When Vietnam fell into communist control on April 30, 1975, those who remained were forced to make a difficult decision – to stay and live under the new regime, or risk everything and try to escape. Fleeing by boat was dangerous: the United Nations High Commission for Refugees estimates between 200,000 and 400,000 people died from storms, disease, starvation and pirates. NBC News’ Vicky Nguyen meets a group who fled on a small fishing boat that got lost in the South China Sea before a chance encounter with a container ship. Georg Pedersen was the 44-year-old chief mate on “Gateway City,” a container ship making her final voyage before being scrapped. When he passed a small fishing boat full of people fleeing Vietnam, he convinced his captain to take them all on board. Georg and the refugees he helped spent years looking for each other. Decades later, Georg has now reunited with 28 of the 51 people on that boat, and he’s on a mission to find the rest.
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#NightlyFilms #Saigon #Vietnam
1975 South Vietnam – 2021 Afghanistan.
That’s just simply amazing, beautiful and wonderful.
Wow, George, you were so handsome back then. Thank you for being such a warm and kind-hearted person.
Handsome man and good heart ❤️.
Thanks to all members on the ship.
Beautiful story.
Thanks immensely to the captain ❤️
Amazing story! Can’t hold my tears.
As myself was 11 years old boat girl in 1978.
Thanks Captain George a heartwarming to rescued and save those family . God bless you and family.
Can I share this clip to my fb boat people?
I was born in that era of the year but now I’m in my twenties
he will die a hero saving all those peoples lives
Afghanistan all over again
Godspeed🙏🏽
Beautiful story about a GOOD MAN.
this is a beautiful story, 😭➖➖➖➖➖➖➖🔲🔺105
GOD BLESS AMERICA. I hope American values passes onto those who were recipient of it’s love.
That is one’s of the most beautiful day in Vietnam history . Liberty the country from North to South.Nowadays we never forget our hero who brings the victory for the country. Now we are living in one of the most peaceful years than ever.
The day of deceit
My grandma was in the mountains of Japan during ww2. She saw the American pows in the mines and described them exactly the same. Big men with blue eyes and big noses
This story brought tears to my eyes. I am too a product of the Vietnam war. This is similar to my family’s story, and our new beginning here in America.
This is exactly why so many Vietnamese people work so hard to have the American dream. I love this country(USA)for giving us and millions of families an opportunity to succeed in life.
Everyone on that ship was a hero. Thank you.
Refugee = immigrant. Remember that when you support ppl that are anti-immigrants.
Never forget the fall 0f many cities and the run for your lives episode from the northern of east asia hemisphere to the southeast asian hemisphere shocked
Till now
Support giving migrants citizenship to help solve humanity problems
I started crying
He’s a good human being !
That was an amazing story. They were very lucky that George found them. But there were so many boats not so lucky and went missing. All that for the meaningless war. We keep saying how bad the communist are but why we’re “friend” with the Vietnamese communist now. What would Vietnam be like today if we reached out to them from the beginning like we do today. Millions of people didn’t have to die. Vietnam would be much better country than they are today.
As an American, I value our freedom and democracy. But we must except other form of governments in other countries. To make it simple to understand: just like iPhone fans don’t have to be enemies with Android fans.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Life is a beautiful things , nice story
🙏🙏🙏 Jorge thank you, Sir
George thank you, sir 🙏🙏🙏🙏
It’s so heartbreaking.
All this start behind is America, very evil.
Thank you George. 👍🏻
That was so touching and beautiful I have to cry! I am a Chinese refugee from Vietnam also by boat! All people in the boat made it to Hong Kong! I realize now how lucky we were and still are! My parents and my brothers and sisters went to Germany!
Where are you now? Did you go with them or stayed in HK which was almost impossible back then?
@4343b1 I went with my family to Gernany
Is the interviewer vietnamese?
Such a. heartfelt story Captain Georg Pedersen. It was so nice to see the many Vietnamese you rescued to be so appreciative. Wishing everyone a good life!
Very humble man “I was in the right place at the right time…” yeah true, but George you were the only one who stopped. Others kept going. I read one time something someone said “when you save a life you are actually saving many others…” that fits perfectly here. Look how many kids they have now. Some went to work in health science and maybe saved some more… all from the decision one man made. Pretty cool if you ask me!
I’m a boat person in 1980 . This makes me cry !!
Njatt5yj
No do
It
I was a boat refugee in 1981. Our boat was not rescued and we landed in Indonesia but I can relate to this story. I was unfortunate to go back and visit Galang a few years ago. Thank you George for helping us the refugees. I just bought his book from Amazon, “My 48 Years at Sea: From Deck Boy in Denmark to Captain in America.”
Thank you George God Bless🙏❤️
Filmmakers ……. here’s a great story for a fantastic new film. People like Georg Pederson should be given more credit/attention for their life-changing acts of kindness.
Thanks Vicky, I wasn’t on a boat for settled in US. I settled in the US on a different status, my family wasn’t not left behind and half of us were on the US Helicopter but we got off the chopper for helping our mum and three of hers small one, we missed the trip. 5 hours later the situation in completely changed and became the dark day 4/30/75. I spent 11 years in their controlled. Amazingly we tolerated all those years with food and no shelter nor a roof over our heads to sleep especially with my new born when my breast’s milk dried out. Any time I am seeing any pictures or clips or report taking about these SVN victims, I m choking and sobbing and it has been over 47 years and my heart is broken for the people whose still including the youngers💔💔💔
So AWESOME!! Minh would end up being one of this suburban white boy’s best childhood friends because of this. Thank you to George and people like him who have done and continue to do good in this world! The positive ripple effects are immeasurable…
Such an inspiring story! I am honored to count Georg as a friend and was familiar with this story from reading his book. It is so wonderful that he has been able to reunite with many of the people rescued and with their children. Kudos, Georg ❤️
feel really good watching this. thanks George. thanks Vicky.
I wish our world we living is like the old times
Communist only bring you tragedies. Not thing good from communist regime
Thanks to big heart George Pedersen his ship’s captain and many other great Samaritans who made courage calls and lent their help hands in the desperate moments for many Vietnamese at sea. Your kindness not just only gave us hope but a great share of humanity spirits to all sentient beings. God bless Mr. Pedersen.
Thank You George !
Vicky Nguyen, the reporter in this clip, is also a Boat People too. I just read about her bio. Just amazing.
This is how my wife came to the US as well.
Amazing!
Anyone tjat says one person can’t change the world, I dare them to ask each of the persons that this man george saved how he changed their world.
I was deployed with the U.S Navy as a helicopter crewchief in the late 70’s and 80’s deployed to the South China Sea. I remember picking people up from these little wooden fishing boats that were over crowded and with standing room only. I remember chasing the Thai pirates away from many of the boats as well as picking up the bodies we were unable to be there in time for. After all these years those rescues are my fondest. Seeing my swimmer being hoisted up to the helicopter on the cable below me with babies held in his arms are the ones I’ll never forget.
Thank you NBC truth STORY
We Vietnamese people are always have gratitude appreciation to the hands who gave us lives in any circumstances. We appreciate the land that give us food and water for our survivals . Unlike those Middle East terroists who live and get welfare benefits get free education from the land who gave them the benefit only for them to spread hatred propaganda and terrorize the country that give them a helping hand . It is disgusting attitude of betrayal. A dog who doesn’t bite the hand that feed them. A betrayal human being did that is worthless than a dog
Why didn’t the non-communist Viets fight back?
Without US military aid, there was not much they could do. Heartbreaking and sad to civilians and innocents caught in this mess
This is the people I will always love and admire because they rescue me too ♥️ 🇺🇸 America
oooooo yall heard that propaganda used at the beginning??? “FORCING the Americans out of the embassy”…. no booboo we weren’t forced. we left. we said ok were done and ✌🏻✌🏻. why go in the first place of you’re not gonna finish the job. such a waste. and there’s still people there who helped the Americans and were treated like 🗑 when we left and what did America do??? not a dang thing. left them there to be sh0t or r0t. compassion isn’t are strongest quality for sure.
Bless your heart, sir.
tham gia với nga. báo thù tổ tiên. Trung Quốc và Mỹ trong một? Máy bay không người lái của Iran cho 10 triệu binh sĩ mà bạn có
thì sao tao là việt nam màu đỏ tao không bạn ukraine được đau việt nam cộng hòa mất rồi
tham gia với nga. báo thù tổ tiên. Trung Quốc và Mỹ trong một? Máy bay không người lái của Iran cho 10 triệu binh sĩ mà bạn có
tham gia với nga. báo thù tổ tiên. Trung Quốc và Mỹ trong một? Máy bay không người lái của Iran cho 10 triệu binh sĩ mà bạn có
tham gia với nga. báo thù tổ tiên. Trung Quốc và Mỹ trong một? Máy bay không người lái của Iran cho 10 triệu binh sĩ mà bạn có
George, from the bottom of all of our hearts, thank you! Our tiny boat sank off the coast of Malaysia. We were on a tiny deserted island for about a month before a Navy ship rescued us. This was in 1979.
Civil.WAR😢😧
God bless everyone
FREEDOM IS NOT FOR FREE ………….. WE HAD TO EARN IT THE HARDEST WAY ………….. THANK YOU FOR THE FREE WORLD TO SAVE OUR SOULS ……….. MILLIONS OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AROUND THE PLANET TODAY …………..
BEST WISHES AND GOD BLESS US ALL ……………….
💗💗💗🫂🙏🕊☮️🙌
I am somalia refugee
So how can i get asistanc me
But this is not enough for American to wake up! Keep supporting what you see now at the border, the cancel culture… (all that coming from what party?)and then that the future we will get.
Please don’t said south vietnam fall (south Vietnam betrays to political (Washington look joe biden said 1974)2020 he is president United States all people Americans beginning bufferlow fish eat pup or mud
Gasoline USA stocks he (big Joe)use them all /happen a war we use electricity tank and aircraft batteries 🔋aircraft just takeoffs 5miles turn up side down/tank the same thing (big Joe is big coconut 🥥)
My father name is Chuc Nguyen and my mom name is Voc Pham. I dont know you were the one that saved my family George but, I just want to Thank you for saving those people.
I remember my parents telling me a story of the day we escape Vietnam. I was about 6 months old. My father had a few more things to do and supplies to get to get ready for our trip. My mom thought my dad was going to be home soon so my mom gave me sleeping medicine. Then I guess something happened which cause my dad to get home a couple hours late.
Anyways, later that day ( night time now ). When we were on a little boat on a river that will eventually take us to the big boat to cross the sea. It was my family and I don’t know how many other families. My mother told me. The sleeping medicine was wearing off and I woke up at a bad time… Because, we were traveling quietly on the river and we were under some bridges and on top of those bridges were Viet Cong.. I was starting to wake and my mom said she had to held my mouth shut tightly. So tight she felt like she was suffocating me. She said even with the river water hitting against the rocks and the sound of nature at night. At that moment. She can hear everybody heartbeats as we sneak under that bridge to our freedom…
Watching this video.. brought me into so much tears. Thank you mom and dad for giving us a future in America. Sorry for any typo as I tear up writing this…
Please don’t bend the Dem. border crisis now to Vietnamese refugees. It’s not the same.
Our small boat was also rescued by an American Navy ship in 1980 and I was only 9 years old. God Bless America!!!
Very emotional. This video gave me tears of joy for the Vietnamese people and this kind and compassionate human that helped them . Thank you for sharing this video with me and the world.
Đưa nước mắm cho tôi
Hi hi hi chị chào phương anh châu
Beautiful story. Very similar to my own😊
Blessings 😅😅😅❤❤❤😂😂😂❤❤❤😅😅😅❤❤❤😊😊😊to George and those refugees who made it!!!
Like one evil choice, one good one ripples through time with its outcomes.
Do good.
STOP making me cry
My mother was a refugee
Every single American civilian should be forced marched into [ Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia ] to see all the damage their tax dollars did to these innocent people.
@The Spartan
Most Americans did not support the war and were against American involvement in the war. Do your research
@Teemo6544 You want me to do research on all US wars. Are you serious?
@The Spartan
No, I was LITERALLY referring to the Vietnam war, a war in which most Americans did NOT support. Use your eyes genius 🤣
@Teemo6544The American war that every one voted for Kennedy sherlock 😂And Kennedy authorized napalm and began the use of chemical weapons to destroy food crops and drove millions into concentration camps. The assassination of Kennedy was one of the BEST things that happened in the Western World. 🤗
Plus: McNamara morons was a term that many officers and sergeants used refer to low IQ men and women who were taken into the armed forces under a special program devised by Robert McNamara, who was the U.S. Défense Secretary.
It’s called McNamara’s Folly: Look it up. The Use of Low-IQ Americans in Vietnam. Because so many college students were avoiding military service during the Vietnam War, McNamara lowered mental standards to induct over 454,000 low-IQ men. Their death toll in combat was appalling.
The people of Cambodia still ask why the United States Bombed them?
Plus: Kennedy started a massive campaign of international terrorism which almost led to the destruction of the world. And led to the Cuban missile crisis.
In 1961, the US government put Jupiter nuclear missiles in Italy and Turkey, which escalated into an international crisis with the Soviet Union and Cuban Missile Crisis. Kennedy didn’t even have the decency to apologize to Europe and the US blamed everything on the Soviet Union.😆😅🤣😂
@Teemo6544 Every City in the states has become much worse over the past three years drive around there’s not one city that’s gotten better in the united states. And it’s Visible the US economy has degraded the suicide rate has jumped, Public filth and disorder and crime have exponentially increased. And yet, Americans are more concerned about the Ukrainians. A country most Americans can’t find on a map. But receives trillions of US tax dollars because Americans are worried that Ukrainians don’t have enough tanks.
So, you Use your eyes genius 🤣
George’s ark.
You made me cry george! God bless your Kind heart! 😢😊
Why can’t we stabilize governments to make it safe for people to stay at home
Amazing story of humanity by George
I was on the USS KAWISHIWI AO146 on that day. We too took about more than 100 men, women, and children and babies to the Philippines to be processed. When we left the area we could see many small boats everywhere. We thought many people might make it. Bless them
My family were the lucky few who were able to be airlifted out after the fall of Saigon. But ive heard so many horrible stories from family friends who came by boat. God bless these people who rescued them
David Tran’s rise to success with Huy Fong sriracha is a testament to his resilience and determination. He’s proven that with hard work and a great product, anything is possible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Whuw3pw9os&t=36s
David Tran’s success with Huy Fong sriracha is a testament to his vision and dedication. He has not only built a business but also left a mark on American food culture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Whuw3pw9os&t=36s
This reminds me of Schlindler’s List
A real sailorman knows what is his duty in open sea, he dont need to think for knowing what to do. George is a true sailorman.
I think you mean “The Liberation of Saigon”.
Another jewish war
Great story! My dad did something similar… He met my mother during the war in Vietnam . He was a FAC Pilot in the USAF . He wanted to adopt my mother and bring her back to the USA for a better life … Well at the time my Mom was only 16!!!! He spoke to his superiors and the told my dad the fastest way to get my mom to the USA was to marry her !! So he did!!!! When he got back to the states he was stationed at Eglin AFB where I was born a couple of years later and my brother a year and a half later in Myrtle Beach AFB. After that my dad retired in Homestead … As a retired civilian he went back to Vietnam to get my mothers family …….he was able to bring back 2 of my mothers sisters and a couple of other family members children back to USA . My dad escaped Vietnam with the children at the US Embassy the last day before the fall of Saigon. He climbed that stair case to the top with the kids to board the helicopter and was taken to an aircraft carrier …. long story short because of my dad the rest of my mothers family is now here ( 3 generations already) The rest of the family came over in 1990 to Homestead all at once !! Took years of sending $ and paper work ……this is the short version of this story but as Geroge did that day saving the boat people it just reminded me of my Fathers Heroic trip to bring my moms family here…………. Very proud son……
As a civilian employee of the State Department the vietnamese were housed in the barracks prior to the cuban exodus of 1980 at Fort Chaffee,Arkansas.