A Navy veteran who died from leukemia at the age of 22 was buried without his mother at his side after she was twice denied a visa to attend his funeral.
Ngoc Truong, who was born in Vietnam but lived in Arkansas and was a US citizen, served four years as a machinist’s mate aboard the USS John McCain before leaving the service in October last year.
He moved to Florida to study graphic design but shortly afterward was diagnosed with leukemia before passing away on December 17.
While father Hung Truong made preparations for his funeral, his mother – who is divorced and still lives in Vietnam – was trying to get a visa.
She applied twice for permission to attend her son’s funeral, and was turned down both times according to WREG.
Eventually Truong was buried on December 26 without his mother present. On his grave were the words of John F. Kennedy: ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.’
Hung said: ‘He’s already done for this country, but what has this country done for him? What did this country do for him?’
The episode left the jewelry store owner, who lives in Blytheville, ‘fuming mad’.
Hung added that he has no idea why the visa was denied, and the State Department has refused to shed any light on it, saying all visa documents are confidential.
SOURCE: Daily Mail, Chris Pleasance