Hello all,
I am new to this forum, so I would like to give you a brief intro as to why I am here. My father was a soldier in the Vietnam war and fled Vietnam in 1981 on a boat along with 20-30 other refugees. He left Vietnam April/May 1981 - leaving my mum, my older brother and myself behind. After several weeks at sea (and run-ins with Thai pirates) their boat was picked up by the Texaco Bombay, perhaps in June 1981 and perhaps in or around the Gulf of Thailand.
The captain and crew of the Texaco Bombay ported in Singapore shortly afterwards, where my father and other refugees were held and processed. At the time my father recalled seeing 'London' and 'Texaco Bombay 2' on do***entation, but at the time he did not speak English. After some research on my side I concluded 'London' referred to the vessel's registered port and perhaps 'Texaco Bombay 2' referred to the second set of refugees that had been picked up by the vessel. My father initially thought that the vessel was called 'Texaco Bombay 2', but I can not find a vessel of that name in any of my searches. I believe my father may have mixed up what he saw on do***entation with what he thought was the vessel's name (it was over 38 years ago).
After several weeks in Singapore my father and the other refugees were sent to Scotland to start their new life. Our family was re-united in 1988 when my mum, my brother and myself (I was 7 years old at the time and had never met my father) were flown over to be repatriated with my father. Our family have always been grateful for the safe passage of the boat and to the UK government for its open-door policy for refugees fleeing war. Above that, we are extremely grateful to the captain and crew of the Texaco Bombay who helped to change so many lives and was at the right place at the right time (my father said that the day after being picked up there was a huge storm in the region, which would have capsized their boat!).
I am here hoping to find information on the captain and crew of the Texaco Bombay that picked up my father's boat, I know it would mean a lot to my father to be able to meet those who saved him and the others. If you were part of that crew, please get in touch. If you know someone who was part of that crew, please get in touch. I would really appreciate any information that could help put me in touch with them.
Thank you,
Thanh
I am new to this forum, so I would like to give you a brief intro as to why I am here. My father was a soldier in the Vietnam war and fled Vietnam in 1981 on a boat along with 20-30 other refugees. He left Vietnam April/May 1981 - leaving my mum, my older brother and myself behind. After several weeks at sea (and run-ins with Thai pirates) their boat was picked up by the Texaco Bombay, perhaps in June 1981 and perhaps in or around the Gulf of Thailand.
The captain and crew of the Texaco Bombay ported in Singapore shortly afterwards, where my father and other refugees were held and processed. At the time my father recalled seeing 'London' and 'Texaco Bombay 2' on do***entation, but at the time he did not speak English. After some research on my side I concluded 'London' referred to the vessel's registered port and perhaps 'Texaco Bombay 2' referred to the second set of refugees that had been picked up by the vessel. My father initially thought that the vessel was called 'Texaco Bombay 2', but I can not find a vessel of that name in any of my searches. I believe my father may have mixed up what he saw on do***entation with what he thought was the vessel's name (it was over 38 years ago).
After several weeks in Singapore my father and the other refugees were sent to Scotland to start their new life. Our family was re-united in 1988 when my mum, my brother and myself (I was 7 years old at the time and had never met my father) were flown over to be repatriated with my father. Our family have always been grateful for the safe passage of the boat and to the UK government for its open-door policy for refugees fleeing war. Above that, we are extremely grateful to the captain and crew of the Texaco Bombay who helped to change so many lives and was at the right place at the right time (my father said that the day after being picked up there was a huge storm in the region, which would have capsized their boat!).
I am here hoping to find information on the captain and crew of the Texaco Bombay that picked up my father's boat, I know it would mean a lot to my father to be able to meet those who saved him and the others. If you were part of that crew, please get in touch. If you know someone who was part of that crew, please get in touch. I would really appreciate any information that could help put me in touch with them.
Thank you,
Thanh