A Sense of Duty
by Quang
Mentioned once across 1 show · first heard Nov 2025 on Becoming UnDone.
The general take
Quang X. Pham describes A Sense of Duty as a meaningful work exploring family, the Marine Corps, and making sense of the Vietnam War, along with his personal reunion with his father. He uses the book as evidence of his broader ambitions as a writer, wanting to prove he wasn't just a one-hit wonder after its 2005 release.
About
A memoir by a former Vietnamese refugee who became a U.S. Marine, Quang Pham’s A Sense of Duty is an affecting story of fate, hope, and the aftermath of the most divisive war the United States has ever fought. This heartfelt salute to the spirit of America is also the account of the author’s reunion with his long-absent father, Hoa Pham, himself a devoted officer who saw combat firsthand as a South Vietnamese fighter pilot. Hoa’s revelations about his wartime experience leave Quang even more conflicted about his service in the Marines in the first Gulf War, and after years of struggling to reconnect with each other and the homeland they left behind, the two set out on a final, profound quest—to make sense of the war in Vietnam.
Who said what
Quang X. Pham👍 Recommends
…discussing quang's published books and writing career
“So in 2005, A Sense of Duty came out. That's about family, Marine Corps, trying to find out, make sense of the Vietnam War and reunite with my father. So I always didn't want to be a one-hit wonder, one-time author.”
Becoming UnDone — 140 | From Refugee to CEO: Quang X. Pham's Journey of Grit, Toughness, and Effortat 41:05
Listener reviews
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