TBS 2-67 Cruisebook_Updated_7Jan23

Tran Dinh Thuy
Vietnamese Marine Corps
Skip Stephenson was Tran Dinh Thuy's TBS
Roommate. Here he relates his remembrances as well
as recent communications:
My TBS roommate was Tran Dinh Thuy. I reported on
him in an earlier email to several members of our TBS
Class, and repeat it here: "Thuy and I had little
communication in our room at the BOQ. He spoke
almost no English, and seemed remote and
uninterested in any personal relationship. In
retrospect, I wish I had been more patient and
accommodating with him, given that it was him in the
unfamiliar environment.
Fourth Platoon
So, it was with some apprehension that I made the call
to him (1/1/19). To my relief and delight, he
immediately shouted my name, drawing a laugh from
both of us. His English is passable now, and his
granddaughter listened in, to clarify as needed.
After returning home to Vietnam in 1967, Thuy was
seriously wounded for a second time as a rifle
company commander in the Saigon area, and
medically-retired in 1970. He operated a small retail
shop until the fall of the RVN in 1975. Even though not
on active duty, he was sent to a “re-education camp”
north of Saigon for an undetermined term, and was
released in 1983. It was a difficult time for him, with
hard work, poor food and no contact outside the
camp. He managed to emigrate to the U.S. in 1991,
settling in Manassas, VA, where he lives today. Prior
to his retirement four years ago, he was an assembly
line worker at a company which built home cable
boxes. His health is “not good” at age 78, but he is
happy with his four kids and six grandkids, all
nearby.
He got a kick out of the fact that I live relatively close
to “Little Saigon” in SoCal, and that I took my wife and
daughter to Vietnam in 2007 with a group of fellow
USNA Marines, where we visited various sites from 40
years before. Of the ten RVN Marines from 2-67, 4
survive, all living in the U.S. I intend to stay in touch
with Thuy, and offered any assistance to him that
could be helpful. He was aware of the upcoming TBS
reunion, but will have to be in Paris at that time for
personal reasons, he said.
One final comment. See if this recollection of mine is
yours, as well: When the RVN Marines arrived at 2-67,
4‐39