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Fremont family opens home to first Vietnamese refugees
Susan and Tom Harris host the first Vietnamese refugee family in Fremont, sponsored by Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. San Do and Cecile Chapuis with their daughters Mai and Chi, plus Nu Tran and Suong, join the couple in a shared home, pooling efforts to settle, work search, and adjust. The family traveled from Saigon via a US military flight before Saigon fell, leaving behind 16 relatives. The Harrises report warmth, patience, and mutual support, with Cecile handling chores and Tom working as a veterinarian while both couples learn thrift and new customs together. The church and other sponsors provide ongoing aid, and the family expresses mixed homesickness and openness to returning someday.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Susan Harris
Megan Harris
Suong Tran
Tom Harris
Crystal Harris
Nu Tran
Mai Do
Cecile Chapuis
Chi Do
Harrises
Warm Springs
Holy Trinity Lutheran
Fremont
Tom
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
San Do
Mai
Chi
Cecile
Soong
Sonny
Vietnam
San
Megan
State Department of Food and Agriculture
Bureau of Meat Inspection
Oakland
Charles Swanson
Camp Pendleton Center
Swanson
Eugene V. Holland
David Prous
Susan
Ian
Suong
Camp Pendleton
Hartises