Following the instructions of the Minister of Education, Mr. Ngo Khac Tinh, LaSalle Mossard School continued its classes. Students continued to attend school except those from families of high ranking officers. Brother Fidele, Auxiliary Visitor, assumed duties as Principal of the School and Director of the Community.

In collaboration with the Dean of Studies for each section at LaSalle Mossard School, the staff of the Junioriate eagerly urged the Juniors to participate in the monetary collections, whatever they could afford, to help the poor people who had fled their homes and their land.

For the feeding of all members of the Junioriate, Brother Econome had stocked enough rice for more than 100 students for a few weeks. During the late afternoon of April 5, 1975, two vans parked in front of the parlor and about 20 Montagnard Students got out. Brother Matthias Tam, Director of LangBiang School for Montagnards with Brother Jean Ngoc, came to ask for refuge. Brother Hubert, Econome of the Junioriate murmured, "Those bags of rice won’t last long!"

***

Dalat had been the target of the bo doi so many times in the 60’s and 70’s that people had been living there were familiar with this kind of war.

. On the First Day of Tet Mau Than 1968, the Brothers of LaSalle Adran Community in collaboration with the Brother Scholastics opened all classrooms of the School to welcome the "refugees of war," most of whom were of Montagnard Families from Cam Ly.
. On May 1, 1970, while Brother Visitor Bruno was at the Scholasticate Community for the canonical visit, the bo doi shot B40 and B41 onto the Civic Center of Dalat, and some of them exploded directly on the house of the community. Fortunately, no injuries were sustained by the Brothers, but more than half of the house was destroyed.
. On several occasions, further attacks damaged trees and the windows of LaSalle Adran School...

Before the communist armies attacked Dalat, Brother Director Eugene Ly of LaSalle Technical School Community was more than disappointed having to leave all mechanical machines behind. Safeguarding the Brothers’ lives was not more important? Since BBC radio announced so much bad news relating to the attacks of the communist North Vietnam in Ban Me Thuot and in the Center of Vietnam, three Brother Directors of Adran, Technical School, and Scholasticate discussed the problem, and agreed to flee to Saigon at appropriate times, thus avoiding what happened to the Brothers in Ban Me Thuot.

Brother Director Theophane Ke discussed about leaving Dalat with Brother Students Alban Thanh, Genereux Nhon and Gervais Ha, and all agreed to escape Dalat as soon as possible.

Brother Director Eugene Ly of Technical School requested that Brother Benilde Tin bring to Saigon as much mechanical equipment as possible. They were able to bring with them 10 machines: electronic, woodworking and soldering equipment. Brother Corentin Phi wanted to collaborate with the new government; in reality, he had had an affair with a widow working for the Front of Liberation and living at Hoa Binh Market.

Brother Herman Lang, Director of Adran Community, urged the Brothers to leave Dalat for Saigon. All agreed to leave, except Brother Michel Hai who wanted to stay "defending our LaSalle Adran School whatever might happen."

Brother Raymondus, a French Missionary, who was totally committed to live among Montagnards, dressing like them, eating and drinking whatever they ate and drank for more than 15 years. He then had to return to LaSalle Adran School in the community with Brother Michel Hai because the Montagnard students - most of whom were boarders of the school operated by the MEP (Missions Etrangères de Paris) at Cam Ly, Dalat - had fled overseas immediately after hearing bad news about the devastating war in Ban Me Thuot and the Center of Vietnam announced by BBC radio.

When Dalat had been completely invaded by the communist armed forces, Brother Raymondus bought a blue-red-yellow star flag (of the Front of Liberation of South Vietnam). On the very first Monday morning, as he tied the flag on a flagpole with the intention to salute it on the first day of the week, he heard something like "phản động!"[reactionary!] He turned behind him; a bo doi pointed a gun at him. He didn’t understand what-so-ever, just replying: "Quoi? Qu’est-ce que vous dites?" (What? What did you say?) but seeing the gun being pointed at him, he raised his two hands over his head. Another bo doi came out, said to him very slowly, "Anh treo lá cờ sai rồi, ngôi sao không phải hướng ngược xuống như vậy!"[You placed the flag up in the wrong way! The star must not be down like that!] He smiled and then said, "Oh!oh!oh! Mais c’est comme ca! ca va... ca va!..." (Oh!oh!oh! But that’s OK like that! OK!... OK!...) On that afternoon, Brother Raymondus left LaSalle Adran School for Saigon, and a few days later, the French Ambassador gave him a passport and visa to repatriate into Paris.

***

Brother Visitor Lucien was informed on the beginning of April, that the Brothers from Nha Trang had embarked on the Phu Quoc Island about 200km from Saigon. He went to Phu Quoc to meet the Brothers and brought food supplies to them. He also contacted the Officers of the Marines and requested if there were any means to bring the Brothers to Saigon. The Officer replied, "Because of the difficulty of actual situations of war, we cannot provide any facility to meet your request."

Brother Visitor looked for an adequate reason to retain the Brothers and to invite other Brothers from Saigon on the Phu Quoc Island to help and assist, even comfort the refugees, especially activities for young people, i.e. open up classes where and when possible.

With this leitmotiv, many young Brothers from different communities in Saigon joined the Brothers in Phu Quoc Island. The Montagnard students who temporarily took refuge in the Junioriate for two weeks, also moved to Phu Quoc to avoid the bombs and rockets!

The Brothers of the Technical School Community had moved to nobody knows where, abandoning everything they had brought from Dalat.

***

Brother Visitor convened the District Counsel and some Directors of Communities in Saigon area for examining the "hot news" about the invading war from the North. Brother Junioriate Director, Colomban Dao, used to answer my questions about the District Counsel’s decisions by saying, "Just be patient! Nothing’s new!"

To tell the truth, I realized that not only Brother Visitor and his Counsel, but even the government of South Vietnam were embarrassed by "nothing’s new under the sun" because invading wars had happened so many times:

. events of Dien Bien Phu then the Accord of Geneva in 1954
. guerilla war almost every day since 1960
. Coup d’Etat leading to political and social disorder in 1963
. General offensive on Tet Mau Than in 1968
. Wars building up the "Boulevard of Horror" in 1972 leading to the Treaty of Paris which President Nguyen Van Thieu was forced to sign against his will and the will of the Vietnamese people
. And now invading wars begun in Ban Me Thuot on March 11, 1975...

In these circumstances, in the end everything would be returning to normal!

Prudence is a good virtue!

In the mid-April, 1975, daily newspapers - especially Chinh Luan - inserted rather negative news about inappropriate actions of some religious people who gathered near the seashore with the intention of fleeing overseas by boat, commenting that "these religious people should be ashamed of their behavior. While soldiers lost their lives on the front-lines for the safety of the country, these religious people tried to escape - yet in such a peaceful and safe way, just like attending a joyful and enthusiastic celebration!"

But being too prudent is sometimes not so good!

Right after the Accord of Geneva in 1954 which divided Vietnam into two parts: North is for the Democratic Republic, and South is for the Republic of Vietnam, Brother Zacharias, then Assistant of Brother Superior General Dionysius V. Jesus, came to see President Ho Chi Minh and asked him, "Can the Christian Brothers continue their education mission in North Vietnam?" Ho Chi Minh replied, promptly, "No!" But he seemingly remembered that some of his officers - like General Vo Nguyen Giap, Ha Van Lau, etc. had been students of the Brothers’ Schools, he continued, more calmly, "You might better move..." [Brother Cosmas recalled]

***

On April 10 Brother Michel Hong and I enticed each other "to donate blood" following the request of Saigon Radio. We argued that "we didn’t have the opportunity to fight on front-lines to defend our country, at least we can contribute our blood for those heroes fighting for us." [On the third day of the general offensive at Dalat in 1968, there were too many wounded on both sides of Vietnamese soldiers and bo doi as well, that the blood had been in short supply. The Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul who ran the hospital of The Domaine de Marie came to ask for blood from the Brothers. I and a dozen of Brothers responded to their request.]

Brother Michel and I left Thu Duc at about 8:00A.M. on a Honda motorcycle. Entering Binh Trieu, everything seemed normal, but arriving at Junction Hang Xanh and Red Cross Boulevard, we were surprisingly anxious, seeing people run in disorder in two directions while holding up their heads toward the direction of Independence Palace. Owners of the restaurants along Hang Xanh and Red Cross Blvd. hastened to close their doors. We wondered, "What’s happening?". In about 1km we arrived at the Red Cross Building and saw such a chaotic situation that we decided to go back home "to be with our Brothers and Juniors in case the worst could happen."

At the front gate of LaSalle Mossard School, there was real chaos: cars, motorcycles, bicycles in and out of the school area in disorder; parents wanted to pick up their children from school as soon as possible. It was about 10:00A.M. That is, as above mentioned, most of the students were from Saigon and/or Cho Lon. Their parents wanted to return their children back to their homes and - maybe - then flee overseas with their families.

Once in my room I listened to the Saigon radio and heard only the last words of President Thieu’s speech: "... Thank God! I and my family are all OK!..." Brother Michel Hong shouted: "What? Coup d’Etat? What a critical time now for the country and... Coup d’Etat?" In reality, a rebel pilot of Vietnam Air Force - suspected pro communist - threw a bomb over the Independence Palace and escaped to Da Nang, where the bo doi had taken control weeks ago.

Since that event, LaSalle Mossard School was officially closed, waiting for the "good news" to re-open again and hopefully welcome all the students back to school to finish the school year of 1974-1975. As for the Junioriate, the staff composed of Brother Director Colomban Dao, Leopold Kiet, Hubert Huy, Michel Hong, Pierre Tam, Antoine Dong and Valery An, tried to keep the "home" environment as peaceful and as normal as possible. They continued the regular schedule, but not for long. Most of the Juniors’ parents whose families were in Saigon area wanted to have their children back home. They were preparing to flee overseas at any opportune moment. Only about 20 Juniors whose families were from Dalat, Ban Me Thuot, Kontum, Nha Trang stayed with us.

***

Since the war situation became more and more critical, Brother Counselors decided to give all Brothers living commodities, or the opportunity to be with their own families if they wished. However, the District’s official position was clear: "The District did not invite anyone to go, but rather urged everyone "to be amidst and with the Church and Vietnamese Youth, especially in these difficult times." The District Counsel thought of the worst case: Brothers would be arrested and jailed - for any reason, or Brothers could lose contact with the District and/or with each other for any reason. The District gave each Brother the amount of 100,000 VNCH dong (about 500US dollars by the current rate) to survive and/or to contribute to his family’s resources if they intended to flee overseas. In addition, Brother Visitor provided each Brother with a Religious ID card with the seal and signature of Archbishop Nguyen Van Binh of Saigon, in case it would be helpful to Brothers who wished to flee overseas and needed assistance from other Brothers in different countries and/or from other religious congregations.

Brother Visitor also appointed some resourceful Brothers to look for "safer locations" (avoiding bombs and/or rockets) and for "adequate places to go," if opportunity offered. Thus, Brothers Bernard Tam and Herman Lang cared for Brothers who wished to "temporarily" live in Vung Tau; Brother Raymond would care for Brothers who wished to "move" to Phu Quoc Island. Overall, this was the very first and the greatest concern of Brother Visitor and his Counsel that it provided assistance to the Old Brothers by any means possible with facilities and comfort for their living, especially for their peace of mind. Mai Thon was preferred as the best location for the Old Brothers.

At last, Brother Visitor Lucien announced to all Brothers that he had just received from Brother Superior General Charles Henry a telegram "handing over to him general authority during the difficult times."

***

After the meeting where this decision was made, some young Scholastics at Mai Thon encouraged each other to join Brother Phong’s Family in moving to Vung Tau "to shun danger of rockets and/or bombs" - and, of course, to seek the opportunity to flee overseas by boat if necessary. A number of young Brothers from the communities in Saigon area invited each other "to go to Phu Quoc Island, to help refugees from the Center", and to seek the opportunity to flee overseas by boat if necessary, too.

Brother Director Francois Anh went to each Old Brother’s room at Mai Thon, and said to each one, "Dear Brother, if you want to avoid bombs and/or rockets, you can go to Vung Tau, right away, and the District will take care of everything regarding your living there." Noticing their confused expressions, some even shrugged their shoulders replying, "Moving again? Isn’t it enough moving from the North in 1954, then from the Center in 1975?" At that, Brother Francois answered, "But this time, if the communists come to Saigon, you’ll have nowhere to run but from Vung Tau to any country!" Most of the Old Brothers reacted by shaking their head, even laughing and said, "Why? I’m old enough, now to chant Nunc Dimittis!"

Entering Brother Gonzague’s room, Brother Director Francois repeated the same message. But this time, Brother Gonzague who was resting in his chair, really relaxed, and hearing Brother Director’s suggestion, suddenly bounced up and said, "The communists invade Saigon? Oh, I cannot live with them. Let’s go, quickly!" He then took some clothes from his closet - without forgetting his religious robe and white Rabat and hastened down to the DeSoto car ready to move. The same reactions took place for Brothers Jean Ngoan and Salvator Ngoi.

***

My oldest brother’s wife and his 10 children - the youngest was only 1 year old - came to Thu Duc from Tay Ninh asking for refuge. I led my sister-in-law around the Thu Duc Market, looking for a house available that they could rent or buy if there was the opportunity. There was one! A house on Nguyen Du Street was selling for 500,000 VNCH Dong (about $2,000 U.S. dollars). The house was one story with 2 bedrooms for more than 10 persons; it was better than being homeless! Furthermore, the front door was directly on the street which was good for future business, i.e. a little booth for a deli market!

***

Brother Colomban Dao. Director of the Junioriate in consultation with all Brothers of the community, agreed to let Brother Leopold Kiet join his family in Saigon. There was no news from Brother Pierre Tam’s family in Ban Me Thuot, so he went anywhere he could to search for his family. Brother Antoine Dong, whose family had just come from Qui Nhon, left the Junioriate to join his parents and relatives in Saigon. Brothers Hubert Huy, Michel Hong, and I continued to search for the 20 Juniors’ families from different cities in the Center of Vietnam who would hopefully join other people to escape the warring areas since March of 1975.

There was still no news from these families. We decided to bring the 20 Juniors to Vung Tau "to avoid bombs and rockets." Frankly we had no intention of fleeing overseas because we didn’t really know if their families were still around in Saigon or somewhere in the territory of Vietnam, or if their parents were also looking for their children entrusted to us. Brother Director Colomban Dao stayed with 20 Juniors in Vung Tau. Brothers Hubert, Michel and I took turns driving food supplies and necessary personal items to them every two days.