Many of 400 Vietnamese who fled their country 30 years ago came back to Loma Linda, Calif., on May 14 to thank the university and church who graciously received them as war-scarred refugees.

A public expression of appreciation was given to the university by representatives of the refugee groups, now scattered throughout North America. Dr. Lyn Behrens, Loma Linda University president; Dr. David Hinshaw, who was dean of the School of Medicine of Loma Linda University at the time of the evacuation; and Dr. G. Gordon Hadley, former director of the General Conference Department of Health received plaques of appreciation.

Coordinating the May 14 program was the person who organized the evacuation in 1975, Pastor Ralph S. Watts, at the time chair of the board of the Saigon Adventist Hospital and president of the Southeast Asia Union Mission.

More than 300 people attended a luncheon after the morning services at the Loma Linda University Church. Many of the 200 refugees had not seen each other in the 30 intervening years.

Participants presented an hour-long program during the church’s Sabbath school period to review the story of the evacuation and what happened after the large group arrived in the United States. Representatives of the university and the General Conference were on hand in May 1975 to help find jobs and homes for the refugees.

Most of the Vietnamese have had successful transitions to life in America. Many are professionals and some have even ventured into public service. Several Vietnamese churches have sprung up in various parts of the nation, including four in Southern California.

On hand to mark the commemorative event was Pastor Le Cong Giao, who was president of the Vietnam Mission at the time of the evacuation.

Final Days in Saigon

Three years before Vietnam fell, the U.S. Government contracted with the Adventist church to run its Third Field Hospital in Saigon. Thus, Saigon Adventist Hospital served American citizens and Vietnamese throughout the city.

By Friday, April 18, 1975, with the Viet Cong surrounding the city, church officials realized they must evacuate as many Vietnamese hospital employees as possible. Both Adventists and non-Adventists were in danger because of their connection with Americans.

Amid chaos, fear, and confusion, Adventist leaders worked feverishly with the U.S. Government to secure their passage out of the country. “At one point we were told we would have to find our own way out and get permission to be on the planes,” explained Ralph S. Watts, president of the Southeast Asia Union, who arrived from Singapore to lead the evacuation.

Those at his side included Le Cong Giao, president of the mission; Don Roth, associate secretary of the Far Eastern Division; and Harvey Rudisaile, president of the hospital. On Wednesday, April 23, 1975, Watts asked Giao to choose 175 people to leave the country. After hours of agony and prayer, 225 were on the list, necessitating additional desperate negotiations with U.S. officials. (The full story is told in Escape from Saigon by Watts.)

Two days later, 410 Vietnamese employees and family members arrived in Guam bound for Camp Pendleton near San Diego. “Loma Linda University opened its heart, its homes, and its facilities and did everything possible to help. We are deeply indebted to them,” Watts said.

By Kit Watts and Edna Maye Gallington