Uncommon Cargo: Sacrifice. Survival. Hope.

by Jason Nulton, Eva Nguyen Whitfield

In April 1975, Saigon was a dangerous place. American forces had left Vietnam two years prior, and the northern and southern governments were functioning as two independent countries following the Paris Peace Accords of 1973. But peace wouldn't last. By the early months of 1975, northern communist forces had begun making their way violently southward to depose the American-backed South Vietnamese government and "unify" the country.

Knowing his family could face imprisonment or execution if they stayed, Chau Tan Nguyen, a 40-year old lieutenant colonel and C-130 pilot in the South Vietnamese Air Force, hatched a daring plan to save his family - his wife, Mai, their 3-year-old daughter Truc, 18-month-old son Trung, Mai's parents, Hong and Dat, and Mai's three younger brothers, Son, Dzung, and Tuan.

Uncommon Cargo is based on the true story of the Nguyen family's harrowing race against time to escape South Vietnam and reach freedom. It would not be without heartache, tragedy, and despair, but it is also a story of love, strength of family, and raw determination.

Much has been written about the American war experience in Vietnam, but precious little chronicles the lives of the Vietnamese families who survived it. Uncommon Cargo is the incredible story of one that did.

436 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 12, 2024

About the author

Jason Nulton is a retired Lieutenant Colonel and logistics officer who served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. During his career, he completed nine active duty assignments, held numerous leadership positions (including as commander of two large units), and completed tours of duty on four continents. He served in deployed locations in the Balkans, Africa, the Persian Gulf, Levant, and Afghanistan, and retired in July 2015 from the Pentagon. After retirement, Jason brought his experience to the classroom, teaching management, business ethics, and leadership to undergraduates. He also teaches Leadership and Command to mid-level military officers as part of the Air Force’s online Professional Military Education (PME), program and has served as a facilitator for Marshall University’s “Testament” student veteran program. His collaboration, “To War with the Fourth,” a documentary book chronicling the 4th Infantry Division’s history from World War I to the Global War on Terror, was a finalist for the 2016 Army Historical Society Distinguished Writing Award.

Reviews

[Sally Campion · Rating 5 out of 5]

When your good friend and neighbor gives you a book and says , I think you should read this, my son wrote it, you immediately think , uh-oh…..Am I going to have to be truthful about liking this book?

Honor, Duty, Country….. Jason Nulton’s words take you right into the heat of the moment in this beautifully written book . I literally could not put the book down and was in tears reading the final pages. This read pulls every emotion from you.

I felt the disbelief of the people of Saigon ; were they actually going to be taken over by the North Vietnamese? I felt the pain of being captured and tortured . I felt the horror of knowing one of your children has been captured as well . I felt the fear among the terrified people on the streets of Saigon. I felt claustrophobic and anxious with those clamoring to get out of Saigon, and of being crowded into a small space while fighting the frustration of why you are unable to leave.
I felt the brotherly commitment to those you serve with in a military operation and your devotion to those who were with you.


The suspense grabs you immediately and keeps right on going page after page. The fact that this is a story of actual people and a real family, makes it all the more compelling.
Many of us cannot begin to imagine the gut wrenching fear that a country at war can bring nor the efforts and decisions that have to be made in order to leave.
This book really delivers…..thank you!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping story from the first chapter to the end. Very realistic telling of the escape from S. Vietnam in the final days. Co-author Eva Nguyen painstakingly collected family stories from surviving relatives to document an escape plan via a damaged but flyable cargo plane in April 1975 as the city was under attack. Will read it again, as I flew through it the first time!

[Jamie Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most gripping books I've read in a long time! It was so hard for me to put it down because I just HAD to know what would happen to the Nguyen family next. This is a well-written book that left me thinking about it long after I finished reading it!

[Charlie Petters · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was great and here is the review I wrote on Amazon. "If you want to read one book about the Vietnam War, then “Uncommon Cargo” is the book to read. “Uncommon Cargo” (by Jason Nulton & Eva Nguyen Whitfield) is interesting, and captivating, and accurate. Every page in this book is necessary to tell truth about the American War in Vietnam. It was very interesting to find out about the about the “blundering bureaucracy,” that put power and policy above human life. The authors did a great job of keeping each and every page interesting; it was a page turner. “Uncommon Cargo” did bring out how some were willing to sacrifice their careers to save human lives. The authors also highlight pain and suffering that accompanied the American War in Vietnam, but that is also true of all wars. I am very happy that most of the Nguyen family made it out alive, and Eva was able to bring her story to life in “Uncommon Cargo.” I am now following both authors because when they write more books, I want to be at the head of the line to purchase them. I salute both of them for the extraordinary job they did in bring to life a story that should have been told decades ago. Their historical fiction is not fiction at all. Bau, a former workmate of mine, his parents came from Vietnam, once told me “you guys have done more damage than you can ever imagine.” Now, after having read “Uncommon Cargo” I thoroughly understand what he meant by that comment. I highly recommend reading this book to learn about what true suffering during war time is!" Great book. I look forward to reading Eva's story about growing up in the USA as a refugee. That story also needs to be told. I hope she does!

[Mary Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book, and a very inarticulate "WOW" is the first word that comes to mind. In full discclosure I know Eva Whitfield and knew a basic version of her story, but even armed with the knowledge that Eva is alive and well and thriving in this country, I was a nervous wreck reading this hour by hour depiction of the evacuation of Saigon in April 1975. And, reading about the anguish of her happily established extended family making the brutal decision on whether they should stay or flee from their home that they so proudly built was heart wrenching.

I think everyone should read this book at the very least to ground ourselves in how lucky we are. I will be sharing this book with every reader I know.

[Eddie Bae · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way this book is written and articulated is absolutely spectacular. While I was reading it, it was just like I was watching a movie! I was surprised by how engulfed I was by the story. The descriptions of the premise, the characters, and the setting, they are all narrated in a way for the reader to comprehend the situation exactly, feeling all of the feelings, without any of the jargon or circumlocution.
I highly recommend it to those who want to gain a higher perspective of this world, or even to those who are just seeking for a good read (pun not intended).

[Jeff Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding! Gripping! Heart-wrenching! So well done and an easy read. Puts you in the moments better than any documentary could ever do. The problems I face everyday just don't seem like real problems after seeing the struggles that others have overcome!

[Stephen Stewart]

I have served at Danang, Saigon and Hue. Book was exceptional accurate factually, and an exceptional read!

[John David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book - couldn't put it down - plus historically accurate. Ranks up there with the best books I've ever read.