Vietnam Veterans allowed my family to achieve the American dream

Today is the first National Vietnam Veterans Day in America, which is a special and poignant day for my family and me. Were it not for the bravery and generosity of those Americans who served in Vietnam during the war and immediately afterwards, my family might not be here today. 

When the war in Vietnam came to an end and Saigon fell, my family fled the country by boat to escape persecution when I was only six months old. On the journey, we ran out of fuel and supplies, and our boat was adrift at sea. Fortunately, a U.S. Navy vessel found and refueled us so that we could make it to a Malaysian refugee camp. Thanks to a Lutheran church in Virginia, we eventually made our way to the U.S. and became proud American citizens.

{mosads}My parents worked physically demanding jobs around the clock so that my brother and I could become the first generation in our family to attend college. After graduation, I joined the private sector. But when our nation was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001, I felt the pull of public service.  I wanted to give back to the country that rescued my family and me years earlier.  So, I left the private sector and eventually became a national security specialist at the U.S. Department of Defense. 

Working alongside the men and women at the Pentagon – many of whom served in the Vietnam War – was one of the greatest honors of my life.  Now, as a member of Congress, I have the opportunity to fight for our service members, veterans, and military families.  I am determined to ensure our troops have the resources they need to accomplish their missions and that our veterans receive the care and support they have earned during their service.  

As I have previously written, America’s greatness, born of a unique blend of power and principle, is not an abstract concept to me.  I did not discover it simply from eloquent words on a page or soaring lyrics in an anthem.  Instead, my patriotism is the product of a life lesson, one instilled by U.S. service members bestowing grace upon desperate strangers.

So today, I thank all of our veterans and extend a personal heart-felt thank you to those who served in the Vietnam era.  Regardless of how we might feel about any particular war, we should always support the men and women in uniform who risk their lives in service to our nation.

To the veterans of Vietnam, I say this:  thank you for rescuing my family and giving us the opportunity to experience freedom, to participate in democracy, and to achieve the American Dream. I am forever grateful, and I am working every day in Congress to pay back the debt of gratitude I owe our armed forces, our veterans, and our great country.

Murphy represents Florida’s 7th District.

The views expressed by this author are their own and are not the views of The Hill.