H.Res. 528

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 528 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 528

Expressing support for the designation of June 19, 2025, as ``Veterans 
of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Day''.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 20, 2025

Mr. Tran submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Expressing support for the designation of June 19, 2025, as ``Veterans 
of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Day''.

Whereas the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces, or South Vietnamese Armed 
Forces, were formally established on December 30, 1955, by Ngo Dinh 
Diem, the first President of South Vietnam;
Whereas the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces consisted of the Army of the 
Republic of Vietnam, the Republic of Vietnam Air Force, and the Republic 
of Vietnam Navy, which included the Republic of Vietnam Marine Division;
Whereas the duties of those branches included protecting the sovereignty of the 
free Vietnamese nation and the Republic, maintaining the political and 
social order and the rule of law by providing internal security, 
defending the newly independent Republic of Vietnam from external and 
internal threats, and helping to reunify Vietnam, a country that had 
been divided since the Geneva Accords of 1954;
Whereas the Vietnam war brought about the loss of more than 250,000 members of 
the South Vietnamese Armed Forces and more than 58,000 members of the 
United States Armed Forces;
Whereas more than 300,000 members of the United States Armed Forces, and more 
than 1,000,000 members of the South Vietnamese Armed Forces, were 
injured;
Whereas after the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, more than 250,000 members of 
the South Vietnamese Armed Forces were sent to prison camps where many 
spent 18 years or more in captivity, and more than 20,000 died before 
they were released;
Whereas the end of the Vietnam war left the South Vietnamese Armed Forces in 
disarray;
Whereas many military personnel and their family members fled Vietnam to escape 
tyrannical authoritarian rule and oppression, hoping to find democracy 
and freedom in the United States and other free nations;
Whereas they spent months at sea and in jungles, battling hunger, thirst, and 
separation from their families and loved ones;
Whereas many of those who reached the United States found refuge throughout the 
country where they faced socioeconomic challenges, but were determined 
to build new lives here;
Whereas, in the United States, these military personnel continued to fight for 
their home country and the people there;
Whereas they have been a strong voice for democracy, religious freedom, and 
human rights in Vietnam, and have contributed culturally and 
economically to American society and to the diversity of our Nation;
Whereas these veterans were fighting side-by-side with American troops against a 
common enemy and risked their lives to save many American lives;
Whereas all veterans who risked their lives fighting for freedom in the Vietnam 
war should be honored for their distinguished service and for the 
contributions they continue to provide to the United States as American 
citizens;
Whereas annually Vietnamese Americans around the world recognize the Republic of 
Vietnam Armed Forces Day on June 19, and this year, 2025, marks the 60th 
anniversary of this annual commemoration;
Whereas thousands of veterans of the South Vietnamese Armed Forces now reside in 
the United States and participate in activities sponsored by American 
veterans, including Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Independence Day; 
and
Whereas the members of the South Vietnamese Armed Forces who paid the ultimate 
sacrifice for their nation, and those who have contributed greatly to 
the development of American society, deserve to be honored and 
recognized: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of ``Veterans of the Republic 
of Vietnam Armed Forces Day'', in remembrance of the soldiers 
who sacrificed their lives for freedom and democracy; and
(2) honors the victims, survivors, activists, and freedom 
fighters of the Vietnam war.
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