Kim Pham and Julie Pham
Description
Daughter, Julie Pham (36) interviews her father, Kim Pham (65) about his life prior to the Fall of Saigon, his time in the Re-education Camps, and his journey to the United States.Subject Log / Time Code
Participants
- Kim Pham
- Julie Pham
Recording Locations
Wing Luke Museum of Asian and Pacific American ExperienceVenue / Recording Kit
Tier
Partnership Type
Fee for ServiceInitiatives
Subjects
Places
Transcript
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00:02 My name is Julie Pham Vietnamese name is why I am 36 today is Friday, February 27th, and I am at the wing Luke Museum in Seattle Washington, and I'm going to be interviewing my father today.
00:18 My name is Kim Pham. I am a city fine now and today is
00:27 Friday and February and we are in Wing look Gallery in Seattle Saturday n daughter.
00:45 It's so so. Can you tell me when you came to the US?
00:52 The we came here in 1979 when I was continuo Roulette by but they call those people. Did you try to leave earlier than 1979? Did you try to leave on the last day of Saigon mini fan of us? They work for New York time? They work for UPS UPI for ABC for msk. They asked me this.
01:30 Last day or not come very soon. Don't stay here to let and you need to go you need to go and the last day of the fall of Saigon on April 30th. I see I still remember until today. I still stood in the front of the building Saigon Navy headquarter. They call Ming Ming Ming surrender.
02:10 At noon then I went home to bring the family to live. But when I returned all sick were gone. Did you did you try to bring was that I wasn't born then so is it would you try to bring my father? My mom my brother my brother my Sunbrella tea with me to sit but when I come back to check again at the Navy headquarter, I saw Scott Easter is the front Navy headquarter. Very very very dry.
03:08 Liar. Quiet
03:11 What did you think then when he saw the all the ships were gone, and you weren't going to be able to leave Vietnam cheap and after president men surrender.
03:30 And I feel like a big lick and
03:40 In the night in to see in The Big C.
03:46 They felt like you were on a big ship in that you went to sleep is leaking licking and Son now to the to the Bottom of the Sea. What did what did Grandma and Grandpa say to you after couple day in the sea and I opted to Bob Saigon. I come back to my iHome driveway to to see a parent and when they
04:27 See me.
04:29 Listing that cry and they say oh no, you should go to prison you you should have many that they coming soon for you. You should or you will go to prison. They thought you were going to go to prison after that. Why did they think you were going to go to prison many experience before 1955 in North Carolina that they have a mini Experian in before they start to living. I'm not due south and they they they asked me to to living to become dry. Frizzy same like damn.
05:14 Oh because Grandma and Grandpa and you went to from the north to the south in 1954 because I sought after the Communists took over in the north. They were afraid that you were going to after after the Communists took over in 1975 that they would send you to prison.
05:33 And in so you did go to re-education Camp, right? And what was that like?
05:47 What was reeducation Camp like many film here, but I taking this experience to to learn to learn back to look back about Vietnam. And for sure I feel so sad that you so miserable if you so bedtime.
06:31 And
06:33 And so your re-education camp for three years. And is that when you got released from you yet re-education Camp you that's when you decided that you we need to leave Vietnam right now. We're looking for some way I can go by
06:59 My blood about buy food to Thailand allows, but the only way people ask me to go with them on boat because I am and I'm have a title of the Navy officer. Does he have a lot of experience with boats? And that's why I bleed a little bit and they think I have a lost it. But I have also not very much. And so when you were in re-education Camp you think about escaping Vietnam everybody in there everybody in there and
07:44 In the night time and day Day Dreaming on the boat and someday they in the USA and lion to now many people sleeping here, but they when they sleeping sometime tonight into Camp come back the same in completely different when we have their own. I be thinking at the USA USA stat and bought every people they need the freedom that sometimes he said that people hear they when they go to sleep. They still dream or have nightmares about the camp Home Depot still and this me. Why is that this app for some people still Indian? I
08:40 So did anyone else in our family go leave Vietnam yet? Did anyone else escaped out the way to to ask at and when I escaped the day one week after they will escape by boat to but they they get gas and go to prison and one not two years later. I finally they they go they go like me. So we were the first one in the family to go by boat you we at the first three people assembly we scan and who were the other people who
09:36 Was it your sister or your brother who tried to go but they got caught many people tried to go to but until one or two more years later today.
09:52 2K was it because it was easier to escape later on.
09:58 No, because I died trying every year several man every time when available but difficult is the major on how we lucky and how foolish and not know you go.
10:24 So in 1979, we left by boat and I was 2 months old at the time. What was that like?
10:31 I dislike nobody thing you can go with us because this is less than 2 month old and many people that they can adopt you to stay with them. And when I I go through in USA that can send back money send back medicine to to help you and help them but I think my responsibility to go together and and I have a responsibility. I don't want another way and I'm so so hungry to go. So you and Mom said that I cried a lot right? Yes.
11:16 Yes in many people day and they say life. You are the girl on the way cry on the boat and only way cry in the can.
11:28 How long were we on the boat for?
11:31 We lucky we on the bus on the year 3 day and night and we saw the island and we get in and nobody want Island. We stop this island is so small. They they they said nothing you're nobody in there no connection and we are not one and finally the big guy and they wrapped the Civil day. They transfer us to 10, June Pina.
12:04 Tell us a dad for 5 months and that was a refugee camp.
12:11 So five months doesn't that's that long or is that short five months because many people like many people in Philippine daily long almost 20 years and Dagger group of arrival in Canada in December last year in the last group formed from Philippine. We had to be in the refugee camp for 5 months then yes.
12:51 And so when we were after we got off the after we got off the boat, what did you do first? When you arrive to the Island 3 day and night on the boat went about the coming to a very small island. Nobody. Remember the name of the island and the small boat with the elephant. You don't know how to swim in if I see what you eat at and I need to to ask someone to get up you why I bring my why in the
13:42 The island and I come back with you and I hope that after I get into Island the first thing that I saw the coconut tree High about Kenya and deserve first thing I thinking about food and water and lime musical I go up to the top of the coconut tree and I got three or four coconut and I cut them into make your food and water for a family for a family of three under not understand. I'm still surprised until this day how we can do that. How after 3-day sit in the boat.
14:42 The movie nobody can move to see the seat in the but no no stand up just sit there every people have it once it to sit and I am I so not understand why after 3 day no food. No what we can climb up to 10 Coconut Tree in have a three or four coconut. So in 1979 when we finally made it to the US. Yes. Yes in 1779 in June we got here does the first the plane landing in Seattle for paper? And
15:40 The soup right thing is difficult for connection with a not Siri another fly and all group of people from fun places. You can stay and sleeping or at the Seattle airport for when I like sleeping owner at airport and this MX your privacy or time they'll enter article big but not very big about the group up Refugee Vietnamese Refugee sleeping all night anthem at the Sea-Tac Airport to Wedding Connection plant and decide to come here in Seattle. They know that they they come they're light a big party. They bring food they bring clothes they even bring the View Bar to welcome.
16:40 And they did they make me feel quite love with the city. And after that I went to fly connection to Miami and I try very hard to get my Kia. So why do we go to Miami? Because when we in the refugee camp, at least we have some family you gotta be to sponsor to take care for you. What year when you leave ER in Washington in the USA school for financial of America a list a list if nobody is very difficult to get in here because people to get in USA, they need to have a some family sponsor. I have some people coming here earlier to guarantee to two.
17:40 Volume Financial take a position to care for you food. And then I got to thinking about you at least one year and I lucky to have a butt. So then we we went to Florida and we went to Miami and what did you what did you think about? Why did you want to move back to Seattle the the first thing when I go to Miami and some people told me earlier when you come here you should have from DSS a welfare or something. But my spoons are they say very difficult in Miami this week.
18:40 We we
18:45 We stay home and study in waiting for shop and I think this is very difficult for me to stay home to study. I like to to have a job by the way better than just the waiting at home and in the afternoon going to the base and come by pool is so boring. And I think I remember the first place the plane landing. That's why I decide to borrow money and then fly back to Seattle.
19:23 And we've lived here ever since yes. Can you tell me about your first job and in the US?
19:35 Is the worst different but not too different. I was trying to draw in Vietnam for art and architecture and Attica. I have to architect draw desire to vote.
19:53 Soda working at 2, but remind you of working in the Vietnamese Navy the smell of the painting Own Way remind me many Plus in Vietnam in Navy. I ordered a leave it there and
20:20 One day
20:23 About interdesign file cabinet cancel order for
20:32 Applebee's Navy SEAL name white top brand opposite but we have in Vietnam the city ready to
20:50 City to Vietnam in July 1975
20:55 In I was like I was seeing 222 psyop history when I was in Vietnam. I were in the Navy and that use to see does sit fantasy us come into the park for us to his I feel very emotional and now I think in 19 in July 1975.
21:32 But before that on May 75
21:38 We need to be under the return.
21:42 Ali
21:44 30
21:46 C2 US Government at Philippine
21:50 So too, but was actually the company that was fixing and refurbishing military boots for the Vietnamese Navy to use this time in Seattle Capitol company who got the contract to build government Liar Liar Liar smaller company in Poteau in Bala but in Tacoma, but I should try to get the contract to review several Vietnam and I just thinking back in July 75 to be a group up a hundred.
22:50 Back to Vietnam. So you really were seeing two sides of History. Then he were in Vietnam when all the boats were coming in and then you are in these funny. You asked me saw the cancelled order some I saw her throwing this so ready to delivery for Vietnam for Saigon Vietnam on July 1975.
23:25 So, how did you get this job how to get the job at Tacoma Boat? That's a pretty good job. I have a job in but in 1984 when he quit and become a producer for a very famous Vietnamese video music entertainment in Orange County. He making the Enemy music and
24:02 I went to start Northwest Benjamin new paper this time to we went from Marine to Mariah. What aspects what what about Vietnamese culture? Did you think was really important to pass onto to me and to to my two younger brothers to me and family is very important is very important.
24:33 I only want you to know that family. We no way be here for you and to your two brother. Are you supposed to feed people in family fueling same of me? That's mean we have a responsibility on one is for this country who helped us who?
25:10 Who have us and a notice of default the Homeland who we left behind many poor people poor country. So if one shoulder is for the Homeland and one shoulder is for the u.s. Is that why you gave me my Vietnamese name? Why who?
25:34 The gear up 1978 after you were born and own way I thinking about I should lap the Homeland behind the country behind and I think on Elite name who Who present my cut is
26:01 Remember I Homeland in Hawaii who mean remember our homeland?
26:07 People always tell me how pretty that name is.
26:12 Are you do you feel proud of me? I mean I learn Vietnamese, even though I grew up not speaking Vietnamese lying you in here because many people died. They learn in family law on bigamy. I talked to community everyday, but the for you years and years three or four year old you own way go to American school. And but until when you go Daddy go to university and one day I I know you spend a last time for Venom me cry, even you spend.
27:08 Cup of water in University test for Vietnamese language
27:14 And when you have linked with and so you well know about Vietnam history, not only from 220 years ago as well as modern Vietnamese story. I'm very proud of you.
27:31 How did you end up serving in the military? Did you get did you get drafted or did you volunteer a nephew had a nice ability or were to stand up and a light family are some special exception very important for government position. I was surprised so lots of lots of men in South Vietnam War were drafted into the military then many people volunteer to not only trap liar people go to the laptop Academy according to go to inventory for Wednesday at 11. They can stop go to Infantry.
28:31 Ami Grande School many people how many people that feel like that's a good way to serve our country but for me and I'm saying with the we we will drop Andre understand this that responsibility for the time of a country. So what were you what did you think about the war that time? What were your political views in this time? I believe in our Ally I Own Way Billy, you know how I like so American I took never thought we could lose all that our American Ally goodly, but I never even in March 19th 7.
29:31 Define I still believe it even many fan of my former US media.
29:43 They explain for me, but I have no idea. I just thought the world world.
29:51 Would go on and on.
29:54 And I believe that in our Ally.
30:01 Thank you.