TÂM TÌNH CỦA MỘT NGƯỜI TRẺ QUAN TÂM ĐẾN NGƯỜI TỊ NẠN VIỆT NAM.

Sau đây là thư của một Bác Sỹ Y Khoa trẻ, đã từng viết cho www.memaria.org về cuộc vượt biên của anh và cuộc phấn đấu vất vả trên đất Mỹ.

Kinh nghiệm qúy báu của anh đã được chúng tôi dịch thuật ra VIệt Ngữ và gửi cho Project "Journey to Freedom: A Boat People Retrospective". Buổi hội thảo quan trọng này do Cộng Đồng người Mỹ gốc Việt và Library of Congress tổ chức vào ngày 2 tháng 5 năm 2009 sắp đến, tại thủ đô Washington D. C

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Ngày 10/2/2009

Dear Cô Kim Ha
 
First of all, CHUC MUNG NAM  MOI to you and family with BEST WISHES, BEING HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS.
 
I was attempting to contact you several times in the past but the moment I turned around consulting with the patients, I then forgot about it completely. My apology!
 
Secondly, I'm currently collecting many stories told by boat/walk people from internet and other sources (mostly in Vietnamese language). My question is whether you could have them printed and published as a book, which could be donated to the VN/US libraries and sold to individuals. The collected money could be used for disabled people in Vietnam or any meaningful purposes (of courses, you'll have all authority to keep the budget and do all accounting activities).
 
Thirdly, good news for boat people, especially who came and stayed in Pulau Bidong, Malaysia, in which Malaysia government is building resorts and historical museum about the Vietnamese boat people at Pulau Bidong. They are looking forward to provide the services to the tourist (especially boat people) some time in next year, 2010. This information was provided by a knowledgeable Malaysian tour guide when I was on the Asia tour last month. I had a chance to tour in Thailand, and I tried to acquire some info about Songkla camp but no one was either uninteresting talking  or unknown much about it.  Unfortunately, the places where I visited was not close by Songkla at all; otherwise, I would stop by and take a few shots for you to update.
 
Fourthly, it would be my pleasure if you could do so; however, please take off my tittle, which is Dr. I think it's more appropriate that way, especially for the Vietnamese traditions. I don't want people misthink of me as showing off my success via that story. So, you could mention me as a professional provider instead of a physician, please!
 
By the way, have you read an article about building a memorial wall for boat/walk people who passed away on the way of their escape? The memorial wall will have full name and the year that they passed away. Unfortunately, I can't recall where I read it from. Could you please kindly refresh me about that if you'd know any. The reason I ask for your help b/c my family (in fact, my mom) was talking to a lady, who came from N.Carolina, while we were awaiting for noodle bowls Pho in Las Vegas last Christmas. Her family escaped from Vietnam by boat some time in 1982. Her boat was attacked by the Thai pirates and was smashed into pieces by Thai's boats. She was holding her mom (whom we also saw on that day in Vegas) while both were in the ocean whereas her other son and brother were drowned away (along with other people). She luckily grabbed a piece of wood which both her and her mom held on ~2 days til they were rescued by Malaysian fishmen. The trauma had occured quiet long ago but when she related it to my mom, she couldn't hold her tear, and of courses, the standby people, who were also awaiting to be seated, were also filled with tears. Her mom was about 15 yrs younger than my grandmom's age (90); my grandmom was also there at that time. That's the reason why I ask for your help so she could contribute your son and brother's names to the memorial walls, which will be placed somewhere in the Little Saigon area.
 
Again, thank you for informing me about my story being send to the Symposium Boat People Committee.
 
Wishing you have a great day today.
 
Sincerely,

Kenneth Ng.