Another good post, Kat. I do not know how anyone managed to act rationally. I was still in Saigon then, waiting for a flight out. We were told not to go to Bangkok. Thailand didn't want a flood of expat refugees. Cathy Funk's husband tried to get me on a flight to Singapore, but in the end, I landed in Bangkok after all. My husband was still in Saigon trying to finish his project. Imagine that! Even after all these years, the thought of what could have happened to us scares me.
It really is harrowing, isn't it? Reading again the line from my mom: "Leaving you there was the hardest thing I've ever done . . . " I felt the breath escape my body. Good God, how did we all manage? I was only eight but I must have been acutely aware of the fear and anxiety. In fact I recall my mom spanking me on the trip home for wandering off. I was so shocked at the time, but for her it must have been the last straw . . .
Kat, what can I say? Yet another retrospective that strikes so many notes. From the deeply personal (yes my 14 year old writing was plain middle school!) to the deeply emotive - Mr. Bi's letter and mom's calendar notes. With the backdrop of the orphan flight disaster and the general air of chaos it is hard to comment in a rational way. Perhaps that is the point: there is no rationality to Black April. That anyone lives through this type of madness is a testament to human survivability; in contrast it is a sad statement that such survival skills are necessary.
Thanks for this memory of our shared history, and the many others you have unearthed. They are impressive, important, and invaluable.
Thanks so much for chiming in here. I think your 14-year-old writing was so insightful--you somehow knew the strength dad had, what an amazing insight. It really is hard to imagine we all survived that, and yes, we probably never should have had to. I'm grateful for your reflection on the value of my essays. Many thanks always, Kat
Our family was still in Saigon then (USAID), & my husband was duty officer the week of the baby crash. He was, obviously, very rarely home that week. He’ll never forget it.
Oh Diana. What a week that must have been. It seems the farther we get from it the more intense the fact of our existence there becomes. How did we do it?
I wonder! Then it was just our life and we didn’t have time to think about it. In retrospect we wonder how we managed, and it makes for some great stories, as you well know! We went to Manila just before Saigon fell, so my husband was then involved with helping the evacuees.
Another good post, Kat. I do not know how anyone managed to act rationally. I was still in Saigon then, waiting for a flight out. We were told not to go to Bangkok. Thailand didn't want a flood of expat refugees. Cathy Funk's husband tried to get me on a flight to Singapore, but in the end, I landed in Bangkok after all. My husband was still in Saigon trying to finish his project. Imagine that! Even after all these years, the thought of what could have happened to us scares me.
It really is harrowing, isn't it? Reading again the line from my mom: "Leaving you there was the hardest thing I've ever done . . . " I felt the breath escape my body. Good God, how did we all manage? I was only eight but I must have been acutely aware of the fear and anxiety. In fact I recall my mom spanking me on the trip home for wandering off. I was so shocked at the time, but for her it must have been the last straw . . .
Kat, what can I say? Yet another retrospective that strikes so many notes. From the deeply personal (yes my 14 year old writing was plain middle school!) to the deeply emotive - Mr. Bi's letter and mom's calendar notes. With the backdrop of the orphan flight disaster and the general air of chaos it is hard to comment in a rational way. Perhaps that is the point: there is no rationality to Black April. That anyone lives through this type of madness is a testament to human survivability; in contrast it is a sad statement that such survival skills are necessary.
Thanks for this memory of our shared history, and the many others you have unearthed. They are impressive, important, and invaluable.
Aloha,
Chris
Thanks so much for chiming in here. I think your 14-year-old writing was so insightful--you somehow knew the strength dad had, what an amazing insight. It really is hard to imagine we all survived that, and yes, we probably never should have had to. I'm grateful for your reflection on the value of my essays. Many thanks always, Kat
As always, Kat, thank you for sharing your family's feelings and struggles during that terrible time.
Denise
Thank you so much, Denise. Each year its seems like these memories get more profound and far-reaching. Thanks for sharing the journey.
Our family was still in Saigon then (USAID), & my husband was duty officer the week of the baby crash. He was, obviously, very rarely home that week. He’ll never forget it.
Oh Diana. What a week that must have been. It seems the farther we get from it the more intense the fact of our existence there becomes. How did we do it?
I wonder! Then it was just our life and we didn’t have time to think about it. In retrospect we wonder how we managed, and it makes for some great stories, as you well know! We went to Manila just before Saigon fell, so my husband was then involved with helping the evacuees.
Yes—so many stories! If you or your husband ever want to share them via an essay or video interview on this Substack I’d be happy to host it!