Hoping we do what we can for Ukrainians

It is interesting how history repeats itself as we begin the process of accepting refugees from Ukraine, just as we did in 1975 when we as a country answered the call to provide food, shelter, medical help and a road to freedom for up to 50,000 Southeast Asian refugees over the summer of 1975.

I was a long-haired surfer who found out that an “English facilitator” could make $5 an hour, which was three times the then-minimum wage to teach English (with a facilitator) for four hours per night to the many scared, brutalized and abandoned refugees huddled together in many military tents throughout Camp Pendleton. The classes were held in a large tent, which held about 100 “students” and was packed every night, which was a testament to these peoples’ desire to “become American.”

I hope we, as a people, continue to offer everything we have to this new wave of war-torn refugees from Ukraine, just as we did in 1975. We are good enough to do that.

Gary Urtiaga Pt. Loma