T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History Collection

ABSTRACT

INTERVIEWEE NAME:   Hungson Van Nguyen                         COLLECTION:   4700.0972

IDENTIFICATION:  Vietnamese soldier

INTERVIEWER:   Dudley R. Meier, Jr.

PROJECT:  Americans in Vietnam

INTERVIEW DATE:  11/28/76

ABSTRACT:

Tape 1421
Father was from Hanoi but lived in South for a long time, Nguyen from Saigon; education, marriage; worked as administrator for American engineering company in Vietnam; joined Air Force in 1968 because he loved flying, father was a pilot; studied science and math at Saigon University; studied at air academy; had to pass English test; returned to Vietnam in 1969, flew by Mekong River; in 1973, sent to US for more training; returned to Vietnam, flew until April 30, 1975; escaping from Vietnam; had to leave parents, sisters and brothers in Saigon; journey to US; lived in fort in Arkansas for a month; moved to Shreveport on May 30, 1979; Nguyen's job at grocery store; shot at many times but never caught or injured; shot down once, friend picked him up; operations done in tandem with US, 1971; flying along border of Laos and Cambodia; description of head of the Air Force; types of missions flown; training Vietnamese pilots; flying school class; everything in US bigger than in Vietnam; few bikes and motorcycles in US; Americans have very convenient life; daily food shopping in Vietnam; minorities in Vietnam; Chinese people in Vietnam; prejudice; Nguyen is Buddhist; Vietnam's Buddhist majority, Catholic minority; attended French elementary school; father's education; father's career; Nguyen's work as meat cutter; new job at Western as a machine operator; doesn't expect to return to Vietnam; mother and sister living in Korea; people at refugee camp; his last month in Vietnam, just before fall of Saigon; leaving country in a hurry; soldiers who couldn't get out; changes between French and Vietnamese rule; different educational systems; switch from popularity of French language to English; changes in Saigon; farmers moved to cities because countryside was dangerous; many American construction companies in Vietnam; work as translator, accountant, administrator; volunteered to join Air Force so he wouldn't be drafted; has a good life in Shreveport; wife and children are studying English.

TAPES:  1 (T1421) TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 45 minutes

# PAGES INDEX:   2 pages

RESTRICTIONS:   None