Most people would say that 17 should classify you as a child, but the events I witnessed made me a man. My entire life has been about war. When I was born, it was two years into the Vietnam War. Yesterday was the fall of Saigon where I fled for my life, and right now I am stranded in the middle of the ocean with no home to go to. Right now our plan is to go to the United States, but I am frightened by the idea that I will not be accepted. My name Hung means courageous or heroic. I find it ironic because I am stranded, scared, and there is nothing I can do. This is the first day where I haven’t heard gunshots and explosions but I do not feel any safer. My father died right in front of me and my mom and I were separated at the different ships. A man said she was going to England. I wanted to go with her but instead, I am forced to go to America. I am starving and hot and tired and don’t know how much longer I can do this.