Army’s 1st Vietnamese General
Andy sends us a link to the Associated Press which reports that the Army has promoted the first Vietnamese-American General, Viet Luong, at Fort Hood, Texas;
Luong and nine other family members escaped South Vietnam on a flight during Operation Frequent Wind in 1975. After a stay at a resettlement camp in Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, the family settled in Los Angeles, the Killeen Daily Herald reported.
Today, he is the 1st Cavalry Division deputy commanding general for maneuver and the first Vietnamese-born officer to reach the position of general staff or flag officer in the U.S. military.
“The journey was arduous,” he said after his wife pinned his new stars on him.
“I don’t like to tell that story too much. I’m deeply humbled. I do have some responsibility … to tell the story of our nation and what it stands for,” he said.
From the Killeen Daily News;
“Viet and sisters are Americans now by choice,” said Lt. Gen. Mark Milley, commander of III Corps and Fort Hood and reviewing officer for the promotion ceremony. “He has served this great nation honorably over the last many decades. … There’s no one in uniform today that epitomizes what it takes to be an American soldier more than Viet Luong.”
I think the general’s comments are unfair to the millions of Americans who wear the uniform, but I see his point.
Category: Military issues
He took over as our Brigade Commander of the 3/101st, Rakkasans in 2009. First impression of him wasn’t good. He did a cohesion run with all the NCO’s in the Brigade right after he took command and at the end he got up on his podium and gave us his introductory speech. Long story short, he basically said how great the 82nd was and how they didn’t have all the problems that we were having (DUI’s mostly). Saying that we were dicked up and not as good as the 82nd to a bunch of 101st guys may have been true at the time, but just didn’t seem like a great way to make a first impression. He turned out to be a pretty damn good officer though and by the time he left, we were sad to see him go.
So, he was willing to hurt y’alls feelings in order to get your attention by telling y’all the situation in a straight up, no bullshit manner?
I think I like that guy.
While I am glad for the new General, I agree with Jonn. He has done no more than any American born citizen in serving our country. The point is he is an Army Officer, not that he is a Vietnamese-American Army Officer. I believe once you become a citizen you are an American. Period. Not a hyphened anything American. Hyphened Americans just cause more division than unity and bring in the issue of the “special classes” of people. What one contributes to this nation is far more important than their heritage. It is more than okay to be proud of ones heritage as long as they remember they are Americans, first, foremost and always. Just my one humble opinion.
He more important because he’s not whitey.
Whole lot of firsts during this administration.
Sparks, unless I missed it, it was the 3 star that was beating the drum on the BG’s VN heritage, not the BG?
OT, but that one pix of the LTG makes one wonder if weight standards are being enforced but maybe it was a bad angle?
SJ…My apologies to the General. You are correct and I misread. Thank you for pointing out my error my friend.
Well, LTG Milley may be a bit on the hefty side, but apparently its no impediment to promotion…he got just got confirmed for a 4th star and is scheduled to take over Forces Command from GEN Daniel Allyn (will move over to be new VCSA).
That’s part of the new cost-cutting – two generals under one three-star insignia
Nothing new, really. I seem to remember a guy named Schwarzkopf in the early 1990s as also appearing to be a bit . . . over the posted screening table weight based on physical appearance.
I think he turned out OK. (smile)
as a Heavy Drop now, I appreciate that. (smile)
I’ll take a TOD under his command any f’ng day. Too bad LTG Milley felt the need to use hypenation in his speech. People are an American or they are a citizen of whatever hypenated-country they came here from.
Luong said his promotion is about America and the soldiers, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice — some under his command in Iraq and Afghanistan.
There’s always some hyperbole when you have one of these “first of” events. Don’t read to much into it.
I misspoke in an early comment due to misreading on my part. I offer my apologies to the new General Viet Luong and from all I read here he is a stellar soldier and officer. I wish him and his command the very best. My apologies to all here who know him and I meant no disrespect though my comment may have read as such.
Sparks, don’t think any of us did. You had to read that article carefully. Plus, blame it on your Knee replacement PT!
I’m going to come to General Luong’s defense on this one. I served under him when he was the Brigade Commander for 3rd Brigade, 101st. I spoke to him a few times while downrange, he even challenged me to combatives once with a big grin on his face (not sure if that grin meant he was joking or that he knew he would kick my ass, lol). He is a straight shooter, no bullshit, kill-the-enemy type of guy. I would follow him into combat again gladly. I am frustrated that everything about his promotion is about his race. That is a disservice to him and to the Army, and frankly it insults what he has accomplished in his career.
Redleg: I think this thread got off to a bad start because of ambiguous PAO language that made it look like the BG was an affirmative action Gen. You and others have disabused that.
I think that the BG is an awesome testimony of what is great about the USA. Where in the hell else in the world could a war zone refugee arise to where he did purely on his merits as attested to by several of you??
I agree, his is the classic American immigrant success story.
I’ve read other stories about immigrants who are serving in the military. They all say they do it in gratitude for what this country has done for them. A nice attitude compared to the usual what’s-in-it-for-me that you hear so much anymore.
He sounds like an excellent officer and man. I though, never thought I would live long enough to see a Vienamese-American with a Cav hat on.
“There’s no one in uniform today that epitomizes what it takes to be an American soldier more than Viet Luong.”
I have no idea what the hell that means. I kid you not.
Cav: As was mentioned earlier, but the format here makes it hard to see, the LTG embellished a bit in the spirit of the ceremony.
That said, it is (IMHO) a HUGE testament to this country that a kid came from that era to where he is today…and from what folks have said here, it wasn’t an affirmative action thing.
Sorry, but I couldn’t be prouder. You go Sir, keep it the best Army Division ever.
Honor and Courage
We lost our boat baby in 2004, results of a VBIED. SPC Tran was born on the ocean, while his family was escaping Vietnam. He knew nothing of Vietnam, and considered himself 100% American.
That brave SOB always volunteered to be gunner in the back of an open top Hummer pick-up, with the crappiest of hill-billy armor around most of it…except the spacing where the blast came through. He was our first loss of the tour.
Camp Roberts CA has a memorial for him, laid into a fountain originally built by Italian POW’s of WWII.