We all saw the photo of the execution of a VC soldier in Saigon who murdered a colleague’s family. I wasn’t aware that one child, although severely wounded, survived the slaughter. This is his story.
When South Vietnam fell to North Vietnamese forces in 1975, an estimated 125,000 Vietnamese refugees fled to the United States to avoid retribution at the hands of the North Vietnamese.
Among those refugees was U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Huan Nguyen, the first Vietnamese-American ever to hold an admiral’s rank. Nguyen’s road to becoming a distinguished Navy officer was a long and tragic one, and begins with one of the war’s most iconic photographs.
“America is the beacon of hope for all of us. There is no other place in the world where a person can go for such opportunity,” Nguyen said at his 2019 promotion ceremony.
Eddie Adams’ photo of Viet Cong guerrilla Bay Lop being executed by South Vietnamese Gen. Nguyen Ngoc Loan made newspapers around the world in 1968. It became one of the most enduring images of the Vietnam War.
The photo fueled the anti-war movement back in the United States, which saw the photo as proof that the war was unjustified. But Adams’ photo only tells half the story, as the former Marine Corps photographer admitted.
Bay Lop was executed in Saigon, on the second day of the Tet Offensive. He was captured after murdering South Vietnamese Lt. Col. Nguyen Tuan, along with the officer’s wife, mother and six of his children. One of his children survived, however, after being shot through the arm and thigh. Another bullet pierced his skull.

Nine-year-old Huan Nguyen stayed next to his mother for two hours after the murders.
When night fell, he escaped the scene and avoided the communist guerrillas. The young boy was taken in by his uncle, a colonel in the South Vietnamese Air Force. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, the officer and Nguyen escaped to the United States.
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps troops took care of the family as they made their way through Guam, along with thousands of other refugees, before being sponsored for relocation in the United States. U.S. Air Force Col. Ed Veiluva sponsored the family, which was resettled in Oklahoma as political refugees.
By 1981, Nguyen earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Oklahoma State University. He later earned master’s degrees in electrical engineering, engineering and information technology. In 1993, he received a direct commission in the U.S. Navy through the Reserve Engineering Duty Officer Program.
Huan Nguyen was promoted to rear admiral in October 2019, at the time the highest-ranking Vietnamese-born officer in the U.S. Navy.
“The images that I remember vividly when I arrived at Camp Asan, Guam, now Asan Beach Park, were of American sailors and Marines toiling in the hot sun, setting up tents and chow halls, distributing water and hot food, helping and caring for the people with dignity and respect,” Nguyen said.
“I thought to myself how lucky I am to be in a place like America. Those sailors inspired me to later serve in the United States Navy.”
— Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on the website Military.com Here’s the direct link: https://www.military.com/history/navys-first-vietnamese-admiral-saw-his-family-killed-infamous-viet-cong-guerrilla.html
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Thanks Robert, good info. “Don’t cry because it’s over, Smi
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As usual the news media only printed half-truths not the whole story but then again the Anti-War activists would have said the whole story was not true. I served 3 tours: Binh Thuy; DaNang; and Camh Ranh Bay but forward located to Ban Me Thout Special Forces camp near the IA Drang Valley supporting LRRP teams as a door gunner on the AF UH-1N Huey’s. Awarded DFC for mission near Dak To 10 Mar 72.
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I salute you sir! L Troop 11th ACR 1967-68
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Thank you for sharing the Admiral’s story. Context is vital to understanding. Sometimes a picture is NOT worth a thousand words.
C Co 5/7 1st Cav 1970-’71
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“Adams’ photo only tells half the story”
Uhm, for me, this article totally turned the story around. I grew up with this photo being an icon for “the injustice od war” or whatever, but now knowing the background I can’t help but see justice being served. A man who shot 6 children does not deserve anything better.
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People should know the whole story.
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He is an inspiring man who has achieved a great deal…..It is gratifying to read about Admiral Nguyen and his story as a refugee here in America. He epitomizes what we should all aspire to, regardless of our status as a citizen. As a Viet Nam Vet I am gratified to know that people like him are here in America serving and protecting this country, he is a great example of what you can achieve when you are determined….
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It is gratifying to read about Admiral Nguyen and his story as a refugee here in America. He epitomizes what we should all aspire to, regardless of our status as a citizen. As a Viet Nam Vet I am gratified to know that people like him are here in America serving and protecting this country, he is a great example of what you can achieve when you are determined….
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Hi, John! What an interesting article. It’s incredible that there is a photo of the event… a little too up close and personal for me. The resilience of that child to survive and go on and thrive and excel the way he did, was simply amazing, and his story made my heart soar! Sometimes, good does come from evil.
Thanks for sharing!
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Brilliant
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Happy to read of the good that resulted instead of all the negative
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I had heard of the promotion before but had no idea about his legacy as a child.
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