April 30, 1975 marks the day that the Vietnam War ended. To commemorate the history of Black April, the Union of Vietnamese Student Association of the Midwest will be publishing stories from our staff as well as our VSA members up until April 30th. If you would like to share your story, please email [email protected]
Nathan Giang - Indiana State Representative
On April 30th, 1975, years of war in the country of Vietnam ended with the fall of what some might call the pearl of the Far East. The fall of Saigon marked the end of the existence of South Vietnam and the start of a new era called the Vietnam Reunification processed.
However, this wasn’t just the start of the Vietnam Reunification process but was also the start of a long and difficult journey that many of our family members had to embark on. They left their country, their home, and everything that was once familiar to them, and set forth towards a new future. Many of them fled the country on small, cramped boats that were filled to the brim in hope of finding refuge. Unfortunately, not all the boats made the treacherous journey and countless lives were lost. For the lucky few that did make it, they had to rebuild their life from the ground up. Endearing discrimination, language barriers, and the hardship with living in an unfamiliar land, surrounded by an even more unfamiliar culture.
As a child, I was told of these stories of hardship and adversities that my parents and relatives had to face coming to this new country. It revealed their strength, courage, and admiration to not only provide a better future for themselves, but also their family. After hearing these stories of adversity that many of my relatives had to face, I knew that I was very privilege to be living in America and was inspired to become a better individual, one that my family would become proud of.
I would have not been where I am today nor would my family be if it were not for the sacrifices they had to endure coming to secure a better future. It was through their motivation, their influences, and the hardships they faced that helped shape me into the individual that I am today. None of this would have happened if April 30th, 1975, didn’t happen.
This isn’t a political stance. What this is, is a time for all of us to remember and recognize this day, as a day that changed and shaped the lives for many Vietnamese and Vietnamese-Americans living today. We should never forget the day that changed history – the day that Saigon fell.
Lian Le - Michigan State Representative
The Fall of Saigon marked the beginning of the greatest wave of Vietnamese diaspora in our history. Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese people fled their homeland by plane or by boat to seek asylum in countries such as the United States. My family is what is known as "boat people," named for the most common kind of migration during and after the Vietnam War. Growing up, my childhood was filled with stories of these boats to remind me of why I am here and why I have the privilege to live the life that I am given. As I begin to understand more about my history, I realize that this life was not given at all but that it was fought for. My parents left Vietnam because they chose what they felt meant freedom, and this was the sacrifice of an entire nation for its future generations. I am anchored in the struggles that are part of my heritage not because I want to keep talking about them but because the foundation that I build myself upon depends on the preservation of my roots. I can't stand up for anything that I believe in without first acknowledging the people who gave me my voice. April 30th, 1975 is known as "Nhay Mat Nuoc," the day we lost our land, but this day also reminds us that despite our trials, the Vietnamese community is stronger than ever. This is why Black April is important to me.
As part of the commemoration for the lives that were lost and for the sacrifices of both our Vietnamese and American nations, we color this day black. We remind ourselves of the hardships of our soldiers and our immigrant nation but also of the perseverance that has carried our families through those rough waters, an endless determination and will for the achievements that we carry the legacy for today.
Our story is of war, tragedy, and sacrifice, but more than that, it is of the hope and strength that define the Vietnamese people.
Vi Vo - Illinois co-State Representative
April 30th, 1975. A day that is cherished, yet a terrifying memory. My mother was only six years old during the Vietnam War, so her memory of the last day of the war was all a blur. I sat there with chills down my back, as she told her story. “I don’t remember a lot because I was so young. But I remember I was with your aunt, uncle and grandma. Your youngest uncle was not even born yet and your grandpa was not there because he was serving in the war. It was so dark and scary outside. Every day and night, we hear the loud noise of bombs hitting the city. As each day went by, we sat and prayed that the loud bombing noise never came closer to us but our prayers were not answered.
One day, I was woken up by the screaming of my family and neighbors, telling us to hide or to run for, literally, our lives. There was smoke everywhere. The smoke was burning our eyes and making it hard for us to breathe. I grabbed my younger brother and sister and searched for my mom. When we found her, we hid under whatever we could find. I sat there so scared, not knowing what was going to happen to us. “Are we going to die today?’ was the only thing going through my head. While we were all hiding from the bombing, we heard a truck pull up outside of our house. Your grandpa came in looking for us, telling us to get into the car now. Your uncle, aunt and grandma all ran to the truck. I don’t remember what I was doing, but I remember that your grandpa drove off without me! I was chasing and yelling at your grandpa to stop. He finally heard me and stopped the truck to grab me. I remember during the car ride, your grandparents were debating if they should get on the rescue helicopter that was waiting for them or not. They didn’t want to leave their families behind, so they decided to just stay and wait it out. After the car ride, we ended up in a safe house and stayed there. A few days went by and all I wanted to do was go home. A day later, my wish was granted. We were told that it was safe for us to return home.
That was all I can remember clearly. I didn’t see any shooting or anything but I definitely remember the bombing.”
Although my mom didn’t recall much of the event, she was grateful that she was alive and able to go home with her family and friends. April 30th, 1975 marks the Fall of Saigon. The end of the Vietnam War.
