November 5, 1975 (8 pages)

5-16-75 * OAL. STATE LIBRARY 7 TION cal PERIODICALS SE CA rs , aw SACRAMEN Wiemar Medical Center, which was the home of more than 900 Vietnamese refugees since May, stands empty today after a brief ceremony closed “Hope Village” on Friday. Only 30 refugees remained yesterday and they will be relocated in Glendale to await sponsorship by American families, according to Dr. Larry Ward, president of Food for the Hungry. “We close on a note of pure happiness. In fact, this whole venture has been an expirement in happiness and international understanding,” said during the closing ceremony. Ward said that Hope Village had accomplished what it set out to do in its allotted time. Friday marked the end of Food for the Hungry’s lease of the Wiemar facilities from the 15-county agency that controls it. He would be happy to start the project all over with a new group of refugees if the medical center were offered again by its new owners, Ward said. Wiemar has been put up for sale to the highest bidder on Dec. 18 by arrangement of the controlling counties. Edward Daly, president of World Airways, has an interest in buying the Placer county hospital for further use as a refugee center, Ward said Hope Village Director Jack E. Bailey, a retired Air Force Colonel, called the project a real success story. ‘‘As far as we know, none of our Hope Village graduates are on welfare. This is because we majored in job placement and in finding solid group sponsorships,” Bailey said. Privately funded, the total operation cost approximately $400,000, according to its sponsors. _ “We suspect this same type of effort would have cost the American government many times this figure,” Bailey said. Bailey thanked the local volunteer help the village received for the low cost and high quality of their achievement, he said. Over the past six Ward SAYING A FINAL FAREWELL to "Hope Village", the Vietnamese refugee relocation center at Wiemar Medical Center, on Friday were (from left) Dr. Larry Ward, president of Food for the Hungry Inc.; months Food for the Hungry received “remarkable cooperation” from some . people who were at first unreceptive to having the community in Placer county, Bailey said. In recognition of their help, Ward said, Food for the Hungry will offer a — $2,000 scholdarship each year to a Placer county student seeking a course of study that. will benefit the needy people of the world. — : who served in Vietnam as Chief of Engineers and later as cabinet minister for Refugee Resettlement, — also thanked the volunteers on behalf of the refugees who received job assistance, English training, and a 8 The Nevada County Nugget Wed, November 5, 1975 ‘arewell to Hope Jack Bailey, Director of Hope Village; Mrs. Nguyen Van Chue: Wendell Robie, a local supporter of the village; and Gen Nguyen Van Chuc, once the refugee coordinator at the camp and now operator of a service station in Loomis. : general orientation to American life. a Chuc now operates a gas station in Loomis and plans to write a book on the rise and fall of South Vietnam. JACK BAILEY CUONG-VU, born at Hope Village two months ago, was named after the camp's director, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Jack Bailey, who helped more than 1,800 Vietnamese escape Saigon in the closing days of the war. pat (Union Photos) TAKING HER LAST LESSON on the recreation room piano before Hope Village was deserted on Friday is Lai Thauh Thuy, one of 30 Viet refugees that remained at the camp that at one time hosted 900. Also pictured are Lai Thauh Vau and Mrs. Nguyet Minh. obtivovthes ¢ 7

5-16-75 * OAL. STATE LIBRARY 7 TION cal PERIODICALS SE CA rs , aw SACRAMEN Wiemar Medical Center, which was the home of more than 900 Vietnamese refugees since May, stands empty today after a brief ceremony closed “Hope Village” on Friday. Only 30 refugees remained yesterday and they will be relocated in Glendale to await sponsorship by American families, according to Dr. Larry Ward, president of Food for the Hungry. “We close on a note of pure happiness. In fact, this whole venture has been an expirement in happiness and international understanding,” said during the closing ceremony. Ward said that Hope Village had accomplished what it set out to do in its allotted time. Friday marked the end of Food for the Hungry’s lease of the Wiemar facilities from the 15-county agency that controls it. He would be happy to start the project all over with a new group of refugees if the medical center were offered again by its new owners, Ward said. Wiemar has been put up for sale to the highest bidder on Dec. 18 by arrangement of the controlling counties. Edward Daly, president of World Airways, has an interest in buying the Placer county hospital for further use as a refugee center, Ward said Hope Village Director Jack E. Bailey, a retired Air Force Colonel, called the project a real success story. ‘‘As far as we know, none of our Hope Village graduates are on welfare. This is because we majored in job placement and in finding solid group sponsorships,” Bailey said. Privately funded, the total operation cost approximately $400,000, according to its sponsors. _ “We suspect this same type of effort

would have cost the American government many times this figure,” Bailey said. Bailey thanked the local volunteer help the village received for the low cost and high quality of their achievement, he said. Over the past six Ward SAYING A FINAL FAREWELL to "Hope Village", the Vietnamese refugee relocation center at Wiemar Medical Center, on Friday were (from left) Dr. Larry Ward, president of Food for the Hungry Inc.; months Food for the Hungry received “remarkable cooperation” from some . people who were at first unreceptive to having the community in Placer county, Bailey said. In recognition of their help, Ward said, Food for the Hungry will offer a — $2,000 scholdarship each year to a Placer county student seeking a course of study that. will benefit the needy people of the world. — : who served in Vietnam as Chief of Engineers and later as cabinet minister for Refugee Resettlement, — also thanked the volunteers on behalf of the refugees who received job assistance, English training, and a 8 The Nevada County Nugget Wed, November 5, 1975 ‘arewell to Hope Jack Bailey, Director of Hope Village; Mrs. Nguyen Van Chue: Wendell Robie, a local supporter of the village; and Gen Nguyen Van Chuc, once the refugee coordinator at the camp and now operator of a service station in Loomis. : general orientation to American life. a Chuc now operates a gas station in Loomis and plans to write a book on the rise and fall of South Vietnam. JACK BAILEY CUONG-VU, born at Hope Village two months ago, was named after the camp's director, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Jack Bailey, who helped more than 1,800 Vietnamese escape Saigon in the closing days of the war. pat (Union Photos) TAKING HER LAST LESSON on the recreation room piano before Hope Village was deserted on Friday is Lai Thauh Thuy, one of 30 Viet refugees that remained at the camp that at one time hosted 900. Also pictured are Lai Thauh Vau and Mrs. Nguyet Minh. obtivovthes ¢ 7