Danh Van Duong

Born on Sept-21-1945 in rural county of Thanh Phu, Province of Ben Tre, Vietnam, during the chaotic time that the entire country of Vietnam was alternately ruled by the French Army then Japanese and back to French, his birthdate was incorrectly recorded, hence on paper, it was shown as Oct-13-1948.
After high school graduation and passing of the national Baccalaureat exam, April -1968 he entered the Republic of South Vietnam Officer Academy in Thu Duc, Vietnam, graduating on Nov-01-1968. He then moved on and enlisted in the Army Artillery Training Institute in Duc My, Nha Trang, VN.
In 1969 he was assigned to serve in the 211th Artillery Battalion of the 21st Army Division with official rank of Second Lieutenant.
During the Vietnam War era, while stationing in Kien Thien, Province of Chuong Thien, his artillery platoon under his leadership fiercely fought and successfully defeated the swamp attack of the North Vietnamese Communist troops. He was injured in this fight though. As a result he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Danh V Duong got married to his wife of 52 years Mrs Truong Thi Kim Chi on Jan-15-1974. By the end of this year, he was reassigned to station in Mocay and promoted to be Artillery Company Commander.
His first daughter was born 2 and a half months before the downfall of the South Vietnam regime on April-30-1975.
On April – 30 -1975, like many other former officers of the South Vietnam Military, he was sent to a "goulag" type of camp in Ben Tre province for the so-called "re-education" purpose. (Truly, it was a way for the Communist rulers to take revenge on the ones who served in the army that fought against them).
After three years languishing in the camp, he was released in June 1978. Going back home tattered, empty-handed, he had to labor real hard to earn the living for him and his family while being constantly harassed, threatened by the ruling local officials. With strong love for his family with 4 young children, he's willing to work all kinds of jobs, from rice farmer, to scavenge vendor or rickshaw driver
Life took a turn for brighter future when the family was sponsored under the Humanitarian Orderly program which helped bring all the families of the former Republic South Vietnam Army officers who were literally imprisoned in the "re-education" camps to the US. On June-24-1993 Mr. Danh Duong and his family were resettled in Connecticut, USA.
A new life in a new country did not come easy as one might have expected. Coming to America with language barrier, cultural difference, next to nothing in possession, Mr Danh and his wife went through a very tough time adjusting and struggle to make ends meet while caring for their four young children who now are grown, college educated and having families of their own without having to experience what their parents had been through.
Mr. Danh Duong officially retired in Oct-2009.
Being a former officer and an ardent supporter of the democracy, Mr. Danh actively participated in all activities of the Vietnamese Refugees communities in Connecticut. He was:
-Member of the Vietnamese Association of former Political Prisoner in Connecticut.
-Two term president of the Vietnamese Mutual Association in CT.
-Vice president of the Association of The Former Republic Vietnam Soldier in CT.
-Member of the Thu Duc Republic of South Vietnam Officer Academy Alumni Association.
-Member of the Board of executives of The Vietnamese Nationalist Association.
Being stricken with terminal illness since May – 2025, Mr. Danh Duong was always optimistic and enduring. With a good sense of humor, he often brought laughter to anyone he met while suffering a lot of pain and tiredness. An enthusiast of fishing and Passionist of gardening, even when being wheel-chair bound, he often talked about fishing, gardening and asked for viewing of the flowers & plants that he cared for and placed in the side room in the back of the house. Under his wish, he was baptized at home to be a Catholic on Jan-01-2026 by Fr. Andy Mai of St. Gianna Parish.
Despite the best effort of all doctors from UCONN HEALTH and the loving care of his wife & children, the illness finally overcame his will to fight and Mr. Danh Duong gave the last breath at 7:58 AM on Jan-21-2026 at his home in Avon, CT. surrounded by most of his family members.
Mr. Danh Duong is survived by his loving wife Truong Thi Kim Chi, Daughters: Duong thi Kim Trinh, Duong Thi Kim Trang,Sons: Duong Tri Nhan, Duong Tri Nha and 7 grandchildren.
The world has lost a great man with great passion for life and great love for his family. May he Rest In Peace.
SO LU C TI U S ÔNG DUONG VAN DANH
Ông Duong Van Danh sinh ngày 21 tháng 09.nam 1945 t i Qu n Th nh Phú, T nh B n Tre (Ki n Hoà) Vi t Nam. Ông h c b c Ti u h c Qu n Gi ng Trôm, T nh Ki n Hoà, và h c b c Trung h c t i tru ng Trung H c Công L p Ki n Hoà, T nh Ki n Hoà.
Sau cu c t ng t n công c a C ng S n B c Vi t vào các t nh, thành mi n Nam Vi t Nam trong T t M u Thân, ông Duong Van Danh dã tình nguy n nh p ngu d chi n d u ch ng l i s xâm lang c a C ng S n B c Vi t.
Tháng 4 nam 1968: Ông Danh th hu n khoá 2/68 Si Quan Tr B qua các quân tru ng Quang Trung và Tru ng B Binh Th c.
Ngày 1 tháng 11 nam 1968: T t nghi p khoá Si Quan Tr B v i c p b c Chu n Uý Ch L c Quân.
Tháng 11 nam 1968: Th hu n khoá 2/68 Can B n Pháo Binh t i Tru ng Pháo Binh Quân L c VNCH, D c M Nha Trang.
Nam 1969: sau 5 tháng h c t p, r i tru ng Pháo Binh, ông Duong Van Danh v ph c v t i Ti u oàn 211 Pháo Binh thu c Su oàn 21 B Binh.
Ngày 1 tháng 5 nam 1970, ông Danh du c thang c p Thi u Uý.
Trong khi trú dóng t i Chi Khu Kiên Thi n, T nh Chuong Thi n, trung d i pháo binh 105 ly do ông Duong Van Danh ch huy và m t trung d i pháo binh 155 ly thu c Su oàn 21 tang cu ng, dã c'ng v i các l c lu ng a Phuong Quân, Nghia Quân, và C nh Sát Qu c Gia s t i anh dung chi n d u d y l'i cu c t n công bi n ngu i c a m t trung doàn C ng S n B c Vi t. Ông Duong Van Danh dã b thuong trong tr n dánh này.
Ngày 1 tháng 5 nam 1972, ông Duong Van Danh du c thang c p Trung Uý.
Nam 1973, ông Danh thuyên chuy n v ph c v t i Trung i Pháo Binh Di n a tr n dóng t i Chi Khu Bình i, Ti u Khu Ki n Hoà.
Ngày 15 tháng 1 nam 1974, ông Duong Van Danh k t hôn c'ng cô Truong Th Kim Chi dang là n sinh c a Tru ng Trung H c Công L p Bình i và là ái n c a ông bà ch m t hi u kim hoàn t i qu n l Bình i.
Cu i nam 1974, Trung Uý Danh du c chuy n v trú dóng và y m tr cho Chi Khu Mõ Cày, sau dó du c thang ch c i i Tru ng Pháo Binh.
Sau khi ông bà Danh và Kim Chi có ngu i con gái d u lòng du c 2 tháng ru i thì x y ra bi n c 30 tháng 4 nam 1975.
30-5-1975: Ông Duong Van Danh b C ng S n dua vào "Trung Tâm Qu n Hu n Huong M " t i T nh B n Tre. ây là m t trong hàng tram nhà t' lao d ng kh sai Vi t Nam, noi mà C ng S n Vi t Nam g i là "Tr i C i T o", d giam gi dày i hàng tram ngàn quân nhân, công ch c, c nh sát, cán b Xây D ng Nông Thôn, và các viên ch c Xã, p thu c chính quy n mi n Nam Vi t Nam.
Tháng 6 nam 1978: Ông Duong Van Danh du c tr t do.
V i thân ph n là ngu i c a ch d VNCH, b chính quy n d a phuong tr' d p, làm khó d ông Danh dã ph i c t l c làm nhi u ngh khác nhau nhu làm ru ng, bán hàng rong, ch y xe lôi máy ch khách, trong khi v ông cung bày bán chút ít hàng t p hoá tru c c a nhà d nuôi n ng các con còn nh d i.
24-6-1993: Ông Duong Van Danh và gia dình g m v và 4 ngu i con d n M d nh cu. V i hai bàn tay tr ng và v n li ng ti ng Anh ít i khi m i d n M ông Duong Van Danh và v dã làm vi c c c nh c nuôi n ng 4 ngu i con an h c thành tài, có s nghi p v ng vàng.
Tháng 10 nam 2009: Ngh huu.
Ông Duong Van Danh là ngu i r t nhi t tình tham gia các sinh ho t c a ngu i Vi t t n n C ng S n t i Ti u Bang Connecticut. Ông dã t ng là:
Thành viên H i C u T' Nhân Chính Tr t i Connecticut,
H i Tru ng H i Tuong Tr Ngu i Vi t t i Connecticut trong hai nhi m k
Phó H i Tru ng N i V H i Chi n Si Vi t Nam C ng Hoà t i Connecticut,
Thành viên H i Sinh Viên Si Quan Tr B Th c t i Connecticut,
Thành viên H i ng Qu n Tr C ng ng Ngu i Vi t Qu c Gia
Ông Duong Van Danh m c b nh n ng t d u tháng 5 nam 2025, du c s ch a tr t n tình c a các v bác si, y tá trong B nh Vi n UCONN HEALTH và s cham sóc r t ân c n, chu dáo c a bà Truong Th Kim Chi và các con.
Ông Duong Van Danh dã ra di trong bình an, bên c nh nh ng ngu i thân yêu nh t, t i tu gia Avon, Connecticut, vào lúc 7:58 sáng th Tu, 21 tháng 1 nam 2026.
Ông ra di, d l i tr n gian ngu i v hi n Truong Th Kim Chi, 2 con trai, 2 con dâu, 2 con gái, 2 con r và 7 d a cháu N i, Ngo i th t ngoan hi n.
Xin c u nguy n linh h n I nha xi ô Duong Van Danh s m du c hu ng nhan thánh Chúa.