by Sabrina Salas Matanane, KUAM News Tuesday, April 25, 2006 Subscribe to Sabrina's newsfeed   E-mail this article Printable version KUAM Toolbar Web Widgets Get RSS headlines

An important part of Guam's history was given back to the rightful owners. Thirty-one years ago more than 150,000 Vietnamese refugees were transported to the island during Operation New Life and Operation Baby Lift. The refugees were provided green cards to live in the United States, as well as social security numbers.

Seventeen officials and professional associates of the Vietnamese American Heritage Foundation are on island to collect the original immigration documents and memorable photos. Vinh Tran was seven years old when he took refuge on Guam and recalled, "I remember the nice people on Guam, they provided for me and my family. I remember I had my very first taste of Pepsi-Cola on Guam."

Traveling with the Foundation is one of Southeast Asia's famous actresses, Kieu Chinh, who had a starring role in the major motion picture "The Joy Luck Club". Chinh has been a goodwill ambassador for the Vietnamese people since 1950. Chinh's TV and movie career began when she was discovered walking down the streets of Saigon by the producers of the movie "Quiet American" in the 1950's.