Based on a True Story In the fall of 1975, they took everything from us. In the summer of 1978, we planned our escape to freedom. A month later, we took a leap of faith and found the light shining at the end of the tunnel. This is a story of anguish and suffering. The government has taken the concept of the country they loved and crushed it-taking everything they owned along with it. What seemed like their only chance of survival was a boat. A boat that would take them away from Vietnam and the War, but they would have never imagined to be stranded on it, pleading for any chance of survival. When freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. When small victories occurs, an unfortunate event occurs. When they think they have hope, it is crushed with tribulations and misfortune.