Background.

Dear Immigrants,

As a part of ECIRMAC’s 11th Annual Fundraiser on April 14, we would like to feature stories of immigrant families. Those of us who are immigrants have lasting experiences and memories to share about coming to America.

We are asking for supporters to provide photographs and recollections of their ancestors or of their own journeys to the United States.  Do you have a few pictures that you can share? Would you be willing to write a short piece on your immigration experience?

We would greatly appreciate any images and remembrances that you would be willing to provide. We plan to display these images and stories on our banquet tables and through a video presentation at the fundraiser.

Please send your photos and stories to ECIRMAC's Tiffanie Bui (tiffabbui@gmail.com)

or Susan Muirhead (spmuirhead@gmail.com) by Monday, March 26, 2018."

My story.

I was was born in 1948 at the Quang Binh province of the North Vietnam, when the Geneva Convention were signed by  France and the Viet cong(Vietnamese communists) on July 20 1954, split my country in half, from 17th parallel up North belonged to VC (Vietnamese Communist) and down South of  French and Vietnamese Nationalist so that the Vietnamese Nationalists( Freedom) had to move to South and my family's properties was taken by communist and they want to kill us too, so that we had to flee to South, that time I'm only 8 years old. In 1956 we(Vietnamese Nationalists) pushed the French Colonists out of SVN(South Vietnam)and took our power  back. In 1964 the Vietnam war was escalating so I made decision to join The Vietnamese Military Academy, after 2 years for learning and training when graduating in 1966 as a second lieutenant.

Cadets of The Vietnamese National Military Academy 1964-1966

Cadet of The Vietnamese National Military Academy 1964.

Capt S3 of the First Battalion of South Vietnamese Marines 1972.

Involving immediately in battle after battle, in 1968 "The North Vietnamese surprised us because they violated an agreement to a cease-fire during the New Year" We fought them back right away and I was promoted to first lieutenant,  during 1966-1968 I was wounded 3 times and also reward the Bronze star with V in 1968 from US Navy when fighting against VC along the Mekong Delta with USN(United State Navy)

The VC killed over 7000 people of South Vietnam on the New year 1968

The Women Soldiers of South Vietnamese Army.

In the mid of 1968 I was selected to be trained in the US in the Marines, first in Lackland Airforce Base, San Antonio Texas, then 1969-late 1970 at Quantico, Va, then returned to South

The US  Riverin Force and South Vietnam Marines were ambushed by the VC and We beat back

Vietnam,when coming home I continued to fight defending my country, sometimes alongside US forces, against VC(Vietnamese Communist), Khmer Rouge and Pathet Laos, in 1971 was promoted Captain.

1968-1969 San Antonio, Texas                                      1969-1970 Quantico, Va

First Lt Bartolomea & First Lt Bong Son 1969-1970    

Air Assault.In 1971 fighting against VC, Pathet Laos, Khmer Rouge.

Tank M48 was alongside with Marines to attack the VC in 1972 at Quang Tri province.

 

Air Strike      

                                           

Commander and Staffs of the First Battalion of South Vietnam Marines.

A SVN Soldier carrying a VC prisoner to hospital for treatment.

Wounded Marines waiting for  evacuating.

A female prisoner of war, she's a soldier but never wear uniform in order to easy mix with civilian for sniping the South Vietnamese and American Soldiers.

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VC placing  Mines and Traps.

VIetnamese communist carrying B 41

In April 1972 to Sept 1972, the South Vietnamese Marines alone( without supports from US Army  because of going home) retook The Quang Tri province, 3500 South Vietnamese Marines lost their life and wounded over 7000, and NVA(North Vietnamese Army) must be multiply 5 times :lost about over 20,000 soldiers, wounded soldiers is countless Also from that time the US Congress cut off  all aids(military & economic) for South Vietnam after Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and President Richard Nixon signed Thuong Hai Agreement with Red China and abandoned us.

The US forces in the Vietnam war.

The USMC in the Vietnam War 1965.

In this time the Vietnamese Communists get a lot aids, estimated about 4 billions USD/year, from Soviet Union, Red China, Cuban, 14 communist countries of East Europe, North Korean and they(communist countries) attacked us, we had to fight alone without any aid from USA until running out everything therefore we lost the war. and VC occupied my country.

The South Vietnamese Marines ready to retake the Quang Tri province in 1972 by Helicopter Assault.

Chopper assault

The South Vietnamese Marines were ready to retake the Quang Tri province in 1972.

On Mar 1975 I was promoted Major and was given a last-ditch order to slow enemy troops closing in on Saigon so that the American Embassy could be evacuated.

April 30 1975 We run out all, many many the South Vietnamese Soldiers killed themselves.

After April 30 1975

5 Generals from left to right: General 1 stars Vy, General 2 stars Phu, General 1 stars Hai, General 2 stars Hung and General(stand)3 stars Nam.

They  shot themselves by pistols through their heads and hearts.

Lt Col Long, a policeman officer shot himself through his head

The prisons of Vietnamese communist.

The Boat People.

I was captured and Viet Cộng threw me to prisons that are near the China border for almost 13 years, after releasing out of the communist prisons, I married Ut Thi Ha and have three children.: Tiffanie A Bui, Tony A Bui & Sophie A Bui.

Finally my family and I were eventually granted refugee status by the US on Sept 1990.

I happily married Ut Ha Thi in 1986 and have three kids.

I happily married Ut Ha Thi in 1986 and have three kids.

                     1991                                    1993.

2001.

2009

2012.

My family in USA.

Remember The Republic of Vietnam.

Major Assistant Batalion Commander.  Dr Kirk Hauser USMC.

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Remember The Republic of Vietnam