Thursday, October 17, 2019

Admiral Huan Nguyen's Historical Day

Via Mary Nguyen "Rear Admiral Huan Nguyen is surviving son of Colonel Tuan Nguyen whose family was murdered during Tet 1968. His family's murderer was later executed by General Loan Nguyen. This incident was captured by Pulitzer prize winning photographer Eddie Adam (Source: littlesaigoninside.blogspot.com)


Today,  Huan Nguyen, age 60, became the first Vietnamese-born  US Navy Rear Admiral.  He is the fourth Vietnamese-born general and flag officers.  US Army Major General Viet Xuan Luong, age 54, was promoted in 2014 and soon to be US Army Major General Lap The Chau Flora, age 57, was promoted in 2016.  Not in picture is US Marine Corps Brigadier General Bill Seely III (promoted in 2016).  


Nguyen was born in Hue Vietnam, the son of an armor officer in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. During the 1968 Tet Offensive, Nguyen’s mother and father, along with his five brothers and sister were killed by Viet Cong Communist guerillas in their family home outside Saigon. Nine-year-old Nguyen was shot in the arm and thigh, with another bullet piercing his skull. He stayed with his mother for two hours, until she bled out and died. Amazingly, Nguyen survived and escaped after dark.  

In 1975, at age 16, they fled Vietnam, seeking refuge in the United States following the fall of Saigon.

 

  

 

Theme from "The Lion King"

As the news spread about the nomination of Navy Captain Huấn Từ Nguyễn to be rear admiral, some astute studiers of the Vietnam War could not help but notice the captain's history.

At 14, Nguyen arrived in Guam as refugee right after the Fall of Saigon in 1975.  

Seven years before, he was badly injured during the attack by the communist rebels during the surprise Tet Offensive.   Some of the rebels pretended to be civilians and infiltrated key areas in Saigon.   Nguyen's family was captured at their home in the early morning of the fight.  The rebels targeted his family because his dad, Lt. Colonel Tuan Nguyen, was the head of an armored division protecting the city.   His parents along with his 6 siblings and his 80 years old grandma were executed.  He was the only one in his family survived the brutality.  

4 comments:

  1. I knew nothing of the Admiral's history, and nothing of his success in overcoming a horrific childhood. Many thanks for publishing this fascinating history.

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  2. Replies
    1. & thank you and here's some more info plus there are many articles if you would like to search the site.

      https://freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2018/02/50-years-ago-execution-of-nguyen-van.html

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