"Ba worked for an American airline
called Pan Am. "When it's time, we will
go to America," Ba said.
Pan Am promised to fly us out, but not
yet. Every day, the booms grew louder.
Some days, tear gas stung our eyes like
chili peppers."
The year is 1975. The place is Saigon, Vietnam. There is action everywhere. A mother and her two children are making their way across a busy street, carefully and with determination. The war has brought changes to their beautiful home. Loud boots, shrill whistles, and booms that grow nearermake life harder. Life goes on, and now the family has six children with no time to worry until they hear that Saigon is in trouble.
Every day brings new concerns. The children imagine flying away from it all. Ba's company promised to fly them out when the time was right. The war came nearer, untiil only one more plane could leave. People needed paperwork to assure their freedom. Help was needed. Her father's boss, an American, came up with the idea of adopting as many Vietnamese citizens as could fill a plane. Where would they get a plane, a pilot and crew?
The family packs in preparation. Would an airplane arrive in time to help them leave? Yes!
"We poured into
the plane.
I held my sister's
hand tight.
Ma held the
baby.
Ba helped
my brothers.
All was clamor
and crush and
push push push."
This story of escape just prior to the surrender of Saigon is palpable in its urgency. It is a family story, assembled from family memories of being on the last commercial flight to leave. It is an imagined story, though based on clear memories from life in Vietnam and the fact that Mr. Allan Topping made it possible. It is a story told from a grateful heart.
Clear, and compassionate images speak to the many emotions felt as the family must consider leaving their homeland for safety and a new life. Flight facts and a Bibliography are appended.
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