Hao Truong (l) and his son Samart Khunkhaw (r) reunite at the Rochester Airport after being apart for 30 years.

Father never doubted his son was still alive, pirates raved about baby's cuteness

Thirty four years after he was thrown overboard and left for dead by pirates, a Vietnamese refugee was reunited with his long lost son who was taken from him as an infant in that horrific attack.

Hao Truong met his now 34-year-old son, Samart Khumkhaw -- originally named Kham Truong -- in an emotional reunion at Rochester Airport Monday evening.

The pair had been separated since December 1977 attack on a boat transporting Vietnam war refugees to Thailand that left Truong's wife dead, the Associated Press reported. But Truong says he managed to stay afloat for 16 hours before being discovered by a fishing boat.

Relatives said he never doubted his son was still alive, since the pirates apparently raved about the 7-month-old baby's cuteness.

"That's why he never think for a moment that anybody would kill this little baby," his sister, Hong Truong, told the news wire service.

But Truong, unsure how to track down his missing son, settled in the United States in 1978, eventually moved to Rochester and became a machinist, remarried and started a new family in four. The 54-year-old returned to Thailand this summer, however, after discovering a tip on his son's location.

"Today's reunion was a long time coming, and it's the perfect way to celebrate Thanksgiving," said U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, whose office helped secure a visitor's visa for Khumkhaw in time for the holiday.

By Ethan Sacks / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS