I worked with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, at Ft. Indiantown Gap helping refugees fleeing Vietnam find home with sponsoring families all over the United State.
Daily my interpreter and I, along with other members of our team, interviewed families or sometimes just single persons with a particular skill, make their way to a community where they could live and find employment opportunities.
I grew to love my new friends, and learned of their customs, clothing, and stories of what is was like living in Laos, or Cambodia, and Vietnam.
I remember one family of tailors, and seamstresses made me the traditional Ao Dai which was so tailored to my exact measurements, that when I wore it it was like a second skin.It was a beautiful cream color with delicate purple flowers and the full dark purple pants, that is put on with hook and eyes.I was invited to dinner with Phong, my interpreter and served where we started with Pho Bo, a beef and rice noodle soup, and Bun Tom Nuong Xa which was grilled chicken, crisp cooked vegetables with mint and peanuts.
His name was Ha, but he changed it to a more American name of Alex.
I stayed with Lutheran Immigration until all of the families had sponsors and there were no more scheduled arrivals. Then the Fort was closed to evacuees.
One young man came home with my husband and me for ” home cooking” and I introduced him to my father and mother. They hit it off and he became a regular guest for family meals and at Christmas. His name was Ha, but he changed it to a more American name of Alex.
Working with these kind and generous people gave me a new love of them, that had been not been present in the late 60s when I felt we had no business getting involved in someone else’s fight.
I guess I grew up and realized that while we were safely at home, these people were trying to exist in a war torn country, and that everyone should be given the chance to live and work in peace. It’s a lesson that should still be practiced today.