Lam Family - Phan Rang to New Jersey

My family of 12 left Phan Rang in 1979 and was heading to the refugee camps in Hong Kong. What should have been a weeklong trip to Hong Kong turned into a 3-week tumultuous journey. The boat's compass was not working and led us to the Philippines, which was not accepting refugees at the time. Our harrowing journey included a typhoon, whirlpool, dead engine, rough sea conditions, and a lack of food and water. When we finally arrived in Hong Kong, we were met with more turmoil and hardships. Through it all, our family perserved and made it to the US in 1980.