Vietnam Babylift Personal Stories

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I was abandoned at an orphanage/hospital in Saigon in Dec 1974. Based on my weight and length the doctors estimated my birthdate at 12 Nov. I had pneumonia and was treated there. I can't remember the name I had at the orphanage right now, Bui Van Son I think was the name my parents told me were on some of the adoption paperwork. However I think Van is a last name, so it is probably supposed to read Van Son Bui, with the surname being first as is common in Asian cultures.

My American parents were going to adopt a boy aged 6-10 but when the C-5A crashed the adoption agency called them and asked if they wanted an infant boy instead, they said yes of course. I'm not sure when I left Vietnam exactly, but I went from Saigon to Honolulu, then San Francisco and stayed at the Presidio for about 1 week. Then to Denver, Kansas City, and finally St. Louis. I arrived in St. Louis on 15 Apr 1975.

I am currently stationed in South Korea in the U.S. Air Force and recently married a South Korean.