Chapter 11
Escape from Saigon
The narrator was 17 years old when his family fled Saigon in April 1975. He grew up with his grandmother, who was from North Vietnam and had previously escaped during the 300-day transitional period following the 1954 Geneva Accords. Having lived under communist rule, his grandmother recounted the injustices she had witnessed, including "people’s trials," where the communist government prosecuted individuals based on their wealth, and the suppression of religious practices.
During the Tet Offensive—a series of brutal attacks by the Viet Cong against South Vietnam and the United States Military—the narrator absorbed his grandmother’s horrific stories, which instilled in him a deep disdain for communism. However, as he entered his teenage years, he began questioning the war, the necessity of violence, and the corruption within the South Vietnamese army. Despite these doubts, he remained firmly anti-Viet Cong due to their brutality.
With the fall of Saigon imminent and the narrator's family already under scrutiny due to their past escape from North Vietnam, they knew they would not be safe under communist rule. Understanding the repression and loss of freedom that would follow, they sought visas to flee the country. His mother’s connections with American contacts through her job ultimately secured their passage. Though leaving his home was heartbreaking, he recognized the necessity of escaping to a country that did "not have those repugnant characteristics" (Cheung, 105).
Journey to America
To avoid suspicion, the narrator's family fled in secrecy, careful not to raise questions among their neighbors. Upon arriving at the overcrowded airport, they waited for a military plane that eventually transported them to an airbase in the Philippines, then to Wake Island, and finally to Camp Pendleton in California—a temporary refuge for many Vietnamese evacuees.
While in the United States, the narrator learned of the fall of Saigon, which left him feeling sorrowful and deeply concerned for those left behind. After settling in Detroit, he sought the company of fellow Vietnamese refugees, longing for a sense of community and familiarity.
Struggles with Identity and Assimilation
Adjusting to life in America, the narrator grappled with conflicting emotions. He was perplexed by the American perspective on Vietnam, particularly the harm inflicted on Southern Vietnamese civilians by the very country that was supposed to be aiding them. This violence, in his view, undermined the moral values of South Vietnam.
Although the narrator appreciated America’s opportunities, he felt nostalgic for Vietnam and the values instilled by his homeland. This longing led him to explore communist writings in an attempt to understand the perspectives of those still in Vietnam. As he spent more time in the United States, he became critical of American materialism and its lack of strong social and moral structures.
Despite his strong attachment to his Vietnamese identity, he made efforts to assimilate. He spoke English fluently, minimized his use of Vietnamese at home, and worked to blend in with his high school peers. Yet, internally, he remained deeply connected to his heritage.
Connection to Other Stories in the Anthology
As with many other refugees, the narrator's family’s escape was made possible through connections with the South Vietnamese or Americans. His identity as a Vietnamese refugee profoundly shaped his perspective on his new life in the United States. Though he remained loyal to his homeland, he also sought to assimilate, attempting to make his background as inconspicuous as possible.
Unlike younger refugees, who may have adapted more seamlessly, his older age allowed him to retain and reflect upon his Vietnamese values while navigating the challenges of being a Vietnamese-American.