Refugee and veteran find common ground in North Alabama
Thanh Boyer and Theron Dawson formed a lasting bond after she thanked him for his service, helping him reconcile with his wartime past.
By Adriana Abebe ·
A Vietnamese refugee and a drafted American soldier sat across from each other in Madison, Alabama, on Oct. 30, sharing memories that bridged a gap of decades and oceans. The conversation, recorded during StoryCorps’ 2025 visit, reveals how a simple act of gratitude helped one man process a war he had tried to leave behind.
Thanh Boyer fled communist Vietnam in 1975 at age 12, escaping by boat with her sister after her father paid for their passage. Her parents and four other siblings remained in the Mekong Delta. Boyer arrived in Athens, Alabama, where local families helped her learn English and enroll in school. She described the community as her second family, noting that they would not be successful without that support. Her relatives joined her in the United States in 1993 after she sponsored them.
Theron Dawson, known as TC, was raised on a farm in Muscle Shoals. He entered the Army via the draft and returned home in 1970 to his cattle and land. For decades, he carried harsh feelings toward Vietnam and its people. He almost skipped a veterans’ gathering where Boyer was scheduled to speak. When he heard her account, he realized his previous views had been selfish. He acknowledged that her gratitude changed how he viewed his service.
Boyer’s journey to the United States was fraught with danger. Her boat, carrying roughly 400 refugees, was intercepted by pirates in the South China Sea. The attackers disabled the engine and threw supplies overboard just as a storm approached. Boyer credited divine grace for steering the damaged vessel toward Indonesia, where refugees endured dysentery and starvation before aid organizations and the Catholic Church provided help.
The friendship between Boyer and Dawson has grown beyond their initial meeting. Dawson now rides motorcycles to honor veterans, including in funeral processions, and has invited Boyer to join him. Boyer shares her story through her memoir, The Ground Kisser, and donates proceeds to charitable organizations. She views her work as a ministry, aimed at welcoming veterans home and helping them heal through conversation.
Boyer has noted that relatives of veterans often report that their loved ones begin opening up about their experiences after hearing her speak. She believes these dialogues facilitate healing for veterans who may feel isolated. Dawson agreed that talking about the war helped him see his service through the eyes of someone grateful for his efforts to protect her freedom.
Both men and women in the conversation view their survival as a second chance. Boyer stated she feels God saved her for a purpose and a plan. She encourages others to listen to veterans and record their stories, noting that they hold wisdom for future generations. The exchange between the two illustrates how personal connection can resolve lingering tensions from the Vietnam era.
