FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: July 30, 2014 4:30:00 PM CDT

Division deputy commander to pin first star

FORT HOOD, Texas – Col. Viet Luong, the 1st Cavalry Division deputy commanding general for manuever, will be promoted to brigadier general in a ceremony at 9 a.m., Wed., Aug. 6 at Cooper Field here.

Luong will become the first Vietnamese-born general/flag officer in the U.S. military.

Luong emigrated from Vietnam with his family to the United States in 1975 as a political refugee.  He began his military career upon graduating from the University of Southern California in 1987. 

Media wishing to attend the event click here. 

Colonel Viet Xuan Luong

Colonel Viet Xuan Luong emigrated from Vietnam with his family to the United States in 1975 as a political refugee. He began his military career upon graduating from the University of Southern California.

His first assignment was with 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment at Fort Carson, Colorado, where he served as Rifle Platoon Leader, Anti-Tank Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Maintenance Officer. In 1993, Luong was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and served in the 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, as the Battalion Assistant S-3 (Operations) and Commander of Alpha Company. While commanding Alpha Company, he deployed to Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy as the Commander of the Theater Quick Reaction Force. Following his assignment at Fort Bragg, he was assigned to the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, La., as an Observer Controller.

Following his assignment at JRTC, Luong attended the Command and General Staff College and then was assigned to the Southern European Task Force (SETAF). Luong served as SETAF G-3 Chief of Plans, and the Operations Officer and Executive Officer of 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade, in Vicenza, Italy. During his assignment at Southern European Task Force, Luong deployed to Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina on several occasions as part of the NATO Strategic Response Force.

Following this assignment, Colonel Luong was assigned to Joint Task Force North at Fort Bliss, Tx., where he served as a plans officer and Chief, Targeting and Exploitation Division in support of the Department of Homeland Defense. In 2005, he assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade Combat Team, 82d Airborne Division. During this command, Luong deployed his battalion in September 2005 as the Division Ready Force 1, in support of Operation American Assist, the Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts in New Orleans, and Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08, in support of the War on Terror.

In February 2009, Colonel Luong assumed command of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Rakkasans), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). In January 2010, 3rd BCT deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom 10-11. Following BCT command, Luong attended Stanford University as a National Security Fellow and subsequently served as the Deputy Director, Pakistan Afghanistan Coordination Cell, J5, The Joint Staff.

Colonel Luong holds a degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Southern California and a Master of Military Arts and Science.

Lễ gắn cấp bậc Chuẩn Tướng cho Đại tá Lương Xuân Việt,
Tư Lệnh Phó Đệ nhất Sư đòan Không Kỵ, đặc trách hành quân,
sẽ được cử hành vào lúc 9 giờ sáng, Thứ Tư, ngày 6 tháng 8, 2014, tại bản doanh của Bộ Tư Lệnh Sư Đoàn, Cooper Field, Ford Hood, TX.