Chung Ba Sang
Chú Sang is the chairman of the Chùa Bồ Đề Buddhist Temple, the first Buddhist temple to be established in New Orleans. He emphasizes the importance of the temple belonging to the people and runs everything from financing the temple to physically building it. He served in the South Vietnamese army as a helicopter pilot for 7 years before evacuating to the U.S. Chú Sang has lived in New Orleans for around 50 years and is a pillar of the Buddhist community.
Chùa Bồ Đề is located in the West Bank, near the Algiers neighborhood.
Interviewer: What do you do as chairman?
Chú Sang: Everything. Everything has to pass through me. But, I am a good leader. I am easy. If you can do it, do it. If you can’t do it, let me know. You need the money, I will give you the money. I especially do not like to work like an American chairman. Every month, whatever money is left I give to the people.
Interviewer: You run the finances of the temple?
Chú Sang: Everything! No one’s sacrifices look like mine. When I became a pilot I flew 7 days on and 7 days off. Over here, some people cannot survive going to work 7 days a week. But I can do it, it’s what I am used to. It is the only way to control everything. And it is very hard for me. But the god blessed me that I can handle the money.
Interviewer: Do you use your own money to help at the temple?
Chú Sang: Yes, if you are the president you have to! If you do not pay, the electrical will be cut off, and the water cut off, what can you do?
Interviewer: I don’t know.
Chú Sang: Yes, that’s the point. You have to sacrifice.
Interviewer: Do you work with other Buddhist temples in the area?
Chú Sang: No!
Interviewer: Why is that?
Chú Sang: Because people will not work with us. People like to be in charge of their own temple. But, this is the original temple. We had a fight over here because a monk wanted to take control of the temple. But, this temple belongs to the people, not to the monk. This temple belongs to no one, it does not even belong to me. It belongs to you if you come to the temple and become a member!
Interviewer: What were the connections that brought you to New Orleans East? What year did you arrive?
Chú Sang: After the Vietnamese regime lost, I came over here in 1975 on April 30th. We left Vietnam on April 29th by chopper. At that time, I was a helicopter pilot. I took my chopper to an American Navy ship, and two days later, I went to the Philippines. I stayed in the Philippines for one day, then I was in Guam for 16 hours, and then finally, we flew into the United States on May 5th. We checked in on the refugee camp and I stayed at the camp until July 20th… my sponsor was in Del Rio Texas; I was there for 3 months. But, the town was small, and at that time I was homesick. I was depressed but there was one lady, the wife of a general in the special force who I met in the refugee camp and I worked with. She sent me a $500 check and I bought a car–a Chevrolet Vega. The car was made in 1972, it was brand new and I bought it for $400!
Interviewer: How old were you?
Chú Sang: I was 27.
Interviewer: Was it just you?
Chú Sang: No, my wife and I. I married her on April 1st in Vietnam. At that time, the war was really hot. I was supposed to stay with my wife, but we were only married for 7 days before I left because my squad did not have a pilot, so I had to come and fly.
Interviewer: You were in the South Vietnamese Army?
Chú Sang: Yes, South Vietnamese Air Force.
Interviewer: How long did you serve?
Chú Sang: 7 years. I enlisted when I was 19 and a half. I joined the Air Force and passed the English exam. They transferred me to Savannah, Georgia Force Base. After four months, I learned some English and then I went to Texas for the primary helicopter pilot training.
The above photos, while not the same helicopters as the one Chú Sang flew, are similar.
Beginning in 1982, the Vietnamese Buddhist community in the West Bank began to meet in a neighbor's garage every Sunday for prayer. However, neighbors complained, forcing the community to find an alternative location. It took two years of raising funds, but community members were eventually able to purchase small pieces of the land Chùa Bồ Đề currently sits on. Over time, the community was able to slowly buy more and more pieces of land. The building we conducted the interview in was completed three months before Hurricane Katrina by Chu Sang. The building survived Katrina, and families even sheltered in the temple after the hurricane.
Chú Sang built most of the temple himself. Pictured right is his signature on the parking lot pavement which he put in himself.
“Do you know who built this? Right here, my hands. My hands! Everywhere!”
Timeline
1968
Chú Sang enlists in the South Vietnamese Army. He is 19 ½ when he joins the Air Force and passes the English exam. Chú Sang is transferred to the Savannah Georgia Air Force Base.
1970
Chú Sang travels to Texas for primary helicopter pilot training.
1971-1975
Chú Sang returns to Vietnam after completing his airforce training and serves in the Air Force until the end of the Vietnam War.
April 30, 1975
Chú Sang leaves Vietnam by helicopter after the Vietnamese Regime loses. He flies his chopper to an American Navy ship, and two days later, goes to the Philippines where he stays for one day, before traveling to Guam. His helicopter carried himself, his wife, and four generals.
May 5, 1975
Chú Sang and his wife arrive in the United States. They stay in a refugee camp awaiting sponsorship.
July 20, 1975
Chú Sang and his wife receive sponsorship in Del Rio Texas, where they stay for 3 months. A wife of a general in the special force sends Chú Sang a $500 check which he uses to buy a car that he drives to Orlando with his family. He is hired at Disney World as an oyster shucker.
1982
Chú Sang and the Buddhist community organized establishing the temple. It takes two years to save enough money to begin buying the land.
1989
Chú Sang is elected Chairman of the temple.
May 2005
The outdoor pavilion of the temple is finished. The building survives Katrina and shelters people during the hurricane.
“We have worship every Sunday and around 150 people show up. We also have lunch for whoever wants to eat. We have been hosting the free lunch for almost 20 years. If I have $99, I want to spend $99 for the people. And then, the people will spend my money, someday they might come back and give back to the temple.”
— Chú Sang
