Seeking Honor and Pay

They were phantom commandos, South Vietnamese soldiers trained for use on secret CIA teams, declared dead by the U.S. military after the war ended, and tortured in prison camps for decades.

Now, after struggling to win freedom, immigrate to the United States, and gain reparations from the government, they really are dying.

“He came to the U.S. in September 1996 and died three months later,” said Lieu Duong of Garden Grove, the widow of Nguyen Van Duong, through a translator.

Sunday, 30 of Duong’s fellow Vietnamese commandos--20 of them now living in Orange County--came to the New China Mall from across the West Coast to tell their stories to Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) and the media.

In October, Congress unanimously approved payments of up to $40,000 for each of about 280 commandos. But Pentagon staff have refused to release the money. In the meantime, at least three veterans have died, all of war-related injuries, said their attorney, John Mattes.

At Sunday’s gathering for the commandos, hosted by Sanchez, Duong said her husband, a former CIA commando team member who was imprisoned for 17 years, died at age 55. He was hallucinating and a stroke left half his body paralyzed. His internal organs collapsed because of years of beatings, heavy shackles and other torture, his widow said. Until the end, he hoped for some recognition from the U.S. government for what he had done.

“Of course he wanted the money for his child,” said Lieu Duong, who is raising their 3-year-old daughter alone. “He couldn’t live to see the day, and he was hoping he would.” She receives welfare benefits and is enrolled in a GAIN program to help her find employment when the benefits are cut later this year.

“If this was a B-1 bomber, you can bet the Pentagon lawyers would have found a way to pay the money,” Mattes said. “I apologize to these widows on behalf of America.”

One by one, elderly men rose from their folding chairs and quietly related years of horror in North Vietnamese prison camps, then their battles to stay alive in the United States.

“The U.S. government has already cast me off as dead,” said Cat Bui, 59, of Westminster, who was captured in 1966 and not released until 1982. “I am already blind in one eye, and the other eye is losing too. Please help me.”

Others spoke of being buried alive, and showed scars on their ankles from heavy chains that cut through the flesh to bone. Many beseeched Sanchez to help them obtain medical benefits, back pay, and most important, dignity.

“The fact that the U.S. government has not recognized all our pain and suffering only adds to the torture of the Communists,” said Kien Le, who was imprisoned for 16 years.

“Although money is a valued commodity, the amount cannot pay back the amount of suffering we fought for freedom and democracy.”

“We only want to be honored and respected,” said Hai Ngo of San Jose, imprisoned for 15 years.

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Congress unanimously approved benefits of $40,000 per soldier, or about $11 million total. The legislation was quickly signed by President Clinton. But Pentagon officials have missed a six-month deadline for submitting regulations, and say that one piece of legislation authorized funds while a second piece only “urged” payments without authorizing them. That reasoning baffles Sanchez.

“If Congress votes unanimously, and the president signs it, you would think that means we want it done,” Sanchez said.

But she said to be sure, she would introduce legislation to the House subcommittee on appropriations for national security this week, making “a small technical correction.”

She said identical legislation was introduced in the Senate last week. It is tacked onto “fast track” legislation for peace efforts in Bosnia, according to her chief of staff, Steve Jost, and “could hit the president’s desk by mid-May if everything goes right.”

Sanchez thanked the men for their years of “sacrifice and devotion.”

The hearing was delayed for more than an hour after the veterans and widows refused to go inside until Westminster City Councilman Tony Lam left. Several said they had been told that Lam was doing business with the Communist government in Vietnam.

“Oh my goodness, that’s ridiculous,” said Lam, who waited inside while fellow council members urged the veterans to come in. But after years in captivity, they were not easily moved.

“We are a long time coming here, we can wait,” said Chan Lau, 55, who was imprisoned for 16 years.

After Lam left via a side entrance, they walked inside.

“I only ask the congresswoman to help us as quickly as she can. We need help in any way we can get it, at least to survive the years we should have left,” said Ngai Tran, 60, imprisoned for 18 years.