Lễ Gắn Lon Chuẩn Tướng của Đại Tá Lương Xuân Việt

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[khongquan2]

Army promotes first Vietnamese-American general
Source: "news.yahoo.com"

Col. Viet Luong attends his promotion ceremony, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014 in Fort Hood, Texas. Luong has become the first Vietnamese-American to reach the rank of general in the U.S. Army. (AP Photo/Killeen Daily Herald, Bryan Correira)

FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) — A Fort Hood soldier whose family came to the United States as refugees when he was 10 years old became the first Vietnamese-American to reach the rank of general in the U.S. Army on Wednesday.

Col. Viet Luong received his brigadier general's stars from the Fort Hood commander, Lt. Gen. Mark Milley, at a ceremony Wednesday at the Central Texas Army post.

The family of Col. Viet Luong stand with hands over their hearts during the National Anthem, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014. Seen are Kim Luong, wife, far right, Ashley Luong, daughter, 19, Brandon Luong, 17, and Justin Luong, 14, his sons and Kathy Luong, his mother. Luong has become the first Vietnamese-American to reach the rank of general in the U.S. Army. (AP Photo/Killeen Daily Herald, Bryan Correira)

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.

Fort Hood commander, Lt. Gen. Mark Milley, left, and Col. Viet Luong attend Luong's promotion ceremony, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014. Luong has become the first Vietnamese-American to reach the rank of general in the U.S. Army. (AP Photo/Killeen Daily Herald, Bryan Correira)

"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.

"I'm a symbol of democracy, freedom and the justice of our Constitution," he said.

Among the hundreds attending the ceremony were Luong's seven sisters, his mother, wife and three children.

Fort Hood commander, Lt. Gen. Mark Milley adjusts the commanders belt on the waist of Col. Viet Luong during his promotion ceremony, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014 as his son Brandon Luong, 17, watches. Luong has become the first Vietnamese-American to reach the rank of general in the U.S. Army. (AP Photo/Killeen Daily Herald, Bryan Correira)

"Viet and sisters are Americans now by choice," Milley said. "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."

Luong commanded combat troops in Iraq in 2006-08 and Afghanistan in 2009-10.

[khongquan2]

From Vietnam to Afghanistan: A General Makes History

Colonel Viet Xuan Luong emigrated from Vietnam with his family to the United States in 1975 as a political refugee. He began his military career upon graduating from the University of Southern California.

His first assignment was with 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment at Fort Carson, Colorado, where he served as Rifle Platoon Leader, Anti-Tank Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Maintenance Officer. In 1993, Luong was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and served in the 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, as the Battalion Assistant S-3 (Operations) and Commander of Alpha Company. While commanding Alpha Company, he deployed to Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy as the Commander of the Theater Quick Reaction Force. Following his assignment at Fort Bragg, he was assigned to the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, La., as an Observer Controller.

Following his assignment at JRTC, Luong attended the Command and General Staff College and then was assigned to the Southern European Task Force (SETAF). Luong served as SETAF G-3 Chief of Plans, and the Operations Officer and Executive Officer of 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade, in Vicenza, Italy. During his assignment at Southern European Task Force, Luong deployed to Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina on several occasions as part of the NATO Strategic Response Force.

Following this assignment, Colonel Luong was assigned to Joint Task Force North at Fort Bliss, Tx., where he served as a plans officer and Chief, Targeting and Exploitation Division in support of the Department of Homeland Defense. In 2005, he assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade Combat Team, 82d Airborne Division. During this command, Luong deployed his battalion in September 2005 as the Division Ready Force 1, in support of Operation American Assist, the Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts in New Orleans, and Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08, in support of the War on Terror.

In February 2009, Colonel Luong assumed command of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Rakkasans), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). In January 2010, 3rd BCT deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom 10-11. Following BCT command, Luong attended Stanford University as a National Security Fellow and subsequently served as the Deputy Director, Pakistan Afghanistan Coordination Cell, J5, The Joint Staff.

Colonel Luong holds a degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Southern California and a Master of Military Arts and Science.

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[dnchau]

Chuẩn Tướng Lương Xuân Việt tại buổi họp báo thăng cấp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=M8extFAPFXk

[TAM73F]

Trong ngày nhậm chức hôm nay , chuẩn tướng LƯƠNG XUÂN VIỆT đọc bài diễn văn thật hay và cảm động...có một đoạn tiếng Việt ..dược ghi lại sau đây:

Những lãnh đạo cộng đồng và các anh em Quân Lực Việt Nam Cộng Hòa. Sự hiện diện của quí khách là một vinh dự lớn cho gia đình chúng tôi. Tôi biết rất nhiều người phải lân đận đường xa đến dự buổi tiệc hôm nay. Nhìn những bộ quân phục lòng tôi thật bùi ngùi, xót xa. Những người đã làm con tim tôi rung động về 3 chữ Tổ Quốc – Danh Dự - Trách Nhiệm và những ý nghĩa của những câu dăn dò Cha Ông để lại như:


Nam Quốc Sơn Hà Nam Đế Cư
Dĩ đại nghĩa nhi thắng hung tàn (Đem đại nghĩa để thắng hung tàn)
Dĩ chí nhân nhi dịch cường bạo (Lấy chí nhân để thay cường bạo)

Chính là Thân Phụ tôi, một đồng đội của các anh mà vì vậy một nửa con tim tôi lúc nào cũng hương về đất Mẹ dù đã hơn ba mươi năm xa cách. Không có sự hy sinh xương máu của các anh thì chúng tôi chắc chắn cũng không có ngày hôm nay.


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