The Phu Lam Signal Battalion's support of the Hoi Duc Anh orphanage continued into the early 1970s. The USARV publication "Command Communications" (USARV Pamphlet No. 105-10), published in March 1970 and which featured the Battalion, describes how the Phu Lamers were helping the orphans. At that time, the orphanage was responsible for approximately 500 children between the ages of one week and twenty years. Although the orphanage was receiving a stipend from the Saigon government, the high rate of inflation made it necessary to obtain private donations in order for the orphanage to continue its work. At Phu Lam, each payday a truckload of "freshly scrubbed and smiling faces" was brought to the various company orderly rooms for pay-call to encourage donations, and where the kids were treated to candy and soda. Once or twice a month, rice was purchased with the donations which had been collected. In addition, the men of the Battalion donated a swing set, which was installed in the courtyard of the orphanage.

        The close tie which developed between the orphanage and Phu Lam is exemplified by the Christmas parties which were held for the orphans at the base in December of 1966 and 1967, complete with refreshments, gifts and a visit from Santa Claus. Although it wasn't clear that the children really grasped what Christmas or Santa Claus were all about, there was no question that they understood that a group of Americans a long way from home really cared about them. In retrospect, even though there was not much cause for celebration, the parties gave everyone a little more Christmas spirit during those holiday seasons.

        We are now trying to find out more about what happened to the orphans and the orphanage, particularly after the Tet offensive in 1968. For example, we thought that some of the children from the Hoi Duc Anh orphanage might have been victims of the Galaxy C-5A plane crash on April 4, 1975 near Saigon in which 178 children and volunteers were killed. The plane was part of "Operation Babylift and was headed to the United States with 243 orphans on board who were destined for adoptions. It apparently encountered mechanical problems shortly after take-off and crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Tan Son Nhut. By reviewing the newspaper accounts of the crash The New York Times, we are now quite sure that very few of the children were from Hoi Duc Anh. Recently, one of the nurses who worked at another orphanage, Sister Susan McDonald, informed us that one of the victims had originally been with Hoi Duc Anh orphanage. She also knows that three children from Hoi Duc Anh were adopted by families in France, and she is trying to make contact with them.

        Hopefully most or all of "our" Hoi Duc Anh Orphanage children are now enjoying happy and peaceful lives.

Now, through the work of Joe Rokus, and your web site we have received much additional information. As an adoptive mom, I wish to thank all of the Phu Lamers who helped Hoi Duc Anh and the children who resided there.I also wish to tell you that one of those children-Nguyen Thi Dai Trang became Jennifer Nguyen Noone, our beloved 26-year old daughter. Jennie is a wonderful young lady, who will be visiting Vietnam for the first time since she was evacuated on the final Babylift airplane of April 26,1975 with Sister Susan McDonald's Reunion Trip on March 31,2001.

She will visit Hoi Duc Anh, the FCVN Center, the old Phu Lam Base,etc.and she will have the opportunity to walk on the streets where she was carried nearly 26 years ago.

Our family wishes to personally thank you for all you did to help the children of Hoi Duc Anh so many years ago in while you were stationed in Vietnam. Please know that your efforts were greatly appreciated by our family,and we will always remember your kindness and compassion with deep gratitude and appreciation.