Pierre Lee
Louisiana Sea Grant Coastal Changes Oral History Project
The goal of the project is to document through oral history how coastal changes like sea level rise, erosion, increased flooding, and disappearing wetlands are affecting the people and the culture in the region.
Lee tells the tale of his escape from Vietnam with his family after the war ended. He discusses being the first Vietnamese to transition to Abbeville, Louisiana for the warm climate and the strong Catholic influence. Although trained as a pilot and engineer, Lee began his life in the U.S. as a car washer, worked his way up to mechanic, and then became a top engineer for an oil company. Lee discusses the challenges of this process and how he later decided to expand his goals to helping out new Vietnamese immigrants (the Boat People) and those who remained in Vietnam by entering the shrimping industry. He describes working with banks to get the first boats and fighting the politics and jealousies involved in the shrimping industry. He talks about fostering immigration from Vietnam by helping immigrants to find jobs and learn English. He also discusses military technology and world politics.
Please Note: The oral histories in this collection are protected by copyright and have been created for educational, research and personal use as described by the Fair Use Doctrine in the U.S. Copyright law. Please reach out Voices@noaa.gov to let us know how these interviews are being used in your research, project, exhibit, etc. The Voices staff can help provide other useful resources related to your inquiry.
The NOAA mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Voices Oral History Archives offers public access to a wide range of accounts, including historical materials that are products of their particular times, and may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes.
Voices Oral History Archives does not verify the accuracy of materials submitted to us. The opinions expressed in the interviews are those of the interviewee only. The interviews here have been made available to the public only after the interviewer has confirmed that they have obtained consent.