By Barbara Palmgren
On Saturday, May 3, former refugees from across the nation gathered to reunite and share memories at the Vietnam Refugee Camp Exhibit created in their honor and staged in the 1,400 sq. foot new Exhibit Hall of the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida. Eglin AFB was one of three camps set up to house over 10,000 refugees fleeing after the fall of Saigon at the end of the long Vietnam War in 1975.
Museum trustees, management and volunteers spent days preparing for this historical event. Special archival gloves were used to view original documents. Elegantly decorated tables set for lunch invited guests to enjoy a delicious buffet lunch donated by Tom Rice of Magnolia Grill.
With retired military personnel and former camp volunteers, everyone viewed oral histories, editions of the Dot Moi newspaper written both in English and Vietnamese, and the expansive photos and newspaper articles enlarged and arranged chronologically on the walls of the room. The three phases were Phase One-The Buildup (April 27-May 23); Phase II-The Pipeline (May 24-June 25); Phase III-The Phasedown (June 29-September 19.)
Images in Phase One were part of a 2010 exhibit, symposium and regional initiative commemorating the 75th anniversary of Eglin AFB and next on display in the library at Northwest Florida State College. The images are part of the Vietnam Center and Archive at Texas Tech University from which the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida received permission to use the images for this current exhibit. The 2010 exhibit was curated by Michelle Jannazo, former Executive Director of the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida. Phase two and three were curated by Dr. Barbara Palmgren, Secretary and Exhibits Chair of the Heritage Museum, with digitized photos and copies of the Dot Moi daily papers from Col. Bill Keeler’s private collection. Oral histories were videotaped by Mike Weaver, Trustee for the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida. The large tent exhibit was designed by Frank Berte, Destin Interactive. Trustee Jene McCraken and husband Bill McCracken digitized photos and articles preserved and now shared on a kiosk in the exhibit.
On Sunday, May 4, the reunion continued with former refugees boarding a bus and visiting the actual camp site itself. Ken Walsh, Marketing Chair for the museum, accompanied the group to this site on Eglin Air Force Base and observed that all visitors were enthusiastic. He noted, “The older ones were excited to show their children and grandchildren this location and pointed out specific details although the original tent city had been removed.” Kim Delevett shared, “I couldn’t believe I was walking on the same ground as my two-year-old self.”
Barbara Palmgren met refugee organizer, Kim Delevett, in 2021 when Kim visited to see photos and articles about the refugee camp. Kim was only two years old in 1975. Once Barbara knew the museum would build the new Exhibit Hall in 2024 from initial funds received through an Impact 100 grant and further contributions from over 80 people, she began working on the exhibit. Barbara and Kim together prepared for this special reunion corresponding to the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.
One of the highlights of the event was a Zoom meeting with Col. Ray Beery now residing in Virginia. Col. Bill Keeler, appointed by General Lane to oversee the operation as Refugee Liaison Officer, attended the reunion with his wife and spoke to the group, sharing his congratulations and memories. He wanted to be sure that everyone in the camp received proper care in a stressful situatison. Suddenly leaving their homeland with little or no knowledge of the English language, classes were set up at the camp to begin a journey into citizenship in the United State of America.
One of the translators for the camp, Nghiep Tran Duy Qyoc, shared poignant memories with former refugees now living and speaking perfect English. He was on-site daily to help with cultural adjustments and his wife, Mary, was present at several births. Marriages, schools, recreation, food and helping with outside jobs, especially in the fishing industry, were part of the five-month experience. Former refugees shared their stories as well and several volunteers were videotaped to be part of the oral histories now collected by the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida. These oral histories will also be sent to the Vietnam Center and Archive at Texas Tech University.
Several non-profit and church groups helped find sponsorships throughout the nation for each refugee. Both Col. Keeler and Col. Beery were proud of the job accomplished in a short amount of time. Everyone received a sponsorship before hurricane season in Northwest Florida.
Amid a total disruption of their former lives, these former refugees had only praise and thanks for those who reached out to help them in a strange new environment. Tears flowed, hugs were constant, and grateful joy continued all morning. Jene McCraken, Collections Chair, handed out additional information as well for the former refugees to take with them.
What took years of planning and work between Kim and Barbara would soon be just a memory of a short stay in the tent city. What the former refugees left with was a reminder that friendships happen regardless of a language barrier. Friendships happen at the strangest times and for the best reasons. Friendships last forever.
