Vietnam Babylift Personal
Stories
Carol M. Gerisch
I was involved with the Michigan Red Cross
Diaster Team. I went with State Representatives, and a Physician to assist in
the care and transport of Vietnamese Children to the Detroit and Chicago areas.
We
picked up our kids from the Presido area. We had difficulty identifying our kids
because we could not read their nametags. They had been damaged by water from
bathing. The kids were scared and many suffered from sleep deprivation.
We
traveled via a commerical airline on our return to the Midwest. Every child under
2 years of age had a caregiver with them. There was a ten year old little boy,
that I called the "General." The physician and I had not had any sleep
in 72 hours and had several children who were crying or acting out. This little
boy would walk up and say something to the child in his native language and the
child would quiet down. The children were very beautiful in their mixture of white
or black and Asian features. The children were clearly more comfortable with women
with dark hair. They often would cry if held by blonde women.
The media
presented the children as all happy to be here! That was not accurate. We saw
children who were blind from untreated eye infections. They were frighten because
of the strangeness of the environment and strange looking people. They did not
know how to play with toys.
When I was leaving to go home, my little General
and a friend came running after me. They were speaking very fast in their language.
I could not understand them. An interpreter came up to me and explained what they
said.
They were asking "are you my new mother?" I wanted to put
my arm around them and take them home. They had won my heart in such a short period
of time. I took a picture of them and have always wondered over the years how
they are doing. I always look back on this time with fond memories and yet sadness.
Few American know these children were ostracized and died because they were mixed
race children. Those stories did not get told. Well, my little "General"
-blessing to you and others who stepped up at this time in our history!
Email:
cgerisch@stlukehealthnet.org