Refugee leaders and their families listen as Gov. Evans welcomes them to Washington in 1975. (Photos courtesy of Washington State Archives)

The second Archives Treasure for May marks a special anniversary for Dan Evans, Ralph Munro and thousands of Washingtonians who endured a long, difficult journey to reach our state four decades ago.

As the Vietnam War ended with the fall of Saigon in April 1975, about 130,000 South Vietnamese fled their homeland and soon made their way to the U.S. Many Vietnamese refugees arrived at Camp Pendleton in southern California, where they waited, not knowing their fate.

Ralph Munro at the refugee camp at Camp Pendleton in 1975.

Enter Evans and Munro. Evans, Washington’s governor at the time, sent Munro to Pendleton to let authorities there know that refugees were welcome to come to Washington state.

After being at the camp a few days, Munro wrote a four-page memo to Evans to apprise the governor of the situation. Munro’s letter noted that “We are the first state to become involved in the refugee program and the only state that has stepped forward with a willingness to help.” The memo later reveals how the refugees were doing:

“The refugees are eating all the time. Most of them arrived there hungry and most are becoming acclimated to the area. They are settle back down to a three-meals-a-day type system, but nevertheless at all times there are lines to get into the mess halls.

“Soccer and frisbee seem to be the most popular recreational activity in the camp. There seems to be quite a need for warm clothing and even though the temperatures yesterday were in the 80’s a lot of people were traveling around in their heavy marine pea coats that have been issued to each of the individual refugees. We often forget that the temperatures in Saigon run into the 80’s, 90’s and 100’s and when it is 70 degrees it is quite cold in Vietnam. People here are damn cold and I am afraid that will be a major problem when they resettle in the Pacific Northwest.”

A view of many of the tents erected at Camp Pendleton to house the refugees.

Soon afterward, many of the refugees made their way to Washington to begin new chapters in their lives.

The 40th anniversary of the refugees’ arrival in Washington sparked several recent stories.

Munro’s memo to Evans is part of the second Treasure, along with several photos of the refugee camp, which included thousands of tents. Other photos show Evans welcoming refugee leaders when they arrived at Camp Murray.

Gov. Evans talks with some refugee leaders after their arrival at Camp Murray in 1975. The bearded guy just to the left of Evans is then-AP reporter David Ammons, now the OSOS communications director.