The Nguyen Family

Thang Nguyen (pronounced "win") came to the U.S. in search of the American dream. Thang was in the Vietnamese Air Force and fought alongside the U.S. during the Vietnam War. Afterwards, he was able to move to the U.S. with his family and took a job with General Mills in Joplin. He was on the verge of retirement when the May 22nd tornado took away his dream. That Sunday night, Thang had a craving for seafood. Though his wife, Tiffany, had already prepared dinner, Thang convinced her to go out to eat at a local seafood restaurant. It was lucky for them that she gave in. The tornado missed the restaurant but tore apart their home. Had they stayed in that night they may not have survived. The Nguyens had been living with Tiffany¿s daughter Sara, and their granddaughter Alex. The Nguyens received help from a local church and are living in an apartment funded by insurance. However, the lease will be up in December, and Thang and Tiffany will be left with no place to live.