{"id":26349,"date":"2024-06-21T11:34:42","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T15:34:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=26349"},"modified":"2024-06-21T11:35:47","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T15:35:47","slug":"episode-1067-results-of-war-in-vietnam-impacts-our-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=26349","title":{"rendered":"episode 1067 –results OF WAR IN VIETNAM .. IMPACTS OUR FAMILY"},"content":{"rendered":"
HOW THE WAR IN VIETNAM IMPACTED OUR FAMILY
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SOUTH VIETNAM AND LAOS 1975 \u2014 CHAOS<\/p>\n

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Alan Skeoch<\/div>\n
June 14, 2024<\/div>\n
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\"\"wonderfulengineering.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/vietnamese_uh-1_pushed_over_board_operation_frequent_wind-610×319.jpg<\/a> 610w, wonderfulengineering.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/vietnamese_uh-1_pushed_over_board_operation_frequent_wind-768×402.jpg<\/a> 768w, wonderfulengineering.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/vietnamese_uh-1_pushed_over_board_operation_frequent_wind-545×285.jpg<\/a> 545w” sizes=”(max-width: 668px) 100vw, 668px” data-attachment-id=”127829″ data-permalink=”https:\/\/wonderfulengineering.com\/heres-why-us-pushed-10-million-worth-helicopters-into-the-ocean-during-withdrawal-from-vietnam-war\/vietnamese_uh-1_pushed_over_board_operation_frequent_wind\/” data-orig-file=”https:\/\/wonderfulengineering.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/vietnamese_uh-1_pushed_over_board_operation_frequent_wind.jpg” data-orig-size=”800,419″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”0″,”credit”:””,”camera”:””,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”0″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”0″,”iso”:”0″,”shutter_speed”:”0″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”0″}” data-image-title=”vietnamese_uh-1_pushed_over_board_operation_frequent_wind” data-image-description=”” data-image-caption=”<\/p>\n

Credits: warhistoryonline<\/p>\n

” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/wonderfulengineering.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/vietnamese_uh-1_pushed_over_board_operation_frequent_wind-610×319.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/wonderfulengineering.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/vietnamese_uh-1_pushed_over_board_operation_frequent_wind.jpg” apple-inline=”yes” id=”9151061C-AEBC-480D-BF23-A5A8FA1B101F” src=”https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/vietnamese_uh-1_pushed_over_board_operation_frequent_wind.jpeg”><\/p><\/div>\n


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‘USA\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t 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.”<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THE MEKONG RIVER BORDER?<\/p><\/div>\n


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 The wide Mekong River marked the border between Laos and Thailand,,,the second largest river in the world…<\/div>\n
  It is estimated that 360,00o LaotIans fled<\/div>\n
Laos in 1975.   Flight was dangerous as Laotian pro communist border guards<\/div>\n
were ordered to shoot escaping asylum seekers… . <\/div>\n
another danger was the river pirates who offered to take fleeing families across the Mekong then killed them <\/div>\n
and steal their money.<\/div>\n

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A  QUOTE<\/div>\n

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Last week, the Thai Foreign Ministry issued an unusual sixpage statement observing that \u201cThailand always wants to be a good neighbor of Laos and support Laos\u2019 aspirations.<\/div>\n
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\u2010wing refugees and Meo tribesmen who fled to Thailand must be returned to Laos together with \u201cplanes and other war materiel \u201cthat have found their way across the border.<\/div>\n
The New York Times\/Oct. 30, 1975<\/div>\n

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TO FLEE OR NOT FLEE?<\/div>\n

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Being killedf and stripped was always a possibility.   It was <\/div>\n
much safer to have a contact person on the Thailand side of the border.<\/div>\n
The  contact person would pay the river pirate.<\/div>\n
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\"When<\/p>\n
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American sailors were pushjng 10 million dollars worth of helicopters from a carrier flight deck into the<\/div>\n
South Chin Sea.  perfectly good choppers.   It had to be done to make room for other helicopters<\/div>\n
carrying refugees from Saigon.  The Viet Nam War did not end smoothly,  No war ever does.<\/div>\n
so , if you need spare parts for s helicopter there are m[any in the bottom of f the <\/div>\n
sea.<\/div>\n

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PASA BANJONGPANITH SWIMS THE MEKONG RIVER\u2026BECMES A LAOTIAN REFUGEE<\/div>\n


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Meanwhile on the MEKONG RIVER side of Viet Nam, on the border of Laos and Thailand an event happened<\/div>\n
that would eventually impact our concerned family in the sleepy Port Credti, Ontario \u2026 thousands of miles from the Mekong River.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Pasa was the oldest son of the Banjongpanith family.  His father was a successful businessman<\/p><\/div>\n

iin Laos.  A  target for communist insurgents who were sweeping across Laos in 1975.  LaotiAn <\/div>\n
 children made flight difficult.  Pasa was concerned and along with<\/div>\n
his sisters planned to escape in spite of their father.  They would take<\/div>\n
one of the youngest children with them.  His name is Pason Banjongpanith.  He was around 13 years<\/div>\n
old at the time.
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Pasa announced quietly to his sisters and Pason (Pasong?)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n


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\u201cI will swim across the Mekong at nightfall with the money to pay a boat pirate for your<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

crossing\u2026 much safer for us.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n


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He did not tell his parents,  .

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    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.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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    MEANWHILE BACK IN CANADA  \u2014 FIRST UNITED CHURCH, PORT CREDIT,  DECIDES TO GETINVOLVED<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n


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    Our church congregation was concerned as  Thousands of  refugees were pictured fleeing the triumphant communist  <\/div>\n
    viet Cong victors.<\/div>\n

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    Note:  My memory could be faulty in places, These  events are as accurate as I can recall (50 years ago)<\/div>\n

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    FIRST UNITED CHURCH, PORT CREDIT, ONTARIO DECIDES TO HELP<\/div>\n

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    \u201cCan we do anything to help?\u201d  urged many of us.<\/div>\n
    :We could sponsor a famiiy?\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cBetter to give money to the Red Cross,\u201d suggested our minister.<\/div>\n
    \u201cWe could do both,\u201d. said Walter IIrwin, our top elder.<\/div>\n
    \u201cMoney is best.\u201d said the minister but we wanted to sponsor a family, so<\/div>\n
    we proceded.<\/div>\n
    \u201cOur church has been accepted as a sponsor\u201d announced Walter.<\/div>\n
    \u201cWhat now?\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cWe wait until a suitable family is found.\u201d<\/div>\n
    :When will that be?\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cI have no idea.\u201d<\/div>\n

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    So we waited all through the remainder of 1975.  No family.   Then on a brutal day in March 1976 our family<\/div>\n
    arrived.  No preparations.  We had given up.  Dark day with sleet and rain.<\/div>\n

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    \u201cYour family has arrived. Take it from here.  Their plane has landed and <\/div>\n
    they will need housing immediately\u2026and food, and clothes, and language lessons\u2026they spoeak a Laotian dialect\u2026no English.\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cJist a minute.  Did you say they speak a Laotian dialect.  Like they come from Laos??<\/div>\n
    \u201cThat is correct.\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cBut we expected a Vietnamese family\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cAll of south east asia has been affected by this war.\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cBut\u2026\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cyour family came from refugee camp in Thailand where some 360,000 Laotians now live,\u2026fleeing communist insurgents..\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cWho are these people?\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cMost are well educated middle class Laotians,  ..prepared to give up their homeland<\/div>\n
    rather than face communist  victors or the ghastly results of the defoliant Agent Orange.\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cAgent Orange?<\/div>\n
    \u201cYes\u2026tell you about it later.”<\/div>\n
    \u201cAre we expected to jump right now?\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cYour family awaits you\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cDo they know who we are?\u2019<\/div>\n
    Highly unlikely\u2026they are just four people among hundreds of thousands seeking a new life.\u201d<\/div>\n
    “..do they have winter clothing?\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201c:they have never seen snow,  They are lowland Laotians.\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cWe will get them right away\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cYou wil be surprised.\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cHow?\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cYou expect a family, right?\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cRight.\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cWell you are getting four teen agers.\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cNo parents?\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cHurry, they are waiting for you.\u201d<\/div>\n
    \u201cFour kids\u2026.alone?”<\/div>\n
    FOUR TEEN AGERS!!   <\/div>\n

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    HOW CAN WE LOOK AFTER FOUR TEEN AGERS?<\/div>\n

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    \u201cWHERE IS LAOS ANYWAY,,,NEVER HEARD OF THE COUNTRY\u201d?<\/div>\n

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    END PART OME\u2026NEXT PART YOU WILL MEET THE BANJONGPANITH KIDS<\/div>\n

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    <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    HOW THE WAR IN VIETNAM IMPACTED OUR FAMILY SOUTH VIETNAM AND LAOS 1975 \u2014 CHAOS Alan Skeoch June 14, 2024    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26349"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26349\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}