After all these years I returned to visit my old friend - The USS
Midway Aircraft Carrier! Its defiant grandeur was calling me
back as if it wanted me to embark on an unsettling journey to the
past. Just like an old general whose life is decorated with
glorious medals and wartime achievements – the USS Midway has
reigned over battles in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and
participated in the liberation of Kuwait. With countless
injuries and innumerable repairs, this old aircraft carrier is now
decommissioned. She has been retired to San Diego Bay and now
nests in the warm sunshine and soothing waters of southern
California.
The USS Midway brings incredible nostalgia to my heart. I wish
to sit down next to my old friend and ask her to tell me the stories
from her past….. With her deep voice she slowly recalls
one of the stories that I treasure the most - the story that had
happened to me some 30 years ago this very month of April.
----***----
In January 1973, the US Government and the North Vietnamese
Communists had signed a so-called “Vietnamization” Agreement in
Paris. The infamous “Agreement” intended, in American eyes, to
bring an honorable peace in Viet Nam – a cease-fire and a troop
withdrawal. Most of the American troops, officers and
office employees were to be replaced by the Vietnamese. A year
before that I was lucky to be selected among 12 other young
Vietnamese women who had to go through 10 months of business and
government office procedures training. We were to become
administrative assistants / executive secretaries. Most
importantly, we needed to replace the American secretaries in all of
the USAID offices.
By the end of 1973, I officially began to work for USAID and was
assigned to a project called “Post War Economic Development”.
I was extremely excited since I would be directly involved in the
operations of re-building all the infrastructures of Vietnam -
roads, bridges, and highways.
I worked devotedly and energetically thinking that we were already
at the end of the war. My beloved country, Vietnam, would have
peace again after more than a half century of war. I was too
naïve in believing that I would be a contributing factor to the
efforts of rebuilding my country. I was in luck!
In 1975 the situation in Indochina began to change rapidly, started
with the withdrawal of the American troops from Cambodia and Laos.
In the first few months of 1975, we had witnessed the Cambodian
people, in haste and in chaos, fleeing their country. We, the
people of South Vietnam, felt badly for our neighbors but we also
felt somewhat confident that the South Vietnamese troops still could
still defend us and the Americans would never betray us.
Little did we know but in just a few months the South Vietnamese
people would begin to experience the same fate. From Quang
Tri, Da-nang, Hue, Nha Trang, Saigon, Can Tho as well as in all
other coastal cities, people were fleeing and abandoning their
homes. The people of South Vietnam got sucked into the
whirlwinds of chaos and fear of the Communists.
In the midst of February 1975, thousands and thousands had made
their way from the northern most cities of South Vietnam to the
central cities of Da-Nang, Hue and Nha-Trang. People clung on
to the helicopters and boats and ferries in the rivers and in the
oceans to come down to Saigon as well as to the southern most
cities. The Viet Cong were coming! The enemy was
coming!
The people in Saigon were in the same fear. Everyone was
trying to find a way out of the country. My family found
itself in the same situation. My brothers were in Army, Navy,
and Air Force. Before 1954, my father had been in prison for
several years and tortured by the North Vietnamese communists.
In our family, he was the most worried and terrified. We also
had to run - but where?
Since I was an employee of the US Government, my family and I were
on a list of those who would be evacuated by the Americans. We
were told to wait for our time to leave. A few days earlier,
we each prepared by packing a few bags and a little money. Some of
my co-workers had already left the country. Those of us remaining
were anxiously waiting - waiting for our time. At night we
could not sleep for fear that the South would collapse at any time
and that we would be left behind forever. At times in the
middle of the night, I could hear deep sighs coming from my mother,
my father, and my brothers and sisters. Every one was
silent yet troubled and worried. Those were the emotions of
the known present and of the unknown future. Should we
stay? Should we leave?
The morning of April 27th I returned to my office to wait for
instructions and, hopefully, news of being evacuated. Most of
the Americans had left the country.
A few Vietnamese employees and I remained behind to shred all
“Classified” documents. At about 5:00 p.m. we suddenly heard a
few loud noises. Something sounded like bombings. All of
us became terrified. We ran down to the basement of the
building and hid there for several hours. My girl friends and
co-workers Chau thuan Anh and Pham thi My and an American officer,
Mr. Ronald Pollock also hid with me. (Ron Pollock was a direct
boss of my friend Trinh thi Phuong Dung who had left Viet Nam
earlier that day)
Listening to the radio news we learned that the near-by Presidential
Palace had been bombed. A 24-hour curfew was also declared and
anyone found on the street without proper identifications and
without duty papers would be shot. There would be no way
for me to make it home that night.
At about midnight Ron urged us to go with him in his car to a nearby
American complex where he lived. Since his car had a
diplomat’s license plate, he hoped we could avoid security checks
and get us safely to his compound. The streets were all very dark
and there was no sign of disorder whatsoever! We
continued in Ron’s car to his complex.
During the night we all went up to the complex roof top and
witnessed the fall of Saigon. North Vietnamese rockets were
firing every where. Fires and smoke were imprints on the dark
sky. We could see the terrible scenes of a dying city.
Several big fires were spotted coming from the Tan Son Nhut Airbase
where we were supposed to be taken for our evacuation.
Tears welled in my eyes. I cried silently. The hope of
escape for my family and for me had vanished. All I wanted at
that moment was for the morning to come quickly so that I could find
a way home.
Early the following morning Ron told us to wait for a few more hours
since the curfew was still in effect. We all worried about our
fate. We did not know what to do. I remember Ron had made a
phone call to someone and then he told us the bad news. The
situation was getting worse. Remember, he was one of the
people left behind - just like us.
Patiently and slowly he told us to find our own way home. The
other option was to once again get into his car with him and he
would attempt to take us to one of the evacuation locations.
Ron seemed confident that everything would be all right and that he
could take us to a safe place. I also remembered seeing 4 other
young women who perhaps had been there the night before. They
must have also worked for the USAID Agency. I realized at that
instant that our American boss was so very kind and unselfish.
He was not a bit worried about himself. He was ready to take
care of us - the Vietnamese young women who had no relationship with
him.
All seven of us decided to go with Ron. My friend Chau thuan
Anh was my age and Pham thi My was a few years older. I don’t
remember names and ages of the other 4 young women. We all
climbed into Ron’s car and he began to drive us to the main streets.
Chaos, beyond our wildest imagination, was everywhere. People
were running in every direction. Traffic was at its
worst. Roads in all directions were blocked by
barricades. No one seemed to observe the curfew.
Some people saw our diplomat’s car with an American driver.
Several people angrily pointed at us and threw rocks, hitting the
car. We were all frightened and nestled against each
other. Ron continued to keep his calm as he managed to weave
through the waves of mad people running for their lives.
We arrived at the US Embassy. There were several US Marines as
well as helicopters on the rooftop. A few US Marines were on
the walls of the closed gates. There were thousands of
Vietnamese outside of the gate. People were screaming,
hustling and crying. They all tried to push each other aside
for the chance to get inside. I saw that some people were
being hoisted by the Marines to get inside the gate.
“No chance for us,” Ron said. He decided to go to the next
location. Where it was I can’t remember but the horror I shall never
forget. There was a small building complex with a very small
landing roof top that was just big enough for a small helicopter.
A helicopter was already waiting. I could see a string of
people climbing and pushing each other upward to get to the
helicopter. Ron again decided to leave that place. Later
on, when I read the newspapers, they had captured the picture of the
exact scene that I had witnessed. That scene of desperation
was repeatedly shown on TV, in history books and documentaries about
the end of the war.
The third location was empty when we arrived. Ron said he
believed the Americans must have abandoned the location. He
did not know why. He then said that the only way out was to
drive to Tan Son Nhut Airbase where all the rockets were being
fired. We had to make our way to the US Defense Attache Office (DAO
Compound). Ron tried to inch his way through the fleeing
crowds.
As we got close to the Phi-Long Gate at the entrance to the Tan Son
Nhut Airport, we were stopped by a Vietnamese soldier. The
solder pointed his gun at Ron and angrily said in his broken
English, “You American. You sold our country. We hate
you!” I sobbed quietly. The soldier was right! The
Americans had betrayed us. They had run away and abandoned us
when we were so close to winning the war. Why? I could
find no answer. My heart was full of rage and hatred.
To our surprise, Ron gently apologized to the soldier. The
soldier refused to accept Ron’s apology and pushed the barricade
tighter against us and completely blocked the entry into the
airport. Fury lined the soldier’s face. Ron calmly made his
U-turn and went a different way. He began to cross a rough and
treacherous abandoned field. We went across the field under
the firing rockets coming from all directions and through the
burning fires. Some rockets hit close to us. As we got
inside the airport, we saw destruction and chaos everywhere.
There were several abandoned jeeps, trucks, cars, and motorcycles on
the streets. Some were still on fire. Some got hit by
rockets and were turned upside down. A few soldiers and pilots
were running to their planes. I did not know why, but I did
not feel any fear at all. It was as if I was in a dream -- and
this bad dream would go away when – and if -- I woke up.
We finally arrived at the US DAO Compound. There were so
many Chinook helicopters bringing hundreds US Marines to this
location. This must be a major evacuation spot. We were safe!
We were almost out of here!
Ron and all of us got out of the car. The rockets were
still firing not too far from us. We jumped into a shallow
ditch near the gate trying to shield ourselves. I saw several
young Marines holding their guns, running about. Some got
behind the gate. Some jumped into the same ditch with us.
They were all yelling at us and at each other. I saw a very
young Marine who had wet his pants in fear – but he was still
yelling and screaming like a trained soldier.
It seemed like a long time before the rockets would quiet down a
little bit and we were ordered to run to the gate of the DAO
Compound as fast as possible. We all ran behind a young Marine
who took us inside. At that time I realized there were already
hundreds or thousands of people already there. There were all
sorts of nationalities – American, French, British, German, Korean,
etc. All had come in with their families. There were a
lot of Vietnamese, too. People had lined up in good order for
what seemed like a mile. The Marines surrounded us as if to
protect us. I saw hundreds of people’s belongings, luggage,
and cameras all abandoned. The Marines did not want the
helicopters to carry too much weight. I had nothing to leave
behind. All I had was the traditional Vietnamese dress
(ao-dai) that I had put on the day before.
Finally my friends and I were allowed to get onto the Chinook --
along with at least fifty more people. All of us had to sit on
the floor. I was stricken with grief. I did not say a
word to my friends since I new everyone was burdened with the same
sadness.
After half an hour of flying over the ocean I saw a gigantic ship in
the distance. As the Chinook got closer, Ron told us that
giant ship was the USS Midway. We landed on the middle of
flight deck. Ron had told us that the Midway belonged to the
Seventh Fleet and had been commissioned to support the evacuation.
The Midway and other aircraft carriers had waited in the Pacific
Ocean outside of the Vietnam coast for several days. Later I
learned that this was called “Operation Frequent Wind”.
As soon as we landed, I noticed hundreds of people, now evacuees,
had arrived before us. The scene was chaotic but not as hectic
as the one at the US Embassy that we saw earlier that day.
Hundreds of Marines kept everyone in order. We stood there for
a long time waiting to be processed through and to be transferred to
another cargo ship – at least that was what we were told. For
a moment, Ron disappeared. When he returned, he told us that he
would like us to help the Midway Navy officers with the evacuation
processing. Since these officers did not know Vietnamese, they
couldn’t pronounce our names and such and would get frustrated.
We agreed and started working immediately.
A row of processing tables had been set up by the side in the hangar
bay. We sat by the US officers. Our work was simply to write
the name of each evacuee on a name tag and put it on their chest.
We also copied their names into the registration book for the Midway
records. At one point, the officers noticed that we were all
hungry and thirsty. They brought us some canned foods
and sodas. We continued to work until dark.
That night I realized that Ron had refused to be transferred by
another helicopter to the Philippines. He had decided to stay
with us and become one of the evacuees who also fled the country
full of destruction and a war full of betrayal.
At midnight all of us were exhausted. An officer was ordered
to show us our sleeping quarters. We went up and down, out and
about, and through the narrow corridors of the Midway carrier.
Finally we reached a place that looked like a reception room.
I noticed the room was beautifully carpeted and decorated with nice
furniture like a fine living room. This was the Admiral’s
quarters! Dumbfounded with shock, we stood for several
minutes until a middle-aged officer came in and approached us.
He shook our hands and introduced himself to us and Ron. We
learned that this officer – and gentleman – was the Commander
himself. (I wish I could remember his name.) He
told us to take it easy and offered us his bedroom for the night.
We shyly refused and asked if we could just use the living room
sofas. That was our first taste of American hospitality.
After more than 30 hours of agonizing and nerve-racking ordeal, we
were all exhausted. We were all so grateful for this sanctuary
aboard the Midway. My heart filled with gratitude and
admiration for Ron and all his gentleness and kindness.
The evacuation went on all night. The next morning there
seemed there were more evacuees than the day before. Later
that day, some of the evacuees told us that a coalition government
had been established. Tran Van Huong and General Duong van
Minh of South Vietnam would lead the reconciliation talks with the
North Vietnamese Communists. I didn’t care. All I wanted
was to find my family. I had hoped that my family would find a
way to get evacuated and join us later. I kept those hopes alive
for years. Everytime I met some who knew them, I would always
ask - but there was no sign of them. Some soldiers kindly
gave me their addresses in the United States in the hope that maybe
they could help me find them later.
The next morning Ron told us to finish our breakfast quickly.
He then took us back to the hangar to continue our work. We
found out that the evacuees we had processed the day before were
already taken onto other Seventh Fleet vessels to make room for the
flow of additional refugees. That day we worked non-stop to
process the crowds of refugees. They were relieved to have
found safety, even if they had lost their home. Exhausted and
hungry, they were all fed before being transferred to another
vessel.
We spent another night in the Commander’s quarters. Ron woke us up
early the following morning and told us to get ready for another day
at work. As we ate breakfast, we watched a large closed
circuit TV. To our astonishment, we saw hundreds of choppers
being flown by Vietnamese pilots on the horizon and heading toward
the Midway. One by one they landed. Sirens screamed as
the crewmen frantically pushed aside a few aircraft on the
flight-deck. On the TV screen we saw dozens of crewmen and
Marines running towards these choppers to help the pilots and their
families. Anxiety, hysteria and sorrow filled their faces.
As soon as a chopper landed and the passengers jumped off, another
group of crewmen would run up to the chopper and push the chopper
aside to make room for another one coming in. In front of our
eyes these choppers herded like dragonflies, all swarming on the
Midway at the same time. A four-seated CESSNA attempted
to land. The Midway refused to allow it as there were too many
planes on deck and too little room to maneuver. Left with no
choice, the pilot ditched the plane into the ocean.
Crewmen lowered a boat and pulled the Vietnamese pilot and his
family from the water. Later on, all the Vietnamese
helicopters were dumped into the ocean. Those who had made it
to the ship could no longer leave.
That day was April 30, 1975. We saw only Vietnamese pilots and
their choppers arrive with their families. They also told me
that the new coalition government had been forced to surrender to
the North Vietnamese Army and Saigon was in the tornado of chaos and
everything was total madness.
I did not remember what time we went to lunch. U.S, sailors
and crewmen filled the canteen everywhere. Again we watched
closed circuit TV and again we could see more Vietnamese choppers
coming. Again, the pilots were beat-up and stressed out.
Gone were the glorious days of the flying eagles! The
tears in their eyes revealed their broken spirits.
Suddenly the sirens blared and the loudspeaker frantically announced
another emergency on the flight deck. Another plane was
approaching the Carrier and there was no room. Landing had
been denied. The plane, no bigger than the Cessna of the day
before, paid no attention. The plane passed over a few times
and signaled its intent land. The Vietnamese pilot had his wife and
children with him and he did not want to ditch the plane knowing
that they would all drown in the water.
The situation grew tense. Finally the flight crews cleared the
deck. People rushed to the area and prepared for the worst that
could happen. After a couple of harrowing missed
attempts, the pilot landed his plane in the exact spot that had been
reserved for him. He then slowed his plane and came to a
complete stop just yards from the control tower. Cheers went
up and a loud applause exploded across the ship. Several
crewmen ran to the plane and opened the door. The Vietnamese
pilot gently lift his wife and children off the plane and all were
safe and sound. People rushed up and took pictures while
crewmen excitedly shook the pilot’s hand. The Navy Commander
greeted him as if he was a hero of World War II.
I had forgotten that I was a refugee. I laughed and cheered as
if I was the one who had just escaped death.
We all went back to work. In the afternoon only a few
helicopters arrived. An officer invited us to have a grand tour of
the Midway. We went to several decks and the front and back of
the carrier. The ship was so grand, a virtual airbase in
operation. I saw several cars driving around on the hangar.
We were shown sleeping quarters, workrooms, and recreation rooms.
All the mattresses were piled on top of each other in countless
aisles. Finally, the officer took us to a large area at the
back of the hangar. A new helicopter was parked alone and
roped off.
I did not
understand why this helicopter was shown to us. As we got
closer, the officer then told us that this was one of the first
helicopters that had landed the day before. The pilot of this
helicopter was none other than General Nguyen Cao Ky, the ex -Vice
President of South Vietnam. It appeared to me that he must
have been one super pilot – as he had landed here first! I
remembered just a few days before General Ky had vowed to fight with
his troops to the end. “Let the cowards who are leaving with
the Americans go, and let those who love South Vietnam stay and
fight!” Ky had proclaimed. Later on I learned that this
helicopter sometime back had been given to Ky by no less than U.S.
President Gerald Ford.
That night,
our third night on the water, the Commander joined us for dinner.
He gave each of us a Zippo lighter that had been engraved with a
picture of the USS Midway. He also gave us letters of
appreciation and commendation. To this day, I kept these two
treasures, cherished mementos of my days of escape. The escape
that has changed my life forever!
Later that
night, all eight of us boarded the last helicopter. We were
leaving. Mixed emotions filled my heart as the
helicopter took off, slowly leaving the USS Midway and all its
memories. These memories of a mere 2 days I could never have
imagined. I did not mind. I felt like I was a little
leaf that was drifting along, with the wind carrying me away to
wherever it wanted. That month of April 1975 I had just turned
24!
KV Nguyen
To America, the country I have grown to love
Thuyền đời
Highway of Heroes
Nắng ấm quê hương
Truyện dài Bất Khuất
Thuyền đời ơi !
Những thằng
chúng tôi
Bài thơ trên
đồi Bác sĩ Tín
Viên đạn vang rền
Chuyện t́nh trái
ngang
Khối diễn hành
Băi tập
Lễ măn khóa
Một Đời Bất Khuất
Kỷ niệm Quân Trường - Về phép
Kỷ niệm Quân Trường - Cúp phép
Hồi
tưởng chiến trường 1062 Thượng Đức
Dọc đường gió bụi
T́nh Bất Khuất
Ngày xưa thân ái
Tôi đi lính
Bất Khuất
Quan Âm Tây
Du Hí truyện
Làm trong
sáng tiềng Việt
Hạ cờ tây
Thù dai
Kỷ niệm khó quên
Trận cuối
trong đời lính của tôi
Khúc hát Quân Hành
Một nỗi đau
Thủ Đức - Tuần huấn
nhục
Tâm thư của Cố Thiếu Úy
Trần Văn Quí
Trận Ô-Căm
Một lần vĩnh biệt
Một lần đi
Chuyến đi cuối năm
Nhớ về mái trường xưa
Phạm Xuân Tịnh - Một cuộc đời
Những ngày tháng
không quên
Tự do ơi, tự do!
V́ hai chữ Tự Do
Ngh́n trùng cách biệt
Thầy Chín
Để nhớ để quên
Soái hạm
HQ5 và trận hải chiến Hoàng Sa
Ngày 19-01 Kỷ Niệm
ngày Hoàng Sa nhuộm máu
Đi vào ḷng địch: Câu
chuyện thật của người Nhái HQ VNCH
Người bạn 101
Năm tháng tuổi thơ thuở nào
Lực lượng Đặc
Nhiệm Thủy Bộ Hải Quân VNCH
Đối diện tử thần
Một thời để yêu
Phi Công thời chiến
Người con dâu nước
Mỹ
Tưởng bỏ anh em
Đành bỏ anh em
Mai
Cuộc tuyệt thực ở
trại Cổng Trời
Một đời
binh nghiệp hai màu Mũ
Biệt Hải
trên vùng biển băo tố
Chuyện người
lính trinh sát
Nhan sắc cư tang
Niềm vú quân trường
Sự trịch thượng
Hộ
tống hạm HQ11 & Những ngày biến loạn tháng Tư đen
Bạn tôi, những
SVSQ khóa 2 Học Viện CSQG
Cuộc sống của người lính chiến ĐPQ và NQ
Sông Mao, Ngày
tháng cũ
Tự truyện của
một phi công
Chập chùng tủi nhục
Tâm sự người lính
Nén hương tưởng nhớ bạn Dương Quang Ngọc
Một mai giă từ
vũ khí
Mối t́nh đầu
T́nh lính
Đời lính
Tàn cuộc hoa này
Nó và Tôi
Viên ngọc nát
Những năm dài
qua đi... hội ngộ
Ngày Quân Lực :
Lời thú tội
Nhớ An Lộc - Chuyện người
Thương Binh bị bỏ quên
Nghĩ về người
vợ lính
Chuyện t́nh
với chàng cựu Không Quân Y 2 K
“Hát Ô” qua Mỹ
Anh hùng tử
- Khí hùng bất tử
Thằng lính bạc t́nh
Cuối đường
Đó đây trên quê
hương
Here and
There In The Homeland
Người c̣n
nhớ hay người đă quên
Những ngày tù chung
với Ông Đạo Dừa
Cây cầu biên giới
Khu trục bọc thây
Tướng Đỗ Cao Trí và
Tướng Nguyễn Viết Thanh Dưới Cái Nh́n Của Người Ngoại
Quốc
Đêm liêu trai
B̀NH-TUY,
những ngày cuối cùng...
T́nh Anh
Lính Chiến Biệt Động
Trận chiến đẫm máu của
HQ/VNCH: Trận Ba Rài
Mặt trận
Miền Đông vẫn yên tĩnh
Charlie ngày
ấy và Charlie bây giờ
Màu cờ và sắc áo
Tù binh và ḥa b́nh
Tây
Ninh, chút c̣n lại trong ḷng một người lính
Hoài niệm
Tâm tư và cuộc
sống quả phụ
Thượng Tọa Thích
Quang Long
4 ngôi
mộ lính nhảy dù Vị Quốc Vong Thân
Hai người bạn
Đôi ḍng về “Cỏ Thu
Hoàng thị”
Cái chân gỗ
Một H.O. muộn màng
Vài hàng gởi
anh Tŕu mến
Thiên bi hùng
ca QLVNCH
Để nhớ lại
những ngày Mùa Hè Băo Lửa
Trận chiến cô đơn
Biệt đội 817 -
LĐ81 BCD
Trận đánh
cuối cùng của ĐPQ...
Qua những trại tù
cộng sản...
Sông Mao, phi vụ
ngày 30 Tết
Nước mắt mẹ già
Viên đạn cuối cùng
Điếm Cỏ Cầu Sương
Người lính ấy của
tôi...
Khóc một ḍng sông
Cái muỗng
Tử thủ
Những tiếng
hát bừng sáng A 20
Thiên đường đỏ
Khoác áo chiến y
Chuyện t́nh của một
Phi Công
Hai v́ sao lạc
Tôi thương nhớ vợ
tôi
Bông hồng tạ ơn
Viết về Lê Hữu Lượng
Chinh nhân và
người t́nh
Tôi vào học viện
Cảnh Sát Quốc Gia
Cảm nghĩ của
một người Lính về Ngày Quân Lực 19/6
Nhiệm vụ
Cô gái B́nh Long
Những ngày hồi đó
Ngày QL19/06 - Người Lính
VNCH ... Tôi nợ Anh ..
Nhớ đến Biệt Đội
Thiên Nga
Viết về ngày QL
19/6/2011
Người không nhận
tội
Chào cô ... em gái
Biệt Cách Dù
Chuyện t́nh
chị Hạ và anh Nuôi
Huấn luyện Sĩ Quan
tại Hoa Kỳ
Ở cuối 2 con đường
Đêm Cao Miên
Đồn Dak Seang
Giải toả căn cứ
hỏa lực 6 Tân Cảnh
Quan Âm chí lộ
Rải tro theo gió
Một chuyến đi
toán phạt
Chinh chiến điêu linh
Trại gia binh
Viết về người lính
Địa Phương Quân
Người không nhận
tội
Tháng 4 xót xa
T́m
lại thương đau
Nụ cười người tử tội
Ngày về
Người lính miền Nam
Phan Rang nỗi
hờn di tản
Charlie, ngọn
đồi quyết tử
Quốc lộ 20
- hành lang của tử thần
Găy súng
Chuyện người
Nghĩa Quân
Chuyện Người Nghĩa Quân Thờ H́nh Của Chính Ḿnh
Đại Bàng Gảy Cánh
Tháng Tư
Trại gia binh
Viết về người lính
Địa Phương Quân
Quốc lộ 20
- hành lang của tử thần
Phnom Penh, ngày ấy c̣n
đâu?
Vinh danh
Tướng Đỗ Cao Trí
Trung
Tá Nguyễn Đức Xích "NGƯỜI TÙ BẤT KHUẤT"
Ngọn đồi cuối cùng
Nhớ hay Quên
Người lính miền Nam
Charlie, ngọn đồi quyết
tử
Chú Quế
Pleiku nắng bụi
mưa bùn
Mê thần tượng
Cơm cháy quân
trường
Anh trai Biên
Hoà, em gái Cà Mau
Giọt nước mắt
Đêm Giao Thừa ...!
Kiếp người... đời
lính...
Câu
chuyện tù của ĐT Phi Công HK...
Ḍng sông cỏ mục
Bên những bờ rừng
Đêm thánh vô cùng
Người tù kiệt xuất
KBC Một thời để nhớ
TPB Những
mảnh đời bất hạnh
Mùa Đông năm ấy
Người Lính Việt Nam Cộng Ḥa qua những t́nh khúc bất tử
của Một Thời Chinh Chiến
Phi vụ cuối cùng
Những người tù cuối cùng
Lửa máu hận thù
Người
Lính VNCH trong kho tàng âm nhạc Việt Nam
Mẹ VN ơi -
Chúng con vẫn c̣n đây
Khi người
ta gọi bác của tôi, ba tôi và anh tôi là 'giặc' !
Hăy thắp cho anh một ngọn
đèn
Chiếc áo phong sương t́nh
anh nặng
Người lính VNCH
trong nhạc sỉ Trần Thiện Thanh
Đêm hỗn mang
Ngỡ ngàng đời chiến sĩ
Chuyện nhớ
trong đời
Để ghi nhớ tháng 4 đen
Nỗi đau thời chiến
Cọp rằn Chương Thiện
Quà cho con trong tù
Những gịng
sông lịch sử đời người
Một người đi
Trận cuối 2
KBC 4100 & Tết Mậu Thân
Rừng khóc giữa mùa xuân
Lá thư t́nh của
người lính VNCH
Cô con gái quá giang trong
đêm mồng một Tết
Lon Guigoz hành trang người tù...
Con chó Vện và người tù cải tạo
Một lần toan tính...
Tấm thẻ bài
3 người chiến binh
"homeless"...
Trôi theo vận nước
Trận cuối
Chiến sĩ Kha Tư Giáo
Em không nh́n được
xác chàng
Chuyện buồn người vợ tù
Người Việt của tôi - Quận
Dĩ An
Sao hôm, sao mai
Những lá thư t́nh
May mà có em
Thằng bé đánh giày
người Nghĩa Lộ
May mà có em đời c̣n dễ
thương
Gói quà đầu năm
Cây Mai rừng của người Lính Trận
Cánh chim Thần Tượng
Ba ḍng nước mắt
Những xác chết trên mănh đất
chữ "S"
Thân phận người
lính găy súng
Chuyện vượt ngục ở trại Gia
Trung ...
Những mảnh đời dang dở
- phần 2,
phần 3,
phần 4,
phần 5,
phần 6,
phần cuối
Mưa trên Poncho
Người ở lại Saravan
Nhớ hay quên kỷ niệm thời
chinh chiến
Vược ngục
Chuyện t́nh khoai lang
Tâm t́nh
người lính VNCH tỵ nạn ở Thái Lan
Hồi tưởng ngày Quân Lực
19-6-73
Vinh danh người lính
VNCH
Dị mộng
Nhà thơ Hàn Mặc Tử
Tập thơ "đôi
hồ" và một thiên diễm t́nh
Về Quê
Ông già bơi rác
Nhớ thời
trường cũ Chu Văn An
Người chú họ của
tôi
Tôi bị bắt
Nhớ lắm… những
mùa Thu
Những chuyện
trời ơi !
Người đồng hương
Bên đời hiu quạnh
Việt Cộng con
Phượng hồng vào Hạ
Sức mạnh của
cộng đồng người Việt Quốc Gia hải ngoại
Giai thoại văn
chương
Kỷ niệm nỗi
trôi cùng trí nhớ
Bà xă đai-ét
Chuyện kể:
Một buổi trên đường vượt biển
Những vần thơ chui
Đi t́m Jackpot
Cây cầu biên giới
Ngày giỗ Tổ Hùng Vương
Như những giọt buồn
Một cơn đau tim….và một
lần phẫu thuật
Đứa con dị chủng
Bài thơ dang dở
Thất t́nh
Dấu "Hỏi Ngă"
trong văn chương Việt Nam
Ngày xưa thân ái...
Gió bụi một thời
Người sợ bóng
Hoàng hôn trên núi
Tây
Ư yêu đương
Đêm qua sân trước nở
cành mai
Vệt nắng cuối chiều
Đừng yêu người làm
thơ
Tết Nguyên Đán
Đừng yêu người làm
thơ
Như những vần mây
Đám cưới
Hạnh
phúc muộn màng đêm Giáng Sinh
T́nh... tiếc
Giáng Sinh năm nào
Ván cờ ma quỷ
Văn thơ trữ t́nh
Mùa Thu qua thi ca
Phụ nữ Việt Nam qua
Ca Dao
Tháng năm ngoảnh lại
Thu xưa
Thu có sầu chăng sáng
nay!
Cơn mưa chiều nay
Xuôi ḍng sông
Hương
Nỗi niềm cố cựu
Thiện và Ác
Tóc May sợi vắn sợi
dài
Tâm sự tuổi già
Xóm biển
Đi t́m tâm linh
Mấy đoạn đường đời
Tản mạn những
giao thoại văn chương
Xin hăy giúp tôi
Con c̣n nợ Ba
Nhăm nhi bầu bạn
Một thời để nhớ
Người quét chợ
Lời tỏ t́nh
Bạn cũ năm mươi năm
Về lại cố hương
Đường đi không đến
Xương trắng
Trường Sơn
Về lại cố hương
Thoáng xưa
Cánh Hoa Ngọc Lan
Bước không qua số
phận
Đọc thơ Trạch Gầm
Con Gà ṇi
Con Mèo hay con Thỏ?
Đời vẫn đáng sống
Tết làng tôi
Bầu Bí một giàn
Nghỉ hè ở Mallorca
Chiếc xích lô
chở mùa xuân
Em đi để lại con
đường
Một thời con gái
Bố tôi và người tù
Nguyễn Chí Thiện
Trường ca trang sử Mẹ....
Nỗi đau bẽ bàng
Khi con
đường không lối thoát
Những
bài ca một thời cuộc đời
Tiếng chuông ái t́nh
Những con cào cào xanh
Nếu chỉ c̣n một ngày
để sống
Bố tôi
Thiêng Liêng
Như Những Linh Hồn
Giấc mộng dài
Duyên số trời định
49 Ngày với em
Bài ca của người du tử
Tấm vạc giường
Cố hương, 35 năm sau
Vượt biển một ḿnh
Hăy bế em ra khỏi cuộc
đời anh
Những Tết năm xưa ở Phan
Thiết
Làm thinh
Màu tím trong thơ
Lệ Mừng trên cánh
Đồng Chiêm
Thằng cháu nội đích tôn
Chị Cả Bống
Làm rể Ninh Ḥa
Trời đất bao la
Nỗi buồn mùa Thu
Duyên Nam Bắc
Đà-lạt trời mưa
Xót xa
Tiểu thơ
Đôi mắt
Giọt mưa trên tóc
Quê tôi, ngày bé thơ lớn lên
Mùa thu cuộc t́nh
Cây sầu riêng sau vườn cũ
Tản mạn - Về những người bạn
Nh́n những mùa xuân đi...
Quê hương ruồng bỏ
Ba tôi và tôi
Vượt thoát
Made in VietNam
Giọt nước mắt
Ngày vô vị
Khóc lặng thinh
Đời c̣n vui v́ có
chút ṭm tem
Đôi mắt Phượng
Ngựi bán liêm sỉ
Bài ca vọng cổ
T́nh già
Buổi chiều ở Thị
trấn Sông-Pha
Saigon ngày ấy
Phàm phu tục tử
Thăm quê
Dấu tích ân t́nh
Địch thủ
Tâm
USS Midway - Ông
bạn già năm xưa -
English
Từ Mỹ, kể chuyện Mỹ Tho
Vài ṿng Thơ, Rượu và Tết
Mùa Xuân uống rượu
T́nh người
Hồi kư của một người Hà
Nội
T́nh nghĩa, nghĩa t́nh
Đôi đũa
Gịng đời... và hồi âm
gịng đời...
Không cho phép ḿnh
quên
Thảm sát trên đảo
Trường Sa
Em tôi
12 bến nước
Chào Mẹ
Cháo tóc
Những người không
đất đứng
Vợ hiền
Theo ngọn mây Tần
T́nh ngây dại