College of the Ozarks to host USS David Ray reunion celebrating Vietnamese refugees
College of the Ozarks will host the USS David Ray Reunion on Sep. 13, 2024, in the Silver Dollar City Parlor at The Keeter Center. The event is organized by Kirt Klinger and will feature Lloyd Nguyen, associate professor of criminal justice at College of The Ozarks. This event is meant to honor the sailors serving on the USS David Ray as seen through the eyes of Vietnamese refugees who were rescued from inevitable demise. The Vietnamese will share their stories of the re-education camps and powerful perspectives of living under a communist regime.
USS David R. Ray (DD-971) was a Spruance-class destroyer named for United States Navy Hospital Corpsman Second Class David Robert Ray who was killed in action in 1969 while assigned to a Marine Corps artillery unit during the Vietnam War and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The role of the Spruance Class Destroyers, as with many of the destroyers and frigates in the U.S. Navy, are Anti-Submarine Warfare platforms to protect Carrier Battlegroups, and the fleet in general, from enemy submarines. USS David R. Ray (DD-971) was commissioned Nov. 19, 1977, in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The David R. Ray was decommissioned in February 2002 in Everett, WA.
Many stories will be told during the reunion, including a story from David “Bobby” Ray. Ray was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his sacrifices to keep his Marines alive during the attack that took his life on March 19, 1969.The second story is the Humanitarian Event in 1981, when the ship rescued approximately 50 Vietnamese refugees from a boat in the South China Sea. They were out of fuel, water, food and almost out of time when the rescue took place. The captain of the boat will be at the reunion. The crew wishes to express their deep gratitude for the rescue that was provided to them by the USS David Ray.
Nguyen has been a dedicated member of the College of the Ozarks faculty since June 2023, bringing an abundance of experience from a distinguished career in law enforcement and military service. Retiring as a captain after 27 years with the Orange County Sheriff's Department, Nguyen also served four years of active duty with the United States Marine Corps and 11 years in the United States Air Force Reserves.
This event holds personal significance for Professor Nguyen, who was among the Vietnamese refugees saved by the U.S. military. Following the fall of Saigon, Nguyen and his family were among those rescued from the threat of being sent to "re-education camps" under the communist regime, a fate that would have led to death for many anti-communist and pro-American Vietnamese.
“Had it not for the saving grace of Jesus and the U.S. military, Vietnamese who were anti-communist and pro-American would have been sent to "re-education camps." This includes my family and me. Death would be the inevitable outcome of the so-called "re-education camp," Nguyen said.
Klinger served eight years in the U.S. Navy. Klinger enlisted during his senior year of high school in October 1976 and reported for active duty at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Sept. 1977. Upon graduation, Klinger was assigned to the USS Sellers DDG-11 for 18 months. His next assignment was to go back to San Diego for his C Schools. Upon completion of C School, Klinger chose to report aboard the USS David R Ray in Nov 1980 until Klinger was honorably discharged in July 1983. He returned home and then enlisted in the Navy Reserves from 1984 to 1986, assigned to the USS Downes FF-1070. Klinger is active in the American Legion and conducts Veterans Oral History Interviews for the Missouri Veterans History Project, Boonville Chapter, for the past 10 years.
“This event is very unique as these one-time refugees were saved by our crew. They came to America, became proud patriotic Americans, and now want to show their gratitude,” Klinger said.
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