Tran Quoc Binh

Sergeant Tran Quoc Binh

Tran Quoc Binh (aka Binh Quoc "Bo" Tran) (Vietnamese: Trần Quốc Bình) (b. 1978 — d. 2004) was born in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. He was the first U.S. Army Vietnamese American killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Baghdad, Iraq.

On November 12, 2004, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a state decree that the California Capitol flags were to be flown at half-staff in honor of Sergeant Tran Quoc Binh. He is the first Vietnamese American to receive this high honor^[1].

[edit] Biography

The son of a devout anti-communist, and Lieutenant in the former Army of the Republic of Vietnam, Tran Quoc Binh escaped Vietnam by foot with his family in 1986. In 1989, his family was granted political asylum and immigrated to the United States. Rasied in Mission Viejo, California, Tran Quoc Binh graduated in 1994, from Mission Viejo High School, and then attended Saddleback Community College studying to become a mechanical engineer.

He joined the United States Army before the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. Upon completing his three years of active duty, he joined the California Army National Guard. His battalion, the 81st Brigade Combat team, was based in Camp Murray, Washington. He was assigned to Detachment 3, Company B, 181st Support Battalion, located in San Bernardino, California, as an armored mechanic. On November 7, 2004, he died from wounds received when an improvised explosive device exploded near his vehicle while conducting convoy operations.

Members of the California Army National Guard salute the flag covered casket of Sergeant Tran Quoc Binh

His funeral was held at the Vietnamese Alliance Church in Midway City, California and was attended by over 400 people. He was buried at Riverside National Cemetery, California.