A Well-Lived and Honorable Life
I’ll go out on a limb and say we’ve all known a certifiable badass or two along the way. That is, someone who – when push came to shove – kept their cool and performed an incredible, dangerous feat at the risk of their own life.
Those kind of people seems to be relatively common in the military, actually. How much of that is due to more opportunity; how much to training; how much to pre-screening to weed out the weak; how much to the military’s culture attracting, then developing them? Dunno.
Below is a link to one such individual’s story. It’s a story that’s not received a lot of notice until very recently – and even today, it doesn’t seem that well known.
In any case, I find this man’s story . . . unusual. And compelling. And amazing.
And much like another individual featured here not long ago, the man at the story’s center never sought publicity for what he’d done.
You can read the story here. It’s from a source I don’t normally visit, so I missed it when it first appeared a few months ago.
But before you read, you might want to grab a tissue or two. You just might need them.
I salute you, Ba Van Nguyen – both for what you did in 1975, and for how you lived your life afterwards.
Yours was “a life well-lived” indeed.
Category: Historical, War Stories, Who knows
Read through Mr.Van Nguyen’s obit…just a very special man. RIP sir.
http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Ba-Nguyen&lc=2480&pid=165420726&mid=5570818
Epic story
rest well sir
The man saved his own family and then provided for them by working hard, saving money, and attending trade school. I didn’t need tissues. The amazing part of the story to me was that the Navy crewmen risked their lives by standing on a rollinf deck directly beneath a hovering A/C to literally catch this man’s family.
Thank you Hondo. What a story and what a man.
From the article I noted his beliefs, “He just didn’t want to take; he wanted to give back. He told his family they were going to become U.S. citizens within five years so they could pay taxes and vote.”
Pay taxes and vote, not take! My Lord we just don’t hear that enough! The illegals and “refugees” we have now want to take our land of opportunity and make it into the shit holes they came from and live like they did there. This man, wanted to be an American along with his family and did so with pride. Of all else he is, he is an honorable man to be looked up to as an example to all coming here and many who call themselves citizens. His life and story should be mandatory reading for every person seeking entry to our country.
Rest in peace now in YOUR country Mr. Nguyen, America. We are proud you are one of us.
A real man who gave a damn, R.I.P. Sir!
I saw this story on the PBS show. I thought at the time exactly what you have written, “What a badass”. Here in Michigan, I know of several Vietnamese families who came escaped. All of them are hardworking and ensure their children get a good education.
Awesome. And the actions of the sailors, not just that day – but so many years later – reflects well on the true values of American society and US military. This story is truly an exemplar of the things US military personnel admire and value. Lots of good in that story.
There are MANY unknown stories, similar to this one, recorded in the military history archives of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints, the Department of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University, the Saints at War Project, the Veterans Association for Service Activities Abroad (V.A.S.A.A.), and the personal knowledge of Dr. Virgil N. Kovalenko, Major, United States Air Force (Retired), who currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Because the server is down, and the organization has ceased functioning, it’s not currently possible to access the V.A.S.A.A. web site.
All of the V.A.S.A.A. files have been turned over to the custody of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints, where they are archived.
Here is a URL for information about the Veterans Association for Service Activities Abroad (V.A.S.A.A.):
https://www.lds.org/ensign/1992/06/of-good-report/giving-new-meaning-to-military-service?lang=eng
And another:
http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/22678/Tears-hugs-mark-gathering-of-LDS-veterans.html
And another:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705383504/Saigon-Shepherd-keeps-flock-in-his-heart.html?pg=all
And another:
http://ldsmag.com/article-1-3666/
Here is the URL where you may read of a successful V.A.S.A.A. project:
https://www.lds.org/ensign/1989/06/out-of-the-tigers-den?lang=eng
Here is a URL for the Saints at War Project:
http://saintsatwar.com/
Here is the URL of something I wrote about V.A.S.A.A.:
http://writesong.blogspot.com/2008/04/27-april-1975.html
http://www.bartleby.com/360/7/158.html But the Consul’s brow was sad, And the Consul’s speech was low, 210 And darkly looked he at the wall, And darkly at the foe; “Their van will be upon us Before the bridge goes down; And if they once may win the bridge, 215 What hope to save the town?” Then out spake brave Horatius, The Captain of the gate: “To every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late. 220 And how can man die better Than facing fearful odds For the ashes of his fathers And the temples of his gods, “And for the tender mother 225 Who dandled him to rest, And for the wife who nurses His baby at her breast, And for the holy maidens Who feed the eternal flame,— 230 To save them from false Sextus That wrought the deed of shame? “Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul, With all the speed ye may; I, with two more to help me, 235 Will hold the foe in play. In yon strait path a thousand May well be stopped by three: Now who will stand on either hand, And keep the bridge with me?” 240 … And still his name sounds stirring Unto the men of Rome, As the trumpet-blast that cries to them 560 To charge the Volscian home; And wives still pray to Juno For boys with hearts as bold As his who kept the bridge so well In the brave days of old. 565 And in the nights of winter, When the cold north-winds blow, And the long howling of the wolves Is heard amidst the snow; When round the lonely cottage 570 Roars loud the tempest’s din, And the good logs of Algidus Roar louder yet within; When the oldest cask is opened, And the largest lamp is lit; 575 When the chestnuts glow in the embers, And the kid turns on the spit; When young and old in circle Around the firebrands close; When the girls are weaving baskets, 580 And the lads are shaping bows; When the goodman mends his armor, And trims his helmet’s plume;… Read more »
The first in our established pattern of abandoning allies to satisfy those of our own homefront who had and have given themselves over to the will and propaganda of our enemy, heart, mind and soul.