Via Sioux
Thousands of children
were fathered by American servicemen during the Vietnam war. Now in
their 60s and 70s, some veterans are desperate to find the sons and
daughters they have never known.
"I know we lived at number 40," says Quinn, looking down the street for the house he used to share with his Vietnamese girlfriend. But there is no number 40.
A small crowd gathers. An elderly man, emerging from his house, explains that when the Vietcong entered Saigon in 1975, they didn't stop at changing the name of the city to Ho Chi Minh City - they also changed all the street names, and even the numbers.
Jerry Quinn is one of two
million American soldiers sent to support the South Vietnamese army in
the war against the North. During that conflict, it's thought about
100,000 children were born from relationships between local women and
American soldiers. Those soldiers are now getting old, and some are
guilt-ridden, or just curious to find out what happened to their
children.
More @ BBC
What a heart-breaking story. All those years gone. Knew some that had to leave loved ones when we pulled out and always wondered what happened to the women and their children. I didn't know they were hunted down. At least Mr. Quinn has finally made the effort to find his son. I hope both families find forgiveness and love in their hearts.
ReplyDeleteYes and thanks. I had a friend in California who was in the same situation, but we could never find them.
DeleteThe Fall Of Saigon
http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=38&highlight=korean
"It left behind many South Vietnamese (250 to 400, depending upon which source is consulted) who had been promised escape. They were simply abandoned. It was the last of a long series of US betrayals in Vietnam. "
(A South Korean CIA officer , who had patiently waited in line, was among the Vietnamese. Nothing was ever heard from him, and I often think about his possible end. I hope he wasn't taken alive. BT)
Thank you for that link - I never knew of a lot of those events. It must have been horrific to witness.
DeleteI left the 25th, but had a friend who missed the last bus to TSN, took a cab and had a difficult time getting through the gate, but eventually did so. When I left, my wife's brother, who was an officer in the Vietnamese navy, accompanied us and at the last minute asked if he could leave also on the plane, but I told him no, as his country was still fighting. Fortunately, he and his family later escaped by boat and had a son born on the PI ship that picked them up which was named Aguna and they named him after it. :) Tears come easily at times.
DeleteBonnie Blue's & Dylan's Wedding I (#3 Of 5......) +
http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=1740&highlight=aguna
Thank you for sharing these very personal stories Mr. Townsend. Thank you.
DeleteThank you for reading, Ma'am!
Delete