Viet Xuan Luong

Viet Xuan Luong
Captain James Văn Thạch & General Viet X. Luong
Born	1965 (age 49–50) Bien Hoa, South Vietnam
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1987- present
Rank	Brigadier General
Awards	Combat Infantryman Badge

Viet Xuan Luong (Vietnamese: Lương Xuân Việt) is a Brigadier General in the United States Army.^[1] He is the deputy commander of maneuvers for the 1st Cavalry Division based in Fort Hood.

Early life

He emigrated from South Vietnam with his family to the United States in 1975 as a political refugee. He began his military career upon graduating from the University of Southern California.^[2]

Education

He earned a degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Southern California and a Master of Military Arts and Science.^[3]

Assignments

His first assignment was with 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment at Fort Carson, Colorado, where he served as Rifle Platoon Leader, Anti-Tank Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Maintenance Officer.

In 1993, he 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 in Fort Polk, La., as an Observer Controller.

Following his assignment at JRTC, he 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, 173d Airborne Brigade, in Vicenza, Italy. During his assignment at Southern European Task Force, Luong deployed to Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina on several occasions as part of the NATO Strategic Response Force.^[4]

Following this assignment, he was assigned to Joint Task Force North at Fort Bliss, Tx., where he served as a plans officer and Chief, Targeting and Exploitation Division in support of the Department of Homeland Defense. In 2005, he assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade Combat Team, 82d 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.^[5]

In February 2009, he 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.^[6]

In 2015, BG Viet X. Luong was assigned as Director, Joint and Integration at the Office of the US Army Chief of Staff, G-8. ^[7]

Decorations and awards

His personal and unit awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit and the Ranger Tab.

References

External links

• New one-star is U.S. military's first general born in Vietnam
• Task Force Rakkasan Commander Viet Luong briefed reporters and answered questions about current operations in Afghanistan - News Video
• Frightened Vietnamese Kid Who Became A US Army General - NPR Blog