HOW THE WAR IN VIETNAM IMPACTED OUR FAMILY
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SOUTH VIETNAM AND LAOS 1975 — CHAOS
Alan SkeochJune 14, 2024
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Credits: warhistoryonline
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‘USA’s defeat in Vietnam war was rounded off with shocking events as the entire war itself. The final evacuation by the US forces in 1975 saw a number of Huey helicopters, which were considered to be the workhorses during the Vietnam War, tipped over the U.S. Navy aircraft carriers into the South China Sea.
This wasn’t the only incident of the frenzy and chaos at the time, but arguably the sight of throwing valuable helicopters over the deck of the USS Midway was certainly the most astonishing one. The helicopters were thrown into the ocean to make room for a lightweight Cessna O-1 Bird Dog that was carrying a South Vietnamese officer and his family.”
WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THE MEKONG RIVER BORDER?
The wide Mekong River marked the border between Laos and Thailand,,,the second largest river in the world…
It is estimated that 360,00o LaotIans fled
Laos in 1975. Flight was dangerous as Laotian pro communist border guards
were ordered to shoot escaping asylum seekers… .
another danger was the river pirates who offered to take fleeing families across the Mekong then killed them
and steal their money.
A QUOTE
Last week, the Thai Foreign Ministry issued an unusual sixpage statement observing that “Thailand always wants to be a good neighbor of Laos and support Laos’ aspirations.
But a Pathet Lao broadcast rejected the statement and restated Laotian demands. If the two countries are to remain on speaking terms, it said, all Laotian right‐wing refugees and Meo tribesmen who fled to Thailand must be returned to Laos together with “planes and other war materiel “that have found their way across the border.
The New York Times/Oct. 30, 1975
TO FLEE OR NOT FLEE?
Being killedf and stripped was always a possibility. It was
much safer to have a contact person on the Thailand side of the border.
The contact person would pay the river pirate.
American sailors were pushjng 10 million dollars worth of helicopters from a carrier flight deck into theSouth Chin Sea. perfectly good choppers. It had to be done to make room for other helicopterscarrying refugees from Saigon. The Viet Nam War did not end smoothly, No war ever does.so , if you need spare parts for s helicopter there are m[any in the bottom of f thesea.
PASA BANJONGPANITH SWIMS THE MEKONG RIVER…BECMES A LAOTIAN REFUGEE
Meanwhile on the MEKONG RIVER side of Viet Nam, on the border of Laos and Thailand an event happenedthat would eventually impact our concerned family in the sleepy Port Credti, Ontario … thousands of miles from the Mekong River.
Pasa was the oldest son of the Banjongpanith family. His father was a successful businessman
iin Laos. A target for communist insurgents who were sweeping across Laos in 1975. LaotiAn
children made flight difficult. Pasa was concerned and along with
his sisters planned to escape in spite of their father. They would take
one of the youngest children with them. His name is Pason Banjongpanith. He was around 13 years
old at the time.
Pasa announced quietly to his sisters and Pason (Pasong?)
“I will swim across the Mekong at nightfall with the money to pay a boat pirate for your
crossing… much safer for us.”
He did not tell his parents, .
-
Note: Between 1975 and 1995, the number of Laotians refugees, including both Hmong and lowland Lao, totalled 360,000. Most of the lowland Lao fleeing their country were urbanized and educated; many were former employees of the U.S. government. They were housed mostly at Nong Khai Refugee Camp just across the river from Laos.
MEANWHILE BACK IN CANADA — FIRST UNITED CHURCH, PORT CREDIT, DECIDES TO GETINVOLVED
Our church congregation was concerned as Thousands of refugees were pictured fleeing the triumphant communist
viet Cong victors.
Note: My memory could be faulty in places, These events are as accurate as I can recall (50 years ago)
FIRST UNITED CHURCH, PORT CREDIT, ONTARIO DECIDES TO HELP
“Can we do anything to help?” urged many of us.
:We could sponsor a famiiy?”
“Better to give money to the Red Cross,” suggested our minister.
“We could do both,”. said Walter IIrwin, our top elder.
“Money is best.” said the minister but we wanted to sponsor a family, so
we proceded.
“Our church has been accepted as a sponsor” announced Walter.
“What now?”
“We wait until a suitable family is found.”
:When will that be?”
“I have no idea.”
So we waited all through the remainder of 1975. No family. Then on a brutal day in March 1976 our family
arrived. No preparations. We had given up. Dark day with sleet and rain.
“Your family has arrived. Take it from here. Their plane has landed and
they will need housing immediately…and food, and clothes, and language lessons…they spoeak a Laotian dialect…no English.”
“Jist a minute. Did you say they speak a Laotian dialect. Like they come from Laos??
“That is correct.”
“But we expected a Vietnamese family”
“All of south east asia has been affected by this war.”
“But…”
“your family came from refugee camp in Thailand where some 360,000 Laotians now live,…fleeing communist insurgents..”
“Who are these people?”
“Most are well educated middle class Laotians, ..prepared to give up their homeland
rather than face communist victors or the ghastly results of the defoliant Agent Orange.”
“Agent Orange?
“Yes…tell you about it later.”
“Are we expected to jump right now?”
“Your family awaits you”
“Do they know who we are?’
Highly unlikely…they are just four people among hundreds of thousands seeking a new life.”
“..do they have winter clothing?”
“:they have never seen snow, They are lowland Laotians.”
“We will get them right away”
“You wil be surprised.”
“How?”
“You expect a family, right?”
“Right.”
“Well you are getting four teen agers.”
“No parents?”
“Hurry, they are waiting for you.”
“Four kids….alone?”
FOUR TEEN AGERS!!
HOW CAN WE LOOK AFTER FOUR TEEN AGERS?
“WHERE IS LAOS ANYWAY,,,NEVER HEARD OF THE COUNTRY”?
END PART OME…NEXT PART YOU WILL MEET THE BANJONGPANITH KIDS