by Patricia M. Lee

he destroyer, USS Lang (DD 399), dubbed the “Lucky Lang” because it survived the Pacific conflict in WW II, was the ship my husband, Chuck, served in. Over the years we’ve reunited with shipmates and their families, traveling cross-country to many places in the United States, from California to Rhode Island.

Our reunions have dwindled, providing mostly just wonderful memories, so imagine how thrilling it was to receive an invitation to the first reunion of the second USS Lang (FF 1060), a fast frigate, which served during the Vietnam era.

Frank Mathias, the reunion organizer and our host, who served in FF 1060, chose the Hampton Inn in Annapolis, Maryland, for the reunion. He welcomed us the first evening with a reception at the Hampton, where we met old-time friends and greeted new ones.

“You are all my heroes.”
— Lena Chau-Pun

The days following were filled with activities such as a cruise on the Harbor Queen in the Chesapeake Bay. We also toured the U. S. Naval Academy and visited the chapel where the chaplain held a special memorial service for our deceased shipmates. Then the bell tolled as each member’s name was read. It was a solemn and prayerful time.

Other highlights included a walk round the huge Academy “yard” of interconnecting paths leading to the various buildings. We arrived at the same time as the midshipmen who were celebrating moving up in ranks, and we saw them marching in long lines between buildings — an impressive sight.

Our final evening banquet, at the Yellowfin Restaurant in Annapolis, honored the six vets from DD 399, and presented two very special speakers —Rex Knight, author of the book The Lucky Lang, and Lena Chau-Pun, whose story began in 1981.

Lena was eight years old then, and didn’t speak any English, when her family of five fled Vietnam in a small boat. When the engine lost power, they drifted wherever the waves carried them and became fair game for Thai pirates who roamed the waters. Twice, the pirates boarded their boat, destroying food and water, and searching for valuables. Starvation and dehydration set in after two days and nights. Lena’s father flashed an SOS signal to the ships that passed, but none of them stopped until the captain of the Lang sighted the boat and brought all 43 survivors aboard. A short time after, Lena saw their boat ablaze, sinking into the water. It was a miracle that they were rescued.

The Lang took them to the Philippine Refugee Camp. Later they traveled to the Midwest, and then to Texas, where the family settled.

All of them worked and studied very hard, but they never forgot the captain and men of the Lang. Years later, after learning English and earning a degree in pharmacology, Lena wondered how to get in touch with the crew. Then one day a couple entered the pharmacy and gave her the name of a shipmate to contact.

Lena said, “I am lucky to have been given a chance to live life to the fullest. After all these years, my family and I are living the American dream. You are all my heroes. Thank you.”

This reunion was indeed a sentimental journey.

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