By: David Chang, TAP-DC Community & Citizenship Chair

Last week, members of TAP-DC braved the cold rain and gathered at Arlington National Cemetery to take part in Wreaths Across America. We joined thousands of other volunteers to place Christmas wreaths in honor of service members buried at the cemetery and to remember Taiwanese American Sgt. Eddie Chen, who made the ultimate sacrifice serving our country.

We were honored to be joined by members of the late Sgt. Chen’s family who drove up from North Carolina: Cassy, Verlyn, Connie, and Caiden. We would also like to recognize U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Philip Yu and his son for taking the time to join us and TAP-ATL President Oliver Jan, who flew up from Georgia to participate in the event with us.   

After the main wreath laying event, TAP-DC paid tribute to U.S. Army Sergeant Yihyjh Lang “Eddie” Chen, who was killed in Baghdad in 2004. During the past few months, we collaborated with actor Kenny Leu and Eddie’s brother, Sergeant First Class Virgil Chen, to introduce Eddie’s story to the Taiwanese American community. Kenny, also born in Taiwan, portrayed Sgt. Chen in the acclaimed mini-series “The Long Road Home”, chronicling Eddie’s unit during the darkest days of the Iraq War. Unfortunately, Kenny and Virgil could not join us due to scheduling conflicts.

As a token of our appreciation, TAP-DC attached two dog tags to his wreath inscribed with a special message. Additional tags were mailed to Kenny Leu, the Chen family, and ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz, who covered the actual events and brought Sgt. Chen’s story to the television screen. 

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In our December newsletter, we included a special profile on Sgt. Eddie Chen and shared his legacy to the community. We attached the same article to share with our national community, located at the bottom of the page. As you read it, please keep our deployed service men and women in your thoughts and pray for their safe return to their loved ones. 

Thank you to everyone who showed up for this memorable event. On behalf of TAP-DC, we wish our national community a Happy Holidays! We can’t wait to see our friends again next month in Atlanta for the winter convention.   

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Sgt. Yihyjh Lang “Eddie” Chen

(1972-2004)

In this event newsletter, we are featuring a special Taiwanese American, Sergeant Yihyjh Lang “Eddie” Chen, whose military service and death in a combat zone inspired youths to enter the military. Sgt. Chen was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. His other awards include the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Iraq Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, where TAP-DC will be visiting as part of Wreaths Across America.

Eddie was born in Taiwan but raised on the island of Saipan. After graduating from Marianas High School, he joined the Northern Marianas Island police force prior to his military service. According to the Chicago Tribune, his friend stated Eddie always wanted to join the military, even during his service as a police officer.  

In 2000, Eddie enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division located at Ft. Hood, TX. Sgt. Chen served as an infantryman and deployed to Iraq in March 2004. Five days after he arrived, Sgt. Chen was killed during a routine patrol in Sadr City on April 4, 2004. Ambushed by over 10,000 insurgents, his unit took shelter inside an Iraqi home and called reinforcements to request a rescue mission. By the end of the day, the siege left eight U.S. troops dead and dozens more wounded. 

These events and Sgt. Chen’s story are chronicled in the book, “The Long Road Home,” written by ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz. It was later adapted into an eight-episode miniseries by National Geographic in 2017. Below is how rising Taiwanese American actor Kenny Leu described about his experience portraying Sgt. Chen. Known for taking on roles about lesser-known Asian-American stories, Leu recalled an unexpected meeting moments before the cameras rolled:

“I was getting ready for my first scene and suddenly half a dozen Texan men, wearing the outfits, cowboy hats, and belt buckles approach me. At that point, I fear for my safety, and being Asian, I have always been a little conscious of traveling to places that are predominantly white,” Leu said. “One of them places a finger on my chest and said you’re Sgt. Eddie Chen.” 

“Yeah…well, we’re shooting a TV show right now,” he replied, “and I’m playing him, yes.” The men turn back, shielding their eyes and said, “He was the best guy we ever knew.” They showed their tattoos and bracelets, all with the same message, “RIP Sgt. Yihyjh Chen.” 

Kenny Leu

At that moment, Leu understood the enormity of portraying Sgt. Chen. “I knew all the facts about Eddie…the beloved Taiwanese-American leader…the Asian man who, despite having accented English and faced the stereotypes, was the big brother to these American country boys. He was always smiling, and the man who these young boys went for guidance or a laugh. After all these years, as I witness these grown men weep with joy…my heart now understands too.”

As the sole Asian standing among these men he had just met, there was a profound moment as Kenny realized these men accepted him as a surrogate of their lost brother.

Those that knew Sgt. Chen highly respected him for his natural leadership, his hard-work ethic, and his dedication to friends and family. Growing up in Saipan, Sgt. Chen worked to help support his parents, who were struggling to make ends meet. When his parents had to move to Guam, he was able to get them green cards so that they could work. He brought that loyalty to the Army, providing guidance and mentorship to junior soldiers as a non-commissioned officer. During his last moments, Sgt. Chen demonstrated unwavering courage to protect the men fighting alongside him. 

Sgt. Chen’s legacy impacted not only his fellow comrades, but his hometown as well. A renewed sense of patriotism spread among his community, inspiring many of the high school students to join the military and understand the true meaning of service.  

We would like to thank Kenny Leu for sharing his experiences portraying Sgt. Chen and Sergeant First Class Virgil Chen for his blessing to introduce his brother’s story to the Taiwanese American community. 

Sgt. Eddie Chen is buried in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery. 

In the months that followed, the 1st Cavalry Division remained in sustained combat for eighty days. An additional 160 soldiers would lose their lives before the year-long deployment ended.

TAP-DC dedicates this newsletter to the eight U.S. Army service members killed in Sadr City, Baghdad on April 4, 2004.

Sgt. Michael W. Mitchell, 25, of Porterville, CA

Sgt. Yihjyh L. Chen, 31, of Saipan, Marianas Protectorate

Spc. Robert R. Arsiaga, 25, of San Antonio, TX

Spc. Stephen D. Hiller, 25, of Opelika, AL

Spc. Ahmed A. Cason, 24, of McCalla, AL 

Spc. Israel Garza, 25, of Lubbock, TX

Cpl. Forest J. Jostes, 22, of Albion, IL

Spc. Casey Sheehan, 24, of Vacaville, CA