1. Hu\u1ef3nh Quy<\/strong><\/p>\nT\u00f4i t\u1eeb mi\u1ec1n qu\u00ea \u0111\u1ea5t \u0111\u1ecf n\u1eafng b\u1ee5i m\u01b0a b\u00f9n V\u00f5 \u0110\u1eaft v\u1ec1 m\u1ed9t x\u1ee9 c\u0169ng ch\u1eb3ng kh\u00e1c g\u00ec, nh\u01b0ng l\u00e0 t\u1ec9nh l\u1ef5, \u0111\u1ec3 h\u1ecdc l\u1edbp \u0110\u1ec7 Tam Tr\u01b0\u1eddng Trung H\u1ecdc C\u00f4ng L\u1eadp Long Kh\u00e1nh. \u1ede \u0111\u00e2y t\u00f4i quen v\u1edbi n\u00f3.<\/p>\n
T\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng nh\u1edb \u0111\u00e3 quen v\u1edbi n\u00f3 t\u1eeb l\u00fac n\u00e0o, quen c\u00e1ch n\u00e0o. N\u00f3 h\u1ecdc ban B, t\u00f4i ban A. D\u00e2n nh\u00e0 qu\u00ea l\u00ean t\u1ec9nh l\u1ef5 c\u00f3 m\u1ed9t s\u1ed1 m\u1eb7c c\u1ea3m nh\u1ea5t \u0111\u1ecbnh n\u00ean su\u1ed1t ng\u00e0y ch\u1ec9 ch\u00fai m\u0169i v\u00e0o s\u00e1ch v\u1edf. H\u01a1n n\u1eefa, \u0111i v\u1edbi t\u00f4i v\u1ec1 t\u1ec9nh c\u00f2n c\u00f3 3 \u0111\u1ee9a b\u1ea1n kh\u00e1c n\u00ean kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 nhu c\u1ea7u t\u00ecm th\u00eam b\u1ea1n \u1edf m\u1ed9t n\u01a1i xa l\u1ea1. <\/p>\n
Khi l\u00ean l\u1edbp \u0110\u1ec7 Nh\u1ecb, ba ng\u01b0\u1eddi b\u1ea1n \u0111i v\u1edbi t\u00f4i n\u0103m tr\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111\u00e3 b\u1ecf cu\u1ed9c \u0111\u0103ng l\u00ednh v\u00e0 m\u1ed9t ng\u01b0\u1eddi b\u1ea1n m\u1edbi, l\u1edbp d\u01b0\u1edbi, v\u00e0o thu\u00ea nh\u00e0 \u1edf chung v\u1edbi t\u00f4i. T\u00f4i th\u1eadt s\u1ef1 kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n nh\u1edb c\u01a1 duy\u00ean n\u00e0o \u0111\u00e3 khi\u1ebfn n\u00f3 thu\u00ea chung nh\u00e0, \u0103n chung ch\u1ed7 m\u1eb7c d\u1ea7u n\u00f3 c\u00f3 nh\u00e0, c\u00f3 m\u1eb9, c\u00f3 c\u00e1c anh ch\u1ecb \u1edf g\u1ea7n tr\u01b0\u1eddng ch\u00fang t\u00f4i theo h\u1ecdc. <\/p>\n
N\u00f3 d\u00e2n Hu\u1ebf ch\u00ednh g\u1ed1c v\u00e0 hai th\u1eb1ng t\u00f4i Qu\u1ea3ng Ng\u00e3i r\u1eb7t, th\u1ebf m\u00e0 h\u1ee3p v\u1edbi nhau c\u00e1ch n\u00e0o kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft l\u1ea1i ch\u1ea5p nh\u1eadn s\u1ed1ng chung ho\u00e0 b\u00ecnh. T\u00ednh t\u00ecnh n\u00f3 r\u1ea5t t\u1ed1t, r\u1ed9ng r\u00e3i, qu\u00fd tr\u1ecdng b\u1ea1n b\u00e8 nh\u01b0ng c\u00f3 h\u01a1i kh\u00f3 ch\u1ecbu. T\u00ednh t\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 g\u1ecdn g\u00e0ng, ng\u0103n n\u1eafp nh\u01b0ng v\u1eabn ch\u00e0o thua n\u00f3. \u0110i\u1ec1u g\u00ec l\u00e0m n\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng h\u00e0i l\u00f2ng l\u00e0 k\u1ec3 nh\u01b0\u2026 \u201cm\u00f9a m\u01b0a l\u1ea7n n\u00e0y b\u1ea7y nh\u1ea7y h\u01a1n m\u01b0a l\u1ea7n tr\u01b0\u1edbc!\u201d<\/p>\n
Th\u1eddi gian c\u1eafp s\u00e1ch \u0111\u1ebfn tr\u01b0\u1eddng v\u00e0 t\u00ecnh b\u1ea1n v\u1eabn b\u00ecnh th\u1ea3n theo d\u00f2ng \u0111\u1eddi tr\u00f4i \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c m\u1ea5y n\u0103m d\u00f9 c\u00f3 nh\u1eefng thay \u0111\u1ed5i n\u01a1i \u0103n ch\u1ed1n \u1edf trong \u0111\u1eddi h\u1ecdc tr\u00f2. \u0110\u1ebfn l\u00fac t\u00f4i ch\u00e1n h\u1ecdc \u201cb\u1ecf \u0111\u00f2 b\u1ecf b\u1ebfn b\u1ecf d\u00f2ng s\u00f4ng\u201d \u0111\u0103ng v\u00e0o Kh\u00f4ng Qu\u00e2n, n\u00f3 c\u0169ng l\u1ecdt t\u1ecdt l\u00e0m theo. Ng\u00e0y t\u00f4i v\u00e0o Quang Trung \u1edf \u0110\u1ea1i \u0110\u1ed9i 43, n\u00f3 c\u0169ng v\u00e0o sau \u0111\u00f3 m\u1ed9t tu\u1ea7n \u1edf \u0110\u1ea1i \u0111\u1ed9i 44, c\u00f9ng Ti\u1ec3u \u0111o\u00e0n Nguy\u1ec5n Hu\u1ec7 \u201cs\u1ed1ng m\u1ea1nh s\u1ed1ng h\u00f9ng.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sau tu\u1ea7n l\u1ec5 \u0111\u1ea7u b\u1ed7ng nghe x\u00ec x\u00e0o c\u00f3 d\u1ecbch b\u1ec7nh \u201c\u0111au m\u00e0ng \u00f3c\u201d ph\u00e1t sinh. Ban Y t\u1ebf Ti\u1ec3u \u0111o\u00e0n l\u00f9a c\u1ea3 hai \u0111\u1ea1i \u0111\u1ed9i ra ngo\u00e0i s\u00e2n r\u1ed3i h\u1ecfi ai c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y c\u00f3 tri\u1ec7u ch\u1ee9ng nh\u1ee9c \u0111\u1ea7u th\u00ec \u0111\u1ee9ng qua m\u1ed9t b\u00ean. Kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft n\u00f3 nghe l\u1ed9n, s\u1eafp h\u00e0ng l\u1ed9n hay sao m\u00e0 b\u1ecb gi\u1eef l\u1ea1i \u0111\u1ec3 kh\u00e1m nghi\u1ec7m cho k\u1ef9. \u0110\u1ebfn khi ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta kh\u00e1m x\u00e9t k\u1ef9 l\u01b0\u1ee1ng, ch\u1eb3ng t\u00ecm \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c tri\u1ec7u ch\u1ee9ng g\u00ec \u1edf trong ng\u01b0\u1eddi n\u00f3 th\u00ec \u0111\u00e3 tr\u1ec5 kho\u00e1 h\u1ecdc m\u1ea5t r\u1ed3i. N\u00f3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c gi\u1eef l\u1ea1i kho\u00e1 sau v\u00e0 cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng b\u1ecb \u0111\u01b0a qua nh\u1eadp kho\u00e1 \u1edf tr\u01b0\u1eddng V\u00f5 Khoa Th\u1ee7 \u0110\u1ee9c v\u00e0 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c l\u00e0m s\u0129 quan, trong khi t\u00f4i v\u1eabn mang con c\u00e1 cho t\u1edbi khi v\u1ec1 n\u01b0\u1edbc.<\/p>\n
Sau bao nhi\u00eau thay \u0111\u1ed5i trong \u0111\u1eddi binh nghi\u1ec7p, t\u00f4i v\u1ec1 Phi \u0111o\u00e0n Tinh Long 821 bay AC119K th\u00ec l\u1ea1i g\u1eb7p n\u00f3, l\u1ea1i thu\u00ea nh\u00e0 \u1edf chung ngo\u00e0i ph\u1ed1 m\u1ea5y n\u0103m d\u00e0i tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi n\u00f3 l\u1eadp gia \u0111\u00ecnh v\u00e0 t\u00f4i \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c c\u1ea5p ph\u00f2ng ri\u00eang \u1edf c\u01b0 x\u00e1 s\u0129 quan \u0111\u1ed9c th\u00e2n.<\/p>\n
T\u00f4i v\u1edbi n\u00f3 d\u0129 nhi\u00ean r\u1ea5t c\u00f3 nhi\u1ec1u k\u1ef7 ni\u1ec7m, nh\u01b0ng k\u1ef7 ni\u1ec7m \u0111\u00e1ng nh\u1edb nh\u1ea5t trong \u0111\u1eddi l\u00e0 l\u1ea7n t\u00f4i n\u0103n n\u1ec9 m\u01b0\u1ee3n \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c chi\u1ebfc xe Honda \u201868 m\u1edbi toanh c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 \u0111i th\u0103m \u00f4ng anh Bi\u1ec7t \u0110\u1ed9ng Qu\u00e2n, cho oai, \u0111ang \u0111\u00f3ng qu\u00e2n \u1edf H\u1eadu Ngh\u0129a.<\/p>\n
C\u00f3 l\u1ebd n\u00f3 bi\u1ebft t\u00f4i ch\u1ea1y xe h\u01a1i… ba gai n\u00ean ph\u1ea3i tr\u1ea3i qua nhi\u1ec1u l\u1ea7n thuy\u1ebft ph\u1ee5c n\u00f3 m\u1edbi \u0111\u1ed3ng \u00fd. Tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi n\u00f3 \u0111\u01b0a xe cho t\u00f4i c\u00f2n d\u1eb7n \u0111i d\u1eb7n l\u1ea1i n\u0103m l\u1ea7n ba l\u01b0\u1ee3t, \u201cM\u1ea7y l\u00e0m \u01a1n ch\u1ea1y xe c\u1ea9n th\u1eadn gi\u00f9m tao; tao m\u1edbi xin ti\u1ec1n c\u1ee7a M\u1ea1 tao mua \u0111\u00f3 nghe.\u201d D\u0129 nhi\u00ean l\u00e0 t\u00f4i h\u1ee9a ch\u1eafc nh\u01b0 b\u1eafp v\u1edbi n\u00f3 tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi n\u00f3 ch\u1ecbu \u0111\u01b0a ch\u00eca kho\u00e1 cho t\u00f4i.<\/p>\n
T\u1eeb Saigon \u0111i H\u1eadu Ngh\u0129a c\u0169ng kh\u00e1 xa. Ch\u1ed7 Ti\u1ec3u \u0111o\u00e0n c\u1ee7a \u00f4ng anh \u0111\u00f3ng ph\u1ea3i \u0111i \u0111\u00f2 qua m\u1ed9t con s\u00f4ng nh\u1ecf. D\u00f9 v\u1eady, v\u1eabn kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 v\u1ea5n \u0111\u1ec1 g\u00ec \u0111\u1ec3 t\u1edbi n\u01a1i. \u00d4ng anh th\u1ea5y th\u1eb1ng em xu\u1ed1ng th\u0103m m\u1eebng l\u1eafm, c\u00f3 ph\u1ea7n h\u00e3nh di\u1ec7n v\u1edbi c\u1ea5p d\u01b0\u1edbi c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh n\u00ean b\u00e0y ti\u1ec7c nh\u1eadu linh \u0111\u00ecnh. Ch\u00e9n ch\u00fa ch\u00e9n anh t\u1edbi say qu\u1eafc c\u1ea7n c\u00e2u l\u00fac n\u00e0o kh\u00f4ng hay. Khi tr\u1eddi nh\u00e1 nhem t\u1ed1i, t\u00f4i ph\u1ea3i g\u01b0\u1ee3ng ra v\u1ec1, qu\u00ean m\u1ea5t l\u1eddi h\u1ee9a v\u1edbi n\u00f3, v\u1eeba qua kh\u1ecfi \u0111\u00f2 \u0111\u00e3 ph\u00f3ng xe ch\u1ea1y ng\u1ea3 nghi\u00eang, lo\u1ea1ng qu\u1ea1ng nh\u01b0ng c\u0169ng v\u1ec1 t\u1edbi Saigon\u2026 Khi b\u00ecnh t\u00e2m nh\u00ecn l\u1ea1i chi\u1ebfc xe\u2026 \u1ed3i gi\u1eddi! Chi\u1ebfc xe m\u00f3p m\u00e9o \u0111\u1ee7 chi\u1ec1u! S\u1ee3 qu\u00e1 t\u1ec9nh r\u01b0\u1ee3u c\u1ea5p k\u1ef3, \u0111em xe t\u1edbi ti\u1ec7m s\u1eeda. Y\u00eau c\u1ea7u ti\u1ec7m c\u1ed1 g\u1eafng ho\u00e0n ch\u1ec9nh c\u00e0ng mau c\u00e0ng t\u1ed1t. D\u0129 nhi\u00ean ph\u1ea3i tr\u1ea3 ti\u1ec1n th\u00eam nh\u01b0ng c\u0169ng ph\u1ea3i m\u1ea5t m\u1ea5y ng\u00e0y m\u1edbi \u0111em xe tr\u1ea3 l\u1ea1i cho n\u00f3.<\/p>\n
D\u0129 nhi\u00ean trong nh\u1eefng ng\u00e0y xe n\u1eb1m \u1edf ti\u1ec7m, t\u00f4i nghe n\u00f3 h\u00e1t b\u1ea3n nh\u1ea1c \u201chai m\u00f9a m\u01b0a\u201d t\u1edbi nh\u1ee9c \u0111\u1ea7u nh\u1ee9c \u00f3c, ph\u1ea3i tr\u00e1nh m\u1eb7t lu\u00f4n \u1edf phi \u0111o\u00e0n cho t\u1edbi khi l\u1ea5y xe v\u1ec1 giao l\u1ea1i cho n\u00f3 m\u00e0 v\u1eabn nghe b\u00e0i ca quen thu\u1ed9c cho t\u1edbi \u0111\u0129a r\u00e8, kim m\u00f2n! \u0110\u00e3 b\u1ea3o t\u00ednh n\u00f3 r\u1ea5t t\u1ed1t nh\u01b0ng v\u00f4 c\u00f9ng kh\u00f3 ch\u1ecbu m\u00e0! M\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng kh\u00f3 ch\u1ecbu c\u00e1i v\u1ee5 n\u00e0y m\u1edbi l\u00e0 l\u1ea1 \u00e0 nghen. May m\u00e0 n\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng x\u1ecbt ch\u00f3 c\u1eafn. N\u00f3 ch\u1ec9 qu\u1ea1u l\u00e0 ph\u01b0\u1edbc l\u1edbn cho t\u00f4i r\u1ed3i! L\u1ed7i c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i t\u1edbi m\u1ed9t ng\u00e0n ph\u1ea7n tr\u0103m ch\u1ee9 \u0111\u00e2u c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 nh\u1eb9 h\u01a1n.<\/p>\n
D\u00f9 v\u1eady, ch\u00fang t\u00f4i v\u1eabn h\u00f4m s\u1edbm c\u00f3 nhau co t\u1edbi khi h\u1eafn c\u00f3 v\u1ee3 c\u00f3 con v\u00e0 t\u00f4i th\u00ec c\u1ee9 \u0111\u1ed9c th\u00e2n vui t\u00ednh, \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c qu\u00e2n \u0111\u1ed9i th\u01b0\u01a1ng t\u00ecnh c\u1ea5p cho m\u1ed9t ph\u00f2ng ri\u00eang \u1edf c\u01b0 x\u00e1 \u0111\u1ed9c th\u00e2n trong c\u0103n c\u1ee9. K\u1ec3 t\u1eeb l\u00fac \u0111\u00f3, n\u00f3 tho\u00e1t \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c t\u00f4i; ph\u1ea7n \u0111\u1eddi ch\u00fang t\u00f4i d\u00ednh chung \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c gi\u1ea3i ph\u1eabu an to\u00e0n, ai lo th\u00e2n \u0111\u00f3.<\/p>\n
Tr\u01b0a 29\/4\/1975 t\u00f4i v\u01b0\u1ee3t tho\u00e1t \u0111\u1ebfn Utapao, Th\u00e1i Lan \u0111\u1ec3 l\u00e1nh n\u1ea1n; n\u00f3 \u1edf l\u1ea1i r\u1ed3i \u0111i t\u00f9, r\u1ed3i v\u1ec1 l\u1ea1i Long Kh\u00e1nh sau m\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian d\u00e0i, r\u1ed3i \u201cH\u1ee1i \u01a0i\u201d [H.O] qua t\u1edbi Seattle t\u00e1i l\u1eadp cu\u1ed9c \u0111\u1eddi m\u1edbi. Nghe tin n\u00f3 qua \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c b\u1ebfn b\u1edd t\u1ef1 do t\u00f4i r\u1ea5t m\u1eebng nh\u01b0ng v\u00ec \u0111\u1eddi s\u1ed1ng lu bu qu\u00e1 n\u00ean ph\u1ea3i r\u1ea5t l\u00e2u m\u1edbi g\u1eb7p l\u1ea1i nhau ng\u1eafn ng\u1ee7i m\u1ed9t l\u1ea7n. V\u00e0 n\u00f3, c\u0169ng nh\u01b0 nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi qua sau, \u0111\u00e3 ph\u1ea3i v\u1eadt l\u1ed9n v\u1edbi \u0111\u1eddi s\u1ed1ng m\u1edbi. V\u1edbi b\u1ea3n t\u00ednh c\u1ea7n c\u00f9, sau m\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian nghe gia \u0111\u00ecnh n\u00f3 \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u1ed5n \u0111\u1ecbnh, c\u00f3 ngh\u1ec1 ng\u1ed7ng \u0111\u00e0ng ho\u00e0ng v\u00e0 cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng n\u00f3 t\u1eeb \u0111\u00f3 th\u0103ng hoa.<\/p>\n
B\u00e2y gi\u1edd th\u00ec \u0111\u00e3 ngh\u1ec9 h\u01b0u, l\u0169 con \u0111\u00e3 n\u00ean ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u1ea1i c\u00f3 \u0111\u1ecba v\u1ecb trong x\u00e3 h\u1ed9i, nh\u01b0ng ti\u1ebfc b\u1ea3n th\u00e2n n\u00f3 s\u1ee9c kho\u1ebb k\u00e9m \u0111i nhi\u1ec1u sau bao n\u0103m lao kh\u1ed5 v\u1edbi t\u00f9 \u0111\u00e0y v\u00e0 c\u01a1 c\u1ef1c trong cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng m\u1edbi. N\u00f3 \u1edf t\u1eadn Seattle \u00e2m u c\u00f2n t\u00f4i \u1edf x\u1ee9 Cao-B\u1ed3i n\u1eafng ch\u00e1y n\u00ean c\u0169ng \u00edt g\u1eb7p nhau. Th\u01b0\u01a1ng nh\u1edb nhau, ngo\u00e0i v\u00e0i ba l\u1ea7n t\u00f4i v\u1ec1 Seattle th\u0103m n\u00f3, ph\u1ea7n nhi\u1ec1u bi\u1ec3u t\u1ecf qua \u0111i\u1ec7n tho\u1ea1i, l\u00e2u l\u00e2u m\u1edbi c\u00f3 d\u1ecbp th\u0103m nhau ho\u1ea1 ho\u1eb1n.<\/p>\n
2. Ho\u00e0ng V\u0103n H\u1ed9i<\/strong><\/p>\nKhi t\u00f4i \u0111\u0103ng l\u00ednh, n\u00f3 v\u00e0 Hu\u1ef3nh Quy c\u00f2n trong gh\u1ebf nh\u00e0 tr\u01b0\u1eddng. Khi t\u00f4i qua \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c h\u1ed3 s\u01a1 an ninh th\u00ec ch\u00fang n\u00f3 c\u0169ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c nh\u1eadn. \u1ede Long Kh\u00e1nh, ngo\u1ea1i tr\u1eeb anh Nguy\u1ec5n Gia T\u1eadp \u0111\u00e3 v\u00e0o Kh\u00f4ng Qu\u00e2n tr\u01b0\u1edbc l\u00e2u, l\u0169 h\u1ecdc tr\u00f2 Long Kh\u00e1nh c\u0169 c\u1ee7a b\u1ecdn t\u00f4i k\u00e9o nhau theo c\u1ea3 \u0111\u00e1m khi Kh\u00f4ng Qu\u00e2n b\u00e0nh tr\u01b0\u1edbng. N\u00e0o H\u1ed9i, Quy, H\u1eefu, T\u00f9ng, H\u1ed3ng, Gia C\u1ea7n, Gia H\u1ecdc.<\/p>\n
H\u1ed3i c\u00f2n h\u1ecdc Long Kh\u00e1nh, t\u00f4i v\u1edbi n\u00f3 m\u1edbi s\u01a1 giao, bi\u1ebft nhau t\u1eeb n\u0103m \u0110\u1ec7 Nh\u1ea5t, n\u00f3 Ban B t\u00f4i Ban A. N\u00f3 B\u1eafc k\u1ef3 rau mu\u1ed1ng, t\u00f4i Trung k\u1ef3 \u1edbt cay. Nh\u00e0 n\u00f3 \u1edf \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng xe l\u1eeda, c\u1ed5ng s\u1ed1 6, kh\u00f4ng c\u00e1ch xa nh\u00e0 tr\u1ecd c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i l\u00e0 bao nh\u01b0ng \u00edt qua l\u1ea1i v\u1edbi nhau.<\/p>\n
V\u1ec1 Saigon, n\u00f3 c\u00f3 b\u00e0 ch\u1ecb h\u1ecd, nh\u00e0 cao c\u1eeda r\u1ed9ng v\u00f9ng g\u1ea7n Ng\u00e3 Ba \u00d4ng T\u1ea1. Khi v\u00e0o KQ g\u1eb7p nhau, n\u00f3 k\u00e9o t\u00f4i v\u1ec1 xin b\u00e0 ch\u1ecb cho \u1edf nh\u1edd ch\u1edd th\u1ee7 t\u1ee5c nh\u1eadp kho\u00e1 Quang Trung, r\u1ed3i trong th\u1eddi gian chu\u1ea9n b\u1ecb \u0111i M\u1ef9. B\u00e0 ch\u1ecb th\u01b0\u01a1ng em th\u01b0\u01a1ng lu\u00f4n b\u1ea1n c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 n\u00ean vui v\u1ebb cho t\u00e1 t\u00fac d\u00f9 trong nh\u00e0 \u0111\u00e3 c\u00f3 t\u1edbi 6 ng\u01b0\u1eddi con. Hai ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u1edbn nh\u1ea5t \u0111\u00e3 \u0111i tu, m\u1ed9t nam m\u1ed9t n\u1eef. C\u00f2n l\u1ea1i 4 \u0111\u1ee9a r\u1ed3ng r\u1ed3ng – n\u00f3i r\u1ed3ng r\u1ed3ng ch\u1ee9 v\u00e0i n\u0103m sau c\u0169ng c\u00f3 hai \u0111\u01b0a gia nh\u1eadp KQ – n\u00ean ch\u01a1i gi\u1ee1n v\u1edbi nhau c\u0169ng vui nh\u00e0 vui c\u1eeda. Ch\u00fang t\u00f4i \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c cho ph\u00f2ng \u1edf s\u00e2n th\u01b0\u1ee3ng, l\u1ea7u 3 m\u1eb7c s\u1ee9c \u0111i, v\u1ec1, m\u1eb7c s\u1ee9c \u0111\u00f9a ngh\u1ecbch, ca h\u00e1t l\u00fac n\u00e0o c\u0169ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c. <\/p>\n
Nh\u1eadp kho\u00e1 4\/69 SVSQKQ v\u00e0o qu\u00e2n tr\u01b0\u1eddng Quang Trung, Ti\u1ec3u \u0111o\u00e0n Nguy\u1ec5n Hu\u1ec7, \u0110\u1ea1i \u0111\u1ed9i 43 c\u00f9ng l\u00fac. \u0110\u1ea1i \u0111\u1ed9i c\u00f3 200 th\u01b0 sinh \u0111\u1ee7 m\u1ecdi t\u1ea7ng l\u1edbp trong x\u00e3 h\u1ed9i. Khi nh\u1eadp kho\u00e1, h\u1ecd b\u1eaft l\u0169 ch\u00fang t\u00f4i \u0111\u1ee9ng s\u1eafp h\u00e0ng t\u1eeb th\u1ea5p l\u00ean cao; chia l\u00e0m 4 Trung \u0111\u1ed9i. N\u00f3 thu\u1ed9c Trung \u0111\u1ed9i Ng\u01b0\u1eddi L\u00f9n, t\u00f4i \u1edf Trung \u0111\u1ed9i Ng\u01b0\u1eddi Voi.<\/p>\n
Xong Quang Trung v\u1ec1 \u0111\u1ea1p c\u1ecf m\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian r\u1ed3i nh\u1eadp kho\u00e1 h\u1ecdc Sinh ng\u1eef c\u0169ng c\u00f9ng l\u00fac, ra tr\u01b0\u1eddng c\u00f9ng l\u00fac, \u0111i M\u1ef9 c\u00f9ng l\u00fac, h\u1ecdc bay c\u00f9ng kho\u00e1, kh\u00e1c l\u1edbp. Xong tr\u01b0\u1eddng bay, n\u00f3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ch\u1ecdn bay \u201cb\u00e0 gi\u00e0\u201d C47 \u0111i tr\u01b0\u1eddng bay kh\u00e1c, t\u00f4i qua v\u1eadn t\u1ea3i l\u1edbn h\u01a1n, C123, \u0111i tr\u01b0\u1eddng bay kh\u00e1c.<\/p>\n
V\u1ec1 n\u01b0\u1edbc kh\u00f4ng c\u00e1ch nhau bao nhi\u00eau nh\u01b0ng n\u00f3 v\u00e0 t\u00f4i kh\u00e1c \u0111\u01a1n v\u1ecb, th\u00e2n ai ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00f3 lo t\u1eeb \u0111\u00f3. D\u00f9 v\u1eady, ch\u00fang t\u00f4i v\u1eabn loanh quanh v\u1edbi nhau kh\u1eafp n\u1ebbo \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng th\u00e0nh.<\/p>\n
M\u1ed9t k\u1ef7 ni\u1ec7m v\u1edbi n\u00f3, \u0111\u1eb7c bi\u1ec7t cho t\u1edbi gi\u1edd, v\u1eabn kh\u00f4ng ai c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 qu\u00ean \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c.<\/p>\n
M\u1ed9t ng\u00e0y \u0111\u1eb9p tr\u1eddi, t\u00f4i v\u00e0 Hu\u1ef3nh Quy r\u1ee7 n\u00f3 \u0111i \u0103n t\u1ed1i v\u00ec ai c\u0169ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ngh\u1ec9 bay. \u0102n xong \u0111\u1ec1 ngh\u1ecb t\u1edbi nh\u00e0 b\u1ea1n g\u00e1i c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 ch\u01a1i m\u1ed9t l\u00fac. B\u1ea1n g\u00e1i c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 c\u00f3 m\u1ed9t c\u00f4 em xinh \u0111\u1eb9p \u1edf tu\u1ed5i c\u1eadp k\u00ea n\u00ean \u0111\u1ee9a n\u00e0o c\u0169ng gh\u00e9 m\u1eaft v\u00e0o, n\u00f3 bi\u1ebft t\u1ea9y n\u00ean mi\u1ec5n c\u01b0\u1ee1ng \u0111\u1ed3ng \u00fd.<\/p>\n
Gia \u0111\u00ecnh c\u00f4 b\u1ea1n g\u00e1i l\u1ea5y l\u00e0m b\u1ea5t ng\u1edd khi th\u1ea5y m\u1ed9t l\u0169 k\u00e9o t\u1edbi. C\u00f4 b\u1ea1n g\u00e1i c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 lu\u00fdnh qu\u00fdnh mang th\u1ee9c u\u1ed1ng ra; c\u00f4 em v\u1ecdt tu\u1ed1t v\u00e0o ph\u00f2ng, b\u00e0 M\u1eb9 B\u1eafc K\u1ef3 x\u00e3 giao h\u1ecfi c\u00e1c con \u0103n t\u1ed1i ch\u01b0a. T\u00f4i v\u1ecdt mi\u1ec7ng, \u201cD\u1ea1 t\u00ednh t\u1edbi th\u0103m B\u00e1c v\u00e0 c\u00e1c em xong t\u1ee5i ch\u00e1u m\u1edbi \u0111i \u0103n v\u1edbi nhau.\u201d B\u00e0 gi\u00e0 n\u00f3i, \u201cB\u00e1c c\u00f2n m\u1ed9t \u00edt c\u01a1m n\u1ebfu c\u00e1c ch\u00e1u kh\u00f4ng ch\u00ea th\u00ec \u0103n t\u1ed1i cho vui.\u201d T\u00f4i bi\u1ebft b\u00e0 gi\u00e0 ch\u1ec9 x\u00e3 giao th\u00f4i nh\u01b0ng v\u00ec mu\u1ed1n c\u00e2u gi\u1edd v\u00e0 c\u1ed1 t\u00ecnh ph\u00e1 th\u1eb1ng b\u1ea1n n\u00ean n\u00f3i, \u201cD\u1ea1, n\u1ebfu B\u00e1c cho \u0103n th\u00ec ch\u00fang ch\u00e1u kh\u1ecfi \u0111i ti\u1ec7m.\u201d Th\u1eb1ng Quy tinh \u00fd \u0111\u1ed1c x\u00fac th\u00eam, b\u00e0 gi\u00e0 \u0111\u00e0nh g\u1ecdi hai c\u00f4 con g\u00e1i d\u1ecdn b\u1eefa \u0103n cho ch\u00fang t\u00f4i. C\u1ea3 hai ch\u1ecb em ch\u1eafc \u201cm\u1eafc c\u1ee1 gi\u00f9m\u201d n\u00ean d\u00e1ng v\u1ebb ra chi\u1ec1u mi\u1ec5n c\u01b0\u1ee1ng. N\u00f3 ng\u1ed3i \u0111\u1ed3ng ch\u1ecbu tr\u1eadn. M\u1eb7c k\u1ec7, ch\u00fang t\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 c\u1ed1 t\u00ecnh n\u00ean c\u1ee9 \u201ct\u1ef1 nhi\u00ean nh\u01b0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i\u201d ng\u1ed3i \u0103n ngon l\u00e0nh. Th\u1ea5y c\u01a1m v\u00e0 th\u1ee9c \u0103n g\u1ea7n h\u1ebft m\u00e0 ch\u00fang t\u00f4i c\u00f3 v\u1ebb v\u1eabn c\u00f2n mu\u1ed1n \u0103n n\u00ean b\u00e0 gi\u00e0 sai m\u1ea5y nh\u00f3c ch\u1ea1y ra qu\u00e1n mua th\u00eam r\u1ed3i l\u1ea1i mua th\u00eam. D\u0129 nhi\u00ean, b\u1ee5ng \u0111\u00e3 no k\u1ec1nh m\u00e0 v\u1eabn v\u1eeba \u0103n v\u1eeba \u0111\u00f9a ngh\u1ecbch vui v\u1ebb nh\u01b0 kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 vi\u1ec7c g\u00ec. <\/p>\n
M\u1ed9t l\u1ea7n r\u1ed3i ai c\u0169ng\u2026 t\u1edfn. Tu\u1ed5i tr\u1ebb v\u00f4 t\u01b0 l\u00e0 th\u1ebf, kh\u1edd d\u1ea1i l\u00e0 th\u1ebf.<\/p>\n
V\u00e0i n\u0103m sau ch\u00fang t\u00f4i c\u00f9ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c l\u00ean Trung U\u00fd, n\u00f3 \u0111\u00e3 l\u00e0 tr\u01b0\u1edfng phi c\u01a1 \u1edf phi \u0111o\u00e0n n\u00f3 trong l\u00fac t\u00f4i v\u1eabn long \u0111ong ph\u1eadn Copilot cho t\u1edbi ng\u00e0y m\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc.<\/p>\n
Ng\u00e0y m\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1ea1nh ai ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00f3 tho\u00e1t th\u00e2n. N\u00f3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u0111\u01b0a qua tr\u1ea1i t\u1ef5 n\u1ea1n Fort Chaffee, Arkansas; t\u00f4i t\u1edbi tr\u1ea1i t\u1ef5 n\u1ea1n trong c\u0103n c\u1ee9 KQ Eglin Air Force, Florida.<\/p>\n
Tu\u1ea7n \u0111\u1ea7u ti\u00ean t\u00f4i v\u00e0 Ph\u00e1t ra kh\u1ecfi tr\u1ea1i \u0111i l\u00e0m th\u1ee3 v\u1ecbn cho m\u1ed9t con chi\u00ean nh\u00e0 th\u1edd c\u1ee7a b\u00e0 b\u1ea3o tr\u1ee3. Nh\u1eadn \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c th\u01b0 n\u00f3 g\u1eedi th\u0103m t\u1eeb tr\u1ea1i Ft. Chaffee. Cu\u1ed1i tu\u1ea7n hai \u0111\u1ee9a \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c tr\u1ea3 chung m\u1ed9t chi phi\u1ebfu 46 \u0111\u00f4-la. Nh\u1edd th\u1eb1ng con b\u00e0 gi\u00e0 ra nh\u00e0 b\u0103ng \u0111\u1ed5i ti\u1ec1n m\u1eb7t \u0111ua cho b\u00e0 gi\u00e0 \u0111\u1ec3 ph\u1ee5 ph\u1ea7n \u0103n u\u1ed1ng, ch\u1ec9 xin nh\u00edn ra 5 \u0111\u00f4 b\u1ecf v\u00e0o phong b\u00ec g\u1eedi n\u00f3 u\u1ed1ng c\u00e0 ph\u00ea. Nh\u01b0ng \u0111\u1ebfn khi n\u00f3 ra tr\u1ea1i v\u00e0 v\u1ec1 San Antonio v\u1edbi ch\u00fang t\u00f4i, n\u00f3 v\u1eabn c\u00f2n gi\u1eef t\u1edd 5 \u0111\u00f4 c\u00f2n m\u1edbi toanh. H\u1ecfi sao kh\u00f4ng x\u00e0i. N\u00f3 n\u00f3i kh\u00f4ng n\u1ee1 l\u00f2ng x\u00e0i ph\u00ed ti\u1ec1n m\u1ed3 h\u00f4i n\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1eaft c\u1ee7a ch\u00fang t\u00f4i. <\/p>\n
\u1ede San Antonio v\u1edbi nhau m\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian th\u00ec m\u1ed7i ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111i m\u1ed9t ng\u1ea3. T\u00f4i \u0111i h\u1ecdc s\u1eeda m\u00e1y bay; h\u1ecdc n\u1eeda ch\u1eebng th\u1ea5y t\u01b0\u01a1ng lai m\u00f9 m\u1ecbt n\u00ean b\u1ecf cu\u1ed9c, \u0111i giang h\u1ed3, r\u1ed1t cu\u1ed9c v\u1ec1 V\u00f9ng Bay Area, B\u1eafc Cali tr\u1ee5 \u1edf \u0111\u00e2y \u0111i h\u1ecdc xong l\u1eadp gia \u0111\u00ecnh. N\u00f3 c\u0169ng lang b\u1ea1t k\u1ef3 h\u1ed3, c\u00f3 v\u1ee3 r\u1ed3i l\u1ea1i \u0111\u01b0a nhau v\u1ec1 San Jose.<\/p>\n
\u1ede \u0111\u00e2y v\u1ee3 ch\u1ed3ng n\u00f3 l\u00e0m \u0111\u1ee7 m\u1ecdi ng\u00e0nh ngh\u1ec1, mua nh\u00e0, v\u00e0 4 \u0111\u1ee9a con theo nhau ch\u00e0o \u0111\u1eddi li\u00ean t\u1ee5c. V\u1eeba ph\u1ea5n \u0111\u1ea5u nu\u00f4i d\u1ea1y con c\u00e1i v\u1eeba quy\u1ebft t\u00e2m l\u00e0m th\u01b0\u01a1ng m\u1ea1i. V\u1ee3 ch\u1ed3ng n\u00f3 l\u00e0m c\u00e1i g\u00ec c\u0169ng l\u1edbn thuy\u1ec1n l\u1edbn s\u00f3ng, kh\u00f4ng th\u00e0nh c\u00f4ng l\u1edbn nh\u01b0ng \u0111\u1ee7 s\u1ee9c nu\u00f4i con \u0103n h\u1ecdc n\u00ean ng\u01b0\u1eddi. B\u00e2y gi\u1edd th\u00ec con c\u00e1i \u0111\u00e3 xong, v\u1ee3 ch\u1ed3ng l\u1ea1i x\u00f4ng v\u00e0o ngh\u1ec1 ch\u1ea1y xe 18 b\u00e1nh xuy\u00ean bang. \u1ede tu\u1ed5i n\u00e0y m\u00e0 ch\u00fang n\u00f3 v\u1eabn c\u00f2n s\u1ee9c ch\u1ea1y lo\u1ea1i xe n\u00e0y khi\u1ebfn b\u1ea1n b\u00e8 ch\u00fang t\u00f4i ai c\u0169ng ph\u1ea3i c\u00fai \u0111\u1ea7u th\u00e1n ph\u1ee5c. <\/p>\n
Nh\u00e2n bu\u1ed5i h\u1ecdp m\u1eb7t c\u1ee7a kho\u00e1 \u1edf Florida n\u0103m nay, n\u00f3 book h\u00e0ng \u0111i v\u1ec1 h\u01b0\u1edbng n\u00e0y, ch\u1edf theo \u0111\u1ee7 lo\u1ea1i \u0111\u1ed3 \u0103n th\u1ee9c u\u1ed1ng \u0111\u1ec3 kho\u1ea3n \u0111\u00e3i anh em, ch\u1edf lu\u00f4n d\u00e0n nh\u1ea1c c\u1ee5 \u0111\u1ec3 l\u00e0m v\u0103n ngh\u1ec7 cho \u0111\u1ea1i ti\u1ec7c k\u1ef7 ni\u1ec7m 50 N\u0103m Kho\u00e1 4\/69 SVSQKQ.<\/p>\n
Ngo\u00e0i ra, khi n\u00e0o nh\u1edb anh em ph\u01b0\u01a1ng n\u00e0o, n\u00f3 l\u1ea1i book h\u00e0ng \u0111i v\u1ec1 h\u01b0\u1edbng \u0111\u00f3 \u0111\u1ec3 c\u00f3 d\u1ecbp b\u00f9 kh\u00fa v\u1edbi nhau v\u00e0i h\u00f4m r\u1ed3i v\u1ec1. Khi n\u00e0o nh\u1edb \u0111\u1ebfn n\u00f3, t\u00f4i b\u1eaft phone g\u1ecdi th\u0103m. H\u1ea7u h\u1ebft, n\u00f3 \u0111ang l\u00f4ng b\u00f4ng tr\u00ean \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng \u1edf m\u1ed9t xa l\u1ea1 n\u00e0o \u0111\u00f3 d\u00f9 v\u1eabn loanh quanh trong n\u01b0\u1edbc M\u1ef9. <\/p>\n
\u0110\u00f3 l\u00e0 th\u1eb1ng B\u1eafc k\u1ef3 d\u1ec5 th\u01b0\u01a1ng, m\u1ed9t th\u1eb1ng b\u1ea1n h\u1ecdc c\u1ee7a v\u00f9ng \u0111\u1ea5t n\u1eafng b\u1ee5i m\u01b0a b\u00f9n Long Kh\u00e1nh, v\u00e0 l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t chi\u1ebfn h\u1eefu Kh\u00f4ng Qu\u00e2n th\u00e2n m\u1ebfn c\u1ee7a ch\u00fang t\u00f4i, thu\u1ed9c Trung \u0111\u1ed9i ng\u01b0\u1eddi l\u00f9n; \u0111\u00e3 c\u00f9ng tr\u00f4i n\u1ed5i th\u0103ng tr\u1ea7m t\u1eeb qu\u00ea nh\u00e0 \u0111\u1ebfn qu\u00ea ng\u01b0\u1eddi h\u01a1n n\u1eeda th\u1ebf k\u1ef7 qua.<\/p>\n
3. H\u00e0 Quan Ph\u00e1t<\/strong><\/p>\nN\u00f3 l\u00e0 1 trong 5 ng\u0169 qu\u1ef7. D\u00e2n Nam k\u1ef3 qu\u1ed1c, \u1edf S\u00f3c Tr\u0103ng, B\u1ea1c Li\u00eau, nh\u01b0ng g\u1ed1c g\u00e1c \u1edf t\u1eadn x\u1ee9 N\u1eabu B\u00ecnh \u0110\u1ecbnh, mi\u1ec1n Trung, ph\u00eda nam c\u1ee7a Qu\u1ea3ng Ng\u00e3i qu\u00ea t\u00f4i.<\/p>\n
T\u00f4i g\u1eb7p n\u00f3 khi nh\u1eadp kho\u00e1 4\/69 SVSQKQ. Tr\u1ea1i hu\u1ea5n luy\u1ec7n b\u1eaft x\u1ebfp h\u00e0ng t\u1eeb th\u1ea5p l\u00ean cao. N\u00f3 \u0111\u1ee9ng th\u00f9 l\u00f9 b\u00ean t\u00f4i trong h\u00e0ng qu\u00e2n m\u1ed7i ng\u00e0y, n\u1eb1m g\u1ea7n gi\u01b0\u1eddng trong tr\u1ea1i. N\u00f3 cao nh\u01b0ng \u1ed1m y\u1ebfu h\u01a1n t\u00f4i; v\u1ec1 m\u1eb7t \u0111\u00f9a gi\u1ee1n, ph\u00e1 ph\u00e1ch th\u00ec n\u00f3 thu\u1ed9c h\u00e0ng s\u01b0 ph\u1ee5. Nick name \u201cThu\u1eadn n\u1eabu\u201d l\u00e0 do n\u00f3 \u0111\u1eb7t cho t\u00f4i. N\u00f3 \u0111\u1eb7t t\u00ean v\u1edbi t\u00ednh c\u00e1ch ch\u00ea bai, ch\u1ecdc ph\u00e1; su\u1ed1t ng\u00e0y c\u1ee9 n\u1eabu n\u00e0y n\u1eabu kia khi\u1ebfn t\u00f4i \u0111i\u00ean ng\u01b0\u1eddi. M\u1ed9t h\u00f4m n\u00f3 l\u00e0m cho t\u00f4i \u0111i\u00ean ti\u1ebft, s\u1eb5n \u0111ang lau s\u00fang, t\u00ednh phang cho n\u00f3 m\u1ed9t b\u00e1ng s\u00fang cho ch\u1eeba, nh\u01b0ng n\u00f3 l\u1eb9 ch\u00e2n ch\u1ea1y tho\u00e1t, v\u1eeba ch\u1ea1y v\u1eeba ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c ch\u1ecdc qu\u00ea, khi\u1ebfn t\u00f4i r\u01b0\u1ee3t quanh m\u1ea5y v\u00f2ng doanh tr\u1ea1i. Th\u1eadt t\u00ecnh th\u00ec t\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng ch\u1ecbu n\u1ed5i c\u00e1i t\u00ednh l\u1ea5t c\u1ea5t c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 nh\u01b0ng l\u1ea1i kho\u00e1i loanh quanh nghe n\u00f3 k\u1ec3 chuy\u1ec7n ng\u01b0\u1eddi Mi\u00ean. V\u00f9ng qu\u00ea c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 r\u1ea5t \u0111\u00f4ng ng\u01b0\u1eddi Mi\u00ean n\u00ean n\u00f3 c\u00f3 qu\u00e1 nhi\u1ec1u chuy\u1ec7n t\u1ebfu v\u1ec1 s\u1ef1 trung th\u1ef1c \u0111\u1ebfn ng\u00e2y ng\u00f4 c\u1ee7a h\u1ecd. N\u00f3 nh\u00e1i gi\u1ecdng Mi\u00ean k\u1ec3 ho\u00e0i kh\u00f4ng h\u1ebft. K\u1ec3 r\u1ea5t c\u00f3 b\u00e0i b\u1ea3n, r\u1ea5t c\u00f3 duy\u00ean. M\u1ed7i t\u1ed1i tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi \u0111i ng\u1ee7, l\u0169 ch\u00fang t\u00f4i hay t\u1ee5 t\u1eadp quanh gi\u01b0\u1eddng c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 \u0111\u1ec3 h\u00f3ng nghe chuy\u1ec7n c\u01b0\u1eddi. T\u1eeb \u0111\u00f3 n\u00f3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c t\u00f4i t\u1eb7ng danh hi\u1ec7u (nick name) l\u00e0 \u201cPh\u00e1t mi\u00ean\u201d tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi c\u00f3 danh hi\u1ec7u “Ph\u00e1t volley” sau n\u00e0y. Cho t\u1edbi b\u00e2y gi\u1edd, ngh\u1ec1 k\u1ec3 chuy\u1ec7n Mi\u00ean c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 v\u1eabn c\u00f2n \u201cmanger cliente\u201d (\u0103n kh\u00e1ch) l\u1eafm, ch\u01b0a c\u00f3 \u0111\u1ed1i th\u1ee7.<\/p>\n
Th\u1ebf r\u1ed3i tr\u1edf n\u00ean th\u00e2n thi\u1ebft nhau h\u1ed3i n\u00e0o kh\u00f4ng nh\u1edb.<\/p>\n
Xong kho\u00e1 qu\u00e2n s\u1ef1, nh\u1eadp kho\u00e1 Sinh ng\u1eef, c\u00f9ng l\u1ec1u c\u00f9ng tr\u1ea1i. Sau bao gian lao h\u1ecdc t\u1eadp, n\u00f3 thi \u0111\u1eadu ra tr\u01b0\u1eddng l\u00e0m th\u1ee7 t\u1ee5c \u0111i M\u1ef9, t\u00f4i b\u1ecb thi\u1ebfu 1 \u0111i\u1ec3m \u1edf l\u1ea1i h\u1ecdc ti\u1ebfp \u0111\u1ec3 \u0111\u00eam \u0111\u00eam c\u1ea5t gi\u1ecdng ca n\u00e3o n\u1ec1, \u201cBu\u1ed3n n\u00e0o h\u01a1n \u0111\u00eam nay!\u201d<\/p>\n
Trong th\u1eddi gian h\u1ecdc sinh ng\u1eef, nh\u1eefng cu\u1ed1i tu\u1ea7n \u0111i ph\u00e9p n\u00f3 th\u01b0\u1eddng r\u1ee7 t\u00f4i v\u1ec1 nh\u00e0 c\u1ee7a Ch\u00fa n\u00f3 ch\u01a1i, g\u1ea7n khu Ch\u1ee3 L\u1edbn. Nh\u00e0 trong m\u1ed9t con h\u1ebbm kh\u00e1 l\u1edbn. M\u1ea5y l\u1ea7n t\u1eddi ch\u01a1i, n\u00f3 ch\u1ec9 cho t\u00f4i m\u1ed9t ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u1eb9p \u0111i ngang qua nh\u00e0. N\u00f3 n\u00f3i, \u201c\u0110\u00f3 l\u00e0 D\u00ec Ch\u00edn, nh\u00e0 ph\u00eda trong h\u1ebbm n\u00e0y, m\u1ed7i ng\u00e0y \u0111i l\u00e0m \u0111\u1ec1u \u0111i ngang qua \u0111\u00e2y, tao mu\u1ed1n l\u00e0m quen nh\u01b0ng ch\u01b0a d\u00e1m.\u201d T\u00f4i n\u00f3i, \u201cM\u1ea7y mu\u1ed1n l\u00e0m quen m\u00e0 c\u1ee9 m\u1ed9t D\u00ec Ch\u00edn hai D\u00ec Ch\u00edn th\u00ec quen th\u1ebf n\u00e0o \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c.\u201d N\u00f3 n\u00f3i, l\u1ee1 g\u1ecdi theo th\u1eb1ng b\u1ea1n. T\u00f4i n\u00f3i m\u1ea7y mu\u1ed1n cua n\u00e0ng m\u00e0 c\u1ee9 D\u00ec Ch\u00edn ho\u00e0i coi b\u1ed9 kh\u00f4ng xu\u00f4i tai ch\u00fat n\u00e0o.<\/p>\n
Tr\u01b0\u1edbc khi n\u00f3 \u0111i M\u1ef9, n\u00f3 ch\u1edf t\u00f4i \u0111i ngang s\u1edf l\u00e0m c\u1ee7a n\u00e0ng v\u00e0i l\u1ea7n cho bi\u1ebft \u0111\u1ec3 t\u00f4i \u1edf nh\u00e0 gi\u00fap n\u00f3 \u201ccanh ch\u1eebng v\u00e0 b\u1ea3o v\u1ec7 D\u00ec Ch\u00edn\u201d gi\u00f9m. N\u00f3 c\u00f2n d\u1eb7n \u0111i d\u1eb7n l\u1ea1i, \u201cM\u1ea7y ch\u1ec9 coi ch\u1eebng th\u00f4i nghen, kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c l\u00e9ng ph\u00e9ng l\u00e0 ch\u1ebft v\u1edbi tao \u0111\u00f3.\u201d T\u00f4i ng\u00f3 b\u1ed9 d\u1ea1ng n\u00f3 r\u1ed3i c\u01b0\u1eddi nh\u1ea1t nh\u01b0ng c\u0169ng tuy\u00ean h\u1ee9a b\u1ea3o v\u1ec7 n\u00e0ng.<\/p>\n
Th\u01b0\u01a1ng n\u00f3 n\u00ean t\u00f4i c\u0169ng loanh quanh \u201cng\u00f3 ch\u1eebng ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u1eb9p.\u201d T\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft ng\u00f3 ch\u1eebng nh\u01b0 v\u1eady \u0111\u1ec3 l\u00e0m g\u00ec n\u1eefa; th\u1ebf nh\u01b0ng m\u1ed7i l\u1ea7n th\u01b0 v\u1ec1 n\u00f3 \u0111\u1ec1u h\u1ecfi th\u0103m n\u00e0ng. T\u00f4i c\u00f3 bi\u1ebft g\u00ec h\u01a1n, ch\u1ec9 n\u00f3i l\u00e0 n\u00e0ng v\u1eabn \u0111i l\u00e0m \u0111\u1ec1u, v\u1eabn ch\u01b0a th\u1ea5y c\u00e1i \u0111u\u00f4i n\u00e0o m\u1ecdc. Th\u1ebf th\u00f4i.<\/p>\n
Kho\u1ea3ng th\u00e1ng sau th\u00ec t\u00f4i \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c B\u1ed9 T\u01b0 L\u1ec7nh g\u1eedi gi\u1ea5y b\u00e1o \u0111i kh\u00e1m s\u1ee9c kho\u1ebb du h\u1ecdc. T\u00f4i m\u1eebng kh\u00f4ng k\u1ecbp l\u1edbn. <\/p>\n
T\u00f4i qua t\u1edbi tr\u01b0\u1eddng sinh ng\u1eef Qu\u00e2n \u0111\u1ed9i \u1edf Lackland, San Antonio, TX \u1edf chung c\u01b0 x\u00e1 v\u1edbi n\u00f3. V\u00ec \u0103n th\u1ee9c \u0103n M\u1ef9 ng\u00e1n mu\u1ed1n ch\u1ebft n\u00ean l\u00e9n n\u1ea5u \u0103n \u1edf ph\u00f2ng. (Ph\u00f2ng c\u0169ng c\u00f3 nh\u00e0 b\u1ebfp nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng khuy\u1ebfn kh\u00edch sinh vi\u00ean s\u1eed d\u1ee5ng.) Th\u1ec9nh tho\u1ea3ng n\u00f3 n\u1ea5u \u0103n v\u00e0 t\u00f4i gi\u1eef ph\u1ea7n r\u1eeda ch\u00e9n. M\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian ng\u1eafn n\u00f3 \u0111i tr\u01b0\u1eddng bay Randolph, kh\u00f4ng xa tr\u01b0\u1eddng sinh ng\u1eef l\u1eafm. R\u1ed3i t\u00f4i c\u0169ng \u0111\u1ebfn tr\u01b0\u1eddng bay, l\u1ea1i \u1edf chung, s\u00e1ch c\u0169 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c t\u00e1i b\u1ea3n. \u0110\u01b0\u1ee3c v\u00e0i th\u00e1ng n\u00f3 xong giai \u0111o\u1ea1n \u0111\u1ea7u \u0111i ti\u1ebfp qua tr\u01b0\u1eddng bay Keesler, Mississippi. R\u1ed3i t\u00f4i c\u0169ng n\u1ed1i g\u00f3t theo n\u00f3.<\/p>\n
Qua t\u1edbi tr\u01b0\u1eddng bay Keesler n\u00f3 b\u1ecb \u00f3i ra m\u1eadt xanh m\u1eadt v\u00e0ng m\u1ed7i khi m\u00e1y bay nh\u00e0o l\u1ed9n; c\u1ea5p tr\u00ean cho n\u00f3 ngh\u1ec9 \u0111\u1ec3 nh\u1eadp kho\u00e1 k\u1ebf ti\u1ebfp l\u00e0 kho\u00e1 c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i. Kho\u00e1 t\u00f4i c\u00f3 hai l\u1edbp, n\u00f3 \u1edf l\u1edbp kh\u00e1c c\u00f9ng v\u1edbi Ho\u00e0ng H\u1ed9i v\u00e0 \u1edf kh\u00e1c khu c\u01b0 x\u00e1 n\u00ean t\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng b\u1ecb r\u1eeda ch\u00e9n cho n\u00f3. Nh\u01b0ng\u2026 khi g\u1ea7n ra tr\u01b0\u1eddng th\u00ec \u0111\u1ed5i l\u00ean khu s\u0129 quan \u1edf chung. Hai \u0111\u1ee9a l\u1ea1i chung ph\u00f2ng v\u00e0 t\u00f4i l\u1ea1i r\u1eeda ch\u00e9n, n\u00f3 n\u1ea5u \u0103n khi c\u00f3 d\u1ecbp. <\/p>\n
M\u1ed9t h\u00f4m n\u00f3 \u1edf nh\u00e0 n\u1ea5u \u0103n chi\u1ec1u, t\u00f4i ra s\u00e2n \u0111\u00e1nh b\u00f3ng chuy\u1ec1n. \u0110\u00f3i b\u1ee5ng ch\u1ea1y v\u00e0o th\u1ea5y n\u00f3 \u0111\u00e3 n\u1ea5u xong \u0111ang d\u1ecdn l\u00ean b\u00e0n. T\u00f4i x\u00f4ng v\u00e0o \u0103n, n\u00f3 n\u1ed5i qu\u1ea1u \u0111\u1ed5 h\u1ebft th\u1ee9c \u0103n v\u00e0o th\u00f9ng r\u00e1c! Gi\u1eadn n\u00f3 qu\u00e1 nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng l\u1ebd \u0111\u00e1nh l\u1ed9n, \u0111\u00e0nh nu\u1ed1t gi\u1eadn, xu\u1ed1ng c\u00e2u l\u1ea1c b\u1ed9 \u0103n t\u1ed1i. Ngh\u0129 l\u1ea1i n\u00f3 gi\u1eadn c\u0169ng \u0111\u00fang – M\u00ecnh \u0111i ch\u01a1i v\u1ec1 th\u1ea5y \u0111\u1ed3 \u0103n l\u00e0 x\u00f4ng v\u00e0o \u0103n li\u1ec1n kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u1ee3i n\u00f3. D\u00f9 v\u1eady, ph\u1ea3i m\u1ea5t m\u1ea5y h\u00f4m m\u1edbi k\u00fd l\u1ea1i hi\u1ec7p \u0111\u1ecbnh \u0111\u00ecnh chi\u1ebfn. C\u00e1i m\u1eb7t n\u00f3 m\u00e0 ai gi\u1eadn \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c l\u00e2u m\u1edbi l\u00e0 chuy\u1ec7n l\u1ea1!<\/p>\n
Nh\u1edd \u201cb\u00e0 h\u00fa\u201d n\u00ean n\u00f3 v\u01b0\u1ee3t qua \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c c\u00e1i b\u1ec7nh \u00f3i m\u1eeda khi hu\u1ea5n luy\u1ec7n k\u1ef9 thu\u1eadt nh\u00e0o l\u1ed9n. N\u00f3 \u0111\u1eadu ra tr\u01b0\u1eddng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ch\u1ecdn qua lo\u1ea1i m\u00e1y bay C119, c\u00f2n t\u00f4i \u0111i C123. Hai lo\u1ea1i m\u00e1y bay n\u00e0y \u0111\u1ec1u hu\u1ea5n luy\u1ec7n chuy\u00ean m\u00f4n \u1edf c\u0103n c\u1ee9 Kh\u00f4ng Qu\u00e2n Lockbourne, Ohio. T\u00f4i v\u00e0 n\u00f3 l\u1ea1i c\u0169ng \u1edf chung m\u1ed9t n\u01a1i ch\u1ec9 l\u00e0 ri\u00eang ph\u00f2ng. Vi\u1ec7c n\u1ea5u n\u01b0\u1edbng \u1edf ph\u00f2ng c\u0169ng gi\u1ea3m t\u1ed1i \u0111a v\u00ec ph\u1ea3i t\u1ed1n r\u1ea5t nhi\u1ec1u gi\u1edd cho vi\u1ec7c hu\u1ea5n luy\u1ec7n.<\/p>\n
M\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian sau, lo\u1ea1i phi c\u01a1 c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i ph\u1ea3i \u0111\u1ed5i c\u0103n c\u1ee9 v\u1ec1 New England AFB, Alabama. T\u00f4i v\u1edbi n\u00f3 \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u1ebfn h\u1ea1n k\u1ef3 chia tay cho \u0111\u1ebfn l\u00fac v\u1ec1 n\u01b0\u1edbc.<\/p>\n
V\u1ec1 n\u01b0\u1edbc, m\u1ed7i \u0111\u1ee9a m\u1ed9t \u0111\u01a1n v\u1ecb kh\u00e1c nhau, ch\u1ec9 c\u00f2n g\u1eb7p nhau tr\u00ean t\u1ea7n s\u1ed1 kh\u00f4ng l\u01b0u ho\u1eb7c nh\u1eefng ng\u00e0y ngh\u1ec9 ho\u1eb7c \u1edf s\u00e2n t\u1eadp b\u00f3ng chuy\u1ec1n. R\u1ed3i n\u00f3 t\u1ed5 ch\u1ee9c \u0111\u00e1m c\u01b0\u1edbi v\u1edbi n\u00e0ng v\u00e0 nh\u1edd th\u1eb1ng t\u00f4i l\u00e0m r\u1ec3 ph\u1ee5.<\/p>\n
N\u00f3 \u0111\u00e1nh b\u00f3ng chuy\u1ec1n n\u1ed5i danh S\u01b0 \u0110o\u00e0n 5KQ, \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u00f4ng Kh\u00f4ng \u0111o\u00e0n ph\u00f3 th\u00e0nh l\u1eadp \u0111\u1ed9i tuy\u1ec3n cho Kh\u00f4ng \u0111o\u00e0n n\u00ean n\u00f3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c c\u01b0ng chi\u1ec1u r\u1ea5t m\u1ef1c. V\u00ec th\u1ebf, khi KQVNCH \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c M\u1ef9 giao cho lo\u1ea1i v\u1eadn t\u1ea3i c\u01a1 kh\u1ed5ng l\u1ed3 C130A thay cho C123K, n\u00f3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u00f4ng ph\u00f3 mang v\u1ec1 li\u1ec1n c\u00f9ng v\u1edbi c\u1eb7p b\u00e0i tr\u00f9ng c\u1ee7a n\u00f3 l\u00e0 “B\u00e9 \u0111en” v\u00e0 c\u1ea3 hai \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c hu\u1ea5n luy\u1ec7n th\u00e0nh copilot kho\u00e1 s\u1edbm nh\u1ea5t; \u0111\u00f3 l\u00e0 tr\u01b0\u1eddng h\u1ee3p duy nh\u1ea5t. T\u00f4i \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ch\u1ecdn qua C130A s\u1edbm nh\u1ea5t, nh\u01b0ng v\u00ec kh\u00e1 \u0111\u00f4ng n\u00ean ph\u1ea3i theo \u01b0u ti\u00ean th\u1ee9 t\u1ef1. T\u00f4i th\u00ec th\u00edch \u0111i bay m\u00e0 ph\u1ea3i ch\u1edd \u0111\u1ee3i kh\u00e1 l\u00e2u n\u00ean m\u1ea5t ki\u00ean nh\u1eabn v\u00e0 l\u1ea5y l\u00e0m b\u1ea5t b\u00ecnh xin \u0111\u1ed5i qua C119K, lo\u1ea1i v\u1eadn t\u1ea3i t\u00e1c chi\u1ebfn t\u1ed1i t\u00e2n nh\u1ea5t c\u1ee7a KQVNCH th\u1eddi \u0111\u00f3. T\u00f4i th\u00edch lo\u1ea1i n\u00e0y v\u00ec n\u00f3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c trang b\u1ecb ho\u1ea3 l\u1ef1c t\u1ed1i \u0111a v\u1edbi hai c\u00e2y \u0111\u1ea1i b\u00e1c 20 ly 6 n\u00f2ng v\u00e0 4 c\u00e2y \u0111\u1ea1i b\u00e1c Minigun 6 n\u00f2ng, \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u0111i\u1ec1u \u0111\u1ed9ng t\u1edbi nh\u1eefng chi\u1ebfn tr\u01b0\u1eddng s\u00f4i \u0111\u1ed9ng nh\u1ea5t v\u00e0 th\u01b0\u1eddng xuy\u00ean \u0111i bi\u1ec7t ph\u00e1i xa c\u00e1ch \u201cm\u1eb7t tr\u1eddi\u201d d\u1ec5 ch\u1ecbu h\u01a1n nhi\u1ec1u.<\/p>\n
M\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian sau t\u00f4i nghe \u0111\u1ed3n C130A s\u1ebd \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c thay th\u1ebf v\u1edbi C130E, t\u00f4i nh\u1edd \u201cth\u1eb1ng con c\u01b0ng\u201d n\u00e0y xin v\u1edbi \u00f4ng ph\u00f3 v\u1ec1 l\u1ea1i C130A nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c.<\/p>\n
S\u00e1ng 29\/4\/1975 phi tr\u01b0\u1eddng b\u1ecb ph\u00e1o k\u00edch kh\u1eafp n\u01a1i, kh\u00f4ng ai k\u1ecbp n\u00f3i v\u1edbi ai \u0111i\u1ec1u g\u00ec, t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 c\u00e1c th\u1ea9m quy\u1ec1n b\u1ed7ng d\u01b0ng v\u1eafng b\u00f3ng, m\u1ea5y c\u01b0 x\u00e1 s\u0129 quan x\u00f4n xao ch\u1ea1y \u0111\u00f4n ch\u1ea1y \u0111\u00e1o t\u00ecm ph\u01b0\u01a1ng ti\u1ec7n tho\u00e1t kh\u1ecfi phi tr\u01b0\u1eddng; nh\u1ea5t l\u00e0 sau khi chi\u1ebfc Tinh Long 7 b\u1ecb b\u1eafn r\u01a1i trong v\u00f2ng \u0111ai phi tr\u01b0\u1eddng, t\u1ea5t c\u1ea3 m\u1ecdi ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u1ec1u c\u1ed1 t\u00ecm ph\u01b0\u01a1ng ti\u1ec7n tho\u00e1t th\u00e2n. \u0110\u1ebfn l\u00fac t\u00f4i may m\u1eafn ch\u1ea1y \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c b\u1eb1ng chi\u1ebfc C130A cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng r\u1eddi phi tr\u01b0\u1eddng TSN v\u00e0o bu\u1ed5i tr\u01b0a. B\u00e2y gi\u1edd ng\u1ed3i ngh\u0129 l\u1ea1i t\u00f4i l\u1ea1i th\u1ea5y r\u1ea5t vui v\u00ec cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng t\u00f4i c\u0169ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ng\u1ed3i v\u00e0o gh\u1ebf l\u00e1i ch\u00ednh th\u1ee9c, \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c bay chi\u1ebfc v\u1eadn t\u1ea3i c\u01a1 t\u1ed1i t\u00e2n nh\u1ea5t c\u1ee7a KQVNCH n\u00e0y d\u00f9 ch\u1ec9 l\u00e0m nhi\u1ec7m v\u1ee5 \u201cth\u1ee3 v\u1ecbn\u201d cho ni\u00ean tr\u01b0\u1edfng Phan V\u0169 \u0110i\u1ec7n bay t\u1edbi Utapao l\u00e1nh n\u1ea1n.<\/p>\n
Gia \u0111\u00ecnh n\u00f3 g\u1ed3m v\u1ee3 v\u00e0 con b\u00e9 t\u00fd ch\u1ea1y tho\u00e1t tr\u01b0\u1edbc, t\u00f4i may m\u1eafn ch\u1ea1y \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng r\u1ed3i c\u0169ng g\u1eb7p nhau \u1edf Utapao, r\u1ed3i qua Guam, r\u1ed3i c\u00f9ng nhau tr\u1ef1c ch\u1ec9 Eglin AFB s\u1ed1ng \u0111\u1eddi t\u1ef5 n\u1ea1n.<\/p>\n
\u1ede M\u1ef9 ch\u00fang t\u00f4i c\u00f3 chung m\u1ed9t b\u00e0 gi\u00e0 nu\u00f4i. B\u00e0 gi\u00e0 nguy\u00ean l\u00e0 phu nh\u00e2n c\u1ee7a m\u1ed9t v\u1ecb c\u1ed1 Trung T\u00e1 KQ Hoa K\u1ef3, \u0111\u00e3 b\u1ecb b\u1eafn r\u01a1i trong Th\u1ebf Chi\u1ebfn Th\u1ee9 Hai, v\u00ec th\u1ebf, b\u00e0 r\u1ea5t th\u01b0\u01a1ng Kh\u00f4ng Qu\u00e2n. Khi v\u00e0o PX c\u0103n c\u1ee9 Lackland AFB mua s\u1eafm g\u1eb7p n\u00f3 b\u00e0 th\u01b0\u01a1ng ngay, nh\u1eadn l\u00e0m con nu\u00f4i li\u1ec1n.<\/p>\n
H\u1ed3i \u0111i du h\u1ecdc n\u00f3 qua tr\u01b0\u1edbc g\u1eb7p b\u00e0 ta tr\u01b0\u1edbc. Khi t\u00f4i qua \u0111\u1ebfn n\u01a1i n\u00f3 gi\u1edbi thi\u1ec7u b\u1ea3 v\u1edbi t\u00f4i v\u00e0 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c b\u00e0 gi\u00e0 nh\u1eadn chung; m\u1ed7i cu\u1ed1i tu\u1ea7n b\u00e0 \u0111\u1ec1u v\u00e0o c\u0103n c\u1ee9 r\u01b0\u1edbc ch\u00fang t\u00f4i v\u1ec1 nh\u00e0 cho \u0111i ch\u01a1i, kho\u1ea3n \u0111\u00e3i \u0103n u\u1ed1ng v\u00f4 c\u00f9ng t\u1eed t\u1ebf. V\u1ec1 n\u01b0\u1edbc, t\u00f4i v\u1eabn nh\u1edb \u01a1n, gi\u1eef li\u00ean l\u1ea1c v\u1edbi b\u00e0 d\u00f9 kh\u00f4ng th\u01b0\u1eddng xuy\u00ean cho l\u1eafm. Tr\u00ean b\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng t\u1ef5 n\u1ea1n chuy\u1ec3n \u0111i t\u1eeb Guam qua Eglin, m\u00e1y bay gh\u00e9 xu\u1ed1ng phi tr\u01b0\u1eddng Honolulu, t\u00f4i g\u1ecdi phone cho b\u00e0 gi\u00e0, nh\u1edd b\u00e0 b\u1ea3o tr\u1ee3 cho c\u1ea3 hai gia \u0111\u00ecnh \u0111\u1ec3 s\u1edbm \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ra kh\u1ecfi tr\u1ea1i t\u1ef5 n\u1ea1n. B\u00e0 vui m\u1eebng nghe tin v\u00e0 h\u1ee9a s\u1ebd l\u00e0m h\u1ebft m\u00ecnh \u0111\u1ec3 \u0111\u01b0a ch\u00fang t\u00f4i v\u1ec1 San Antonio v\u1edbi gia \u0111\u00ecnh b\u00e0 C\u1ee5. <\/p>\n
\u1ede tr\u1ea1i t\u1ef5 n\u1ea1n kh\u00f4ng l\u00e2u, th\u1ea5y ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta nh\u1ed9n nh\u1ecbp \u0111\u1ebfn xin b\u1ea3o tr\u1ee3, t\u00f4i c\u0169ng g\u1ecdi \u0111i\u1ec7n tho\u1ea1i th\u00fac gi\u1ee5c b\u00e0 gi\u00e0. M\u1ed9t bu\u1ed5i s\u00e1ng mai, c\u00f3 ng\u01b0\u1eddi v\u00e0o ph\u1ecfng v\u1ea5n gia \u0111\u00ecnh n\u00f3 t\u1ea1i l\u1ec1u, xin \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c b\u1ea3o tr\u1ee3 v\u00ec gia \u0111\u00ecnh c\u00f3 con nh\u1ecf \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u01b0u ti\u00ean. T\u00f4i ng\u1ed3i \u0111\u00f3 nghe k\u00e9. Khi nghe th\u1eb1ng M\u1ef9 mu\u1ed1n \u0111em v\u1ee3 ch\u1ed3ng con c\u00e1i n\u00f3 v\u1ec1 n\u00f4ng tr\u1ea1i, cho n\u00f3 bay lo\u1ea1i cessna r\u1ea3i thu\u1ed1c r\u1ea7y, v\u1ee3 n\u00f3 lo vi\u1ec7c d\u1ecdn d\u1eb9p nh\u00e0 c\u1eeda h\u1eb1ng ng\u00e0y cho t\u01b0\u01a1m t\u1ea5t, m\u1ed7i th\u00e1ng h\u1ecd s\u1ebd tr\u1ea3 cho n\u00f3 500 \u0111\u00f4-la, bao lu\u00f4n nh\u00e0 \u1edf.<\/p>\n
T\u00f4i nghe t\u1edbi \u0111\u00e2y n\u1ed5i gi\u1eadn \u0111\u00f9ng \u0111\u00f9ng, \u0111u\u1ed5i th\u1eb1ng M\u1ef9 ra kh\u1ecfi ph\u00f2ng, n\u00f3i, \u201cCh\u00fang tao l\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi t\u1ef5 n\u1ea1n, l\u00e0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi c\u00f3 h\u1ecdc th\u1ee9c, ch\u1ee9 kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 th\u1ee9 n\u00f4 l\u1ec7 r\u1ebb ti\u1ec1n. T\u1ee5i tao kh\u00f4ng mu\u1ed1n nghe m\u1ea7y n\u00f3i th\u00eam b\u1ea5t c\u1ee9 \u0111i\u1ec1u g\u00ec, \u0111i ra ngay l\u1eadp t\u1ee9c, \u0111i ngay!\u201d Th\u1eb1ng M\u1ef9 ho\u1ea3ng h\u1ed1t r\u00fat lui m\u00e0 t\u00f4i v\u1eabn c\u00f2n gi\u1eadn. N\u00f3 n\u00f3i h\u1ecd b\u1ea3o tr\u1ee3 gia \u0111\u00ecnh n\u00f3 ch\u1ee9 \u0111\u00e2u ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 t\u00f4i m\u00e0 n\u1ed5i n\u00f3ng d\u1eef v\u1eady? T\u00f4i n\u00f3i, \u201cM\u1ea7y n\u1ee1 l\u00f2ng n\u00e0o cho v\u1ee3 m\u1ea7y qu\u00e9t d\u1ecdn nh\u01b0 m\u1ed9t con n\u00f4 l\u1ec7 da \u0111en, trong khi n\u00f3 m\u01b0\u1edbn m\u1ea7y v\u1ec1 \u0111i bay cho n\u00f3 ch\u1ee9 \u0111\u00e2u ph\u1ea3i \u1edf \u0111\u1ee3 \u0111\u00e2u m\u00e0 tr\u1ea3 r\u1ebb m\u1ea1t nh\u01b0 v\u1eady. Th\u00f4i d\u1eb9p c\u00e1i ng\u1eef \u0111\u00f3 \u0111i. H\u01a1n n\u1eefa, b\u00e0 gi\u00e0 nu\u00f4i c\u0169ng s\u1eafp \u0111em t\u1ee5i m\u00ecnh ra kh\u1ecfi tr\u1ea1i r\u1ed3i, \u0111\u1eebng nghe m\u1ea5y th\u1eb1ng b\u1ea3o tr\u1ee3 b\u00e1 l\u00e1p nh\u01b0 v\u1eady n\u1eefa!\u201d<\/p>\n
Ng\u00e0y 26\/5\/1975, Th\u1ee9 B\u1ea3y, ch\u00fang t\u00f4i \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c b\u00e0 gi\u00e0 nu\u00f4i b\u1ea3o tr\u1ee3 \u0111em v\u1ec1 San Antonio. Ch\u1ee7 Nh\u1eadt theo b\u00e0 \u0111i l\u1ec5. Sau khi L\u1ec5 xong, b\u00e0 m\u00f3c n\u1ed1i v\u1edbi m\u1ed9t con chi\u00ean nh\u00e0 th\u1edd cho ch\u00fang t\u00f4i theo l\u00e0m th\u1ee3 v\u1ecbn s\u1eeda nh\u00e0 c\u1eeda. C\u1ea3 hai ch\u00fang t\u00f4i ngo\u00e0i \u0111i h\u1ecdc, \u0111i l\u00ednh ra c\u00f3 \u0111i l\u00e0m bao gi\u1edd \u0111\u00e2u m\u00e0 c\u00f3 ngh\u1ec1 v\u1edbi ng\u1ed7ng. Th\u1ee9 Hai h\u00f4m sau, con chi\u00ean t\u1edbi ch\u1edf hai \u0111\u1ee9a t\u00f4i \u0111i l\u00e0m. C\u1ea3 hai nh\u01b0 thi\u00ean l\u00f4i ch\u1ec9 \u0111\u00e2u \u0111\u00e1nh \u0111\u00f3 v\u1eady m\u00e0 th\u1eb1ng ch\u1ee7 h\u00e0i l\u00f2ng ra ph\u1ebft, khen ch\u00fang t\u00f4i kh\u00e9o tay v\u00e0 th\u00f4ng minh. T\u00f4i r\u1ee7a th\u1ea7m trong l\u00f2ng, \u201cM\u1eb9, ch\u00fang tao kh\u00f4ng th\u00f4ng minh, kh\u00f4ng kh\u00e9o tay l\u00e0m sao tr\u1edf th\u00e0nh phi c\u00f4ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c huh th\u1eb1ng kh\u1ec9 gi\u00f3.\u201d Ngh\u0129 th\u00ec ngh\u0129 nh\u01b0 v\u1eady ch\u1ee9 c\u0169ng bi\u1ebft th\u00e2n. C\u1ed1 g\u1eafng l\u00e0m t\u1ed1t \u0111\u1ec3 n\u00f3 c\u00f2n m\u01b0\u1edbn l\u00e2u d\u00e0i.<\/p>\n
L\u00e0m cho th\u1eb1ng n\u00e0y l\u00e0 v\u00ec n\u00f3 mu\u1ed1n gi\u00fap ch\u1ee9 c\u00f4ng vi\u1ec7c \u0111\u00e2u c\u00f3 nhi\u1ec1u. M\u1ed7i ng\u00e0y l\u00e0m ch\u1ec9 m\u1ea5y ti\u1ebfng l\u00e0 h\u1ebft vi\u1ec7c. Cho t\u1edbi cu\u1ed1i tu\u1ea7n n\u00f3 ph\u00e1t l\u01b0\u01a1ng, hai anh em \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c tr\u1ea3 chung m\u1ed9t chi phi\u1ebfu 46 \u0111\u00f4-la! C\u1ea7m c\u00e1i check tr\u00ean tay t\u00f4i ch\u1ee3t b\u00e2ng khu\u00e2ng ngh\u0129 t\u1edbi s\u1ed1 ti\u1ec1n $500 m\u1ed7i th\u00e1ng cho gia \u0111\u00ecnh n\u00f3 (\u0111\u1ec3 \u0111i bay v\u00e0 l\u00e0m ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u1edf,) b\u1ea5t gi\u00e1c c\u00f3 ch\u00fat ph\u00e2n v\u00e2n, \u00e1y n\u00e1y\u2026 nh\u01b0ng ch\u1ee3t th\u1ea5y vui trong l\u00f2ng v\u00ec ngh\u0129 t\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 ra s\u1ee9c b\u1ea3o v\u1ec7 gia \u0111\u00ecnh n\u00f3, danh d\u1ef1 cho n\u00f3. Check l\u01b0\u01a1ng d\u00f9 \u00edt nh\u01b0ng c\u0169ng r\u1ea5t h\u00e3nh di\u1ec7n l\u00e0 t\u1ef1 tay ch\u00fang t\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 l\u00e0m ra ti\u1ec1n; \u0111em chi phi\u1ebfu v\u1ec1 nh\u1edd th\u1eb1ng con trai b\u00e0 gi\u00e0 \u0111i nh\u00e0 b\u0103ng \u0111\u1ed5i gi\u00f9m \u0111\u1ec3 \u0111\u01b0a ph\u1ee5 ti\u1ec1n \u0103n cho b\u00e0 gi\u00e0. D\u0129 nhi\u00ean b\u00e0 gi\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng l\u1ea5y. Ch\u00fang t\u00f4i d\u00f9ng ti\u1ec1n \u0111\u1ec3 \u0111i ch\u1ee3 mua th\u1ee9c \u0103n cho hai gia \u0111\u00ecnh ch\u00fang t\u00f4i. (H\u1ed3i \u0111\u00f3 \u0111i ch\u1ee3 20 \u0111\u00f4-la l\u00e0 th\u1ee9c \u0103n \u00ea h\u1ec1, ch\u1ea5t \u0111\u1ea7y xe \u0111i ch\u1ee3.)<\/p>\n
Sau m\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian \u1edf San Antonio th\u1ea5y kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 t\u01b0\u01a1ng lai, n\u00ean ch\u00fang t\u00f4i h\u1ecfi th\u0103m \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta m\u00e1ch l\u00ean s\u1edf x\u00e3 h\u1ed9i s\u1ebd \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c gi\u00fap nhi\u1ec1u th\u1ee9. V\u1ec1 nh\u00e0 n\u00f3i v\u1edbi b\u00e0 gi\u00e0, li\u1ec1n b\u1ecb b\u00e0 v\u00e0 th\u1eb1ng con trai n\u1ed5i gi\u1eadn. B\u1ea3o ch\u00fang t\u00f4i, khi n\u00e0o c\u00f2n \u1edf v\u1edbi b\u00e0 th\u00ec \u0111\u1eebng bao gi\u1edd n\u00f3i t\u1edbi vi\u1ec7c xin welfare, Food Stamps. Nh\u01b0ng r\u1ed3i t\u00f4i c\u0169ng l\u00e9n \u0111i, h\u1ecfi th\u0103m… h\u1ecd cho bi\u1ebft l\u00e0 h\u1ecd c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 c\u1ea5p welfare v\u00e0 food stamp cho ch\u00fang t\u00f4i t\u1ea1m s\u1ed1ng. Nh\u1edb l\u1eddi b\u00e0 gi\u00e0 v\u00e0 th\u1eb1ng anh nu\u00f4i, t\u00f4i n\u00f3i t\u00f4i ch\u1ec9 mu\u1ed1n \u0111i t\u00ecm vi\u1ec7c l\u00e0m th\u01b0\u1eddng tr\u1ef1c. H\u1ecd ch\u1ec9 t\u00f4i qua s\u1edf t\u00ecm vi\u1ec7c. \u1ede \u0111\u00e2y t\u00f4i g\u1eb7p nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi ch\u1ee7 n\u00f4ng tr\u1ea1i \u0111ang mu\u1ed1n t\u00ecm ng\u01b0\u1eddi gi\u00fap vi\u1ec7c. T\u00f4i cho h\u1ecd bi\u1ebft ho\u00e0n c\u1ea3nh c\u1ee7a ch\u00fang t\u00f4i, h\u1ecd n\u00f3i h\u1ecd gi\u00fap \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c. N\u1ebfu ch\u00fang t\u00f4i ch\u1ecbu v\u1ec1 n\u00f4ng tr\u1ea1i \u1edf v\u1edbi h\u1ecd, h\u1ecd s\u1ebd cung c\u1ea5p nh\u00e0 \u1edf, xe c\u1ed9 v\u00e0 tr\u1ea3 l\u01b0\u01a1ng \u0111\u00e0ng ho\u00e0ng. T\u00f4i h\u1eb9n v\u1edbi h\u1ecd g\u1eb7p l\u1ea1i ng\u00e0y h\u00f4m sau. V\u1ec1 nh\u00e0, t\u00f4i \u0111em chuy\u1ec7n b\u00e0n v\u1edbi n\u00f3, n\u00f3 \u0111\u1ed3ng \u00fd. Ch\u00fang t\u00f4i c\u00f9ng xin v\u1edbi b\u00e0 gi\u00e0 cho ch\u00fang t\u00f4i v\u1ec1 n\u00f4ng tr\u1ea1i l\u00e0m vi\u1ec7c. B\u00e0 v\u00e0 \u00f4ng con trai bu\u1ed9c l\u00f2ng ph\u1ea3i \u0111\u1ed3ng \u00fd, n\u00f3i l\u00e0 t\u1ea1m th\u1eddi c\u1ee9 l\u00e0m v\u1eady, r\u00e1n d\u00e0nh d\u1ee5m m\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian n\u00ean v\u1ec1 \u1edf ph\u1ed1. Th\u1ebf l\u00e0 gia \u0111\u00ecnh n\u00f3 d\u1ecdn \u0111i theo m\u1ed9t ch\u1ee7 n\u00f4ng tr\u1ea1i v\u00e0 anh em t\u00f4i \u0111i v\u1edbi m\u1ed9t \u00f4ng kh\u00e1c; n\u00f4ng tr\u1ea1i c\u1ee7a hai \u00f4ng kh\u00f4ng xa nhau bao nhi\u00eau.<\/p>\n
M\u1ed7i cu\u1ed1i tu\u1ea7n, t\u00f4i \u0111\u1ec1u ch\u1ea1y xe qua n\u00f4ng tr\u1ea1i th\u0103m n\u00f3. N\u00f3 cho bi\u1ebft m\u1ed7i ng\u00e0y ch\u1ea1y m\u00e1y c\u00e0y, v\u1ee3 gi\u00fap \u00edt vi\u1ec7c nh\u00e0, \u0111\u1eddi s\u1ed1ng t\u1ea1m \u1ed5n. N\u00f3 c\u01b0\u1eddi n\u00f3i v\u1edbi t\u00f4i, \u201cTrong tr\u1ea1i ng\u01b0\u1eddi ta m\u01b0\u1edbn tao v\u1ec1 bay r\u1ea3i thu\u1ed1c m\u1ea7y kh\u00f4ng cho, b\u00e2y gi\u1edd tao ph\u1ea3i ch\u1ea1y m\u00e1y c\u00e0y m\u00e0 v\u1ee3 tao c\u0169ng ph\u1ea3i gi\u00fap vi\u1ec7c nh\u00e0 cho h\u1ecd v\u1eady.\u201d T\u00f4i ng\u1ecdng kh\u00f4ng tr\u1ea3 l\u1eddi n\u00f3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c nh\u01b0ng sao l\u00f2ng kh\u00f4ng th\u1ea5y \u00e2n h\u1eadn ch\u00fat n\u00e0o.<\/p>\n
\u0110\u1eddi s\u1ed1ng kh\u00f3 nh\u1ecdc qu\u00e1, ai c\u0169ng v\u1ea5t v\u1ea3 lo cho t\u01b0\u01a1ng lai n\u00ean s\u1ef1 th\u0103m vi\u1ebfng c\u00e0ng th\u01b0a d\u1ea7n. L\u00e0m n\u00f4ng tr\u1ea1i anh em t\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng ch\u1ecbu n\u1ed5i, \u0111i l\u00e0m h\u00e3ng xe h\u01a1i c\u0169ng kh\u00f4ng xong, k\u00e9o nhau b\u1ecf ru\u1ed9ng v\u1ec1 th\u00e0nh ph\u1ed1 xin vi\u1ec7c. M\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian sau n\u00f3 c\u0169ng v\u1ec1 l\u1ea1i San Antonio t\u00ecm \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c vi\u1ec7c m\u1edbi.<\/p>\n
Th\u00eam m\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian n\u1eefa, t\u00f4i r\u1eddi San Antonio \u0111i h\u1ecdc r\u1ed3i \u0111i giang h\u1ed3, t\u00ecm sinh k\u1ebf; n\u00f3 c\u0169ng d\u1ecdn \u0111i Tennessee theo l\u1eddi m\u1eddi g\u1ecdi c\u1ee7a m\u1ed9t ng\u01b0\u1eddi b\u1ea1n kh\u00e1c\u2026 Anh em ch\u1ec9 c\u00f2n li\u00ean l\u1ea1c lai rai \u0111\u1ec3 c\u00f2n bi\u1ebft nhau hi\u1ec7n h\u1eefu.<\/p>\n
B\u1eb5ng \u0111i m\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian kh\u00e1 l\u00e2u, sau bao nhi\u00eau \u0111\u1ed5i thay trong cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng t\u1ef5 n\u1ea1n, khi c\u00f4ng vi\u1ec7c l\u00e0m \u0103n bu\u00f4n b\u00e1n kh\u00f4ng su\u00f4n s\u1ebb \u1edf California, gia \u0111\u00ecnh t\u00f4i d\u1ecdn l\u1ea1i v\u1ec1 Houston, TX g\u1eb7p l\u1ea1i n\u00f3. \u0110\u1eddi s\u1ed1ng n\u00f3 \u0111\u00e3 kh\u00e1 \u1ed5n \u0111\u1ecbnh, con c\u00e1i h\u1ecdc h\u00e0nh ngon l\u00e0nh. Ri\u00eang gia \u0111\u00ecnh t\u00f4i ch\u01b0a \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c may m\u1eafn, c\u00f2n t\u1ea7n t\u1ea3o v\u1edbi cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng n\u00ean d\u1eddi \u0111\u1ed5i li\u00ean mi\u00ean. C\u1ee9 qua l\u1ea1i Houston-Cali m\u1ea5y l\u1ea7n nh\u01b0 v\u1eady, t\u00f4i quy\u1ebft \u0111\u1ecbnh tr\u1ee5 lu\u00f4n \u1edf Houston khi v\u1ee3 ch\u1ed3ng t\u00ecm \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c c\u00f4ng vi\u1ec7c th\u00edch nghi, v\u00e0 t\u01b0\u01a1ng lai t\u01b0\u01a1ng \u0111\u1ed1i \u1ed5n \u0111\u1ecbnh.<\/p>\n
D\u01b0\u1eddng nh\u01b0 s\u1ed1 ph\u1eadn c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i v\u1edbi th\u1eb1ng ph\u1ea3i gi\u00f3 n\u00e0y tr\u00f3i bu\u1ed9c nhau n\u00ean sau bao nhi\u00eau thay \u0111\u1ed5i, bao nhi\u00eau s\u00f3ng gi\u00f3 trong cu\u1ed9c \u0111\u1eddi\u2026 r\u1ed1t cu\u1ed9c v\u1eabn c\u00f2n b\u00ean nhau. T\u1eeb hai th\u1eb1ng xa l\u1ea1, m\u1eb7t tr\u1eafng tay tr\u01a1n, s\u00e9m \u0111\u00e1nh l\u1ed9n c\u1ee7a h\u01a1n 50 n\u0103m tr\u01b0\u1edbc\u2026 b\u00e2y gi\u1edd \u0111\u00e3 b\u1ea7u \u0111o\u00e0n th\u00ea t\u1eed, l\u01b0ng c\u00f2ng t\u00f3c b\u1ea1c v\u1eabn c\u00f2n \u1edf g\u1ea7n nhau n\u01a1i qu\u00ea h\u01b0\u01a1ng th\u1ee9 hai.<\/p>\n
4. \u0110\u1eb7ng Ph\u01b0\u1edbc<\/strong><\/p>\nN\u00f3 l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t trong b\u1ed1n th\u1eb1ng b\u1ea1n th\u00e2m giao c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i; l\u00e0 con d\u00e2n Qu\u1ea3ng Ng\u00e3i, l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t c\u1ef1u h\u1ecdc sinh tr\u01b0\u1eddng trung h\u1ecdc danh ti\u1ebfng c\u1ee7a t\u1ec9nh \u2013 Tr\u01b0\u1eddng Tr\u1ea7n Qu\u1ed1c Tu\u1ea5n, ng\u00f4i tr\u01b0\u1eddng \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u00e0o luy\u1ec7n kh\u00e1 nhi\u1ec1u tinh hoa c\u1ee7a x\u1ee9 Qu\u1ea3ng.<\/p>\n
T\u00f4i c\u0169ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c sinh ra \u1edf Qu\u1ea3ng Ng\u00e3i nh\u01b0ng ch\u1ec9 c\u00f3 \u1edf v\u1ecfn v\u1eb9n 10 n\u0103m r\u1ed3i theo ba m\u1eb9 v\u00e0o Nam \u0111\u1ec3 c\u00f9ng v\u1edbi anh em c\u00e0y s\u00e2u cu\u1ed1c b\u1ea9m, x\u00e2y d\u1ef1ng t\u01b0\u01a1ng lai. <\/p>\n
N\u00f3 v\u00e0o \u0110\u1ea1i \u0110\u1ed9i 44 sau \u0110\u1ea1i \u0110\u1ed9i 43 c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i m\u1ea5y h\u00f4m. D\u00f9 chung m\u1ed9t Ti\u1ec3u \u0111o\u00e0n nh\u01b0ng hai \u0110\u1ea1i \u0111\u1ed9i c\u00f3 hai ch\u01b0\u01a1ng tr\u00ecnh hu\u1ea5n luy\u1ec7n song song n\u00ean d\u00f9 c\u00f3 bi\u1ebft nhau c\u0169ng ch\u1ec9 s\u01a1 giao, ph\u1eadn ai ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u1ea5y lo. Khi m\u00e3n kho\u00e1 Quang Trung c\u00f9ng v\u1ec1 \u0111\u1ea1p c\u1ecf \u201ckhu nh\u00e0 ma\u201d, m\u1ed7i khi \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c d\u1ecbp l\u00e0 \u0111\u1ee9a n\u00e0o c\u0169ng m\u1eaft tr\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1eaft sau bi\u1ebfn m\u1ea5t. M\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian ng\u1eafn v\u00e0o tr\u01b0\u1eddng h\u1ecdc sinh ng\u1eef c\u00f9ng kho\u00e1 ch\u1ec9 kh\u00e1c l\u1ec1u tr\u1ea1i, cho t\u1edbi khi ra tr\u01b0\u1eddng \u0111i du h\u1ecdc M\u1ef9 m\u1ed7i \u0111\u1ee9a m\u1ed9t ng\u00e0nh; h\u1eafn tr\u00fang t\u00e0i kho\u00e1 \u201cl\u00ean th\u1eb3ng\u201d \u0111i m\u1ed9t n\u01a1i, t\u00f4i \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u201cc\u00e1nh qu\u1ea1t\u201d \u0111i m\u1ed9t ng\u1ea3, v\u1eabn \u1edf m\u1ef1c s\u01a1 giao d\u00f9 c\u00f3 bi\u1ebft th\u00eam v\u1ec1 h\u1eafn l\u00e0 d\u00e2n Qu\u1ea3ng Ng\u00e3i ch\u00ednh hi\u1ec7u con nai v\u00e0ng v\u00e0 h\u1eafn bi\u1ebft t\u00f4i c\u0169ng\u2026 n\u1eabu nh\u01b0 h\u1eafn\u2026 v\u00e0 ch\u1ec9 c\u00f3 v\u1eady.<\/p>\n
[H\u1ed3i \u0111\u00f3, \u0111\u1ed1i v\u1edbi d\u00e2n Nam k\u1ef3 qu\u1ed1c th\u00ec ai ng\u01b0\u1eddi Trung ch\u00fang n\u00f3 \u0111\u1ec1u g\u1ecdi chung l\u00e0 \u201cn\u1eabu\u201d. N\u1eabu v\u1edbi l\u0169 n\u00e0y c\u00f3 ngh\u0129a l\u00e0 “nh\u00e0 qu\u00ea”. Ch\u00ednh g\u1ed1c \u201cn\u1eabu\u201d ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 d\u00e2n B\u00ecnh \u0110\u1ecbnh. Ng\u01b0\u1eddi B\u00ecnh \u0110\u1ecbnh d\u00f9ng \u201cn\u1eabu\u201d l\u00e0 ng\u00f4i th\u1ee9 ba. Ph\u1ea7n \u0111\u1ea5t Qu\u1ea3ng Ng\u00e3i g\u1ea7n \u0110\u00e8o B\u00ecnh \u0110\u00ea, gi\u00e1p ranh gi\u1edbi B\u00ecnh \u0110\u1ecbnh c\u0169ng n\u00f3i ng\u00f4n ng\u1eef n\u00e0y.]<\/p>\n
Sau khi \u1edf M\u1ef9 v\u1ec1, trong m\u1ed9t chuy\u1ebfn bay ch\u1edf ti\u1ebfp li\u1ec7u cho chi\u1ebfn tr\u01b0\u1eddng Mi\u1ec1n Trung, t\u00f4i d\u1eebng \u1edf phi tr\u01b0\u1eddng Nha Trang t\u00ecnh c\u1edd g\u1eb7p l\u1ea1i h\u1eafn. L\u00e2u qu\u00e1 m\u1edbi g\u1eb7p l\u1ea1i nhau, hai n\u1eabu l\u00edu lo m\u1eebng vui ra chi\u1ec1u th\u00e2n thi\u1ebft. K\u1ec3 t\u1eeb \u0111\u00f3, t\u00f4i c\u00f3 d\u1ecbp \u0111i Nha Trang l\u1ea1i t\u00ecm h\u1eafn, l\u1ea1i \u0111\u00e0n \u0111\u00fam v\u1edbi nhau khi c\u00f3 d\u1ecbp.<\/p>\n
D\u01b0\u1eddng nh\u01b0 nhu c\u1ea7u chi\u1ebfn tr\u01b0\u1eddng l\u00fac \u0111\u00f3 c\u1ea7n h\u01a1n nhu c\u1ea7u b\u1ea1n b\u00e8 n\u00ean l\u1ea1i m\u1ea5t d\u1ea5u nhau sau m\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian ng\u1eafn. Khi cu\u1ed9c chi\u1ebfn c\u00e0ng ng\u00e0y c\u00e0ng kh\u1ed1c li\u1ec7t, t\u00f4i r\u1ea5t th\u01b0\u1eddng bay ti\u1ebfp t\u1ebf v\u00e0 ch\u1edf quan t\u00e0i anh em b\u1ed9 binh \u0111\u01b0a v\u1ec1 c\u1ed1 x\u1ee9 c\u1ee7a h\u1ecd, t\u00f4i l\u1ea1i g\u1eb7p h\u1eafn \u1edf phi tr\u01b0\u1eddng \u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng. H\u1eafn cho bi\u1ebft l\u00e0 \u0111\u1ed5i v\u1ec1 \u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng kh\u00e1 l\u00e2u r\u1ed3i. G\u1eb7p nhau \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c v\u00e0i l\u1ea7n th\u00ec \u0111\u1eddi bay b\u1ed5ng c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i thay \u0111\u1ed5i. T\u00f4i r\u1eddi C123 qua C130 r\u1ed3i \u0111\u1ed5i sang AC119K v\u1eadn t\u1ea3i t\u00e1c chi\u1ebfn. <\/p>\n
Khi chi\u1ebfn tr\u01b0\u1eddng mi\u1ec1n Trung s\u00f4i \u0111\u1ed9ng, AC119K \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c l\u1ec7nh bi\u1ec7t ph\u00e1i y\u1ec3m tr\u1ee3 \u1edf hai c\u0103n c\u1ee9 Ph\u00f9 C\u00e1t v\u00e0 \u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng, t\u00f4i li\u00ean ti\u1ebfp xin \u0111i bi\u1ec7t ph\u00e1i, tr\u00e1nh xa m\u1eb7t tr\u1eddi vui h\u01a1n.<\/p>\n
L\u1ea7n \u0111\u1ea7u ti\u00ean \u0111i \u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng, t\u00f4i t\u00ecm g\u1eb7p h\u1eafn t\u1ea1i khu c\u01b0 x\u00e1 s\u0129 quan \u0111\u1ed9c th\u00e2n. Nh\u01b0ng h\u1eafn bay ban ng\u00e0y t\u00f4i th\u00ec ban \u0111\u00eam n\u00ean ch\u1ec9 g\u1eb7p nhau n\u1ebfu tr\u00f9ng ng\u00e0y ngh\u1ec9 ho\u1eb7c nh\u1eefng ng\u00e0y h\u1eafn \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c v\u1ec1 s\u1edbm. H\u1ed3i \u0111\u00f3, l\u01b0\u01a1ng th\u00e1ng ch\u00fang t\u00f4i gi\u1ed1ng nhau nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft sao h\u1eafn c\u00f3 v\u1ebb r\u1ee7ng r\u1ec9nh h\u01a1n t\u00f4i nhi\u1ec1u, n\u00ean th\u01b0\u1eddng h\u00e0o s\u1ea3ng bao t\u00f4i \u0103n u\u1ed1ng. Con nh\u00e0 ngh\u00e8o m\u00e0 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c \u0111\u00e3i ng\u1ed9 m\u1eebng mu\u1ed1n ch\u1ebft! H\u01a1n n\u1eefa, \u1edf \u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng h\u1eafn l\u00e0 th\u1ed5 \u0111\u1ecba n\u00ean d\u1eabn d\u1eaft t\u00f4i kh\u1eafp n\u1ebbo \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng th\u00e0nh khi c\u00f3 d\u1ecbp. <\/p>\n
C\u00f3 m\u1ed9t l\u1ea7n, h\u1eafn \u0111\u01b0a t\u00f4i t\u1edbi gi\u1edbi thi\u1ec7u c\u00f4 b\u1ea1n g\u00e1i c\u1ee7a h\u1eafn. C\u00e1i l\u1ea7n g\u1eb7p g\u1ee1 n\u00e0y \u0111\u1ec3 l\u1ea1i cho ch\u00fang t\u00f4i m\u1ed9t k\u1ef7 ni\u1ec7m d\u00f9 c\u00f3 mu\u1ed1n qu\u00ean c\u0169ng kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 qu\u00ean \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c sau g\u1ea7n 50 n\u0103m d\u00e0i.<\/p>\n
C\u00f4 b\u1ea1n g\u00e1i vui v\u1ebb ch\u00e0o \u0111\u00f3n ch\u00fang t\u00f4i, cho bi\u1ebft n\u00e0ng s\u1ebd \u0111\u00e3i ch\u00fang t\u00f4i m\u1ed9t ch\u1ea7u Cua Rang Mu\u1ed1i do ch\u00ednh c\u00f4 \u1ea5y l\u00e0m. Cua Rang Mu\u1ed1i m\u00e0 nh\u1eadu v\u1edbi Bia 33 th\u00ec c\u00f2n g\u00ec b\u1eb1ng. Ch\u00fang t\u00f4i ki\u00ean nh\u1eabn ng\u1ed3i ch\u1edd v\u1edbi c\u00e1i b\u1ee5ng \u0111\u00f3i meo. Khi Cua Rang Mu\u1ed1i \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c n\u00e0ng \u201ch\u1ed3 h\u1edfi ph\u1ea5n kh\u1edfi\u201d d\u1ecdn ra th\u00ec \u00f4 h\u00f4 ai tai, c\u1ea3 l\u0169 ch\u01b0a k\u1ecbp m\u1eebng \u0111\u00e3 b\u1ecb ph\u1ecfng l\u01b0\u1ee1i! Kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i v\u00ec \u0111\u00f3i \u0103n g\u1ea5p m\u00e0 v\u00ec c\u00f4ng th\u1ee9c l\u00e0m cua rang mu\u1ed1i c\u1ee7a n\u00e0ng qu\u00e1 s\u1ee9c \u0111\u1eb7c bi\u1ec7t – b\u1ecf cua rang chung v\u1edbi v\u00e0i lon mu\u1ed1i h\u1ed9t – b\u00e1o h\u1ea1i ch\u00fang t\u00f4i ph\u1ea3i ph\u1ea3i m\u00f2 ra ph\u1ed1 t\u00ecm c\u00e1i \u0103n. <\/p>\n
V\u00ec s\u1ef1 th\u00e2n thi\u1ebft v\u1edbi h\u1eafn c\u00e0ng ng\u00e0y c\u00e0ng s\u00e2u \u0111\u1eadm n\u00ean nh\u1eefng l\u1ea7n bi\u1ec7t ph\u00e1i sau n\u00e0y t\u00f4i hay t\u00ecnh nguy\u1ec7n \u0111i \u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng, chi\u1ebfn tr\u01b0\u1eddng m\u00e0 h\u1ea7u h\u1ebft ai c\u0169ng mu\u1ed1n tr\u00e1nh n\u1ebfu c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c trong th\u1eddi gian \u0111\u00f3. <\/p>\n
Th\u00e2n thi\u1ebft \u0111\u1ebfn n\u1ed7i h\u1eafn cho t\u00f4i theo h\u1eafn bay h\u00e0nh qu\u00e2n nhi\u1ec1u l\u1ea7n, nhi\u1ec1u n\u01a1i. H\u1eafn h\u0103m t\u00f4i, \u201cN\u1ebfu b\u1ecb b\u1eafn r\u1edbt th\u00ec ch\u1eafc tr\u00ean hai quan t\u00e0i c\u1ee7a tao v\u00e0 m\u00e0y s\u1ebd b\u1ecb d\u00e1n gi\u1ea5y ph\u1ea1t thay v\u00ec \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c vinh th\u0103ng.\u201d H\u1eafn cho t\u00f4i ng\u1ed3i v\u00e0o gh\u1ebf Copilot, c\u1ee9 ch\u01a1i c\u00e1i tr\u00f2 bay s\u00e1t ng\u1ecdn c\u00e2y cho t\u00f4i s\u1ee3, gi\u1edf ch\u00e2n l\u00ean l\u00e0m tr\u00f2 c\u01b0\u1eddi cho t\u1ee5i h\u1eafn. Nh\u1eefng l\u00fac thu\u1eadn ti\u1ec7n, h\u1eafn d\u1ea1y t\u00f4i bay tr\u1ef1c th\u0103ng. R\u1ea5t ti\u1ebfc, l\u00fac t\u00f4i hover g\u1ea7n \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c th\u00ec kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n c\u01a1 h\u1ed9i. Bay tr\u1ef1c th\u0103ng c\u00f3 l\u1ebd kh\u00f3 nh\u1ea5t l\u00e0 hover. C\u00f3 hover \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c th\u00ec m\u1edbi c\u1ea5t c\u00e1nh v\u00e0 h\u1ea1 c\u00e1nh \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c.<\/p>\n
Ng\u00e0y 25\/3\/1975, t\u00f4i theo h\u1eafn bay phi v\u1ee5 y\u1ec3m tr\u1ee3 – \u1edf qu\u00ea h\u01b0\u01a1ng Qu\u1ea3ng Ng\u00e3i c\u1ee7a ch\u00fang t\u00f4i – \u0111\u1ec3 c\u00e1c chi\u1ebfn h\u1eefu b\u1ed1c \u00f4ng T\u1ec9nh tr\u01b0\u1edfng Qu\u1ea3ng Ng\u00e3i b\u1ecb VC bao v\u00e2y tr\u00ean \u0111\u1ec9nh n\u00fai. Xong nhi\u1ec7m v\u1ee5 \u0111\u00f3, t\u00f4i n\u0103n n\u1ec9 h\u1eafn bay v\u1ec1 S\u00f4ng V\u1ec7 khu nh\u00e0 Ch\u00fa \u00dat c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i, t\u00ednh nh\u1edd h\u1eafn b\u1ed1c gia \u0111\u00ecnh ch\u00fa ra t\u1ec9nh l\u00e1nh n\u1ea1n, n\u1ebfu c\u00f3 th\u1ec3; nh\u01b0ng khi \u0111\u1ebfn n\u01a1i, li\u00ean l\u1ea1c qu\u00e2n b\u1ea1n \u1edf d\u01b0\u1edbi \u0111\u1ea5t m\u1edbi bi\u1ebft l\u00e0 v\u00f9ng v\u1eeba b\u1ecb VC chi\u1ebfm. H\u1eafn c\u0169ng l\u00ec l\u1ee3m l\u1eafm nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 xu\u1ed1ng \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c. T\u00f4i l\u1ea1i n\u00f3i h\u1eafn bay ngang qua nh\u00e0 c\u00f4 b\u1ea1n g\u00e1i tr\u00ean th\u1ecb tr\u1ea5n S\u00f4ng V\u1ec7. N\u00f3 bay qu\u1ea7n v\u00e0i v\u00f2ng xong th\u1eb3ng \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng v\u1ec1 l\u1ea1i c\u0103n c\u1ee9. To\u00e0n t\u1ec9nh Qu\u1ea3ng Ng\u00e3i b\u1ecb chi\u1ebfm trong ng\u00e0y.<\/p>\n
Ng\u00e0y 27\/3\/1975, bu\u1ed5i tr\u01b0a, t\u00f4i x\u1ea5c b\u1ea5c xang bang r\u1eddi \u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng t\u00ecm \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c h\u1eafn. Tr\u00ean \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng v\u1ec1 Saigon, t\u00f4i bu\u1ed3n r\u1ea7u nghe tr\u00ean t\u1ea7n s\u1ed1 bi\u1ebft Phi Tr\u01b0\u1eddng \u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng \u0111\u00e3 m\u1ea5t ki\u1ec3m so\u00e1t. L\u00f2ng t\u00f4i bu\u1ed3n v\u1eddi v\u1ee3i kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft t\u00ecnh c\u1ea3nh c\u1ee7a h\u1eafn ra sao, c\u00f3 tho\u00e1t \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c kh\u00f4ng.
\nGi\u1eefa th\u00e1ng 4\/1975, t\u00f4i vui m\u1eebng \u0111\u00f3n h\u1eafn v\u1ec1 t\u1edbi Saigon. H\u1eafn n\u00f3i s\u1ebd \u1edf t\u1ea1m v\u1edbi t\u00f4i trong c\u01b0 x\u00e1 S\u0129 Quan \u0111\u1ed9c th\u00e2n, ng\u00e0y ng\u00e0y \u0111i tr\u00ecnh di\u1ec7n ch\u1edd l\u1eadp th\u1ee7 t\u1ee5c \u0111\u01b0a v\u1ec1 V\u00f9ng 4. <\/p>\n
Chi\u1ec1u 27\/4\/1975, h\u1eafn \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c tin \u201cb\u00e0 x\u00e3 t\u01b0\u01a1ng lai\u201d \u2013 c\u00f4 n\u01b0\u01a1ng Cua Rang Mu\u1ed1i \u2013 ch\u1ea1y v\u1ec1 t\u1eeb \u0110\u1ea1i H\u1ecdc \u0110\u00e0 L\u1ea1t, h\u1eafn n\u00f3i h\u1eafn ph\u1ea3i ra ngo\u00e0i ph\u1ed1 v\u1edbi n\u00e0ng. Th\u1ebf r\u1ed3i l\u00fac t\u00f4i ch\u1ea1y kh\u1ecfi Saigon, bu\u1ed5i tr\u01b0a ng\u00e0y 29\/4\/1975, h\u1eafn \u1edf l\u1ea1i v\u1edbi ng\u01b0\u1eddi y\u00eau.<\/p>\n
Kh\u00f4ng nh\u1edb l\u00e0 bao nhi\u00eau n\u0103m sau b\u1ea5t ng\u1edd t\u00f4i nh\u1eadn \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c th\u01b0 h\u1eafn, n\u00f3i b\u00f3ng n\u00f3i gi\u00f3\u2026 tr\u1ed1n tr\u1ea1i c\u1ea3i t\u1ea1o, t\u00ecm c\u00e1ch v\u01b0\u1ee3t bi\u1ec3n, r\u1ed3i \u1edf t\u00f9, r\u1ed3i v\u01b0\u1ee3t bi\u1ec3n, r\u1ed3i b\u1eb7t t\u0103m. Cho t\u1edbi m\u1ed9t ng\u00e0y t\u00f4i vui m\u1eebng nh\u1eadn \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c tin h\u1eafn \u0111\u00e3 qua t\u1edbi tr\u1ea1i t\u1ef5 n\u1ea1n, g\u1eedi gi\u1ea5y t\u1edd \u0111\u1ec3 t\u00f4i gi\u00fap l\u00e0m th\u1ee7 t\u1ee5c b\u1ea3o l\u00e3nh cho h\u1eafn v\u00e0 \u0111\u1ee9a con trai nh\u1ecf. Kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft s\u1ef1 gi\u00fap \u0111\u1ee1 c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i c\u00f3 l\u00e0m cho ti\u1ebfn tr\u00ecnh \u0111\u1ecbnh c\u01b0 \u1edf M\u1ef9 c\u1ee7a h\u1eafn nhanh h\u01a1n kh\u00f4ng th\u00ec kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft; r\u1ed3i l\u1ea1i nghe v\u1ee3 v\u00e0 con g\u00e1i l\u1edbn c\u1ee7a h\u1eafn c\u00f9ng sum h\u1ecdp chung tr\u1ea1i t\u1ef5 n\u1ea1n. Th\u1eadt l\u00e0 vui m\u1eebng kh\u00f4n xi\u1ebft. <\/p>\n
Ng\u00e0y gia \u0111\u00ecnh h\u1eafn t\u1edbi Oakland, California t\u00f4i \u0111\u00f3n v\u00e0 \u0111\u01b0a v\u1ec1 \u1edf trong apartment 3 ph\u00f2ng ng\u1ee7 c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i. Sau \u0111\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng l\u00e2u, h\u1eafn xin \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c tr\u1ee3 c\u1ea5p nh\u00e0 \u1edf c\u1ee7a ch\u00ednh ph\u1ee7 nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng \u0111\u1ee7 n\u00ean ph\u1ea3i tr\u1ea3 th\u00eam cho t\u00f4i m\u1ed9t s\u1ed1 ti\u1ec1n nh\u1ecf sai bi\u1ec7t m\u1ed9t th\u1eddi gian, qu\u00ean m\u1ea5t kh\u00f4ng bi\u1ebft bao l\u00e2u. <\/p>\n
V\u00ec qua tr\u1ec5, h\u1eafn c\u1ed1 g\u1eafng t\u1ed1i \u0111a \u201cc\u00e0y s\u00e2u cu\u1ed1c b\u1eabm\u201d \u0111\u1ec3 lo t\u1ea1o d\u1ef1ng cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng m\u1edbi. Ph\u1ea3i c\u00f4ng nh\u1eadn nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0111\u00e3 s\u1ed1ng kh\u1ed1n kh\u1ed5 trong x\u00e3 h\u1ed9i c\u1ed9ng s\u1ea3n \u0111\u1ebfn khi h\u1ecd c\u00f3 c\u01a1 h\u1ed9i th\u00ec kh\u00f4ng n\u1ec1 gian kh\u00f3. Kh\u00f4ng bao l\u00e2u h\u1eafn \u0111\u00e3 mua \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c nh\u00e0 ri\u00eang v\u00e0 gia \u0111\u00ecnh t\u00f4i l\u1ea1i th\u00eam m\u1ed9t l\u1ea7n n\u1eefa d\u1ecdn \u0111i Texas.<\/p>\n
B\u00e2y gi\u1edd th\u00ec h\u1eafn kho\u1ebb r\u1ed3i, kho\u1ebb h\u01a1n t\u00f4i nhi\u1ec1u. Trong khi t\u00f4i c\u00f2n bon chen, v\u1eadt l\u1ed9n v\u1edbi cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng h\u1eafn \u0111\u00e3 ngh\u1ec9 h\u01b0u sau khi hai \u0111\u1ee9a con th\u00e0nh c\u00f4ng t\u1ed1t \u0111\u1eb9p trong h\u1ecdc v\u1ea5n v\u00e0 ngh\u1ec1 nghi\u1ec7p. C\u00f4ng vi\u1ec7c c\u1ee7a v\u1ee3 ch\u1ed3ng h\u1eafn b\u00e2y gi\u1edd l\u00e0 vui th\u00fa \u0111i\u1ec1n vi\u00ean v\u00e0 l\u00e0m \u00f4ng b\u00e0 n\u1ed9i, ngo\u1ea1i. H\u1eafn d\u1ecdn v\u1ec1 San Diego, th\u00e0nh ph\u1ed1 l\u1edbn c\u1ef1c nam c\u1ee7a ti\u1ec3u bang California, n\u01a1i kh\u00ed h\u1eadu \u00f4n ho\u00e0, b\u1ed1n m\u00f9a c\u00e2y c\u1ecf xanh t\u1ed1t.<\/p>\n
Nh\u01b0ng cho d\u00f9 th\u1ebf n\u00e0o, h\u1eafn v\u1eabn ch\u01b0a th\u1ec3 tho\u00e1t kh\u1ecfi t\u00f4i. H\u1eafn \u1edf \u0111\u00e2u t\u00f4i c\u0169ng t\u1edbi ng\u1ee7 nh\u1edd, l\u00e0m phi\u1ec1n. L\u00fac n\u00e0o v\u1ee3 ch\u1ed3ng h\u1eafn c\u0169ng vui v\u1ebb \u0111\u00f3n ti\u1ebfp t\u00f4i v\u00f4 c\u00f9ng t\u1eed t\u1ebf l\u00e0m t\u00f4i c\u00f3 h\u01a1i \u00e1y n\u00e1y l\u00e0 khi h\u1eafn “one leg wet one leg dry” (ch\u00e2n \u01b0\u1edbt ch\u00e2n r\u00e1o) m\u1edbi qua m\u00e0 t\u00f4i kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 \u0111i\u1ec1u ki\u1ec7n t\u1ed1t h\u01a1n \u0111\u1ec3 gi\u00fap \u0111\u1ee1 h\u1eafn nh\u01b0 nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi t\u1edbi tr\u01b0\u1edbc.<\/p>\n
T\u00f4i m\u1eebng cho h\u1eafn; h\u00e3nh di\u1ec7n v\u1ec1 h\u1eafn. H\u1eafn r\u1ea5t x\u1ee9ng \u0111\u00e1ng vui h\u01b0\u1edfng th\u1eddi gian c\u00f2n l\u1ea1i c\u1ee7a cu\u1ed9c \u0111\u1eddi. \u00d4ng b\u00e0 ta n\u00f3i \u0111\u00fang, \u201ch\u1ebft c\u01a1n b\u0129 c\u1ef1c \u0111\u1ebfn h\u1ed3i th\u00e1i lai.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u0110o\u1ea1n K\u1ebft:<\/strong><\/p>\nHi\u1ec7n t\u1ea1i ng\u0169 qu\u1ef7 ch\u00fang t\u00f4i c\u00f9ng gi\u00e0 ngang nhau, s\u1ee9c kho\u1ebb d\u00f9 c\u00f3 kh\u00e1c nhau nh\u01b0ng v\u1eabn c\u00f2n xoay x\u1edf \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c. \u0110\u1ee9a \u1edf San Diego gi\u1eef ch\u00e1u, \u0111\u1ee9a \u1edf Seattle d\u01b0\u1ee1ng b\u1ec7nh, \u0111\u1ee9a \u1edf San Jose v\u1eabn \u0111ang l\u00e0m t\u00e0i x\u1ebf xe 18 b\u00e1nh tr\u00ean \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng, th\u1eb1ng Mi\u00ean ph\u1ebb re l\u00e0m \u0111\u1ea1i s\u1ee9 l\u01b0u \u0111\u1ed9ng cho c\u00e1c con \u1edf tam gi\u00e1c Houston-San Antonio-Austin v\u00e0 t\u00f4i v\u1eabn c\u00f2n h\u0103ng ti\u1ebft v\u1ecbt, c\u00f3 tr\u01b0\u1eddng d\u1ea1y v\u00f5 cho c\u1ed9ng \u0111\u1ed3ng th\u1ebf gi\u1edbi. L\u00e2u l\u00e2u t\u00f4i nh\u1edb \u0111\u1ee9a n\u00e0o \u0111\u1ebfn th\u0103m \u0111\u1ee9a \u0111\u00f3. Ch\u00fang n\u00f3, m\u1ed7i \u0111\u1ee9a d\u00e0nh t\u00ecnh c\u1ea3m cho t\u00f4i bao nhi\u00eau kh\u00f4ng l\u00e0 v\u1ea5n \u0111\u1ec1, ch\u00fang n\u00f3 b\u1ecb t\u00f4i l\u00e0m phi\u1ec1n bao nhi\u00eau t\u00f4i c\u0169ng kh\u00f4ng quan t\u00e2m, nh\u01b0ng t\u00f4i bi\u1ebft l\u00e0 t\u00f4i v\u1eabn th\u01b0\u01a1ng, v\u1eabn tr\u00e2n tr\u1ecdng ch\u00fang n\u00f3 nh\u01b0 t\u00ecnh anh em ru\u1ed9t th\u1ecbt. B\u1ea1n m\u1ed9t l\u1ea7n gi\u1eef m\u1ed9t \u0111\u1eddi. C\u1ea7u mong ch\u00e2n c\u1ee9ng \u0111\u00e1 m\u1ec1m \u0111\u1ec3 m\u1ed7i ch\u00fang t\u00f4i s\u1ed1ng an vui v\u1edbi ph\u1ea7n \u0111\u1eddi c\u00f2n l\u1ea1i. <\/p>\n
V\u00e0 m\u1ed9t \u0111i\u1ec1u ch\u1eafc ch\u1eafn l\u00e0 ch\u00fang n\u00f3 kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3 tho\u00e1t kh\u1ecfi th\u1eb1ng t\u00f4i; ng\u00e0y n\u00e0o s\u1ee9c kho\u1ebb t\u00f4i c\u00f2n t\u1ed1t, nh\u1ea5t \u0111\u1ecbnh ng\u00e0y \u0111\u00f3 t\u00f4i v\u1eabn s\u1ebd ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c l\u00e0m phi\u1ec1n ch\u00fang n\u00f3.<\/p>\n
Kingwood Th\u00e1ng 10\/2019<\/em><\/p>\n<\/br><\/p>\n
CONFIDANT \u2013 COMRADES-IN-ARMS<\/strong><\/p>\nIntroduction<\/strong><\/p>\nThis is a series of writings about four buddies who were, in a sense, \u201craised in the same diaper\u201d with me. The five of us came from all three regions of Vietnam, all of us were in Republic of Viet Nam Air Force. One from the North origin, one from the South, and three from the Central region. Three studied at the same school; all five were joined Air Force at the same time. Started military training at the same time although there are 2 different units. We were so close that at times I felt as if they were my very own flesh and blood.<\/p>\n
After all the ups and downs of our lives, we are now all in America – each in a different state – but still in touch, still visiting when possible. At our age – grandparents on both sides already – yet the moment we reunite, we slip right back into the \u201cm\u1ea7y tao\u201d tone of our teenage years.<\/p>\n
We joined the Air Force Officer Candidate Class 4\/69 of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force, entering the Quang Trung \u2013 Nguy\u1ec5n Hu\u1ec7 Battalion, whose motto was \u201cLive Strong, Live Mighty,\u201d in early June 1969. The battalion was commanded by Major Tr\u1ea7n V\u0103n Hi\u1ebfn, notorious as the most \u201cscary and fearsome\u201d officer in the entire Quang Trung training center. Even before entering the course, we heard terrifying rumors, \u201cPrepare your mind, prepare your body,\u201d if you wanted any chance of surviving the three months of boot camp. They also whispered that the authorities of that battalion didn\u2019t particularly like the Air Force cadets.<\/p>\n
Indeed, that \u201clive strong, live mighty\u201d part we never saw – but the part about being ground to dust, we felt immediately. Every afternoon, dragging our exhausted bodies back from the training field – breath ragged, starving, limbs like jelly – we still had to run \u201csalute laps\u201d around the enormous compound before we were allowed to shower, eat, and collapse into sleep.<\/p>\n
I remember one day when Long \u201cthe Fat One\u201d – who had been assigned as company flag bearer – got sick and stayed off the field. I was ordered to carry the flag in his place (punishment for being tall and sturdy). On the run back, wanting to \u201cshow off,\u201d I led the company straight into formation after only one lap – only to stumble right into an officer (\u201cthe big boss\u201d) waiting for us. As a result, the entire company was punished with extra laps, and afterward, I alone was made to scrub the courtyard until the cement shone, to \u201cteach me a lesson.\u201d The whole company hated me; I, in turn, silently cursed the \u201cbig boss\u201d to the heavens\u2026 but didn\u2019t dare make a sound.<\/p>\n
Thirty-some years later, after losing our wings and ending up scattered around the world, I met that \u201cbig boss\u201d again at our class\u2019s 40-Year Reunion. Out of mischief, I asked him, \u201cSir, why were you so fearsome with us back then?\u201d He coolly laughed and said, \u201cYou Air Force fellows – if we didn\u2019t put the hammer down immediately, didn\u2019t enforce iron discipline, who could control a bunch of \u2018sons of heaven\u2019? Only through hardship can you be worthy of serving in a heroic branch of the military.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the following pages, I introduce – chronologically – each of the \u201cFive Devils of the Martial World,\u201d as we were once nicknamed.<\/p>\n
1. Hu\u1ef3nh Quy<\/strong><\/p>\nI came from V\u00f5 \u0110\u1eaft – red soil, dust, sun, mud – transported to a provincial town not much different, Long Kh\u00e1nh, to attend 10th grade at the Public High School. That was where I met him.<\/p>\n
I can\u2019t remember exactly when or how we became friends. He was in the B track of mathematic; I was in the A track of biology. A country boy transplanted into a district capital carries his share of insecurities, so I buried myself in books. I had come with three other friends from hometown and felt no need to make new ones.<\/p>\n
In 11th grade, the three friends who had come with me enlisted. Another younger student rented a room with me. Who knows by what twist of fate Hu\u1ef3nh Quy ended up renting and living with us – despite having his own home, his mother, and siblings living nearby.<\/p>\n
He was pure-blooded Hu\u1ebf; I was pure-blooded Qu\u1ea3ng Ng\u00e3i. Yet somehow, inexplicably, we got along and lived in perfect peace. He was generous, good-hearted, loyal to friends – but extremely fastidious. I was the type of clean and orderly person, but compared to him, I still not good enough. The smallest thing out of place, and he would grumble for a long time.<\/p>\n
We went through several years of student life this way – always close, even as we moved from one rented place to another. Eventually, tired of studying, I \u201cabandoned the riverbank and the boat\u201d and enlisted in the Air Force. A week later, he followed suit. I was assigned to Company 43 at Quang Trung; he arrived a week later in Company 44 – same battalion, same motto.<\/p>\n
After the first week, rumors spread of a \u201cmeningitis outbreak.\u201d The Medical Corps herded both companies into the yard and told anyone who felt a headache to step aside. I don\u2019t know whether he misheard or misaligned himself, but he ended up in the group being examined. After a long, thorough search yielded no illness whatsoever – it was already too late for him to continue with our course. He was rolled into the next batch\u2026 and eventually sent to the Th\u1ee7 \u0110\u1ee9c Military Academy to become an Army officer, while I remained an Air Force cadet until the day I returned home from abroad pilot training course.<\/p>\n
After our various military assignments, when I came to Squadron 821 \u201cTinh Long,\u201d flying AC-119K gunships, I found him again. We rented a house together for years until he married, and I was staying in a single officer\u2019s room on base.<\/p>\n
We shared countless memories, but one stands above the rest.<\/p>\n
I once begged to borrow his brand new Honda \u201868 to visit my elder brother in the Rangers stationed in H\u1eadu Ngh\u0129a – partly to show off. He knew I drove like a maniac, so it took many rounds of pleading before he agreed. Even then, he handed me the key only after repeating five times, \u201cPLEASE drive carefully. I just asked M\u1ea1 for money to buy this bike.\u201d<\/p>\n
I promised on all the gods.<\/p>\n
The trip out was fine. My brother was thrilled to see me; proud, even. He threw a feast, and we drank ourselves blind. At dusk, I staggered onto the motorcycle, completely forgetting my promise, wobbling like a drunk bird – but somehow made it back to Saigon. Only when I sobered up did I really look at the bike.<\/p>\n
Oh. My. God.<\/p>\n
Dented everywhere.<\/p>\n
Terrified, I rushed it to a repair shop, begged them to fix it as fast as possible, and agreed to pay extra. It still took several days. Meanwhile, when I came back home with him, he kept nagging, complaining, lamenting – until I wanted to dig a hole and crawl in. When I finally returned the bike, he continued \u201csinging\u201d until the imaginary vinyl wore out and the phantom needle broke!<\/p>\n
He had the best heart of us all – but extremely impossible when irritated. And who could blame him? If he\u2019d unleashed a dog to bite me, it would still have been fair. The fault was a thousand percent mine. Still, we remained inseparable – until he married, and I still stayed a happy bachelor in the single officers\u2019 quarters. From then on, our lives drifted apart naturally.<\/p>\n
On April 29, 1975, I escaped to U-Tapao, Thailand. He got stuck, went to prison, returned to Long Kh\u00e1nh after years of hardship, then made it to America under the H.O. program, settling in Seattle. I was overjoyed when I heard he had made it to freedom, but life kept us busy. We met again only briefly years later. With hard work and perseverance, he built a stable life for his family after all.<\/p>\n
Now retired, with grown children in good standing, he carries the lasting toll of years in re-education camps and the harsh struggle of rebuilding life in America. He lives in gloomy Seattle; I live in sun-scorched cowboy country – so visits are rare. Our affection survives through phone calls and the occasional visit.<\/p>\n
2. Ho\u00e0ng V\u0103n H\u1ed9i<\/strong><\/p>\nWhen I enlisted, he and Hu\u1ef3nh Quy were still in school. Once my security clearance came through, they both were followed \u2013 joined Air Force. In Long Kh\u00e1nh – besides Nguy\u1ec5n Gia T\u1eadp, who had joined the Air Force earlier – a whole flock of our former classmates followed: H\u1ed9i, Quy, H\u1eefu, T\u00f9ng, H\u1ed3ng, Gia C\u1ea7n, Gia H\u1ecdc.<\/p>\n
In high school, I only vaguely knew H\u1ed9i. He was in the B track, I in A. He was a northern origin \u201cwater-spinach-eating\u201d kid; I was a central \u201cchili-eating\u201d boy. His family lived by the railroad near Gate 6 – not far from my lodgings – but we didn\u2019t see each other much. But eventually became friend even it was not as close as Huynh Quy.<\/p>\n
In Saigon, he had a well-off cousin near \u00d4ng T\u1ea1 intersection. When we met again in the Air Force, he dragged me home to ask his cousin to let me stay while we waited for processing into Quang Trung and then for our departure to the U.S. for pilot traing session. His cousin, fond of him and generous to his friends, welcomed me despite already having six children in the house. The two eldest were in religious orders; the other four were lively, mischievous – two of whom later joined the Air Force as well.<\/p>\n
We stayed in a rooftop room on the third floor – free to come and go, sing, joke, or make noise at all hours.<\/p>\n
We entered Class 4\/69 together at Quang Trung – same company, 43, same battalion. Two hundred students from all various of life. They lined us up by height, divided into four platoons. He was in the \u201cDwarf Platoon,\u201d and I was in the \u201cElephant Platoon.\u201d<\/p>\n
We finished Quang Trung, trained in English together, graduated, went to America for pilot training together, entered flight school together – though in different classes. After flight school, he was assigned to fly the old C-47; I was assigned to the larger C-123.<\/p>\n
Back home, we were in different squadrons, each busy with our own duties; however, we still live together at the same old place, be able to hang around together when we had chances. <\/p>\n
One memory stands out unforgettable to everyone involved.<\/p>\n
One fine day, Quy and I invited him to dinner – everyone had a day off from flying. Afterward, we suggested visiting his girlfriend. She had a younger sister – lovely, just of blossoming age – and all of us had our eyes on her. He knew our tricks and reluctantly agreed.<\/p>\n
Her family was stunned to see a whole gang showing up. His girlfriend hurried to bring refreshments; the younger sister dashed into her room; the mother – classic northern politeness – asked if we\u2019d eaten. I blurted out:<\/p>\n
We planned to visit you first, B\u00e1c, then go to eat afterward.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said, \u201cI still have some rice. If you boys don\u2019t mind, stay and eat with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
I knew it was mere politeness – but wanting to tease him, I told the mother:<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you insists, we don\u2019t have to go to the restaurant afterward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Quy picked up the cue. All that talk left the poor mother had no choice but to have her daughters set the table. Both girls were embarrassed, displeased even. He sat there, mortified. We, shameless as ever, ate heartily, joked loudly, \u201cas naturally as true Hanoians.\u201d [t\u1ef1 nhi\u00ean nh\u01b0 ng\u01b0\u1eddi H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i]<\/p>\n
When the dishes grew scarce, the mother quietly sent the kids to buy more\u2026 and then more. We ate until we were so stuffed, so filled.<\/p>\n
One time was enough to make everyone learn their lesson. Youth – carefree, foolish, unforgettable.<\/p>\n
Years later, we were promoted to First Lieutenant. He became aircraft commander in his squadron; I remained copilot in my place until the day the country fell.<\/p>\n
When Saigon collapsed, each of us fled away as we could. He ended up in Fort Chaffee, Arkansas; I was taken to the refugee camp at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.<\/p>\n
During my first week out of camp, working as a construction helper with Phat for a church member of my sponsor, I received a letter from him. That weekend, Ph\u00e1t and I earned a shared paycheck of $46. We asked our sponsor\u2019s son to cash it, gave almost all to our sponsor for food, and spared $5 to send him \u201cfor coffee\u201d in the camp.
\nWhen he finally left the camp and came to San Antonio to join us, he still had that five-dollar bill, crisp and untouched. I asked why he hadn\u2019t spent it. He said, \u201cI couldn\u2019t bring myself to waste the sweat of you two.\u201d<\/p>\n
We lived together in San Antonio for a while, then scattered. I went to study aircraft maintenance, then quit at halfway, drifted around, finally settled in the Bay Area, finished school, and married. He wandered too, married, and eventually moved to San Jose.<\/p>\n
There he and his wife worked so hard in many different job, bought a house, and raised four children, who were borned every year. They struggled, they built businesses \u2013 not that much successful, but enough to raise all their children well. Now that the kids are grown, the two of them drive an 18-wheeler cross-country. At this age, the fact that they still have the stamina amazes all of us.<\/p>\n
For the class reunion in Florida, he scheduled his trucking routes so he could come that way – carrying food, drinks, even musical instruments to entertain everyone for our 50th Anniversary celebration. Whenever he wanted to see any of us, he books a route toward our place to visit.<\/p>\n
Whenever I miss him, I make a phone call – and he usually picks up from some strange places in some different state.<\/p>\n
That is our lovable Northern origin friend from dusty, rainy Long Kh\u00e1nh – our dear Air Force comrade, member of the \u201cDwarf Platoon,\u201d who has drifted with us from homeland to a refugee\u2019s life in foreign country for over half a century.<\/p>\n
3. H\u00e0 Quan Ph\u00e1t<\/strong><\/p>\nHe is one of the Five Devils. A southern boy, from S\u00f3c Tr\u0103ng \u2013 B\u1ea1c Li\u00eau, but his roots stretch back to B\u00ecnh \u0110\u1ecbnh – the southern tip of my own Qu\u1ea3ng Ng\u00e3i homeland.<\/p>\n
I met him entering Class 4\/69 RVNAF. They lined us up by height; he stood right beside me every day, slept on the next cot. He was tall but skinny; when it came to joking, teasing, mischief – he was a grandmaster.<\/p>\n
He gave me the nickname \u201cThu\u1eadn n\u1eabu,\u201d mocking my Qu\u1ea3ng Ng\u00e3i heritage in a jokingly manner. He threw the word \u201cn\u1eabu\u201d at me all day long until I nearly went insane. One day, he pushed me too far while I was cleaning my rifle, I wanted to hit him with the rifle buttstock, but he was quickly darted away, laughing, still taunting, so I chased him around the compound like a madman.<\/p>\n
Truth is, I couldn\u2019t stand his constant pranks – but I loved listening to him whenever he told the Khmer\u2019s stories in his hometown. His village had a large Khmer population, and he had endless hilarious anecdotes about their innocent honesty. He imitated their accent perfectly, with such charm and comedic timing that every night before bed, the rest of us would gather around his cot for storytime.<\/p>\n
I gave him the nickname \u201cPh\u00e1t Mi\u00ean\u201d long before he earned his later title, \u201cPh\u00e1t Volley.\u201d Even today, his Khmer storytelling skills still \u201cdraw crowds\u201d – no one else could be better.<\/p>\n
Somehow, without noticing when, we became inseparable.<\/p>\n
We survived military boot camp, then English school – same tent, same barracks. After arduous study, he passed his exam and prepared to go to the U.S. for the pilot training session; I failed by one point and stayed behind, singing the mournful song \u201cWhat sadness surpasses tonight,\u201d [Bu\u1ed3n n\u00e0o h\u01a1n \u0111\u00eam nay].<\/p>\n
During our English training, he often dragged me to his uncle\u2019s house near Ch\u1ee3 L\u1edbn on weekends. The house sat in a large alley. Several times visiting, he pointed out a beautiful young woman walking past, \u201cThat\u2019s D\u00ec Ch\u00edn. She works nearby. I want to talk to her, but I don\u2019t dare.\u201d<\/p>\n
I said, \u201cYou want to court her but keep calling her \u2018Auntie Ch\u00edn\u2019? That\u2019ll never work.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said that was just what his friend called her. I told him if he planned to woo her, he\u2019d better drop the \u201cAuntie\u201d nonsense.<\/p>\n
Before leaving for America, he rode me past her workplace a few times – so I could \u201ckeep an eye on her\u201d while he was gone. He even warned me. \u201cYou only watch, okay? No flirting. If you flirt her, I\u2019ll kill you.\u201d I looked at him and laughed but promised to \u201clook out on her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Out of affection for him, I really did keep an eye out – though for what purpose, I\u2019ll never know. Each letter he sent from America to me, he kept asking me about her. I never had much to report, \u201cShe still goes to work. No boy trailing her yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
A couple months later, I received orders from the Air Force Command to go abroad for pilot training as well. I was so overjoyed.<\/p>\n
I arrived at the Military English school in Lackland, San Antonio, and moved into the same dormitory at where he at. American food was unbearable, so we secretly cooked in our room. Whenever he cooked; I washed dishes. Most of the time, he intentionally left a mess just for me to clean up.<\/p>\n
After finished English school, he went on to Randolph Flight School – not far from Lackland. Then soon after, I joined him. We lived together again – same old story – he cooked, left a mess and I washed and clean up.<\/p>\n
After graduated from the basic flight school, he progressed to the next phase at Keesler Air Base, Mississippi. A couple months after, I followed.<\/p>\n
The flight training course at Keesler, he vomited violently during aerobatic maneuvers – bile and all – so the instructors deferred him to the next class, which was mine. There were two separate classes; he was in the other, with Ho\u00e0ng H\u1ed9i. We stayed in a different dorms, that meant, I didn\u2019t have to clean his mess. But near graduation, we were moved to the officers\u2019 quarters. Back together again. And yes, the old story was repeated. We were both singing the old song.<\/p>\n
One day he cooked dinner; I was out playing volleyball. Hungry, I rushed in, saw the foods already on the table and began eating immediately. He blew up, dumped the entire meal into the trash! I was furious, but what could I do – fight him? I swallowed my anger and walked off to the officer club for dinner.<\/p>\n
Thinking back, he had reason. I barged in and ate without a word. Still, it took days before we \u201csigned the ceasefire treaty.\u201d With a personality like his, who could stay mad long? His stubbornness was legendary – but so was his loyalty, humor, and warmth.<\/p>\n
Luckily \u201cb\u00e0 h\u00fa,\u201d he managed to overcome the motion-sickness that had plagued him during acrobatic-flight training. After graduation, he was assigned to the C-119, while I went to the C-123. Both aircraft required specialized training at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio. Once again, he and I ended up in the same place – just different rooms. We hardly cooked anymore, since most of our time was spent by the training.<\/p>\n
Few months later, my aircraft type was reassigned to New England AFB in Alabama. That was when he and I had to part ways until we returned to Vi\u1ec7t Nam. <\/p>\n
Back home, we were posted to different units but both were stationed not too far from each other. Although, most of the times we ran into each other over the radio frequencies, on occasional days off, or on the volleyball court.<\/p>\n
He eventually married his sweetheart, and I served as his best man. He became famous as one of the star volleyball players of the 5th Air Division, so much so that the Deputy Wing Commander – who adored this sport – favored him greatly. Because of this special treatment, when the RVNAF began transitioning from the C-123K to the massive C-130A, he and his inseparable partner \u201cBlackie B\u00e9\u201d were pulled into the program immediately and trained early as copilots \u2013 unprecedented, they were the only pair treated that way.<\/p>\n
I was also selected for the C-130A, but there were many pilots need to be trained and based on seniority, I had to wait. I was eager to fly, and the long wait frustrated me. In my impatience, I requested to switch to the AC-119K – the most advanced gunship in the RVNAF at that time. I loved the aircraft\u2019s heavy firepower – two 20-mm six-barrel cannons and four six-barrel Miniguns. It was always deployed to the hottest battlefields and often sent on detached missions far from \u201cthe sun\u201d – which, frankly, suited me better.<\/p>\n
Later, I heard rumors that the C-130A would soon be replaced by the C-130E, which is far more modern. I asked him, the \u201cpampered son\u201d to ask the Deputy Wing Commander to bring me back to the C-130A program, but he couldn\u2019t get it approved.<\/p>\n
On the morning of April 29, 1975, the airbase came under heavy shelling. No one had time to say anything to anyone; authorities had vanished; the whole base was in chaos as people scrambled for a way out. After a Tinh Long 7 gunship was shot down inside the perimeter of Tan Son Nhut Air Base, everyone desperately searched for an escape. I was fortunate enough to board the very last unsecured C-130A leaving T\u00e2n S\u01a1n Nh\u1ee9t around noon. Looking back now, I find a strange joy in knowing that I at least got to sit in the co-pilot\u2019s seat of the most advanced transport aircraft in the RVNAF – even it only as a \u201chelper copilot\u201d assisting Senior Pilot Phan V\u0169 \u0110i\u1ec7n on our escape flight to U-Tapao.<\/p>\n
Phat with his wife and little daughter had escaped earlier. I was lucky to get out last. We reunited at U-Tapao, then moved to Guam, and eventually ended up at Eglin AFB as refugees.<\/p>\n
In the U.S., we shared the same foster mother. She was the widow of a U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who had been shot down in Korean War. Because of that loss, she adored airmen. When she ran into him at the PX in Lackland AFB, she happened to like him and willfully adopted him as her foster son. When I came later, he introduced me to her, and she took me in as well. Every weekend she would drive onto base to pick us up, bring us home, feed us, and take us out with unbelievable kindness. After we returned to Vi\u1ec7t Nam, I still kept in touch with her – though not as often as I should have.<\/p>\n
During our refugee journey – from Guam to Eglin AFB – the plane stopped in Honolulu. I called her and asked if she could sponsor both our families so we could get out of the refugee camp sooner. She was delighted and promised to do everything she could to bring us to San Antonio as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
While in the refugee camp, one morning, a man came to our tent to interview his family. Since they had a young child, they were prioritized. I was sitting nearby and overheard. The white American farmer told him he wanted to sponsor his family to his farm. The mas said that he would train Phat to fly a Cessna for crop-duster, his wife would be their housekeeping, and they would be paid $500 a month with housing included…<\/p>\n
Hearing this, my anger exploded. I chased the guy out, saying, \u201cWe are refugees – educated people – not cheap labor. We don\u2019t want to hear another word from you. Get out. Now!\u201d<\/p>\n
The poor man fled, terrified. My friend said, \u201cThey\u2019re sponsoring my family, not yours – why are you the one losing your temper?\u201d I told him, \u201cYou\u2019d let your wife be a servant like a slave? They\u2019re hiring you as a pilot and paying you like a cheap laborer! Forget that nonsense. Our foster mother will get us out soon. Stop listening to these ridiculous sponsors!\u201d<\/p>\n
On Saturday, May 24, 1975, our foster mother sponsored us out of the camp and brought us to San Antonio. On Sunday, she took us to church. After Mass, she introduced us to a parishioner who offered us work as handyman-assistants, and we both went to work on Monday, May 26, 1975.<\/p>\n
Neither of us had ever done this kind of labor before; we only knew studying and flying – but we did whatever he told us to do, we both were a typical fast learner that made the boss pleased and said we were skillful and smart. I cursed silently, \u201cOf course we\u2019re smart – how else do you think we became pilots?\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, we tried to worked diligently so he would keep us employed. There wasn\u2019t much work – only a few hours a day. At the end of the week, the two of us received a single first paycheck of $46.<\/p>\n
Holding that check, I suddenly thought of the $500 monthly offer our friend\u2019s family had received – crop-dusting and housekeeping included. For a brief moment, I felt uneasy\u2026 but then a quiet pride washed over me. I had protected his dignity and his family\u2019s honor. And now we were earning our first American dollars with our own hands. We took the check home, had our foster mother\u2019s son cash it for us, and tried to give her money for groceries. Naturally, she refused. So, we used it to buy food for both families. (Back then, $20 filled a grocery cart.)<\/p>\n
After some time in San Antonio, seeing no real future, we heard someone mentioning about welfare office could help. When we talked about that to our foster mother, she and her son were furious. They told us never to speak of welfare or food stamps while living under her roof. But for curiosity, I went there just to find the truth. The staff said they were willing to give us welfare and food stamps temporarily, but thought of the foster family\u2019s words, I said I only wanted a find a steady job. They referred me to an employment program, where I met farm owners looking for workers. They offered housing, transportation, and proper wages if we agreed to move to their farms. I set an appointment for both of us in the next day.<\/p>\n
When I got home, I discussed it with him – he agreed. When we asked our foster mother, she reluctantly consented, saying we should try to save money and eventually move back into town. His family left with one farm owner; my brother and I went with another. The two farms were not far apart.<\/p>\n
Every weekend, I drove over to visit him. He told me he ran the tractor every day; his wife helped with house chores; the life was tolerable. He laughed mentioning, \u201cIn the camp, someone wanted to hire me to fly a crop-duster, and you stopped it. Now I\u2019m driving a tractor, and my wife is still helping with housework!\u201d I had no answer – but strangely, I felt no regret.<\/p>\n
Life was hard. We were all focused on survival, so visits became less frequent. Farm work didn\u2019t suit us; factory work didn\u2019t either; eventually we left the fields and returned to the city looking for different jobs. He later came back to San Antonio and found a steady job. I left for school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, then drifted across states seeking a livelihood. Eventually he moved to Tennessee, invited by another friend of us. We stayed in touch only occasionally.<\/p>\n
Many years later, after hardships in California, my family moved to Houston – where I found him again. His life was stable; his children were thriving. Mine was less fortunate, full of relocations and struggles. After several moves between Houston and California, we finally settled permanently in Houston once both my wife and I found stable jobs. Both houses located only mile apart.<\/p>\n
It seems fate tethered the two of us together. After all the upheavals of more than half a century – from two clueless kids who almost fought each other on first meeting – to old men with families, bent backs, and silver hair, we somehow remain near one another in this second homeland.<\/p>\n
4. \u0110\u1eb7ng Ph\u01b0\u1edbc<\/strong><\/p>\nHe is one of my four closest lifelong friends. A true son of Qu\u1ea3ng Ng\u00e3i, a proud alumnus of Tr\u1ea7n Qu\u1ed1c Tu\u1ea5n High School – the province\u2019s famed institution that produced many of its brightest. I too was born in Qu\u1ea3ng Ng\u00e3i but left for the South after only ten years to build a new life with my parents and siblings.<\/p>\n
He joined Company 44 a few days after I joined 43. Although in the same battalion, the two companies trained separately, so even if we knew of each other, it was superficial. After completing the Quang Trung course, we both returned to \u201cGhost House Area\u201d to tread the grass – always sneaking away whenever possible.<\/p>\n
Later, we ended up in the same language school class, just different tents, and when sent to the U.S. for further training, each went into a different specialty. He qualified for helicopter training; I went into fixed-wing. We remained acquaintances – nothing more – though we both knew the other was a fellow \u201cn\u1eabu\u201d from central Vi\u1ec7t Nam.<\/p>\n
After returning from the U.S., during a supply mission to central Vi\u1ec7t Nam, I landed in Nha Trang and ran into him by chance. It had been ages. Two country boys from Qu\u1ea3ng Ng\u00e3i, chattering nonstop. Afterwards, whenever I flew to Nha Trang, I sought him out. But battlefield demands scattered us again.<\/p>\n
As the war intensified, I often flew supply runs and transported fallen infantry brothers back home. At \u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng airport, I found him again – he had transferred there. We met a few times before my own flying life changed: from C-123 to C-130, then to the AC-119K gunship.<\/p>\n
When the central front grew fierce, the AC-119K teams were detached to Ph\u00f9 C\u00e1t and \u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng to provide close support. I volunteered repeatedly – staying far from \u201cthe sun\u201d suited more. Whenever I went to \u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng, I looked for him at the bachelor officers\u2019 quarters. He flew in day time while I flew by night; we met only if our days off aligned.<\/p>\n
Though our salaries were the same, he always seemed to have more money and generously treated me. A poor boy being treated? Heavenly! Since he stationed at \u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng for a long time, he took me everywhere.<\/p>\n
Once he took me to meet his girlfriend. She promised us her special Salt-Roasted Crab. We waited, starving. When she proudly presented it, we burned our tongues – not from heat but from the huge amount of rock salt she had cooked it with. We had to go into town to eat. That memory – nearly fifty years later – still makes us laugh.<\/p>\n
Because our bond deepened, on later deployments I always volunteered for \u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng. He even trained me flying helicopter and let allowed me on his missions. He warned me, \u201cIf we get shot down, they\u2019ll post a court-martial notice on our coffins instead of giving us promotions.\u201d<\/p>\n
He let me sit in the copilot seat, buzz treetops to scare me, made me lifting my feet multi times for his crew to have a great laugh. When possible, he kept teaching me to fly helicopters. I nearly mastered hovering but soon lost the chance.<\/p>\n
On March 25, 1975, I flew with him on a mission over our homeland, Qu\u1ea3ng Ng\u00e3i, to extract the province chief who was trapped by VC forces on a mountaintop. After that, I begged him to fly over my Uncle \u00dat\u2019s home in S\u00f4ng V\u1ec7 to rescue them if possible, but by the time we arrived, the area had been overrun. Even he – reckless as he could be – couldn\u2019t land.<\/p>\n
I then asked him to circle over my girlfriend\u2019s house in S\u00f4ng V\u1ec7. He flew a few loops, then returned to base. The entire province fell that day.<\/p>\n
On March 27, 1975, I left \u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng in chaos and couldn\u2019t find him. On the way back to Saigon, I heard on the radio that \u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng airport was lost. My heart sank – not knowing his fate.<\/p>\n
In mid-April, I rejoiced to see him in Saigon. He stayed with me in the bachelor quarters while waiting to be reassigned to Region IV. On April 27, he received word that his \u201cfuture wife\u201d – the Salt-Crab Lady – had escaped from \u0110\u00e0 L\u1ea1t and arrived in Saigon. He went out to meet her.<\/p>\n
When I fled Saigon on April 29, he stayed behind with his love.<\/p>\n
Years later, I suddenly received a letter – hinting at escape from re-education camp, failed many times sea attempts, imprisonment, another escape, disappearance. Until one day news arrived – he had made it to a refugee camp and asking me to help sponsor him and his young son. I did so. Later, his wife and their elder daughter also reunited with him in the camp. It was overwhelming joy.<\/p>\n
When his family arrived in Oakland, I picked them up and let them stay in my rental three-bedroom apartment. Soon after, he received housing assistance and he continue paid me his small portion. Having arrived late, he worked tirelessly to rebuild his life. Those who lived under communism\u2019s hardship knew how to seize opportunity when it came. In no time, he bought his own house, and my family moved once again to Texas left him and his family stayed in Oakland.<\/p>\n
Now he is doing well – far better than I am. While I\u2019m still hustling through life, he has retired, his children successful in education and career. He and his wife now enjoy gardening and being grandparents. They moved to San Diego with mild weather all year.<\/p>\n
But even so, he still can\u2019t escape me. Wherever he lives, I show up, sleep over, and bother him. He and his wife always welcome me warmly, making me feel guilty that when he first came – \u201cone leg wet, one leg dry\u201d – I wasn\u2019t able to help more. I am proud of him. He deserves every blessing after enduring the bitterness of the past. Truly, as our elders say, \u201cAfter hardship comes prosperity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\nToday, the five of us \u201cfive devils\u201d are all old men. Our health varies, but we\u2019re still managing. One in San Diego caring for grandkids; one in Seattle recovering from illness; one in San Jose driving an 18-wheeler; the Khmer boy happily traveling between Houston\u2013San Antonio\u2013Austin helping his children; and I – still full of restless energy, finally running a martial arts school after retired.<\/p>\n
From time to time, I visit whoever I miss. Their affection for me – more or less – doesn\u2019t matter. How much I annoy them also doesn\u2019t matter. What matters is that I love them as brothers.<\/p>\n
A friend once is a friend for life.<\/p>\n
I pray we all remain strong and steady, living our remaining years in peace. And one thing is certain, they will never escape me. As long as I have strength, I will continue to \u201cbother\u201d them – always.<\/p>\n
Kingwood, October 2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Do Ph\u01b0\u1ee3ng Vy th\u1ef1c hi\u1ec7n v\u00e0 tr\u00ecnh b\u00e0y tr\u00ean \u0111\u00e0i ph\u00e1t thanh 1600AM Saigon Dallas Radio. L\u1eddi Gi\u1edbi Thi\u1ec7u: \u0110\u00e2y l\u00e0 lo\u1ea1t b\u00e0i vi\u1ebft v\u1ec1 4 th\u1eb1ng b\u1ea1n g\u1ea7n nh\u01b0 \u201cn\u1ed1i kh\u1ed1\u201d c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i. 5 \u0111\u1ee9a c\u00f3 \u0111\u1ee7 3 mi\u1ec1n \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc c\u00f9ng l\u00e0 d\u00e2n phi h\u00e0nh. 1 B\u1eafc 1 Nam 3 Trung. 3 th\u1eb1ng […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,23,3,17],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11859"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11859"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11859\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11871,"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11859\/revisions\/11871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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