On Friday evening, September 13, College of the Ozarks hosted the USS David Ray Reunion, in the Henry R. Herold Room at The Keeter Center. Organized by U.S. Navy Veteran Kirk Klingler, the event also featured Dr. Lloyd Nguyen, associate professor of criminal justice at College of the Ozarks. Martin “Marty” Simonich, another veteran visiting the Branson area for the reunion, opened Friday evening’s gathering by sounding the boatswain’s whistle.
The dinner honored sailors serving on the USS David Ray, as seen through the eyes of Vietnamese refugees who were rescued from inevitable demise or faced the possibility of re-education camps or the restrictions of living under a communist regime. The attendees included several veterans local to southwest Missouri, including Springfield and Joplin, as well as some traveling from other states. “This event can be summarized in one word: Gratitude,” said Klingler in his introductory remarks, referring to John 3:16 and the example set by Jesus Christ.
The USS David R. Ray (DD-971) was a Spruance-class destroyer named for U.S. 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; Ray was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in continuing to aid other wounded soldiers after being wounded himself. The Spruance Class Destroyers are Anti-Submarine Warfare platforms to protect Carrier Battlegroups and the Fleet in general from enemy submarines. The USS David R. Ray was commissioned in 1977 in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and decommissioned in February 2002, in Everett, Washington.
One of the USS David R. Ray’s memorable stories, referred to as the Humanitarian Event, took place in 1981 when the ship rescued approximately 50 Vietnamese refugees from a boat in the South China Sea. They were out of fuel, water and food, and almost out of time, when the rescue took place.
The boat’s captain, Captain Seaquist, was scheduled to attend Friday’s event but was unable to do so due to a death in the family. Fifteen refugees or family members were able to attend, however, and all have expressed their deep gratitude for the USS David R. Ray crew’s actions in saving their lives and allowing them a life of freedom and opportunity in the United States.
The September 13 event was personally significant for Professor Nguyen, who was among many other Vietnamese refugees saved by the U.S. military. Following the fall of Saigon in 1975, Nguyen, then seven years old, and his family were among those rescued from the threat of being sent to re-education camps under the communist regime, which would have meant inevitable death for anti-communist and/or pro-American Vietnamese.
Dr. Nguyen has been a member of the College of the Ozarks faculty since June 2023, following a distinguished career in law enforcement and military service. He retired as a captain after 27 years with the Orange County Sheriff's Department, and also served four years of active duty with the United States Marine Corps. His decision to serve was inspired by the example of Marines at Camp Pendleton and their amazing hospitality to the Vietnamese arriving in the U.S. He recalls his mother telling him, “Those soldiers fought for us, and some died.” He also served 11 years in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, which he says was motivated after the terrorist events of September 11, 2001, by the desire to do something more for the country he loves.
“Had it not been 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,’” said Nguyen. In conversation with Globe staff prior to the event, he shared that he would have been a “double whammy” in terms of being considered an enemy of the regime. The family were Christians, as were many Vietnamese who encountered Catholicism due to French colonization influence, but he was also considered an undesirable Amer-Asian as his biological father was Caucasian, working as a chemical engineer, and his mother worked at the American embassy.
Now in his current position, he reflects often on the grace of God and the dedication of the American military, allowing him to hold a job where he can share his personal experience with students, helping them develop Christ-like character while learning skills to serve their country and communities.
Following Dr. Nguyen’s remarks, Navy veteran Tony Perez, who served in the helicopter detachment, shared about the training flight from the ship which resulted in finding the refugee boat. Thanking those present for reaching out and attending, he reiterated the importance of the U.S. military in giving refugees an opportunity they would have otherwise not lived to experience. Marty Simonich shared similar thoughts, saying the lives saved by U.S. soldiers and sailors mean that no Vietnam veteran should consider his or her service to have been in vain. Each of those lives is someone who has the opportunity to practice the Christian faith and develop skills to contribute meaningfully to their country, something they would not have seen under communism.
Kirk Klingler enlisted in the U.S. Navy during his senior year of high school in 1976, reporting for active duty in September 1977. After serving aboard the USS Sellers DDG-11 for 18 months, Klingler returned to San Diego for his C Schools. He reported aboard the USS David R. Ray in November 1980 and was a member of the crew involved in the 1981 rescue. Following honorable discharge in July 1983, Klingler enlisted in the Navy Reserves from 1984 to 1986. He is now active in the American Legion and conducts Veterans Oral History Interviews for the Missouri Veterans History Project, Boonville Chapter.
“This event is unique as these one-time refugees, including those saved by our crew, became proud patriotic Americans,” said Klingler. “Now they want to show their gratitude.”
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