Tai Dam women (Karnjanatawe)
Vietnamese Refugees in Iowa:
Ray's Humanitarian and Controversial Relocation
Tai Dam
An ethnic group, the Tai Dam, were among South Vietnamese fleeing who wanted freedom and saw the United States as an opportunity for that. They started arriving in 1975 and were separated into camps along with around 130,000 others from Indochina waiting to be resettled (Quinn).
“We had no money and as immigrants, we barely spoke the English language.”
~ Quihn Quach- Vietnamese refugee
“The unknown was the hardest part. We didn’t know where we were heading or how we were supposed to make our own living.”
~ Deacon Joseph Trughn- Vietnamese refugee
Ray's Congressional testimony about Tai Dam ("Iowa Governor")
(“Amb. Quinn and Gov. Robert D. Ray Speak on Tai Dam People”)
“Don’t tell me of your concerns for these people when you have a chance to save their lives. Show me.”
“Don’t tell me how Christian you are. Show me.”
~ Iowa Governor Robert Ray- 1969-1983