Episcopal Chaplain Brings War Orphans to US
Diocesan Press Service. February 28, 1974 [74060]
CARSWELL AFB, Tex. -- Just four months ago he was a war orphan in Vietnam and now 21 month old Christopher Andrew Kilgore is a healthy young baby living in Irving, Tex., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey H. Kilgore.
Jeff and Jan Kilgore adopted Christopher after corresponding with a Vietnamese lawyer for 13 months. They had one major problem to face and that was getting the baby into the country. So, they went to see Mrs. Jackie Davis, a secretary to Bishop A. Donald Davies of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. Mrs. Davis, a personal friend of the Kilgore's, said she would mention their case to an Air Force chaplain who could possibly help.
One afternoon Chaplain (Captain) Andrew J. Tibus, the Episcopalian minister at Carswell AFB, was paying a courtesy visit to the Bishop when Mrs. Davis confronted him with the Kilgore's case. After talking with them, Chaplain Tibus decided to take the responsibility of bringing the child back to the United States for them. "I was motivated by their sincerity and intense interest," the chaplain explained.
The Kilgores became interested in a Vietnamese orphan when they heard of seven orphans arriving in the U.S. at Offutt AFB, Neb., in 1970. "We were visiting grandparents in Omaha when they arrived and on our way back to Texas we thought a lot about it, " Jeff reminisced. "Before we were five hours out of Omaha we decided to try and adopt an orphan," he concluded.
The chaplain proceeded with his project in September 1973 after conferring with Carswell officials who supported the base by advising Chaplain Tibus on the responsibilities involved in such a trip. After getting shots, passport and visa, and altitude chamber training, the chaplain was finally given the go-ahead. He left for Saigon Oct. 9, 1973. One of the many coincidences that happened on the excursion took place on the flight from Guam to Thailand. Chaplain Tibus met an Army chaplain who also was going to Saigon. Chaplain (Colonel) William J. Higgins of Ft. Knox, Ky., was going to Saigon to visit the orphanages there and study them.
It was after the chaplain got Christopher cleared and ready to go that he ran into a problem. The Vietnamese lawyer working with adoption cases, Mr. Do Ngoc Phy, had 50 such cases on his hands. Mr. Phu told Chaplain Tibus of an attempt by Mr. and Mrs. William S. Kent of Jacksonville, Fla., to adopt a baby girl.
The chaplain added the girl to his project and again went through the paper work to get her cleared from the country.
Another minor problem popped up and that was a medical examination to clear the babies for travel. Chaplain Tibus couldn't find a doctor to examine them until Dr. Sinclair of the Adventist Hospital cooperated. He gave the children a thorough examination and cleared them to travel.
The chaplain was all set to go until another complication arose. He needed an airline ticket for the Kent baby. Chaplain Tibus and Christopher had previously been provided for. Chaplain Higgins came to the rescue as an old friend of the airline ticket manager which prompted him to arrange a ticket for the Kent baby. The chaplain got the ticket and they were on their way back to the U.S. and a new life for the adopted orphans.
The airlines cabled ahead to Jacksonville notifying the Kents that Chaplain Tibus would arrive in Ft. Worth, Tex., Oct. 19, with their daughter.
Amid tears of happiness and hugs all around, Christopher met his new parents upon landing at Love Field in Dallas. " I was so relieved because he was finally here, " Jeff said remembering the moment when he saw Chaplain Tibus get off the airplane with Chris. The Kents arrived the following day greeting their daughter with all the happiness parents could possibly show.
Christopher was surprisingly healthy when he arrived so his doctor changed his appointments from once a month to once every three months for his examinations.
Ngo Phouc Van, which means Dark Raincloud, is Christopher's Vietnamese name. "We had originally planned to name him Kelly, " Jeff explained, "but when we got a picture of him from Mr. Phu, we sat up late one night with a dictionary trying to find a name that would fit him. "
The Kents christened their baby Lee Charlotte Kent. Her Vietnamese name is Le Thi Hong Mai, which means First Flower of the New Year. The Kents had previously given up any hope of getting the girl but with Chaplain Tibus' help they now have the daughter they've waited so long for.
There are an estimated 300, 000 Vietnamese orphans left parentless by the war. Now, because of two American families who cared and one concerned individual who wanted to help, the total has decreased by two.