Brother Phong flew to San Jose at the end of June. I intended to leave his car in San Jose for him and Brother Benilde, but he said, “Keep your car at SMC so that you can drive down to San Jose and back to SMC when it is necessary and in case of an emergency.” On week-ends, I drove down to San Jose and lived with Brothers Phong and Benilde at Dandini.

The La Salle Sisters went somewhere for the annual retreat during a week. We, Brothers Phong and Benilde and I used to shop around looking for any thing we thought necessary for our new home. One day, we went to the Flea Market in Berryessa. It was the biggest one of the Bay Area. Wandering around the Flea Market such a long time that we forgot that it was late afternoon. When we returned home at Dandini, and before opening the front door, we smelt something burning from indoors. We rushed into the house and smoke was spreading anywhere, particularly from the kitchen. It was because before going to the Flea Market, Brother Phong had started boiling a pot of tea. Water had boiled and evaporated so that the pot was emptied and started burning when we got back home. Although we could extinguish fire, some materials like broom, pots and everything on the stove was damaged by smoke. But we had time to replace these things; when the Sisters got back home, they recognized new things and thought that we were so nice in replacing the old ones. But, they still felt something had happened while they had been out of town. We finally had to confess what did really happen.

***

Brother Nicet Lieâm, of the same Robing Group in 1965 with me, came to San Jose from Australia - just for a visit, on the beginning of July 1990. Thus, without any formal decree, the so-called La Salle Vietnam Community has been created at Dandini, composing of Brothers Phong “Director”, Benilde Tín, Valery An and Nicet Liem “Visitor(!)”. By mid-July, “our” new house at Maxey Court was temporarily finished so we could unload everything that Brother Phong had U-hauled from Philadelphia two weeks earlier. Brother Nicet made joke, “I come here to visit your community, so I am ‘Visitor’, and by helping you unload things like that into your new house, I realize what and how a ‘Visitor’ should be! - He’s really a servant of the servants of God!” We all were tired, but happy working together in this climate of brotherhood.

The Brothers at SMC, especially Brothers Eric and Augustus Rossi, who had been informed about the Vietnamese new community in San Jose, gathered all “left overs” by students in different dormitories who had gone going home for Summer Times. On such occasion, “Visitor” Nicet had opportunity to help us and to do what he did realize earlier, “What and how a ‘Visitor’ should be.” He enjoyed it a lot, anyway, living in company of his classmates and brothers and friends whom he hadn’t met for a long time.

Brother Phong was really considerate to me. He knew that his old car that he had driven from Philadelphia would not last for long, especially for daily trips from San Jose to SMC in Moraga (about 52miles) and back to San Jose every day. It could be in trouble on Highway 680 anytime during the trip. Brother Phong suggested De La Salle Institute (DLSI: the Provincialate of San Francisco District at Mont La Salle in Napa) to advance a certain amount in getting a new car. Brother Mark Murphy, Visitor, and Brother David Brennan, Treasurer, agreed to buy a HONDA CIVIC car for my commuting back and forth.

At the end of July, Brother Joseph Hiep came back to San Francisco from England, and immediately joined other Brothers at the La Salle Vietnam community. Brother Cosmas Tuân who had said, “NO for this time, maybe YES later” at the last meeting in Philadelphia was kind of excited noticing how his younger brothers had been so dynamic and zealous in forming the new community in San Jose, and requested from Brother Visitor of the Baltimore District to join, as soon as possible, the new community in San Jose. Thus, the new community in San Jose was for sure composed of four members: Brothers Cosmas, Phong, Joseph Hiep and me. Brother Benilde still hesitated and repeated the same sentence as Brother Cosmas did earlier, “NO for this time, maybe YES later.” Brother Nicet wanted to be rather “Visitor” than just a member of the new community. Although the construction of the new house had not been completely finished yet, the Brothers moved from Dandini to their new home at Maxey Court. And because there were only four bed rooms, I still remained at Alemany Community for a few days more.

***

On the second week of August, there was the Convocation of all Districts in the North America Region at SMC. Many Brothers belonging to the Region and Brother Superior General, John Johnston, and his Counselors would come for the Convocation. It was a good opportunity for the “Grand Opening” of the new community in San Jose on such an favorable occasion. The Brother members of the new community with the fraternal and heartfelt collaboration of the La Salle Sisters made hectic preparations for the opening day. Some Sisters sewed curtains for windows and especially curtain divider for the most wonderful room of the house reserved as a small oratory; others helped Brother Joseph Hiep in decorating indoors and outdoors. Some other Brothers were in a bustle cleansing tables, chairs, etc.

Some former students, Juniors from Santa Ana or from other States, came to Maxey Court and joined the Brothers and Sisters in preparing for the opening day. “It’s a great day!” said some of them, “We are so happy that, at last, there is a community for Vietnamese Brothers serving our children in education. Such a Lasallian education had brought to our ‘old brothers’ and to us as well tremendous success, and we would like that our children and grand-children could benefit from it, right here in the United States.” Some younger ex-Brothers confided, “IF from the start, in 1975 at the refugee center (Cf. page 6,) there were a Vietnamese Brothers community like this one, I would be still... a La Salle Brother. Anyway, let’s keep the La Salle Spirit alive, it’s more important, isn’t it? And that’s you, dear Brothers, who help us ‘Light the La Salle Torch and Keep It Burn, Always, in Our Hearts’.

The daily life returned to normal for the new community, officially composed of four Brothers. Brother Benilde Tín still lived at Maxey Court, but he didn’t decide whether to join the community or not yet. The community proceeded to nominate a new director. This practice of nominating a new director of the community was really “new” for me. It never happened like that in Vietnam, even before 1975. I didn’t know either if it was applied for the Districts of France. Usually, at least for the District of Saigon, the Director of a community was assigned by Brother Visitor, without any information nor asking for opinions from “ordinary Brothers.” Although I had lived at the American Communities in Philadelphia during four years, I never had an opportunity to participate into such a nomination for new Director.

At the first election, Brother Cosmas obtained three votes out of five. I was surprised but Vox Populi Vox Dei! Report was sent to Brother Mark Murphy. I guessed he was also surprised as I had been. Indeed, he met me in ACF at Saint Mary’s College a few days later and inquired about my impression and opinion on the nomination. I said, “You might know whom I voted for. However, I guess that the results of such election would reveal more or less adequately our Vietnamese culture: respect for the Elderly”. He seemed to understand such culture. The next day, he sent a letter to the community, approving and assigning Brother Cosmas Tuaân as new Director of Community for three months.

The master bedroom was large enough to be divided into two habitable bed rooms. The garage had been built for three cars. It was large enough to be re-arranged into two “regular” bed rooms. Thus the community house totalized seven bed rooms. It was large enough for a community of five Brothers and two bedrooms were “extra” for occasional guests.

***

Brother Phong has had very good reputation, even in Vietnam before the events 1975, for his activities among youth, especially in Boy Scout Movement. He is very skilled in communication and organization matters. Therefore, looking for a job has been quite easy. Indeed, Rev. Duong, pastor of the Vietnamese parish in San Jose, invited Brother Phong to take responsibility for all youth activities at the parish, i.e. catechism, Vietnamese language classes, and other activities. Thanks to his talents, Brother Phong brought a new climate of enthusiasm and vitality to the Vietnamese parish.

Brother Joseph Hiep used to administering youth activities, especially displaced Vietnamese minors at Oxford in England. He had been more than welcomed to work at USCC in San Jose for AmerAsians who had been resettled in Santa Clara County a few months/years earlier. Naturally open-minded and active, He had been greatly appreciated for his works and activities until his death in 1998.

***

A number of former students and friends who were overjoyed at the Vietnamese Brothers’ presence in San Jose, suggested that we gather as many former students and friends in the Bay Area and around the USA as possible for:
1. Coming to see the La Salle Vietnam Community;
2. Stirring up the movement of “inviting and soliciting all La Salle Vietnam former students, students and friends to get together with purpose of ‘Lighting the La Salle Torch and Keep It Burning Always in Our Hearts,’ then gradually proceeding the formation of local La Salle Alumni Association.”

There were about one hundred former students and friends gathered on the end of September for the celebration and dedication of the La Salle Vietnam House in San Jose to Most Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint De La Salle. Some of them came from as far away as Philadelphia and Virginia. About twenty of them, from Santa Ana, were members of the La Salle Spirit Group that they had formed since 1983 (Cf. page 143.) Before leaving, they reminded and invited everyone to participate to the Third Rally of La Salle students and friends in Santa Ana on December 26.

One of the great fruits from such a rally was that ex-Brother Joseph Pham who had left the Congregation was so excited and enthusiastic about the warm feelings being a “Lasallian” that he asked to return to the Congregation. Brother Mark Murphy, Visitor of the San Francisco District, and his Council approved his request. Members at La Salle Vietnam House in San Jose were more than happy to welcome him into the community.

On the first week-end of November, Brother Cosmas’s Directorship term was ended. A meeting to proceed the nomination for a new Director was called. No need to say, all members of La Salle Vietnam House accumulated vote to Brother Phong. And Brother Mark Murphy approved the election without delay. The visa of Brother Benilde Tín was to expire - he was allowed to stay in the USA six months. He expressed his wish to return to the District of Australia. Thus, La Salle Vietnam community was officially composed of five Brothers - two more than previously decided at the last meeting in Philadelphia on January 1, 1990.)

Time passed so quickly that Christmas Season was at the front door! Mr. Tran Quoc Bao, Team Head of the Alumni Rally Organizers, along with some former students and friends insisted that the La Salle Sisters and Brothers came to the rally on December 26. “It’s our greatest honor to welcome you as our Teachers and Brothers/Sisters to the rally, because we never forget our Teachers/Brothers who are now in Vietnam. We love them, and we owe them so much! Your presence reflects their faces among us. Yes! We all are Lasallians!”

The Benefactors who had so nicely and generously given the La Salle Vietnam such a wonderful house, used to come to visit the community, and from time to time had dinner with the whole community. Especially, when the family of Mr. Cuc, the CEO of the “Gold Medal” Investment & Development INC. moved to the new house annexed to ours. Another couple, Mr. and Mrs. Dai who had been Manager at the Hotel Fremont - one of many properties of the “Gold Medal” Investment & Development INC. and who presented himself as “Colonel” of the American Army, was the most often to come to the community for dinner.

On December 24, the couple “colonel” Dai came to visit the community. I was preparing to go to Church for the Mass of Christmas Eve at the Vietnamese parish with other Brothers in the Community. I invited them to go to Church, too, but Mr. “colonel” Dai told me, “Brother An, may I have time to talk to you, personally? It’s important!” “How important is it?” I asked. He replied in a serious tone, “Very important!” I asked other Brothers to go ahead to Christmas Eve Mass. I would join them later at Saint Patrick Church, the Vietnamese parish or I would go to Saint Victor’s Church, about one mile from Maxey Drive, and we would gather again, after the Christmas Eve Mass at home.

When all the Brothers had left, Mr. “colonel” said, “Brother, I don’t know how to begin. But, please do know that it’s not official from the Company who has given you this house. It’s rather my personal contact with you.” I said, “OK! What’s the matter?” He looked embarrassed. It seemed that he tried to reveal something against his will. I looked at him and his wife, and tried to figure out what’s so serious that Mr. “colonel” Dai seemed that perplexed. At the end, he took a deep breath, then said, “Brother! I’m sorry to let you know that the Company who has given the Brothers this house, cannot afford anymore to pay the mortgages.” I asked, “What do you mean?” His wife shook her head, then said, “Brother! From now on, i.e. by January of 1991, the Brothers have to pay bill that the bank will send to you. That’s the monthly payment or mortgage...”

Nobody said a word for a while. In my mind I recalled the amazingly joyful exclamation, “It’s too good to be true!” from many former students and Juniors who heard that in San Jose, the Company “Gold Medal” Investment & Development INC. had given the La Salle Vietnam Brothers a brand new house. The couple “colonel” Dai had recognized my reaction, shook their head, then whispered something like “Sorry about that!” then both left. I sat alone at my desk, trying to concentrate my mind in joining my Brothers celebrating the greatest heavenly event for mankind and chanting, “Glory to God in the Highest. Peace to His People on Earth!” I suddenly remembered having sent to Mr. Quyen a thank-you card with notes, “Thank you! You are our Providence!” and I felt truly bitter-sweet in my heart. However, I decided to keep such a badly discouraging news from other Brothers at the community, until after the rally in Santa Ana, so that they could fully enjoy a “Merry Christmas!”

THE THIRD LA SALLE VIETNAM RALLY
A Sweet Tears of Joy and Love Night
December 26, 1990

Following is the excerpt from an article by Vu Xuân Hung, published in the The Gioi Nghe Si (The Artist World Magazine,) whose Tran Quoc Bao had been editor in chief.
...
Brother Fortunat Phong, Representative for the Brothers and Sisters who are either present personally or in spirit from everywhere, especially from Vietnam, expressed Joy and Happiness for the remembrance of the former La Salle Vietnam Alumni about LA SAN BROTHER-TEACHERS in Vietnam. “It’s really meaningful,” he said, “the theme of the Rally: THANKFULNESS TO BROTHER-TEACHERS. It revealed not only Teachers, but rather BROTHERS. Why yes! We all are Brothers/Sisters to each other. And it is the LA SAN SPIRIT which has been cordially and fraternally uniting us together whether we are present here physically or spiritually.”
Brother Phong did not forget to express his gratitude to all La Salle Vietnam Alumni, especially Mr. Ngoc Chanh, Musical&Entertainment Ritz Club owner and former student at La Salle Duc Minh Tan Dinh, and Tran Quoc Bao, a former student at La Salle Mossard Thu Duc, for having kindly offered such an opportunity to gather La Salle students and friends in the past, and today, and hopefully in future...
There were more than fifty “currently hot” musicians and singers gathered on that night, nicely responding to Tran Quoc Bao’s invitation for the purpose of “remembering and honoring our beloved La Salle Brother-Teachers who have been committed their life to the education of our young people in Vietnam for more than one hundred years.” A former student of La Salle Taberd in the seventies, musician and singer, Viet Dzung, was MC for the rally which had gathered more than five hundred La Salle Vietnam former students and friends.

***

Another excerpt from the article “A ROSE FLOWER to the La Salle Alumni on the Rally Night dedicated to the La Salle Brother-Teachers” by Ho Xuân Nhi, as follows:
...
“Old boys” throughout many generations of De La Salle Education System in Vietnam for more than one hundred years have been used to gather, in small or big groups of their classmates or schoolmates, with the same feelings of enthusiasm and pride being “La Salle students or friends.” But this time at Ritz, there was a quite different and even more moving Rally of La Salle Alumni and Friends overseas. It was an assembly of all La Salle School students and friends before 1975, not just for fun or satisfying the feelings of being La Salle students and friends. It was in remembrance of and thankfulness for their beloved Brother-Teachers, deceased or still alive somewhere in free countries, and especially in Vietnam.
I have noticed that for fifteen years as overseas refugees, there had been many gatherings by students and friends from different schools of former Saigon. But this time, the third gathering of the kind, of the La Salle schools, revealed how precious and proud was the esteem the La Salle students and friends expressed for their La Salle Schools and their Brother-Teachers.
...
There still are hundreds of Brother-Teachers and man/woman teachers, and hundreds of thousands students - La Salle students included - willy-nilly agreeing to stay in Vietnam. But La Salle students now in Vietnam cannot receive any good things from education by their beloved Brother-Teachers. That’s because all the twenty seven La Salle schools and establishments have been “offered” to the communist government. In addition, the Brother-Teachers have been forced to “surrender schools and hand over education to the socialist system.” The former La Salle students in Vietnam are not self-supporting for themselves and their families, how can they come to their Brother-Teachers’ assistance? Thus, such a duty should be confided on shoulders of the overseas La Salle students and friends. And Tran Quoc Bao with the collaboration of many others has accepted joyfully and proudly as well, that meaningful gesture of love and thankfulness. Although I am not a former La Salle student, their pride being La Salle students and love for their Brother-Teachers and classmates and schoolmates have really moved me...
This article is not just any reportage, but is rather a Rose Flower dedicated to the Organizer Team for the La Salle Alumni Rally, and to every La Salle student and friend as well, for their loyalty to and love for the La Salle Education System that they had been so lucky to inherit.

***

“Christmas Gift” that the Company “Gold Medal” Investment & Development INC. has given to La Salle Vietnam on Christ Eve was so burdensome that the very first reaction of the Brothers was that they looked stupefied without saying a word. After a long moment of silence, Brother Phong said, “What we can do now, I think, is to sell this house and rent another cheaper one.” I shook my head, then said, “It might be the only thing we can do. But, there are two problems we should think about:
1. The price of house market, right now, is low compared with that several months earlier. For example, in my understanding, the price of this house was originally four hundred fifty thousand dollars; if we sell it right now, the price wouldn’t be that much.
2. Whether we’ll sell this house or not, the amount of money that the District of Saigon had leased should be paid back as soon as possible, because as you know, forty thousand dollars is a very important and necessary patrimony for the Brothers in Vietnam nowadays.

Brother Phong thought about suing to the Company for fraud, but I thought that “Fraud? Yes it is.” Anyway, before submitting such a case, we had to review all legal documents, and show any proof and witness about fraud. In my deep interior, I realized that we had trusted our former students and friends too much, especially on the field of business! In addition, we didn’t know much about legalizing documents on selling and buying houses, and in particular the tricks of the trade in any society. I truly didn’t want to expose our idiocy about this matter.

Brother Phong reported everything to Brother Mark Murphy, Visitor of San Francisco District. Brother Visitor confided to Brother David Brennan, Treasurer of the District, who was skilled in business. Brother David called a meeting of all members of the La Salle Vietnam community, re-viewing all documents relative to the “give and take” of the house at Maxey Drive. Everyone was taken aback by cautiously reviewing the documents and was surprised. Some main items can be pointed out :
. The address of the house was NOT at 1103 Maxey Court;
. The house owner name was NOT “La Salle Vietnam”, nor “San Francisco District;”
. The “giver” Company had not paid mortgages for three months, i.e. sooner or later the house would be in foreclosure status;
. Etc.

Brother David Brennan promptly resolved the matter by confiding to the lawyer of the District the following:
1. Transferring the owner name of the house at 1103 Maxey Court into De La Salle Institute;
2. The SF District is taking care in directly dealing with the appropriate bank, assuming mortgage, property tax, insurances, etc. and sending charges bill to La Salle Vietnam community who is responsible in reimbursing to the District.
3. La Salle Vietnam community is responsible in paying fees and charges to the lawyer when the problem is completely finished;
4. The District of San Francisco “waived” twenty thousand dollars for the previous down payment.

***

Former students and friends heard the bad news and came to La Salle Vietnam House expressing their “condolence” with the Brothers. Some students who had been living in San Jose for many years before confided, “We had heard about the way this Company has treated its customers many times, but we never suspect that it applied the same procedure to its Brother-Teachers! It’s unimaginable!” Another one said, “I personally suspected that something was not clear in the dealings with customers of this Company. When Brother Roger and Brother Phong let us know that this Company is giving the La Salle Vietnam a new house and noticed their enthusiastic and confident convictions on the promise of the Company, I didn’t dare say anything. That’s because, perhaps like Brothers Roger and Phong, I thought that the Company would never dare ‘play a nasty trick’ on Religious Men like the La Salle Brothers. But!...” Brother Cosmas confirmed this reflection in saying, “Mr. Trong, younger brother of Mr. Quyen, gave a strong warning on this matter when Mr. Quyen and Mr. Cuc and Company requested Mr. Trong to put his name as owner of the house on the legal document. He said to them, ‘You may play a nasty trick on anyone else, but please, do not play a nasty trick on the La Salle Brothers. The La Salle Brothers are of the international Order and have very good reputation; in addition, they have lots of former students and students all around the world. So, be careful!’” Brother Cosmas continued, “I am sure that even Mr. Trong could not imagine things can happen like that, today!”

Anyway, it was not an appropriate time to complain nor to blame anyone. The problem was rather to remedy all set-backs. Brother David had so kindly accomplished three of four items mentioned above. The La Salle Vietnam community had to meet the fourth, ”Pay fees and charges to the lawyer when the problem is completely finished.” And the bill had been on hand: fifteen thousand dollars! In addition, there were two more important items which had not been mentioned at the meeting with Brother David:
1. Twenty thousand as down payment from the District of Baltimore;
2. Forty thousand as down payment from the District of Saigon.
The total amount of money that La Salle Vietnam community had to liquidate was (15+20+40) seventy five thousand dollars. It was not included the monthly mortgage and insurance and property tax bill that the District of San Francisco would not forget to remind us of every month!

To be honest, most of former students and friends in the Bay Area were in heartfelt sympathy but were not capable of financial aid to the Brothers yet. “Why don’t we ‘cry for help’ from other students and friends in other States, even in other countries like Canada, Australia, France...?” proposed someone among the students present at the so-called meeting. Another applauded this idea, saying, “Little Having but Lots of Heartfelt Bowels! Let’s try to do something. By accumulating little contributions, we can get greater amount.” Thus, everyone agreed to promote a “Tombola Raffle” and many volunteered to sell Tombola tickets...

Promoting such a Tombola Raffle with the purpose of safeguarding the house and coming to the assistance of the Vietnamese Brothers at Maxey Court was considered by some students and friends as risky or a double-edge knife. “In fact,” they argued,
. “On the positive and compassionate point of view, some La Salle Vietnam students and friends who are moved by the ‘naive idiocy’ of the Brothers, might tighten their belt in sacrificing their family’s superfluous expenses for collecting money to help;
. “On the negative and antipathetic point of view, some others would argue that “NOT only they encounter such a situation... There are many other people getting in worrisome and in as much trouble as they, some even homeless.”

Although the immediate success of the Tombola raffle was truly encouraging, I thought that the resulting side-effect of it was rather more important. It’s about the circle of relations between La Salle Vietnam former students and friends which becomes gradually bigger and bigger, not just within the Bay Area, but it’s spreading out and reaching other cities and States, particularly reaching many other countries.

***

The La Salle Vietnam Family Overseas started increasing members. And foremost, the number of La Salle Vocations began developing, too.
1. Long had been with his family resettled in Sacramento when he was ten years old. Attending High School administered by the La Salle Brothers, he continued his studies at Saint Mary’s College of California. Delighted by the La Salle life-style, he joined the Brother’s vocation as Aspirant then Postulant at the Assumption Hall, under the directorate of Brother Michael Avila. He received Religious Habit at Mont La Salle in 1991. After two years at the Novitiate in Napa, he continued his studies at SMC as Scholastic at Assumption Hall, and from time to time, he went down to San Jose to assist Brother Joseph Hiep on his apostolic works for Amerasians.

2. Hoang Dat had been volunteering to teach catechism for young people at the Vietnamese Mission of San Jose several years before, and continuing it when Brother Phong took over the catechism program of the Vietnamese parish at Saint Patrick. Dat’s hobby was computers. His exploring mind aimed to discover the “newest features” that the computers could offer. He used to come to La Salle Vietnam House to study and discuss with me about this matter. Sometimes, he stayed overnight at La Salle Vietnam House. There were many times I summarily as a trial said to him, “Do you think it’s time to join us into the La Salle Brothers’ vocation?” He responded, simply, “I haven’t thought about it yet!”

Several months later, I suggested that Dat come to live at La Salle Vietnam house for a few days, even for a few weeks. “It’s a good idea!” he replied. “The fish begins tasting the bait!” I joyfully thought. Indeed, after a year as Postulant, then taking religious habit and a year as Novice, Dat became Brother Joseph-Marie Dat Hoang. He professed his final vows on June 28, 2000.

3. Joseph Hung had accompanied his family to be resettled in the United States following the H.O Program i.e. his father who was former officer of the Army of Saigon and put in jail (so-called re-education camp) for more than three years. [Three years in prison, at least, had been the minimum required in order to become a beneficiary from the H.O. Program for any former soldier or former officer of the Saigon Armies.] Joseph Hung who had been a La Salle Postulant at La Salle Taberd in Saigon, wished to continue his La Salle career at La Salle Vietnam House in San Jose. Brother Francois Anh certified his earlier status as Postulant. He then joined the Brothers in San Jose. There were two of his younger sisters, Tran Thu Hien and Thu Hong wanted to join the La Salle Sisters in San Jose, too.

Martin Vu Son who arrived to California, accompanying his family through the O.D.P (Orderly Departure Program) nearly at the same time as Joseph Hung, had been a sort of Aspirant to the La Salle Brothers Vocation at Mai Thon and wanted to join the Brothers in San Jose. [The H. O. Program’s main credit goes to the Families of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association which has been working diligently with the U.S. Department of State and Congress in order to demand the release of former detainees of re-education camps. NCVA (National Congress of Vietnamese Americans) cooperated in this endeavor starting in April 1987. Ever since, the H.O. beneficiaries have taken the initiative of organizing themselves into the General Association of Vietnamese Political Prisoners with chapters all over the United States.]

Both came to La Salle Vietnam community in 1994. The Vocation Director of the District of San Francisco, Brother James Meegan, agreed to move both of them to Berkeley as Postulants. They attended ESL program at Saint Mary’s College. They took the religious habit and started their Novitiate year at Mont La Salle in 1997. After the Novitiate, Brother Martin was assigned to La Salle High School in Berkeley and Brother Joseph to La Salle Vietnam House. Both continued their studies at the local colleges.

Brother Martin Son professed final vows in 2003 at Mont La Salle in Napa, while Brother Joseph volunteered to go back to Vietnam, belonging to the District of Vietnam and professed final vows in 2004.

4. Thomas Pham Phu Tho resettled in San Jose with his family following the H.O. Program in 1996. His uncle, a Redemptorist, his father, a former Dominican Postulant, his older brother, a Redemptorist-to-be, and himself were actively and successfully working for and with young people for a long time before the events of 1975. Thomas had admired Brother Joseph Hieäp for his working with and for Amerasians. After Brother Joseph Hiep passed away, Thomas wanted to join the La Salle Brothers to continue the much appreciated education mission. He took the religious habit at Mont La Salle and finished his Novitiate year in 1999. He was sent to the Sacred Heart community in San Francisco to work in company with Brother Joseph Kirt for poor students at the Marillac Center. He professed final vows in 2007, and was assigned to De La Salle High School in Sacramento.