I met chu No on the set of Good Morning, Vietnam. Chu No and his wife, co Kim were parts of the wonderful class, cast by the brilliant casting dir. Marie Rowe. Over the years, our friendships continued, thanks to the common bond Marie has created, marked with meetups over the years in southern California where No & Kim graciously hosted us at their home.
This past week I received news from our friend Marie that No has passed away. Mingle in the sadness of losing another member of the GMVN family, are the beautiful memories that I've cherished for all these years - memories shared in these photos. My thoughts are with Kim and the family...

conflicts and misfortunes, you rose, holding Mom’s hand.  Within this great love, we are blessed and grateful.

We, your children, and others, who have known you, have been made happier and richer by your influence.   We are grateful for having known “one of the best of men.”


You believed there is nothing after death.  I am not strong enough yet to accept that.  I believe an alternative.  As matter and energy cannot be created from nothing nor dissolve into nothing,  I choose to  believe that you metamorphosed into the vibrations of this greater universe and it comforts me in my dark hours to sense your wave-like presence surrounding me, guiding me.  I see you in me.  I see traits of you in your grandchildren.  For this, I am grateful that you are still here in these ways. 

We honor you, beloved father.  We will honor your fervent wish for us to live useful lives, to love and support each other as you did.  I strive in your footsteps, to live the life deserving of the heritage you had passed on to me. I am grateful to have known you and be your daughter. 


To My Dear Father

I’ve come home.  I am wearing your jacket this winter evening, sitting on your couch, trying to compose my thoughts of you.  I am now, as you were many years ago at the passing of your own parents, confronting the severance of this link to my past, to myself, to my being. 

As far back as I can remember, you had always been there.  Every evening during my childhood, you were always at the dining table.  Every morning when homework essays were due, you returned your corrections of my English compositions on time for school.  Every weekend, when you were not playing tennis matches, you were home.  The decades I lived away from home, you were always on this couch greeting me with pleasure as I opened your front door when I returned for visits.  In this way, I was blessed and am grateful.

You said Mom is our rock.  But it was you who held us steady and straightened us up when those inevitable forces in life steered us off course.  You gave us a simple and clear message: be educated because our only path is up.  We are to be masters of our destiny.  This was a non-negotiable expectation.  For this, we were blessed and are grateful.

Never a man of many spoken words, those that you uttered took me decades to glean their wisdom. You were a devout practitioner of the golden rule.  Never did I remember you swear, never did I remember you say unkind things about anyone.  I swore, I said unkind things about others.  Your response was: dear, you are not in his shoes, you do not know what he is going through, be more understanding, be more compassionate, be kind.  Your most repeated line was: live and let live.  I should forgive perceived wrongs and I should go on, free of the burden of negativity.  You led by example of equanimity and patience. For this, we are blessed and grateful. 

You never talked about yourself to us.  I did not know much of the extreme hardships and deprivations you had endured and survived.  You made sure we would not know the same.  

My husband Tom and I worked at FBIS Bangkok Bureau from 1983-1986.  Tom was the bureau engineer and I was the part time admin assistant.  We have fond memories of your Dad.  He had some beautiful wall hangings made of black lacquerware, and brought them to the office.  He asked if anyone was interested in buying them.  My husband  jumped at the chance, and they have been on our wall ever since our return from Thailand.  We also remember the lovely meals we were invited to at your home in Bangkok.   It was in Bangkok that I developed my taste for Vietnamese food.   

I am so sorry to hear about your father's death.  Please accept our deepest sympathy. 


My late husband, Joe Simon, was a bureau chief in Saigon and had many wonderful things to say about Mr. No.  Joe left Saigon for an assignment in Hong Kong and later told me that when Saigon fell he was very concerned about the safety of your family.  Joe said it was a great relief when he learned that they made it safely to Bangkok.
 
Joe and I were married in the early 1980s and were assigned to the Embassy in Bangkok. Although Joe was no longer with FBIS, he still had strong connections to the bureau and I had the privilege of meeting your father.  Joe greatly admired Mr. No's talent as a chief monitor.
 
Of course both your parents are famous for their appearances in "Good Morning Vietnam."  Joe told me a funny story about your mother. During the baseball scene, Mrs. No was told to "go home" after hitting the ball. She took it literally and ran to her house. They kept that scene in the movie (or so I was told.....)
 
Again, my condolences on the death of your father, a very fine man. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.


My deepest condolences to you, your mom and the rest of the family on the loss of your father. I always felt that your dad exuded peace, and I do hope that his passing was peaceful and that he didn't suffer 
 
Both your father and mother have been a wonderful gift in my life, and I've so appreciated being included in Tran family events over the years. I have greatly valued our friendship, and the fact that we've been able to stay in touch since I returned to England. Your dad made this possible with the exchange of emails and updates on your mom's health. Please do give her my love and sympathy at this very sad time. 


Dear Audrey, No's passing away just before his 95th birthday was very unexpected and shocking news to me,  Lately we exchanged messages to each other just  before  Christmas and few days ahead of your Dad's next birthday.  Following the practice I sent  greetings to No before 27th Dec. I was concerned when no response reached even after Christmas. Your Dad always replied my messages very promptly Reading your note that Srea forwarded .I couldn't believe my eyes.  Although it was a great death on one's own  bed surrounded by all dear ones, we lost a great human being. I lost a very good friend and a jolly good former colleague. We had great time at FBIS. That institution of the US government vanished, but we two nonagenarians remained alive to see the death of the source of our friendship. No became my boss. He deserved that promotion. He was like my big brother. Now I don't know whom should I send my greetings from next year. Standing alone in the line for the final call.
 
Although not bedridden, I'm slowly losing my strength. Already lost 75% eyesight and 80% of  hearing. My wife is also 91. We still go to shopping mall holding each other's hand But how long more it will be  possible, I don' know. Very happy to learn that your actress mother is still guiding you guys and smiling with her grandchildren. She is really a clarion call for "Good Morning Vietnam"/ My greetings to her,
 
This has become a history, not a funeral message. Sorry  !Please say "goodbye" on my behalf of me to your departed Dad - a great human being and an unforgettable friend. 


I was informed yesterday that former Bangkok Bureau Chief Monitor Tran No passed away on 28 December at his home in California. I thought I would relay this news to the larger group, particularly for those who might have worked in the Asian theater or directly with Mr. No. 
 
For those who worked in the field, you know how vital a role the chief monitor played in steering a bureau’s overall performance, not only in shepherding the entire -- and in Bangkok’s case, widely diverse -- monitorial staff but in helping the US staff navigate the queries of eagle-eyed analysts and many nuances that framed the region’s media. I had the good fortune to work with Mr. No for two years and will be forever grateful for his kind and gracious mentoring. 
 
Those who served in Bangkok might also remember Mr. No as a crafty tennis player (a stalwart of the Saturday tennis group), the host of many memorable Tet (new year’s) parties, and an “actor” of some notoriety, as both he and his wife, Kim, had more than fleeting cameos in the movie “Good Morning, Vietnam.”  
 
Dear Audrey, Your dad was truly among the best of the best, and I am very sorry for your loss. Please pass my condolences and regards to your mother.  


Dear Khun Sirichai, kindly convey my deepest condolences to the family of the late Mr. No. I joined FBIS Bangkok as an Indonesian monitor in 1984 when Mr. No was Chief Monitor. I will never forget Mr. No’s role in mentoring me. In addition, we enjoyed a close friendship.

Please convey my deepest condolences to the family of Dr. No, who’s my teacher and mentor at FBIS in 1979…His contributions and efforts rendered to the VN unit & FBIS as a whole was enormous ….RIP my beloved teacher & elder brother….!!!
Sirichai Charoenvanwong

FBIS Bangkok Bureau set up a new position of “Chief Monitor” to oversee over 20 monitors in several units. Tran Phuoc No, a veteran from Saigon Bureau, was selected to be the first chief monitor in recognition of his great service. He held that position from 1986 until his retirement in 1989.
I would’ve liked “Ong No” to remain in that position for several more years. Since his retirement he has kept in touch with many of his mostly “junior” colleagues in different countries sharing uplifting stories in his messages.
“Ong No”, I’ll always remember your kindness and wisdom.”  
Srea Hak Kuoch

It was a big loss on the death of your dad, not only to your family but also to our family as well. Dr. No Tran was a kind person who helped and get along well with everyone in the office where we worked together in Bangkok for over two decades. I learned my English from his edited copies. He also encouraged me to play tennis and was a great tennis coach. I am very proud to work and play tennis with him. Mr. No Tran will always be in our hearts and memories forever. 
Mr Sirichai,  MrSaowalux,  MrTraithep 

Mr Gary Kessler
I served with No Tran as coordinating managers in a news bureau translation office in the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok in two separate periods, in the mid 1970s and then again in the early 1980s. That’s too far back to surface specific anecdotes, but the man who we called Dr. No out of deep respect for him personally and professionally has stuck in my mind as the consummate person and professional to the point that I maintained contact with him over the years since we worked together professionally (and also both worked on a movie). No was a gifted linguist, his translations being completely reliable and elegantly written, and his abilities as a manager in a crisis-news collection office, often working on situations that affected him and his loved ones directly, were second to none. He remained calm and highly competent through a life sometime fraught with danger and adversity, but he arrived at a life deservedly lived long, with loving family, a man loved and respected by all who knew him. He was truly among the best of the best. 
Mr Gary Kessler

OBITUARIO

No Phuoc Tran

14 febrero, 1929 – 28 diciembre, 2022

Peek Funeral Home

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