Đặng Thùy Trâm Christine Rosell Samuel Teferi Seul Bi Jung Yachuen Chang Weili Chou Puya Rafia

Đặng Thùy Trâm Born November 26, 1943, in Huế, Vietnam Died on June 22, 1970, in Đức Phổ, Quảng Ngãi Province, Vietnam Vietnamese civilian doctor who worked as a battlefield surgeon for North Vietnam in Quang Ngai Province during the Vietnam War at the age of 24. She was killed, in disputed circumstances, at the age of 26, by American forces.

Đặng Thùy Trâm Thuy loved literature, but she decided to become a doctor, perhaps influenced by the medical tradition in her family. Thuy’s father had always encouraged his oldest daughter to be a doctor.

Family in Hanoi Her great-grandfather was a medic, highly trained medical professional. Her grandfather, Dang Ngoc Khue, was also a medic and worked in a French clinic. Her father attended medical school in Hue and became a surgeon. He worked in a small hospital in Hanoi, and later he was a surgeon in Hanoi at St. Paul’s Hospital, a former French hospital.

Family in Hanoi Her maternal grandmother was a midwife who spoke fluent French, while Thuy’s other grandfather worked for the French as a principal of schools until he became active with the anti-French movements. Thuy’s mother was born into a family with many members who were medical professionals. She worked in the same hospital as Thuy’s father.

Family in Hanoi Thuy was the oldest, followed by sisters Phuong, Hien, and Kim. Eighteen years later, a brother, Quang, was born. Three of her sisters are alive today, but her brother died because of liver cancer.

Communist Party The Communist Party of Vietnam is the only legal political party in Vietnam; it is supported by and part of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front. Amongst the Vietnamese people, it is commonly referred to as “dang” (the party) or “Dang ta” (our party). The party is based on the Communist Youth League, founded by Ho Chi Minh in Guangzho, China in 1926.

About the Diary… The diary was rescued from destruction by an American Soldier, Frederick Whitehurst, when he was burning captured enemy documents. Whitehurst returned home in 1972 after three tours of duty. He brought the diary with him against orders. He was thinking of returning it to Tram’s family. He decided to donate it to the Vietnam Center at Texas Tech University.

About the Diary… A volunteer found Tram’s mother in Hanoi. Whitehurst says the diary came to him in two parts. The first part was found in December 1969 after Tram lost the diary, and the second part came shortly after the doctor’s death. Whitehurst believes there may have been one more volume, but it hasn’t surfaced and was probably lost in the fog of war.

Works Cited "Communist Party of Vietnam." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 June "Last Night I Dreamed of Peace." Random House - Bringing You the Best in Fiction, Nonfiction, and Children's Books. Web. 13 June " Dang Thuy Tram." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 June Đa ̆ ̣ng, Thùy Tra ̂ m. Last Night I Dreamed of Peace: the Diary of Dang Thuy Tram. New York: Crown, Print.