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Viet Xuan Luong

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Việt Xuan Luong (Vietnamese: Lương Xuân Việt) is a retired United States Army major general. He is the first American officer promoted to general officer rank who was born in Vietnam.[1] He last served as the Commanding General of United States Army, Japan/I Corps Forward. He previously served as the Deputy Commanding General (Operations), Eighth Army. His prior assignments included chief of staff of United States Army Central; Director of Joint and Integration, Headquarters Department of the Army, G-8; assistant division commander–maneuver for the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, concurrent with assignment as commander, Train Advise Assist Command – South, Resolute Support Mission Joint Command, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Afghanistan.

Viet Xuan Luong
Born (1965-07-26) July 26, 1965 (age 59)
Bien Hoa, South Vietnam
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1987–2021
RankMajor General
CommandsUnited States Army, Japan
3rd Brigade Combat Team (Rakkasans), 101st Airborne Division
Train Advise Assist Command – South
2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Battles / warsIraq War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (3)
Bronze Star Medal (3)

Early life

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Luong's father, Luong Xuan Duong (d. 1997),[2] was a Major (Thiếu tá) in the Republic of Vietnam Marine Division. On 29 April 1975 he and his family were evacuated from Tan Son Nhat International Airport during Operation Frequent Wind, landing on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hancock. He and his family were brought to Fort Chaffee, Arkansas as part of Operation New Arrivals.[3]

Luong earned his commission via the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps program upon graduating from the University of Southern California in 1987.[4]

Education

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Luong earned a degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Southern California and a Master of Military Arts and Science.[5]

Assignments

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BG Viet X. Luong Deputy Commanding General (Operations), Eighth United States Army.

Luong's first assignment was with the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment at Fort Carson, Colorado, where he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Anti-Tank Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Maintenance Officer.[citation needed]

In 1993, Luong was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and served in the 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, as the Battalion Assistant S-3 (Operations) and commander of Alpha Company. While commanding Alpha Company, he deployed to Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy as the Commander of the Theater Quick Reaction Force. Following his assignment at Fort Bragg, he was assigned to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk as an Observer Controller.[citation needed]

Following his assignment at JRTC, Luong attended the Command and General Staff College and then was assigned to the Southern European Task Force (SETAF). Luong served as SETAF G-3 Chief of Plans, and the Operations Officer and Executive Officer of 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, in Vicenza, Italy. During his assignment at SETAF, Luong deployed to Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina on several occasions as part of the NATO Strategic Response Force.[6]

Following this assignment, Luong was assigned to Joint Task Force North at Fort Bliss, where he served as a plans officer and Chief, Targeting and Exploitation Division. In 2005, he assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. During this command, Luong deployed his battalion in September 2005 as the Division Ready Force 1, in support of Operation American Assist, the Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts in New Orleans, and Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08, in support of the War on Terror.[7]

In February 2009, Luong assumed command of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Rakkasans), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). In January 2010, 3rd BCT deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom 10–11. Following BCT command, Luong attended Stanford University as a National Security Fellow and subsequently served as the Deputy Director, Pakistan Afghanistan Coordination Cell, J5, The Joint Staff.[8]

In 2015, Luong was assigned as Director, Joint and Integration at the Office of the US Army Chief of Staff for Force Development, G-8.[9]

In March 2016, Luong was announced for assignment as chief of staff at United States Army Central.[10]

In May 2017, Luong was announced as the next Deputy Commanding General (Operations), Eighth Army, United States Forces Korea.[11] He was promoted to major general in June 2018 and assumed command of United States Army, Japan in August 2018.[12][13]

He relinquished command of United States Army Japan to Brigadier General Joel B. Vowell on June 25, 2021, retiring after 34 years of service.[14]

As of 2024, MG Luong (retired) resides in Frisco, Texas.

Decorations and awards

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Luong's personal awards and decorations include the: Army Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Navy Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Senior Parachutist Badge.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "New one-star is U.S. military's first general born in Vietnam". Army Times. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Thượng Viện Mỹ chuẩn thuận Chuẩn Tướng Lương Xuân Việt - Tin chính - Người Việt Online". Archived from the original on 2014-08-11.
  3. ^ "The Frightened Vietnamese Kid Who Became A U.S. Army General". NPR. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Fort Hood's Luong to become first Vietnamese-American general". Statesman.com. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  5. ^ "DVIDS – News – First Team's general makes history, pins star". DVIDS. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Ft. Hood Colonel Becomes First Vietnamese-American promoted to General". Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  7. ^ "Col. is 1st Vietnamese-American BCT commander". Army Times. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  8. ^ "Colonel Cites Measurable, But Fragile, Afghan Progress: Army Family 101 & Brat Life 101 – Fort Campbell, KY". Armyfamily101.com. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8 | Leadership". www.g8.army.mil. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
  10. ^ "Release No: NR-088-16: General Officer Assignments" (Press release). Washington, DC: United States Department of Defense. Press Operations. March 15, 2016.
  11. ^ "General Officer Assignments". Department of Defense. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  12. ^ Eighth Army Korea (June 21, 2018). "Congratulations to newly promoted Maj. Gen. Viet X. Luong". Facebook.com.
  13. ^ "Maj. Gen. Luong takes command of U.S. Army Japan; Maj. Gen. Pasquarette to become Army G-8". www.army.mil. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  14. ^ "Luong, handing US Army Japan's reins to Vowell, wraps up his 34-year military career". Stars and Stripes.
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