Oral History Interview Questions for Fairfax County Asian American Historical Project:

(No need to answer all questions.  You could answer in any way comfortable to you and add information as you wish.

You could send biographies and the bio summary will be included in the website.)

Three Overall Themes for Questions

1.    Life in Fairfax County, Virginia:

Where do you live?

            Prince William County

When and why did you move to Fairfax County?

            Our family moved to Fairfax County in 1980, when I was 16 years old.  On April 29, 1975, my dad came home and took us kids down to the pier where my mom was waiting.  There were seven of us so my dad put five us on a scooter with him and my two older sisters took their bikes and followed behind.  We lived in a military base at the time because my dad was in the South Vietnamese Military, working in the motor pool as a mechanic.  We met our mom at the pier. One by one, my dad threw us up on the boat to my mom.  They didn’t tell us anything; we didn’t know where we were going.  We just knew we were going somewhere far. I was 11 years old at that time. 

            We were picked up by a battleship that took us to the Philippines.  We stayed in a refugee camp.  At the time my dad had a close friend in Annapolis, MD, and he contacted him.  Soon we flew to Guam and then to a Military base, Camp Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.  It was about a six month trip from Vietnam to Annapolis, MD.  We lived in Annapolis, MD from 1975-1980.  We moved to Falls Church because my parents wanted to be closer to the growing Vietnamese community and wanted me to attend a good school. 

Did you experience any unwelcome treatment or hardships that you would like to share? N/A

What kind of support did you receive when you first moved to Fairfax County? N/A

Did you feel welcomed by your neighbors? N/A

Do you think more should be done for new residents to be part of the community in Fairfax County? 

            Yes, but at the time, there weren’t any complaints.  People were happy to have what they had after a life-threatening journey.  Looking back, I think there should have been more, but there wasn’t much expectation.

Are you involved with community organizations in Fairfax County? (for example, PTA, homeowners, service, business organizations, sports groups, clubs) N/A

Has Fairfax County changed since you started living here?

            The Vietnamese businesses started to build into a community.  There wasn’t an Eden Center when I moved here.  Nha Trang on Rt. 50 (by Loehman’s Plaza) was developing, but there were a lot more Vietnamese businesses in Clarendon (Arlington).

What were your life experiences like here in Fairfax County?

Home, Education, Occupation, Church

            I’m the third child in the family, but the oldest son; I have a younger brother and five sisters. My parents were first worried about racial discrimination when we moved to the area, but I never experienced it because I think I did alright adjusting.  I befriended an African American guy, who everyone called a bully. We went to Falls Church High School and I graduated in 1983.  My parents wanted me to go to college, so I started at NOVA, but I had problems studying. Our family practiced Buddhist traditions, but we didn’t really go to temple often.  Because my family needed to focus on surviving, we didn’t spend much time outside of school and work.

What is your fondest memory of your life in Fairfax County?

            I think my fondest memory was my first job in Fairfax County was when I was about 16. I was a cook for this small hotel near

Were you employed while you lived in Fairfax County?

            I started my professional career in 1986.  I met and befriended a security guard at Loehman’s Plaza that worked for a Security Company. He helped me get a job as a security guard. I worked for VANCE International as an armed security guard. I did that for about 2 – 2 ½ years. Then the same friend encouraged me to apply for a job at the Arlington deputy sheriff’s office in 1988.  Later, I applied to the Fairfax deputy sheriff’s office and got hired in 1989. While I was going through training at the academy, I was recruited to the Fairfax County Police Department in 1991 and this is where I am now.

Did you work in Fairfax County -- or did your work affect developments in Fairfax County?

            I think so.  I’m the first Vietnamese-speaking police officer in the department.  There was a time around the early 90s where Asian gangs, especially Vietnamese gangs, were rampant in Fairfax County and I worked with the community to educate them about the problem to help bring down gang activity.

            Also, I think it helps to have Asian looking police officers in the force, because when citizens are in trouble and they don’t speak English well, they can at least feel relieved to see a face that they feel can relate to their cultural needs.  Even though I don’t speak other Asian languages, I can at least try to help the person by contacting someone who does speak his or her language.

How long do you expect to live in Fairfax County?

If you were born outside the US, what are some of your best memories of life/traditions in the land of your birth -- and how did those memories help you in your life in Fairfax County?

            I remember when I was about 10 or 11, right around the time we were going to leave Vietnam, I used to go to a nearby creek with a friend and catch eels.  It was funny. I also remember that there were no toilets in Vietnam.

            I’m not sure how these memories helped my life in Fairfax County.  I never thought about joining the police when I was younger.

What ideas did you have about the United States before you came?

            N/A
What were your first impressions of living in the United States?

Wow!  It’s big… can’t walk anywhere; you have to drive anywhere you want to go.

2.         The Asian American Community and Fairfax County:

Are you a first, second, third, fourth, or fifth generation Asian American?

            First

Has your family experienced generation gap issues related to life in Fairfax County or the US as a whole?  N/A

How important is the Asian American community in your life -- do you celebrate Asian traditions?

            The Asian American community has not really been supportive of me in my life in Fairfax County, primarily because of the cultural traditions of distrust of the government, and in particular the police.  While my passion is to help members of the community live a better life, I don’t think that the Asian community really respected law enforcement officers.  However, I understand and respect their perspective; that’s why I’ve tried to help Asian families understand how the law in America works.  It’s been tough being the minority in the force and not getting the support I need from my community members.  On the flip side, it’s also been hard over the years to get more colleagues to understand Asian cultures, but I see that changing as the Asian population grows… what 16% now in Fairfax County?  That’s more than the Hispanic population.  I don’t think we have 16% of officers who speak an Asian language.

            Regardless, I still celebrate my heritage and Vietnamese traditions in my family, especially for the Lunar New Year.  I try to teach my children about that.

How would you describe the contributions of yourself or the different Asian American communities as a whole, and particularly in their lives in Fairfax County?

            (See answer above)

How important was the Asian American community in helping you get established in Fairfax County?

            None, there wasn’t much help at that time.

Are you involved in groups or activities established primarily by or for Asian Americans in Fairfax County?

            Not really… just the Asian Law Enforcement Society (ALES) in the area.

How would you describe the Asian American community in Fairfax County?

            Not aware of all the issues. Many are still in a survival mode.  Some even break the law knowingly to survive.

3.         Your Legacy and Suggestions:

How would you like to be remembered?

            N/A

What advice would you like to give to the younger generation?

            For the next generation of Asian police officers, I would say, “Speak out!  Stand up for yourself and help other Asians in their career path.  Provide guidance and support.”

What suggestions do you have for the Fairfax County Asian American History Project?

            Raise awareness for the younger generation to know about their history; let them know where they came from.  I also think that there should be more English text or materials about Vietnamese history so the next generation can really learn in a language they are comfortable with.