Thanh Tran

Our father was born in Cần Đốt, Long An Province. He was the sixth child in a family of nine siblings. His parents were middle-class farmers, and the family followed the traditional Cao Đài faith. As a child, our father studied elementary school in his hometown. For secondary school, he boarded in Tây Ninh Province. After passing high school, he was admitted to Đại Học Sư Phạm Sài Gòn School, and upon graduation in 1960, he was assigned to teach at a high school. When he reached the age for military service, he attended the 14th class of Thủ Đức Reserve Officers’ Training School and was selected for the Signal Intelligence Service. He then studied signals and communications at the Signal Intelligence School. After training, he was assigned to Hậu Nghĩa Province as Chief of the Provincial Signal Intelligence Center. After a few years, he was transferred to Long An Province, also as Chief of the Provincial Signal Intelligence Center. Besides his military duties, because of his love for teaching, our father also taught part-time at Tư Thục High School in Long An. By fate, he met our mother when she attended the college preparatory course for the University entrance exam. They fell in love and married in 1969. As the war grew increasingly fierce, our father was transferred to Bình Dương Province, overseeing communications for the provinces of Bình Dương, Bình Long, Phước Long, and Lai Khê until 1975.

After the war, our family relocated back to Long An where he presented himself for re-education camp. He spent three years enduring hardship while separated from his wife and family. Following his release and reuniting with his family, our parents planned their escape to freedom. He and two of his daughters, Luvien and Thanhvien, attempted many escapes before finally succeeding in 1979. Their journey to freedom brought them to Oklahoma in 1980 through the sponsorship of his cousin, and later to Santa Clara and Sunnyvale in 1981, where they would build their new life. Despite the challenges of starting over in a new country, Dad’s commitment to his family never wavered. In America, our father initially intended to complete a bachelor degree, but he was only able to attain an AA degree as he needed to work to provide for his family. As a technician at Lam Research until his retirement in 2005, he often worked long hours and took on second jobs: delivering for Domino’s Pizza, delivering newspaper or working as a waiter…sometimes working seven days a week to ensure his family was provided. He rarely took vacations and the vacations he took with family were simple but memorable: camping trips, visits to Disneyland, a trip to New York, and countless picnics near local water where he could indulge in his favorite hobby: fishing. His passion for fishing got him on the front page of the Pittsburg’s local newspaper for the biggest sturgeon catch. More than a hobby, fishing was Dad’s way of creating special memories with family. He often took us on fishing trips for our birthdays, holidays and their wedding anniversaries.

Dad was truly a silent fighter throughout his life, facing struggles with grace and determination that amazed all who knew him. In 2005, a boating accident nearly claimed his life, but his fighting spirit prevailed, blessing us with another twenty precious years together. In 2022, when doctors gave him no more than six months to live due to aspiration, he defied all odds once again, gifting our family three more years of irreplaceable memories. Throughout his pain and suffering, he never complained, carrying his burdens with the quiet dignity that defined his character. Though his final twenty years were marked by health and physical challenges that diminished his quality of life, Dad remained strong to overcome every pain and struggle to be with us. We can always feel his love through his gentle smile. Dad’s love is not measured in words spoken or grand gestures made, but in the countless sacrifices he made and the unwavering dedication for his family. He will be profoundly missed but never forgotten. His strength lives on in each of us.

He is survived by his wife Xương, his daughters, Luvien, Linhvien, and Thanhvien, his son Dat, his son-in-laws Loc and Thach, his daughter-in-law Phuong and his five grandchildren Kyle, Devyn, Reily, Harrison, and Oliver.