How A Sailor Reunited With Vietnamese Refugees He Rescued After The Fall Of Saigon

When Vietnam fell into communist control on April 30, 1975, those who remained were forced to make a difficult decision – to stay and live under the new regime, or risk everything and try to escape. Fleeing by boat was dangerous: the United Nations High Commission for Refugees estimates between 200,000 and 400,000 people died from storms, disease, starvation and pirates. NBC News' Vicky Nguyen meets a group who fled on a small fishing boat that got lost in the South China Sea before a chance encounter with a container ship. Georg Pedersen was the 44-year-old chief mate on "Gateway City," a container ship making her final voyage before being scrapped. When he passed a small fishing boat full of people fleeing Vietnam, he convinced his captain to take them all on board. Georg and the refugees he helped spent years looking for each other. Decades later, Georg has now reunited with 28 of the 51 people on that boat, and he’s on a mission to find the rest.

Connect with NBC News Online!

#NightlyFilms #Saigon #Vietnam

[KC-andTheSunshineBand]

I’m so proud to call Captain Georg Pedersen a family friend!

[kenhan]

This is exactly why so many Vietnamese people work so hard to have the American dream. I love this country(USA)for giving us and millions of families an opportunity to succeed in life.

I was one of the boat people in 1987, and I couldn't hold my tears watching this video. Thank you George and thank you America!

[claylover]

The people he saved, the future generation he created....how cool is that!

[tompham]

I can relate as I was a boat person as well. The world is a beautiful place when we reach out and help one another. Thankyou George and everyone who's challenged their superiors to fight for humanity.

[levitabacug]

This is humanity in action. He is an example of humanity. May God bless you, Sir.

[girlfromthebronxbywayofelb]

Next time anyone tries to say that one person cannot make a difference!!! Wow! So awesome!

[denversd]

Myself was also a 13 year old boat girl in 1983 got rescued by a group of wonderful kind big heart people like George. Thank you George and a wonderful land of USA for everything I have today

[bamboomaker]

I was deployed with the U.S Navy as a helicopter crewchief in the late 70’s and 80’s deployed to the South China Sea. I remember picking people up from these little wooden fishing boats that were over crowded and with standing room only. I remember chasing the Thai pirates away from many of the boats as well as picking up the bodies we were unable to be there in time for. After all these years those rescues are my fondest. Seeing my swimmer being hoisted up to the helicopter on the cable below me with babies held in his arms are the ones I’ll never forget.

[Annie-homq]

This is such a great story. George looks amazing for 88yrs old! He’s so sharp and a kind man, bless him!

[AnDo-mbpk]

I was a minor refugee escaping in 1984, We had almost the same size boat with more than 40 people crampled into it, We also lost our engine and were drifting for days on the high open sea, Many large ships went pass, they saw us but nobody help us, in the end it was a Thai fishing boat that helped towed us into Malaysian water and again it was a Maylaysian fishing boat that towed us to shore, it goes to show that kind people like George come in all shapes, sizes and colors, This crazy world needs many more of them. I sincerely wish nothing else but all of the best to all of these kind hearted people.

[JD-kmwk]

Our small boat was also rescued by an American Navy ship in 1980 and I was only 9 years old. God Bless America!!!

[Legotron]

George, from the bottom of all of our hearts, thank you! Our tiny boat sank off the coast of Malaysia. We were on a tiny deserted island for about a month before a Navy ship rescued us. This was in 1979.

[marykelly]

This man is life's earth angel, you did the work of god god bless you everyday

[Bv]

Everyone on that ship was a hero. Thank you.

[sacausa]

My family and I was rescue by the US Navy. We will forever be grateful to America for saving our life and right after graduated High School I enlisted in the US Navy. I would give up my life to defend this great country anytime.. MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA !!

[delmahnori]

What an amazing story. Thanks to George with big heart who stood up to rescue these people while his other crew members refuse to take them. God bless him n his family for giving a second chance to these refugees.

[Endurer]

As a relative of Georg this just confirms every thing i know about him though the information from family and talks with Georg him self

This man is a great man and i hope to see him again

[tehe]

My mother is a vietnamese boat person who also almost lost her life but is only here due to the kindness of a boatman who found her near Thailand. Other family members were not as lucky unfortunately. I would love to one day meet the man who saved my mom’s life. Blessings to him and all of the families involved❤️

[barbarawright]

Wow, the Vietnamese people are so very beautiful. I am so glad you were saved. And I am sorry for the loss of loved ones and your birth country.