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A Thousand Tears Falling: The True Story of a Vietnamese Family Torn Apart by War, Communism, and the CIA
The author discusses how her father's Communist sympathies divided their family and how she agreed to act as a spy for the CIA in return for her family's safety
412 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1955
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 6, 2011
This is an excellent, honest book about the life of an ex-spy Vietnamese American woman who grew up in a somewhat-Communistic household. The author highlights the strength of the Vietnamese people as well as the emphasis on family, family values and loyalty. Besides politics, the book also discusses the dilemma of having to choose between a Communistic and a Loyalist stand in the war, the manipulative techniques both sides used to win support, and the sacrifices the general people have to make overall.
May 30, 2025
Read the book a find out why many Vietnamese hate being dominated by foreign powers and hate communism.
Two days ago, started the Memorial Day Weekend. I was going to relax and watch movies and documentaries all weekend long. However, I decided to pull a book off my shelf titled “A Thousand Tears Falling,” by Yung Krall. I was just going to read the first chapter and then pick up my reading after the weekend was over. My mistake was not knowing what a wonderful writer Mrs. Krall is. After I finished the first chapter my TV was never turned on and I finished reading her marvelously written book. She told her story of her life in Vietnam from just after WWII and the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975, and her life in the United States beyond the Fall of Saigon.
This is one book one can read about the French War in Vietnam and the American War in Vietnam and understand why the Vietnamese didn’t like being rule (or ruined) by other countries. They just wanted their own country to be theirs and not a puppet of someone else.
The one thing that stands out about “A Thousand Tears Falling” is Mrs. Krall doesn’t hide anything, from emotions to facts, from the readers. The when you get to the end of the book it is disgusting how the CIA tried their hardest to keep this book from going to print. I am glad she kept up the fight and she was able to finally publish her book. The funny thing about this book is you can google “David Truong,” “Ronald Humphrey,” “Operation Magic Dragon,” the “Phoenix Program,” and everything else that is cited in the book and learn all the things the CIA wanted to keep a secret.
I highly recommend this book for those that want to learn more about why many Vietnamese hate Communism and why we in this country should never let Communism rear its ugly head here. This is a very powerfully written book by an author that stands by their convictions and is not afraid to speak up and out about them.
Two days ago, started the Memorial Day Weekend. I was going to relax and watch movies and documentaries all weekend long. However, I decided to pull a book off my shelf titled “A Thousand Tears Falling,” by Yung Krall. I was just going to read the first chapter and then pick up my reading after the weekend was over. My mistake was not knowing what a wonderful writer Mrs. Krall is. After I finished the first chapter my TV was never turned on and I finished reading her marvelously written book. She told her story of her life in Vietnam from just after WWII and the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975, and her life in the United States beyond the Fall of Saigon.
This is one book one can read about the French War in Vietnam and the American War in Vietnam and understand why the Vietnamese didn’t like being rule (or ruined) by other countries. They just wanted their own country to be theirs and not a puppet of someone else.
The one thing that stands out about “A Thousand Tears Falling” is Mrs. Krall doesn’t hide anything, from emotions to facts, from the readers. The when you get to the end of the book it is disgusting how the CIA tried their hardest to keep this book from going to print. I am glad she kept up the fight and she was able to finally publish her book. The funny thing about this book is you can google “David Truong,” “Ronald Humphrey,” “Operation Magic Dragon,” the “Phoenix Program,” and everything else that is cited in the book and learn all the things the CIA wanted to keep a secret.
I highly recommend this book for those that want to learn more about why many Vietnamese hate Communism and why we in this country should never let Communism rear its ugly head here. This is a very powerfully written book by an author that stands by their convictions and is not afraid to speak up and out about them.
April 14, 2025
Another Important Piece of the Vietnam War
The story of a father and daughter, at two different ends of the political spectrum believing in what they fought for, yet loving each other over too many missed years.
I served in the same unit as Yung's husband in the early to mid seventies. Though John Krall had been reassigned, our unit returned to the Philippines shortly after the fall of Sai Gon, and immediately became active in Operation Frequent Wind, the rescue of Vietnamese refugees that chose to brave the South China Sea to escape the NVA and Viet Cong conquest of the south.
Young was brave and dedicated, and not afraid to go where the evidence took her. Like Operation Overflight and the truth of Gary Powers U2 incident, it is good to see the people that had to live among the shadows and lies to protect our nation.
Final thought, they could make a whole movie about John's rescue of Yung's family. Excellently written high-tension thriller.
Negative comment: needs more editing!
The story of a father and daughter, at two different ends of the political spectrum believing in what they fought for, yet loving each other over too many missed years.
I served in the same unit as Yung's husband in the early to mid seventies. Though John Krall had been reassigned, our unit returned to the Philippines shortly after the fall of Sai Gon, and immediately became active in Operation Frequent Wind, the rescue of Vietnamese refugees that chose to brave the South China Sea to escape the NVA and Viet Cong conquest of the south.
Young was brave and dedicated, and not afraid to go where the evidence took her. Like Operation Overflight and the truth of Gary Powers U2 incident, it is good to see the people that had to live among the shadows and lies to protect our nation.
Final thought, they could make a whole movie about John's rescue of Yung's family. Excellently written high-tension thriller.
Negative comment: needs more editing!
July 5, 2014
Yung Krall is a admirable woman
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews