Hoa Thi Pham
Deepwater Horizon Oil Disaster Oral History
NOAA's Deepwater Horizon Oil Disaster Oral History documents the experience of people living in Gulf of Mexico oil-spill-affected fishing communities. The oral history data complements other social and economic data about the spill collected by NOAA and other governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations.
Stephanie Scull-DeArmey
Linda VanZandt
Mrs. Hoa Thi Pham is a Vietnamese-American living in Biloxi, Mississippi, who made nets for a living in her native land, Vietnam. She was born in 1953 in Duc Pho, South Vietnam. In 1966 she went to live temporarily with her grandfather’s brother in Vung Tau to be protected from the dangerous fighting in her home region. Mrs. Pham’s father grew rice and potatoes on their farm and her mother had a convenience store. Mrs. Pham had one younger brother. She married Mr. Luu Thai, a shrimper who was from her village. Mrs. Pham worked repairing fishing nets in Vung Tau while her husband was away serving as a soldier in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnamese Army). After being drafted to work on Viet Cong boats after the war ended, Mr. Pham decided to escape Vietnam by boat with Mrs. Pham and their three young children. Fifty-three other people escaped on the boat with them in 1978. Mr. Pham was the captain. After a brief stay in Singapore, a nun sponsored the Pham family to Waterbury, Connecticut. In 1981 they settled in Biloxi where Mr. Pham could make a living fishing the Gulf waters. Mrs. Pham enjoys taking care of their home and garden while her husband is away at sea, usually one month at a time.
Scope and Content Note:
She discusses growing up in Vietnam War battleground of Duc Pho, Vietnam; danger in the area for women; fear of American and S. Vietnamese Army soldiers there; sent away to Vung Tau to live with relatives for safety; hiding from bombing and gassing by American military; tradition of staying near ancestral cemeteries; property owners in Vietnam; arranged marriage and life with S. Vietnamese Army soldier husband; severe treatment from mother-in-law; repairing fishing nets for a living; fall of South Vietnam to Communism; struggles after the takeover; husband drafted into Viet Cong military serving as captain of their boat; escape from Vietnam and journey to Singapore then Connecticut; sponsorship by nun; husband shrimping in Biloxi; riding out Hurricane Katrina in their boat and witnessing drowning in Industrial Canal; value of raising and educating children; life as the wife of a fisherman; BP oil spill impact on husband?s livelihood and community; comparison to Exxon Valdez; higher education for children.
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