Trang Van Nguyen; his wife, Ahn, and their children,
Sherry and Tom, in 1980 in Sungei Beisi Camp in Malaysia, awaiting resettlement.
Photo: Trang Van Nguyen family |
CWS Refugee Stories from Across the Decades:
Trang Van Nguyen, Vietnam -- 1981
Nearly 300 men, women and children escaped communist Vietnam with their lives in 1980 thanks to Trang Van Nguyen.
His good judgment and experience navigating ships in South Vietnam’s Navy helped him steer their overcrowded boat through pirate attacks and other perils, finally reaching a refugee camp in Malaysia.
In 1981 under CWS auspices, he, his wife, and their two small children got a new start in Sacramento, California. Bethany Presbyterian Church members, including Carol Merritt, helped them settle in.
Now living in Union City, California, Trang and Ahn Nguyen own two manicuring shops. Their daughter Sherry has a doctorate in pharmacology, and son Tom is a real estate agent.
“We worked very hard,” Trang said. “I am so thankful for our success here.” The Nguyens regularly contribute funds to help newer refugees. Observed Merritt, “They are very generous people, giving back to the church and country in so many ways.”