Starting Over

The difficulties of starting over in a new country are discussed in chapter 8. Former pilots and their families describe their departure from Southeast Asia: filling out the paperwork required for departure, making the long journey to the United States, and settling in to their new homes. They were assisted by sponsors and provided with jobs in situations that were sometimes successful and sometimes not. Many faced language barriers and isolation. Some of the Hmong refugees have remained in the state where they were originally sponsored. Others have moved to new places, or from place to place, to rejoin family or find better jobs or live in more agreeable climates. The transition from having a financially comfortable life as a revered pilot to being a displaced person working in a blue-collar job was difficult for some. Most put their wartime experiences behind them and quietly settled throughout the United States.