VHM_0008

Military compass encased in a heavy metal spheric case measuring 7" in height, 6.6" in width, and weighing 5 lbs. The compass belonged to Ngô Văn Thu, a former Major of the 2nd Infantry Division, who had been interned in a "re-education" camp from 1975 to 1984. After a failed escape attempt in 1986, he was able to flee Vietnam in 1989 on a boat with 149 other passengers, using his compass to sail over 500 miles to Malaysia. Upon arriving at the Pulau Bidong refugee camp, he buried his compass to safeguard it from confiscation. From 1990-1993, he served as the refugee camp director. Years later, with the help of a priest, he was able to recover the compass and have it secretly sent to the US.