U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Huan Nguyen, the first Vietnamese-American to hold an admiral’s rank, survived a tragic incident during the Vietnam War that saw the execution of his father, mother, and six siblings by Viet Cong guerrilla Bay Lop.
The incident was captured in a photograph that became famous worldwide and fueled the anti-war movement in the United States.
Nguyen, who was just nine years old at the time, played dead after being shot three times and managed to escape, ultimately fleeing to the United States with his uncle following the fall of Saigon in 1975.
Nguyen and his family were among the approximately 125,000 Vietnamese refugees who fled to the United States after the fall of South Vietnam to the North Vietnamese forces.
While fleeing Vietnam, Nguyen had his first encounter with Sailors and Marines who were assisting refugees, which fueled his desire to serve in the United States Navy.
Nguyen went on to earn multiple degrees in electrical engineering and received a direct commission in the U.S. Navy in 1993 through the Reserve Engineering Duty Officer Program.
Nguyen was promoted to rear admiral in October 2019, becoming the highest-ranking Vietnamese-born officer in the U.S. Navy at the time to hold an admiral’s rank.
Nguyen retired in October 2022, leaving behind an inspiring legacy. He has spoken highly of the United States and its people, referring to America as a “beacon of hope” and stating that there is no other place in the world where a person can go for such an opportunity.
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