• Home
  • Archives
    • USMA Leaders Through History
    • The Vietnam War
    • Combatting Terrorism
    • Soldier to Citizen: Life After the Service
    • Honor And Integrity
    • Brent Scowcroft Series in Military History
    • Iraq and Afghanistan War Archive
  • Interviews
  • About
    • About the Center
    • Center News
    • Our Supporters
    • Our Leadership
    • Contact Us
The West Point Center for Oral History
  • Home
  • Archives
    • USMA Leaders Through History
    • The Vietnam War
    • Combatting Terrorism
    • Soldier to Citizen: Life After the Service
    • Honor And Integrity
    • Brent Scowcroft Series in Military History
    • Iraq and Afghanistan War Archive
  • Interviews
  • About
    • About the Center
    • Center News
    • Our Supporters
    • Our Leadership
    • Contact Us

“If You Lose Your Country, You Lose Everything”: A Vietnamese Intelligence Officer Immigrates To America

Anthony Dung Luu

Description

Anthony Dung Luu was born in Hanoi in 1951, and moved to Saigon in 1954. His grandfather was a lawyer for the High French Court, and his parents worked for the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Communication. He joined the Army of the Republic of Vietnam in 1972 as a Military Intelligence Officer, and after training, served in the IV Corps Area in the Mekong Delta. He felt the budget cuts in 1973, and in April of 1975 he was responsible for coordinating the evacuation from Saigon. After the end of the war, he responded to a call for ARVN Officers to report, and that turned in to six years in a reeducation camp, two years in the south, and four years in the north. He was finally released in 1981, and in 1983 he fled to Thailand, eventually taking a flight from Bangkok to San Francisco. In this interview, he talks about his childhood, growing up in Vietnam, his impression of the American involvement in South-East Asia, and his own service. He describes his experiences as a Military Intelligence Officer, and the fall of Saigon. He discusses his time in reeducation camps, and his escape to Thailand. Finally, he reflects on being a man without a country, and his hope to be recognized as a Veteran in his adopted country.

Video Details Interview Date:20-Jun-18
Interviewer:David Siry
Biographical Details Name:Anthony Dung Luu
Branch:Military Intelligence
Service Start:1972
Service End:1975
Additional Resources
The West Point Center for Oral History Logo

About
Contact

How You Can Help

The West Point Center for Oral History is a privately funded organization that relies on the generosity of donors. When you click on the link below, you will be taken to the West Point Association of Graduates website and instructions on how to give to the Center. We appreciate your generosity! Support The Center

Stay Informed

Be the first to know! Sign up now to get updates and email alerts when new interviews are released. Join the West Point Center for Oral History's Pipeline Alert.

"*" indicates required fields

© 2026 · West Point Center for Oral History   |   West Point Department of History   |   U.S. Military Academy   |   U.S. Army