Blue Ridge (LCC 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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Hiiihiiiihts A RUN TO FREEDOM Thirleen Vielniimese refugees were taken aboard the Blue ;( ,t,r early in the evening of ' Thursday, May 16. Their wooden 20-root motor-powered boat was sighted approximately 1 10 miles southeast of Vietnam. On investigation, the boat was determined to be unseaworthy and taking on water. Its main engine was out of commission. The thirteen people, including two children, had been at sea for four days and were out of food and very low on water. All were generally in good health. The May 16 rescue marks the third lime the USS Blue Ruii;ehiis rescued Vietnamese boat people in the South China Sea. The first rescue occurred in October 1980, when the Flagship took 92 Vietnamese aboard. The second occurred on May 15 of last year, when 35 Vietnamese were rescued and debarked two days later in Hong Kong . The whaleboat crew investigates a white flag. 24

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Port Visit-Hong Kong American and Chinese naval personnel had their hands ful keeping the procession moving in an orderly fashion. . It doesn ' t take much to entertain kids. These two play on a hatch while visiting the Blue Ridge. 23

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Highlights-R efugee A ssistance The end of a run to freedom. DEAR CAPTAIN: ' ' My name is NGO LACH VAN. 1 am a Vietnamese refugee. I came to the U.S. on 21 October 1982 and I live at 23171 2 Cortland Ave., Fort Wayne, Indiana. 1 have received a letter from my son on your ship. My sons name is NGO NINH GIANG; 16 years old. He announced that he escaped from Vietnam on 13 May 1985. After 4 days and 3 nights in the small boat with 13 other people they were very unhappy on the ocean. They waited for death to come to them but they saw your ship and you decided to rescue them. They came to Japan safely on 21 May 1985. Now they wait for resettlement in U.S.A. 1 am very happy because my son got out of my country. 1 feel that it is hell. When Communist took over Vietnam I became a prisoner, because before 1975 1 was an officer of the Vietnamese Navy. 1 must go to jail for 5 years, 2 months and 3 days. After 1 was released I escaped my country. Your country helped me with everything and now I am a resident of your country. Hopefully 1 will meet my son soon. I am very happy; 1 thank you, and all your people on your ship who rescued and helped my son and all the other people on the trip. My wife and three children are still living in Vietnam. I think that they are happy too, when they get the good news. Please tell everybody on your ship. I thank you so much and always remember benefaction on the ocean from you and USS Blue Ridge. Sincerely, LACH VAN NGO. Petty Officer Prentiss soon won the confidence and friendship of a young refugee. 25