Boat People

People, lorries, and cars, all chasing one American evacuationconvoy after the other.Jams that the Vietnamese police triedto clear with their rifles, but peoplewere no longer afraid of them.There was now so much more to be afraid of.But then suddenly, we too, 40 or 50of us in the safety of the coacheshad to get out and fight our way to the American compound

where the helicopters were landing to fly usand the thousands more out of the country.Seeing us in the streets with our bags,the Vietnamese followed.Any chance they thought was better than none.But the embassy gates were closed,and we, like the frightened Vietnamese and their families,had to fight and claw our way up.

And we did claw, and we did fight.And if it wasn't for one ...