Chức vụ cuối cùng của ông là Đại Úy Trường Kỹ Thuật Không quân Nha Trang. Sau ngày 30 tháng Tư năm 1975 ông bị bắt đi tù cải tạo. Để mô tả cảnh đói khổ trong tù ông thường nói một câu ngắn gọn: Gặp cây gì màu xanh, con gì ngo ngoe là bỏ vào miệng. Sau 13 năm từ trại giam này sang trại giam khác, có khi bị cùm trói, ông được định cư tại Mỹ theo diện HO. Qua đến Mỹ ông làm đủ nghề, từ gói nấu bánh chưng, đến bỏ báo… để nuôi các con ăn học.
Những ngày cuối, nhìn ông giã từ cõi tạm, ai cũng thương, ai cũng tiếc. Vợ con ông đau buồn biết bao. Chỉ có một điều họ an tâm, biết chắc chắn rằng, Chúa sẽ vui mừng đón về hạt giống tốt mà Chúa đã cho trần gian mượn suốt 83 năm.
I wish to hug my grandpa one more time
My grandfather was someone I really looked up from a young age. Being the first grandchild, I was the “guinea pig” of sorts I guess. No parent or grandparent even really knows what they are doing at first but my grandpa tried his best. He decided to quit smoking so that I could be as healthy as I am today. He would take me on walks in my stroller so I could fall asleep or just stop crying. Even if there was a language barrier between us, that only made the cliché saying more prevalent, that “actions speak louder than words”. My parents both worked to try to take care of the family and so my grandparents would take care of me whenever my mom and dad could not. I spent many days at their little house in Garden Grove where I’m sure I was a huge pain the butt, but my grandparents loved me unconditionally. That’s the thing about family, they have to love you no matter what. My grandpa would always be so delighted whenever I came to visit him on Sundays and even during his time in the hospital, when he couldn’t speak or even if I wasn’t even sure if he knew I was there, he would always still try to be a little more positive or just smile. The week before he passed, I saw him smile, like a real smile, the ones he had before he spent his time in the hospital. My thoughts consisted of “He’s getting better, he’ll make it through. I’ll get to go eat some dim sum with him again or just listen to him watching his soccer games on the TV or sitting at the kitchen table in Garden Grove, eating my grandma’s cooking.” I had hope and no fear anymore because I trusted that God had a plan for him. I may not agree with His plan for my Grandpa, I was even in denial for some time. Coming to terms with my faith though has only brought me closer to my Grandpa. Now, my grandfather would not want us to mourn during this time but rather celebrate his life. He battled hardships here and in Vietnam during the fall of Saigon. I wish I could be able to go back in time and hug my grandpa one more time but his memory will stay forever with me.
I love you Grandpa,
Alannah
