Dear Mr. Huynh, Speaking of October, 1980; it was on the 20th that I turned 21. I thought that was so cool, even if I was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, because of the hull # of the Cochrane. It was also the month that we spotted the three different fairly small boats floundering in the mid to high seas. It was over a two-day period that all of the crafts were spotted and the occupants had to bail water just to stay afloat. We lowered the motor whale-boat and ferried the refugees back to our ship in as many trips as was necessary. The boats were very overcrowded and the seas had been rough on them. All of the boats sank shortly after being cast adrift. I’m not sure which boat your Dad was on because I don’t know for sure if I even met him. However, I will tell you this; every single individual aboard those three boats was a very brave person. They faced extreme ordeals and overcame terrible odds in the fight to win their freedom. I’m very happy to hear of your gratitude because we, the crew of the Cochrane, merely did what sailors have and should always do on the open sea. It was one of the few experiences in life where I have felt rewarded for being nothing more than human. We tried to make things as comfortable as possible by rigging up some tarps where no on would be out in the harsh sun all day long. And we isolated a small “head†where the women could use the toilet. If I remember correctly, it took about 8-10 days to make it back to Singapore where we anchored in the harbor and ferries came carried the refugees ashore. We, the entire crew, were awarded one “Humanitarian Medal†each because of the heroes’ ordeal of those refugees. It is one of the sea-stories that I enjoy telling whenever the youngsters ask about that medal. Thanks to your Father, Daniel
