Military doctors in South Vietnam: wartime and post-war lives

In one of the major diasporas of the twentieth century, more than two million Vietnamese fled their homeland after the end of the Vietnam War. Among the least-known components of this diaspora are the former soldiers of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces (RVNAF). Their histories have been suppressed in Vietnam War historiography and erased in post-war Vietnam. Drawing on a new oral history project, this article seeks to address this imbalance in the historical record by exploring the narratives of two military doctors who served in front line units. Their stories convey their unique perspectives as medical professionals in combat situations. While their accounts reveal a series of traumas and losses, they also display a remarkable level of resilience and adaptability, illustrating both the commitment of well-educated officers in the RVNAF as well as the capacity of refugees to rebuild their lives in a new country.