Posted on 02/04/2005 4:43:17 PM PST by Former Military Chick
Fifty-five days after he gave his life defending his post from a would-be suicide bomber, Cpl. Binh Ngoc Le was posthumously awarded U.S. citizenship during a ceremony here at the Henderson Hall Theatre Jan. 27.
Since the birth of our nation, many people have come to America from different walks of life for numerous reasons. Whatever the motive, those who have sought citizenship here became part of a group of millions of immigrants who have declared in one voice, "I am an American."
Eduardo Aguirre, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, presents a posthumous citizenship award to Cpl. Binh Ngoc Le's parents, Kim Hoan Phi Nguyen and Lien Van Tran, at a special ceremony at the Henderson Hall Theatre Jan. 27. Le was killed in Iraq Dec. 3, 2004, while defending his post from a suicide bomber..(AP Photo/Sgt. Melvin Lopez Jr. )
That was the case with Le, a young Vietnamese boy who, in his latter years, had a dream of doing just that, according to close relatives. He went about it in a noble manner: to serve the country his heart wanted to be a part of, in hopes that his hard work and effort would not go unnoticed and eventually help him reach one of his objectives - to become an American citizen.
Le also hoped that by achieving this he would be able to bring them from Vietnam to live with him someday, said his parents.
He never expected he would be paying for that long-sought goal with his life.
Le immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 6, after his parents gave him up for adoption. Born an only child to Kim Hoan Phi Nguyen, a bank accountant, and Lien Van Tran, a former South Vietnamese soldier who served alongside U.S. troops during the Vietnam War, he was entrusted to his adopted family for care. His parents had trouble making ends meet, and felt this was their only alternative.
The young boy came to the U.S. with his aunt and uncle, Hau Luu and Thanh Le. His adopted family and another aunt and uncle, Tuc-cuc Thi Tran and Luong La of Dale City, Va, raised him in Alexandria, Va.
A student of Edison High School, Le spent his time playing in a series of Christian rock bands with other members of his church, the Gunston Bible Church of Lorton, Va. He had a knack for music, able to play many instruments such as the trumpet, keyboard and drums.
Le was also a member of the school's Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, the largest program of its kind in northern Virginia. By the time he graduated in 2002, he had served as battalion commander for the unit's Eagle Battalion.
His military career did not end there. Le enlisted in the Marine Corps on Oct. 28, 2002. After completing recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., in January 2003, he was transferred to Camp Geiger, N.C. for Marine Combat Training, and subsequently to Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Okla.
Upon graduation, Le was transferred to Okinawa, Japan and served with T Battery, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division as an artilleryman.
Later that year, he deployed to Iraq with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon returning, Le was stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C., serving with S Battery, 5th Battalion, 10th Marines, 2nd Marine Division.
In the fall of 2004, Le volunteered to deploy a second time. He was serving with his unit at Forward Operating Base, Camp Terbil, Iraq, on Dec. 3 when his post was attacked by a water truck carrying over 500 pounds of explosives. According to the battery's commanding officer, Capt. Chris Curtain, Le and his brother-in-arms, Cpl. Matthew A. Wyatt, 21, of Millstadt, Ill., immediately ran to a position where they could engage the vehicle. After killing the driver, the vehicle spun out of control and crashed into a barrier and exploded, fatally wounding Le and Wyatt, and injuring six other Marines. In Curtain's estimation, had the vehicle made it into the compound, "the damage and casualties would have been significantly more and Cpl. Le and Cpl. Wyatt's actions directly contributed to stopping the vehicle from making it any further."
Le was 20 years old.
His unselfish acts have helped him get recognized throughout the Corps and all over the country.
"His heroic actions in the face of a horrific attack humble me, and I will be forever grateful of his heroism," Curtain stated in an e-mail read aloud at the ceremony. He recommended Le for the Silver Star.
His teary-eyed birth parents proudly accepted the citizenship award presented by Eduardo Aguirre, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
An estimated 37,000 noncitizens serve in the U.S. armed forces, according to the Department of Defense. Since the Iraq war began, 54 servicemembers have been awarded posthumous citizenship. Twenty-one of them were Marines.
Le also wanted his parents to share his dream of becoming Americans. This did not go unheard. U.S. Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.) is assisting Nguyen and Tran obtain their citizenship. Moran promised he would file a private bill in Congress if that is what it took.
"He certainly earned his citizenship," Moran said. "His dream was to try to get citizenship for his father and mother, too. It may require an act of Congress. Looking at the unique circumstances, it's obviously a meritorious case."
Moran knows it will be difficult to pass a bill like this in Congress, but that does not discourage him from introducing it. He said once he convinces Congress that Le gave his life for this country, they will have no other choice but to accept.
"I think this is a compelling enough situation that we can get a single bill just for the purpose of granting citizenship for his parents," Moran said. "They certainly deserve it."
Tran said Le visited his parents in Vietnam after his high school graduation. While there, he told his father he planned on joining the Marine Corps. Tran suggested that he try a less challenging branch like the Air Force, but Le expressed his urge to join the Corps because of the challenge.
His parents didn't have a problem with Le enlisting in the Marine Corps. They just wanted to make sure he would set time aside for school.
Nguyen said Le mentioned citizenship, but it wasn't his priority.
"His main concern was to join the military to help protect the country he loved so much," Nguyen said.
His uncle, Luong La, added a comment about Le's ambitions of becoming a Marine.
"He told me that if everybody takes the easy job, there's no one to take the hard job," La said.
"I lost a son," said Nguyen, "but I am proud he served the United States of America. At least I know he fulfilled his dream."
Note: there are no "official" words to Taps above are the most popular.
I am always amazed and grateful at the caliber of young kids that are serving in our military and doing such things as the heroic act that cost this young man his life. I hope his family finds peace and solace.
The highest honour which the United States can bestow.
Thank you for this post.
And the Media was all over the story of how the Marines were just 84 recruits short of january's goal.
As long as the Corps has heroes like this one all will be well and this country we be safe.
His unselfish acts have helped him get recognized throughout the Corps and all over the country.
"His heroic actions in the face of a horrific attack humble me, and I will be forever grateful of his heroism," Curtain stated in an e-mail read aloud at the ceremony. He recommended Le for the Silver Star. "
What a wonderful, brave young man.
Ping
You are welcome. I suppose it is my way to honor those who gave all, that folks never forget their sacrafice to our country.
Thanks for this great post. Corporal Le is a hero in the truest sense of the word.
It's ironic, as I look around my home territory and see pimply-faced, smart assed young men who aren't worthy to kiss this young mans boots carry on their daily, self-involved lifestyle.
I reflect on spoiled, spoon-fed college students in the liberal parts of our country who mask their cowardice in protests.
And then I remember that it takes very few brave men to counter all the whimperings of many cowards to sustain and even advance the notion of freedom and bravery...
And for every such person we welcome, we catch some jerk like Ward Churchill, put him on a plane, and boot him out at 30,000 feet over Pyongyang.
At least 30,000 feet...
To the parents of Cpl. Binh Ngoc Le please accept America's deepest condolences. Your son gave the greatest gift of all...giving one's life for someone else's freedom.
As I will never be able to share your pain in losing your son, however, I know the dear Lord has taken your son into his arms and welcomed him into his kingdom.
I bow my head and pray. This is all I can offer you.
Psalm 23
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table
before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Cpl. Binh Ngoc Le was awarded U.S. citizenship posthumously in a special ceremony at the Henderson Hall Theatre Jan. 27. Le was killed in Iraq Dec. 3, 2004 while defending his post from a suicide bomber. Since the Iraq war began, 54 servicemembers have been awarded posthumous citizenship.
Photo by: Courtesy paul.stadig.name\binhle
I met several people from other countries serving AD in the AF years ago. I think they were smart not to hang around the bunch I did, but we would welcome their opinions on our tactics. They did enjoy a laugh over our successes, LOL! And we all went to night school for degrees too!
He came here when he was 6, as far as I'm concerned, this Marine is a true American. He gave it all for the country he loves. This country is blessed with people like him. God Bless.
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