T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History Collection

ABSTRACT

INTERVIEWEE NAME: Dinh Ngoc Nguyen # 4700.0969

IDENTIFICATION: Vietnamese helicopter pilot

INTERVIEWER: Dudley Meier, Jr.

PROJECT: Americans in Vietnam

DATES: 11/1/75

FOCUS DATES:

ABSTRACT:

Tape 1418

People who got left behind in Vietnam; money changing problems in South Vietnam; Vietnamese citizens lost everything, reeducation for those who worked for Americans or South Vietnamese government; Communists killed many people; Vietnamese who came to US, wanted to return to Vietnam; Vietnamese in US who are lonely, miss relatives left behind; Nguyen has been in US four months, has new life here; has met many nice, helpful people; has house and good job, likes it here; works for Western Electric, easy job, but low paying; wants to complete college, company has tuition refund program; hopes for reunification of Vietnam, but afraid southern and northern communists will fight; relations with other communist countries; China wants to oversee Vietnam, so does Russia; North Vietnam more aligned with China, South Vietnam with Russia; interviewer recounts life and aims of Ho Chi Minh; Ho's relations with US; Ho's dedication to Vietnam; Nguyen's heros from Vietnam history; Nguyen's modern heros, liked Diem; admired Diem's programs; but Diem wanted US to do his work; admired Diem's brother Nhu and sister-in-law Madame Nhu; discussion of a famous flyer; President Thieu; what it takes to be a good president; economic problems of Vietnam, need for foreign aid; opinion on whether US should have stayed in Vietnam longer; shortage of fire power; US should have bombed North Vietnam more, would have been quicker; US presidential administrations, no opinions on US presidents; censorship of Vietnamese press; speculation just before fall of Saigon that US might rescue them.


TAPES: 1

TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 40 minutes

# PAGES TRANSCRIPT: 1 page index

RESTRICTIONS: none