Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

I was born in Saigon Vietnam during the Vietnam War I lived in a compound actually near tonsinet and the third Army Field Hospital there was always helicopter flights in and out bringing cargo supplies and then really it was bringing in wounded you know from the battlefield my parents moved before the end of the war in 1971. we relocated actually in the in the Palm Springs Palm Desert area outside of Toronto Palms then as you kind of grow older you realize that you you look a little bit different you speak a little bit different and there weren't many uh other Asians or Vietnamese in the area at that time you know when I came in the Marine Corps uh the nation was only 15 years somewhat removed from the end of the Vietnam War there weren't a lot of Asian Americans or for that matter Vietnamese Americans that were serving at the time when I joined in the 1980s so to see us where we are today right to be able to still serve and see the diversity and the growth and three the embrace you know of Asian Americans and their willingness to serve especially in the Marine Corps is refreshing right it's something to be admired it's something to respect something to look up to it's good to know that the Marine Corps will continue to flourish because of the diversity of thought because of Asian American Pacific owners wanting to serve it's about what they do and what they represent when they serve and the idea that that success will come from service success will come from education success will come from the billets that they the flourish in as Leaders as platoon commanders as session leaders as division heads to some future you know set of kernels if you will and Sergeant's Majors you know serving throughout the world right becoming leaders being leaders to be able to represent their respective communities that's a great thing that's what makes this nation great the fact that we offer the opportunities to Rico offers those opportunities it doesn't matter you know where you come from it's the fact that do you have the heart and courage to serve and to be part of something greater that's what makes them incorporate

Channel: Marines

Views: 3,135

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Id: WjhKyTxlWmk

Length: 2min 31sec (151 seconds)

Published: Tue May 23 2023