like this one. This is not a movie that was conjured up in some producer's head - this was real life for an entire nation of people. They deserve SO much more.

[@5ch4rn]

A lovely story. America has a lot to be proud of, they just need to remember that.

[@ciarankelly4338]

Lived and worked in America at the early stage of my career and have great memories of the warmth and kindness of the people there and in particular living on my own and being invited by a work colleague who was a American Vietnam Veteran and a adoptee to his step parents home for dinner on Xmas Day in 1975 in LA and not only having a magnificent Xmas dinner but a gift under the tree aswell !! I brought a bottle of Irish whiskey and made them Irish coffees which they greatly appreciated. We are close to election time in America and it’s for the American people to decide and I wish them nothing but the very best as the world needs a strong America. It’s a great country and I have much fondness for all Americans.

[@emilywiebel3238]

Stories like this make me proud of my country and Dale is a true example of what an American should be and exemplify. This meeting was truly beautiful just seeing the smiles on all of their faces was the best possible thing to witness.

[@davidford3115]

My father served about the USS Ingersoll's sister ship, the USS Elliot (DD-967) and had a similar story. In that situation, the people on the boat intentionally set it on fire so as to prompt an S.O.S. rescue. After being rescued, they were given a hot meal from the galley, and were allowed to use the showers. While they bathed, the crew washed their clothes. As usually happens, money always falls out in the wash. After the meal, the boat people were asked whose wanted to claim the money found in the wash. Not a single person came forward; they knew if they claimed it, they would be sent back. Years later, my father was commissioning a Vietnamese-American into the Navy. Turns out the newly minted Ensign's wife was one of the people my father's ship rescued.

[@Harthorn]

Respect. And... Lovely just Lovley.

[@angelosathog1124]

Red white n Blue ,, it's the symbol of Hope ...

[@H0DLTHED0R]

Thank you for helping these people out! God bless America 🇺🇸 🙏 ❤️

[@threesmallpeopleinabigtren5056]

Born and raised in another country yet more American then a lot of people I know

[@stephenc2481]

These people appreciate the US, because they know how good it is. It is a blessing.

[@DerekOfRivia]

God Bless America.

[@katnip198]

So heartwarming. This is the real America!

[@jennipham9306]

When he saw the red/white/blue flag he was 100% sure that his family was safe. Only red/white/blue can give that assurance to any ordinary person in this world (ordinary person, not terrorists, lol). God bless America!

[@dukereaper2284]

Haha, im in Vancouver Washington and I feel so proud! Well, I just hopped on a plane and flew here in 2005. But I never forgot what my great grandmother told me, America saved my country too. Whatever happens, respect and stand for the flag of the United States of America. For Americans its hard to understand, for us measly 3rd world countr folks, we understand what the flag stands for, and I know i will die for this country...one day

[@takeapieandrun]

No one is a 'measly 3rd world country folk'. You love America, you are American

[@matthall113]

This makes me smile and tear up a bit. Being australian i am proud to be apart of a multicultural civilisation, it means we get to experience so many things from so many cultures. Its a beautiful thing 😁😁

[@theoakhills]

If you didn't tear up then you have no feelings. 💕

[@rjoyce268]

I so glad they stopped and helped you😊 then you were able to meet again years later ❤❤❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@Valefrescoyabish]

This is My America 🇺🇸 Oorah !

[@haasmengloi]

Makes one wonder, who are the 8 haters who gave this heartwarming video a thumbs down?

[@youcanlearnsomethingjustli38]

Racists of course

[@kha9867]

Viet commies I would say.

[@johndavis9432]

They're a bunch of losers.Don't even pay attention to filth like them.We're not perfect but America is the greatest place on earth.

[@B3ARCAT]

Man, what a story. Can’t help but cry imagining parents making that hard choice to flee, despite the danger at sea. It’s really moving to hear their memories of the event.

[@douglasall8447]

Beautiful Please God bless America

[@NYCamper62]

Well, this is something I didn't think to see on youtube. Not because it happened or other stories much like it. But I was there, aboard the Ingersoll during that westpac deployment. Man this brings back a flood of memories. I was with the team in the small motor whale boat sent out to investigate. What I saw on that boat I'll not forget. Including children & a little girl that the medic & I realized needed medical attention. 40 years ago, wow. Fair winds & following seas boys. EN2 80-84 USS Ingersoll DD990.

[@sirhoopalot1]

Thank you, sir!

[@nbidnm]

These are the kind of people our borders are open to.

[@trainrecked]

Too bad they want a small fortune for most to even apply for our future wife..It's a money grab now...that's the truth

[@davidransom4476]

I was on the USS Wabash AOR-5 and we picked up Vietnamese boat people. Put them up in the Anchor Windlass space. Sailors donated clothing they had so the people would have something clean, but everything was a bit big. We couldn't leave their boat floating, and we dropped the anchor through it to sink it. Had to move them out of the space while we did that. We also found wreckage of another boat that more than one pirate boat had raided. There was nothing left to take for the second pirate boat, so they shot the boat up. Only one person was left alive clinging to wreckage.

[@chobanco3574]

Thank you for the help! I was not among the people you had helped. But if you have not seen them, I’m sure they have been trying to locate you guys.

[@crbueach1009]

On this planet, only Americans have the open arm. I am too boat people in 1982. Thank you so very much for your help and take us in unconditionally.

[@ronaldbouvette7215]

Wonderful story,God bless them all.

[@SunWM99]

I love it. "We bleed red, white, and blue." What an amazing story!

[@jpcia260]

This a great story......know Pete personally....squared away person! Thank you for doing your job!

[@katie_jeanes]

“ I knew we were safe!! 100% I knew we were safe.” Ughhh my eyes are leaking now. 😭

[@themadh8r539]

This brought a tear to my eye so heart warming

[@SHSNJROTC]

fucking love this country. dont care what anyone else says about it.

[@arthurpascua9643]

The true spirit of being American. It's ironic that people are fleeing from socialist and communist countries to be in America and the young population is leaning towards these ideologies.

[@tranghua79]

It’s ironic how these immigrants are more patriotic than the ones born and raised in America.

[@PhoenixRider1]

So so true.

[@QUANGTRAN-qf7yu]

Great story! I'm touched.

[@brutusbarnabus8098]

Vietnamese people are the hardest working and most decent people that you will ever meet. They are fiercely patriotic as well and all still fly the flag of South Vietnam.

[@danutkracka]

I been watching clips of rescues from the South. Me and my family fled from Danang in 81. Was hoping to look more from that region.

[@martinkelleher5662]

Beautiful story that ended so well . Love from Ireland 🇮🇪 ❤

[@loneranger668]

Beautiful ending to a sad story.

[@wovfm]

America, the beautiful.

[@jasondamrau9943]

The support the US tried to give to Southern Vietnam is the reason that we have such a large Vietnamese population in the Navy.

[@tiffanymayumi9446]

My dad also went on a boat with around 40 people and a ship rescued them

[@_birdie]

"this is our heaven on earth" and "we bleed red, white, and blue" reallllly got me...

[@amidafo2450]

Thankyou Dell and everyone who's challenged their superiors to fight for humanity. I salute the men who served aboard the good ship USS Ingersoll that day. May God bless you All

[@sirhoopalot1]

Imagine having to make the decision to risk your family's lives by getting into that boat and floating out in the open seas with absolutely no idea what would happened once supplies and water run out. I was a little kid, part of the 1975 group that was rescued by US Navy ships, and now have been a US citizen for 40 years. God bless America.

[@ricksanchez5147]

I’m glad the captain listened to you 🥳

[@angelosathog1124]

I dont know who own the ships who jst passes by them not helping them,, I dont know who you are or what country your from,,, But you should be ashame of yourself,,, I'm sure you'll live it with all that Regrets...thank God for USA...God bless America.

[@michele4873]

YES! GOD BLESS . :-).

[@TheWriterNW]

This... this is America. This is the America I want to believe in.

[@beebop9808]

Beautiful!

[@JulietActual]

This made me tear up❤❤❤

[@LordDrakenZ]

"We bleed red white and blue"... true americans, along with the man that spotted them

[@ainmiky4620]

The vietnamese children and adults on that boat would have DIED bro if that ship didn't take them... like this woman right here would NOT be alive right now. That's wild.

[@anhdang2713]

Beautiful story

[@spg1794]

i love how those navy ship hats that were brought as modest gifts for the rescued Viet families , are surely to be on display in those family homes as sacred and will be passed down as treasured family heirlooms

[@RosemarySAKelly]

We welcome you!

[@khamdang5822]

Thanks and thanks to good hearted people.

[@eTraxx]

dang Ninjas cutting up onions

[@georgechugalugging7777]

If only the Americans in our country could see the good in our flag.

[@patrickscott1702]

God is good. Wonderful story.

[@karlikehorn5122]

Praise God want to touching story I'm glad they all finally got to meet again amen

[@patriciaschuster1371]

What a wonderful story!

[@BookJay35]

This is the America we as immigrants all know and Love today's America that is filled with so much hate is the one that we as immigrants never imagined.

[@on2wheels378]

Half the country do not want us here... They don't realize we are what America is all about.

[@williegomez8059]

We prayed a lot. God answered with the USS Ingersoll.

[@prmath]

God bless ALL involved🙏🏼🇺🇸🙏🏼

[@jamdigital9530]

what a great story!

[@TheRetirednavy92]

I was an MAA on the Midway when we rescued a boatload of refugees. I carried a wounded girl to sickbay, wish I knew what happened to her.

[@BarbaraMarrs-xy7rc]

I remember hearing about the 'boat people' trying to escape from Vietnam and Lao. These people were so desperate to escape from a dictatorship that die trying was better than living in slavery. People who find fault with the US should talk with these people. They had a choice they could live in the south pacific area, or they could come to the US. If the US was / is so terrible why then did so many of them choose to come to the US. They did not know the language, culture, traditions but they also understood they had a chance in the US that would not be available to them elsewhere.

[@navajo6931]

God bless you amen

[@iBeReaper]

Everyone who thinks communism is a good idea should talk to these people

[@thespartan8476]

Every single American civilian should be forced marched into [ Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia ] to see all the damage their tax dollars did to these innocent people.

[@caroleastmond9064]

Wonderful!!!❤️🎉🎉🎉💫

[@Quangvlog49]

❤ Việt Nam

[@pamelahogan7421]

Awesome!

[@adassociates8235]

We are among 77 people that was rescued in the month of April 1981 in South China Sea by USS LSD 28 and we were taken picture with Captain on his Bridge, We are wondering that anyone have any information on it, we would like to obtain picture of our memories. Thanks

[@ordersgalatea8101]

All Thanks to Navy Heroes...........................................................

[@kevinpunk2006]

I LOVE AMERICA!

[@deionle9355]

great

[@nicovargas7776]

I wonder how many others tried escaping by boat and were also passed by other country's ships or never seen at all and succumbed to the ocean never to be seen again.

[@Understand1975]

Very large percentage couldn't make it!

[@thumtlnguyen3626]

According to UNHCR estimation, there were about 300,000 Vietnamese boat people didn't make it or rescued on the sea. I was a boat people myself. I escaped in April 27, 1987 and there were about 10 ships passed by ignoring us. We set fire on our boat, waves white cloth, shouting...

[@davidford3115]

@@thumtlnguyen3626 Do you remember the name of the ship that rescued you? Your story, particularly the part about setting the boat on fire sounds very similar to my father's experience rescuing boat people on the USS Elliot (DD-967).

[@thumtlnguyen3626]

@@davidford3115 Our boat was rescued by an American oil rig security boat. When they approached us throwing a line and asked us how many people we were. I asked them what nationality they are and they replied USA. I immediately turned around and told my fellow country people: We're safe and we're saved. Don't worry about anything.

[@davidford3115]

@@thumtlnguyen3626 Ah, different vessel then. Thank you for sharing your story. I was hoping to connect my father to some of the people his ship rescued.

[@ls-kk4pq]

In those photos there are heroes abounding everywhere. I hope they kept in contact.

[@drissaudia1323]

Amazing 🌟💫🎭

[@MrJohnnyboats]

Boatswainsmate Pride! ⚓️

[@joesokol3156]

Letter reads October 11,1981,that they were rescued

[@juanoquendo1743]

America forever.