Do you think the United States is in the crapper? The country was on the verge of default, Social Security and Medicare may be down the tubes, joblessness is rampant, our politicians seem inept at solving anything, in short, the “American Dream” is becoming a nightmare.
Well, there’s one person who will vehemently disagree. His name is Ted Schwarm. It used to be Sai Le. Sai Le was a Vietnamese refugee, who, as a teenage boy, escaped from Vietnam after the war, made his way to the United States, and wound up in Burlington, Iowa. He learned the language, went to school, became a doctor, got married, had children, and is now an ER doctor in Northeast Iowa. He will be the first to tell you, that in America you can do anything you want to do and become anything you want to be if you work hard, stay focused, persevere and never give up.
To say life wasn’t easy for Sia Le is an outrageous understatement. His father, and many of his uncles and cousins were killed fighting for the South Vietnamese Army alongside American troops. When the United States pulled out of the war, retaliation from the Communists was swift and cruel. Some of Le’s mother’s land was taken by the Communists. They could not move freely from village to village without permission. Radios were forbidden.
When Sai Le was young, he witnessed his brother die of food poisoning from eating bad rice. Others died of simple diseases. Sai Le wished that he could help these people.
While illegally listening to a radio broadcast late at night, deep in the jungle, the dream developed that he would like to make his way to the United States and become a doctor—a dream of almost impossible obstacles. Almost.
After his escape from Vietnam, Sai Le spent 13 months in Malaysia until a sponsor was found to bring him to the United States. At 16 years old, he found himself in Burlington, Iowa. It was his Burlington language teacher who told him that, in America, he could become anything he wanted to be. Sai Le believed her.
It was also in Burlington where Sai Le met Dave Schwarm, an American boy of his own age, and Dave Schwarm’s parents, Carrol and Joanne Schwarm. Sai Le was often at the Schwarm’s house, having meals, and spending the night. When Carrol Schwarm would work around the house, Sai Le would offer to help. He wanted to learn everything he could, and was willing to work. When Carrol Schwarm sided the house, Sai Le jumped in and lent a hand.
It was because of this friendship with the Schwarms that, when Sai Le became a U.S. Citizen, he changed his name to Ted Schwarm.
School was extremely difficult for the young Vietnamese refugee. Because of the language barrier, he would often have to look up every third word, even in medical school. As you can imagine, finances were also difficult. But Ted Schwarm would do anything to support himself and his family. (He met and married a woman at the University of Iowa and now has two children.) Ted Schwarm flipped burgers, and worked at casinos and refineries, anything to bring in the money that was needed to keep him on track toward his medical degree.
Dr. Ted Schwarm is currently visiting his mother and family in Vietnam. However, Carrol and Joanne Schwarm confirm that if Ted Schwarm was asked, “Is the American dream still alive?” he would respond without hesitation, “Absolutely. Work hard, stay focused and never give up. In America, you can do anything you want to do.”
Have a good story? Call Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526 or email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com