This is a story about bravery, faith, love, and forgiveness as told to me by Michele.
“Promise
me you’ll always remember:
You’re
braver than you believe,
stronger
than you seem,
and
smarter than you think.”
~Winnie
the Pooh
Michele with her mother Suzanne
A tear slowly found its way down my cheek as I listened to
the stoic brave woman across from me. Michele’s wrinkled hands together on her
lap, unnerved. There was a peace and light radiating from her. My phone was
recording Michele, I listened as my heart fluttered. Michele Green, a beautiful
woman who didn’t look a day over 70 years old, but I knew she was in her early 80’s.
She explained that she hadn’t always been open to sharing her experiences, but
it was her husband who helped her open up. Once she began to tell her story she
found freedom, peace and forgiveness. “I will never forget what happened, but I
began to forgive.”
It was as if Michele was taken back in her memories. She
smiled remembering her mother and father. Michelle was born in Saigan, Vietnam.
Her family lived in a French community. Michele has the best memories of her
parents, she smiled talking about them. I could feel the love she had for both
her mom and dad. Michele was taught to love God, her parents were devout
Catholics, she grew up believing what they had taught her. To love God and
Jesus Christ. “I was born Catholic and I will die Catholic.” That was a common
statement used in their home.
Michele's father Camille and her mother Suzanne
Her father had a farm and Michele remembered a time when she
was younger on the farm. All the kids, as per usual, had to do daily chores.
Michele was given the job to kill, and pluck the chicken for dinner. She had
never done it before and she begged her brother to do it for her. He refused.
Her mother told her that she needed to do it or she would be punished by her
father. The usual consequences would be whipped with a bamboo stick and sent to
bed without dinner. She got the courage and knocked the chicken over the head
with a 2x4. She plucked the chicken and stuck it in the fridge. Her father came
home and he asked if everyone did their chores. Michele was terrified, because
though she killed the chicken, she could not finish cutting off the head. Her
mother decided to stand up for her and told her husband that Michele had tried,
but couldn’t finish the job, but that he should show her what to do. He agreed
that he would not punish her, but he would show her. As they opened the fridge
to get out the chicken, a featherless chicken jumped out and began running
around. They all began to laugh and needless to say that chicken was not
killed, but became Michele’s pet.
Although Vietnam had been occupied by the Japanese Michele
still remembered wonderful times with her parents. Her mother worked as a
professional Seamstress, but was always there to care for her and her siblings.
She remembered that her mother would often use herbs to treat and heal them.
Her mother had always made sure the kids were all happy and always making
wonderful memories as a family. Michele’s father, though strict, was a very
pleasant man who worked hard to take care of the family. Throughout Michele’s
life she was constantly told that her father loved her mother so much. “They
had a marriage made in heaven.”
Michele with her siblings and cousins.
“Happiness
is not a goal . . . it’s a by-product of a life well lived.”
~
Eleanor Roosevelt
It was a tumultuous time around the world, many were
terrified spending the last four years being in the midst of war. In hard times
love can still win, that’s how Michele felt surrounded by her family,
grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins—life still seemed wonderful. Love can
make you feel like you can stand up to anything. World War II was coming to an
end, Germany had already surrendered months earlier, and the Atomic Bomb was
dropped in Hiroshima and Iwo Jima was taken over by the United States. It
seemed everything would soon be back to a new normal, and peace was entering
hearts around the world.
Michele and her siblings
The moon was still in the sky, and dreams were still
possible. It was early morning on September 24, 1945. Suddenly Michele woke to
loud noises and chaos ensued as strangers were ripping through their house. She
was in a daze, as they were drug outside. Fear was evident on everyone’s faces,
though her father stood strong and confident. They were brought along with many
other people who were also living in the French community. Crowds of people
crying, hugging and holding one another, all still unsure of what was
happening.
The Japanese had surrendered and left Vietnam, but in doing
so it was rumored that they had opened up the prison doors. There were different
groups of people living on Vietnam, one group was known as a rebel group called
the Viet-Cong They were known to have hated the French and wanted control of
their country. They put the people into two groups, one was women and children,
the other group was teen boys, and men. Somehow, Michele, and her older sister
Nicole were put with the men.
This story will be continued. Stay tuned...
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