Toan Nhu Trinh

Mr. Trinh Nhu Toan, of San Jose, CA, passed away on Sunday, November 13, 2022, at the age of 78. Navy Lieutenant Commander Trinh Nhu Toan was born on 9 August 1944 in Bac Giang. His father was Mr. Trinh Nhu Luan, and his mother was Mrs. Nguyen Thi Cat. He was the second of 3 siblings, between a deceased eldest brother and a younger sister who currently resides in San Jose.

In 1954, he moved with his family to South Vietnam to flee communism. He attended secondary school at Nguyen Trai and Chu Van An in Saigon. After passing the Second Baccalaureate, he joined the 15th Class, “Second Gemini”, of the Nha Trang Naval Academy in 1964 and graduated in 1966, with the rank of commanding Second Lieutenant.

On November 30, 1968, Trinh Nhu Toan married Nguyen Kim Tuong Nga in Saigon. Three children came from this beautiful union: Trinh NhuTuong Giao, Trinh Nhu Hoang and Trinh NhuTuong Quynh. Throughout his naval career, which ended in April 1975, he served in many naval units, including the battle support ship Nguyen Ngoc Long HQ 230, the Naval Command of the 2nd Coastal Region based in Nha Trang, the Coast Guard ship HQ 719, the Naval Command of the 5th Coastal Region based in Nam Can, Commander of the 22nd Coastal Division in Cam Ranh, the 75th Navy Assault Group in Long Xuyen, as Deputy Commander of the frigate Ngo Quyen HQ 17; his last position was as Captain of the patrol vessel Kim Quy HQ 605, with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After many perilous years and edication across the seas and rivers of South Vietnam, he has been awarded numerous medals of the Armed Forces of South Vietnam, including the distinguished Hai Vu Boi Tinh and Anh Dung Boi Tinh. As captain of the HQ 605, he selflessly picked up and assisted many families escape to sea as the country fell to the communists, in 1975.

Like millions of Vietnamese who fled the country after April 1975, the Trinh-Nguyen family adopted the U.S. as their second home, initially settling in Tacoma in Washington state. In 1978, he and his family moved to Silicon Valley and remained there for the rest of his life. His eldest daughter Giao is currently the proud mother of 4 successful children. Hoang is a doctor and lives with his wife and 3 children, while Quynh is a lawyer and lives with her husband and 3 children. The Trinh-Nguyen union has grown into a happy, extended family with in-laws and 10 grandchildren.

After 47 years away from his beloved country and having started a new life in a foreign land, Trinh Nhu Toan remembered and looked back to his native sea. He embarked on his final journey on Sunday, November 13, 2022, at the age of 78.

Buddhist services and visitation will be held Saturday, December 10, 2022, from 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM at Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 300 Curtner Ave, San Jose, CA 95125. A funeral service will be held Sunday, December 11, 2022, from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, followed immediately by a witness cremation on Sunday, November 11, 2022, from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, 300 Curtner Ave, San Jose, CA 95125.