IN MEMORY OF COLONEL PHAN VAN HUXN

IN MEMORY OF COLONEL PHAN VAN HUXN

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 51 (Friday, March 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 51 (Friday, March 20, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E248] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] IN MEMORY OF COLONEL PHAN VAN HUXN _____ HON. DEREK TRAN of california in the house of representatives Friday, March 20, 2026 Mr. TRAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a renowned commander, distinguished veteran, and principled hero, Colonel Phan Van HuMn of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. Colonel HuMn, a fixture in the Orange County Vietnamese American community, passed away on March 10, 2026, in Santa Ana, California at the age of 96. Colonel Phan Van HuMn was born in 1930 in Thura Thien, HuI, Vietnam. On October 1, 1953, following a national mobilization order, he enlisted in the military and attended Class 10 at the Vietnam National Military Academy in Da LAt. Following his graduation, he quickly established himself as a capable leader, eventually becoming commander of the 81st Airborne Ranger Group (Lien Doan 81 Bist Kich Nhay Du). The 81st Airborne Ranger Group was one of the Republic of Vietnam's elite special operations formations, and specialized in small-team airborne insertions, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and deep- penetration missions behind enemy lines. During Colonel HuMn's time as commander, the 81st Airborne Ranger Group earned a reputation as one of the most effective fighting units of the South Vietnamese military. The unit played important roles in several major campaigns, including the 1968 Tet Offensive, and at both An Lrc and QuVng TrG during the North Vietnam's 1972 Easter Offensive. Colonel HuMn's courageous leadership at the siege of An Lrc earned him a promotion to the distinguished rank of Colonel. Colonel HuMn was widely respected as an honest and principled officer who simultaneously placed great importance on discipline while caring deeply about the welfare of his soldiers. He was known for paying close attention to his soldiers' living conditions, morale, and recovery after combat operations, and it was his dedication that allowed the 81st Airborne Ranger Group to become known as a highly capable and battle-hardened unit. In 1975, when President DUTng Van Minh ordered the South Vietnamese Armed Forces to surrender, Colonel HuMn remained with his soldiers and was imprisoned for 13 years in hard-labor reeducation camps in Northern Vietnam. In 1988, he was released from prison in poor health due to the harsh conditions of imprisonment and lingering wounds from his military service. For the next four years, Colonel HuMn and his family lived in hardship in Ap TMn Thai STn near TMn Phu, TMn Binh District, before resettling in the United States under the Humanitarian Operation program in 1992. Colonel Phan Van HuMn is survived by his wife, Le Thi Thanh Nguyet, and their children, Dinh Van Phan, Andy Loc Phan, Son Van Phan, My Van Phan, Kevin Phan, Mimi Phan, Ann Phan, and Kristin Thuy Phan. Colonel HuMn's life remains a testament to dedication, sacrifice, and leadership in the service of his country. He will be dearly missed by his friends and family, and his legacy and service will continue to live on in the minds of everyone who has met him. ____________________