Answers

You both ask me why I came to the US, and I will answer your 
questions truthfully. I came to the US not for freedom, but 
because the man I was married to at the time was of Chinese
 descent. I had to leave or else my family perhaps would have 
been killed. You ask how I was treated? Well enough, I suppose,
 except for the fact that America was not so forgiving at the 
time. However, I did not broadcast the fact that I was a
 former VC. How did I feel? Horrible. I felt betrayed by my 
country, yet I still loved it, and still do. It is my home. 
Upon coming here I did not hate Americans, but did not love
 them. They were not personal to me, more like a concept. Do 
you understand? You make these remarks, thee accusations 
about the nature of my character, of my service with the VC, 
but do you realize that just because my side won does not
 mean I am happy. Maybe Viet Nam would be better off now if 
the Republicans had won, but that is just speculation. It is 
pointless.

The husband I followed here died 8 years after we arrived. 
I have since remarried a man of Japanese descent who is an 
American citizen. I use my Vietnames name, however, bbecause 
it reminds me of who I am, even when I don't want to remember.
 Please do not try to convince me of my guilt. I already know
 how guilty I am. And don't try and tell me how I've been lied
 to, I know this as well. Just try to understand that I have 
come to accept the choices that were made, and their motives.
 They turned out wrong, I know, but back then we couldn't 
have known what would happen. If any of you did, I applaud 
you. You were wise not to be swayed by emotion. I wish that
 the whole nation could have been so rational. I don't want 
you to feel you have something to prove to me, because 
although I was VC, I do not any longer feel patriotism 
towards that side. The war is over. I have to move on, or
 else I would be swallowed up by all the negativity. I cannot
 say for all VC, but I am sorry for it all. Please understand
and believe me. Thank you for your compassion,
                                  Dinh Thi Phuc