After the events of ‘75, Brother Ambroise had requested a piece of land near the river, apart from the La Salle Sisters building, and he built a small house for himself and his niece’s family. He kind of cut off any relations with former students, even with his confreres whom he had used to be honored and was proud of serving them for years, except his old classmates like Brothers Richard (born in 1905) and Ignace (born in 1904).

In October of 1981, Brother Jerome and I had finished setting up a pipeline bringing water to each room at La Salle Mai Thon Retreat House. There were some pipelines left, and at the request of Brother Ambroise, we connected these pipelines into his house. At the first time he had seen us bearing pipelines, he looked at us, showed his impressive compassion, then said, "Did you learn how to set up pipelines in prison, in the re-education camp?" I laughed, then answered, "In the re-education, I learned just how to smoke! For the work in setting up pipelines, I had known it a long time ago since I was in the Junioriate at La Salle Mossard in Thu Duc." He handed me a Samit pack of cigarettes, then said, "It’s not for your salary, please! But, truly I am impressed and feel greatly anguished for both of you, and for other young Brothers as well. You have had to suffer a lot and to endure sacrifices and hardships during these difficult times."

Brother Ambroise was by his nature very friendly and compassionate. He took care for everyone, especially younger Brothers and poor people. The employees at La Salle Mai Thon, and the inhabitants around the Mai Thon farm as well, paid a very grateful acknowledgment and respect for his good works.

During the general offensive in Tet Mau Than (1968), the Mai Thon farm area had been declared as "free bombing." It might be because this area had been for years considered as an "underground area of activities for the Front of Liberation of South Vietnam." Thus, hundreds of people with their families came to depend on Brother Ambroise’s assistance and help for refuge. He had tried to feed all of them for a whole month.

In acknowledgement for this favor, when the revolutionaries had taken over Saigon in 1975, the new government reserved special respect for La Salle Mai Thon. Furthermore, when Brother Ambroise passed away on October 1, 1992, the People’s Committee of Binh Thanh County Representative came to Mai Thon bring offerings in paying him tribute.

Mathematicians used to base their conviction on the mathematical argument, e.g. 1+1=2. But in concrete life, (1+1) are not necessary equal 2. The "mathematician," Brother Agathon, had difficulty in adapting to the reality of the new life-style. In fact, when the new government had declared that "high rank officers had to spend 10 full days and lower rank officers 3 full days to be ‘re-educated’," he was convinced that, mathematically speaking, "10 full days=240 hours, and 3 full days=72 hours of class." But the reality did not happen as he had calculated.

Too many things that had happened since April 30, 1975, failed or were marginal, not to say in contrast to his mathematical thoughts. He could not stand for such a new life-style, not any more. Did he legally leave the Congregation? No one had any idea but just knew that he had been "missed" for a long time.

Some people, former students or the relatives of Brother Agathon had seen him wandering around streets in the city. They were not sure if that would really be Brother Agathon or someone that looked like him. They never imagined that a Brother, like Brother Agathon, would be wandering like a mad beggar, homeless.

One day at the beginning of 1976, Brother Lucien, Visitor, received a phone call from a Sister, Daughter of Charity, who urged him to come immediately to hospital of Saigon. When Brother Lucien appeared at the reception desk, Sister was waiting for him, and led him to the mortuary of the hospital. The Sister pointed to a body covered with white cloth and a panel that read "UNKNOWN." She then said, "Brother Visitor, it seems to me that this body is of Brother Agathon." Brother Lucien lifted the cloth, then exclaimed, "Oh! That’s Brother Agathon!" The Daughter of Charity recalled, "Four days before, a group on police patrol found this body on a street. There were not any identifying documents on him. A former 12th grade student at La Salle Taberd School suspected that it might be Brother Agathon. He could not imagine that a Brother had to end his life in such a tragic condition; therefore, he called me, and I recognized that’s Brother Agathon. It’s miserable! In principle, after 5 days laid in this mortuary, and if no one comes to claim the body, the funeral service will take it away."

Brother Exupeøre had been considered by his confreres as "the Secretary of State" for the La Salle District of Saigon. He, alone, had bid on any dealing with the government, e.g. overseas travel documents, postponing military service for younger Brothers, etc.

On the last week of April, 1975, Brother Grégoire had come with his Lambro tricycle to the Provincialate in Phu Tho in order to pick up something. He suddenly heard a dispute between a woman and the gate keeper. "I have to meet Brother Exupère," the woman shouted. "It’s very urgent!" Brother Exupère had rushed downstairs, and then said to Brother Grégoire, "Please drive me, immediately, to the airport! I have to fly to Thai. It’s very urgent! Ah! Please leave by the rear door and avoid running into that woman!"

A few weeks after April 30, 1975, Brother Michel was en route to Saigon. He had approached the Go Dua Bridge. A Honda motorcycle behind him had slowed down and then passed over the bridge. Brother Michel had glanced over his left and saw someone who, sitting behind the Honda driver, looked like Brother Exupère in bo doi uniforms. He tried to pedal faster. He had approached the Honda motorcycle, glanced at the bo doi behind the driver, and he wondered, "How come! Is this really Brother Exupère?" The bo doi behind the driver put his mouth closer to the ear of the driver and said something. The driver accelerated then drove the Honda motorcycle far away.

A few months later, on a bus en route to Gia Dinh, Brother Michel had seen, again, that man who looked like Brother Exupère on the same bus. Because there were too many passengers on the bus, Brother Michel could not approach that man. He could have more time, however, to observe that man’s face. He was pretty certain that that was Brother Exupère. At the bus stop in front of the hospital, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Brother Michel got down from the bus. Brother Michel approached the man who, suddenly, returned, stood face to face with Michel, then said, "That’s enough, Michel! It’s none of your business. Stop following me."

By the end of June, 1978, Brother Lucien, Visitor, received a phone call, saying, "Someone would like to meet with you. It’s very important and urgent!" On the bed, Brother Exupère whispered, "Forgive me, Brother Visitor! Please bring me back to La Salle Mai Thon!" Brother Visitor did it.

Five days later, Brother Exupère passed away on June 28, 1978.

Brother Jean, in his 60s, had decided to flee overseas on April 29, 1975, in the company of some of his confreres. After having been rescued by an American ship on the high seas, he was sponsored by the District of Santa Fe, to be resettled at La Fayette in Louisiana.

Even though being resettled in a country the most democratic and free of the world, the feelings of paranoia, of persecution, of "must brain washing" still haunted his mind and soul. Almost every night, he had nightmares about being pursued by the V.C. [VietCong=Vietnamese Communists.] His confreres heard many times his shouting "V.C.! V.C.!..." during the nighttime.

His confrere used to accompany him in a wheel chair in a daily walk around the garden of La Salle Lafayette Retreat House. At any sinuous roads junction, he got nervous and shouted, "There are V.C. behind that bush!" or "There are V.C. behind that tree!" His companion, who had known what had happened to Brother Jean, ran behind the bush or the tree and made seemingly gestures of expelling someone or something, then said, "It’s clear now! No more V.C.!"

Brother Jean passed away at La Fayette in Louisiana on October 30, 1981.