Storyboard Text
- After the fall of Saigon in 1975, about 1.5 million Vietnamese flee their country to avoid communist rule. Many used boats to escape. Of those who took the journey about 1/3 of them died. The boat people had to endure so much which included lack of food and water, attacks at sea, bad weather, and rough seas. And even if they did make it to land they struggled with financial problems and not knowing the language.
- Hien was one of the brave people to make the journey to freedom but it did take him 9 attempts. After each attempt, he was put in prison for a longer time period. He was finally released from jail by a spy acting as part of the Vietcong. When releasing him Hien he offered for him to join him on the boat he made to flee the country. Hien took up the opportunity and was one of the few men to survive a pirate attack. The rest of the survivors and Hien were left a week without food and water. They had to collect rainwater. Once they got about a mile from shore Hien grabbed an empty gas tank, jumped into the sea, and float his way to shore. Hien was very lucky to survive his journey as many did not.
- Linda Thong was a survivor and her journey came with many struggles. She had started on a small boat with 55 other people. The first problem they encountered was they had run out of food and water by the fifth day. Then on the 7th day, they found another boat that waved them over and gave them food. But, when the Vietnamese boat people were full the other crew took their weapons and whatever they had left. Including, kidnapping the only girl on board. Everyone else was then thrown back onto their own boat and Thong's daughter got thrown into the sea. After this experience, they had a hard time trusting any other boat support.
- The Trinh family was another family that was able to make it to Reguee camp. The young four-year-old feared hunger more than the two pirate attacks they had. When the pirate would attack her mother would give an old moldy and squished bread bun made out of taro root just to get her to stop crying. When they almost made it to Malaysia the coast guard would not let the boat through. So, the captain sunk the boat and made everyone swim to shore. Fortunately, the whole family was able to make it where they stayed in a refugee camp before immigrating to Canada.
- Van Nguyen was one of the last of the boat people. Her father was a soldier for the South so when the communist took over they imprisoned him. Her father was eventually able to escape and flee the country so, shortly after the rest of his family did the same. After three attempts they finally made out on the sea. First, the pirates attacked and when they did Van's mother swallowed her gold earring so when they get to land and they come out of her system they could be sold for money. Once the pirates came they sailed for three more days before signaling a boat from Thailand with a burning shirt. The people on the boat gave them food, water, and directions towards land. Then they finally made it to shore the people helped the women and children to land while the men burned the boat so they could not be sent back.
- In conclusion, the Vietnamese who fled their country also known as the boat people showed a great amount of bravery in order to have freedom. Although many did not survive the journey those who did were able to start a new life without having to worry about the communists taking over. These people had much to endure as they were stranded on small fishing boats often without engines. This included pirate attacks, dehydration, and starvation. The refugees were very grateful that after their long journey they were allowed into a free country such as your own.
- Way to Freedom
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