[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING NGHIA VAN DONG

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Nghia Van 
Dong for his service during the Vietnam War.
  Nghia Van Dong was born in Hai Phong, Viet Nam, during the end of the 
Indochina War. Following the Geneva Conventions which brought the 
conflict to a resolution, Mr. Dong joined fellow refugees in 
repatriating to the Republic of South Viet Nam. This trip would prove 
fruitful, as Mr. Dong met his future wife Hanh on the ship which 
carried him to Saigon.
  At the start of the Viet Nam War, Nghia Van Dong knew that his 
country needed him. He quickly signed up to help with the war effort, 
and was assigned to the U.S. Army Special forces for a period of ten 
years. When Consul General McNamara asked the Commander of the Special 
Forces to recommend one of his best senior Vietnamese employees for the 
important post of chauffer and body guard, Mr. Dong was his immediate 
recommendation.
  Mr. Dong served as person chauffer and body guard to the principal 
officer of American Consulate, while at the same time supervising all 
the guard personnel. He filled these roles from October 2, 1970, until 
the final evacuation on April 29, 1975. He was cited for gallantry on a 
number of occasions, and also for safe-guarding the life of Consul 
General Francis T. McNamara.
  He has a citation for personally attacking three Viet Cong machine 
gun positions and destroying each of them with small arms and hand 
grenades. In a moment of sheer bravery, Nghia Van Dong placed himself 
between Consul General McNamara and a group of Vietnamese Marines, 
taking several bullets and saving the life of the Consul General. In 
total. Mr. Dong was wounded ten times over the course of the war.
  At the close of the Viet Nam War, Nghia Van Dong came to the United 
States. Settling in Fairfax, Virginia, Mr. Dong found employment in 
Hospital Services, working at both Dewitt and Mount Vernon Hospitals. 
In 2005, Mr. Dong retired from Mount Vernon Hospital Food Service after 
26 years of employment.
  Mr. Dong and his spouse Hanh are active in the local Vietnamese 
Church and have been active for years as they enjoy the fruits of their 
long marriage--their 15 grandchildren. Although recent illness has kept 
him from many activities, Mr. Dong has always enjoyed fishing, drinking 
coffee, and playing the lottery. He has also been active in local 
veterans' groups.
  Madam Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank Nghia Van Dong for 
his service during the Viet Nam War, and his outstanding legacy of 
public service here in Northern Virginia. I ask my colleagues to join 
me in celebrating the life of Mr. Dong.

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