Vietnam Babylift Personal Stories


Lindsay Addison


My birth name was Tran Thi Thu and I was dropped off at the Sacred Heart Orphanage in Danang at 2 wks old by either US military or South vietnamese troops. It's only because of the kindness, love and care of the Sisters at Sacred Heart Orphanage at Danang I am here today to a mother of a beautiful 14 month old William. April 1969 was my exit from Vietnam and if it was 1975 I might have not been able to leave then being just about 10. Since coming to the US I was adopted by another family, Nancy and Thomas Taylor in West Chester PA. I also became a citizen of the US in 1979, graduated from college and now have a wonderful husband and an adorable son.

Since the birth of William, I have been trying to come to terms about my past. I have been in contact with Sister Theresa at Sacred Heart Orphanage in Danang and she has blessed me with words of kindness and insight on my past and how I came to be to Sacred Heart Orphanage. In my quest for answers, I have been able to become friends with LeAnn Thieman, Lana Noone (whom I met back on April 9, 2005 at Pearl S. Buck International in Perkasie), Bree Simmer at VAN, and with other former Operation Babylift Orphans. The testimonies I have heard from these individuals have been uplifting and quite remarkable. I have so much to be thankful and my heart goes out to all my former brothers and sisters of Vietnam, here in the US and back in Vietnam.

I know I may never know who my real parents are but I know they are looking down from heaven and that I have many angels in my life from the day I was brought into this world. Thank you most to my adoptee parents Nancy / Thomas Taylor and my siblings, and to my husband Jeff and my precious son, Will. I love you all.

Lindsay C Addison
jeflinwil@yahoo.com