Quang X. Pham
Encyclopedia
Quang Pham, a Vietnamese American
, was born in 1964, in Saigon, South Vietnam
. He is a business owner, Marine Corps veteran, author and community leader who has lived in Orange County, California since 1990. Pham was running for Congress in the 47th Congressional District to defeat Loretta Sanchez.http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/breaking-news/if-congresswoman-loretta-sanch/http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2010/02/10/will-loretta-sanchez-lose-her-congressional-seat-this-time-around/17109/
, Quang, his three sisters, and his mother left their ancestral homeland, while the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
(ARVN) was defending their country and its capital city of Saigon. His father, Hoa Van Pham, a member of the South Vietnamese Air Force, remained in South Vietnam and was captured by the North Vietnamese Army
while he was supporting the Republic of Vietnam
, resulting in his twelve years in re-education/prison camps.
Quang and his family immigrated to the United States
and settled in California
.
in 1986.
to earn naval aviator
's wings in the U.S. Marine Corps and flew CH-46 helicopter missions in the Persian Gulf War
.
In 2000, he founded Lathian Systems, a pharmaceutical promotions company, raised $14 million from investors, and was chairman and CEO. He has served on the boards of the Marines Memorial Association, Orange County Forum, and Chapman University Business School Board of Advisers.http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/2682083
Vietnamese American
A Vietnamese American is an American of Vietnamese descent. They make up about half of all overseas Vietnamese and are the fourth-largest Asian American group....
, was born in 1964, in Saigon, South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
. He is a business owner, Marine Corps veteran, author and community leader who has lived in Orange County, California since 1990. Pham was running for Congress in the 47th Congressional District to defeat Loretta Sanchez.http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/breaking-news/if-congresswoman-loretta-sanch/http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2010/02/10/will-loretta-sanchez-lose-her-congressional-seat-this-time-around/17109/
Early life
During the invasion of South Vietnam by the Communist North Vietnamese ArmyVietnam People's Army
The Vietnam People's Army is the armed forces of Vietnam. The VPA includes: the Vietnamese People's Ground Forces , the Vietnam People's Navy , the Vietnam People's Air Force, and the Vietnam Marine Police.During the French Indochina War , the VPA was often referred to as the Việt...
, Quang, his three sisters, and his mother left their ancestral homeland, while the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
Army of the Republic of Vietnam
The Army of the Republic of Viet Nam , sometimes parsimoniously referred to as the South Vietnamese Army , was the land-based military forces of the Republic of Vietnam , which existed from October 26, 1955 until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975...
(ARVN) was defending their country and its capital city of Saigon. His father, Hoa Van Pham, a member of the South Vietnamese Air Force, remained in South Vietnam and was captured by the North Vietnamese Army
Vietnam People's Army
The Vietnam People's Army is the armed forces of Vietnam. The VPA includes: the Vietnamese People's Ground Forces , the Vietnam People's Navy , the Vietnam People's Air Force, and the Vietnam Marine Police.During the French Indochina War , the VPA was often referred to as the Việt...
while he was supporting the Republic of Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
, resulting in his twelve years in re-education/prison camps.
Quang and his family immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and settled in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Education
Quang graduated from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and he went on to complete Marine Corps Officer Candidate SchoolOfficer Candidate School (U.S. Marine Corps)
The United States Marine Corps Officer Candidates School is the entry-level training for Marine officers, equivalent to recruit training for enlisted Marines. Located at Marine Corps Base Quantico, the school trains, screens, and evaluates potential Marine Corps officers...
in 1986.
Military service
He was the first Vietnamese AmericanVietnamese American
A Vietnamese American is an American of Vietnamese descent. They make up about half of all overseas Vietnamese and are the fourth-largest Asian American group....
to earn naval aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
's wings in the U.S. Marine Corps and flew CH-46 helicopter missions in the Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
.
Civilian life
He is a renowned author and wrote, A Sense of Duty: Our Journey from Vietnam to America.In 2000, he founded Lathian Systems, a pharmaceutical promotions company, raised $14 million from investors, and was chairman and CEO. He has served on the boards of the Marines Memorial Association, Orange County Forum, and Chapman University Business School Board of Advisers.http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/2682083
Quotes
- "Now talk of exiting the war in Iraq has increased. What will happen to the Iraqis who believed in us? Will we let them down too?"
See also
On March 26, 2010 the US Army War College held a question and answer with Quang X. Pham where he discussed his book and American involvement in Vietnam. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ_k5yY3wZ8External links
- Interview on A Sense of Duty at the Pritzker Military LibraryPritzker Military LibraryThe Pritzker Military Library is a research library for the study of military history in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded in 2003 by COL James N. Pritzker, IL ARNG to be a non-partisan institution for the study of "the citizen soldier as an essential element for the preservation of...
- Quang Pham Leaves Race To Unseat Rep. Loretta Sanchez
- From Vietnamese refugee to pilot: Memoir reflects on Nam, feelings on duty, family
- Ford's Finest Legacy - written by Quang X. Pham
- Duty and deceit - written by Quang X. Pham
- Review of A Sense of Duty; My Father, My American Journey by Quang X. Pham