article_snippet.sent: On April 29, 1975, Ba Van Nguyen moved his family to Ba Van Nguyen mother-in-law's house, telling his family
article_snippet.sent: Ba Van Nguyen would be back the next day in the Chinook, and that his family would hear Ba Van Nguyen coming when Ba Van Nguyen was close. '
article_snippet.sent: If you hear a the Chinook coming, get ready,' Ba Van Nguyen told Ba Van Nguyen wife.
article_snippet.sent: When Ba Van Nguyen arrived later that morning, Ba Van Nguyen family and a few friends got on - as gunfire from the communist forces grew louder and louder as his family and a few friends came closer to the city - and flew out towards the water.
article_snippet.sent: And so it was decided that Ba Van Nguyen would at least try and save Ba Van Nguyen family.
article_snippet.sent: A motorboat was sent out to retrieve Ba Van Nguyen, and moments later Ba Van Nguyen was reunited with his family.
article_snippet.sent: That was just the beginning for Nguyen though, who now had to start over in America and try to support Nguyen .
article_snippet.sent: Nguyen did not know the language and Nguyen had no money, but Nguyen was able to eventually land a job as a technician at Boeing in Seattle.
article_snippet.sent: According to Nguyen children Nguyen was strict, but also self-sufficient and proud, getting his family off government assistance after just a few months and encouraging hard work above all else. '
article_snippet.sent: Your mother and I came to the United States with nothing but my drawers,' Nguyen would tell his children. '
article_snippet.sent: Nguyen was reunited with the crew from the USS Kirk in 2009, finally revealing Nguyen identity after keeping his identity secret for years, and awarded an air medal for bravery. '
article_snippet.sent: Nguyen knew and I just knew,' said Chipman of the emotional reunion, this despite the fact that Nguyen was already in the throes of Alzheimer's.
article_snippet.sent: Then, three years later, following a remarkable life, Nguyen passed away.
article_snippet.sent: Nguyen was 73-years-old.
highlights_snippet.sent: Ba Van Nguyen survived the crash and was reunited with his family onboard .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Ba Van Nguyen kept Ba Van Nguyen identity a secret until a 2009 ceremony commemorating the event .