Anh Vinh broke down the door of Ong Nuoi’s bedroom last week after Ong Nuoi had locked himself inside. The family had not seen Ong Nuoi for a few days and his dogs were howling from inside the room. When Anh Vinh broke through, he saw Ong Nuoi laying face down on the floor barely breathing. They took him to the hospital but decided it would be better if he spent his remaining days at home where he could die in peace.
On Tuesday, January 26, 2010, Ong Nuoi died in his 10 foot by 8 foot, one-window room. At that same moment, his family says one of his dogs vomited blood and also died.
Cleaners came and gutted out his room and in the Buddhist tradition burned most of his belongings. I arrived Wednesday evening in the mountain town of Da Lat, about six hours north of Saigon where his funeral was already in progress.
The bright orange robes of the Buddhist monks where muted by the somber tone of the event. Incense filled the backyard and wafted into Ong Nuoi’s room where he had lived since 1953.
Almost one year ago I stood in his room pushing my back against the wall as hard as I could in order to get wide enough to make a portrait of him. A single incandescent bulb hung from the ceiling casting a hard shadow light on Ong Nuoi dressed in U.S. Army fatigues. Today, that soft, warm bulb is replaced by a brighter, colder fluorescent bulb. Ong Nuoi lays in his coffin covered by a yellow, flower design material. Seven red candles gently burn atop.
His room is smaller than I remember. The cold concrete walls are frightening and uninviting to look at. I run my fingers along the sides paying close attention to each corner. Remnants of his being are almost gone now. A few remaining pictures of airplanes and cars cut out of magazines are still glued to the cold stone mixture.
Then I see English words written in capital letters. “I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN”. Some of his family members say he only knew how to write his name, but I’d like to think that he may have been under estimated and that he wrote this phrase.
Friends and family board a bus and follow the funeral trucks to the cemetery. People on motor bikes speed up to the passenger’s side of the truck and offer their hand in condolences to family members while in motion. From the back of the truck white and yellow paper stamped with Chinese coins are tossed onto the streets. They float erratically as the wind rushes between the vehicles.
He loved all things American. So much that I was asked to carry his ashes from the cemetery to the Buddhist temple where he was placed next to his adopted father in a glass case. We prayed, burned incense and returned home.
It’s night now. Everything is dark. Ong Nuoi’s room is without a door and window. Just an empty cave. His two dogs lay outside staring in. Waiting.
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Jeremy M. Lange
January 28th, 2010, 10:42 am #
Beautiful photos and words Kevin.It is rare that we are important enough to the people that we photograph that we are personally included in one of the most meaningful moments of their lives, or the end of that life. The writing here speaks to that, glad you were there and cared enough to return.
Mónica Quesada
January 28th, 2010, 6:17 pm #
Thank you Kevin… you touched my heart… you have that quality… I am glad to know that you had the chance to say good bye… that is always important!
Chi K Luu
January 28th, 2010, 10:30 pm #
Kevin, thank you for being there with Đoan and the family. You had a chance to wrap up with Ông Nuôi.Your pictures speak volume.Your story was beautiful as it was written from your heart.I was crying as it touched mine. We have no idea that Ông Nuôi was waiting for his pictures. I sincerely hope that he can freely see them now.Đoan and Kevin, excellent job done!
Ronnie
January 29th, 2010, 12:22 am #
Thanks so much for sharing. I remember your original post about Ong Nuoi and I’m glad also, as Jeremy mentions, that you cared enough to return. Beautiful images and writing to go along with it, I will think about this all night.
Kevin German
January 29th, 2010, 1:25 am #
Chi K Luu – Bắc gái, cảm ơn bắc tin nhắn. Đó là niềm vui của chúng con để được có đại diện cho Bắc gái và Bắc trai. Con xin lỗi về cái chết của người anh trai của Bắc trai.
Jeremy, Mónica and Ronnie – Thank you for reading. I think Ong Nuoi would be happy to know that people are thinking about him outside of Vietnam.
Scott
January 29th, 2010, 2:39 am #
Nice Kevin, nice.
Scott
January 29th, 2010, 2:39 am #
Nice Kevin, nice. Haunting.
bawgaj
January 29th, 2010, 7:44 am #
superb, strong reportage !!!
bliss
January 29th, 2010, 10:22 am #
Thank you for sharing these touching moments at Ong Nuoi’s funeral. I also read your previous blog about him. Your picture and writing are so vivid and tender. They made me cry but also very curious about Ong Nuoi’s life and just Ong Nuoi himself.
Mark Johnston
February 2nd, 2010, 11:19 am #
Thanks for sharing Kevin.
Thuy-Doan
March 26th, 2010, 8:48 am #
I read this blog over and over again and it still makes my eyes tear up. Thank you for being there.