Episode Details

In April 1975, the world watched as South Vietnam collapsed. But for those on the deck of the USNS Kimbro, it was a desperate, chaotic, and human struggle for survival.

In this episode, we bring together two sides of history that were separated for half a century. Kenneth and co-host Nam C. Kim are joined by John Irwin and Robbie Parsley, two U.S. Marines who served as security forces during Operation New Life.

This conversation explores:

The myth of the “bloodbath” after 1975

What it meant to stay, not be “left behind”

Life in Saigon during the first months after the war

Reeducation camps, U.S. embargoes, and historical omissions

How propaganda shapes memory in the Vietnamese diaspora

These veterans share the memories of what it was like to be 18-year-old soldiers tasked with managing a humanitarian crisis they weren't trained for. They recount the sight of overloaded barges, the tragic burial of a woman who couldn't bear to leave her homeland, and the miracle of a baby born on a crowded freighter, a child named "Kimbro" in honor of the ship that carried him to freedom.

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

Visit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!