Trần Văn Trực, passed away peacefully at home on the evening of March 31, 2026, in Ashburn, Virginia.

Born on December 16, 1938 in Thị Nghè, an eastern suburb of Sài Gòn, Vietnam, to Trần Văn Hiển and Lê Thị Quyến, he was preceded in death by his two older sisters and three older brothers. He is survived by his devoted wife, Dương Thị Vương; his children: Khanh Tran, Quoc Tran, Loan Jellá, and Linh Tran; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

His life was one of service: to his country, his faith in God, and above all, his family. He valued loyalty, education, grit, and freedom, and was known for his strong will and a wicked sense of humor.

Raised during decades of war, he came of age in a divided Vietnam. After the loss of his older brother who refused to align with the communists, he chose to serve his country, first as a pilot in the Vietnamese Air Force and later with the elite Airborne Division of the South Vietnamese Army. In recognition of his service with the United States Air Force Red Marker FAC unit, he was awarded the USAF Air Medal in 1968.  He served with courage until the fall of Saigon in 1975. As the country fell, he made the life-altering decision to leave Vietnam with his family, knowing that staying would likely cost him his life and his future with his family. That decision marked the beginning of a new chapter defined not by war, but by rebuilding.

His journey to the United States took him through refugee camps in Guam and Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, before his family was sponsored by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in New Castle, Pennsylvania. There, he began again with humility and determination, working as a night janitor and enduring long winter walks in unfamiliar conditions. To show respect, he and his family attended services at the Lutheran Church each Sunday in addition to Catholic Mass on Saturday evenings. Seeking more Vietnamese community and warmer weather for his family, he later settled in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Through perseverance, he earned his GED and built a stable career as a machinist, working for Bendix and Siemens for over 20 years until his retirement in 2002. Together with his wife, he created a foundation for his family, ensuring that all four of his children received higher education, a source of deep pride.

His Catholic faith was central to his life. He was an active member of the Vietnamese Catholic community and played a role in helping establish and support the Our Lady of Vietnam Catholic Church in Hampton, Virginia strengthening both faith and community for future generations. He found joy in simple pleasures: tinkering with tools, tending his garden, watching soccer and boxing, and searching for treasures at Saturday morning garage sales. He leaves behind a legacy of resilience, sacrifice, and honor. More than anything, he will be remembered as a man who endured extreme hardship, rebuilt from nothing, and gave his family the opportunity to live a better, more peaceful, and prosperous life. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider planting a tree or making a donation to the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Society: https://donate.redcrossredcrescent.org/ifrc/local-everywhere/~my-donation