Oral History of Tuan Anh Nguyen

An oral history with Mr. Tuan Anh Nguyen, born on December 28, 1947 in Nam Dinh, Vietnam. He moved from North Vietnam to the South in Saigon at age 7. He graduated from the University of Saigon in 1970 and became a teacher specializing in Vietnamese literature. He was drafted in 1972 to be an officer in the South Vietnamese armed forces. After the Fall of Saigon, he was imprisoned for three years in the re-education camps. He was released in 1978 and returned to Saigon. He escaped Vietnam by boat in July, 1981 and arrived in America in 1982. He discusses his experience in the re-education camps and his journey on boat. He also talks about his experience in the refugee camps and life in America. After coming to the United States through a sponsor program, he became an electrician for 20 years, and he became actively involved in the Vietnamese-Catholic community. He has served as a chairman in the Vietnamese Cursillo Movement of Los Angeles and the Vietnamese Catholic Community of Norwalk. He retired at age 65 and continues to serve in the religious community. He has 3 children, 2 grandchildren, and lives in Anaheim, California with his wife.Recorded Digitall