Refugees unite in Diocese

Thirty years ago, 44 South Vietnamese refugees found safety in Columbia County, thanks to assistance from Catholic Charities of the Albany Diocese.

The men had fled after the North Vietnamese captured the capital city of Saigon. Members of the navy, air force and special forces, they had fought alongside U.S. forces during the Vietnam War. Facing either prison or death as a result, they had to flee, said Hoa Nguyen, one of the refugees.

Earlier this month, Mr. Nguyen, who now resides in Atlanta, organized a reunion of the refugees in Claverack, near an apple farm where they worked when they first arrived.

Buddies and strangers

Mr. Nguyen said the reunion was an emotional moment.

"We were all between 25 and 30 at the time," he recalled. "We had left our families and way of life behind. We didn't know what to expect when we came here, but we all agreed that we had no choice but to try to make a life here in America."

Many of the refugees knew each other, having served in the military together. But even those who were strangers became deeply bonded by their American experience.

Hand-picked

Jim Cashen, who worked for Catholic Charities at the time, said that he and Sister Serena Branson, CSJ, then executive director, arranged to settle the men on a farm at apple harvest time.

But, shortly after they arrived, "the grower told me we had 24 hours to get them off his property," Mr. Cashen recalled. "Apparently, there was a lack of communication and a misunderstanding; he had migrant workers moving into the housing where the refugees were situated."

Suddenly, Mr. Cashen was searching for emergency housing for 44 soon-to-be homeless men. Another farm opened up a vacant dormitory that was temporarily available. The men moved into it until more permanent accommodations could be found.

Homes open up

Mr. Cashen said, "I did a lot of phone work. Local people were willing to open up their homes for these men. It really was remarkable."

Mr. Nguyen said it "was difficult living with others, but the families were very nice, very patient with us. The men that were unable to speak English scrambled to learn the new language so they could hold down a job.

"It was difficult because we had no idea what was expected of us, and people here had no idea what we could do. At the time, the language barrier seemed insurmountable, but we persevered."

Overcoming problems

Mr. Nguyen remembered that, in their first several years in the U.S., the group was often ostracized due to political resentment over the war.

"Those years were difficult for us," he said. "One by one, the men learned English, furthered their education and took jobs. Some stayed [in the Northeast], but most have now moved out of the area" and dispersed "all around the country."

Most have married and raised families; many brought relatives from Vietnam to live in the U.S.

Back together

The diaspora "is why I wanted to have this reunion," Mr. Nguyen explained. "I kept in touch over the years with almost everyone in our group, but I hoped we could enjoy seeing the families so we could all see our successes.

"The reunion was wonderful, very emotional. We came here with almost nothing, just what we could carry in a paper bag. Today, every one of us has had a successful life. Many of our children are attending college or are graduates.

"Leaving your home and your family is very difficult, sad, painful, especially when you think you might never see them again. Americans have been very good to us, kind and gracious. We are all very grateful to those families that welcomed us into their homes long ago."

Success story

Mr. Cashen noted that many of the original 44 have become part of his own extended family, and he keeps in touch with as many as possible.

"These men faced a difficult journey, but they have all managed to become successful," he said. "It really is a great success story, especially when you look at the fact that all of them stayed here. They're Americans now."

(7/21/05) [[In-content Ad]]