Hello all...
I just received an email from my friend who just got back from Viet Nam. I was very excited by the news she had for me and so I wanted to pass along what she said. Please read below and you will see her full content.
Dear Richard,
Dear Richard,
I came back from Vietnam last Wednesday. Congratulations for your 'blog'!!! I would like to ask you who has told you that you were born in Saigon and placed in Vinh Long? There has never been any 'La Providence' congregation orphanage in Vinh Long. I went to visit Sister Sainte-Croix who was happy to see me again. Sister Sainte-Croix has only arrived at the orphanage after the fall of Saigon. I send you first some of the photos of the orphanage during the war, as well as your photo from the register book of the Sadec Hoa-Khanh orphanage. Unfortunately in the register, your parents' name is unknown. In the register, it is noted that you are born in Sadec and I think that it is true. You are born on April 25, 1972 and the sisters are the ones who have recognized you and given you a name. If we examine carefully your papers, the birth certificate was done on April 27, 1972, 2 days after your birth. It is unlikely that you are born in Saigon, knowing that today a taxi takes 3 hours minimum if there is nobody on the road and around 5 hours by bus...So try to imagine during the war, and in 1972 with the shelling attacks!!! There is a Sister named Juillel who takes care of me at a small age,it is possible that she still remembers you. I will try to contact her and ask her. There is also Sister Sainte-Eugène who has retired and who is at Cu Lao Gieng.She has almost lost her vision and becomes blind.She did not particularly care for the children. I am sorry that I cannot get more information for you. With all my friendship.
Your Friend.
Your Friend.