It all started in February 1974 with an intensive English language training at the Khmer Navy Headquarters in Phnom Penh.  There were twenty of us.  

We left Cambodia on 21 September 1974 and arrived in Lackland Air Force Base (near San Antonio), Texas on 24 September 1974.  There, we went through a more advanced English language training until January 1975.  There were twenty of us.  

15 January 1975, we arrived at Newport, Rhode Island.  Folks, did you remember seeing the snow for the first time?  Never mind.  Here was the real Naval training.  There were twenty of us.  

We were to graduate on 20 May 1975.  And you know what happened on 17 April 1975?  Tough luck!  We couldn't be in the Parade, so we graduated in a private ceremony, instead.  There were twenty of us.  

Pochentong:
Bye Bye!

Lacland AFB:
English Class

Lackland AFB:
Cook for Party

Lacland AFB:
Graduation

We came as a group.  We traveled as a group; we lived, slept, ate as a group.  There were twenty of us.

Then we left Newport, RI, one by one.  Some went to Europe; some stayed in the New England area; some went to the Washington DC area; some settled elsewhere in the US.  And three went back to Cambodia.

There are still many of us.

Newport, RI:
At CVS's

Newport, RI:
Engr. Class

Newport, RI:
Naval Base

Newport, RI:
Picture Book