T. Harry Williams Center for Oral
History Collection
ABSTRACT
INTERVIEWEE NAME: Nguyen Manh Quynh #
4700.0978
IDENTIFICATION: Vietnam veteran
INTERVIEWER: Dudley R. Meier, Jr.
PROJECT: Americans in Vietnam
DATES: 3/2/76
FOCUS DATES:
ABSTRACT:
Tape 1427, Side A
Education; worked with US government in Vietnam; ambassador to
Vietnam; his family; arrival in US; got sponsor for family,
arrived in Shreveport; got elected; Tet celebrations; currently
in year of dragon; letter of recommendation he got from job in
Washington; changing currency, house shopping; came from Vietnam
empty-handed; worries about relatives back in Vietnam; city he
grew up in 50 miles from Saigon; joined Army at age of 18;
division of Vietnam; opinion of Diem; Quynh always working hard
to provide for his family; brother owned tailor shop, Quynh
helped out there; land he owned in Vietnam, pick up truck; wants
to open his own shop; differences between US and Vietnam; wife
manages family's money in Vietnam, in US kids want to keep money
they earn; people marry young in Vietnam, support their parents;
religion in Vietnam; Cao Dai religion; Hoa Hao religion;
conversion to Baptist religion; behavior of American soldiers in
Vietnam; different hand gestures used in Vietnam, directional
signals.
Tape 1427, Side B
Vietnamese always say yes to be polite; worked in medical
dispatch in Vietnam; what he likes about US -- freedom,
opportunities for his children; in Vietnam, women don't want to
work outside house, men should provide; cost of living in
Vietnam; must work very hard in Vietnam; conveniences of America,
in Vietnam animals still alive when you buy them for food; his
heros in Vietnam; two sisters who drowned themselves after a
battle with Chinese; quotes from speech he made; thoughts on
becoming a good American citizen by following American customs;
thoughts on private property.
TAPES: 1
TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 1 1/4 hrs
# PAGES TRANSCRIPT: 2 page index
RESTRICTIONS: none