Float to freedom lands captain American Dream

By Mr. James Brabenec (IMCOM)December 11, 2014

Serving with excellence
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SILL, Okla. Dec. 11, 2014 -- Leaving communist Vietnam with his family in a 25-foot boat, the American Dream existed far over the horizon of thought for 3-year-old Vinh Bui.

Now, 25 years later, through hard work and a commitment to self-improvement, the captain is living that life as the commander of C Battery, 1st Battalion, 79th Field Artillery here.

His current duties culminate an odyssey to the United States that brought 5-year-old Bui and his Vietnamese parents here in 1991. But, his story reaches back to the aftermath of war-torn Vietnam.

Following the collapse of South Vietnam in the mid-1970s, most of the country's citizens found themselves displaced as jobs became scarce. Also, many former government officials and military leaders were forced into "re-education camps," better known as concentration camps. Bui's father, being enlisted, was incarcerated a short time, but his uncle, a lieutenant colonel and a pilot in the South Vietnamese air force, languished in confinement for 13 years.

For many facing this bleak reality, escaping their former home seemed the best option. They launched a variety of vessels, both seaworthy and highly suspect, and became known as "The Boat People."

Over 20 years, an estimated 800,000 men, women and children fled the country. Most eventually immigrated to the United States after a perilous journey.

When Bui and his family "set sail," they did so with about 20 other people, said the captain.

Though only 3-years-old, Bui recalled drifting across the South China Sea bound for Malaysia, when fishermen boarded their boat. Struggling to make a living, anglers found an easier source of income than hooking the swimming sea creatures below.

"We were lucky -- they robbed us, but no one was killed," said Bui.

Many refugees fared far worse, as about 300,000 to 400,000 Vietnamese refugees were lost at sea. Many were raped and murdered by pirates, others ran out of food and water before reaching land and storms or swamped boats drowned still others.

"One fisherman tried to take me, but my dad confronted him," he said.

That showdown cost his father a nasty arm wound from an ax, but saved him the loss of his son.

Fortunately, their small craft stood up to the ocean, and the family made landfall in Malaysia joining countless others in a refugee camp. Later, they moved to another camp in the Philippines. While there, the Buis endured the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Pinatubo June 15, 1991.

"We were eating lunch, but the sky was dark like midnight. Ashes were piling on the roof, and my father and others had to climb up and shovel it off to keep the roof from collapsing," he said.

The next day ash in spots piled higher than his height. Although his family went unscathed, nearby flattened buildings injured or killed other people.

Shortly thereafter, Bui's family immigrated to the United States and settled in the Bronx, N.Y. Living in a high-cost area, he saw how long work hours and low pay limited what his parents could achieve. That workload prevented them from furthering their education even as they grappled to learn English.

"I saw my mom and dad work really hard, but could tell they weren't going anywhere financially," he said. "I learned from that to work hard, but at the same time that I had to do something to gain upward mobility."

Bui added in his family encouragement doesn't fuel the drive to succeed, instead that drive comes from within. Thus, he diligently set to his schoolwork, and in high school branched out into extra-curricular activities to help strengthen his chances of earning a college scholarship.

His efforts paid off as he received an academic scholarship to the University of Vermont. While there, he joined the school's ROTC program, recalling stories his father told of military life in Vietnam. Attracted to the notion of military service from a young age, he found a culture that agreed with his ambitions and values.

That decision paved the way to a better future and satisfied another desire for the young officer.

"I wanted to give back to the country that gave me so much," said Bui, who called the life he lives and the job he holds, the American Dream. "To go from a beginning with very little, what my life shows is with hard work, education and more hard work you might get yourself somewhere someday."

The captain's schooling and motivation established a foundation of self-improvement. Along with his bachelor's degree, Bui later completed a master's degree.

However, once he went on active duty, the drive to go to school or position himself for future opportunities dissolved. He believes the timing must be right to attend career enhancing schools.

"If opportunity presents itself and doesn't interfere with my current duties ... I'll go to school," he said.

As for where he's going or how high up the officer ranks he hopes to ascend, his sights are set on a more immediate goal.

"I don't project my life forward, but instead, focus on doing the best job in the position I'm in," he said. "Here, I take care of Soldiers and the cadre; I enjoy doing this and just focus on the present."

Lt. Col. Mark Anders, 1-79th FA commander, said Bui is a solid officer and a great role model for the new recruits going through Basic Combat Training.

"In each class, we have many Soldiers who immigrate from other countries and have the opportunity to become U.S. citizens," he said. "It's great for them to see a successful officer like Captain Bui with similar roots."

Carrying the lifelong learning ideal to his personal life, Bui is a voracious reader, which he suggests his noncommissioned officers also delve into. He said books don't have to be specific to a person's duties.

"Whatever the subject, a book is a great way to learn something new and make constructive use of idle time," he said.

His joy of learning shown as Bui's face lit up like a child seeing Santa Claus for the first time. His hand slipped into a pocket on his sleeve and pulled out his smart phone to show the three books he's reading via the Army Digital Media Library. Each focuses on a famous general -- David Petraeus, Douglas MacArthur and Erwin Rommel.

"To be a great Soldier you have to read and re-read about the lives and campaigns of other great Soldiers and people. Learn from their mistakes, absorb what they did great, and adopt some of these practices into your own life or at least be more knowledgeable," he said.

Intent to share this passion with his cadre, he tries to instill through his example the motivation to "learn something about anything."

"Do that not just once or twice, but do that consistently over your military career, and it makes you a better, more informed person," said the captain. "That's the intangible aspect of personal development: You can't brag about it, it won't be on any transcript or on any record, but you know you will be better as a person because of that effort."

The captain also takes his learning on the road as he's become quite the world traveler visiting 20 countries. Some of this exploration happened while stationed in Germany. Coming full circle, in a sense, from his native country, Bui found an unexpected tie to Vietnam.

Traveling by train to Bruges, Belgium, he met and talked with a Vietnamese woman, whom he found out was headed to the same destination. It soon became apparent that wasn't all they had in common. Following that introduction, the two continued to correspond, fell in love and got married.

Meeting in Europe, though an oddity, doesn't hold a candle to the fact that his wife, Ha, grew up in Hanoi, North Vietnam, and her father fought for the North Vietnamese Army. Later, comparing stories, the couple deduced their fathers fought in the same battle on opposing sides.

Unlike the two countries that struggled to become one, the couple found only harmony and love together.

Like his assessment of fitting in with the Army culture, Bui's face illuminated in a brilliant smile as he succinctly summed up his marriage.

"It's a good match."