Over the past week, the Vietnamese community in San Jose, and across the United States, has come together in writing and reflection to mourn the passing of Vũ Văn Lộc (Former Colonel of Republic of South Vietnam), a man whose quiet resolve and lifelong dedication helped shape the Vietnamese community in San Jose, and whose influence continues to be felt across generations and across the Vietnamese diaspora.
For more than five decades, Vũ Văn Lộc committed himself to
a singular purpose: to help a displaced people rebuild their lives with
dignity, and to ensure that their history would not be forgotten. The institutions he envisioned and
founded—most notably the Immigrant Resettlement and Cultural Center (IRCC) and
the Viet Museum—stand today as enduring pillars of San Jose community. At a time when refugees arrived with little
more than memory and hope, these institutions provided not only material
assistance, but also something far less tangible and far more enduring: a sense
of belonging, and the assurance that their experiences mattered.
Shaped by two wars that defined the fate of the nation, he
carried within him a quiet yet profound anguish over the human condition and
the fractured fate of the Viet people divided by civil conflict. Vũ understood that survival alone was
not enough. A community, he believed, must also remember. Through his
writings—marked by human compassion and historical witness—he recorded the
painful refugee journey, the struggle of rebuilding in exile, and the determined emergencof a diasporic
identity. In doing so, he gave voice to stories that might otherwise have been silent,
stories of loss and perseverance, of assimilation and resilience, and of lives
shaped by the long aftermath of war
Many regard the Viet Museum in San Jose as Vũ Văn Lộc’s
most impactful legacy. Built nearly from nothing but humility, sustained by
conviction rather than resources, it stands today not merely as a collection of
artifacts and documents, but as a living space of collective memory. It is also a bridge between past and future shaping identity and historical awareness of the diaspora journey.
The Legacy of Viet Museum Is Under Threat
In recent online discussions, some opinions have suggested that the disputes surrounding the Viet Museum, which began during Advent of 2024 (Christmas 2024), caused profound emotional distress to Vũ during the final months of his life.
During the Advent season of 2024, the community was deeply shocked when Nguyễn Đức Cường and Phan Quang Tuệ publicly made accusations against Vũ, alleging “impropriety” and the theft of IRCC funds, while simultaneously calling for his expulsion from IRCC and the Viet Museum. So far Nguyễn and Phan offered no proof of such accusations.
Subsequently, Nguyễn Đức Cường, Phan Quang Tuệ, Phạm Mỹ
Linh, and Hồ Quang Nhựt , acting in the name of the Board of
Directors, assumed control over the administration of the Viet Museum and IRCC.
These developments caused Vũ great sorrow and adversely affected his health;
not long afterward, he suffered a cerebrovascular stroke. Within 8 months, he passed away from complications.
During this same period, Bill Schroh, Director of History
Park San Jose—the entity contracted by the City of San Jose to manage History
Park—issued a decision, at the request of the board, prohibiting Vũ from continuing to access the Viet Museum premises, while granting access and
operational authority to Cao Hồng, an employee of IRCC who was hired by Vũ.
Vũ sent a letter to Schroh protesting the unlawful denial of
his right to access the Viet Museum, and asserting that the IRCC Board of
Directors led by Nguyễn Đức Cường lacked legitimacy. In light of the ongoing dispute, Schroh
decided to temporarily close the Viet Museum until the conflict could be
resolved.
According to the IRCC Bylaws, IRCC is the legal entity that
owns the Viet Museum. The IRCC Board of Directors is established through annual
elections conducted by its paid members
in accordance with prescribed procedures. The board represented by Nguyễn Đức
Cường and Phan Quang Tuệ did not undergo this electoral process; therefore,
this contested board is neither recognized nor legitimately constituted.
At present, based on public records from the California
Secretary of State, IRCC has a newly elected Board of Directors chosen by the
organization’s members by an election in early 2025. It has assumed governance responsibilities
since then.
The current Chair and President, Quinn Trần—elected by the
IRCC Board of Directors, has repeatedly requested intervention from the San
Jose City Council to facilitate the reopening of the Viet Museum. Trần was former high-tech executive as well
as former Executive Director of the Bay Area Red Cross.
However, the museum has remained closed for nearly a year,
preventing it from participating in commemorative activities and from
continuing to provide communal space during the 50th anniversary of the Fall of
Saigon.
The question of when the Viet Museum can reopen remains a major concern for the community, particularly in light of a recent email from Bill Schroh to IRCC, in which he indicated that another group may be appointed to manage the museum if the current conflict is not resolved.
The Mayor and City Council have chosen to be silent instead of taking responsiblity to open Viet Museum for the public. The staffing the museum were mostly IRCC volunteers and the political power that be has absolute influence to force History Park San Jose to open the museum. San Jose Park & Recreational Services is the agency that holds the contract with History Park San Jose, its management said that they can review its contract with Bill Schroh to see if he has the best interest in serving the community.
Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent, 2025
During Advent, the Catholic Church invites the faithful to
prepare their hearts in anticipation of Christmas, the coming of Christ, who
brings salvation to humanity. The Gospel according to Matthew reminds us:
“For I am gentle and humble of heart; take my yoke upon
you and learn from me, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew
11:29)
Jesus calls those who wish to follow Him into eternity to
live in love, gentleness, and humility. Those who learn from Him and live
according to His teachings will find peace of the soul, a peace that transcends the trials and
tribulations of our daily life.
Although not a Christian, Vũ’s humble and gentle manner
earned him widespread trust, forming the foundation for his tireless efforts to
build a precious legacy for the community.
That legacy is now being eroded by prolonged conflicts in
the final years of his life with individuals whom he once promoted their status in
the community and trusted to support his work upon retirement. Phan Quang Tuệ,
Nguyễn Đức Cường, and Hồ Quang Nhựt are in their mid-80s. Phạm Mỹ Linh, the youngest among them, is about
to turn sixty years old. Cao Hồng is in
his 70s and was an employee hired by Vũ to work for IRCC.
This writing reflects the opinions and sentiments currently
present within the community as they bear witness to a turbulent period of disputes
surrounding a communal symbol. While these assessments must be approached with
fairness and caution, they nevertheless prompt questions on moral and ethical
responsibility toward those who devoted their lives to preserving the shared
memory of the community.
His passing during the Advent season, therefore, is not
merely a loss, but also an invitation to pause and reflect—on how we safeguard
our heritage, how we treat one another, and how we continue the spirit of
sacrifice.
It should be remembered that the Viet Museum, is merely a name placed on physical facility owned by the City of San Jose. The artifacts and documents are the possessions of IRCC. What truly constitutes the Viet Museum does not lie in that physical space or the objects inside, but in the spiritual essence imparted through the quiet sacrifices and steadfast dedication of Vũ Văn Lộc to preserve the community’s heritage and carry it forward across generations.
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