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Tom Jones, Patrick Lam, Pham Thien Khac and Tom Bowman - Vietnam War

Four Vietnam era survivors share their personal stories about the Vietnam War and the way it ended. Tom Bowman and Tom Jones were veterans of the war. Bowman shared his vivid memories of returning to the United States, and Tom Jones discussed the difficulties he experienced adjusting to civilian life once back home. Both Patrick Lam and Pham Thien Khac were Vietnamese boat people. Mr. Pham served in the South Vietnamese Army, and after the fall of Vietnam spent a year in a reeducation camp. Patrick was a young boy in 1979 when he escaped the country. The evening started with an excerpt of a PBS documentary entitled 'Last Days in Vietnam' followed by the panel discussion.

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Abstract

Interview Session (Audio)

Vietnam veterans and Vietnamese boat people reflect on their experiences

Transcript

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Caption
Pham Thien Khac, a former South Vietnamese officer and Patrick Lam discuss Mr. Pham’s experiences after the fall of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War panel discussion cosponsored by WILL-Illinois Public Media and ALPLM.

Where:
ALPLM, Springfield, Illinois

When:
May 19, 2015

Ownership:
Property of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

Caption
Tom Bowman and Tom Jones, Vietnam veterans, listen intently to the discussion between Patrick Lam, who served as the interpreter, and Mr. Pham during the Vietnam War panel discussion.

Where:
ALPLM Springfield, Illinois

When:
May 19, 2015

Ownership:
Property of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

Caption
Kimberlie Kranich, Dir. of Community Content and Engagement at Illinois Public Media, welcomes the audience to the event in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum’s Union Theater. The event was entitled Vietnam First Encounters: Stories from the War.

Where:
ALPLM Springfield, Illinois

When:
May 19, 2015

Ownership:
Property of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

Caption
The panel members for Vietnam First Encounters included Tom Bowman, Tom Jones, moderator Mark DePue, Pham Thien Khac and Patrick Lam.

Where:
ALPLM Springfield, Illinois

When:
May 19, 2015

Ownership:
Property of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

Caption
The panel members for Vietnam First Encounters relax while waiting for the evening to begin. From left to right are Tom Bowman, Tom Jones, moderator Mark DePue, Pham Thien Khac and Patrick Lam.

Where:
ALPLM Springfield, Illinois

When:
May 19, 2015

Ownership:
Property of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library



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