The Honorable Anh "Joseph" Cao
U.S. House of Representatives (LA-2)
New Orleans, Louisiana
U.S. Representative Anh “Joseph” Cao joined the 111th Congress on January 6, 2009 representing the 2nd district of Louisiana. He was born in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam. His father, an officer with the South Vietnamese Army, was imprisoned by the Communists. At the age of eight, Joseph escaped to the United States with two of his siblings. He learned English, thrived in school, and earned a degree in physics from Baylor University.
Representative Cao first arrived in New Orleans in 1992. He left to earn a graduate degree in philosophy from Fordham University, returning to Loyola University to teach philosophy and ethics. Afterwards, he attained a law degree from Loyola Law School. In Washington, DC, he became an advocate for refugees, future Americas who embody a can-do spirit and strong work ethic. In 2002, he was chosen by Archbishop Alfred Hughes to become a member of the National Advisory Council of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, addressing women's rights in the Catholic Church, social justice, child abuse, and the Catholic response to Hurricane Katrina.
Congressman Cao is the first Vietnamese American to serve in the U.S. Congress.
April 29, 2009
Detroit, MI
Dr. Subir Chowdhury
Author
Detroit, Michigan
Subir Chowdhury was born in Chittagong, Bangladesh in 1967. He left his family in 1991 to come to the United States and eventually settled in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Dr. Chowdhury became a naturalized citizen in 2004. He is the author of 12 books on business quality management, including international bestsellers, "The Power of Six Sigma," "Design For Six Sigma," and "Management 21C." His most recent business book is "The Ice Cream Maker." Dr. Chowdhury has received numerous international awards for leadership in quality management. He is an honorary member of the World Innovation Foundation. He has been honored with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Gold Medal, the Society of Automotive Engineers Henry Ford Award, and has been inducted into the Hall of Fame for Engineering, Science and Technology, as well as the Automotive Hall of Fame.
Dr. Chowdhury holds an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur, India. He earned a graduate degree in industrial management from Central Michigan University, and an honorary doctorate in engineering from the Michigan Technological University. In 2006, Dr. Chowdhury and his wife Malini created a foundation that strives to improve the quality of life for individuals and provide a visible and positive impact on communities. The foundation also supports many other programs focusing on education, health, and the arts.
May 1, 2009
Washington, DC
Sgt. Peter C. Lemon (Retired)
Medal of Honor Recipient
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Born in Canada, Peter C. Lemon received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War. Sgt. Lemon is one of the youngest surviving recipients and only living Canadian-born recipient. Seven years after he became a naturalized U.S. citizen, Sgt. Lemon was serving in a U.S. Army Ranger platoon based in Vietnam in 1970. On the night of April 1, his base came under heavy enemy attack. He was wounded three times during the combat, but his determined efforts successfully drove the enemy from position. He then collapsed from multiple wounds and exhaustion. Once he regained consciousness at an aid station, Sgt. Lemon refused medical evacuation until his more seriously wounded comrades had been evacuated.
Today, Sgt. Lemon is the proud father of three children. He is the author of a book and the producer of a documentary film entitled, "Beyond the Medal: A Journey from Their Hearts to Yours," which he dedicated to his fallen comrades. Sgt. Lemon is also an inductee of the elite Ranger Hall of Fame and the recipient of the “Humanitarian Alumni of the Year” at his graduate alma mater, the University of Northern Colorado. Among his volunteer efforts, Sgt. Lemon is working with seriously wounded active duty veterans coming home from Afghanistan and Iraq.
