Phung Minh Nguyen

Phụng was born in Sài Gòn, Việt Nam to Nguyễn Văn Sự and Trần Yến on December 20th, 1951. He attended Lasan Đức Minh School, Tân Định, Minh Đức University, and Navy Academy in Nha Trang.

He was a Việt Nam War veteran and served in the Republic of Việt Nam Navy. In 1973, he was selected to attend the prestigious Newport Officer Candidate School, a 20-week US program in Rhode Island that trained South Vietnamese Navy Officers. Upon returning to Việt Nam, he was assigned to HQ 601 (Patrol Motor Gunboat) and other naval assignments until April 30, 1975. Following the Fall of Sài Gòn, he survived almost four years in a “re-education” camp. On June 21, 1980, Phụng was the navigator of the boat “Group 35 from Sài Gòn”. He helped 34 Vietnamese refugees (including three of his younger siblings, Mẫn, Phượng, and Hương) escape Việt Nam. They arrived in Manila, Philippines on June 26, 1980, and then volunteered working at the refugee camp in Palawan, Philippines. Phụng was put in charge of the operations section. He also helped as a translator and worked closely with Sister Pascale Lê Thị Tríu. They later arrived to the United States on February 12, 1981. He married Bích Vân Thị Nguyễn on August 27, 1983, in Liège, Belgium.

He worked as a field technician for Xerox for over 30 years. He joined the Knights of Columbus (KoC) and became a 4th degree member and Past Grand Knight of KoC Council 9655. Phụng was an active member of the Holy Martyrs of Việt Nam Church. He was a founding member of the Lasallian Alumni Association of the Washington Metropolitan area. He was a supporter of Boy Scouts of America- Troop 904, where all four of his sons were scouts.

Phụng is survived by his wife Bích Vân Nguyễn; five children: Alexander, Benjamin and his wife Marian, Catherine, Daniel, and Edward; two grandchildren: Sylvia and Thiago.

Pallbearers will be: Alexander Nguyễn, Benjamin Nguyễn, Daniel Nguyễn, Edward Nguyễn, Duy Nguyễn, Christopher Hồ, and Khang Trần.

The family of Phụng wishes to extend our sincere thanks to his health care teams at INOVA Fairfax and August at Leewood Healthcare. They would also like to thank their family and friends. The family is requesting no gifts, only your prayers and presence at the visitation and funeral service.

Visitation will be from 4-8 pm on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at National Funeral Home (7482 Lee Hwy, Falls Church, VA 22042). This will be livestreamed online (https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/3803015823) from 4-5:30 pm.

Funeral service will be held at 10 am on Friday, April 19, 2024 at Holy Martyrs of Việt Nam Church (915 S Wakefield St, Arlington, VA 22204). The service will be livestreamed online (https://cttdva.org/). Burial will follow at 12 pm at the National Memorial Park (7482 Lee Hwy, Falls Church, VA 22042). Arrangements are by National Funeral Home.