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Rear Admiral Tanh Nguon Lam (Retired-RVN), age 89, passed away peacefully in his home in Fredericksburg, Virginia on Sunday, February 11, 2018. He was born on October 18, 1928 in Sadec, Vietnam. Admiral Lam’s life was defined by his love of his family, his deep Catholic faith and his commitment to the military and furthering democracy, especially in his homeland of South Vietnam.
Admiral Lam was a graduate of the Saigon Merchant Marine Academy (1948) and the Republic of Vietnam Naval Academy (1952). He graduated from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California (1958); the U.S. Naval Shipyard Management School in Pearl Harbor (1960); the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island (1965) and the U.S. National Defense Management College in Monterey (1973).
Admiral Lam’s distinguished naval career included posts as Commander of RVN Navy Eastern Riverine Forces Command (1954), Commander of RVN Navy Sea Forces Command and Fleet Command (1955), Commander of RVN Naval Shore Establishments and Schools Command (1959), Commandant of the Saigon Naval Shipyard (1960), RVN Navy Chief of Staff (1963-1965), Deputy to the Deputy Chief of General Joint Chief of Staff for Navy Operations (1965), Commandant and Founder of the RVN Armed Forces Political Warfare College (1965), Vice-Chief of Naval Operations (1970) and finally Chief of Naval Operations (1975). His honors include the National Order of Vietnam, 4th Degree of the Republic of Vietnam.
Admiral Lam and his beloved wife came to the United States in 1975, after the fall of Saigon, first to Newport, Rhode Island, then settling a year later in King George, Virginia. Admiral Lam worked for more than 20 years in a civilian role as a naval architect and engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, where he received numerous performance awards for his work on topside weaponry design for the Aegis combat system.
Over the last two decades, Admiral Lam was an active member of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, attending mass daily and serving in the Knights of Columbus for more than 15 years. He was known for his kindness and quiet demeanor. He took much joy in his Catholic faith, but was most truly happy and at peace when spending time with his family.
Admiral Lam is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Thuy Nguyen Lam; his daughter Mary Lam-Rodrigues and her husband Nishanth Rodrigues and granddaughter Celestina-Ly; his daughter Virginia Lam Abrams and her husband Marc L. Abrams and step-grandson Henry S. Abrams. He is also survived by his children from his prior marriage; son, Trong Lam, his wife Kim Cuong, and granddaughters Valerie Lam and her husband Sherman Miranda and Joceline Lam; daughter, Angela Lam Luu, her husband John Luu, grandson Jonathan Luu and fiancée Joannaly Tapang, and granddaughter Jillian Luu; daughter, Christine Lam Nguyen, husband Thuc Nguyen, and step-grandchildren Melody Nguyen, Martin Nguyen and Camille Nguyen. He is also survived by his sister, Suzanne Lam, his niece Terri Lincoln, her husband Seth Lincoln and their daughters Sarah and Liliana and many other nieces and nephews.
Family, friends and all those whose lives were touched by Admiral Lam are invited to Mullins & Thompson Funeral Home, 1621 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, from 11am-1pm and 6pm-8pm on Wednesday, February 14, 2018 to grieve and celebrate his life. A Roman Catholic funeral mass will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 10:30am at Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, 1009 Stafford Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA 22401. |