Nationality: American

Experiences: Boat People Survivor

Location: Pusan, Korea • Bataan, Philippines

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A Brief Biography

Nguyen Hung Cuong was born 1945 in North Viet Nam. – Moved to South Viet Nam in 1954. – Studied in Hue and Vung Tau from 1956 to 1964. – Enlisted into the Army of The Republic of Viet Nam (ARVN) at Thu Duc Officer school in 1968. – Served as an Infantry Officer in different field units from 1968 to 1972. – Served as an Attaché to the Governor of Binh Dinh Province, Central Viet Nam from 1972 to 1973. – Served from 1973 to 1975 as a Liaison Officer in the 4-Parties and then the 2-Parties Joint Military Commission upon the signature of the Paris Agreement. – Was imprisoned in several Communist Re-education camps from 1975 to 1980. – Escaped Viet Nam by boat and was rescued by Captain Yong on November 14, 1985. – Lived in the Red Cross Refugee camp in Pusan of Korea from 1985-1987. – Lived in the Refugee camp in Bataan of Philippines in 1987. – Settled in USA since November 1987. – Worked as a Psychiatric nurse of the California State hospital. – Retired from the State hospital in May 2006.

The compassion is reciprocated – Shortly after being settled in Southern California, Mr. Nguyen while going to school to earn his psychiatric license and working full time for a living started searching for Captain Yong in order to pay him the life-saving debt. It took Mr. Nguyen 17 years before he found Captain Yong and only at that moment learned about hardships he born. Mr. Nguyen along with the whole-hearted help of Korean and Vietnamese communities invited Captain Yong and his family to visit California. On August 8, 2004 a social gathering of more than 800 ethnical people showed up at a large restaurant in South California to warmly welcome and honor Captain Yong. In this big event he was commended upon his heroic act of rescuing the refugees, and announced as a hero not only to the “Group 96” he had rescued, but also to all Vietnamese boat people.

Photos

"Being a photographer, not only did I want to earn a living, but also desire to record the scenery of the Camp and the memorable activities in this temporary “home”, which would be later preserved as part of the history of the Vietnamese Boat People."

Nguyen Hung Cuong