Vietnamese boy finds success in AF blue

  • Published
  • By Allyson D. Hartley
  • Air Armament Center Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  Maj. Phuong Tran holds a deep appreciation for America.

In 1975, at age 11, Major Tran, his family, and hundreds of other Vietnamese families fled Saigon, Vietnam, to escape communism.

Although he knew nothing of the language or culture of the United States when he left his war-torn country, Major Tran said he overcame the challenges he faced by excelling in education and joining the U.S. military.

He became a U.S. citizen in 1988. Now an Air Force officer, the major is the information system flight commander for the 96th Communications Squadron here.

“There was a sense of urgency to get out of the country,” said Major Tran about fleeing Vietnam. “The airport was flooded with people waiting in very long lines for the planes to leave.”

Major Tran and his family settled in Walkerton, Ind., and a culture far different from their own. He did not speak any English and had to start from scratch while attending school. After graduating high school, he joined the U.S. Army because he said he enjoyed the nation’s patriotism.

“I felt strongly about what this country stands for,” Major Tran said.

Major Tran said while in the Army he became interested in a career in nursing. He took a break from the military and attended the St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing in Peoria, Ill., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing. He also worked two and three jobs throughout his college years. He had other dreams as well. He wanted to become an officer in the U.S. military. He received a direct commission into the Army Nurse Corps.

After taking advice from several mentors, Major Tran decided to switch into the Air Force. He worked as an intensive care unit nurse at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. He also was a member of the critical care air transport team there.

After working as a nurse, Major Tran responded to a notice from Air Force officials to anyone wanting to enter the communications field. After training, he worked as deputy flight commander for the network operations security center at Air Mobility Command headquarters at Scott AFB.

Major Tran has been here for two years providing classified e-mail services, computer security and land mobile radio equipment here.

Major Tran said he still has additional professional and military goals he hopes to reach in the future.

“Professionally, I want to pursue a Ph.D. in economics,” he said. “I also aspire to be a [unit] commander for the (Air Force).”