Fifty years ago this month, Operation Babylift brought thousands of orphaned children from South Vietnam to the United States. I was one of them.
Some of you already know my story. Born in Saigon during the Vietnam War, I contracted polio at age 2, leaving me paralyzed from the waist down. I was later found abandoned on the streets and taken in by an orphanage.
At age 4, I was placed on one of the last Babylift flights out of Vietnam. By mistake, I was directed to a different U.S.-bound plane than the one originally planned — a twist of fate that probably saved my life. The flight I was supposed to be on crashed just 12 minutes after takeoff, killing nearly everyone on board.
In the U.S., I entered foster care before being adopted by Gregory and Judy Bean, who welcomed me along with dozens of other children into their San Diego home. With their love and support — and the encouragement of teachers, church members and friends — I found not only stability but a sense of purpose.
That purpose has guided me ever since.
I chose a career in public education because I believe in the promise of every student, especially those who’ve faced barriers — including English learners and students with disabilities. My “why” is rooted in the belief that every student has potential that should never be overlooked. All deserve access to an inclusive, rigorous education and the support systems that will help them thrive.
Five decades later, events like Operation Babylift — and the lives they forever changed — are among the many powerful narratives featured in the Vietnamese American Experience Model Curriculum. Led by our staff at the Orange County Department of Education, this optional curriculum provides lesson plans, primary sources and professional learning tools that schools and districts can integrate into existing coursework or use to create new courses.
Back in 2022, OCDE was chosen to lead not only the Vietnamese American curriculum project but also two others focused on Cambodian and Hmong American histories. Created in partnership with educators, historians and community members, these efforts explore the journeys, struggles and lasting contributions of these communities and the individuals who shaped them.
On April 27, I’ll return to San Diego to speak about Operation Babylift aboard the USS Midway Museum as part of an event marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the rescue of thousands of Vietnamese refugees.
I’ll be reflecting on the journey that brought me here — and sharing how lessons like those in the Vietnamese American Experience Model Curriculum are helping shape the way we tell these stories in our schools.
Because I know from experience: It only takes one person, one belief, one opportunity to change a life.