To Distant Shores
A story of family and survival, a celebration of culture, and an examination of how culture, family and history shape us and combine to form identity.
About the Authors
Tiep Lac Phan
Phan Lạc Tiếp
Born on May 11, 1933 in Sơn Tây, Vietnam. He grew up in North Vietnam, but relocated to the South after the Geneva Accords was signed in 1954. This agreement formally ended French colonization of Vietnam, but divided the country in half and plunged it into civil war for the next two decades. This division was the impetus that shaped Tiếp Phan’s life and many of his stories.
In South Vietnam, he enrolled in the Naval Academy and was commissioned as an officer in the South Vietnamese Navy, ultimately rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. On April 29, 1975, at the end of the Vietnam War, he assisted his friend, Lieutenant Commander Nguyễn Văn Tánh, to orchestrate the departure of HQ-502, with its 5000 fleeing passengers, down the Sài Gòn River, out to freedom on the open seas.
After settling in San Diego, CA, he and Professor Nguyễn Hữu Xương founded the SOS Boat People Committee to bring the plight of Vietnamese Boat People to the world’s attention. This committee, in collaboration with other humanitarian organizations around the world, such as Medicine’s Du Monde and Cap Anamur, rescued over 3000 boat people and resettled them all over the world.
He is a distinguished Vietnamese author with a writing career that spans seven decades, eight books, and countless essays. Twelve of his short stories have been translated from Vietnamese and republished in To Distant Shores.
“Looking at the sparks of incense, each flashing a red glow in the twilight, I felt as if those wasted lives, those lost souls were lingering somewhere around me. I became uneasy and grieved for the fragile fates of people.”
Tiếp Phan, To Distant Shores
Huan Lac Phan
Huân Phan
Born in Sài Gòn, Vietnam, in 1966. He boarded HQ-502 with his family as an eight-year-old and emigrated to the United States as part of the wave of 130,000 refugees at the end of the Vietnam War.
In America, Huân attended primary and secondary schools in San Diego, California, before earning a bachelor degree from UC Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from UCLA. A contributing author on multiple peer reviewed articles and an inventor on several patents, he’s had a diverse professional career, with roles in cancer biology, product development, and product management.
Active in his local community, he’s volunteered in various capacities, contributing as coach, teacher and board member. In 2015, he was elected as a Trustee to the governing board of his local school district, where he served one year as its President. He currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, and two college age children.
To Distant Shores is his first foray into writing. In addition to helping to translate his father's works, Huân has also contributed thirteen chapters to this book, lending his perspective as a young boy for many of the life changing events.
“… peanut butter was a revelation… Its stickiness coated the roof of my mouth and teeth, helping to prolong the sensation and pleasure. I thought, ‘ america is the greatest country on earth.’ ”
Huân Phan, To Distant Shores
The Journey
Last Days
The Phan's family home in the Cửu Long neighborhood (1) was shelled by Northern communist forces on April 27th, forcing them to abandon their proximity to the landing ship HQ-502 (2) and move to their uncle’s house on Lê Thánh Tôn St. (3).
As the country began its collapse on April 29th, they fled into Naval Headquarter via its South Entrance (4) before abandoning their cars near the North Entrance (5), and walk the remaining distance to HQ-502 (2).
Out to Sea
In the early-morning hours of April 30, 1975, HQ-502 departed from Naval Headquarters (1) and sailed down the Sài Gòn River. Cát Lái (2) and Nhà Bè (3) were in flames.
HQ-502 took the right fork at Nhà Bè down Soi Rạp out to the open seas (4) where she passed under artillery fire launched from Nhà Bè toward Rừng Sác (5).
To America
Leaving Sài Gòn (1) on the early morning of April 30, 1975, Landing Ship HQ-502 limped to Côn Sơn Island (2), where she joined the remains of the South Vietnamese Navy. There, USS Kirk from Task Force 76, rescued HQ-502 and escorted her to Subic Bay, Philippines (3).
Refugees from HQ-502 boarded the commercial transport ship SS Green Wave and were delivered to various refugee camps in Guam (4). After several weeks on Guam, the Phan family were flown to Camp Pendleton, CA (5), their last refugee camp before entering the U.S. Mainland.
“Mr. Armitage chose not to tell his superiors about the likelihood of refugees, thinking it “easier to beg for forgiveness than to get permission.” So, instead of 3000 sailors on these ships, there were 30,000 refugees, ... ”
Huân Phan, To Distant Shores