HOF111: Nguyen Van Ba

Van Ba Nguyen was an officer with the Vietnamese Naval academy. He served his country during the War in Vietnam. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, he was forced to flee his country, as he feared serious retribution. He escaped leaving his wife and children behind.

He described his escape from Vietnam as a dreadful experience. He spent several days in a boat crowded by more than 1,500 refugees. The boat eventually landed in the Philippines where he stayed in a refugee camp while awaiting an opportunity to migrate to Canada.

Once he was settled in Winnipeg, Van Ba Nguyen attempted to sponsor his family’s settlement in Canada. Unfortunately, his attempts were unsuccessful. To this day, he has embraced his adopted country and is devoted to the Vietnamese community in Winnipeg.

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