A Superhero Among Us
Military veterans have served in politics throughout our great History. Still, no time like now has it been universally accessible to all veterans and sought after by both ends of the political spectrum.
This year, Hung Cao is one of many military veterans running for political office. I had the distinct honor of sitting down with him over some coffee to discuss his life and hopes for the country we both sacrificed so much to defend.
I’m the type of veteran that believes all who serve and who have served are patriots regardless of branch, occupation, or rank achieved. I never really cared for the “shirt candy” comparisons (medals for those of you unfamiliar with the term) or arguments over who has given more or less in their service. Whether literal, emotional, or mental, we have all given pieces of ourselves. We should all embrace one another as brothers and sisters in the family we chose to be a part of and gladly gave pieces of ourselves.
That being said, there is no denying that the world is considerably safer thanks to men like Hung Cao. A Naval Academy Graduate Hung served as a Deep Sea Diver and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer. His service history is full of heroism, sacrifice, and servant leadership. Men like Hung are living, walking, legit superheroes. And just like any great superhero, he has a unique and inspiring origin story.
I don’t think any of us have been unmoved by the images of Ukrainian refugees desperately seeking safety in Poland and surrounding areas. Women and children have said quick goodbyes to their fathers, husbands, and brothers, not knowing if and when they will see them again and what will become of their lives.
It’s one thing to be moved by these images; it’s another to relate. Hung shared with me the story of how his family immigrated to the United States. Fleeing Vietnam shortly before the fall of Saigon, his mother sewed messages in his clothes to let people know who he was if they became separated.
A man who seemed destined for adventure, it wasn’t long after they arrived in the United States that his family relocated to West Africa. He received a unique and vibrant education in French schools before returning to the United States at 12. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, he decided it was time to give back to the country that had given so much to him and his family.
Now, as a candidate for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, Hung believes, like most Republicans, that the Federal government needs to “…leave Americans alone.” We all have for decades joked at the inefficiency of the Federal government. Yet, many still believe that the answers to our problems lie with the Federal government. Hung believes that most issues should be handled at the state level. Sound familiar? It should; it’s our 10th Amendment, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.”
Whether it be with education, science, or our fundamental rights laid out by our Founding Fathers, Hung believes that the Federal government, for the most part, should stay out of it.
An area Hung Cao does believe the Federal government has a responsibility to manage is the defense of our country. As a former Commander, he quickly related to my frustrations dealing with ever present new social training rooted in the name of diversity, equity, and inclusion. More often than not, these trainings would lack any absolute measurement standard for success, let alone a statement of purpose.
Hung put it perfectly when he told me they are “…dividing us through diversity.” When we all went through our respective service boot camps, we experienced the first and most simple conceptual lesson the military teaches us. Boot camp broke us down into our most simple and basic selves to bring us up as a cohesive unit. A team that supports one another regardless of basic differences like race, gender, or anything else for that matter. Hung believes that the military needs to get back to focusing on training how we fight. Instead, concentrate on the things that unite us, like our flag, service, and duty.
Hung and I recently retired from the military and had plenty in common concerning the trials and tribulations of the transition assistance process. We both experienced the same difficulties with the Veterans Administration, TriCare, Defense Finance, and Accounting Service, and then just in general, the transition from military member to civilian making our way in the world we helped defend. He said he kept thinking, “How does an E4 make it through this system with everything they need and are owed?” So when asked what he would do to make the process better for veterans, his answer was inspiring. He’s not waiting until he’s in office to make an impact. As a veteran, he believes just as I do that we have an obligation to our fellow veterans to do everything we can to help. As a member of the Board of Advisors for ETS Sponsorship, he is working with like-minded veterans to expand a program into Virginia that pairs veterans up with members a year out from their transition. The program is built to bridge the communication gap between the active-duty components, VA, and the states to help elevate veterans from before they transition on beyond. It can feel lonely once you take the uniform off, but this program sounds like a step in the right direction to make sure all veterans know they aren’t alone in this process.
As a veteran with my own future aspirations for political office, I am encouraged by people like Hung Cao. I don’t think being a veteran makes you automatically qualified to lead politically. Still, I do think it gives you a unique sense of what it means to serve. Politicians are meant to serve the people who graciously elect them into their positions of power. Many often forget that point, whereas I like to believe most veterans wouldn’t.
There are a lot of Republican candidates vying for your vote in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District on May 21st. As far as I can tell, all of them are very qualified in various areas, and they all seem like good people. Regardless of who you choose, there is no denying that Hung Cao has an innate natural desire to serve and to make the world around him a better place. While I only recently met Hung, I think ending with these words from Richard Watson Gilder sums him up nicely,
“Better than honor and glory, and History’s iron pen,
Was the thought of duty done, and the love of his fellow-men.”
I wish Hung and the rest of the candidates the best of luck!
