♪ APRIL, 1975, VIETNAM.

THE VIET CONG HAD TAKEN OVER DA NANKING AND DA NANG AND WERE CLOSING IN ON SAIGON.

PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN LIVING IN THE ANTI-COMMUNIST SOUTH WERE DEATHLY AFRAID OF THE NORTHERN INVASION.

TO ESCAPE, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE FORCED TO LEAVE EVERYTHING BEHIND IN JUST A FEW, DESPERATE MINUTES TO FIND A WAY OUT OF THEIR WAR-TORN COUNTRY.

ON THE LAST DAY OF SAIGON, ANY TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION WOULD DO.

THEY STRUGGLED INTO AIRCRAFT AND BOATS TO BEGIN AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE.

THE ONLY THING THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM WAS THEIR CULTURE AND A SET OF VALUES THAT HAS HELPED TO BUILD A THRIVING COMMUNITY AND A BETTER LIFE.

OVER 4,000 REFUGEES CAME TO OKLAHOMA IN THAT FIRST WAVE FOLLOWED BY THOUSANDS MORE WHO MADE THE LONG AND DIFFICULT JOURNEY FROM VIETNAM TO OKLAHOMA.

ONE MAN'S JOURNEY TO OKLAHOMA BEGAN IN THE ANCIENT CITY OF HUE.'

GROWING UP IN THE HALLS OF POWER, HE KNEW ONLY COMFORT AND PRIVILEGE.

TRUNG PHAM: I WAS BORN IN THE ROYAL FAMILY, AND MY MOTHER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PRINCESS.

MY UNCLE IS LE' PRINCE, WHICH THEY CALL IN FRENCH.

AND HE IS -- HE WAS THE PRIME MINISTER FOR THE COUNTRY AT THAT TIME WHEN THE KING WAS STILL NOT DETHRONED YET.

AND SO I LIVED IN A BIG, BIG HOUSE AND NEVER HAD TO KNOW THE PEOPLE AROUND ME.

I HAD CHAUFFEUR, I HAD SERVANTS, SEVERAL SERVANTS SERVING THE FAMILY.

IN ENGLAND, YOU KNOW, THEY JOIN THE ARMY OR NAVY OR AIR FORCE, WHATEVER.

THAT WAS THEIR TRADITION.

BUT THE ROYAL FAMILY IN VIETNAM IS KIND OF DIFFERENT; IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE WELL-KEPT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING SERVED FOR.

BUT EVERYTHING -- THEY DETHRONED THE KING.

THE KING EXILED TO FRANCE, PARIS.

FAR TO THE SOUTH A THREAD WAS BEGINNING THAT WOULD WEAVE THROUGH EVERY CHAPTER OF HIS LIFE AND BECOME HIS GREAT LOVE.

XUAN PHAM: I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAIGON, AND I LIVED THERE ALL MY LIFE.

I USED TO BE A MEDICAL STUDENT BEFORE THE FALL OF SAIGON.

AND ONE DAY I TOLD MY MOTHER THAT “I AM SUPPOSED TO BE AN M.D.,” AND MY MOTHER SAID, “WELL, HOW COME YOU DON'T GO TO SCHOOL ANYMORE?” AND I TOLD HER THAT, YOU KNOW, I GOT BURNED OUT WITH MEDICAL SCHOOL, AND I WANT TO JOIN THE ARMED FORCES TO FIGHT AGAINST THE COMMUNIST AGGRESSION.

IT WAS A CULTURE SHOCK WHEN I WENT OUT TO BE IN THE ARMED FORCES.

WHEN THE VIETNAMIZATION OF THE WAR, WHEN THE AMERICANS STARTED TO PULL OUT.

WE HAD TO TAKE OVER ALL THE OUTPOSTS THAT USED TO BE MANAGED BY THE G.I.

TRUNG PHAM: I WAS COMMANDER OF THE COMPANY THAT HAD OVER 100 PEOPLE.

AND WHEN WE RAN OUT AND WE ACTUALLY WERE AMBUSHED BY A DIVISION OF V.C.

WE JUST HAPPENED IN JUST ONLY A FEW MINUTES, WE START TO COLLAPSE.

AND ALL MY FRIENDS WERE EITHER KILLED OR CAPTURED, ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN MY COMPANY ESCAPED TO CHU LIA, AND LATER TO DANANG AND ALSO LATER TO NHA TRANG.

AND WHAT CAN THE SAIGON, IT WAS JUST ONLY ME, THE ONLY ONE LEFT OVER.

ON APRIL 30, 1975, SAIGON WAS A CITY IN CHAOS.

WHEN IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE SOUTH AND THE U.S.

WOULD LOSE THE WAR, MILLIONS WERE DESPERATE TO ESCAPE.

WITH THE VIET-CONG JUST MILES AWAY, XUAN'S PARENTS MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO SEND HER AWAY WITH HER SISTER'S FAMILY.

XUAN PHAM: I REMEMBER GOING TO THE DOCK WITH THE VIETNAMESE SHIP WAS AWAITING FOR MY SISTER TO COME, AND WE DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE WOULD MAKE IT OR NOT.

ALL I THOUGHT WAS THAT I WAS LEAVING MY PARENTS THERE, I WOULD NEVER GET TO SEE THEM AGAIN.

I WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE WILL HOLD.

BUT HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A VIETNAMESE NAVAL SHIP AND ALL OF US GOT ON.

THE SHIP WAS SUPPOSED TO HOLD LIKE 150 NAVAL OFFICERS AND SAILORS.

THERE WERE 30,000 PEOPLE ON THE SHIP, AND IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE THAT IT DIDN'T SINK BECAUSE IT COULD'VE SANK EASILY.

I REMEMBER VIVIDLY PEOPLE STARTED TO THROW MONEY IN THE OCEAN BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THEY DON'T NEED IT ANYMORE.

AT THE SAME TIME ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAIGON, TRUNG WAS BEING AIRLIFTED BY U.S.

MARINES AND TAKEN TO THE 7TH FLEET JUST OFF THE COAST.

TRUNG PHAM: THEY TRY TO DRESS US, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE CAME FROM THE WAR.

I TOOK OFF MY UNIFORM.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING.

I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A SHIRT.

THE REFUGEES WERE TAKEN TO CAMPS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND GUAM, THEN TO THE U.S.

WHERE CENTERS WERE SET UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN AND AROUND MILITARY BASES.

FORT CHAFFEE, JUST OUTSIDE FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS, WAS THE CLOSEST REFUGEE CENTER TO OKLAHOMA.

IT WAS THE NICEST PLACE, BECAUSE WE GOT TO STAY IN THE BUILDINGS; IT WAS THE MILITARY BARRACKS.

AND I FELT LIKE IT WAS SO SAFE BECAUSE WE WERE IN THE UNITED STATES NOW.

TRUNG PHAM: I WAS IN FORT CHAFFEE.

I'M ALONE, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY RELATIVES, I DON'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS, SO WHAT I DID WAS I GO TO THE HITCHING POST AND TRIED TO EAT FRIED CHICKEN, DRINK SOME BEER, CHILL OUT, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SUDDENLY I SAW SOMEBODY THAT LOOKED LIKE HER, LOOK LIKE XUAN.

AND I SAID, “IS THAT YOU, XUAN?” AND SHE SAID, ”YEAH."

SHE DID ESCAPE WITH BROTHER-IN-LAW'S FAMILY.

SHE WAS A SISTER OF ONE MY CLASSMATES IN HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE WAS SO POLITE THAT IT IS JUST KEPT IN MY MIND LATER ON.

LATER ON SHE GREW UP TO BE A PRETTY LADY.

I MET HER JUST ONLY FIVE MINUTES.

WE EXCHANGED THE ADDRESS AND SAID “I'M GOING TO SAN ANTONIO LIVE OVER THERE,” AND SHE WAS GOING TO GO BACK TO CLAREMORE COLLEGE AND LIVE THERE.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS OVER.

AT THE CAMP AT FT.

CHAFFEE, XUAN'S SISTER SAW A POSTER THAT READ “APPLICATIONS FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO STUDY ENGLISH.” IT WAS A PROGRAM INVENTED BY DR.

RICHARD MOSER TO HELP VIETNAM REFUGEES.

XUAN PHAM: HE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF CLAREMORE JUNIOR COLLEGE.

HE HAD THE VISION TO GO TO THE REFUGEE CAMP AND SPONSOR VIETNAMESE STUDENTS TO GO TO SCHOOL.

HE WAS THE ONE THAT CHANGED MY DESTINY.

AND I WAS SO FORTUNATE TO BE CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE FIRST 25 VIETNAMESE STUDENTS TO GET OUT OF THE REFUGEE CAMP AND GO TO CLAREMORE JUNIOR COLLEGE TO GO TO SCHOOL.

AS SOON AS I ARRIVE CLAREMORE JUNIOR COLLEGE, THEY EXPLAINED TO US THAT YOU GOT TO STAY HERE FOREVER, AFTER HERE YOU COULD GO TO O.U.

OR OSU TO GET YOUR FOUR-YEAR DEGREE.

AND THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED, "OH, I'M GOING TO STAY IN THE UNITED STATES."

TRUNG AND XUAN BEGAN A DIALOG THAT WOULD ONE DAY LEAD TO MARRIAGE, CHILDREN AND A LIFE TOGETHER IN TULSA.

TRUNG PHAM: AND ONE DAY I TALKED TO XUAN AND TOLD HER THAT I MISS MY FAMILY SO MUCH, AND I WANTED A FAMILY SO BADLY.

AND SHE HAD THE SAME THING, YOU KNOW.

SHE MISSED HER FAMILY SO BADLY THAT SHE CANNOT DO ANYTHING.

SHE'S BEEN AN EXCELLENT WIFE, SHE'S BEEN EXCELLENT MOTHER TO MY KIDS, AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR HER TO BE IN MY LIFE.

EVEN IF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE UP AND DOWNS, SOMETIMES WE UP SOMETIMES WE DOWN.

AFTER MANY DIFFERENT JOBS, TRUNG WENT BACK TO SCHOOL AND BECAME A DOCTOR OF OSTEOPATHY.

TODAY HE AND HIS WIFE OWN A CLINIC IN JENKS.

THANH TRUONG: CAN I CHECK YOUR OXYGEN AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON?

JUST RELAX AND LET'S SEE WHAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON.

XUAN PHAM: EVEN THOUGH IT IS A VERY SMALL OFFICE, BUT WE TREAT A LOT OF THE PATIENTS AS IF THEY WERE FAMILY MEMBERS.

WE ARE VERY DIVERSIFIED, WE HAVE AMERICAN PATIENTS AS WELL AS VIETNAMESE, BURMESE, LAOTIANS, HMONGS, CHINESE, KOREANS, WE TRULY -- MEXICANS, WE DO HAVE A DIVERSIFIED PATIENT BASE.

IT IS DEFINITELY AMERICAN DREAM.

IF YOU ASK ME 30 YEARS AGO I WOULD HAVE NEVER TOLD YOU THAT THIS HAS BECOME OUR -- A REALITY.

BAN NGUYEN IS A FAMILIAR FACE AT JIMMY'S EGG.

HE'S ALWAYS THERE TO FILL YOUR CUP, TAKE AN ORDER, OR SHOOT THE BREEZE ABOUT THE NEWS OF THE DAY.

TO THE BUSY BREAKFAST CROWD IT A REGULAR MORNING SPOT; TO BAN IT'S HIS LIFE'S WORK, THE CULMINATION OF A THOUSAND DAYS, A MILLION MEALS.

IT BEGAN OVER 40 YEARS AGO ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.

BAN NGUYEN: MY DAD WAS AN ARMY OFFICER, CAREER OFFICER IN THE ARMY.

AND WE GREW UP OUTSIDE SAIGON.

I WAS 13 YEARS OLD.

I DID NOT SEE ANY MUCH ACTION, BUT YOU HEAR BOMBS AND GUNS AND NOISE AND STUFF.

YOU KNOW THERE'S A WAR GOING ON BUT YOU WAS SHELTERED FROM.

WE WERE WELL SHELTERED.

MY DAD'S FRIEND WHO WAS AN AMERICAN G.I., HE -- I THINK WE KNEW HE WAS PART OF THE C.I.A.

OFFICER, BUT HE WAS THE ONE, AN AMERICAN ADVISER, HE ALREADY TOLD MY DAD, “YOU NEED TO MAKE AN EXIT PLAN SOON.” THAT'S BACK IN DECEMBER OF 1974.

SO HE ALREADY FOREWARNED MY DAD.

HE PLANNED TO STAY BACK AND FIGHT THE COMMUNISTS.

SO HE SENT MYSELF AND MY LITTLE SISTER WITH HIS FAMILY TO THE UNITED STATES FIRST.

MY FATHER SAID, “WELL, THERE'S A CHANCE I WILL STAY BACK AND GET STUCK, AND WE MIGHT NOT SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN, SO YOU NEED TO GO WITH THIS FAMILY."

ALL I REMEMBER IS JUST CRY, CRY, CRY, CRY.

WE HAVE EIGHT BROTHERS AND SISTERS, SO SIX OTHER SIBLINGS LEFT BEHIND WITH MY MOM AND MY DAD; THEY STAYED BACK.

AND SO MR.

BOYD TOOK MYSELF AND MY SISTER TO THE PHILIPPINES.

WE STAYED FOR ONE WEEK AND THEN MR.

BOYD DID SOME TRICK OF HIS OWN.

HE SNUCK MY PARENTS AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY OUT.

ON THE 27TH APRIL OF 1975, AND APRIL 30, THE VIETNAM FELL TO THE COMMUNISTS.

SO HE GOT OUR FAMILY OUT THREE DAYS PRIOR OF THE VIETNAM WAR TO BE OVER.

FOR MY MOM AND DAD, IT WAS FRIGHTENING, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING, ANY MONEY, WHETHER AMERICAN DOLLARS, GOLD.

THEY LOST FOUR HOUSE, -- TWO HOUSES, FOUR CARS.

MORE THAN LIKELY HE -- HE WOULD'VE BEEN A CONCENTRATION CAMP.

AND IF YOU KNOW THE STORY, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN CONCENTRATION CAMPS NEVER MADE IT OUT ALIVE; THEY DIED IN CONCENTRATION CAMPS UNLESS THEY CONVERT TO COMMUNISM.

MOM AND DAD HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT.

WE CAME STRAIGHT FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO WAKE ISLAND, FORT CHAFFEE TO FORT SMITH.

ALL I REMEMBER IS THEY PUT US IN THE BARRACKS WITH A LOT OF OTHER VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND WE SHARED A ROOM WITH 30 OTHER PEOPLE IN THAT BARRACKS WITH BUNK BEDS.

AND WE HAD A SPONSORSHIP FROM A GENTLEMAN AND HIS WIFE FROM TULSA.

THEY DROVE TO FORT SMITH AND THEY TOOK THE FAMILY UP, 10 OF US, EIGHT KIDS AND MOM AND DAD, TO TULSA TO START A NEW LIFE.

WE GOT INTERVIEW FROM NEWSPAPER BECAUSE WE WERE THE FIRST VIETNAMESE FAMILY, REFUGEE FAMILY, THAT ARRIVE IN TULSA.

WE WERE THE FIRST.

SO THE NEWSPAPER, THE TV -- EVERYBODY COME AND INTERVIEW MY DAD AND MY FAMILY.

AND ONCE PEOPLE SAW THAT ON TV AND NEWSPAPER AND THEY CAME AND DONATE MONEY THEY DONATE CLOTHES THEY DONATE.

THE GUY THAT SPONSORED MY FAMILY IN TULSA, HE OWNED A GAS STATION, A FULL-SERVICE MOBIL ONE GAS STATION.

SO HE GOT US WORK THERE EVERY DAY PUMPING GAS, WASHING THE WINDOWS WHEN PEOPLE FILL THEIR TANK.

AND SO PEOPLE WOULD LINE UP FOR MONTHS TO COME BY AND DONATE US CHANGE, A DOLLAR HERE, FIVE DOLLAR THERE.

THE LANGUAGE AND THE OKLAHOMA CLIMATE WERE A BIG CHALLENGE TO BAN AND HIS FAMILY.

BAN NGUYEN: FOR ME PERSONALLY IT WAS TOUGH BECAUSE I DID NOT SPEAK A WORD OF ENGLISH.

THEY ENROLLED ME IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT AWAY, AND YOU JUST HAD TO LEARN ENGLISH REAL QUICK.

THE REST OF THE FAMILY, SOME THE REST OF THE FAMILY, SOME OLDER, SOME OF THE OLDER ONES WENT TO WORK WITH MY DAD TO HELP SUPPORT THE FAMILY.

THE YOUNGER ONES GET TO GO TO SCHOOLS AND FINISH HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT TO COLLEGE AND SO AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

MOM AND DAD WORKED AS MANUAL LABORERS AND NURSE'S AIDE OR MAINTENANCE MAN TO KEEP THE FAMILY SURVIVE.

I GOT A LOT OF HARD TIME FROM JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL AS I WAS GROWING UP.

A TOUGH TIME.

OF COURSE I WAS ASIAN SO I GET BEAT UP A LOT BECAUSE ASIAN SAY “HEY, I JUST BEAT UP BRUCE LEE.

(LAUGHS) YOU KNOW KIDS.

LOOKING BACK, IT MAKE YOU TOUGH, IT MAKE YOU TOUGH, IT MAKE YOU GROW UP FAST.

BAN GRADUATED FROM TULSA CENTRAL HIGH IN 1980 AND FROM OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY IN 1984.

BAN NGUYEN: I HAD A JOB IN TULSA, AND I GOT LAID OFF IN TULSA.

SO I DECIDED TO MOVE TO OKLAHOMA CITY WITH MY WIFE TO FIND A NEW JOB.

SO FOR SIX MONTHS I COULD NOT FIND A JOB IN 1986, '86 YEAH.

IF YOU WILL REMEMBER WELL 86 WAS A VERY BAD TIME, BUT OIL BARREL WAS LIKE SIX, SEVEN DOLLARS A BARREL.

THERE'S NO JOBS OUT THERE.

MY FATHER-IN-LAW ACTUALLY IS THE FOUNDER OF JIMMY'S EGG.

HIS NAME IS LOC LEE.

WHEN I MARRIED TO HIS OLDEST DAUGHTER, MY WIFE, HE JUST HAD ONE RESTAURANT DOWNTOWN.

AND MY FATHER-IN-LAW WAS STOPPING THERE TO EAT BREAKFAST EVERY TIME TO WORK SANTA FE RAILROAD, AND HE FIND OUT THAT JIMMY NEWMAN WANT TO SELL THIS RESTAURANT AT 16TH AND MAY.

LOC LEE HAD SAVED $50,000 AND PUT IT ALL DOWN TO BUY JIMMY'S EGG IN 1980.

BAN NGUYEN: SO I ASKED HIM THAT I ABLE TO COME IN AND HELP HIM AT HIS JIMMY'S EGG.

AFTER FOUR MONTHS I ASKED HIM “HEY CAN I OPEN A JIMMY'S EGG MYSELF WITH MY WIFE?” SO WE OPENED THE SECOND STORE ON NORTHWEST EXPRESSWAY AND MACARTHUR.

THE WHOLE STORE WAS $29,000, AND I MAXED OUT MY CREDIT CARDS AND DID WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND GOT IT OPEN.

MARCH 1987.

WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR OWN BUSINESS, YOU WORK A LITTLE HARDER.

AND I REMEMBER A TIME WHEN I WORKED FROM 4:00 IN THE MORNING TO 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON FOR SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS STRAIGHT.

YOU KNOW, HARDLY EVER TOOK THE DAY OFF TO GET THE BUSINESS GOING.

THEN AFTER THE FIFTH, SIXTH STORE, WE FINALLY GO, "HEY, WE GOT SOMETHING GOING ON HERE."

THE SUCCESS OF MY JIMMY'S EGG IS IT'S ALL UP TO MY EMPLOYEES, THEY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE THERE.

I'D SAY ABOUT 70% OF MY EMPLOYEES HAD BEEN WITH ME MORE THAN 10 YEARS.

BECAUSE, LIKE I SAY, I HAVE BEEN UNDERDOG, SO I TREAT THEM BETTER THAN MOST.

BAN AND HIS FAMILY HAVE RETURNED TO VIETNAM SEVERAL TIMES, BUT OKLAHOMA IS THE PLACE THEY CALL HOME NOW.

BAN NGUYEN: AFTER 41 YEARS, I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE ANY HARD FEELINGS.

TEN YEARS AGO WE WENT BACK TO OUR OLD HOME, MY MOM AND DAD'S HOME, AND WE VISIT TO SEE WHAT IT WAS LIKE, BUT THERE'S NO HARD FEELINGS.

LIKE I SAID, OKLAHOMANS HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL AND THEY, THAT'S WHY I STAY PUT, 41 YEARS AND I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

PLEASE JOIN ME TO WELCOME MR.

VIHN NGUYEN.

VIHN NGUYEN WAS ONE OF SEVEN CHILDREN WHOSE FAMILY LIVED IN THE ANCIENT CITY OF HUE.'

HE WENT TO COLLEGE WITH THE WAR RAGING ALL AROUND.

WHEN HE GRADUATED, HE WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE ARMY.

VIHN NGUYEN: I GREW UP DURING THE WAR, SO I SERVED IN THE ARMY FORCES, VIETNAMESE ARMY FORCES.

AND I WAS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL WHEN I LEFT VIETNAM.

I HAVE A FRIEND OF MINE WHO HAD A LITTLE BOAT, AND WE SAILED ON THE BOAT FOR 24 HOURS ON THE OCEAN.

NOT TOO LONG, ABOUT 30 FEET LONG, FOR 20 PEOPLE, ON THE OCEAN.

NO FOOD, NO WATER.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE WERE -- WE WENT.

FINALLY WE SAW THE NAVY SHIP, SO WE APPROACHED THE SHIP, AND THEY RESCUE US.

I HAVE A FRIEND OF MINE, HE IS AMERICAN.

HE WORKED FOR THE U.S.

EMBASSY IN VIETNAM.

SO HE CALLED ME AT THE REFUGEE CAMP IN PENDLETON, AND HE CONVINCED ME TO COME HERE.

HE TOLD ME OKLAHOMA IS NICE, NOT COLD, NOT HOT.

(LAUGHS) EVERYTHING GOOD.

SO ON THE FIRST DAY I COME HERE IN NOVEMBER IT WAS COLD TO DEATH [LAUGHS] AND WINDY, TOO.

I REALIZED OKLAHOMA IS A VERY HOT AND COLD, BUT, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT SNOW, NOT MUCH.

I'M OKAY NOW HERE.

NGUYEN EARNED HIS MBA FROM UCO AND THEN WORKED FOR THE IRS FOR 25 YEARS.

NOT LONG AFTER HE ARRIVED, HE AND OTHERS FORMED THE OKLAHOMA CITY VIETNAM COMMUNITY COMMITTEE TO AID REFUGEES AND TO ESTABLISH THE CITY'S ASIAN DISTRICT.

VIHN NGUYEN: I WAS THE CHAIRMAN, SO WE WERE GROUPED HERE, YOU KNOW, IN ONE BLOCK HERE.

AND WE HAVE ADDRESSES, WE HAVE A TELEPHONE, WE CALL THEM, "SIR OR MADAME, DO YOU NEED ANY HELP FROM US?

BECAUSE WE CAME EARLY HERE.” SO SOME PEOPLE NEED HELP, OKAY?

SOME PEOPLE NEED TO GO TO THE, TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR SOME, YOU KNOW, VACCINES, WHATEVER, AND HELP WITH DRIVING, HELP TO, YOU KNOW, FOR THE ENGLISH, TO EDUCATION, TRAINING.

WHEN I CAME HERE, YOU KNOW, THE CLASSEN BOULEVARD AND NORTHWEST 24, 23RD, COMPLETELY BAD OVER THERE.

BUT AS SOON AS THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES COME THERE, WE BUILD UP, YOU KNOW?

THE AREA TO BUILD UP YOU KNOW, A LOT OF RESTAURANTS, WE HAVE A BIG BUSINESS OVER THERE.

DO YOU KNOW CAO NGUYEN OVER THERE?

OH, YEAH, IT'S A BIG, YOU KNOW, STORE.

BUSINESSES OVER THERE AND SCHOOLS AND WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, SO WE STILL KEEP OUR TRADITION.

IF, WITHOUT VIETNAMESE PEOPLE, COME OVER THERE, THAT AREA WOULD BE DEAD LONG TIME AGO.

BUT NOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, MOVING, GROWING A LOT.

TODAY OKLAHOMA CITY'S ASIAN DISTRICT IS A VIBRANT, PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE.

A NEW STATUE IN THE HEART OF THE DISTRICT STANDS AS A REMINDER OF THE PAST AND THE STRUGGLE THAT BEGAN THE REFUGEES' JOURNEY TO THEIR NEW HOME.

VIHN NGUYEN: NOW IS MY STATUE OVER THERE, VIETNAM WAR, VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL, THEY HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING TO TAKE A PICTURE AND HELP OUR CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND THE VIETNAM HISTORY AND THE VIETNAM WAR.

THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT VIETNAM WAR, BUT NOW THEY KNOW.

WE STILL KEEP OUR TRADITION, BUT MY KIDS, MY CHILDREN WAS BORN HERE.

(LAUGHS) THEY DON'T KNOW -- THEY KNOW LITTLE BIT OF VIETNAMESE TRADITION, THAT'S ALL.

BUT THEY AMERICANIZED, THEY ARE 100% AMERICAN.

VIHN HAS RETURNED ON MISSION TRIPS TO HIS FORMER HOME, BOWED TO THE SHRINE OF HIS ANCESTORS, BUT VOWS NEVER TO ACCEPT THE REGIME THAT CONTINUES TO RULE VIETNAM.

YEAH, IF IT CHANGED, I MIGHT GO BACK, BUT I MIGHT GO OVER THERE AND STAY FOR ALL WHILE, BUT I COME HERE, BECAUSE HERE IS MY SECOND COUNTRY HERE NOW, YEAH.

IT'S MY COUNTRY NOW, YEAH.

BAN NGUYEN: LIKE I SAY, I CAME STRAIGHT FROM VIETNAM TO OKLAHOMA, SO I DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER.

(LAUGHS) YOU KNOW, I'M PRETTY MUCH AN OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE, YOU CAN SAY.

THREE MILLION IMMIGRANTS FROM VIETNAM AND THEIR 300,000 OR SO CHILDREN, ALONG WITH THEIR CULTURE AND CUISINE, ARE JUST ONE MORE INTERTWINED STRAND OF THE AMERICAN FABRIC.

THERE ARE OVER 20,000 VIETNAMESE IN THIS STATE, THOSE THAT WERE BORN HERE AND THOSE WHO MADE THE LONG AND DANGEROUS JOURNEY FROM VIETNAM TO OKLAHOMA.

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