LOSERS: Those Who Were Left Behind

For every Vietnamese who fled from the South last week there were hundreds who were just as fearful of being killed but could find no way to get out. According to one U.S. intelligence report, the odds against a Vietnamese escaping were 50 to 1 unless he had an "American connection "—a relative who was a U.S. citizen or an American friend who was willing to guarantee a job in the U.S. or financial support. Rather than fight those odds, many Vietnamese were resigned to staying. Some were looking for a safe place...

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