ESL 084

Dangerous Situations- Coming to America

By Soun Tep

Click photo to see information about Immigration into the US.

Vietnam was divided into two parts by the Paris Convention. The communists occupied half of the country from the 17th parallel to North Vietnam. From this time, gradually the French went back to their country. All the colonial troops became of the Vietnam Republic. I was Captain of Battery, a commander in the artillery Army. In 1975, the war was lost to the Communists.

At this time, all of the Republican Government and the military officers were obligated to go to the jail. They called them reeducation camps. As for myself, the Communists captured me and handcuffed me and put me in a jail in the middle of a large forest located between Camau Province and Kieng-Giang province. They gave me a little rice with salt to eat for two meals a day and they forced me to do hard labor. One day I fell while I was working because day by day, I became more exhausted and very hungry. I became very sick, but the communists didn't regard me. One day, I had the advantage to escape to Cambodia and I found my way to Thailand. I stayed in Cambodia for three years until 1989 I went through the forest to Thailand and stayed in a refugee camp.

After three years I came to the US and I have been living in Seattle since 1992. Here, in Seattle, I think that what I expected came true. I could say that the US is a peaceful and free country. All men are equal here. I'm very grateful that I survived a very dangerous situation. I'm very happy to live in the country because of my experiences.

Today I love dancing and I volunteer in the Senior Center.

Click here to learn more about how to become a United States Citizen. The linked site includes video and sound.