Thomas Yi
Interviewee: Thomas Yi
Interviewer: Bryce Leos
Interview Synopsis
This interview is with Thomas Yi, a 51-year-old Korean-Vietnamese-American who was born in Saigon, Vietnam, and raised in Los Angeles, California. In the interview, we talked about his occupation in law enforcement, his family history, and his identity as an American immigrant. We talk about the intriguing dynamic between and the influence of his parents on creating the man he is today.
Furthermore, a deep dive into the meaning of promises and family pride is dissected to understand the decisions made in the Yi family’s history. This interview covers topics such as the unconventional meeting of his parents in the Vietnam War, tough career decisions in Law Enforcement, immigration to America, life in Koreatown, and a generational promise of love. I connected with Mr. Yi as he and my father worked security together, which is how we were introduced. The interview was conducted via Zoom due to the distance between Los Angeles, California, and Waterville, Maine. The interview was conducted by Bryce Leos, a third-year History major at Colby College who is interested in understanding Korean culture in the United States and the expansion of knowledge through the usage of oral history.
Biography
Thomas Yi, a Korean-Vietnamese-American who resides in Los Angeles, California, is an airport police officer for the city of Los Angeles. He was born during the Vietnam War as a “war baby” to a father in the Korean Korean military and a Vietnamese mother, and moved to the United States with his family at the young age of two-years-old. Keeping lifelong promises to his family, as an adult he became an officer of the law in his large hometown of Los Angeles. In this interview, you will learn the true pride of an immigrant, the effects of the Vietnam War from the perspectives of Korean soldiers and Vietnamese civilians, and the appreciation of family sacrifices for the goals of a better future.