Khuong Van Le

Mr. Khuong Van Le was born on May 12, 1927, in Thua Thien, into a traditional Confucian family; his father served as a ninth-ranked mandarin in the Hue court.

As a child, he attended the village primary school. At the age of 15, with the, will to be independent, he left his hometown and moved to Hue to pursue his high school education at Hue Quoc Hoc High School. In 1945, after receiving his High School Diploma, he enlisted in the army - the Viet Binh Doan, during wartime. Despite joining the military, he continued his educational path through self-study to earn a bachelor's degree from the Hue University of Literature. During this time, he met his life partner, Ms. Mai Do.

As a soldier, Mr. Khuong Van Le's life ebbed and flowed with the country's fate. He traveled across the four logistic areas of South Vietnam: from Mang Ca, Dap Da, Thua Thien, along Kinh Hoang Avenue to Dong Ha, Quang Tri; From Da Nang 1st Logistic Area, along 9th Route to Southern Laos during the Operation Lam Son 719. Together, he and his wife raised 7 children and celebrated 76 years of marriage on Feb. 16, 2025. In 1975, when the South fell into Communist hands, Khuong Van Le, then Lieutenant Colonel Chief of Staff of the Tactical Region 1 Logistics Command, was imprisoned in harsh camps located in deep, toxic forests such as Long Giao, Suoi Mau, Rung La, Ba Sao, Cong Troi, and Thanh Phong. After enduring a long, strenuous ten years in prison, he was reunited with his family and immigrated to the United States in June 1992.

Coming to the United States at the age of 65, he worked as an interpreter until retiring at 70. In retirement, he devoted himself to serving the Vietnamese Community of Oregon and participating in religious activities at Our Lady of Lavang Church such as The League of Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Knights of Columbus, remaining an active member until the age of 95. He was always an exemplary officer in the army, a virtuous member of the community, and a gentle and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather in the family.

On February 19, 2025, leaving his loved ones, he returned to the loving arms of God. With a life so full and extraordinary, words fall short of capturing its essence.

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