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By Serena Norr
Every refugee story is different and often animated by wrenching twists and turns. In 1981, Chau Vo left his home country Vietnam for an unknown life in America.
Vo was only nine years old when he left everything behind for a “better life.” A life in America, Vo’s father said, where he wouldn’t be drafted into war at age 17 and have opportunities that weren’t possible in Vietnam.
Vo left his family (mother, dad, and brother) and was placed on a fishing boat, arriving at a refugee camp in Hong Kong. He stayed there for two months until the organization found a family to sponsor him in America. He was then placed in the foster care system and was eventually adopted and raised in the Bronx.
Once in the Bronx, he quickly
learned English in the resource room at his school and adapted to American culture – and the food. He noted, “Cereal didn’t exist in Vietnam. I loved American food like Fruit Loops, soda, and gum. Gum was a luxury in Vietnam.”
His adoptive family was diligent about making him stay connected to his parents, to whom he regularly wrote letters. When Vo was 18, he was able to sponsor his biological mother and father, who joined his brother (who also experienced a similar journey) in America.
Vo then went to John Jay College and received a degree in Criminal Justice. He joined the NYPD in 1995 and retired in 2020 (after 25+ years of service) as a Sergeant. He remarked, “My parent’s sacrifices inspired me to truly live out the “American Dream. I felt that it was my purpose to give back to the community as a first responder.”
He moved from The Bronx to Yonkers and eventually ended up in Yorktown with his daughters Isabella and Breanna and his wife Joyce, where they have lived since 2004.
After his retirement, Vo planned to take his family to Vietnam, but travel restrictions during COVID changed everything. Tragically, in November 2021, he lost his father to a hit-and-run.
He was deeply impacted by how precious life was and, with some nudging from his family, decided to take the trip to Vietnam in July 2022. Incredibly, this was 41 years after his initial trip to America.
Vo, now 50, stayed in Vietnam for a month, where he visited his old house, school, and neighborhood. He noted, “Everything I remembered changed.” They visited their mother and father’s side of the family and instantly recognized his last two surviving aunts. He also connected with many cousins whom he had never met before because they fled to a different part of the country during the Vietnam War. Incredibly, he was recognized by a patron in the barbershop that his father once owned due to his striking resemblance to his father.
This memorable trip taught Vo the importance of family. “Reconnecting with them made me value the simplicities of life. My family in Vietnam is appreciative of everything, even when things get tough. They are grateful for what they have and don’t worry about things that they have no control over,” he added.
Vo hopes to return to Vietnam, but the journey (23 hours to Vietnam and 21 back) isn’t for the faint of heart. He continues to be in touch with his relatives, serves the community, and holds the values and opportunities his parents gave him very close to his heart.
These days you can find Vo in Yorktown as the Assistant Director of the Shrub Oak Lady Stingers (above), which is a part of the Shrub Oak Athletic Club (SOAC). He feels blessed to have a wonderful family, opportunities to live and enjoy the American dream, and now, a deeper connection to his roots.
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